Paradise thirty minutes from the metropolis.
One of the indisputable advantages of Hong Kong is that at any moment you can escape from the stone jungle and in just thirty minutes get to an oasis of real nature. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is made up of over two hundred and fifty islands, many of which have beaches and forested areas, providing the city dweller with a valuable opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle, get some fresh air and relax. I will show you one of the most popular- Lamma Island (南丫岛), Hong Kong's third largest island.
The territory of the island is approximately 13 sq. km. ., and the number of inhabitants is about seven thousand. Among the inhabitants of Lamma there are not only Chinese, but also foreigners, attracted by more affordable housing prices, and, most importantly, a calm atmosphere. There are also hotels and guesthouses on the island.. Some of my Chinese friends from the mainland, when they come to Hong Kong, prefer to stay here (budget and more pleasant), and get to the city every day by ferry.
How to get to Lamma Island.
Easily. Ferries depart from Central Pier (Central Ferry Terminal) every half an hour, ticket price 17 HKD-24 HKD. If there are a lot of tourists, on holidays and weekends, more often. There are also ferries from Aberdeen Pier. The ferry ride is spectacular and not at all tiring.
What to see on Lamma Island.
There are several trekking routes on Lamma Island, the main ones are indicated on the maps near the pier. Getting lost is extremely difficult or even impossible. The route runs through beaches, villages, small banana plantations. You can see the remains of ancient villages and temples dedicated to the patroness of fishermen, the goddess Tin Hau. The two largest villages are Yung Shu Wan and Sok Ku Wan. Near the first village you will find a whole street of restaurants, most of which offer seafood.
On Lamma Island, you just need to relax, walk, wander along the beaches, discover and collect colored glass, of stunning beauty, carefully turned by the sea.
P.S. On the small island of Lamma there is a large power station supplying electricity to the entire Hong Kong Island. Although the power plant is coal-fired, I did not feel any discomfort from its close presence, however, perhaps my hardening with Beijing smog is to blame.
The city of Lamu is the oldest in Kenya and is famous for its history. Previously, it was a major port engaged in the export of timber, ivory and amber, as well as one of the major points of the slave trade that flourished at that time. After slave labor was banned, Lamu's economy declined and has not recovered since. In the 1960s, tourism began to develop and the sleepy island became real paradise a hippie rivaled only by Kathmandu.
Despite this, the island has managed to retain its distinctive character and charm. The simple lines of Swahili architecture with the obligatory verandas and rooftop terraces allow friendly locals to enjoy stunning ocean views and daytime breezes.
Donkeys - the main means of transportation - roam the labyrinths of streets the width of an ordinary sidewalk. Children laugh in the yards, playing in the sun, while men talk in groups in the shade, and women in black “buy-buy” capes work behind the heavy carved wooden doors for which the island is famous - it seems to be paradise in front of you.
Lamu Island is a place where the canons of Islam are strictly observed, so be especially careful about how you dress.
You can go to Lamu Island from Malindi for one day (Last return bus departs from the mainland Lamu Pier at 19.30). But it is better to spend the night, there are a lot of hotels and inns. The next morning, you can take a hike to the neighboring village of Shela, 2 km south of the city - on foot or by boat. In total, there are three large and many small islands in the archipelago, but Lamu is the most colorful.
Lamu is easily accessible to an independent traveler - for this you need to take a morning minibus in the city of Malindi (500 sh., 5 hours on the way), get to the Mokove ferry and transfer to a motor boat (150 sh., 10 min.).
The police posts along the road are explained by the proximity of the Somali border, which is about 180 km from Lamu. In recent years, several foreigners have been abducted in the vicinity of Lamu, and the Englishwoman Judy Tibat was ransomed after 6 months of forced "vacation" in Somalia (her husband died). In October 2011, the Kenyan army entered the territory of the pirate state, creating a buffer zone along the border. The Kenyan fleet is patrolling the border waters, and most importantly, local residents have stepped up their vigilance.
