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Tin Hau Temple Reopening
Dec 31
Click for photo gallery. Taoist gods statues inside the temple, before and after replacement: |
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Lamma Bee Valley -
Dec 30
Encounter on the Family Trail between Hung Shing Yeh beach and SKW, right where you can go up to the Youth Hostel. |
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A Great Day in South Lamma!
Dec 27
... one of the most enjoyable, memorable and unplanned days I've ever enjoyed on Lamma! |
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East Lamma Geopark?
Dec 26
HK Countryside Watch blogs: "Should East Lamma be included in the Hong Kong Geopark?" |
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Christmas/New Year Specials - Dec 23
What's on offer from some of Lamma's best restaurants this Christmas and New Year? |
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Calendars to Go... - Dec 22
Did you get your Lamma 2013 Calendars yet? Need some more for your off-island and overseas friends and families? |
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Brand on the Beach - Dec 19
" Many thanks to all who helped make our first Brand on the Beach clean up a success." |
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Harbour Reclamation Buildings - Dec 14
... the last time you took a walk or bike ride into the 1st phase of the YSW Harbour Reclamation? |
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QR Coding - Dec 13
This is the QR code for this web page. Try it! If you haven't done so yet, download any free QR reader app. |
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Charitable Lammaites
Dec 12
"Lamma 2013 Calendars are now available from Diesel's, 7th Avenue, Lamma Grill and...." |
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Seek & Ye Shall Have Fun! - Dec 4
"Follow brain teasing clues on an adventurous exploration of Lamma Island." |
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Flockenclappers - Dec 3
Clockenflap - Dec 1/2 -
West Kowloon Cultural District -
Photos by Lamma-Gung.
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Click for photo gallery
 
   
 
Taoist gods inside the temple, before and after
replacement:
   
   
Click for photo gallery
Encounter on the Family Trail between Hung Shing Yeh beach and Sok Kwu Wan,
right where you can go up to the Youth Hostel:
  
 
$120/500g of Lamma-made honey, only available from Lamma Bee
Valley in person, fresh from one of his 30+ local bee hives.
 
Inside the ex-Lamma Quarry:
  
I've been interviewing YMCA's Andrew while meeting him by sheer coincidence
inside the ex-Lamma Quarry on Dec 27. They've got an exclusive 3-year lease
to use the entire area for their outdoor and camping activities, hoping for
it to be extended while the Govt. is considering what to build in the
Quarry.
The YMCA Lamma Island Outdoor Centre is being constructed these months and
occasionally they'll host local youngsters for outdoor activities, like
camps with "tent setup, nature exploration, outdoor cooking, archery and
night hikes."
See a future 2-day program:
Overnight Camp - Sample Schedule. Plus photos from
YMCA Camping's
Lamma Island Exploration Day during last Lunar New Year.
That mysterious, helipad-like concrete platform, close to the ex-Cement
Factory, will be used as foundation for Mongolian yurt-style camping tents,
with a centre garden. It should all be ready for the summer school vacation
season, when access to the Quarry area will become strictly off-limits to all of
us hikers, bikers and birdwatchers. Access will officially permitted only
with YMCA authorisation ("for insurance and safety reasons").
Enjoy the area for now, while you can still sneak in around the fence, down
the hill slopes (like I did) or via boat. For a closer look, see my
Inside the Ex-Lamma Quarry photo gallery.
Opening on Dec 27, I stumbled upon this cheerful place on Sok Kwu Wan's main
strip, amidst all the seafood restaurants and tourist shops. It's full of
colourful, yummy, sweet treats and friendly smiles, a most welcome addition
to the very limited number of non-Chinese seafood restaurants in South
Lamma.
Still not a single bar down there, though.
 
