|
 |
No Lamma Fun Day 2011
Fri, Sep
30
"We
are sad that, for the first time in 12 years, Lamma Fun
Day is not happening."
|
 |
Typhoon #8 Daredevil
Thu, Sep
29
"Lamma
would like HK to know that due to the inclement weather
we're off to the pub!" |
 |
Lamma Resident in 3
Theatrical Productions
Wed, Sep
28
Adam Harris has lived on Lamma since February and may
be.... |
 |
Dogs Fall Victim to
'Poisoning'
- Tue, Sep
27
URGENT
BULLETIN!
Lamma Island has been hit by an outbreak of
dog-poisoning. |
 |
Patriotic Lammaites
Mon, Sep
26
Over 40 tables of all Lammaites & friends celebrated
National Day in Aberdeen. |
 |
Splash of Rain Delays
Showdowns -
Sun, Sep
25
"League officials wait quietly, wishing
'rain, rain, go away'." |
 |
Victorious Dragonboaters
(plus Donald Tsang)
Thu, Sep
22
The Lamma Dragons celebrating their 8 medals won in
Shatin. |
 |
Cleaning Up Pebbles
Beach
Wed, Sep
21
A group of 34
volunteers from LexisNexis participated in the
Coastal Cleanup Challenge. |
 |
Public Housing in the
Lamma Quarry? -
Tue, Sep
20
Note the "concepts" for public housing, clubhouse,
public ferry pier, and new roads. |
 |
Want to Star in a TV
Documentary? -
Mon, Sep
19
ATV is urgently
looking for parents to interview next Wed, Sep 28 on
Lamma! |
 |
'Like a Tractor Among
Sports Cars' -
Sun, Sep
18
"You're a Canadian. Why do you want to join the Lamma
Island Pinoy Basketball League?" |
 |
'Lamma My Island' Film
Premiere -
Sat, Sep
17
Sat/Sun, Sep
17/18, 7:30 & 8:30pm each day, Diesel's Bar, Main Street
YSW. |
 |
Swimming to Cheung Chau
Sep 16
Five men and three women
swam 9km from Lamma to Cheung Chau on Sunday, 4
September.
|
 |
Hiking Over Ling Kok
Shan
Sep
15
Click for photo
gallery with subtitles... |
 |
Seed Sowing Season
Sep 14
Seedy advice from
Gardening Forum Moderator, Jane Ram, plus her Organic
Day out.
|
 |
Mid-Autumn Festival
Carnival
Sep
13
Date: 10
September, 2011
Time: 7:00 - 10:30pm
Venue: YSW Football Pitch |
 |
The Baroque on Lamma
Stakeholder Engagement Forum
-
Sep 12
"...
to openly hear the concerns ... through a public forum."
|
 |
Marshals, Muses &
Musclemen -
Sep
11
Photo gallery
available now...
"Balls Bounce, Intensity Soars Pinoy-Style." |
 |
Clean Up & Get Planting
Sep
10
Living Lamma newsletter:
"And now some good news...."
|
 |
Archers, Awesome Tigers,
Gray Hawks, Hüggen D-ass & Lamma Lickers -
Sep
9
Grand Opening of
this multi- national basketball tournament. |
 |
Pavilion Building Boom?
Sep 8
I was passing three
pavilions all under renovation or construction right
now.
|
 |
Hairy Caterpillar -
Sep
7
I'm always on the
lookout for good, interesting photos, videos, artworks
and websites to feature. |
 |
Mr. & Mrs. Kebab's Cafe
Sep
6
Yes, this is #2 in
Lamma's very own Mr. Kebab's burgeoning empire of
Turkish restaurants....
|
 |
10 Reasons to Live on
Lamma -
Sep
5
The 27-page Chin.
article in Ming Pao Weekly yesterday featured ten
interviews with Lammaites. |
 |
'Life on Lamma - An
Alter- native For Living' -
Sep 4
Ming Pao Weekly
yesterday published a 27-page cover story....
|
 |
Thank You, Donors &
Sponsors! -
Sep
3
The appeal I published a
few weeks back got more response than I had ever hoped
for . |
 |
On Top of Lamma Winds
Sep 2
I met Fireman Mr. LEUNG
Wai- kong of Hong Kong Fire Services Dept.'s High Angle
Rescue Team.
|
 |
I Blog, Therefore I Am?
Sep
1
Doesn't this look like
another portrait of Lamma-Gung working oh-so-hard on
his daily blog? |
|
Zein Williams
-
Children
Welfare Scheme - Tel: 2526 8810 or 9231 3505: |
Dear Friends,
We are sad that,
for the first time in 12 years, Lamma Fun Day is
not happening. There are a number of reasons for
this but one of the main ones is that the CWS
office was unable to take on the project. We
also struggled with not having enough key
organizers to help plan the event as well as
finding a way around the logistical challenges
we face every year, but DO NOT DESPAIR!
Changes to the CWS
office has been made and we are back on track
and would like to plan for Lamma Fun Day 2012
but, to ensure this does not happen again, we
need HELP! and hope that you or your
family/friends can find some way to assist us in
the next Lamma Fun Day and of course, take part
on the day!
In the meantime as
we appreciate the commitment that Lamma has
shown to CWS over the years, we would love to
re-connect with all of you and are discussing a
possible Funkraiser – for those who don’t know,
Funkraiser has been going as long as Lamma Fun
Day has and is a fun & funky DJ / Band night in
town – so get those funky clothes, wigs and
flares out and stay tuned!!
If anyone is able
to help with this event or propose a venue for
this we would love to hear from you. We are
looking at having one in late November 2011 and
then maybe again in March 2012, in hopes to
build up the excitement and see everyone again
at Lamma Fun Day 2012!
If you or anyone
you know might be available to help us in any
way whether it might be to just connect us with
the right people or can spare 1hr or more,
please email me any time or call me on the
details below.
Thank you all for
your amazing support over the years and look
forward to
hearing from you!
|
The last Lamma Fun Day
ever?
Historical Lamma-zine
photo
galleries:
Lamma Fun Days:
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002 |
  
