Moving to Hong Kong: Hiking Lamma Island

Hong Kong has a fair number of homeschoolers. But there is no requirement for us to be registered or to be involved in a group, so it's hard to say exactly how many there are. Homeschooling is not illegal here, but it is not common. We connected with a group of homeschoolers prior to coming to HK and they have been a great resource for us. However, we were amazed to find that most of the people coming to activities were those with very young children. Very few families with teens were doing any activities together. So, I emailed the leaders and asked if any teens were interested in meeting up. Turns out they all were! Ha! But all thought no one else would be, so none asked the question. So, since that first email, our teen group has had a get together in a local park, met for a music jam at a local music studio, and hiked Lamma island. So, I would say the homeschool teens group is doing ok! It is a mixed group of folks, some Americans, some English, some Chinese, some Singaporians and even a French-American family. John is out tonight with a couple of the teens and is developing friendships with a few of these teens. We are so thankful for this group. They are adding much to our experiences here in Hong Kong.

This is Lamma island ferry terminal...where we arrived. We started by taking a ferry from Discovery Bay to Central and then a ferry from Central to one side of Lamma island.

Arrived in the village of Yung Shue Wan to begin hiking the family trail.

Lots of shops along the beach

SanSan, Tiffin, John, and Yzang

The beach outside Yung Shue Wan

The trail is paved the entire route and goes up and over the island between the two main villages, Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan. Both villages have a ferry pier, so most folks arrive on one side or another, hike over the island and then take a ferry back to Central. The hike takes about an hour and a half and is about 3.5 miles and quite hilly in places. Lizzy was a trooper and we managed it fine. But we were tired and hungry by the time we arrived on the other side.

A rest stop along the trail.

Nicely paved trail the whole way

The views were worth the hike!

Lizzy saw this little house and immediately said,"It's just my size! Take my picture!!"

Rounding the bend and seeing the other ferry stop.

Paul and the other long haired American 13 year old boy.

American Thomas and his French wife, Flo. He is a music teacher and organized the music jam for the group.

This is the hiking group. There are several more teens who couldn't come this day, but we've enjoyed hanging out with them at different times. Most of these teens are from America and Singapore with only one young lady being a Chinese citizen. Two of the girls are twins, Indian by race, but American by birth. One young man has dual French and American citizenship. And one brother sister pair hold dual citizenship in Singapore and the U.K. Quite a group!