 
 
 
This morning, after watching an early, half-price movie in Central's IFC
Palace cinema (3D Wreck-It Ralph, best CG animation of the year!), I
spontaneously decided NOT to take the ferry back home to YSW, but the one to
Sok Kwu Wan instead, then walking back to Yung Shue Wan.
This spur-of-the-moment, serendipitous decision turned this day into one of
the most enjoyable, memorable and totally unplanned days I've ever enjoyed
on Lamma! I got material for several Lamma-zine stories, tons of news,
almost a gigabyte of photos, plus invitations to a free lunch and a free dinner.
Here's a summary of my great day in wide-screen photos:
Entering Sok Kwu Wan harbour on the ferry from Central:
What's all the commotion in there and that brand-new, circular "helipad" inside
the ex-Lamma Quarry? Let me have a closer look inside today....
A Western-style coffee shop is opening just today on the SKW main strip,
Bebe V, an absolute first for South Lamma.
Delicious, freshly baked muffins and colorful cookies, served by these two
charming, multilingual ladies. Highly recommended!
Abseiling on a rope into the closed-off ex-Lamma Quarry via the ex-Cement
Factory. Meeting up by sheer coincidence with Lamma's three District
Councilors/ Rural Committee Chairmen on a Govt.-guided tour inside the
Quarry area.
Catching up with a YMCA Camping guy by coincidence, grabbing the opportunity to get an update of their exclusive
plans for the YMCA Lamma Island Outdoor Centre,
to go finally into full children camping operation in summer 2013.
Traversing the ex-Lamma Quarry, then climbing to the top of the surrounding
hills to get a good overview of the huge area and all the YMCA's works
in there so far.
Catching the beekeeper at work in the Lamma Bee
Valley on the Family Trail.
  
Stopover in beautifully Christmas-decorated Concerto Inn Hotel
on Hung Shing Yeh beach for a very late lunch: my favourite tea set.
Returning home knackered.
HK Countryside Watch blogs on Dec 17, 2012:
Should East Lamma be included in the Hong Kong Geopark?
A recent paper entitled “Volcanic-plutonic connections
in a tilted nested caldera complex in Hong Kong” rewrites the
geological interpretation of Hong Kong in a significant and
exciting way:
http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2012/2011GC003865.shtml
The question is, given the magnificent uninterrupted and
easily accessed coastline that large sections of East Lamma
offer, and taking into consideration their considerable
geological significance, should sections of this coastline now
be designated as part of the
Hong Kong Geopark?
At the least, should any proposed developments on Lamma
now take cognizance of the remarkable geology of this area?"
Read more...
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Tim Finucane:
(Text & photos, click to enlarge) |
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Santa on the Beach
– 22nd December
As the sun sunk beneath the horizon, a ripple of excitement coursed
through the small crowd. Could it be true, Santa would, once again,
make his first stop of the season on Power Station beach? In short
order the question was settled by the distant sound of a bell
ringing and a hearty “Ho Ho Ho”.
Santa soon appeared at the far end of the beach surrounded by a
merry band of fairies and elves, some big ones too! Exclaiming season’s
greetings all round, that jolly old fellow took his seat in the Santa Grotto
and got straight down to business. With the able assistance of his little
helpers, Santa distributed Christmas loot to his rapt audience with an
efficiency that would make any courier elf green with envy.
 
Santa’s constituents were sated and the caroling started up with
Dan and Lee on guitars. The elves also gave a spirited rendition
of Feliz Navidad. Mulled wine and a bonfire fortified spirits against
the evening cold and a great night was had with Christmas cheer all round.
 