The Lamu area is covered with continuous mangroves - here they are the densest in Kenya, almost 29,000 hectares. Outlandish forests growing from sea water are completely exposed at low tide around noon - if you transferred from the bus to the motorboat at this time, then in 30 minutes. swimming (150 sh.) you can see the mangroves down to their roots. The city of Lamu, located on the eastern coast of the island of the same name, looks spectacular during high water: the coast is low, and it seems that white buildings rise straight from the waves. This is one of the oldest cities in East Africa. Since 2001, the old quarters of Lamu have been included in the UNESCO Protected List. There are only two streets in the town that deserve to be called such: this is Harambi Avenue (Harambee Av.) and Kenyatta Road (Kenyatta Rd.). The first is an embankment - there are a city pier, a museum, the best restaurants and hotels on it. The second one runs parallel to it at a distance of a block from the sea, and then nameless lanes begin among blank white walls. The life of the aborigines secretly flows behind the carved doors - only occasionally a shutter will slam and a flock of children will run. Most of the houses are very old. (some are 200 years old) and made of shell rock blocks - these are real fortresses that protect not only from people, but also from the heat. The flat roof is blown by the breeze and serves for rest and sleep in the hot summer. A reed canopy is often arranged over such a terrace - do not think that this is the roof of the house. The city of Lamou appears in the Indiana Jones Young Years series, depicting the Gabonese Port Gentil in a novel about Indy's acquaintance with Albert Schweitzer.
Old Baku, where Kozodoev from the "Diamond Hand" wandered around, is flowers compared to Lamu. Remember the direction to the sea: tired of wandering, return to the embankment and have lunch. If you are interested in dates, facts and historical details, you can take a guide from those who are waiting for tourists at the pier (about 300 sh., in English).
There is no transport in the city, all the more surprising is the number of donkeys: they roam where they want, including along the seabed at low tide. If you turn right from the pier, then almost immediately the museum building will appear on your left (daily 8.00-18.00, adults/children 500/250 sh.). Lamu was an independent state of slave traders, then briefly fell into the sphere of German interests, but after 1885 became the possession of Albion. The building, built in the early 1880s, served the needs of the colonial administration for more than half a century. There are few exhibits in the museum, but all of them are interesting - for example, here you can see samples of all types of local carved doors. Luxurious portals with a semicircle at the top belong to Zanzibar, rectangular ones with copper decorations belong to Indian, and a purely local version is doors with a laconic carving pattern inscribed in four circles. On the second floor, two huge siva horns in the form of elephant tusks are kept: with their help they signaled the beginning of the religious holiday of Mawlid. After leaving the museum, do not rush to throw away the ticket: it allows you to visit the fort and the former German post office.
After the museum, you will come across several carpentry workshops on your way - it is there that they make wooden decorations for buildings, as well as furniture and boat decoration details. On the nose of each dhow there are circles with an Islamic crescent and a star - these are the “eyes” of the ship. Such a "peephole" can be bought from craftsmen for 100-200 sh. At low tide, dhows lie along the embankment and you can go down to them by special steps. Each sailboat is decorated with seagrass carvings, to which the owners add images of lions, fish or dolphins.
Behind the workshops you will see Kipepeo Guesthouse - near it you can turn left and go deeper into the city blocks. Using the tips of the natives, you can find the Swahili House museum in this part of Lamu (Swahili House Museum, 8.00-17.00, 500 NOK) is a dwelling with a long history, a well in the yard and rooms furnished in a traditional style.
Continuing your adventures on Kenyatta Road and walking south, you will stumble upon one of the active wells, and then at the former German post office, which has become a museum (8.00-17.00, with Lamu museum tickets) Both are on the left side of the street. After passing the post office, in a few minutes you will come to the main city square in front of the fort (8.00-18.00, with Lamu museum tickets). Here you can turn right and walk along the northern side of the square to the ruins of the Pvani mosque. (Pwani Mosque) - oldest building on Lama, built in the XIV century. and, alas, did not come down to us in its entirety.
