A Lamma Island hike that served up reminders of there still being so much to love about Hong Kong (Photo-essay)

There are days when so much seems wrong in Hong Kong.  There's so much wrong about living in Hong Kong under the shadow of a draconian security law; and so much wrong about the Carrie Lam-headed government's plans for Hong Kong, including those that are not overtly political. 

 

Against the odds though, there also are days when I feel that there's still so much to love about, and being in, the Big Lychee.  Among other things, Hong Kong is dealing with the threat of the Wuhan coronavirus much better than most other parts of the world -- as can be seen in today's total tally of new cases being four (of which just one involved a local transmission), and this being the fifth time in seven days that we've not seen a new coronavirus case with an unknown source.

 

Also, there really are far worse places to be stuck in during a pandemic which has made leisure travel seem too risky and difficult to attempt than one with lots of accessible countryside to get away from the madding crowd.  And especially when even this may be at risk if Carrie Lam's government had its way, like with the plans for the Shek Kwu Chau incinerator (but thankfully hasn't always), it really is good to go out every once in a while to enjoy -- while it's still there; and this especially at a time of the year when the high heat and humidity of the summer is giving way to blessedly cooler temperatures and lower humidity levels that puts me in the mood to go hiking once more...

 

Hong Kong's gazetted beaches remain closed to the public 

(for social distancing reasons) but people have been free to go 

hiking in the country parks -- and associated areas -- all this time

 

Lamma Island has no country parks but it is home to a lot

of countryside and the popular Lamma Island Family Walk

 

You know it's a high visibility day when you can see the tips

of tall skyscrapers over on the northern side of Hong Kong (and also 

the wireless signal station up on Mount Parker) from Lamma Island!

 

Hong Kong Island has its share of countryside too but it still is

far more urban than neighboring Lamma Island

 

By far the most critter spottings made on this hike was

when we were by Picnic Bay (Sok Kwu Wan) overlooking

the fisheries beloved by egrets and the like

 

At Shek Pai Wan, I came across a beach without barriers erected to stop 

people from entering -- and, even more miraculously, with way less 

trash than one'd expect to see at an ungazetted beach!

 

The last hour or so of the hike was spent hurrying to get to

hike's end before the sun went down but, even so,

there were times I felt compelled stop and take a photo!

 

When you get treated to this sight after completing a 13.3 

kilometer hike, you can't help but think there's much right 

still with, and in, the world :)