Well done to Santa for being Santa, Esther for
organizing, Gareth and Mikel for a fetching Grotto, Liz
on the mulled wine and everyone else who helped out with this great Lamma
tradition! |
P.S. What's been happening today, on Christmas Day? Here's one really
nice event I missed: A free community event presented by
Elijah Place @ Cotton Candy, a new tourist
shop @ G/F, 20 Tai Yuen Village, highly recommended by Lamma-Por. See their
very nice Facebook photo gallery:
Lamma Christmas Concert
'Twas the night before Christmas Eve, when in the idyllic, remote hamlet of
Pak Kok Village, on the little island called La ma doh in the South China Sea,
a traditional nativity play was in progress:
The Pak Kok Nativity. Jane ascends to 'Living
Lamma Legend' status!
James combines Joseph, a shepherd with a
goatee, and his take on a wise man.
(Photos and captions by Marcus, collage by L-G)
To balance all these sweet and pastoral images above,
here's a more urban and WILD Xmas card I received from the professional
graffiti team, The Wild Ones, occasionally invading
visiting Lamma:
Wishing all our readers a
Wild and Happy Christmas and holiday season,
Full of Fun For Friends & Family!
What's on offer from some of Lamma's best restaurants
this Christmas and New Year? Here are a few festive menus to peruse at home
in leisure, before making a reservation in one of these cozy and romantic
venues, all decorated tastefully for the holidays.
These are some of a most precious handful of restaurants
supporting the Lamma- zine via advertising. So if you could let them know
that you saw their special menus on Lamma.com.hk when visiting them, I'd be
very grateful! I might even invite you to one of their mulled wines if I'll
meet you in one of these fine venues!
Click to enlarge:
  
  
Did you get your Lamma 2013 Calendars yet? Need some more for your
off-island and overseas friends and families? A few are left and available
in Diesel's, 7th Avenue, Lamma Grill and Mrs. Tang's
Island 1188 shop
(opposite Brothers).
If you have good contacts to any additional places all
over Lamma who might be willing to sell them on commission, let me know,
please.
They've raised almost $5,000 for the Children Welfare Scheme already and all
profits, besides the pure printing costs, are going to charity!
Calendars are still selling at $60 for 1, $100 for 2!
P.S. Thank you card and letter just
received from the Children Welfare Scheme, to all sponsors, supporters,
volunteers and helpers - click below:
... plus
Nick's Fun Day music review.
... plus some Facebook photos from the
Lamma Rush.
... plus the
official Fun Day photo album.
Besides all the end of the world nonsense spread in the media this year,
here's a more positive spin, an optimistic vision from a Lamma Author,
former
Lamma Artist of the Month, Laurence James
Lucas:
 "...
why the '2012 effect' is not just some flaky, speculative New Age fantasy,
but is a phenomenon grounded firmly in scientific findings. Laurence’s
contention is that plasma, closely interrelated with electromagnetic fields,
is the conduit for consciousness....
We are heading towards a planetary consciousness as part of the
evolutionary imperative."
I just received a review copy of his new book, see and click above for more
info. It's a self-published, limited-edition, full-colour labour of love,
beautifully illustrated by his wife,
Lamma Artist Carey "Blue Lotus" Vail. Browsing through it these
days, I'll try to do an adequate review in the near future.
But my deeply rooted scientific education/mindset and a
verifiable-facts-based world view might make it mightily difficult for me to
grasp, understand and truly appreciate concepts like "The Enchantments of
Life", "The Expansion of Consciousness towards the Galactic
Frequency", "to examine chakras, endocrine glands and newly
discovered planetary bodies with their attendant consciousness, as well as
the idea that ‘reality is what we agree to’".
It discusses ideas like "involution (the soul’s journey into matter), The
Expansion of Consciousness towards the Galactic Frequency", and theories
like galactic alignment and the idea of ascension.
Well, it'll all definitely make for a fascinating and mind- provoking read
and I admire the many years of research, devotion and passion that went into
creating this book. Challenging your mind keeps you young and from getting
too complacent in our little, peaceful island retreat. You can
buy the book directly from Laurence.
 Tomorrow,
it'll be the 25-year anniversary of my arrival in HK, visiting my HK-Chinese
girlfriend to spend Christmas/New Year with her. I never returned home,
except for visiting my family and old friends. I
had met Lamma-Por over 2 years earlier on the fledgling, early Internet - no
websites yet! - via online chat. By then, I had already been online for 4
years, using worldwide email, chat, forums and file transfers regularly back in the
Digital Stone Age, 31 years ago.
We've been married for over 21 years now and I've been working
professionally in Internet-related jobs for 17 years in HK, launching my
very first website in 1995 (which is still running and has become my biggest
success so far, its address appearing prominently in ads worldwide, including
currently on HK TV).
It's been almost exactly 11 years since moving to Lamma from HK Island and
over 10 years of running Lamma.com.hk! I'm starting to feel old, like an
ancient relic, a stale leftover from the early Internet days, when we didn't
have dating websites or social media yet to flirt online, but still managed
to get "lucky". Time to retire early, enjoy life on the beach and join
Lamma's barflies?? Well, not yet....
(Group shot by Siuyu Yeung)
When was the last time you took a (dog) walk or bike ride over into the
first phase of the Yung She Wan Harbour Reclamation? The reclamation has
been completed over ten years ago, remaining an industrial wasteland and
scrap heap for much of this time, only used for a temporary helipad, a waste
transfer station and storage.
Finally, the Govt. is starting to make good use of it all by building some
new and much-needed infrastructure and services for the YSW community, all
to be completed within just a few months:
Activity Centre, Police Station, Sewage Treatment Plant. A few pics from
today:
Our brand-new Activity Centre, to open around Chin. New Year, to be used
only for "official" events by the Rural and District Councils, which have
been held in the Football Pitch so far, but were prone to rain.
Hopefully, this impressive structure, paid for by a major donation from HK
Electric, can be made available soon for community events as well. Arts &
Crafts fair, anyone?
 