Once upon a time slaves were traded on the square in front of the fort, and now they discuss the news in the shade of two huge trees framing the gates of the fortress. It was built in 1813-1821. after an unsuccessful attempt by the rulers of Mombasa to take control of Lama. The fort has an interesting design: it has only two round towers on the northwest and southeast sides.
Lamu is famous for its holidays. In the spring, Muslim believers, and with them all other natives and visitors, cheerfully celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (Maulid). At the end of August, the annual Lamu Festival takes place - a colorful tourist event that lasts a week.
About 4 km south of the city is Shela (Shela)- an authentic fishing village that can be reached on foot or by dhow (about 250 sh.). The beach south of the village is considered the best in the vicinity of the island capital. Boat trips around the islands of the archipelago are the main attraction of Lamu. During such a journey (from 2 hours to the whole day) you can see the ruins of the old city of Takwe (Takwe, XV-XVII centuries) on about. Manda and Siyu Fort (Siyu Fort) on about. Pat. The trip may also include landing on the beach, swimming, and lunch. Coral reefs of the Kiunga Marine Sanctuary stretch for 60 km north of Lamu (Kiunga National Marine Reserve, adults/children $15/$10) where they dive with and without scuba. Trips to Kiunga from Lamu and Shela are possible both by dhow and by speedboats (arranges any hotel).
The last bus in the direction of Malindi leaves from the Mokove ferry at 19.30. By this time, the last flights of motorboats are tied, so there is no point in rushing.
Where to stay
The capital of the archipelago and neighboring Shela are simply teeming with hotels and guesthouses - this is not counting the rented apartments. To appreciate the diversity of the local temporary housing market, please visit www.lamu.org
How to get there
A small archipelago lies 133 km north of Malindi. For firms whose offices are located opposite the Kobil gas station on Uhuru Road (ex. Tawakal), there are flights to the Mokove ferry (Mokowe)- it connects the capital of the islands with the "mainland". Matatou leaves from the gas station daily around 7.00 (500 sh). Cars follow Lamu Road to the junction of the B8 and C112 highways, where they turn right. Leaving Malindi at 7.00, you will find yourself on the embankment of the capital Lamu around noon (by plane about 40 min.).
Yesterday, my friends and I went to the third (out of 200) largest island in Hong Kong - the reserved Lamma Island (emphasis on the first syllable). In fact, in Chinese it is called quite differently, but the British heard the Cantonese "Pok Li Chau" that way, which meant only "southern island with a cape" and now this island is called "Lamma" in all documents
In local slang, the island is figuratively called "The island of the ghost teachers" (the island of ghost teachers), due to the unusually large number of English teachers living on this island and the local pejorative name for white people "guailou" (which means ghost).
By the way, there are even more British Guailou on this island than the Chinese. Many Europeans choose this island because of the silence, closeness to nature, and because you can afford to buy a plot of land next to your house, and children have places to walk and swim.
Swim GymTested, Approved and Recommended...
Lamma Island is only half an hour by fast ferry from the central piers of Hong Kong (Pier 4, HK$20 one way).
... literally 5 minutes after departure, the ferry sails past the Green Island prison
... in the outer waters of the container port of Hong Kong, there is constant bustle - ships that do not fit in the port are unloaded. By the way - the Hong Kong container port is the second largest in the world - only the port of Shanghai is larger.
Lamma Island is an idyllic place. Houses higher than 3 floors and cars are prohibited here.
Along the Yung Shue Wan you will find countless Chinese-run fish restaurants and a variety of British-run bars and cafes.
The scale of crime on the island can be judged by this police station. Last year, the last high-profile incident happened - a bike went missing from one "Guailou". Then it turned out that this European just parked his bike at the bar and forgot about it in the morning.
just 25 minutes walk from the far pier Yung Shue Wan (or 1.5 hour walk from Sok Kwu Wan (Picnic Bay) and you will find yourself on a picturesque beach surrounded by restaurants and bars. There are places to eat, change clothes and take a shower after swimming.
despite the fact that it is already November and a sharp drop in temperature to + 26C - the water is still warm
on the beach about 50/50 - Europeans and Chinese
A Chinese woman who came to Hong Kong from Canada for the weekend tells us about how her parents lived in this former English colony.
