Day 14- returning from Xi'an & write about Lamma Island Ferry-Hike-Seafood Expedition

Hi everyone, I was in Xi'an Apr 21 - 25 couchsurfing. It is my first ever couchsurfing experience. It was awesome! I learnt so much from the host which I gonna talk about it later on in my Xi'an post. However, I'm catching up with my writing for Lamma Island, Hong Kong because everytime, I don't seem very satisfied with it and on Apr 28, I went there for the third time, I added so much more pictures and that's why I couldn't finish this blog for like 19 days since it first launched on my website... 

​Hi everyone, I was in Xi'an Apr 21 - 25 couchsurfing. It is my first ever couchsurfing experience. It was awesome! I learnt so much from the host which I gonna talk about it later on in my Xi'an post. If anyone interested to know about couchsurfing in China, don't miss my next post!

However, I'm catching up with my writing for Lamma Island, Hong Kong because everytime, I don't seem very satisfied with it and on Apr 28, I went there for the third time, I added so much more pictures and that's why I couldn't finish this blog for like 19 days since it first launched on my website... At the same time, I like to tell you that I am now seeking 2 partners for me to expand my content. I m expecting the project will become better real soon!

Day 14 - Travel side hustle project update

We started in November 2017. If you read the google analytics. We are having a promising start as my users grow 80% in 1 month. My readers have grown tremendously in the local segment that is good because We can develop some local tools and programs to increase our income. At the same time, I feel that the website can get more international once my content expand and with greater content appealing to the global market.

We are going to disclose our figures periodically that's our wish because we like you to witness our growth as it isn't easy so we can cheer you up every step of the way!

if you like what you read, don't forget to subscribe our newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Where is Lamma Island?

I have traveled to Lamma Island on 2 weekends once taking the ferry to Yung Shue Wan and the next weekend to Sok Kwu Wan (for latest ferry schedule, go to link).

If you arrive at the Central Pier, you would often wonder where are all those ferries going to?
There are many places you can go, the Lantau Island, Cheung Chau, Lamma island, Peng Chau & Discovery Bay. If you like to know more Lantua Island, I have an article on mui woo and also a trip offered at airbnb experience, you can support the travel side hustle project (instagram) by joining the bike trip and have a good time together!

If bike is not our thing, and you rather hike and enjoy the vicinity, I would recommend you the Lamma Island.

Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island, Hong Kong

​Yung Shue Wan is the more populated side of Lamma island with many nice restaurants, bars and cafe, visitors usually started their journey here. Many foreigners choose to live in this quiet place about 30 minutes by ferry away from Hong Kong.

if you like to join me (or not, totally up to you) I can take you this popular Hong Kong styled-cafe for a quick breakfast. You will enjoy the locally famous ham macaroni in soup, the famous iced milk tea inherited from the old English colony & the 5 star iced red bean milk.

Tak Kee Cafe & Restaurant (photo links)
16 Yung Shue Wan Back Street, Lamma Island​

Photo credit: Openrice

Food is great, Short of seats. So you gonna eat Hong Kong style and that means quick!

You would love the ham & mac in soup!

​Tin Hau Temple (Queen of the sea)

Not far away from the breakfast place, you will find this colorfully built Traditional Chinese Temple, you can smell the way to the temple with its burning incense from her worshippers.

Tin Hau if you take the direct translation (Tin for 天）meaning the sky and (Hau for 后）meaning the Queen. It is the Queen of the sky, it is the many gods that the Chinese worship. The Queen of the sky is often worshiped by Fishermen, who had the power to calm the storm and the sea to protect the villagers, as Hong Kong was orginally a fisherman village. Great festivals to celebrate the birth of the Queen of the sky are held every year.

You can appreciate the big difference in culture under about our superstition and enjoy the colorful background if you enjoy photography

The smell of incense will travel far. Have you ever seen a mosquito coil before? I think they look so much alike!

This is mosquito coil. Do you think they look the same?