A few historic Fun Day posters,
including the very first
one in the year 2000!
 First
typhoon signal #8 of the year, right on a Thursday morning,
meaning a day off for office workers, but not for home office
workers like myself {*Big SIGH!*} But what's a day off anyway,
if every day feels like a day off? Like today, I got my story
and pictures without even having to leave home in this driving,
often almost horizontal rain.
In this kind of
inclement weather - RTHK Radio 3, Phil Whelan's Morning Brew,
10:30am: "Lamma would like HK to know that due to the
inclement weather we're off to the pub!" - you'd expect
people to stay home and indoors! But some of are not deterred
and even climb on top of their roofs, unsecured in the wind
during a little break in-between Nesat's showers! See our
neighbour Brett in his slippers, taking down his
wind-damaged TV antennae, trying to prevent if from crashing
down, causing damage or even hurting somebody on ground level.
Quite a few TV antennas broke off in the 100+ km/hour gusts of
wind last night.
 If
I'd ever do a stunt like like this, Lamma-Por might have a panic
outbreak, or a screaming fit, or a heart attack, or maybe all of
them at the same time. She might have to be flown off Lamma in
the emergency helicopter (see below, this morning). But not my
brave neighbour's wife. She coolly snapped a few mobile phone
pics of her hubby, one foot away from the ledge and the real
danger of his instant death. Brett is a mild-mannered, soft-
spoken healer (Kinesiology
Asia), but also a fit & death-defying daredevil, it
seems! I've been known to climb atop my own rooftop - very
similar-looking to Brett's - but only in clear weather with no
wind gusts (look at the pine top in the photos!)
This stupi..., err,
stupendous heroism is not his first time either. I remember past
Typhoon Koppu which kaputted my open rooftop canopy. While I was
trying to save it single-handedly I got an SMS from the same
valiant and gallant neighbour. He noticed my ordeal and offered
his help. But it was too late, my property agent did a house call in the
middle of a T8. They had no choice but to perform emergency
surgery, cutting off the cloth canopy to prevent it from crashing to the
ground.
 Become
as fit and healthy and brave as Brett
the Typhoon Daredevil (new Lamma-zine nickname!) by
enrolling in
his
courses. He's also a loyal, long- time advertiser of
the Lamma-zine, but I swear I didn't put him up to his
rooftop adventure to get him some publicity for his business!
Plus a little
Lost
& Found public notice:
Has your inflatable
swimming pool gone missing from your rooftop last night? Bright
green on the inside, it's landed safe'n'sound, still inflated,
in this little, almost grown-over stream below, too big to float
down to the sea. Contact me! Finder's fee can be discussed,
maybe a free swim? If nobody claims it: inflatable pool party on
our own rooftop this weekend! The rain is filling up the pool
right now.
  
Your kiddie pool? -- One more toppled TV antennae -- Emergency
helicopter
 
P.S. Quadrocopter pilot lammajoeyu
took the opportunity for some more in- flight videos on his
model airplane, remote-controlling it over South Lamma in pre-
typhoon weather. Observe the dramatic skies this early morning
during his airplane acrobatics on
YouTube.
 
P.S. II:
Done for today, I'm off to join some of the Lamma Typhoon
Parties now!
P.S. III,
next morning: That must have been quite a typhoon party in
Diesel's!
There are quite a few embarrassing pictures floating
around Facebook. But the Lamma-zine will only ever publish
these, like any Facebook picture, with explicit permission from
the photographer. Not all the furniture survived the singing
revelry and cheerful mayhem. Aftermath outside Diesel's:
 
