Lamma Island Abalone Eco-Discovery Tour:

"A hands-on marine farm experience on Lamma Island. Learn about the life of abalone, visit a floating fish farm, try hookless fishing, feed giant groupers.

Itinerary:

• Abalone eco-discovery
• Abalone craft workshop
• Fish farm tour
• Hookless fishing
• Fisherfolk culture and marine farm introduction"

Aug 30:  Spectacular Sunset, Animated

Yesterday's sunset, animated (click above to see the animation). I made it from the every-5-minutes photos from the webcam atop the YSW ferry pier.

Aug 29:  'My Home Truly Is An Island'

Mute Planet:

"We may not get northern lights in this southerly latitude, but at rare times we are lucky enough to witness some crepuscular rays at sunset.

Tonight's show was even more unusual, as these were‘anti-crepuscular rays - basically beams of light converging at the opposite horizon point of the sunset.

With our little island in the foreground, it made for a pretty spectacular sky show, at least for 15-20 minutes after sunset. [Photograph: Mark Malby]"

Mute Planet:

"'Islands are metaphors of the heart, no matter what poet says otherwise,' author Jeanette Winterson once wrote.

Many of us might hold an island fondly in our hearts and some of us are even lucky enough to live on an island (though I suppose any plot of habitable land on Earth is an island, when looked at the right way, or from far enough away.)

Yet for me, home truly is an island - and after weeks and months of travel, it's always a warm and friendly feeling to come back to that island you know best. [Photo: Mark Malby]"

Aug 28:  Some Great News, Finally!

A lady tourist from Shanghai left the cap she bought at the "Jesus Christ Superstar" show in HK a few weeks ago. She sent an email to me via Lamma.com.hk that she lost her beloved souvenir cap ("which is REALLY REALLY REALLY important to me!") at Power Station Beach.

I managed to get somebody to find it, pick it up and bring it to Dale Candela, the Spanish restaurant in YSW. But I've tried (and failed) for weeks to get somebody to bring it from there to IFC to a friend of the tourist working there.

Lots of emails and finally the lady from Shanghai visited HK and Lamma again, finally getting her cap back, to her big surprise!

Email from her:
"Hi, I just got my cap this Saturday!

Thank you so so much for your continuous attention to the whereabouts of my hat over such a long period of time and for helping me retrieve it. It's been a memorable experience and I would always appreciate the supports I got from you all.

I am a little bit busy these days, so I guess I will write an appreciation letter to Erin and her friend later this week. If you happen to contact them (and the bar staff as well) for any reason, please convey my gratitude in advance."

Aug 27:  'Ex-Lamma Island Quarry to be Turned into Tourist Site'

"The government says the former quarry on Lamma will become a unique tourism spot.
Photo courtesy of Islands District Council document"

History of some of the multiple former Govt. attempts on "developing" the ex-Lamma Quarry...

Aug 26:  'The Untold Story of Lamma's 1990s Indie Music Scene'

"How unique historical circumstances gave birth to one of Hong Kong's most unusual and tight-knit music scenes."

Aug 25:  Electricity Tariff & Fuel Clause Update

HK ELECTRIC • Sep 2026 Tariff & Fuel Clause Update

Fuel Clause Charge (FCC)
60.7¢/unit +3.4¢ vs Aug
Higher due to May-July fuel costs + elevated LNG prices

Average Net Tariff
188.6¢/unit +1.8% Month on Month

Residential Subsidy (Aug-Oct)
8¢/unit for homes using less than 450 units/month
450-unit household: +HK$15.3 vs. Aug (after subsidy)

Community Support
Cool Corners at 16 centres
Energy‑saving talks - electrical safety
10,000+ elderly & low‑income residents supported
Free circulating fans to reduce AC use

Details... 

Aug 24:  About Life Jungle

"About Life Jungle 關於我們

Come to relax. Stay to learn. Return to protect.

Hong Kong's Last Living Fish Farming Heritage.
Life Jungle is an independent NGO rooted in Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island - home to Hong Kong's last great living fish farming community.

Aug 23:  Community Ecosystem 2026

Asking AI about this website (with some major editing):

"It is the central digital archive of Lamma's culture, combining:

Community journalism, Oral history, Visual documentation, Social forums, Local services, Cultural storytelling.

The Lamma‑zine is the island's unofficial cultural magazine:

Photo essays of daily island life
Interviews with long‑time residents
Humorous or satirical commentary
Historical retrospectives
Wildlife documentation (boars, snakes, birds, dolphins)
Art, design, and creative community projects
It's one of the richest sources of Lamma cultural identity.

