A-DesiFlava Jul-Aug 2019 issue by A-Desiflava Magazine

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HONG KONG'S FIRST LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR SOUTH ASIANS

Volume 8 Issue 4 Jul-Aug 2019

Femme in Fitness, Food & Fashion WE, THE WOMEN

Family Fun on Dream Cruises IN THE MOOD

More From Mauritius

Femme in Fitness, Food & Fashion

In The Mood

Globetrotter

We, The Women

Komal Lakhani-Shankar The foodie-cum-fashionista loves to explore new places and meet new people! With her ever-so-chatty personality and candid writing style, Komal makes everything interesting. Her infectiously happy vibe is perfectly in-sync with the city’s buzz, capturing moments into beautiful words.

In Service & Sonnets

Vaastu meets Feng Shui

No Filter Vol.II

The Support-System We Often Forget

Philanthropreneur

Home

While Ago

Meenakshi Gupta A Hong Konger since over a decade and mother of two, Meenakshi indulges in everything wholesome from painting, poetry, gardening to even learning Cantonese! She is always up for an art show and happily down for immersing into a book! Her collective experiences are beautifully penned into great reads.

Aunty MVP

36 38

Azake Rahman The very suave and talented Azake Rahman captures magic through his lens in his unique style. Be it candid conversation or scenic views, he seizes memorable moments within our pages – making them come alive for our readers.

EDITORIAL:

Gaurav Pardeshi HONG KONG'S FIRST LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR SOUTH ASIANS

Volume 8 Issue 4 Jul-Aug 2019

(Chief Editor)

Brinda Khandwala (Managing Editor)

PUBLISHER:

Neha Gaurav Pathak

COVER STORY

With Pride More From Mauritius GLOBETROTTER

Vaastu Meets Feng Shui HOME

not

Prejudice

Discussing legalisation of same sex marriages in HK

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Cover Story Annette M Houlihan, Managing Director at Carey, Suen and Associates Ltd has been into Estate Planning for 15 years. She speaks about the significance of legal acceptance of a marriage, “Hong Kong, although has common law (from UK) in place, they also have their own basic law, so it differs with some rules. One of them being the acceptance of same-sex marriages and the process that follows in case of a partner’s death.”

‘All you need is love’, said the Beatles. As true as it is, we also want commitment. Because Liza Minnelli told us, ‘If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it’! Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have that dream wedding in the presence of all our loved ones. Brinda Khandwala, takes cue from Taiwan’s landmark ruling of legalizing same sex marriages, to find out the importance of marriage for same sex couples here Hong Kong continues to seem indecisive when it comes to law and equal rights for the LGBTQ community. In May, while Taiwan was making global headlines with their new law, our MTR was pulling down Cathay Pacific’s ‘Move Beyond Labels’ ad featuring a gay couple. But also in the recent news, the court unanimously ruled in favour of Angus Leung and his husband Scott Adams, granting them spousal benefits and joint tax assessment – equal rights as heterosexual couples. The headlines ‘love wins’ gave hope to many. Most of us who have fallen in love, have at some point or another, desired to experience life together with their loved one as one unit – a family. But if we were to talk about the institution of marriage even without romanticizing it, its importance remains undiluted.

Marriage, under Hong Kong basic law, is between a man and a woman. But since September last year, the Director of Immigration permits samesex spouse on dependent visa if the person meets the normal immigration requirements. The person must fulfil three criteria - reasonable proof of a genuine relationship between the applicant and the sponsor; no known records to the detriment of the applicant; and the sponsor’s ability to support the dependent. “However, should either one of you die, unless you have written a will or set up a trust, anything in the deceased spouse’s name would go to the deceased spouse’s family, basically parents, then siblings, then nieces or nephews,” she explains. In Annette’s opinions, Hong Kong follows what China does; and if China legalizes same-sex marriages, Hong Kong will. But legal or not, she advocates that all couples must write a minor will. “It’s the simplest way by which you are protecting the rights of your loved ones. You both state the same instructions in your will and if either one dies, or both for that matter, everyone (courts and family) would understand your wishes for distribution. This saves time, money and family quarrels.” She has additional advice for expats. “Regardless of where you are from, or where you live, your assets in overseas jurisdictions are subject to the laws of the relevant overseas jurisdictions. For example, if you are from UK but live in HK and bought a house in USA, your house is subject to the relevant laws of USA. Also, HK has little taxes to worry about paying but many other countries have capital gains, inheritance, transfer and other death taxes to be aware of. Many can be mitigated whilst living overseas through trust planning.”