Impressive roof, pity about the walls; the budget wasn't quite
sufficient to enclose the structure as originally planned. A movable stage,
tables and chairs will go in there soon as well.
The neighbouring new police station, convenient to keep a close eye on all
"activities" in the Centre. Completion of construction in March 2013, ready
for Lamma's recently transferred new police chief, Miss Joyce WONG.
  
Layout of cozy new Police Station -- Sewage Treatment Plant, to be completed
next year -- One of the many scary warning signs for construction workers.
 
The very active gaido and goods pier: The iconic Deli Lamma painting,
waiting to be shipped off-island, to an unknown destination: landfill or the
private home of a former, loyal patron?
Where does some of YSW restaurants' food waste go every morning? Into the
waste transfer station's new Food Waste Recycler, composting soil from
leftovers! A great Govt. initiative; my Rooftop Jungle loves this freely
available soil.
Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme --
Twisted and rusted oil drums along the road to helipad
 
Unfortunately, outside the well-managed construction sites, the road to the
helipad has turned into one long stretch of waste disposal and storage,
mainly electrical and household goods, but also two entire ships.
From the YSW Harbour Reclamation, Phase I, there are still fine views of our harbour and the ferry pier.
Phase II has been under consultation for longer than I've lived on Lamma (11
years), fiercely resisted or strongly supported by different segments of the
local population. It looks like the formerly shelved plans are being
resurrected and will come alive and active soon again. The Lamma-zine will
keep you informed, as always, of course.
These QR codes, representing web links readable by smartphone camera apps,
are appearing nowadays in so many places: newspapers, magazine, even on
buildings; so the Lamma-zine can't stay behind! This is the QR code for this
web page. Try it! If you haven't done so yet, download any free QR reader
app, run it and point your smartphone camera at this QR code above on your
computer screen. It should link you directly back to this home page.
Umm, err, that's kind of circular and pointless, I might have to think this
over a little bit more. But I just received an email newsletter with QR
codes. Why didn't they simply use web links?
How about pointing your smartphone to this code above displayed on another
smartphone, tablet, phablet or laptop? It might be easier and faster than
texting, emailing, Bluetoothing or WhatsApping a web link! Show this QR code
to a friend on the ferry or in a bar who doesn't know about this website
yet!
Maybe I should start plastering this QR code all over Lamma Island's walls
and buildings in small, medium and huge version, as stickers, flyers, posters,
graffiti? Well, there's a great idea, or not? Enticing passersby to "Scan
this QR code to find a secret web page and get a free Lamma 2013 Calendar?"
While I'm playing with this
QR code generator,
here are a few more codes. But you'll have to scan them to find out where they
link to:
  
