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Aug 28 -
"This
spider just bit me, and then the orange-assed waspy
thing bit the spider."
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Aug 27 - Email me to
add your very own Lamma Photo, Video, Website, Wildlife,
Artwork of the Week!
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Aug 26 - A few sunrise
shots from these splendidly clear August days, viewed
from Lamma's "North Point" (Pak Kok).
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Aug 25 - Many of us
like taking smartphone pictures of their food, to the
frequent major annoyance of our fellow diners.
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Aug 22 - Approaching
Lamma ~ by Steven Robert Hirst
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Aug 21 - '12 Years
of Lamma.com.hk' commemorative poster.
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Aug 20 - Fire Quad Bike
accident this morning in Pak Kok. Path too narrow going
up a steep hill. No reports of injuries. Enquiring...
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Aug 17 - This is a
poster from the Democracy Fence (just before the YSW
ferry pier, opposite the former Democracy Wall).
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Aug 16 - You might have
seen these stickers all over North Lamma, Pak Kok ferry
pier and on Tony the Coffee Guy's....
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Aug 15 - Us Ed Pencil
"had some inky fun times in Copenhagen and the UK over
July."
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Aug 14 - Another new
guest blogger has just signed up for the
Lamma-zine.
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Aug 13 - "I've heard
some of you are concerned about the python captured in
early August."
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Aug 12 - Lamma Photo,
Video, Website, Wildlife, Artwork of the Week.
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Aug 11 - Landing
Pontoon -> Temporary Landing Point,
Aug 11-31
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Aug 10 - Siuyu Yeung (GreenLammaGroup)
has been teaching me how to take proper sunrise photos
this morning.
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Aug 9 - "Mission
reports diversity of life and abundance of water on
Pandora: new species found."
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Aug 8 - Not performing
on Lamma yet, hopefully soon, but in the Peel Fresco
Music Lounge in Central, performing tonight.
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Aug 7 - "Prime
has a new menu with light tapas for the summer months,
but we are also still serving favourites from..."
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Aug 6 - New promotional
poster, celebrating 12 years of this website. I used
digital artworks by Yuri Malkov from Moscow.
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Aug 5 - Ed Stokes:
"Forget tower blocks at Lamma quarry."
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Aug 4 - Introducing our
newest, bilingual guest blogger, Lamma's brand-new
Police Chief:
Camas TUNG Hei-man.
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Aug 3 - "I was
looking for a quiet place close to Hong Kong with small
hotel on a beach, not crowded, where I could enjoy...."
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Aug 2 - Lamma seen from
a helicopter. Photo provided by Heliservices Hong Kong.
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Aug 1 - Having left
Switzerland half a lifetime ago, I rarely get homesick,
except once a year, when we visit Swiss Chalet.
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Scene from the on-going daily life-and-death struggles on Lamma Island.
Wildlife on Lamma, an ongoing horror story:
Rahat writes: "This spider just bit me, and then the orange-assed
waspy thing bit the spider. I'm fine, the spider's almost dead. Here's the
funeral march, going down a cliff towards lunch."
Within an hour this attracted
dozens of comments, mostly by Lammaites, with loads of insect-based
fear and fear-mongering:
"Is that the spider which was in your house, the one carrying a huge sac
of hundreds of babies that bit you?"
"The spider is only asleep, kept alive so the wasp can lay eggs inside
it. The wasp will cut of all the spider's limbs and hide the body as an
incubator. Hope you can sleep after that."
"An orange arsed mega wasp killed the hairy horse sized spider that bit
you??? I love you but I'm not coming back to your house unless I get my
hands on a full body radiation suit...!"
"I think the spider got knocked out from the blood it sucked out of you.
I wonder what special powers your blood has..."
Some of my own comments:
So the spider babies and the wasp babies might hatch from the same
amputated, paralysed mama spider in a few days? Charming thought...
This looks like a worthy "Lamma Wildlife of the Week" on my home page, which
might keep a few tourists away! ;-))
This wasp's bite is a LOT more painful than most spider bites, I can tell
you from my own experiences!
Poor Spidey, meeting such a terrible end before giving birth to its 100
babies and giving super powers to Rahat by biting her! RIP!
Soon we'll see Rahat swinging from Village House to Village House and from
Power Station chimney to chimney as the new Lamma Spiderwoman!
Rahat replied: "Lamma
Gung, you are enjoying this far too much!"
Click above for my new Facebook Album of recent Highlights of the Week,
updated and featured every week on the left side of this cover page, 10*5
pictures so far.
Email me to add your very own Lamma Photo, Video, Website,
Wildlife, Artwork of the Week!
A few sunrise shots from these splendidly clear August days, viewed from
Lamma's "North Point" (Pak Kok), overlooking the Lamma Channel and South HK
Island.
Many of us like taking smartphone pictures of their food, to the frequent
major annoyance of our fellow diners. I'm definitely guilty as well, but at
least I have the good excuse (?) of using my foodie pics in this Lamma-zine
occasionally, promoting the small number of wonderful, amazing, fantastic
Lamma restaurants that support this website by advertising (see top and left
side of this page!)
 