Cover Story

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A laidback brunch on a warm Sunday morning with Antonio and David turned into a rather long, insightful conversation. They met at an Australian expat event in Hong Kong. Antonio joined because a friend had organized the event and David attended with a friend. “It was just before gay pride in Hong Kong so we spoke about it. I smoothly asked him for his contact and he gave me his email!” “I wasn’t on any social media then,” said David in his defense. “Somehow I thought of giving the email.” “And I felt shot down. Gay or not, I just thought he was cute.” But all that’s in the past. A couple can’t look more in love than these two. Though we met to talk about Taiwan legalizing same sex marriage but before that a whole lot of other discussions organically happened – about coming out, social acceptance, religion, media representation of homosexuals and more. For both the guys, coming out and acceptance from the family wasn’t much of a struggle. One thing I have almost always heard from every gay person that I’ve ever met – “When I told my mom, she said she kinda knew.” Yes, mothers know. But how easy is it for them to accept it? “I came out to my mother at 21,” said Antonio. “There were ongoing jokes about it in family but we never spoke about it seriously. As Asians, we are not comfortable with confrontation, we don’t like to ‘rock the boat’.”

Dating for two years, Antonio Ho, General Counsel and his boyfriend David Moreno, a web developer say its inevitable that Hong Kong will legalize same sex marriage

For David, there wasn’t much struggle while coming out, which was a couple of years ago, but it was more a concern about ‘will things change’. “More like will their treatment towards me change? I have a brother, will he feel differently about me. But it wasn’t like that.” Coming out was important. A closeted life wasn’t an option. ”That would be very uncomfortable. It would be a ‘half life’,” said David. Antonio’s mum is Buddhist and David’s is Christian. What do their faith say about gay relationships? “My mom is a Buddhist. So they believe in detachment from all relationships – there is no particular prejudice for LGBTQ. It’s considered just as wrong to have a girlfriend or have children. I don’t think Asian religions have anything against homosexuality in their scriptures. The idea of being ‘gay’ is just ‘ew’ for them because they’re not familiar with it.” David is agnostic so religion doesn’t come into play here. “Christianity also doesn’t have much ground to stand on. There are few points that could be interpreted that way but it’s not much. It is a whole thing on female wife’s duties and slavery; not particularly on homosexuality. It’s more like they’re holding on the last straw of religion to stand against it. Their arguments hardly stand.” Both believe acceptance will come with more awareness and openness towards the discussion. But again, incidents like the Cathay ad being taken down by the MTR sets it a few steps behind. “I think it was more of a reflex – oh its gay, so take it down. They didn’t think hard about it. Some argue that it’s a policy as they have a moral code about ads in the MTR. But they have ads about – sex toys, breast enhancements, condoms as well... How does men holding hands breach your morals? There is no explicit hate towards gays, it’s just lack of thinking.”