Enjoying some quiet time at Concerto Inn, Lamma Island, Hong Kong

Concerto Inn, Lamma Island outdoor garden by the beach

Patio of Concerto Inn, Lamma Island

Hung Sheng Ye Beach

​If you are crazy early person like I am, you can join me to take the earliest ferry at 7:20 am to arrive at Sok Kwu Wan and have a hike back to Yung Shue Wan where the ferry schedule (link) is more frequent returning to Central.

I m trying to figure out a trip to Lamma that would later feature on airbnb Experience. Stay tuned!

Enjoying some quiet time at Concerto Inn

When you arrive at Hung Sheng Ye Beach, you will see Concerto Inn Lamma Island. I would recommend you to sit there for a drink to enjoy the quiet moment.
However, I would not recommend you to order their coffee like I did. The cup looks nice, the environment is nice but the coffee doesn't taste right! (Omg00dness, it rhymes!!)

Notes for Non-travelers, artist or entrepreneurs:
If you are not a traveller ( meaning that you are a local), it's a nice place to do some quiet and clear thinking here. It is a really nice place and it's just a short walk from the Yung Shue Wan Pier.

I would recommend you to sit there for a drink to enjoy the quiet moment, do some reading or write a dairy. If you are doing creative work, I m sure the new environment does help to stimulate your creative juice or mojo or WHATEVER!!

Thai Restaurant watching ferries arrive - Babela

If you don't want to miss the ferry, enjoy some nice food and to watch the ferry arrive right in front of your eyes. I recommend you to this Thai restaurant BABELA. The food is prepared by a genuine Thai lady married to a Spanish. I had Thai Chicken Fried Rice and a beer right outside the store, breathing good air, enjoying a good beer and watching the ferry arrives, enjoying every moment because I will neither be too late or too early to catch the ferry. It is simply a 500m dash. But watch out if you leave a bit more time if you don't have an octopus card.

An octopus card is a touch card for you to store the value instead of pulling out cash all the time. It is currently the most payment method I would recommend you to get an octopus card once arrived the airport. You can make payment at all transportation and you can use it at convenience stores or supermarket, pretty much everywhere.

BABELA offers genuine Thai food at affordable price, a great view. A canned beer for $25 (USD3). What more can you ask for ? The picture is the chicken fried rice and the view is for Free!

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Sok Ku Wan​ - a better experience from Sok Ku Wan to Yung Shue Wan

Sok Ku Wan Tin Hau Temple

It is the quieter side of the island. Most people start from Yung Shue Wan. But I can recommend you to start from Sok Ku Wan and end your hike at Yung Shue Wan. It's just feels nicer going from a quieter place to a busier place. It is like a climax of the movie, it gets better and better.

You might get exhausted from waking up early & of course, the hike. With a bigger choice of restaurants and cafes, if you end with many great food choices, it will definitely light you up.
Sok Ku Wan is an old fisherman village and it remains like the old days and the environment is also very peaceful. You can stride along and take lots and lots of pictures.

great view looking down to Sok Ku Wan, Hong Kong

Lamma Winds is a wind powered generator. The finger I m pointing to is the logo and the word means electricity. The windmill is huge and you would hear the noise from the twirling windmill.

This is tent structure. Doesn't it look nice?

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Rainbow Seafood Restaurant, Lamma Island

mantis prawns capture from Hong Kee

Most people will go to Rainbow Seafood Restaurant for seafood. I think you should try the big mantis prawns (as in the picture) and I mean taking the biggest ones there. I guess you won't have that in too many places around the world and the meat is really sweet, sweetie!
The hike to Yong Shue Wan will take you around 1 and a half hour, it is quiet short. But if it is not enough for you, there are other alternative routes like going to the YMCA Campsite and then to Hung Sheng Ye Wan and finally returning to Yung Shue Wan. And I m sure,by the time you finished the hike, you are ready for some great food!!

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Mo Ta Wan

If you are a person that enjoys special adventure. You can try getting off at Mo Ta Wan (bay) take a ferry from Aberdeen and hike up Ling Kok Shan (hill). It is a real good experience and the hiking up the thousands of stairs of Ling Kok Shan gives you a sense of achievement and satisfaction.