These are all the people (and some of their pets) who donated to the
Children Welfare Scheme
to have their photo added to the December page of the Lamma 2013 Calendar.
Doesn't it look like a making-silly-faces contest? How many do you recognise?
Wouldn't this make a nice Christmas/New Year party game?
Many thanks to all these charitable Lammaites! Many thanks to all the venues
selling the remaining calendars to locals and visitors!
Deb writes:
"Christmas postal deadlines are coming up soon!
Lamma 2013 Calendars are now
available from Diesel's, 7th Avenue, Lamma Grill and
Mrs. Tang's Island 1188 shop (opposite Brothers).
Great gifts for family and ex-Lamma residents overseas.
Selling out fast at $60 for 1, $100 for 2!"
This Roving Exhibition about the Govt.'s plans for the ex-Lamma Quarry is
currently only shown at the Sok Kwu
 Wan
ferry pier, but not available on their
new website
or in print (yet).
So I took a little walk to our Southside today, taking some pictures for
your convenience; so you can study them at home instead of catching the very
short- term ferry pier "Roving Exhibition", roving around for only about 1
week in each location exclusively! They seem to have only one set of display
panels (see right), moving them from pier to pier?
It's a very informative and well-illustrated exhibition with highly
controversial content. Join some of the workshops and community/public
forums to make your voice heard and make sure to
submit
your comments!
Click below to enlarge panels:
Cover, map - The Existing Lamma
Study Overview - Planning Considerations
Vision & Guiding Principles - Initial Land
Use Options
Initial Option 1 - 2
Accessibility and Connectivity
The Lamma-zine has been focusing on Lamma and Lammaites almost exclusively
so far, but should I expand the editorial range to the other Outlying
Islands? Maybe have a closer look, checking out how they're similar to Lamma
and what makes each of them different and unique in their own rights?
Let's get started with introducing Cheung Chau, via a photo album by Lamma
"Wild at Art" Artist, Katie Flowers. Click on the photos below to
link to a Facebook album of her recent outing,
Cheung Chau Day Out. If you're not one of her many Friends yet (for
example, we share 42 mutual Friends), send her a Request. This ever-popular,
always friendly Lamma celebrity will probably accept you. Check out her
beautiful artworks as well, for example her latest
Botanical Floralisations and
Mulled Spice Girls, available as Christmas cards.
"Stage 1 Community Engagement launched for Planning and Engineering
Study on Future Land Use at Ex-Lamma Quarry Area
"The Planning Department (PlanD) and the Civil Engineering and
Development Department (CEDD) today (Dec 7) launched the Stage 1 Community
Engagement for the Planning and Engineering Study on Future Land Use at the
Ex-Lamma Quarry Area.
"The Study was commenced early this year mainly to examine the future
land use and explore the development potential of the Ex-Lamma Quarry site,
including residential development and other compatible uses."
Read more...
Below is one of the consultants' two different scenarios and visions for
the future development of the ex-Quarry - "Seaside Living" and
"Seaside Paradise" - including a marina and private and subsidised
housing of up to 12 floors high, for an initial 2,800 flats with a population of
7,000, but a capacity for far more in the future.
Download the Study from the brand-new
www.ex-lammaquarry.hk:
"Roving exhibitions will be staged at different locations during the
community engagement period. A community workshop will be organized at Sok
Kwu Wan, together with a community forum and a public forum held in Yung
Shue Wan and the City Gallery, Central in January 2013.
Members of the public are invited to express their views through the
following channels on or before Feb 6, 2013."
In the meantime, our long-running Lamma Quarry forums are open for your free
and uncensored views and discussions:
Ex-Lamma Quarry and
Developments in the Lamma Quarry's Cement Factory?
Santa on the Beach:
Sat, Dec 22, 6pm: Power Station Beach:
Facebook.
Join us, whether you're a parent, a child eager for presents, a winged fairy
assistant to Santa Claus, love to start and maintain a log fire, or know how
to brew the tastiest mulled wine.
Have a look at my photos from this yearly event, another Lamma Tradition:
Santa on the Beach, 2011
Press release by HK Electric:
Lamma Boat Tragedy Donation
Expected to Raise more than HK$6.3 million [6 December 2012]
The yearly snake season has come to a cool ending and the picture postings
in the "Lamma Snake Sightings" Facebook group have dried up for the winter.
I came across this very entertaining and informative blog story, with photos
and videos, in the Q Language blog, posted by Q Admin:
Lamma Island, Hong Kong –
A Great Place To Practise Your English Speaking Skills
"Lamma Island, Hong Kong: The Other Expat Community
If you are coming to Hong Kong to learn English and are worried you won’t
have enough opportunity to practice your English speaking skills, there are
many places you can go to interact with native speakers in Hong Kong.
 Everybody
knows Central is the "expat's hangout", but did you know there are other
expat communities where English is spoken as much as Chinese? ...
Even the expats of other countries speak English to communicate with each
other, so you will not be the only one trying your best English! Lamma is a
truly international microcosm within Hong Kong. It’s colourful characters
are sure to delight you."
Read more...
Baza Mac commented: "Are there snakes on Lamma?"
Q Admin replied: "There are a few, but don’t worry, they all speak
English! :)"
The blog even got a "Useful link" to this website, so I'm just returning the
favour here with giving it a big temporary surge in traffic.
"Follow brain teasing clues on an adventurous exploration of Lamma
Island.
There are creative challenges and prizes galore."
To get an idea what this ancient Lamma tradition is all about, check out the
Team Photo Gallery & my own story/pics from last year:
To get you warmed up and in the spirit, there'll be the yearly
Music Quiz the night before, this Sat, Dec 8, also in The Island
Bar, Santa Claus's Lamma HQ.
Click below for more info and the brand-new Lamma Treasure Hunt website:
 