Cover Story Antonio keenly points out another aspect of Asian society. “Family is a big deal – you don’t just turn 18 and move out. ‘Settling’ is important. Buying a house, car, having children… When the family expectations are like that, your gay relationship becomes a guilty pleasure at best; as if you’re taking drugs. Relationships are hard as it is.” Legalizing gay marriage in Hong Kong, they say, is inevitable. “Its natural progress. Like end of slavery or women’s rights to vote or to drive. In Asia may be slower but its happening. If it wasn’t Taiwan, it would be Japan or some other country. Someone needs to start and the rest will follow. Its like the neighbours got a new Mercedes so you will want to get a new car as well,” Antonio explains. Marriage may not be something the guys have discussed for themselves yet, given they’re dating since just a few years, but they were happy to share their view on it. “I like to have a polite chat with the older generation about this,” says Antonio. “It’s not just a piece of paper. I ask them – do you file your taxes together, are you worried if one was to pass away without a will, if your partner it in the ICU will you be able to see him/her? We can’t. I can’t because I am just a ‘friend’. Marriage is more complicated than just the romance of it.”’ Being a lawyer, Antonio understands the importance of spousal benefits and estate planning. In the absence of a legal certification to the union, there are alternatives to fill the gaps with a will and insurance policies. “But why should we have to do that extra bit? I it a kind of discrimination. And not everyone has the access to that knowledge and resources.” In Hong Kong, homosexuality has been decriminalized since 1991. But 28 years later, gay marriage is still not legalized. “Decriminalizing is tolerance. Legalizing gay marriage is acceptance. It’s a matter of time that it will be accepted,” says a hopeful Antonio.

Cover Story

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Summering in Thailand, Nicholas (Nick) and Christian were very happy to take an hour out of their holiday morning to be a part of our cover story. It was really sweet that this sinfully goodlooking couple was finishing each other’s sentences as we spoke. “Its great that Taiwan took this step for Asian countries,” starts Christian, on the country being Asia’s first to legalise same sex marriage. Nick is quick to add, “I was actually surprised to know how little Asia has done towards this. I am from New Zealand and same sex marriage has been legal since 2013. It was the 13th country in the world to do that.”

Together for 5 years and married since a year, actor Nicholas David Beckwith and his husband Christian Getigan Marco, a dance teacher and drag queen say they’re blessed to have parents who are supportive

He believes Asia is slower in this manner because of its uniqueness. “It’s more complicated here than most western countries. There are traditions from long ago that people have still held on to. A part of it is religion but the culture also plays part. In western countries its only religion.” The duo feels with Taiwan’s ruling there is new hope for Asia. “Recently, that couple who won…” “Scott and Angus,” Christian fills in, referring to Angus Leung and Scott Adams who won the case that legally entitles them to spousal benefits and joint tax assessment. “Yes, them. Its great that they won. The night that they celebrated, they had a huge party at the club where Christian works – we are seeing these changes and little victories around us already. Its very cool that we get to be a part of this.” This case brought forward the importance of marriage – spousal benefits which married couples otherwise don’t have to even think about. “Often people don’t realise these things come with marriage. They simply have an issue with gay people wanting to get married. Period. They don’t look closer that the other reasons, stronger reasons, that come into play.” “I’m Filipino,” says Christian. “In the Philippines, because it is a very Catholic country, gay marriage is an issue because its against God. They say marriage is only between a man and a woman. But they disregard the fact that the gay community is simply looking for legal equality.” Marriage wasn’t on the cards for Nick and Christian but it happened last year, after four years of being together. They met in 2014, it was Nick’s first week in Hong Kong and Christian’s fifth year. In just three months the duo was officially ‘boyfriendboyfriend’. “I’ve been in other relationships but Nick was the first whose photo I shared with my mum and dad and told them he is my boyfriend,” reveals Christian. “We got married last year in New Zealand,” Nick adds. “I am now on same sex marriage dependent visa here. We had a lawyer help us with that. We are both in the creative line of work where people are usually self-employed so we needed additional help. The lawyer took our case because he wanted to see for