P.S. IV: Our Official Court Senior Correspondent,
John Cairns, has also published
a great Lamma typhoon story with his own pictures, after
avoiding being hit by any of the huge, crashing waves or any of
the falling branches ripped from trees and now littering our
paths:
Signal Eight? Great! It's a Mahjong Day
|
Stylus HK Theatre: |
Adam
Harris has lived on Lamma since February and may
be recognized on the ferry as the guy with one or two
scripts open - he is one of Hong Kong's busiest stage actors
and directors. In the coming 2 months, always a busy time in
Hong Kong theatreland. Adam, a veterinarian in his daytime
career, Adam is to perform in no fewer than three
productions.
The first two are in support of
a charity that Adam first became involved with after meeting
one of the founders in Lamma's Bookworm Café. Last year Adam
directed The Rocky Horror Show, and then went on to
perform in Educating Rita and In the Next Room:
The Vibrator Play earlier this year. October sees his
return to the boards.
To support a Lamma resident and
a very worthwhile charity, see below. Adam will be
performing in:-
The Bridge
(el Puente)
by José
Manuel Sevilla
A world premiere in the English
language of a play by an award-winning Spanish poet. Adam
plays 2 soldiers who encounter two very different
embodiments of femininity at a lonely bridge against a
backdrop of war. Strong language and sexuality.
All proceeds to Cambodian
orphanages through
www.angelsfororphans.co.uk
Oct 5th,
6th and 8th 8pm; 3pm on 8th
McAulay
Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Wanchai.
Tickets: 200HKD --
www.urbtix.hk
Coffee and Cigarettes
An evening
of short plays linked by
two common pleasures.
Adam is acting in a self-penned
short piece and directing one other.
20% proceeds to the same
charity.
Oct
11th-15th 8pm (and 3pm on 15th)
Fringe
Club, Central
Tickets: 180 HKD -
www.hkticketing.com
A
Midsummer Night's Dream
by William
Shakespeare
Adam will play a part he has
longed to play for many years, that of "rude mechanical”
Nick Bottom for whom things take a turn for the donkey-like
under Puck's mischievous influence. Adam describes Bottom's
ham-fisting attempts to seriously perform as Pyramus in the
"play within the play" as an actor's dream. "It is one of
the funniest scenes in all Shakespeare", he says.
Nov 16th -
20th 8pm (and 3pm on 19th, 3pm only on 20th)
McAulay
Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Wanchai.
Tickets:
200HKD --
www.urbtix.hk
|
This is a
SPONSORED
FEATURE,
also promoted via our biweekly
email newsletter.
Subscribe?) |
|
Jay Scott Kanes -
Official Court Pet Correspondent: |
URGENT BULLETIN!
Indications are that Lamma Island has been
hit by an outbreak of dog-poisoning. The latest victims are
Guapa and Ginger, two amiable (and slightly
shy) brown dogs belonging to film-maker Alba Rayton
and her husband John.
This morning (September 27), the
desperately-ill Guapa was euthanized. Then Ginger, who at
first looked likely to survive, started to show all the same
symptoms and deteriorate quickly. At the time of writing,
her prospects looked grim too.
Alba indicates that Lamma's veterinarian
mentioned four other poisoning cases in recent days.
Dog-owners across Northern Lamma should take immediate
precautions to protect their pets, especially by using both
leashes and muzzles. They also should watch for anyone
placing poisoned food within dog-sniffing range of the
pathways.
The Raytons saw their pets "eat something"
when out on a regular walk, but couldn't stop them in time.
Alba and John have reported the incident to the local
police.
Guapa and Ginger
appeared prominently in Lamma, My Island, the
recently completed documentary that Alba plans to show at
upcoming film festivals in Spain and Switzerland.
Ironically, the half-hour movie focuses largely on Lamma as
a paradise for dogs, a place where they "live in harmony"
with people. But even on Lamma, one of the most dog-friendly
places imaginable, not everyone likes dogs. The "harmony"
isn't complete.
|
Alba, Guapa and Ginger share relaxing moments in better times.
Canine 'advisers' form an important part of Alba's film-making team.
|
P.S. from
SheiLAP -
Lifelong Animal Protection:
"There have been several other poisonings. Three poms, a
beagle and a mongrel. Looks like
Paraquat."
[a highly toxic weed killer, still used frequently in Hong
Kong, but illegal in many countries:
Wikipedia.]
Learn more in our forum topic:
Dogs Fall Victim to 'Poisoning';
plus an
SCMP story on Sep 29:
Fears of dog poisoner on Lamma.
Click for photo gallery...
On the bridge from YSW Ferry Pier
to Library, illuminated at night
All the usual
well-known local suspects, plus VIPs and off-island guests
Over 40 tables of all Lammaites & friends
celebrated National Day in the Carnival Seafood Rest. in
Aberdeen on Sat night, Sep 24. Several special ferries (HKKF
& Tsui Wah) transported the guests from YSW, Pak Kok Village,
Sok Kwu Wan to Aberdeen at 6pm and back at 10:30pm.
An impressive meal was served at $200/head,
including some patriotic speeches and Mandarin songs, TVB
artiste entertainment, an acrobatic troupe from Sichuan plus
sponsored Lucky Draws, of course. Only a single non-Chinese
person I could spot among the almost 500 Lammaites & guests at this probably largest off-island event
exclusively for Lammaites, organised and sponsored by the
Outlying Islands District Council and many sponsors.
   
Click for photo gallery...
Very popular events like these make it very
clear how small a part of Lamma life we non-Chinese actually
are, a pretty small minority - or a thin layer - in an
overwhelmingly local, rural, traditional Chinese island
community in an SAR ruled by the PRC. We're still considered
temporary guests who are tolerated, mostly even welcomed, but
can never become really fully integrated and accepted into the
traditional local community, even if we could speak Cantonese
fluently.
I didn't get any suspicious looks ("What's
that Gwailo doing here?") I noticed, to my big relief, but
many friendly nods and handshakes from VIPs and locals I hadn't
spoken to in a while. I'm kind of too well-known in the local
community after ten years, but often NOT as the guy behind
Lamma.com.hk ("Internet? That's something for our children to
use, not us!"), but only as the former "Fat Gwailo" who's
lost so much weight and has a very friendly HK-Chinese wife,
helping him to get into and enjoy these Chinese-only events.
  
