Sunday, February 8, 2015
Sundays are the best, minus the dark cloud of Monday that starts looming later in the day, but we Tupas, and especially here on Lamma, ignore that cloud for as long as possible. Sundays have taken on a new importance since I started my job last year, where my days off are Thursday and Sunday, leaving Sunday the only day off for Brad and I together.
You’d have to drag us off this island if you wanted us to leave Lamma on a Sunday. Before we moved to Lamma and lived in the very busy, noisy neighborhood of Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island, we’d come to Lamma every weekend to relax. People come here for vacation and to get away. Now, simply stating: we love staying home!
the view from our balcony, facing the Yung Shue Wan harbor
It’s easy to slip into a routine on Sundays, but it does vary a little bit between summer and winter (or I should say hot weather and not hot weather).
Hot weather = beach
Not hot weather = hiking, lounging outside on the balcony, or on the couch with all the windows open, naps are lovingly embraced, and the beach can be good too, but no swimming
summer swimming at Hung Sing Ye beach (during busy weekends-a 20 min walk from our apt)
under the shade on Lo Sing Shing beach, on the south east side of Lamma-not as convenient to get to, so much less crowded
The beach is nice during winter too. A friendly boy came over and with encouragement from our Chinese friend, Emily, he happily buried Brad’s feet in the sand
friendliness reigns on the beach
Why wouldn’t you bring your pet bird to the beach? If nothing else, the beach is a fantastic place to people watch.
No matter the weather, I’ll make a big brunch which kicks off the consumption of adult beverages (I mean really, what kind of Sunday brunch would it be without champagne with your eggs or a bloody beer?). Music is usually involved, and then with more beverages comes the singing. One Sunday evening this past fall, Brad and I were inside (with windows open) and he was singing along with Christmas song, O Holy Night by Josh Groban I believe. When he finished, suddenly we heard clapping outside! Unbeknownst to us, our neighbors were listening and were enjoying Brad’s “lovely singing voice”.
herb baked eggs (a la Barefoot Contessa cookbook I borrowed from the library)
Lamma also loves Sundays. People come out of the woodworks to go to the beach, walk dogs, hike, or socialize in town. There are lots of house parties and barbecues. It’s a good time to get to know your neighbors. One does have to check oneself though. It’s easy to have too much fun on a Sunday and everyone has paid for it at least once come Monday morning. I know this from experience, but I can also see it on people’s faces on the Monday morning ferry. Yet, we all do it over again the next Sunday with no regrets.
on a back trail where many owners let their dogs off-leash
drinking fresh coconut on the way to the beach
It’s taken me all morning to get this post together, in between cooking brunch, eating it on the balcony, and hanging laundry on the line outside to dry in the sun. Now we’re headed to meet some friends at the beach. It’s 20 degrees Celsius, which is what we use here, so I have to look up what that is in Fahrenheit…got it, 68. And sunny!
So, cheers to Lamma Sunday Funday!