Simon Kay 9 August via iOS: "About to sample the new brunch menu
at Hideout on Lamma. Can't fault the view!" — at
Hideout
But beware of posting your foodie pics on Facebook, lots of potential
friendly abuse and snarky comments might follow. But if you're friends with
creative types like Harry Harrison, you might make it into one of his
cartoons:
 Simon Kay: "Absolutely chuffed to get the original of Friday's
SCMP cartoon from Harry Harrison. A bit cheeky - albeit justified - but much
appreciated.
Cheers, matey."
Simon hung the original drawing in his kitchen, probably as a creative
inspiration while cooking? Harry suggested the toilet...
Adding insult to injury, Simon even made it into the Lamma-zine now, being
made (friendly) fun of
once again, being blatantly exposed as a foodie pic
taker on Facebook! And where did I hear about this "Hold
the Presses!" news? Not in the SCMP, but on Facebook, of course!
Finally, here's one of my own restaurant view pics, taken in
The Waterfront Bar
& Restaurant, even more popular (more Likes) on Facebook than
Simon's. Hah!
The Waterfront is also the place where Simon has been Quizmastering many a
Quiz Night before! When's the next monthly one, I wonder?
The Waterfront is also one of the very best spots for a sunset drink or
early dinner and great place to meet up with old and new friends!
Mission accomplished, a "wonderful, amazing, fantastic Lamma
restaurant" and loyal advertiser has been promoted once again! Click
below. Yes, I'm
shameless...
Approaching Lamma ~ by
Steven Robert Hirst (shot from a helicopter)
This is a poster from the Democracy Fence (just before the YSW ferry
pier, opposite the former Democracy Wall, till the "tyranny" of the wall's
owner triumphed and all posters are removed as soon as they appear).
I don't know Adele and there's not even a birthday date on the slightly
tattered poster, but I found this public sentiment worthy of my attention.
Sweet 22! I hardly remember my own sweet 22, so long ago, but they were
great fun, I think.
This is a very nice and sweet gesture from Adele's friend, going to all the trouble of
taking and collating these cheerful pictures, designing the poster, printing
it and sticking it up on Lamma's walls. A really good friend, methinks!
So Happy Birthday, dear Adele, whoever you are and whenever your birthday
was! I hope you love living here, it sure looks like it! I hope one
of your friends will give you a heads-up about this Lamma-zine story, maybe
even get in touch with me and tell me more about your wonderful birthday and
life on Lamma.
P. S. Aug 22: Adele has finally heard about this Lamma-zine story,
putting it onto her Facebook page: "I'm Lamma famous! Thanks to Heather
for making the posters, can't wait until your birthday when you're going to
pay for this."
Really, thank you, Heather! Can we hope for more funny stuff like
this from you?
...and I'm eagerly looking forward to Adele's Sweet Revenge (my
proposed Lamma-zine story title)!
You might have seen these stickers all over
North Lamma, even at the Pak Kok ferry pier and on Tony the
Coffee Guy's coffee machines on the bar counter of Prime Bar
& Grill on YSW Main Street in the morning?
No wonder, this
Apple-only mobile app, LammaFerry, was created by his son!
  
It's Robin's first app and it's free, so he gets
some free promotion here. This fresh graduate (NOT in Computer
Science!) is also getting a free listing on the top left of this
website, under "Ferry Timetables". A Park Island ferry app will
be next.
Click below or point your iPhone/iPod/iPad/iAnything
camera at the QR code.
For the big majority of Android users who like
much larger, less expensive and more customisable smart-phones,
here's my favourite app for ferry schedules:
HKFerry App (Android)
So many Lammaites are enjoying summer vacations
all over the world these weeks. What did they get up to?
Facebook knows...
For example,
Us Ed Pencil "had some inky fun times in Copenhagen
and the UK over July."
 
