Adventure inspires others to paddle their own canoe

Paddling a canoe around Hong Kong’s shorelines – about 275 kilometres – outdoor sports instructor Ken Lee Wai-kam was able to see a whole different side to the city.

The quieter, more remote and rural coastline, a less frenetic pace, and the faces of friendly – if not, on occasion, astonished – villagers, who would show kindness as the two canoes showed up.

Lee, 30, spent 10 days in May last year soaking up the coastline with fellow instructor Anton Tsang Yin-ting.

It was the first time Lee had seen the migratory birds in Mai Po. Near Tai O, he and Tsang played with the dolphins that jumped and dived in front of their canoes.

Lee and Tsang have inspired three others to follow in their wake and hope that others will be inspired to fulfil their dreams, whatever they may be.

“During the planning we had so many things to think about, including whether we go clockwise or anti-clockwise,” Lee says. “We decided to go clockwise as we wanted to go to Victoria Harbour and Lantau first” and end the trip in the northeast towards Sai Kung. It is an area they are far more familiar with and so could pick up speed at that point.

May is the best month for kayaking, says Lee. The months before are misty, and months of prospective typhoons follow.