Cover Story himself how Hong Kong was going to deal with this visa. And he found it quite frustrating. Our case took 3 months when it typically takes 4-6 weeks for others. The lawyer says he uses our case as a benchmark for most difficult cases! He jokes that if an actor and drag queen can get this visa, anyone can.” That’s the thing about Hong Kong – it’s not clear where it stands about same sex relationships. “A good example to show the city’s acceptance is the upcoming Gay Games. It’s the big corporates like HSBC coming forward in support,” says Nick. “Its progressive, even to see Cathay, with their recent ad on inclusivity. These corporates are doing the extra bit to showcase it – not just hiring and sponsoring. But the govt itself isn’t doing much in this direction. By being neither for nor against, it can by default be seen as against.” Speaking about the Cathay Pacific ad, the couple had been approached for being in the ad. They even went for the casting but the agency was looking for two Asians. “From what we understand of this controversy, the agency wasn’t against showing a gay couple but they may have felt someone may be so its best not to go with it. Then again taking it down caused drama so they said they’re okay with it. But we were at airport express recently, there are five huge hoardings of this campaign and this visual is still not back up.” Nick has an overall belief that individually the average Hongkie isn’t against the LGBTQ community but a brand or company may be scared of upsetting someone. Thankfully, their families have been fully accepting and supportive. “I didn’t have a formal coming out,” said Christian. “I grew up in a poor family. My mum and dad worked very hard to give us everything. I started working at an early age. I was happy to support them when I had the chance because I want them to take it easy, they have worked very hard all their life. There was no drama about coming out. They respect me for what I am. I am very lucky to have them.” The same for Nick, there wasn’t any drama around coming out. “Yeah, there wasn’t a big ta-da moment. When I sat my parents down to tell them, they said they knew. And I’ve had a 100 percent support,” said Nick."Recently my mom told me her favourite thing to do is show off her son-in-law's picture in which he's dressed in drag." People have come forward and expressed their support. I’m grateful for our society that has been exposed to same sex relationships. I think in the end it comes down to that – the acceptance comes with exposure.” They know of friends who have had to come out to their parents ‘multiple times’ simply because they are in denial. “Its ridiculous! I understand that parents’ reactions come from love. They are mostly concerned about their child, maybe because their religion tells them it’s wrong. Or they’re worried their child won’t find happiness or will be hurt.”

Cover Story

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Little Shisan was fully attentive to Aileen’s movement. Unleashed to move around at the open café in Causeway Bay, Aileen and Tiara’s dog Shisan was the first to greet me! This interview was scheduled quite late in the last month because I waited to meet an expat couple in a longterm relationship. And this couple was every bit worth the wait. My story would be incomplete without their inputs.

“That’s why Aileen was never in a serious relationship. She always kept it casual,” adds Tiara. There were times when Aileen has also forced herself to date guys. “I think it was because in our Asian culture parents’ approval means a lot.”

“We’ve been together nine and half years to be exact,” says Aileen. “Before meeting you I had to prep Tiara because she can never remember!”

A part of the reason why the girls moved out from Panama, to China and later Hong Kong was because they had to live closeted lives in their own hometown.

While Aileen was born are raised in Panama, Tiara was born in the States and her family moved to Panama when she was very young.

“When I moved to China, I had my own apartment, I was more independent so I felt things would be better. So I talked to my parents again, and got their rejection again.”

“Aileen was studying architecture and I, psychology,” says Tiara. “We only met in the last year of my uni. I had broken up with my boyfriend and was kind of in an ‘exploring mode’. A friend hosted a party for me to meet people. Lesbians. In some way it was my ‘coming out’ party.”

But that was then. Today, slowly, the couple is enjoying the love and acceptance of their families. “I am proud of my parents that they were able to evolve. I know it was hard for my dad.”

Aileen was there because the host was her best friend. “I saw Aileen and she was gorgeous. We started talking and hit it off immediately,” Tiara said, looking lovingly at Aileen. Each time that either of the girls were reminiscing their bygone time, they look into each other’s eyes while talking. Sitting with them was truly being in the presence of love. The story of how they started dating is sweet and kind of expected – met at a party, hit it off, started dating. But taking a closer look, there has been a heartbreaking and testing struggle that this couple underwent just to be together. “I’ll start with mine. Its shorter,” says Tiara. “When I told my mum, I was hoping she will supportive, but she told me - it’s going to be a hard life. My dad went on a verbal rant, saying how wrong and unnatural it is. They banned Aileen from my house, and later I wasn’t welcome in hers either. It was a difficult life in Panama – we spent a lot of time in our cars!”