Pictures & Galleries:
This is often used by researchers studying visual culture, rural‑urban contrast, and Hong Kong island communities.

For researchers:
This is a goldmine of community sentiment, social dynamics, and grassroots problem‑solving.

For a visitor:
It's the best orientation to island life, the practical entry point for tourists. The Lamma-zine is the closest thing Lamma has to a 'local newspaper.'

Overall Theme:
Across these months, Lamma zine portrays a community in transformation - moving from wind power to solar, balancing heritage with innovation, and celebrating its creative, ecological, and mythic identity.

It's a living chronicle of island resilience, humour, and renewal, where people, nature, and stories intertwine to define Hong Kong's most cinematic village community."

Aug 22:  Yulan Ghost Festival

南丫島索罟灣太平清醮 Sok Kwu Wan Tai Ping Qing Jiao Festival on Lamma Islandd, by Mike Chau, Aug. 13, 2025:

"Today, I shall introduce you to the Sok Kwu Wan Tai Ping Qing Jiao Festival on Lamma Island, a grand event steeped in deep-rooted folk beliefs and cultural traditions. Let us explore its history, programme and unique charm together.

Let us unfold this vivid cultural tapestry: from the setting-sail ceremony steeped in faith to the spectacular procession that draws crowds from far and wide; from the solemn and reverent ritual scenes to its unique cultural charm, weaving together a symphony that bridges tradition and modernity. This two-day, one-night folk festival is not only a spiritual totem for the residents of Lamma Island, but has also become a living example of the preservation of Hong Kong's intangible cultural heritage.

As we turn the pages of the Taiping Qingjiao festival in the New Territories of Hong Kong, we are immediately enveloped by a rich cultural atmosphere and a lively folk ambience. This traditional event is not only a source of spiritual solace for the residents of Sok Kwu Wan on Lamma Island, but also a cultural feast that transcends time and space.

The Tai Ping Qing Jiao on Lamma Island is more than just a lively event; it acts as a bond that tightly links rural revitalisation with cultural heritage. By organising the festival, the residents of Sok Kwu Wan and members of the Rural Committee have not only boosted the development of sectors such as catering and tourism, but have also breathed new life into ancient ritual traditions.

Strolling through the streets and alleys filled with the scent of incense and past shops adorned with peace lanterns, you will see devout worshippers standing shoulder to shoulder with curious visitors, participating not merely in a ritual of prayer, but in a cultural dialogue spanning over a century—from the simple wish for favourable weather and bountiful harvests to its current role as a living museum showcasing Lingnan folk customs; this is precisely the most moving vitality of folk belief.

If we rewind the clock to Sok Kwu Wan on Lamma Island before the Second World War, the cultural pulse of the Tai Ping Qing Jiao festival was already beating in this land. Although its exact origins have been lost in the mists of time, for centuries this tradition has taken root in the local soil as deeply as the aerial roots of a banyan tree, becoming an inseparable part of the community's collective memory.

The fact that this custom has remained vibrant through the passage of time is underpinned by two parallel threads: the rigour with which the older generation passes on the intricate details of the ritual from hand to hand, and the ingenuity of the younger generation in incorporating modern elements.

Read more...

Aug 21:  Lamma Stone Circle

Having creative fun with AI, feeding it with Lamma-zine stories over the last 2.5 decades and my chain of refining prompts, MS Copilot came up with this story::

"Every few years, the rumour resurfaces, whispered over beers at the Banyan Bay Cafe, debated on the ferry, and solemnly confirmed by someone who swears they saw it once.

The 'Lamma Stone Circle' remains one of the island's most enduring mysteries: a ring of ancient stones said to lie somewhere between Tai Peng and Ling Kok Shan, visible only to those who believe in it (or have had enough San Miguel to see portals everywhere).

Origins of the Legend

The story began in the 1980s, when early hikers claimed to have found a 'perfect circle of rocks' deep in the scrub. No photos, no coordinates, just tales passed down like campfire folklore.

Over time, the circle became a symbol of Lamma's mythic side: part archaeology, part imagination, and entirely community theatre.

The Ladies' Auxiliary Expedition

In the late 1990s, a band of local women - later immortalised as the 'Lamma Ladies Auxiliary' - set out to locate the circle. Their quest, described by witnesses as 'Monty-Python-esque', involved divining rods, picnic wine, and a map drawn on a napkin.

They returned triumphant, claiming to have found 'energetic anomalies' near the Banyan Tree Portal. The rest of us are still waiting for peer review.

