The most bizarre farewell to Hong Kong – Noah’s Ark

My sister’s flight back was in the afternoon, so I was trying to think – what can we do in the morning on the way to the airport. Recent news announced a brand new attraction in Hong Kong – a huge Noah’s Ark to biblical scale on Ma Wan island. Looking at the website, I didn’t know what to expect, but it was obviously something to do with Christianity. "What the heck", I figured, "let’s go have a look, it’s on the way". We packed the suitcase, and headed out to Central piers for a ferry to Ma Wan Park.

What a surreal odd experience it was. Till now, I’m not quite sure what that was. Ma Wan Park, BTW, is this huge posh isolated neighborhood, and by the looks of it – intended for the very wealthy.

The Ark is visible from very far away…

The Ark is located just next to the Tsing Ma bridge (named, you should know, after Tsing Yi and Ma Wan islands), considered among Hong Kong’s finest and the world’s 7th longest suspension bridge.

The nearby beach was spotless clean and appeared at first deserted, although we did finally notice there was a guy there just chilling out.

The attraction itself is not yet complete, but there are already people visiting. Still, they didn’t know what to do with us, and had no solution for our suitcase ("we’re still building the luggage room and you can’t leave it with us"). Brilliant.

The whole Ark, I should point out, is this really surreal Christian missionary experience. They wanted to take us through all those really bizarre activities. At some point, when one of the girls suggested I take the "Rainbow path" where I’m suppose to follow instructions in the spirit of "Tell yourself Thank You in the mirror, you deserve it", I just couldn’t stop laughing and had to go out to calm myself. My sister was much more open to all that…

So, for example, they’ve asked me to close my eyes while my sister draws her wish for me on my hand (chillout at the beach, thanks sis!).

The entire complex is a set of rooms with different activities for kids…

and adults…

and some strange oddities, like "you don’t know what’s coming" as you pull handles coming off the wall and you have a chance of 1 in 5 to get a cold shower and 1 in 5 to get ball rain. We asked them what this is suppose to represent, or be, but all we got in reply is that we should do it. Why?! just do it, it’s fun.

Okay, now…. this was the point both my sister and I decided we’re done with this building.

On the way out we  had some photo fun…

and were surprised to notice that their biblical Christianity doesn’t have any problem with modern interpretations of evolution and dinosaurs.

I don’t know. Can’t put my finger on it, but something about that place made me feel very uncomfortable. Still, an experience.