​Chinese Challenge:
The word "Wan灣" means bay, whenever you see this you know what it means.

1. Chuen Kee Ferry at Aberdeen can take you to Mo Ta Wan or Sok Ku Wan. Remember to inform the captain you like to get off at Mo Ta Wan or they might skip the stop!

2. My first time here at Mo Ta Wan. I m the only person getting off and seeing the boat leave, Makes me feel a bit lonely and scared. I cheer myself up by telling myself: You wanted to be here and now your wish came true. Sometimes, we need to recognise our inner talking ( your thought might not be the right thought sometimes), you need to take note and don't let your negative thought take hold of you.

3. Hiking towards the direction to Shek Pai Wan and Tung O, you will see Yung Shue Ha Village of Lamma Island, Hong Kong

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4. When you arrive at the public toilet. You will have a choice to go straight to Shek Pai Wan or Tung O. Or you can go Ling Kok Shan. I went Shek Pai Wan and go to Ling Kok Shan

5. This is Shek Pai Wan and a nice beach for water sports, kayaking,etc. I took a snap showing off my new Decathlon sports shoes!

6. I climbed up the top of Ling Kok Shan and mounted on a big rock. It was really windy. The eagle was next to me. I was so scared it will snatch my food.

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7. Spectacular view looking down from mountain top

8. Be prepared you will go 2-3 hours without food. For me, I like tomato sauce, so I bring along some bread and a can of sardine, 2 bananas,a bag of chips and a tea to enjoy my journey.

9. If you hike further on after reaching the peak of Ling Kok Shan and keep going. You will see the building of Hong Kong Electricity, there is also a place for helicopter landing too

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10. Getting down from Ling Kok Shan, you have choice of going to Tung Ho ( further away from the pier) or hike to Yung Shue Wan. I would recommend going on to Yung Shue Wan as it is rather quiet at Tung Ho

11. Walking down from Ling Kok Shan, you will end up near Sok Ku Wan Pier. You will pass through many graves for about 10 minutes. Don't be afraid. It is okay. This is the temple that probably takes care of the graves.

12. Can you spot the eagle? Hong Kong is one of the several place we see eagles. Yet they are being harmed by banging into our tall glass building. You see eagles in Lamma Island, Hong Kong

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13. Ling Kok Shan oversees a big part of Lamma Island. You can get the best view of Once you climb to the other side of Ling Kok Shan. You get the best of Sok Ku Wan stunning view. You get nothing better if you don't want to spend effort. Effort and return are often appeared in equal proportion ; )

14. From Ling Kok Shan down towards Yung Shue Wan or Sok Ku Wan

15. This fat cat is found at Lo So Shing Beach of Lamma Island, these cats are so approachable.

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16. Walking along Sok Ku Wan, you can go to the beach about 15 minute walk

17. A walk of about 20 min from Sok Ku wan to Lo So Shing Beach. No one is here. You can really look whatever you can here!

18. Hong Kong has many species of butteries and is top-ranked among the world.

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19. I didn't go in. I just want to locate the campsite and I did!

20. Some group games from YMCA but I don't know what are these...

21. Crossroads after hiking down from Ling Kok Shan - Yung Shue Wan or Sok Ku Wan of Lamma Island

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22. I still want to recommend this Mantis Prawn. Try them!!! Please......

23. I took this picture near Yung Shue Wan. I just feel happier and livelier eating there

24. Picture from Yung Shue Wan Pier, Lamma Island before I get onboard and going back to the city

Back to Yung Shue Wan for more food

Looks Yummy ? Tom Yum Fried Rice at Babela

BABELA yummy fish cake

I strongly recommend this pizza place and do drink a pint of beer!!! ?.... so happy!

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Airbnb special experience

Airbnb special experience
if you look for some different and in-depth experience at Lamma. You can have a look at this Airbnb accommodation. I just want to tell you that this Airbnb is not owned or related to me but it caught by eye how they offer their experience and I just want to share with you!
​
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/16221836?s=51

For Hotel and Flights!

​For more hotels selection, you can go  Agoda, or booking.com
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