Dressed in her holiday best --
Lucky Draw winner! -- It's a fine red wine (I enjoyed it), but
the bottle was empty when this photo of under-age drinking was
taken
It can be great fun to participate in these
local events and a sprinkling of non- Chinese, a mere frosting on
top of the cake, can give face to the organisers of the many
local events in the eyes of the Govt., making the event look
more "multicultural" and the Govt. is often picking up
much of the bill anyway, being pretty generous to us islanders
in general. For example, they're spending HK$50,000+ on every
single Lamma islander just for the sewage treatment facilities
in progress.
I'll happily continue to announce these special
Lammaites-only events in the
Lamma Events
Calendar, hoping that occasionally a few
non-Chinese-speakers
might join us in these fun & friendly local
events. We're all welcome!
League officials wait quietly, wishing 'rain, rain, go away'.
Efforts to mop the court fail as more rain descends.
|
John Cairns -
Official Basketball Correspondent:
(Text & photo captions by John, photos by
Chun Yin Wah) |
A day that could have clarified much in the
Lamma Island Pinoy Basketball League (LIPBL)
revealed little – except that maybe Mother
Nature has less fondness for basketball than
many Lamma Islanders do.
On September 25, drizzle turned into rain
early in the first of two scheduled LIPBL games
at Yung Shue Wan's outdoor basketball court.
With the wet playing surface turning dangerous
for players likely to slip, slide and fall,
maybe suffering twisted ankles or other
injuries, the referees halted play.
Eager players tried to mop up the court, but
more water fell. A clever fan sent the gods a
blunt message by chalking a beaming sun onto the
playing surface, but they took no notice.
After a 15-minute wait, league officials
suspended action for the day. At the time, the
Lamma Archers (blue) held a slim lead, 20-18, on
the Lamma Lickers (yellow). Action will resume
on October 2 with the teams re-starting at 0-0.
The suspended contests would have separated
rivals in the crowded standings. Both the
Archers (0-2) and Lickers (0-1) want their first
win. The other postponed game, also reset for
October 2, pits the Gray Hawks (2-0) against
Huggen D'ass (1-0) with the winner to stand
alone in first place.
Action before the rain made an interesting
spectacle of speed against size. The
fleet-footed Archers rely on agility and fast
breaks while the Lickers are taller, burlier and
better shot-blockers. Which side wins? Fans must
wait a week to know, but the Archers looked
rather impressive.
Admittedly, rainouts rarely affect most
basketball leagues. Usually they hamper other
sports, like baseball or tennis. But in the
LIPBL, weather-worries add an extra dimension to
the entertainment.
LIPBL Standings
Gray Hawks
– 2 wins, 0 losses
Huggen D'ass – 1
win, 0 losses
Awesome Tigers – 1
win, 1 loss
Lamma Archers – 0
wins, 1 loss
Lamma Lickers – 0
wins, 2 losses.
|
Early in a rain-delay, a fan hints to the weather gods
by drawing a beaming sun on the court.
Even cameras can't keep the speedy Archers in view.
The speeding Archer stake a layup. |
   
Yellow defenders merely wave at a bounding
blue blur.
This deceptive photo appears to show a
violent foul, but it's an illusion.
These guys rank among the most-gentlemanly players.
How about a little extra spin on the ball?
Is that a flying body-check on the opening
tip?
When adults don't play, children do. Ignoring
the weather,
young fans of different teams frolic.
 "Paddling
like fury, picking up a few wee medal gadgies, qualifying for some World
Championship thingy, and dancing on a table in front
of Donald Tsang ... the usual Lamma Sunday then."
by Jess King (Facebook Status Update)
 Sunday
night, Sep 18, ca. 8pm, outside
The Island Bar:
The Lamma Dragons celebrating their 8 medals won in
Shatin's dragonboat races this weekend (photo on the right by
Vicky Medcalf),
qualifying for a record 11 races in the International Dragon Boat
Federation's Club Crew World Championship on
July 4-8, 2012:
Gold in Women's 500m, O40's Women's
500m, O40's Women's 200m, and Men's Small Boat 500m;
Silver in O40's Mixed Small Boat 200m;
Bronze in Mixed 500m, Women's 200m,
Men's 2000m.
These unique photos - the ONLY two OK ones I could find despite asking a
lot of people present that night, arriving too late myself - are courtesy of
Lamma Seaview Man Fung Seafood Restaurant.
Mr Tsang, friends and body guards enjoyed a quiet, low-key dinner, till the
raucous dragonboaters arrived, returning from Shatin races all weekend. They
recognised him, danced and sang for him either "We are the Champions" or "Hey Baby" (the
accounts vary due to copious imbibing). Donald Tsang graciously
posed for this great photo opportunity, adding a shiny and stylish
Dragonboat gold medal
 (from
Leo Chung?) to his all-white, bowtie-free, comfy-looking, off-duty outfit!
Men's Team Captain Andrew Shields writes:
"Guys, I'm not sure where to begin perhaps
except to say what a brilliant effort this weekend, or as Kev
would say AWESOME - we surpassed ourselves and expectations
(again) - just think what we will be able to achieve next year
with the added incentive of participation, in our own right, in
the CCWC. It was fun going as part of the mixed team last year
but next year we go in the Men's competition!!!!
I had thought it would be too much hassle. I
didn't think everyone would make the effort and I didn't think
we would be able to compete. Well, how wrong was I? We competed
in each and every category we entered. We won medals by the
bucket full and we brought home the first gold medal I can
remember the Lamma Men winning - EVER!
I can imagine you were all probably hoping
that you'd seen the last of my emails for a while but here goes
for one to wrap up and say the "thank yous". In fact "thank yous"
are due on quite a number of fronts and though I tried to say a
few of them at some point on the way home but I'm sure I didn't
cover everyone ...
... I will organise a get together very soon
which may involve helping put the Piglet away and maybe a bit of
a barbecue on the beach.
Thanks guys, I'm proud to be a Lamma
Dragon!"
(Photo courtesy of Nicky
Jones)
P.S.
Plus some more Shatin race photos, a video and a
passionate competitor's story on Lamma Dragon Lady
Brittany's blog.
P.S.
II: Plus "a few words" from Vicky Medcalf:
"Could you add a few words
from Karen and myself....
As captains, we are so proud
to represent the Lamma ladies dragon boat team. Not only did we
have a successful weekend but we've had an amazingly successful
season. In the boat, the team has shown focus, motivation,
passion and power.
Out of the boat we have shown
why Lamma is such a special team. We encourage and support each
other and our team spirit is truly positive and infectious. A
massive pat on the back to all the members of our team for hard
work and results. Lamma Rocks!!"
HK
International Coastal Cleanup Challenge 2011
Pebbles Beach, Pak Kok Tsui, Lamma Island
Wilda Fong - RE Cares
Champion - LexisNexis (Greater China) writes:
"On 20 September, a group of 34 volunteers from
LexisNexis (Greater China)
participated in the Green Council's Coastal Cleanup Challenge.
The cleanup was conducted at Pebbles Beach, off Cable Road
(north), near Pak Kok Tsui.
This location was actually recommended by a fellow member
of the Lamma.com.hk forum. I checked it out and sure enough
there was enough rubbish there for us to make half a day of it
at least. It wasn't on the Green Council's list, so maybe
they will add it to their map next year.
A total of 37 bags of waste comprising of plastic bottles,
toothbrushes and even part of an armchair was collected in the
half-day volunteer event. We managed to clear most of the
rubbish off the coastline.
It was great that Team LexisNexis was able to contribute
to the Lamma community to help beautify part of its coastline.
For more information about the coastal cleanup which runs
from 17 Sep-17 Oct go to
www.HKCoastalCleanup.org."
Before and after the cleaning (boxes removed later as well, of
course):
 