  
 
Another new guest blogger has just signed up for occasional
stories in this Lamma-zine. He posted an intriguing ad in our Rent &
Let Classifieds: Modern Day Myth Maker Seeks Humble
Accommodation. I contacted him, one thing led to another and
voila, a new guest blogger!
Modern Day Myth Maker writes:
(with some heavy-handed subediting, plus added
text/photos/illus/links by L-G)
(Artist's Impression - L-G's handiwork)
"Isn't it time Lammaites embraced
the modern, 21st century, convenience-food world and got a
Subway?
The grilled salmon at The Waterfront is great, the
dal and fish tikka at Beer Garden is lovely (as long as
you don't mind the hour wait), the ramen soup and mackerel at
the Japanese place on the corner whose name I always forget is
very handy [Blue Bird].
But sometime I just want to get off the ferry, order a Sub
and munch it in all its over-sauced, over-pickled glory in front
of the TV.
My mouth is watering as I write,
 anticipating that crunchy
moistness that I don't have to trek to Central for to enjoy.
It's not
even that unhealthy, if you tell them to go easy on the mayo.
And you can be sure, if a Subway did open, it would do a
roaring trade. There'd be queues winding down Main Street, like
that time when Abercrombie got all its hot, shirtless models in
town for their Central store opening. Our hot, shirtless
Bear Campers would surely love to volunteer for this
opening!
 Oh,
I know, I may offend all the Mackie D lovers with this post.
There was a totally unsubstantiated rumour years ago that
Mackie D might move into the former, now completely rebuilt Spicy Island
building (see above and right). Fear not!
And I'm not at all averse to the occasional fish filet
between two airy yet somehow satisfying baps. But there's
something about a Subway that just feels a little less vulgar
than a greasy burger outlet.
Subway is the healthy option for convenience food lovers.
We could open a Subway and still feel OK about ourselves, in a
way we couldn't if a McD's or even a Starbucks opened in its
place.
So how about it? Who's up for volunteering to be the first
Subway franchisee on Lamma?"
My Photoshopped picture above caused
quite a stir on Facebook:
"A SUBWAY restaurant for Lamma!? http://Lamma.com.hk"
Read more about recent Lamma
Bar & Restaurant News.
Modern Day Myth Maker is following
our newest guest bloggers, our Lamma Police Chief and the
returning Official Court Glutton.
Want to be next?
Contact me!
How did I convince MDMM? Some excerpts from my email to him:
The themes and topics of your guest blogs would really be up
to you! Anything Lamma- or Lammaite-related that gets you
excited (upset, angered, frustrated,
delighted, enthusiastic) enough to actually write about it!
It an be serious, satirical, funny or even cynical, anything
Lamma's current and former residents, visitors and
"stakeholders" might like to read about. I've got lots of topics
I know little about and haven't covered yet in about 3,000
stories so far, but it's really up to you and your own
experience of living here, like a blog entry.
Have a look at the Lamma-zine and the many guest writers I've
featured over the years, giving them a soapbox for their
well-reasoned arguments and "Letters to the Editor", but also
their over-the-moon raves ("Best place to live!") and
belligerent rants ("Why I hate Lamma!").
Almost anything goes, but I'm the editor, so libeling and
serious personal attacks won't be allowed. But opinions very
different from mine are most welcome, for example, "Start the
YSW Harbour Reclamation right now!"
Suggest topics that get you really excited, good or bad!
Links for feedback and to your blog, website will be provided,
of course, plus a very wide and substantial worldwide readership
in 100+ countries, plus an occasional free drink and/or meal.
 Following
up on all the major publicity about the Wang Long snake catcher video -
Facebook: Lamma Snake Sightings,
Lamma.com.hk,
SCMP,
Coconut Hong Kong - Lamma's brand-new Police Chief,
Camas TUNG Hei-man - "Woman Inspector of Police, Lamma Island &
Peng Chau" has quickly replied in her new, regular, 2nd Lamma Police
Corner, exclusively on this website:
"Welcome back to Police Corner,
Thanks for your comments to my first article. I do read
your posts, however, I cannot respond to all individual posts on
the blog due to practicality – I'm sure you would agree that it
would not be appropriate or possible for me to do so. But no
worries, I will still give general replies in this Police Corner
and adopt your helpful initiatives or suggestions. Also, I will
try to respond directly and as soon as I can if questions come
up which relate to public safety.
I've heard some of you are concerned about the python captured
in early August. In fact, someone has made an official complaint
about how that particular incident was handled and an
investigation will be conducted. I can't comment in detail on
that case because of that.
Let me tell you more on how we generally deal with such
reports. When we receive a report of snakes seen and the snake
in question may endanger the public (e.g. a snake inside
premises or in a place frequented by the public), we will first
check out the reported location of the snake and then call
individual snake catchers (mostly a snake dealer by trade) to
ask whether they are willing to come to Lamma for the tasking.
In the first instance, my officers will attend scene as soon as
they can to place an appropriate cordon, ensure people are
evacuated if appropriate and wait for the snake catcher's
arrival.
 Since
we also need to ensure the snake catcher's safety, we will
render assistance requested by the catcher after his arrival.
All snakes captured have to be placed in a securely tied
canvas sack and further locked in a snake box. They would be
delivered to the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) or to
AFCD for the protected species. Many snakes may end up in KFBG.
An Important Message: If you find a snake in your house or
somewhere that may pose a danger to you or others, please stay
calm, get to a safe location and call police via 999 at once.
Try your best to keep the snake under observation – although
only if safe and practical to do so.
Remember "Public Safety" is absolutely our first priority,
including you, our officers and anyone helping to deal with a
case.
As a general reminder, in
order maintain appropriate confidentiality; remember not to post
reports relating to cases, crimes, complaints or criminal
intelligence in the blog here. You can always report by phone,
email, fax or in person direct to Hong Kong Police Force."
All contact numbers are linked below:
http://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/contact_us.html
Lamma Police Post Tel: 2982 1577
~ Lamma Police Post Fax: 2982 1824
Lamma Police Post email:
ysw_post_ccdiv@police.gov.hk"
 Siuyu
Yeung (GreenLammaGroup)
has been teaching me how to take proper sunrise photos this morning, with
his heavy tripod, lens filters, light-meter and positive film (yes, analogue
film!) He's got the night off his many duties as a first time dad, his
wife and son (see right) visiting relatives.
We'd been discussing mountain biking to Tung O Wan (extreme South of Lamma)
for the best sunrise views. But after some texting at 4:15am, we settled for
my rooftop at 5:30am instead. A little bit more convenient and we could
enjoy breakfast in my flat. Tung O Wan sunrise next time?
My own little cameras (above on the right) were taking amateur snapshots and
time lapse video. Now I just have to learn how to edit the videos to show
them here soon.
I'm looking forward to seeing Siuyu's professional-quality sunrise
photographic prints soon, as
soon as he gets his film developed and the photos printed. ;-)
 
