Lamma Island

Just a half an hour ferry ride from busy downtown Hong Kong lies a peaceful getaway from it all: Lamma Island

. Also known as Pok Liu Chau, it is the third largest island in Hong Kong but it is home to just a tiny population of 6000. It has been suggested that its name derives from a Lamaist Monastery that used to be on the island, but it has also been argued that the name derives from that of the south side of the island "Namm A". With a long held reputation as a hippie hangout, Lamma Island is a laidback, car-free, and carefree alternative to urban Hong Kong for the many commuting locals, foreign expats, and artists and musicians who live on the island.

The two main reasons to come to Lamma Island are the beaches and the seafood. Sham Wan is not only a beautiful white-sanded spot to catch some sun: green turtles lay their eggs here and, during the breeding season from the start of July to the end of October, access to the beach is restricted. This bay is also important archaeologically. In the 1970s archaeologists found the remains of a Bronze Age settlement here from which they deduced that people were living on the island as early as 3800 years ago. Hung Shing Yeh Beach and Lo So Shing Beach are also fantastic beaches: they are picturesque, clean, and have adjoining shower, refreshment, and barbeque facilities, but they can be difficult to reach. Hung Shing Yeh is a 20 minute walk from Yung Shue Wan, one of the main towns with ferry links, while Lo So Shing is a 40 minute walk away.

The village of Sok Kwu Wan, also the site of another ferry pier linking the island to downtown Hong Kong, is the centre for seafood on Lamma Island. A number of seafood restaurants line the dock area and diners can sit on the open terraces out over the water and admire the views while they taste the local dishes. It"s still as pricey as many urban Hong Kong restaurants but it is well worth it. There is also now a Fisherman"s Village attraction at Sok Kwu Wan, which educates travelers about the lifestyles of local fisherman, teaching tourists their basic skills and thus, helping to preserve their traditional way of life. The salmon pink Tin Hau Temple, rebuilt after fire in 2004 but with a history of over a hundred years, is worth a visit. It is dedicated to the goddess of the sea who protects fishermen, and every year on the 23rd of the 3rd month of the Lunar Calendar, a festival is held. Two other Tin Hau temples exist on the island at Yung Shue Wan and Luk Chau Shan.

The northern village of Yung Shue Wan has many western restaurants and bars, perfect for a relaxing meal or cup of tea while looking over at the skyline of Hong Kong on the horizon and the beautiful sunset across the bay. While it was once the preferred home of many expats of the "flower-power" era and ethos, it is now beginning to turn more upmarket. Still, it"s a far cry from the madness of Hong Kong and as such provides the perfect escape for anyone fed up with the city. Some urbanites even pop over to Yung Shue Wan, which has better connections to central Hong Kong, just for dinner. The bars and restaurants contribute to a pretty lively nightlife scene with regular live music and events.

by: Chinatours.com

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