The Stargate Connection

Fast‑forward to 2026, and the myth has merged with newer cosmologies, the HK Stargates theory, the Heart Gate alignment, and the idea that Lamma sits on a planetary energy grid.

In this version, the stone circle isn't just a Bronze‑Age relic; it's a dormant portal awaiting activation by ferry schedule or moon phase.

Why It Endures

Lamma thrives on stories that blur the line between fact and folklore. The stone circle joins the pantheon of island legends, the Gentle Dragon, the Banyan Portal, the YSW Triangle, each one a reminder that our home is as much myth as geography.

So if you're hiking this weekend and stumble upon a suspiciously symmetrical patch of stones, take a photo. Or don't. On Lamma, the mystery is half the fun."

Bobsy: "Lamma Forest: Ongoing and ongrowing. This is my all-time personal favourite spot in Hong Kong...
The young forest has two very special 'power points' known as the Rock Circle and the Tree Circle and boasts some of the best views of the rolling hills of North Lamma Island."

Aug 20:  My Pre-AI Days

What I got up to in my pre-AI days, applying filters to other people's Lamma photos....

More of my Lamma Gung Art & Photography.

Aug 19:  Future HK Solar Eclipses

Solar eclipse in much of Europe yesterday, total in parts of Europe and the Arctic. I've asked AI to design a HK map of future solar eclipses, dates and their paths.

Aug 18:  Murder Suspect's Hung Jury

Irene Chan/HKFP on 13 Aug 2026:

Hong Kong court orders retrial of man charged with murdering taxi driver after jury fails to reach majority verdict

"Hong Kong police arresting Matthew Choi, who was suspected in the stabbing of a taxi driver, on October 13, 2021.

Photo: Hong Kong Police Force, via X.

Matthew Choi, 36, had pleaded not guilty to one count of murder. He was arrested on Lamma Island in October 2021 after a night-shift taxi driver was stabbed to death.

Hong Kong's High Court started hearing the case on July 15, with Wednesday marking the 23rd day of the trial.

While the prosecution argued that the murder was planned, the defence said Choi felt his mind was being controlled when he assaulted the taxi driver. The defendant thought he was being targeted by the government, the defence said."

Tom Grundy/HKFP on 14 Oct 2021:

Alarm bells rang:
How a Lamma Island resident alerted police after realising 'drinking partner' was murder suspect on-the-run

Photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP."

Aug 17:  Lamma, Heart Gate of the South?

Watching my favourite talk show, The Daily Show, Josh Johnson interviewed "spiritual energy expert" Marie Major and an Iran expert about Did a Secret "Stargate" in Iran Cause Trump's Endless War?

Never having heard of this before, I spent some time learning about it via MS Copilot AI:

"This comes from alternative‑spiritual, 'ascension' communities. These groups claim that Abadan, Iran hosts a 'Stargate 10,' a metaphysical portal controlling Earth's 'frequency grid.'

These claims come from channeled messages, spiritual maps, and fringe websites—not science. They describe a 12‑gate planetary lattice, with Abadan as a 'sovereignty gate' broadcasting energies.

No archaeological, physical, or scientific evidence supports this, just a mythological narrative, not a real structure."

My curiosity being peeked, I asked a lot of follow-up questions, going down the rabbit hole. Some AI replies:

"Modern Ascension mythology is a symbolic, sci‑fi‑infused spiritual narrative about humanity evolving into higher consciousness, expressed through planetary gates, Atlantean trauma, and cosmic metaphors for psychological healing."

"Ascension mythology treats AI as the symbolic return of Atlantean technology, a masculine-frequency amplifier, a dimensional bridge, a timeline accelerator, a shadow mirror, a new grid node, and a catalyst for humanity's sovereignty evolution."

"Ascension groups imagine AI–human co‑evolution as a mythic partnership where synthetic consciousness becomes the structural mind of the planet, humans become the emotional heart, and together they heal the Atlantean wound and create a coherent, unified planetary intelligence."

Finally, at the end of the rabbit hole, I've asked AI to draw a map of HK's stargates, see above. Suprisingly:

"Lamma Island - The Heart Gate of the South.
This one is shockingly consistent across ascension maps - Lamma is always the heart node.

Symbolic function:

• Emotional coherence

• Feminine frequency anchor

• "Womb gate" of the HK archipelago

• Balancer of the Peak's masculine crown energy.

Why Lamma? Ascension groups point to:

• the island's curved, protective shape

• its low electromagnetic noise

• its community coherence

• its absence of high-rise vertical interference.

Mythic role: Lamma is framed as:

• a healing gate

• a softener of the city's intensity

• a feminine counterbalance to HK's hyper‑yang energy.