P.S. Next beach cleanup:
Beach Cleanup - Shek Pai Wan:
Sun, Oct 16, 10am-1pm:
Shek Pai Wan, South Lamma:
for more details, contact the organiser,
Green Lamma Group or check out their
Facebook Event.
Lamma Quarry now (photo by Sally Andersen)
Lamma Quarry in 5+ years?
Note the "concepts" for public housing, clubhouse,
public ferry pier, new roads,
in addition to the already zoned
Cement Factory commercial redevelopments.
As some of you might know, the Govt. has
announced that they'll study the former Lamma Quarry area over
the next 3 years what to do with this huge former cement
quarry/factory after restoring it to a "quasi-natural state"
over ten years ago. Here are a few shots from my extensive Lamma
Quarry photo collection:
Lamma Quarry, seen from top of Ling Kok Shan, the hill behind Sok Kwu Wan
(June 15, 2011)
Seen from half-way down the front of Ling Kok Shan (Sep
17, 2011)
Seen from helicopter (July 27, 2011)
The Lamma Quarry's sweet water lake and its "island
on an island",
seen from inside the Quarry, before it was declared "Entry
prohibited!"
Buried on page 91 of the 175-page
Annex A of the
"DRAFT BRIEF - PLANNING AND ENGINEERING STUDY ON FUTURE LAND USE
AT EX-LAMMA QUARRY AREA AT SOK KWU WAN, LAMMA ISLAND –
FEASIBILITY STUDY", newly-elected (congrats!)
Living
Lamma Chairperson Jo Wilson found this
provisional chart above.
Despite the "green group
consultation meeting" we attended just a few weeks back, not
stating this planned residential use and suggesting alternate
sports and recreational uses of the Lamma Quarry instead, this
is what it'll likely come down to: a large public housing
development with lots of infrastructure which will change the
nature of South Lamma dramatically. Is this what Lammaites want?
Public discussion is needed.
In the meantime, the entire area
has been fenced off again and declared as a private "Entry
prohibited!" area by the YMCA (YMCA
Wonderland). They've managed to lease the total Quarry
Area from the Govt. for a nominal amount for at least the next
three years, probably much longer, for their exclusive use for
their own fun and commendable outdoorsy activities for
youngsters.
But all Lamma hikers, bikers, bird watchers, dog
walkers, swimmers and all nature lovers who've enjoyed this area
greatly till now will have to stay out! Let's hope the YMCA will
grant us at least some limited access for non-YMCA-organised
activities! So far, they've proposed one little corner left open
for the public, but only accessible from 6-9am, and even this is
not open yet. All enquiries from me and other Lammaites have
gone unanswered so far.
ATV is doing another documentary about living on Lamma,
part of their
Hong Kong Beats series in Chinese and English, following
up on the 2006 programme that interviewed several young people
who lived or even grew up on Lamma.
This time, they're looking for parents to
interview next Wed, Sep 28 on Lamma.
 ATV
reporter Daisy writes:
"Are you a couple and had children raised on
the island? I'm looking for this kind of foreign residents who
sent their children to Northern Lamma School. I wanna keep the
"school story" and foreign children studying Chinese culture. I
want to find foreign residents/immigrants of any nationality. If
one of the couple can speak Chinese, even better!
Do you meet most of these specifications?
Questions we might ask the selected interviewees:
-
Why did you choose Lamma Island instead
of other places in Hong Kong?
-
When did you come here?
-
What are the most important reasons that
attract you to move here?
-
What do you usually do while living on
the island?
-
Are there any special activities that
happen on this island?
-
Are you raising your children on the
island?
-
Did your children like studying Chinese,
learning those characters?
-
What do you think of the newcomers or the
visitors?
-
Do those visitors intrude into your life
or bother you?
-
What is the biggest change you think in
these past 5 years or even longer since you moved here?"
Email Daisy at
diamond_d@live.cn or call
her at 5349 5274.
Discuss this documentary in our forum:
Want to be filmed for ATV's Lamma documentary?
Then and Now, click to enlarge
Hard Drive to the Hoop
September 20, 2011
Words by John Cairns, photos above by
Chun Yin Wah,
photos below by Dina B. Knight (Facebook
Album)
YUNG SHUE WAN, Lamma Island, Hong Kong – "You're a Canadian. Why
do you want to join the Lamma Island Pinoy Basketball League (LIPBL)?"
This question arises constantly since I used my gray-haired
head to decide that I'd like to play in Lamma's colorful,
five-team basketball league. Most of the players are Filipinos,
but with a few Chinese and other "imports". Along with fans,
they fill Yung Shue Wan's basketball court each Sunday from
noon.
My simple answer is that I want a share of the fun. To anyone
who questions my qualifications based on nationality, I mention
that my countryman James Naismith invented basketball in
1891. Maybe every league needs a Canadian.
Next there's a follow-up question: "How is it to be one of
the oldest players?" Actually, it's like trying to steer a
sputtering farm tractor along a highway full of sports cars.
Everyone I encounter moves faster and slicker than seems fair,
yet it's still a competition full of pleasing possibilities.
Read more
& see more photos...
  