Together for 9 years and married for 2, personal trainer Aileen Jeannette Wong and wife Tiara Elizabeth Hoquee, an assistant head teacher, have gone through a fair share of struggle to be with each other

Cover Story

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In Panama, they explained the LGBTQ community was very small and discreet. Being a traditional catholic country, same sex relationships were considered taboo. Aileen had it harder. “My mum is from Guatemala and dad from Panama but they are traditional Chinese. My grandparents were born in Mainland China, they grew up with a very Chinese mentality. They’re also Catholic. So both ways it was ‘no-no’. I faced rejection from my parents and younger brother.”

“Yes, for her it was like that. When I came out, I would have loved their support but I also knew that if they felt differently, it didn’t matter to me,” said Tiara.

It took years but Aileen’s parents are also coming around. “When we met last I told my dad, this is not my partner, she is my wife. It is a serious relationship. We share the same values,” said Aileen. The couple married two years ago, after seven years of dating. Seven trying years. “I had the ring to propose since the first year of us dating,” shares Tiara. “I hadn’t exactly proposed because Aileen was going through her internal struggle but I had spoken about marriage to her twice and both times she wasn’t ready. I told her to propose to me when she is.” Aileen’s mum is a wedding planner. She grew up seeing the conventional big weddings. She even imagined hers would be the same with ‘prince charming’ by her side. But her grown up self struggled with this idea. She felt like she was taking her mums dream away. “It was in Hong Kong that we met a church group which is so open-minded and accepting. They taught us that God is love. And He accepts us as we are.” Fast-forwarding to 2017, Aileen surprised Tiara with a proposal and the two got married in Canada. “We went to the government office to get the marriage license. We were a little scared.But they immediately congratulated us so wonderfully! It was the best feeling ever. That’s how it should always feel,” said Aileen. “Just going to the government office there was such an amazing experience.” “Later we met with the minister and chatted with her before the ceremony. And she said to us that she wishes her

daughter finds love like ours,” said Tiara. “Not that she finds a man, just finds love.” Aileen adds. Tiara also spoke about her grandmother’s reaction to her wedding. “She asked me for a picture of us to put up on her wall.” They know of gay couple friends who don’t find this kind of acceptance at home. “So often we hear of their partner’s being introduced by their families like – this is our daughter and her ‘friend’.” “I’ve come to realise it’s not always a generation thing. Acceptance comes from love. My grandma is from a small town in China, speaking only Cantonese. But when I told her about Tiara, she said she was very happy for me.” The reason the girls agreed to this interview is because they feel the media can have a huge impact in spreading more awareness. “We always come forward at every opportunity to share about our struggles and story,” Aileen. “There is a show called The Fosters – it’s a policewoman and her wife, a school principal and they have five children. That’s it, that’s the show. Their everyday life is shown in the most normal way. I think such shows will bring about more exposure,” explained Tiara. She joked how in most TV shows, the lesbian character always gets killed off! They plan to live in a city where jobs are good, laws are in their favour and they can have a family. So far, they feel Canada is ideal. However, there is hope that the world becomes more accepting of same sex marriages everywhere. Hong Kong, they feel is also good for them. “People here are busy minding their own business. They may seem indifferent but its nicer that way. They are respectful. There is no abuse or attack towards us,” says Aileen. With these interviews our intention was to iterate that ‘equal rights’ – to work, to vote, to drive, to love, to marry… are truly equal when they are for everyone.

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In The Mood

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The Beach Life Beaches are in abundance and they are all public. Yes, you heard me, there is no such thing as a private beach in Mauritius. We learned this fact while we were having a candle lit romantic dinner at a beachside restaurant and we saw people riding in on horses out of nowhere and then just disappearing around the corner. Even the hotels are not allowed to cordon off or fence any part of the beaches and you can literally waltz from one hotel area to the other just by walking along the long shorelines.

More from Ile aux Cerfs This is a ‘must-visit’ in Mauritius is Ile aux Cerfs. Spare an entire afternoon, at least, to explore this picturesque island which is easily accessible by boat. Its spread over 87 hectares off the east coast of Mauritius. The waters are a sparkling blue and sands soft between your toes.

