Hong Kong Day 4- Lamma island part 1

Lamma island is a short ferry ride from Hong Kong pier yet it feels like a completely different world. Once the ferry pulls into dock, you disembark to find a "parking lot" of bicycles awaiting their riders followed by the sight of a charming fishing village- my ferry arrived into Yung Shue Wan, or Banyan Tree Bay. Fresh seafood sits prominently, proudly, in front of the many eateries lining the path. There are actually two villages on the island, one at each end, so my goal was to hike across the length of the entire island to the next village of Sok Kwu Wan, or Rainbow Bay. The mood is markedly more relaxed, more languid, here. 

Families walk hand in hand along the gravel path, marvelling at the seabirds and oceanside vistas, while local kids sword fight among the lush ferns. There are beaches where people splash about and make sand castles- one man was walking around with a loud speaker in his backpack playing upbeat music as he ambled about at the time of my visit. Vibrant tropical flowers creep and burst from unexpected corners, and the style of the homes follows in eclectic colourful suite. Boats and feet are the primary forms of motility among the locals as there are no cars on the island. 

Given the bounty of exceptionally fresh sea creatures hanging around to tempt your taste buds, it was only a matter of time before I opted to stop and sample some. ;) After completing my hike seemed the apropos time for a full meal, as I didn't want to embark on a long hike with a heavy stomach. In Mongkok I had eaten a bowl of beef noodles prior to catching the train to Hong Kong station and walking to Central, or the pier, and this ensured my meal had time to settle. I did stop and sample some egg waffles, though, for a quick snack. 

Midway through the hike I encountered a mysterious smirking stone, with arrows pointing to a barely visible path to the peak of a mountain. This offered me expansive views of the surrounding area in solitude, as I was the only soul brave enough to follow the trail at that moment. It was a wonderful moment in a truly wonderful locale. I could see raising a family or retiring here quite happily someday, if the fortunes allowed.

More photos ahead.

Japan: Tokyo Sea Life Park in Kasairinkai Koen (park) 2012-08-31

You may or may not have noticed from my post of our trip to San Francisco's Aquarium of the Bay, but aquariums are among one of my favorite places to explore. As a child my grandparents would often take me to the Sea World in Ohio during my summer visits, which instilled an appreciation for aquatic lifeforms in me early on. While the ethics behind parks like Sea World are certainly questionable, the effect of seeing the majestic denizens of the seas and shores has had isn't. 

On one particularly lovely summer day in the Tokyo Bay area, I decided to pay a visit to Kasai Rinkai Koen. One of the more striking features of the park is this glass dome that houses the entrance to the Tokyo Sea Life Park, visible from the Keiyo line trains as they roll up to the station. The park itself is quite large, with expansive bay-side areas, grassy picnic fields, gardens, the Diamonds & Flowers Ferris wheel (2nd largest in Japan), a beer garden during the summer and much more! 

I've written an article about the park for Tokyo Cheapo in the past, so feel free to check it out!

This post will focus on the aquarium, with another post covering the Diamonds and Flowers ferris wheel and the rest of the park coming soon!