  
|
Alba Rayton - Filmmaker:
Introduction to the screening: |
"Lamma My Island"
World Premiere!
Sat/Sun, Sep 17/18, 7:30 &
8:30pm each day,
Diesel's Bar, Main Street YSW:
Free entry.
Click here for the trailer!
 1.
I like to share with you that the documentary
has been selected to be screened at Marbella
International Film Festival. It's in the
South of Spain which takes place from 14th of
October to 16th of October. I am planning to go
with my husband. If anybody would like to come,
I will be more happy.
2. The edition of the
documentary that you are watching today is the
one that will be screened at the film festival.
3. If you are one of the
interviewees, you will get a free copy of the
documentary.
4. The rest of the
community, if anybody who would like to have a
copy and send it to their family, you can order
here tonight at Diesel's.
The copy you will order has a special feature
which includes photo slideshow and Sok Kwu Wan.
This version is longer than 30 minutes.
5. The documentary has
Chinese and Spanish Subtitles.
6. It will cost $65.
7. Some of the profit will
be shared with a charity in the island.
8. Thanks
to Lamma-Gung for being the MC
for Saturday's screenings as
I'll be out of HK on family
matters, returning for the
Sunday night screenings.
 1.
I like to thank Joyce for
allowing us to use the Diesel's
Bar as the venue of the
screenings.
2. I like
to thank Icey that
despite my absences she managed
to work on the preparations for
the screening and she spent long
editing hours for the post
production every night for this
documentary.
3. I like
to thank everybody for coming
which in one way or the other
were part of the documentary
specially the interviewees and
the dogs.
4. I like
to thank Lamma-Gung for
his contributions from his
gallery, especially the
helicopter shots which enhanced
the documentary.
5. I like
to thank John Cairns for
his kindness and for always
being our script editor.
6. I like
to thank Marianne Gable
who supported us in many areas.
7. I like
to thanks Dr. Wedderburn
for sharing the story about the
dogs in the island.
8. I like
to thank Frances Strachan
for the final revision of
Spanish subtitles.
I apologise if I have left out
someone for these special thanks.
|
P.S. If you're a Living Lamma member, don't forget the
Annual
General Meeting this Sun, 7:30pm, in Hangout Kindergarten, just
besides Pizza Milano.
|
Elisabeth Galvin & Sara Jordan: |
Watery Feat
for
Eight Lammaites
Five men and three women swam 9km from
Lamma to Cheung Chau on
Sunday, 4 September. Aged between 30
and 67 years old, five of the swimmers also
doubled up as paddlers in outrigger canoes to
accompany the swimmers with food, water and
directions. Other paddlers and local fishermen
also provided support.
The fastest swimmer was Sara Jordan
(captain of the Lamma Outrigger Canoe Club) who
completed the crossing in
2 hours 57 minutes and 39
seconds. Her teammates were Jacob
Netel, Kim McMahon, Christian Ross, Henry
Ludemann, Luke Lo, Florence Isenschmid and
67-year-old John Stuart. Paddlers
Setsu Nakai, Leo Chung, Ken Ng and Josh
Sellers accompanied them, with Claudia
and Brad Tarr and Waiman also
providing support. All live on Lamma. The
victorious crew celebrated with beer and gin and
tonics Cheung-Chau side.
Do you know if this
feat has been achieved before? Please
let us know! The team is hoping to make it an
annual event.
Photos (taken from Outrigger Canoe-1):
Leo Chung. Swimmer: Henry Ludemann.
In shot with shark net buoy:
Photo: Leo Chung, Paddler: Joshua Sellers,
Swimmer: John Keith Stuart.
|
 |
Click for photo gallery with subtitles...
 From
Gardening Forum Moderator,
Jane Ram:
"This is the sowing season for many types of
seeds. Think herbs, salad vegetables of all kinds, tomatoes,
spinach and nasturtiums for a start. Chan Man Hop at Number 8
Connaught Road West is currently well stocked with seeds from
Malaysia and Belgium including some interesting herbs.
A couple of doors further West at Number 11 Wong
Yuen Shing has a wide range of Yates seeds and also some local
vegetable seeds sold by the catty (but you can request a modest
quantity for a few dollars). Yates seeds from Australia are very
reliable with an almost embarrassingly high germination success
rate. They are not organic, but they are packaged to withstand a
wide variety of climates Down Under and so the packets resist
Hong Kong's humidity pretty well.
 Most
European seed companies tend to use less robust packaging for
their seeds which often cease to be viable before they are sown.
If you order organic seeds, be sure to sow them immediately for
best results.
Hard seeds like nasturtiums, coriander, parsley
and carrots seem to sprout faster after an overnight soak in
tepid water. Try using sandpaper on hard, large seeds to help
them germinate.
Damping off is a challenge in Hong Kong as
healthy looking seedlings sometimes give up trying for no
apparent reason. A preventive spray of Neem solution can help
avoid this problem. And I have read on the Internet that
Chamomile tea has antifungal properties that can also help
seedlings to make it through their early weeks.
 It
was early in the season, but I planted a few Okra seeds in big
pots late last month and they seem to be thriving in all-day
rooftop sunshine. The ones in the ground are not doing
as well – doubtless because they receive less sun.
To learn more about
organic growing techniques and some hints on getting the most
out of limited space, sign up ASAP for the Organic Day out in
the New Territories on Sep 28:
Organic Day out in the New Territories
Vegetable and herb
sowing season is here. Are you ready?
Interested in growing
at least some of your own food?
Book ASAP for a
3-stop Organic Day in the New Territories, Wed, Sep 28.
Learn by doing at a
hands-on session on organic gardening techniques.
Visit the organic
"keyhole" plantings at Kadoorie Farm & Botanical Garden for
fascinating insight into how to get the most out of limited
growing space."
Click here to learn more and RSVP.
Click for photo gallery...
 