Make the most of summer by soaking in the sun! Feeding her nomadic soul, Komal Lakhani-Shankar dives head-on into the east-African country closest to Hong Kong - Mauritius

aving an Indian passport can limit your travel possibilities especially if you are a spontaneous traveller. Luckily our passport does give us visa-free/visa on arrival access to many serene locations around the world. So, if you are in the mood to beat the heat and refresh yourself head on to Mauritius where average temperature right about now is 21℃ and yes, visa is on arrival! Mauritius is a place for all kinds of travellers - from the luxury indulgent to budgeted backpackers and everyone in between. They have beaches, gorges, nature parks, museums and more. The best way to explore Mauritius is by guided tours. It is easy to get lost without it or be conned by taxi drivers or fake tour guides. Ideally, you should spend at least five to six days here combining days out exploring and days spent in enjoying your hotel facilities or the beach.

Ile aux Cerfs offers a whole range of activities from golfing to water sports. We walked around the island and found a number of cosy tree laden spots to just relax and soak in the warmth. For the foodies out there, you can choose from an array of restaurants and cuisines. During our visit, we choose another tiny secluded island off the coast of Ile aux Cerfs to have a barbecue lunch. A private boat took us to a little shack with a giant hay roof perched perfectly on a tiny strip of beach land. The tastes are still fresh on my tongue- the char-grilled sweet sticky chicken bursting with African flavours, perfectly cooked fish with well-seasoned coleslaw on the side and to top it off grilled banana for dessert.

Most hotels provide several free (or included in your package) water sports like snorkelling, water skiing, canoeing, windsurfing and paid activities like scuba diving. An entire day or two can be planned around activities of your choice or simply going for a swim. One of my favourites was going snorkelling into the Indian Ocean. I am not a great swimmer, but we had a few mandatory practice sessions in the swimming pool before heading out to the deeper waters. Remember to keep an eye on the weather and plan your days accordingly. Unless you are staying in Port Louis there is not much to do in the evenings which is why most good hotels provide enough entertainment for guests.Traditional dance performances, acrobatics, singing and a cocktail hour every evening. Hotels also provide introductory language, archery and yoga classes among other family-friendly activities. I also recommend taking the time off and heading to the spa if you have access to one and relax those tired muscles after a day out.

For the Nature-Lover Vallée des Couleurs Vallée des Couleurs literally translates as ‘valley of colours’. It is home to the 23 coloured earth which dates back millions of years and was caused by the volcanic eruption of the Bassin Blanc. It’s a phenomenon that only exists in this one place on the earth. Vallée des Couleurs is home to a wide host of flora and vegetation, birds and animals, beautiful ponds, rivers and waterfalls during rainy months. If you are a nature-lover then this has to be on your list. The best way to explore Vallée des Couleurs is on dirt bikes. We rode those bad boys in the rain, which was an exhilarating experience. By the end of the journey we were covered in mud, good thing we were provided with rain gear before we embarked on this thrilling journey that took was through rugged terrains, slippery slopes, water puddles and exotic trees. Chamarel The village of Chamarel in Rivière Noire District is host to the Seven Coloured Earths, the Chamarel Falls, Ebony Forest Chamarel, the Black River Gorges National Park and the Saint Anna Church built in 1876.

22 Globetrotter Ganga Talao A popular place of worship, Ganga Talao is a lake formed in the volcanic crater, which is 550 metres above sea level and 18 meters deep. The history of this site being called Ganga Talao dates the back to late 1800s. It is said that a pujari living in Mauritius had a dream that the water of the holy Jahnavi (Ganga) river had sprung into a lake there. He set out to find that river. On reaching the grand basin he realised that it looked identical to the one in his vision. This news spread quickly throughout the large Hindu population (who were bought to Mauritius as slaves and labourers by the British) and since then the lake was called Ganga Talao. Located in the district of Savanne, the lake is surrounded by thick vegetation, and is brimming with fauna. It also houses a sacred Hindu temple with massive 33 meter idols of Lord Shiva and other deities which sees a stream of visitors especially on Mahashivratri.