Click for photo gallery
  
  
  
 
  
Nick the Bookman's review (5,056 words)
P.S. Sorry for the quality of the snapshots above. All were taken
with my backup camera, a little, cheap Sony pocket shooter. My
6-year-old, semi-professional equipment (Nikon D80, zoom lens and flash
unit) is in the repair shop right now and it's unaffordable for me to get
them all fixed. Please bear with me a while longer while I'm trying to save
up enough cash to get them repaired or replaced.
This might take quite some
time, except Santa might judge me a "good boy" this year or, more likely,
somebody would actually point and click on that severely underachieving,
almost abandoned Donate button at the top right of this page.
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Lamma-zine
started in 2002, and will be updated (almost) daily with anything
vaguely related to Lamma Island or its residents, be it news,
stories, events, links, photos, artworks, videos, etc.
Contact Lamma-Gung with
anything relevant to Lamma or Lammaites that you'd like to see
published in the Lamma-zine, Events Calendar, Photo Galleries, Links
or in our Eng. and Chin. forums!
 All
text, photos & graphics by Lamma-Gung, if not otherwise
credited. Click on button on left for
Creative Commons license.
Twice a month, the Lamma-zine Blog will be promoted via an
email newsletter to all registered
subscribers and forum members, currently over 4,500.
Free subscriptions!
All former posts are stored in the Blog Archives,
see below.
All materials and photos © 2012 Lamma-Gung.
Some rights reserved.
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2012: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2013: Jan
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