There are only 5 electric cars on the island. One of them is an ambulance (rather it's just a stretcher), another one is a fire engine (practically a large pump on wheels) and 3 trucks used mainly for garbage collection.
many European hippies live on the island and this is perhaps the only place on the islands where you can quietly buy "weed". For example, as friends told us, this gray-haired bookseller actually buys a completely different product, which he tries not to advertise too much.
There are really a lot of European hippies here - that's why many banks and serious organizations do not accept resumes from Europeans when they see that the home address is Lamma Island.
The island is located right on the caravan route, so the Japanese had a crazy idea during the occupation - they dug several dozen tunnels in which they were supposed to hide on mini-submarines of kamikaze samurai and unexpectedly jump out, attacking passing enemy ships. But the war ended with the surrender of Japan and the kamikaze never came to fruition.
One of the caves dug for kamikaze submarines
Lamma is a great place for a Sunday walk through a picturesque pass. From one pier to another about 2 hours. I would recommend sailing to Lamma at Sok Kwu Wan (Picnic Bay), which is located roughly in the middle of the island, and sailing back to Hong Kong from Yung Shue Wan (translated as Banyan Tree Bay), which is located in the northwest of Lamma Island.
Among the islands of Hong Kong, Lamma is the third largest and is popular with tourists. It is located 15 kilometers southwest of Hong Kong, representing a quiet and peaceful place with amazingly beautiful nature. You can get from the Central District of Hong Kong to Lamma Island only by water transport - by ferry in half an hour, and by boat - in 20 minutes.
On Lamma Island, the tallest buildings are three-story. It is forbidden to build taller buildings on Lamma. There are practically no cars. Residents of Lamma Island get around on foot or by bicycle. The pier where the ferry docks is filled with hundreds of bicycles. Their inhabitants of the island leave here, leaving for Hong Kong for work. There are no motor roads on Lamme, as we usually understand them. Instead, there are narrow streets. On Lamma Island, you can rent a boat and go fishing or enjoy a pleasant boat trip.
The beauty of Lamma Island, the atmosphere of peace and tranquility that reigns on it, attracts many people of creative professions - artists, musicians. Among young people looking for romance and solitude, Lamma Island is also very popular. The simplicity of life on the island attracts a considerable number of foreigners who buy housing here and move to Lamma for permanent residence.
Most of all, a trip to Lamma Island will be enjoyed and remembered by lovers of nature and hiking, as well as photographers, for whom there will be no shortage of unique shots on the island. There are not a lot of temples, museums and other architectural buildings here, so people usually go to Lamma to take a break from the metropolis in the fresh air, in silence. Tourists going to Lamma should take care of the comfort of their shoes - you will most likely have to walk a lot. Gorgeous coastal landscapes, clean sandy beaches and gentle sea - these are the main attractions that Lamma welcomes its guests.
The length of Lamma Island from north to south is about 10 kilometers. The width of the island is about two kilometers. Natural landscapes are presented in the form of hills covered with tropical forest, from 70 to 100 meters above sea level. The coastline is heavily indented. The average air temperature on the island is +40C in summer and +20C in winter.
The main settlements of Lamma Island are Yung Shue Wan, located in the northern part of the island, and Sok Kwo Wan, located in the east of Lamma. Each of these settlements is a port accessible by ferry from Hong Kong. Between these two settlements, through the picturesque valleys and hills, there is a walking route, the path along which will take about 2 hours to walk.
Sok Kwu Wan is a traditional Chinese fishing village and one of the largest fish farms in Hong Kong. Here, vacationers can see the Fisherman's Village, created specifically to acquaint tourists with the traditions and life of the island's fishermen. How to properly set sails on a boat, how to increase the fish catch, how to repair nets and repair fishing boats - you can learn about all this in the Fisherman's Village. In addition, here you can get acquainted with models of fishing boats, including a small three-masted boat-house, which can be seen less and less in modern life in Hong Kong. Along the beach in Sok Kwu Wan stretches a string of seafood restaurants.
