No llamas on Lamma

Only 20 minutes by ferry from bustling Central Hong Kong is a casual, laid-back island community with a population of under 10,000.  Lamma Island is Hong Kong's third largest island with a total area of about five square miles and situated to the southwest of Hong Kong island. 

Lamma is a short ferry ride southwest of Hong Kong Island

View of Yung Shue Wan village on Lamma Island

Lamma is a hiker's dream, with marked trails that start in its small villages, wind through its rugged terrain and lead up its mountains to reveal vast views of its beaches, the ocean and other Hong Kong islands.  This automobile-free island attracts a relatively large number of expatriates -- many of whom are artists and musicians -- drawn by Lamma's tranquility and lower cost of living compared to Hong Kong Island.

Taking a breather from our bicycle ride

Jeff and I visited Lamma on a warm Sunday.  One of the things that got our attention almost immediately is the lack of skyscrapers: Lamma limits building height to three stories, except for a lone wind turbine at the top of one of its peaks.  We rented a pair of dilapidated bicycles and rode through Yung Shue Wan village, dodging and weaving around large groups of tourists from mainland China.  We rode (actually we walked) our bicycles up a steep hill to a hilltop pavilion with amazing views in every direction.  At the top of this hill is the Kamikaze Cave where the occupying Japanese forces stored speedboats and launched suicide missions against Allied ships during World War II. The trail took us past Hung Shing Yeh beach, where large families enjoyed picnics and a swim at the beach where a sign in English urged swimmers to stay inside the shark protection net.

Once we recovered from the steep climb, we coasted back down the hill to Yung Shue Wan village and returned our bicycles (damage for 2 hours: the equivalent of about $9 US Dollars).   Our next stop was Tin Hau Temple, one of three so named on the island.  Tin Hau is the goddess of the sea, and she is traditionally honored by fishermen and others whose livelihood depends on the sea.  As such, Tin Hau Temples are typically found in coastal towns throughout China.  Burning coils of incense hang in front of the temple's entrance, and a look through the doorway reveals an elaborate interior.  We were invited to light incense sticks in front of the temple, but discouraged from taking any photos inside.

Incense coils burn in front of Tin Hau Temple

We finished our visit to Lamma with a leisurely stroll through the village, stopping for a seafood lunch and a little shopping before catching the short ferry ride back to Central Hong Kong.