I think probably it's 1o years ago...long before the kids were born. I always wanted to visit this place again, because this place is so unlike HONG KONG.
The journey to Lamma Island is quite a tedious one. First, we got to take bus to the Central Pier, follow by a ferry before we can land on Lamma Island. This time, the bus-ferry ride had taken us more than 2 hours. Only if Lamma Island is just next door, maybe we will go there more than more in 10 years time. 
Lamma Island (南丫島), also known as Pok Liu Chau (博寮洲) is the third largest island in HK. Lamma was named after the shape of the island which looks like the limb of a tree, like Y shape. 
Buildings higher than three storeys are prohibited and there are no automobiles roar on the road. Property and rents are cheap compared with those of central Hong Kong. 
The northern village is called Yung Shue Wan (Banyan Tree Bay) and the eastern village is called Sok Kwu Wan. With a population of around 6000, Yung Shue Wan is the most populated area on Lamma Island.
In contrast to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, this place is peaceful and tranquil, with relatively natural scenery. Lamma provides an alternative to the hectic life in the city.
Sampan Seafood, the most prominent restaurant in Yung Shue Wan. We had taken our lunch here the last time we went to Lamma Island.
The community's only transport means is by foot or bicycle. 
Actor Chow Yun-Fat grew up on the island in the village of Tung O in Yung Shue Wan. I heard that his family still operates a seafood / pigeon restaurant called "Shau Kee" in the main village. Anyway, I didn't see this restaurant though.
The main street.
Fig Tree and its fruits can be seen along the main street. 
Being a city folk for so many years, an open living place like this has become very strange to us.
A very eye-catching signage. Apparently, this 豆腐花 is very famous, even well-known in Japan (judging by a Japanese article that was sticked there). 
We all got to self-serving our self. Each bowl cost HKD 7, not any cheaper or expensive than the market price. 
The boys probably would have bottom up all the brown sugar, if we didn't stop them.
One cold, one hot. Hot is better, the texture is smoother and softer. Taste wise is not so commercial. They were boiled by woods, not gasoline. 
豆腐花 is one of son's favourite desserts. I still remember when he was about 2, he had a terrible sore throat, that he refused to swallow any of his normal foods. The only thing he was willing to eat is 豆腐花. So, I fed him 豆腐花 for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And it was so memorable to hear him babbling in innocent tune : 豆腐花..好好吃 !
After the tofu-fa break, we continued the walk. Oh yeah, we planned to walk from Yung Shue Wan (southern part) to Sok Kwu Wan (northern part). 
It looks like my grandmother's house, though I don't remember what's my grandmother's house looked like.
We walked...
and we stopped... 
and we walked, and we walked...
When passing my normal meal time to certain extent, I will feel an unbearable hunger, follow by cold sweating and head spinning (typical symptoms of drastic drop in blood sugar level). Husband likes to tease me that I will be the first who can't survive a disaster. Bugger !!
20 minutes later, we reached Hung Shing Yeh beach
The beach is quite rugged...definitely the boys' cup of tea.
Sons wanted to played in the water. They simply won't take NO as answer. So, we have to let them be, despite the fact we didn't bring extra clothings for them. Not long later, William had wet his jeans and shirt. So I have to strip them off, and expose his wet jeans and clothes under the hot sun, with a hope they would have dried up a bit some time later. While they were playing, husband and I sat under a tree, safe guiding our belongings while keeping an eyes on them. How fun !
Son's waved me to walk to him and he proudly showed me what's in the green cap. 
Son's catch. He was totally fascinated with those walking creatures he can catch by hands.
10 minutes later, I saw son crying. I walked near him, and my my, I was freaking panic to see bloods flowing out from one of his toes, mixing up with the sands. Husband grabbed him immediately and rushed to the nearby first-aid station. I couldn't follow them as there are clothes, bags, shoes etc that I have to look after for. Boy, I was so worried about his wound. After a few minutes, I called husband. He told me not to worry cause it wasn't a deep cut, just a scratch on the skin's surface. Luckily.
I was a bit worried before that he needed us to carry him for the rest of the journey. Thank God he could walk on his own. In fact, he almost forgot this little accident not long later.Oh yeah, we have to buy a short pants for him to continue the walk. How convenient.