Not far from Sok Kwu Wan are the Kamikaze Grottoes. This is a tunnel built by the Japanese who occupied Hong Kong during World War II. Then boats were placed in the grotto, in which kamikaze participated in the offensive.
Yung Wan Shu is a more civilized place. There are shops, souvenir and craft shops where tourists can buy handmade jewelry and souvenirs, as well as exotic cafes and bars. Yung Wan Shu is home to the bulk of Lamma Island's population, about 80%.
The beaches, which are about 15 kilometers long, are one of the main attractions of Lamma Island. In addition to swimming and relaxing beach holiday, on the beaches of the island, vacationers have the opportunity to practice water sports. Some of the best in the region are facilities for yachting, cricket, golf and squash, located on the island of Lamma. The most popular beaches of the island are:
- Hung Shing E. The beach is distinguished by the purity of the water and the coast, as well as very fine sand. The beach is equipped with changing rooms, showers, barbecue areas and small kiosks. Hung Shing Ye Beach is a twenty-minute walk from the Yung Shu Wan settlement, signs will help you find it.
- Lo Sho Shing. It is considered one of the best Hong Kong beaches and is located approximately in the middle of the main settlements of the island. The beach, in accordance with the existing classification, belongs to the first class. Swimming, sunbathing, collecting a variety of shells on Lo Sho Shing beach is a pleasure.
In the town of Sham Van you can see the nesting place of green turtles. Every year, between June and October, green turtles come ashore in large numbers to lay their eggs.
Many hotels in Lamma Island are located on the beaches. There are both cheap hotels and luxury hotels. Regardless of the price level, Lamma hotels are distinguished by a consistently high level of service. Guests on Lamma are treated with great attention, but without excessive intrusiveness. On the territory of hotels and hotels there are cafes, bars and restaurants. Beautiful views of the sea coast, comfortable rooms, developed infrastructure and well-groomed areas at the hotels allow you to relax on the island with special comfort.
Numerous restaurants of Lamma Island hospitably open their doors to guests every day. The choice of cafes and restaurants here is quite large. Tiny cozy restaurants side by side with more spacious ones, indoor establishments - with open-air restaurants. Some of the existing restaurants are family-owned, where the secrets of preparing great dishes have been passed down from generation to generation for decades, or even hundreds of years.
Not surprisingly, in Lamma's restaurants, the most common dishes are sea delicacies - from varieties of sea fish, lobster and shrimp, crabs and shellfish, scallops and oysters. Seafood in restaurants is fresh and of excellent quality. It is noteworthy that seafood is more common in Sok Kwu Wan restaurants. Yung Shue Wan has western-style bars and restaurants.
Restaurants and cafes of Lamma Island are not distinguished by chic and pomp, unlike similar establishments in Hong Kong and Kowloon. Simplicity and comfortable, cozy atmosphere give them a special charm. On weekends and holidays, Lamm's restaurants are crowded and lively. In addition to vacationers and local residents, employees of Hong Kong firms and offices often come here for corporate and business feasts.
Most restaurants on the island have aquariums with live fish and other marine life. Diners of the restaurant can choose their own sea creature, which will be immediately prepared for them by a skilled chef.
Most of the restaurants are located on the sea coast, so, in addition to delicious dishes, their guests can enjoy picturesque views of coastal landscapes.
As in other territories belonging to Hong Kong, there are two Tin Hau temples on Lamma Island. One of them is located in Yung Wan Shu Settlement, at the very end of Yung Wan Shu Street. The construction of the temple dates back to 1870. Externally, the Tin Hau temple is made in the traditional style for Chinese temples. At the gates of the temple are stone statues of two lions. Another Tin Hau temple is located in the opposite settlement of the island - Sok Kwu Wan. The goddess Tin Hau, the patroness of sailors and fishermen, is worshiped by many people on the island of Lamma. After all, it is fishing that remains the main occupation and profession of most of the islanders.
