Get the picture?

Now, I don't want everyone who reads this blog to think that fun on Lamma Island is limited to Chinese festivals and other traditional stuff, ghost months and the like. Not so, there are many splendid restaurants and bars, occasional deranged weekends and the famous beach parties. Actually, it had been my intention to photograph the ghost burning on Saturday night after all, but after a good external soaking on the outskirts of Typhoon Sepat (on the ferry back from Hong Kong), I managed to get an internal one . . . way too many vodka lime sodas at the Deli Lamma. The upshot was that by the time I got to the festival it was all over (although it was a rather lacklustre event this year those who were there told me. It was interrupted by the downpour).

Never mind, I thought (or at least I think I did), I'll photograph the beach party instead. Well I tried. The montage above is what I found on my camera the next morning . . . accidental artistry. What is truly amazing is that I, camera, mobile and wallet got home in one piece.

Now, Lamma beach parties tend to last the whole weekend, so with this in mind I set off again yesterday morning to have another shot at photographing it (see photos below). What I found on Power Station Beach was an example of what makes Lamma so special. The party was still up and pumping, with DJ Le Libertine riding the decks, a couple of lone dancers, a handful of party animals "relaxing" on the beach or in the water and our very own sound guru Parksy keeping an ever-professional eye on the equipment. But, and here's the point, just a few yards away there was a woman fishing, a young couple celebrating Seven Sisters Day, villagers out for a Sunday morning stroll and power cyclists doing their thing in front of the stranded hulk of the SS Everbest (a victim of Typhoon Pabuk).

The music was great, but the atmosphere was even better. And to top it all, I found Lamma veteran Tanya sizing up the Everbest for the possibility of a boarding party – literally. What a great idea, she said, to sling a ladder up and boogie on down aboard the stricken vessel. A top idea indeed but somehow I don't think the inappropriately named Everbest is likely to be around long enough for that to happen.

Anyway, we adjourned back to the Deli to "discuss" the idea further, which is why this blog wasn't posted until today (Monday).

This entry is dedicated to Tanya and barrister Peter Chan, who was visiting Lamma and is now seriously considering moving here. Great conversation, hope to see you back again soon mate.