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Globetrotter

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Take A Hike Black River Peak The highest mountain in Mauritius stands tall at 828 meters. The trail offers views of the south and west coast with beautiful blue lagoons.

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden The Tamarind Falls Tamarind waterfalls are the highest in Mauritius. The trek involves wading through thick forest and even open land patches near the water where you can go for a refreshing swim. Some parts of the trek also offer an opportunity to stand other the cascading falls. This is one of the harder treks and you need to be in good shape before embarking. La Nicoliere Reserve

Port Louis Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius and has a lot to offer from historic sites to casinos along with restaurants and cafes facing the vast harbour. There are also several malls here but then you can go mall shopping in Hong Kong, instead visit the Port Louis central market and discover some local, clothes, bags, food, buy souvenirs and maybe bring home some famous Mauritian spices. We used our time there to walk around the city and explore its colonial architecture, open parks and the old world charm.

La Nicoliere is a water reserve that stretches from central to eastern Mauritius. The lake is located in the midst of the hills which protects it from many external influences. The area is inhabited by monkeys, wild boars, bats and different plants compared to the coastal regions.

Fort Adelaide (Citadel - Port Louis) Fort Adelaide was constructed by the British in 1830 as a citadel and vantage point to oversee Port Louis with a clear view of the harbour. The fort was built by prisoners, freed slaves and even soldiers. But lack of skilled labour forced the government to recruit stonemasons and artisans from India, which is why the citadel is also considered as a symbol linking immigration of Indians in Mauritius and creating a big Indian community.

Le Pouce Mountain Le Pouce is the 3rd highest mountain located outside Port Louis. It resembles a thumb which is Le Pouce in French. At the top, you can view the entire island and the Moka range. Le Morne Brabant 556 meters above sea level this mountain has been declared as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO to commemorate the Maroonage legacy about runaway slaves who jumped off these cliffs due of the inhumane treatment by their masters. There are many more mountains you can choose from depending on your skill level and the regions you plan to visit.

This is the oldest Botanic Garden of the southern hemisphere with its history dating back to 1767 when the French ruled in Mauritius. The garden is home to various exotic flowers, spices and medicinal plants. In addition to that, they also have an animal corner which houses deer, tortoises and several species of birds like Parrots, ducks and the Madagascar moorhen commonly known as “Poule d’Eau” and the Pteropus Niger bats (Mauritius’s only endemic mammal).

Aapravasi Ghat

Champ de Mars – Port Louis Horse Racing Arena If you are someone who owns a membership to the Jockey club in Hong Kong then Champ de Mars (also called the Hippodrome) built by the French in 1740 is a must visit for you. Horse racing season is from June to November.

The Aapravasi Ghat is a World Heritage Site. It is the remains of an Immigration Depot built in 1849, where the modern indentured labour diaspora began. You can sign up for a tour to learn more about the monuments and heritage buildings in and around the ghat.

Religious places

Blue Penny Museum

Mauritius is mélange of various cultures which is why you can find temples, mosques and Cathedrals located all over the capital.

Known for its rare and expensive Blue Penny stamp which was the First British Empire stamp produced outside Great Britain. An original issue can be seen at the Blue Penny Museum in Caudan.

Museums Natural History Museum It’s the oldest museum in Mauritius which houses reptiles, butterflies, and even a replica of the extinct Dodo bird which is the national symbol of Mauritius.

The Photographic Museum If you love photography then this museum is must visit. The caretakers of the museum are very friendly and we had a great chat with them discussing old cameras and the technology that went into making them work.