Mother duck leading her ducklings past Lantau Island to Cheung Chau:
Last, but not least, another little sunSET from last night:
New photos from Lamma's master flora/fauna photographer,
Rambler.
His Planet Pandora, err, Lamma series sports these
intriguing titles from his weekend mission reports featuring his
best photos of the week:
Mission reports diversity of life and abundance of water on
Pandora
Pandora expedition reports: new species found
Mission to planet Pandora sends new images
Pandora mission reports new life forms
Alien creatures found on Pandora
Follow Rambler on Google+
It's a rare occasion that I come across a band with Lamma
members I've never heard about before.
Today is such a day. Introducing
Lamma Quintet! Performing
tonight, 8/8, at Peel Fresco Music Lounge.
Not performing on Lamma yet,
hopefully soon, but in the Peel
Fresco Music Lounge in Central, performing tonight.
Members Andrew Collier and Jimmy Pittman live
on Lamma, Pierre Veniot lives in Tuen Mun, often visiting
Lamma, Tsui Chin Hung is born in HK.
Hmmmm, a quintet with only 4 members, instead of 5?
What's new in
Prime Bar &
Grill on Yung Shue Wan's High Street?
"Prime has a new menu with light tapas for the summer months, but we are
also still serving favourites from the previous menu. See attached menu and
some photos of the new tapas dishes, as follows:
Olive and Sundried Tomato Risotto, Bacon and Egg Slider, American
Baby Back Ribs, Beef Brisket with Coleslaw, Vegetable Ratatouille, US
Sirloin with Mustard."
Click to see the new menu...
New promotional poster, celebrating 12 years of this website. I used digital
artworks by Yuri Malkov from
Moscow (see his new
Lamma fine art gallery):
"How the old quarry site at Sok Kwu Wan might look
if the government's
development plan gets the green light.
Photo: Planning Dept."
SCMP, Letters to the Editor, by Ed Stokes:
"Forget tower blocks at Lamma quarry and clean up village areas"
Introducing our newest, bilingual guest blogger, Lamma's brand-new Police Chief,
Camas TUNG Hei-man - "Woman Inspector of Police, Lamma Island &
Peng Chau, Cheung Chau Division":
More Police Corner in Eng./Chin., plus your comments...
 "I
was looking for a quiet place close to Hong Kong with small hotel on a
beach, not crowded, where I could enjoy the sea, nice view and food for a few
days.
I and my wife Julia were visiting our
daughter Polina [see below] who studies law and human
rights at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong itself
is great and I love it. However, I was really up to having some
rest outside of the city, swimming in the sea and walking along
the nature landscapes as we as small villages. I found lots of
pleasant reviews about Lamma Island and I decided to try it on.
And I had no regrets about my choice.
We stayed at
Concerto Inn right at the [public Hung Shing Yeh]
beach and this was fantastic. Friendly hotel staff and
convenient location made our stay absolutely adorable. We
enjoyed the sea, the beach, the people around, our walk to the
village, bars and restaurants there, the big spiders and
huge butterflies.
 In
the end, I even loved the power station which showed up so
naturally in every corner of the island, and I'm sure is very
needful for the local population. I also loved the truckies (my
word for small trucks), which were sneering along the narrow
streets and actually doing quite important work for the island.
I love taking picture at the places I visit
and then convert them into digital paintings which I then
post at
Fine Art America web site. Sometimes, somebody even buys
the prints of my art works. [Ed: click below to enlarge and
buy.]
  