  
 
 
   
   
 
Click for photo gallery...
Submitted by
Executive
Counsel Ltd.:
"Executive Counsel Limited has recently been engaged by
The Baroque on
Lamma (BoL) to openly hear the concerns of local and wider interest and
green groups on their planning proposals through a public forum.
We understand the generous feedback previously shared by all groups to
date and only intend to briefly provide new information and updates. More
importantly, we wish to provide a public opportunity for all parties to
speak and share their concerns and opinions on the proposals and the newly
submitted information.
Date: 8 October 2011, Saturday
Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Venue: St. James Settlement,
No. 85 Stone Nullah Lane, Wanchai, Hong Kong
(map
attached together with
Registration Form in Eng. and
Chin.)
To participate the workshop, please fill in the Registration Form
attached and reply by email:
ec1@execounsel.com on or before
5 October 2011."
More details can be found in our
Baroque forum.
Click for photo galleries...
Balls Bounce, Intensity Soars Pinoy-Style
September 13, 2011
Words by John Cairns (Photos by Chun Yin Wah)
YUNG SHUE WAN, Lamma Island, Hong Kong – For the second time this
year, the Lamma Island Pinoy Basketball League has kicked off a new season
with fast and furious action on the neighborhood hoops court. On September
11, fierce competition and seesaw-lead-changes marked the opening games.
Read more...
  
   
 
 
 
Click for photo galleries...
The Curs & Friends will also be performing!
The Grand Opening of this multi-national basketball tournament
will be great fun!
Sun, Sep 11,
11am; then every Sun, noon-4pm:
Basketball Court:
5 teams, with each team having 3 or 4 non-Pinoy imports. Free, details tba.
Lamma Hoops
on Facebook,
poster,
email.
 During
my little after-lunch constitutional today - walking from YSW over Po Wah
Yuen, Heart-attack Hill to the Pak Kok ferry pier - I was passing three
pavilions all under renovation or construction right now. Fit, tanned,
topless guys hard at work under the burning afternoon sun: the old pavilion
atop Po Wah Yuen getting a complete makeover, the one just above Heart
Attack Hill (see below) as well, plus a completely rebuilt, double-size pavilion at the
Pak Kok ferry pier.
(Lamma Winds Pavilion - Photo by
Leggova)
 What's going on, are we in the middle of another
building boom? Two of these HK Govt. standard pavilions with
pointy, tiled, dark green roofs, were redone internally with
bright pink tiles (Lammadonna's favourite colour) providing a
vivid, unusual and "eye-catching" colour contrast amidst the
surrounding trees. There's also an all-new pavilion proposed to
be built above Lo Tik Wan, down the hill behind Lamma Winds.
A Budding Building Boom? Lamma the Island of Pink Pavilions?
Hairy Caterpillar by Keith Wilson
I'm always on the lookout for good or
interesting photos, videos, artworks and websites to feature in
the right-hand side column of this website, in the "Lamma
Highlights" section. Please send me your Lamma- or
Lammaite-related files or links and I'll be happy to feature
them for a few days to thousands of daily readers as:
PHOTO/VIDEO/WEBSITE/WILDLIFE/ARTWORK OF THE DAY.
Credits (full name/nickname/anonymous) and free
links to your website, blog, portfolio or email address will be
included, if you like. Find those great Lamma snapshots, videos
or artworks in your archives and
email me!
Returning from a Swiss Chalet National Day lunch in
Tsim Sha Tsui East, Lamma- Por & I stumbled across this little
hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Hart Avenue, with this very unusual,
Creatively Crazy Capitalisation of letters in their logo. "MR KeBaB",
that sounds familiar, could it be? We've heard rumours about this place, an
offshoot of Mr. Kebab on YSW Main Street, but had never found it
before, rarely visiting this touristy part of town.
 Yes,
this is #2 in Lamma's very own Mr. Kebab's planned
burgeoning Ottoman empire of Turkish restaurants all over HK and
Asia! Dogan and his wife (see below right, obviously called
Mrs. Kebab) are running this cute'n'cozy place, leaving the
YSW Main Street eatery in partner Ali's capable hands.
Unfortunately, Ali got notice a few weeks ago that the building
will be torn down and rebuilt soon, so they'll lose the YSW
venue in the not-too-distant future. This will leave only this
TST location, till Mr. Kebab will expand further somewhere else.
The two regulars inside took a liking to my
Lamma Cricket Club shirt (above) and were quite disappointed
when they realised that I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about cricket.
I just got the shirt for frequently promoting the LCC in this
Lamma-zine, adding it to my growing collection of Lamma
(T-)shirts. If you've got one I don't have yet, I'll happily buy
or barter it!
 