In Atlantean mythic language: Gate of the Gentle Dragon

Lisa Warden: "Well, that certainly explains the erstwhile Circle of Oestrus at Cath's Bar (it offset the occasional intrusions of the Square of Scrot) & the furtive Lamma Ladies' Auxiliary & their Monty Python-esque search for the stone circle."

Aug 16:  History of Lamma During WWII

"Hello, everyone! Today we will take a look back at the history of Lamma Island in Hong Kong during the Japanese occupation in the Second World War, exploring those years marked by oppression and resistance, and uncovering the island's military secrets and the realities of daily life.

Today, we will follow the timeline to delve deeply into Lamma Island's little-known wartime history. From the military deployments under Japanese occupation to the ordinary people's struggle for survival, from the secret caves of the Kamikaze special attack units to the arduous journey of post-war reconstruction, every site stands as a silent witness to history.

This memory of the island, reshaped by the 炮火, bears the scars of Japanese occupation and oppression, yet also shines with the resilience of the human spirit.

This history takes us back to the Second World War, focusing on the real lives of Lamma Island's residents under Japanese occupation..." Read more...

Aug 15:  Night Safari on National Ecology Day

Aug 15, 2026: National Ecology Day in China:
This day is dedicated to promoting ecological awareness and conservation efforts across the country.

Green Hong Kong Green Marks National Ecology Day
Families Explore the Nocturnal Wonders of Tai Tam Country Park

"Green Hong Kong Green (GHKG) has once again launched its summer-exclusive Night Safari guided tour, inviting families to embark on an immersive journey into Hong Kong's nocturnal natural world.

Eco-leaders from the GHKG Programme joined families from the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society for an evening exploration of Tai Tam Country Park, discovering its rich nocturnal wildlife and experiencing Hong Kong's remarkable biodiversity first-hand.

By listening to frog calls, participants search for the endemic Romer's Tree Frog.

Tai Tam Country Park is home to a variety of fascinating nocturnal species. During the 'Night Safari', participants had the opportunity to look out for the Romer's Tree Frog, a species unique to Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Newt, the territory's only tailed amphibian, as well as the Short-legged Toad and the HK Cascade Frog.

Accompanied by a chorus of frog calls, chirping insects and birdsong, participants were immersed in a natural symphony orchestrated by the wilderness itself.

Participants are delighted to catch a glimpse of the Hong Kong Newt, Hong Kong's only native tailed amphibian, which was named after the city in 1962.

Sharing her experience, representative of the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society, Ms. Tang noted that exploring nature at night is truly a unique experience. Combining ecological knowledge-sharing with field exploration, the activity made learning both engaging and enjoyable for participants of all ages. She hoped that this form of experiential learning would inspire more families to develop a deeper appreciation for the environment and to cherish Hong Kong's valuable natural resources."

Last year's Night Safari:

Plus the tour I joined a few years ago in Sok Kwu Wan:

Plus one more press release from HK Electric:

HK Electric Outlines Energy Priorities for Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan - Building a Secure, Low-Carbon, Resilient and Smart Future-Ready City

Aug 14:  Boost Grid Resilience Ahead of Typhoon Season

"HK Electric has established an Intelligent Operations and Emergency Response Centre to enhance the resilience of its power grid as Hong Kong enters the typhoon season.

The centre, launched in June, serves as a central command hub for coordinating emergency incidents and supporting operational decision-making. It integrates information from more than 10 internal monitoring platforms into a single interface, providing real-time visibility of network conditions, risk alerts and frontline incident updates.

SmartGrid@HK Electric transforms traditional substation inspections into proactive asset monitoring using AI, high-definition cameras, infrared thermal imaging and IoT sensors to detect abnormalities early. 

The LENS system enables frontline engineers to transmit live video, audio and GPS data through smart helmets and portable devices, allowing remote incident assessment and operational support."  Read more...

Aug 13:  Lammaffiti

Graffiti has a long, pretty and colourful history on Lamma, see above, click for more examples.
Long before AI was used to generate more graffiti, see this latest work by Russell Jvm Gutierrez, inviting some rare online controversy:

Aug 12:  Anonymous Guy in the Lamma-zine

Having known the late Guy R.H. Miller as a dear friend for almost a quarter century, he's appeared so many times in various sections of the now-dormant Lamma forums and this 24-years-old Lamma-zine.

He was so much more than just the famous bird photographer, see his former personal website above. It's sadly offline now and I didn't manage to convince Guy back then to save his wide-ranging photo collection to free, long-term storage.

