Memoirs of an Ice-Cream Lady (Part 23)
By Emily Ho
Editor’s Note: The author runs an ice-cream parlor on Hong Kong’s Lamma Island. When time allows, she draws caricatures and writes. The following are semi-autobiographical anecdotes blending fact and fiction.
Flip-Flops Tell a Tale
“Do you know how to tell if the Westerners here are tourists or Lamma residents?” Emily once asked her helper, who had moved from the city.
“Well, that’s easy. The ones wearing flip-flops live on Lamma.”
Bingo! What an observant fellow! Most Lamma Islanders, including the Chinese, wear flip-flops (or even walk barefoot) in the main village. It’s such a laid-back place that people dress in the most casual clothing, despite Hong Kong being a fashion-conscious city.
What a difference to how people look in the city, especially in the commercial districts! There, the men wear neckties, and women walk in high heels. Sometimes Emily hardly recognizes her neighbors if seeing them in the city.
“Are you heading to the city?” Local residents may guess your destination by your clothes.
Doggies and Their Poo
Dogs really rule Lamma. They wander the island, either alone or “walking their masters”. Without them, some humans might be too lazy to walk.
Most Hong Kong people, as city dwellers, can’t keep dogs or cats at home due to tenancy agreements in the high-rise buildings. Anyone wanting pets may wish to move to villages in the New Territories or on outlying islands.
Lamma may be the world’s most dog-friendly island. About the only people unfriendly to canines are the Chinese girls, typically visiting for the first time, who scream at the sight of them (spooking the surprised animals too). It’s almost as if these young ladies regard the dogs as fierce animals from the jungle. Such girls succeed mainly in winning attention from their boyfriends and showing “innocence”, as if they’d never seen dogs.
An online magazine once did a survey to compile “10 lies about life on Lamma”. Emily easily thought of one: after living here long enough, you never step on dog-poo when wearing flip-flops.
If visiting Lamma, watch for some special local souvenirs. Guess what you may get for free on the soles of your shoes!
Coming Soon:
Two-Alarm Two-Step Takes a Painful Turn (more Memoirs of an Ice-Cream Lady)
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