Lamma Island is certainly worthy of the attention of tourists. A quiet and very picturesque place, where time flows measuredly, and people live following long-term traditions, will leave pleasant memories in your memory. It is especially surprising to be on Lamma Island after spending time in the frantic pace of Hong Kong.
Lamma Island ( in the English version Lamma, the local name is Pok Lee Chau) is just a half hour ferry ride from the central piers. This is a very calm, surprisingly pleasant corner of the many-sided Hong Kong. Here is a real kingdom of nature, there is not a single car, exceptionally fresh seafood, very good beaches and friendly people who prefer a calm rhythm of life.
The local population of about 8 thousand is mostly concentrated in two settlements x, one of them in the northwest - Yung Shue Wan can be conditionally called a village, the second in the bay of the middle part of the island - Sok Kwu Wan, of course, a village. Both settlements are low, three floors maximum, both have many seafood cafes, but Yung Shue Wan is much larger in size, much livelier, there are many more shops and restaurants here than in Sok Kwu Wan. In addition to them, small settlements are dotted around the island, completely quiet, so that passing through them, it seems that even in a whisper to speak is loud.
Of the theoretical disadvantages, one could name the presence here of a large coal power plant . It can spoil the first impression of Lamma Island, but you quickly get used to it, and from the side of the beaches, its appearance does give a touch of futurism. I don’t know how they did it, but the power plant does not pollute nature at all, and the air on the island and the water on the beaches are the cleanest! It's hard to believe from someone's words, I myself strongly doubted until we took a walk around this amazingly green and lively island.
So, to get to Lamma you need a ferry from the central pier number 4, if you wish, you can choose a ship going to Yung Shu Wan or Sok Kwu Wan. At the time of our trip, tickets cost: Yung Shue Wan on weekends 19 HKD, other days 14 HKD, Sok Kwu Wan 24 HKD and 17 HKD respectively. In addition, Lamma can be reached from the Aberdeen waterfront, it is very close, only five kilometers away. A link to a website with ferry schedules and prices can be found in the article about Hong Kong transport.
There are trails on the island, the main one is called Lamma Island Family Walk. It is clear from the name that the trail is intended for family walks, and indeed Hong Kongers love to come to Lamma with their families, so it is very crowded here on weekends. The same trail also serves as a cycle path, because the only means of transport for the inhabitants of the island are bicycles. By the way, you can easily rent them.
Several small carts were adapted for the economic and social needs of the islanders. I met information that they are all electric, but on one I seem to have seen a muffler with an exhaust pipe and a gas tank, although I am still a specialist in automotive technology, I could easily make a mistake. The same Family Walk serves as a roadway for vehicles, it connects both main settlements and has branches to some other parts of the island.
The vast majority of traveler reviews and travel guide tips say that the most popular destination for walking around the island is to arrive at Yung Shue Wan, and leave on the opposite side, from Sok Kwu Wan. We decided to walk in the opposite direction.
AT Sok Kwu Wan the ferry brought us around 9 am. This is really a "village of two and a half streets", the main occupation of the inhabitants is fishing and feeding tourists with fresh seafood in one of the cafes that stretch along the street along the coast. All the cafes were not yet open, to see that there were no tourists here so early. I was very pleased with the cleanliness of these micro-restaurants, otherwise after Cheng Chau we were ready for the worst. We did not stay long in Sok Kwu Wan, literally walked slowly through it and moved on.
In the bay opposite the settlement, right on the water, there is a thematic village "Lamma Fisherfolk's Village", where you can learn more about the history of the local fishery, there is a collection of boats, interactive expositions, some kind of mini-games, excursions are provided. But firstly , it opens at 10–15, and I didn’t want to wait more than an hour at all, and secondly, there really isn’t any information about it, since their website is in Chinese (http://www.fisherfolks.com.hk), and online the translator did a poor job of it.
View from the stern of the ferry - in the distance the island of Appleychau and the Aberdeen area
This is how the village of Sok Kwu Wan looks from the pier
At nine in the morning on a Monday, the streets of the village are completely deserted.
Cafe, of course, without exquisite interiors, but everything is clean!
