Easter Long Weekend

CharK and I explored Lamma Island (南丫島) on Friday with a fellow Canadian and colleague of CharK's. I love hiking on a long weekend because there's plenty of time rest up after the exercise! The ferry ride over from Central was particularly fun compared to going to other nearby islands like Discovery Bay or Cheung Chau because the ferry over to Sok Kwu Wan (索罟灣) is an open air two-storey ferry. The waves were choppy and I was literally rolling around on the bench and feeling the sea breeze on my face.

Probably the choppiest ferry ride I've been on in HK (Photo: CharK)

After we got off the ferry, we hiked from Sok Kwu Wan towards Yung Shue Wan (榕樹灣). This was probably one of the more family and tourist friend trails we've been on. The trail has limited stairs and mostly wider paved paths. Along the paths were vendors selling herbal teas, frozen pineapples and of course, popsicles-- all great snacks for a hot spring hike. We did the trail "backwards" and this was a good approach since there were fewer people going this way.

One of the many lookout points along the trail--looking back towards Sok Kwu Wan (Photo:Chark)

But perhaps the most surprising thing we saw was the "warships" off in the distant sea from the Lo So Shing Beach (蘆鬚城泳灘). I wasn't sure why they were out there, or which country they belong to--but I'm guessing they are China's? According to Wikipedia they are part of the naval force protecting Hong Kong.

The Type 037-II boat just off of the Lamma Power Station (Photo: CharK)

A view of the Lamma Power Station from the trail (Photo: CharK)

Of course we had to stop by to see Hong Kong's only wind turbine. I`ve only ever driven by wind turbines set up on farms in Canada. So being able to stand directly underneath one was very impressive, just looking up to at the giant blades spinning. It was worth the hike up the steep path up to the wind turbine, to see one up close. Today, the sign on the wind turbine showed that it was producing 0.2 kW.

A view of the Wind Turbine from the ferry ride over to Sok Kwu Wan (Photo: Chark)

A view of the wind turbine from the look out pavillion about 50 meters from the base of the turbine (Photo: CharK)

After the hike the three of us feasted on a seafood meal by the pier. The mantis shrimp is my new favourite dish. I didn't realize shrimp could be so meaty (like lobster tail). The famous "typhoon shelter crab" was delicious as well--nice and peppery.

What a feast--black bean razor clams, garlic scallops, salt and pepper mantis shrimp, and typhoon shelter crab (Photo: CharK)

I really enjoyed the seafood dinner on Lamma Island. The selection is great and is even cheaper than Sai Kung which extremely busy with tourists. Also you can sit right beside the pier, and get a much closer view of the sea. Happy Easter everyone!