Lamma Village 2 -
Lamma Spider - Paths
 
Power Station -
Estate Works
  
Scenes 2 - Sunny
Walk - Lamma Village 3
  
Bamboo Forest -
Transportation - Lamma Village
In my normal life, I work for an
international telecommunications company in Moscow, my wife is a
psychologist, and my daughter is a student living in Hong Kong.
When I visit Hong Kong again next time, I
will definitely come over to Lamma Island. I absolutely love it
and I will make much more pictures which I missed this time,
especially of Nick the Bookman. :-)
Cheers Lamma,
Yuri Malkov"
Lamma seen from a helicopter. Photo provided by
Heliservices Hong Kong, who are currently offering 5-minute flights
for $500 over Victoria Harbour.
Click to enlarge or contact me for a high-res print file.
Having left Switzerland half a lifetime ago, I rarely get homesick, except
maybe once a year, when we visit Swiss Chalet restaurant in TST East
for a real Swiss lunch on National Day, today!
It's top-quality, but very affordable for a weekday set lunch, well below
$200. Once a year, this is our Swiss treat, at least till we can afford
another visit to my former home. It's been 9 years, very tough to afford the
air tickets these years.
 Chalet's
food is not quite like my mother used to make it, but it's very original as
the Swiss-German owner has been running Swiss restaurants for decades in HK.
But we had no cherry tomatoes in my ancient childhood days and Swiss Chalet
really LOVES their cherry tomatoes, see below. There are only two Swiss
restaurants in HK I know of. The other one is inside the Peninsula Hotel,
Chesa, but it's unaffordable, expect on expense account. Those were the
days...
A few pics of our courses and they don't even include the Swiss cheese
platter, included in the set lunch as a dessert option. For more info, check
out the 188 reviews and 611 photos on
OpenRice. We don't seem to be the only ones who love Swiss Chalet,
at least once a year on National Day.
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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
published in the Lamma-zine, Events Calendar, Photo Galleries, Links
or in our Eng. and Chin. forums!
 All
text, photos & graphics by Lamma-Gung, if not otherwise
credited. Click on button on left for
Creative Commons license.
Twice a month, the Lamma-zine Blog will be promoted via an
email newsletter to all registered
subscribers and forum members.
Free subscription.
All former posts are stored in the
Blog Archives,
see below.
All materials and photos © 2014 Lamma-Gung.
Some rights reserved.
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