In every cafe there are aquariums with marine life, everything is not just fresh, but alive
On the same path, and even with signs, you definitely won’t get lost!
By the way, I have repeatedly come across the assertion that Lamma is an island of cats, and that there are almost as many of them here as people. Maybe it is so, then it turns out that someone persuaded the local cats to harshly ignore us, because we didn’t meet a single one all day, but we saw a lot of dogs!
Lazy dogs in the village...
... and the same on the low tide
The trail is very good, concreted and not slippery, walking along the Lamma Island Family Walk is very comfortable. Not far from the village is kamikaze cave In general, this is a unique attraction. During the Second World War, the Empire of Japan occupied Hong Kong and began to dig tunnels on Lamma for small submarines, on which kamikazes were supposed to surprise the enemy fleet from these artificial shelters. But the war ended, and these tunnels were never used for their intended purpose. Specifically, this cave is very shallow, but there seems to be a tunnel that connects Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan.
And here is the cave
Viewed to the full depth, 15 meters, no more. There are no boats or kamikazes to be seen.
Further on the way there was a small settlement in which all the passers-by take pictures of a strange "pig" graffiti Well, we are no exception. By the way, if you forgot to stock up on water for a hike, then you can do it here, the next point with drinking water will be after a fifteen-minute walk on the beach, and then only at the end of the route, in Yung Shu Wan. Although the path is very comfortable, the hilly terrain and the heat make you sweat a lot, drinking water is necessary. And we gladly drank a couple of small delicious coconuts and continued on our way.
In addition to such dog toilets, there will be quite ordinary ones on the way, that is, for humans ...
Along the path near the houses grow low banana palms. These had little bananas on them.
Pig mutant on graffiti
There are several gazebos on the trail in the form of Chinese pavilions, where you can relax and take a couple of good picturesque shots.
From the gazebo in the top photo there is a descent to wild beach
And they take out the trash
The only pile of rubbish we saw was on the side of the path leading to the beach. It is clear that the equipment will not pass here, but the cleaners could have walked on foot. This really surprised us, since the rest of the route was clean.
Which word has 5 letters "Y"? That's right, "vylysypydist"!
We leave to Hung Shing Ye Beach , it is located very close to the village of Yung Shu Wan, almost on its outskirts, so it is much more crowded here than on Lo So Shing Beach, and in general the atmosphere is more “party” than calm. Clean fine sand, clear sea, the necessary amenities and proximity to the village attract many vacationers here, BUT many ( if not the majority) scares away the proximity to the power plant, although it is completely in vain, I repeat, it does not pollute the island in any way.
The building on the right is a hotel near the beach
300 meters from the beach there will be a fork with a sign "Lamma Winds". This is a wind power generator, which, for reasons completely incomprehensible to me, is among the attractions of Lamma. But besides him at the top ( yes, you need to walk a little up the hill) there is an observation deck for panoramic photos. We were already tired for the whole day and just went further to the village.
Yung Shue Wan after an almost deserted route, it may even seem like a town. Moreover, all its signs are present here: there is a division into districts, there is a school, a clinic, a post office, a fire station, a library, a police station ( police transport - bicycles!). Of course, this is not what many vacationers come here for, they are attracted great amount cafes and restaurants with fresh seafood, but do not expect to see small prices in them, everything is quite expensive.
On the outskirts of the village
If there is no desire to eat seafood, you can sit in one of the many bars. They are usually owned by foreigners, respectively, the atmosphere and food here are different from fish Chinese restaurants. By the way, expats Foreigners) are very fond of Lamma Island, they settle here because of the calm rhythm of life and more affordable housing prices, plus it is very close to the center of Hong Kong.
In addition, Yung Shue Wan has many interesting shops with souvenirs and other handmade goods, with various clothes, fruit shops, food stores, and in the village you can buy everything you need to relax on the beach ( mats, clothing, sun lotion).
The end point of our walk is the pier at Yung Shue Wan
In general, we were very pleased with our outing to Lamma Island, it is worth spending at least one day on it.