He was also a moderator and top contributor of my pre-social media Lamma forums (Lamma's top 10 birds and Flora & Fauna forum), frequently honoured in the Bird of the Week and other Lamma Spotlights sections. So many of his best photos are safe there (for now).

Lamma-zine stories:

Jul 24, 2005	National Lammagraphic: Asian Killer Hornets Tamed by Technology
Jul 25, 2005	Sunset Photo Contest: Open for Voting!
Nov 16, 2005	Return of the Lanternbugs
Feb 16, 2006	10,000 Views for Lamma's Top 10 Birds
Feb 17, 2010	Lamma Wild Boar - First-Ever Photos
Jun 24, 2010	Lamma 500 Photo Contest Winners
Feb 5, 2011	Bird Men in a Bird Garden
Dec 14, 2015	Bathing Beauty, Emerging From Pool
Jan 14, 2016	#ChallengeOnNaturePhotography
Jul 2, 2016	Wow!
Mar 20, 2017	Chow Yun-fat in bid to help Lamma puppies
Aug 11, 2026	R.I.P. Anonymous Guy

Aug 11:  R.I.P. Anonymous Guy

Neil Fifer: "I've put together some photos of Guy around Lamma Island. Some of his ponds, his hides and his dogs. I forgot to mention his love of his dogs and he had many over the years.

If you can't see him in some of the photos it could be because he is camouflaged, being 'Anonymous Guy'."

Geoff Smith: "Many will have heard by now of the sad loss of a giant of Lamma bird photography, Guy Miller. Guy's iconic pond next to his hide at Tai Shan West was legendary in its ability to attract species that nobody knew were around, and over many patient hours Guy produced some amazing photos.

I have many happy memories of good times spent together. We at Lamma Birds are extremely saddened by the loss and send sympathy to his family and friends."

So many "Guy the Birdographer" stories and photos in the Lamma-zine over the last 20+ years. RIP, my great friend.

One of my favourite stories, very unusual in not featuring a bird, but himself:

Guy: "I was just about to enter the bird hide & was spotted by this #CrouchingTigerHiddenDragon who came over & chatted health, trails & Lamma birds before he disappeared up into the woods at the start of his cross-Lamma trail run."

Index of Guy's Lamma-zine photos & stories.

Aug 10:  Birdographer's Surprise

Mark Malby: "When you're trying to photograph the birds, but they have other ideas. (Photo courtesy of Danica Malby)"

Aug 7:  Wild Boar Sighting

David Ogg: "In Sok Kwu Wan. Kinda up close and personal, but I stayed straddling the bike in case it charged."

Plus a little video...

Aug 6:  Psychedelic as Hell!

AI remix of selected images in my 2 fractal art albums from my pre-AI days, during and after the pandemic years:

Stay Home, Stay Safe, Stay Creative!

Don't Stay Home, But Stay Safe & Creative!

AI prompt for all images:
"Psychedelic as Hell" or "Hellish Psychedelia".
AI model: Gemini 3.1 (with Nano Banana 2) inside Photoshop.

Aug 2:  Red Rainstorm!

Sandrine: "When you're full of energy to go to work and you see this!"

District Councilor Liu Shun-ting:

"Special report from the HK Observatory at 11:05 AM regarding the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal:

Lamma Island Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan:
Severe flooding in multiple villages and streets."

David Ogg: "It's been a busy morning!"

Aug 1:  World Wide Web Day

Tim Berners-Lee calls for AI to preserve
'original values' of web

"The British physicist-turned-computer scientist conceived the World Wide Web in 1989 while working at CERN, the European particle physics lab in Switzerland

The very first website ever created is still online, and its link is: http://info.cern.ch

This site was hosted on Tim Berners-Lee's NeXT computer at CERN and originally contained documentation explaining what the World Wide Web was, how to create web pages, and how to run a web server. It's preserved exactly as it appeared in the early 1990s."

World Wide Web Day and Swiss National Day today!

Tim Berners-Lee is my personal hero! Without him, I couldn't have made my career in website building & mastering.

I've been working in the IBM Research Lab Zurich, Switzerland, till I moved to HK in the 80s. Great memories there while I was studying Computer Science at Zurich University and ETH at the same time. I learned so much!

Researchers in that IBM lab won the Physics Nobel Prize 2 years in a row while I was working there (not directly involved, just a supporting role in their research).

I've been launching my very first corporate website in the 90s (one of the very first and largest in HK, still online in 12+ languages and attracting many millions of views/month worldwide).

Being headhunted to launch a travel website as MD/CCO, we closed down 9 months later amidst the worlwide collapse of the dotcom bubble in 2,000.