At around 2.30 pm, we continued the walk. Counted from Hung Shing Ye Beach, it said one need to walk for 50 minutes to reach Sok Kwu Wan. Well, experience told us we should multiply this time by a factor of 1.5-2, mean we will take around 75 - 110 min before we can be there.
Looking back to the Hung Shing Ye Beach and the HK Electric's power station. 
Hong Kong Electric's power station. With its distinctive three tall chimney stacks, the power station is visible from the surrounding islands. Lamma Power Station is a modern coal burning plant and has supplied virtually all the power for Hong Kong Island, Ap Lei Chau and Lamma Island since 1990. Gas turbine has been added in 2005 to fulfill overall emission standards. 
Walking up...
Walking through one of the peaks...
Son started to feel tired after walking up the hill for 30 min. 
I had to keep motivate him, which is to keep giving him something to chew. 
The only building on the top. Many people rested here, there was no room for us. 
Son asked for a pee-break, again. But there is no toilet around, so troublesome...
End up, he finished his small business here.
He seems to have a bigger bladder than his little brother.
Yo, let's go again. 
Walking the trail between Sok Kwu Wan and Yung Shue Wan 
Finally, he had emptied all the snacks I've brought before we reached the destination. Anyway, that's worth it cause he remained silence for a long time. 
We walked along this trail for another 30 min, totally exposed ourself under the sun. Luckily the day wasn't too hot, else, we may get heat stroke.
That could be the highest peak around here. 
Sok Kwu Wan can be seen from far. Yeah, just need to walk to the other side of the hill will do.
Overlooking the fishing boats and restaurants at Sok Kwu Wan. Awesome ! 
We made a small detour to that little hut down there.
A full view of Sok Kwu Wan.
Walking down the hill to a village near Sok Kwu Wan.
Giving way to a local dog. 
This place is so cool ! 
We stayed here for a while then left. Looking back, son was still playing the thingy that were hang there. Sigh. 
I think they just felt curious to one another.
We also passed by this small vegetable farm. The woman claimed her vegie is 100% organic. 
I chatted with the woman for a while. Later, I bought 1 catty of Chinese lettuce and 1 catty of choy-sum from her. It only cost me HKD32, almost 50% cheaper than the organic vegie I buy from grocery stores.
Beautiful scene. Thank God we didn't see any snake around. 
Ok, we were getting closer to the final destination... 
We had also walked by 2 dark caves. One of them was taken by this man. Sons asked : what's the thing inside there?
Husband said : Japanese soldier used to hide inside the cave during World War II. So probably there are guns, dynamites inside there.
The three of us : really? (like an idiot !)
Sok Kwu Wan has the largest fish farming site in Hong Kong. 
Sons joined the local kids and they played in this natural playground together. Basically they picked the stones and threw it into the water. 
Another excited games they played was to get out from the sand island before the tides encirled the island, again and again.
Another 15 min passed, we continued to walk some more...
Tin Hau temples are typical places of worship in Hong Kong's coastal communities because Tin Hau is believed to be the goddess of the sea and of fishermen, protecting them and ensuring full nets. There are two Tin Hau temples on Lamma, located in Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan. Both were built in 1826.
Ok, finally we reached Sok Kwu Wan. We had taken nearly 80 minutes to walk from Hung Shing Yeh Beach to here. Not bad. 
The main street of Sok Kwu Wan consists mainly of seafood restaurants, and the stores that sell dried seafood products. 
We felt the trip won't be completed perfectly without taking a proper seafood dinner here. After a quick searching, we end up settled down in this Rainbow Seafood Restaurant.
We were seated in this good table, facing the sea.
We felt so relax sitting here, admiring the fishing farms. 
Oh yes, the menu of our 6-course dinner. Cost HKD 398 + 10% (reasonable price)
The foods are all ok, though not excellent yet. 
Our dessert. We love it !!
One good point about taking dinner at this Rainbow Seafood Restaurant is they provide free ferry to transport their customers back to Tsim Tsa Tsui Pier or Central Pier. Great service !*
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The ferry departed at 5.40 pm, and we reached home around 8 pm.
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Feeling exhausted, but I couldn't resist the tempation to cook the fresh vegie that we've just bought from Lamma Island. After a quick cleaning, cutting, cooking, finally the dish was done. I swear those fresh vegie tastes super duber yummy.
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I felt absolutely content with this trip !!
1 comments:
nice post! lamma seems like a good place to live.
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