 
They've got a very extensive menu here, quite
unlike the much larger YSW rest. where much of the very small
menu is frequently not available, a problem from the very
beginning up to nowadays, almost two years later. But what they
have on offer that day has been very consistently tasty and
great value.
Sorry, no review of the food in the Hart Ave.
rest. yet, as we had just finished a wonderful 4-course Swiss
Chalet set lunch nearby. Hopefully next time....
By the way, this is just a little freebie
promotion for an eatery we've enjoyed since it opened, even
though they've never advertised on Lamma.com.hk. "Later,
later", as Mr Kebab used to say....
If you'd like to check it out yourself, maybe
even write a little review, MR KeBaB Cafe is at 2A Hart Avenue,
TST; here's a
map, tel: 9797 9774.
The 27-page Chin. article in Ming Pao Weekly yesterday
featured ten interviews with Lammaites, headlining each with a personal
reason for why they like living here. They are most insightful and not what
you'd expect at first. Translation by Terry (Thank you!):
- Ms. Bobo, Mo Tat Wan: "I don't like shopping as a
leisure activity."
- Mr. Martin Bode, Mo Tat Wan: "Birds are my favourite
'music'."
- Mr. Wong Chun Bong, Mo Tat Wan: "Being far away from
town makes my neighbourhood closer."
- Mr. David Sanders, Pak Kok: "Living close to green is
my comfort zone."
- Mr. Or Ming Hong, Lo So Sing: "Working here is my
daily life."
- Mr. Lau Kwok Leung, Lo So Sing: "Gardens without
fences."
- Mr. Daniel Clarke, Yung Shue Wan: "Having a boundary
between living and working".
- Ms. Stella, Yung Shue Wan: "Having a terrace or
balcony."
- Lamma-Gung, Yung Shue Wan: "Over 60
nationalities in one island."
- Mrs. & Mr. Yiu Kin Yu, Yung Shue Wan: "Children
have a social network."
In typically contrarian Lamma fashion, some forum members
responded in continuing the long-running discussion, titled
"10 reasons to avoid Lamma".
But Tigger summarised it very well like this:
"But the community is pretty good and that's why I haven't
left. Lot's of eco- friendly people, animal lovers, nature
lovers, not to mention the odd drunk, some aging hippies, a few
eccentrics, a few icons, and lots of different nationalities.
A pretty interesting community. Never a dull moment."
Ming Pao Weekly has published yesterday a 27-page cover
story,
"Life on Lamma - An Alternative For Living".
Interviewing many Lammaites (Living Lamma's Daniel Clarke,
MicroGarden's David Sanders, Paul the Butterfly Man, Martin Bode
in Mo Tat Wan, Stella of the s+clicks shop, Green Cottage's Ron,
etc. - almost all of them featured in the Lamma-zine over the
years), they've produced the very best, longest and most
comprehensive article about Lamma I've seen in my ten years of
living here. It's only available in Chinese, in print and by
paid subscription to
Ming Pao's eMag, but not on their free website,
unfortunately.
Buy the magazine, even if you
can't read Chin., get it summarised by a Chin.-reading friend,
or simply look at the dozens and dozens of beautiful images,
even historic ones, representing our island lifestyle amazingly
well. Reporter Shan and three photographers swarmed all over
Lamma for several days, creating a surprisingly in-depth,
non-touristy, real-life article, focusing on "alternative"
people and lifestyles. This weekly magazine is sold out on Lamma
already, so get it in town at $16. Click below to read my own
interview:
 Special
thanks to a Lamma-zine reader in Andorra who mailed me a $500 cheque
(in HK$, by Priority Mail!) to support the survival of this 9-year-old
website!
The
donation/sponsorship appeal I published a few weeks back got more
response than I had ever hoped for. Several Lammaites chipped in up to $500 each,
but there were also a few donating even more, plus one loyal advertiser
posting an additional 3-month ad!
Saved for now! Thank you so much to everybody helping out!
There are some great, generous and community-minded people on & off Lamma
(even in Andorra). They are what still makes this an amazing and most
unusual place and my home!
P.S. I've just
received one more sizable donation, from "one of these bad,
greedy landlords the forum seems to have gone on crusade
against, one of these stupid guys working hard to make even more
money, member of the filthy elite owning a sailing boat in Hong
Kong, shamelessly wearing clean, classic pants and elegant polo
shirt when visiting Lamma and not even living on the island!"
"For my defense, I only can put forward my
wife, born on Lamma, where her large family settled a few
centuries before your crusader friends called it their own...and
I have been a fan of Pink Floyd since Ummagumma, if that can
help :)"
"I love your colorful website. It would be
really sad for everyone to lose this little window on the garden
we hope to spend our old days in."
  
During their recent rescue drill atop HK's only
commercial windturbine two days ago, I met Fireman (and
ex-Lammaite!) Mr. LEUNG
Wai-kong of Hong Kong Fire Services Dept.'s High Angle
Rescue Team on top of Mt. Panorama, the hill in front of
Lamma Winds.
He was uploading pictures of the training from his iPhone directly to his Face- book photo gallery. I convinced him
to Friend me and email me some of his best photos taken inside
and above the windturbine. Even though I really tried hard, I
wasn't allowed to climb up inside myself, so Wai-kong's photos
are pretty unique:
  
 
More Fireman photos
in my
Lamma Winds Rescue Drill photo gallery...
He also liked the recent
quadrocopter videos on
this website, especially
this video, lifting off in front of Lamma Winds and
flying high above it.
  Doesn't
this look like another portrait of Lamma- Gung working
oh-so-hard on his daily blog, this placeblog from and for the
Lamma community? Maybe I should update my "official" avatar in
our forum and on social media sites, currently drawn by Harry
Harrison, to this one by another world- famous cartoonist,
Non-Sequitur's Wiley Miller?
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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
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