This is only a glimpse of what Mauritius has to offer. Whether it’s adventure sports like cave diving, kite surfing, flying with water jet packs or hiking various mountains if you have an outdoorsy side you will be impressed. On the other hand if you purely want a break from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong and just want to soak in the sun (most Indians I know don’t like to tan!) and bury your feet into the sand or have those aching muscles massaged till you fill like a pile of pudding that’s possible too! I think Mauritius is a great place to start your African journey so what are you waiting for.. it’s time to set sail! photos by Komal Lakhani-Shankar

HELPFUL TIPS FOR NAVIGATING MAURITIUS 1. Currency – Mauritian Rupee | One HK dollar is approximately MUR 4.5 2. V isa, free and on arrival, keep your documents and proof of reservations ready for a speedy exit. Visa is valid for 60 days and you need to have at least USD 600 or equivalent in other currencies to prove that you can support yourself 3. E xchange currency at the airport or any of the banks. They have most major international banks like HSBC, Standard Chattered and even a Bank of Baroda. 4. Most people speak English and French in Mauritius. 5. T ap water in Mauritius is safe to drink so carry your own water bottle; there are many places where you can refill it. 6. Plan what kind of trip you want before heading there. There are a number of trips and tour you can book in advance to make your travel easy.

26 We, The Women

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A STEP AT A TIME Parul Gupta

y story is a very common narration which could be found in every other middle-class, conservative household in India. Born and bought up in Agra, a tier-2 city of India, along with three siblings, I was the only child who was fascinated with music and dance.As a child watched TV shows like Chitrahaar, Rangoli anod others that showcased Bollywood dance.

Not having the opportunity of acquiring formal training in dance while growing up, I’m a self-taught dancer. I learned by imitating dance moves in front of my bedroom mirror, conscious of not being seen by anyone. In our small, conservative town, I never had a chance to perform on a public platform. However, nothing dimmed my passion for dance. To me, music and dance is a medium of self-expression. I moved to Hong Kong in 2010. here, within the close-knit Indian community I started performing at various cultural events. The support from friends, and audience feedback further boosted my confidence further. I also contributed at such events by choreographing dances. I went on to become a dance instructed for children and young mums. I still remember that moment when I won the ‘Best Dancer’ award at a Bollywood-themed event - it was six days after I delivered my second baby, Dhaara.

impossible without their unconditional support and inspiration. Biggest inspiration and support comes from my older daughter, Dhaanvi. She enjoys watching me dance, cheers for me and even imitates me! There is always lot of encouragement from my husband, Dheeraj. And I must mention my helper cum friend, Pilar who helps immensely in the care-taking of my children. I have been extremely lucky to have a supportive family and friends who are always be my backbone during my journey. I always believe in being organized and planned in all facet of life be it be personal or professional. Scheduling things ahead of time and not leaving it for last minute is the key to avoid panic situations. Professional and personal life is heart and soul of life and must complement each other to live a wonderful and satisfying life.

As a mother of two, its challenging to balance family and my dream profession. It requires lot of mental and physical strength to keep myself updated with trendy songs and dance steps each day. With so many well-trained and commercially established choreographers and dance studios in Hong Kong, it poses as a challenge for me to standout among them despite of not learning dance formally.

For me success doesn’t mean just fame and wealth. I feel extremely happy, satisfied and successful when I see my students performing confidently and flawlessly on stage. For me success is when audience appreciates and applauds the efforts that were put behind the performance. For me success is when parents approached me and tell that they feel proud on seeing their children performing in-front of big crowd with confidence. Success for me means spreading positiveness, focus and happiness through dance. I am delightful to see women coming out of their homes, from busy schedules and taking Zumba classes in the zest to stay fit - that is also success to me.

I had to put extra effort, physical training, hard work and dedication to lift myself and keep my dancing skills competitive in the continuous evolving dancing environment around. I would like to say a big thank you to all my friends, well wishers and followers who supported me on social media which helped me to push my dance journey forward. The journey so far will be

As a dancer, choreographer, fitness instructor and an entrepreneur I would like to bring more fitness awareness around people through different form of dances. I would like to see more people benefiting from dance. My aim is to start my own dance studio in future which could give access to more and more people to understand, learn, enjoy and benefit from dance.

Today I am active on social media with followers on Facebook and my YouTube channel ‘Just Dance with Parul’. It was finally last year that I became a certified Zumba instructor.

Phone: +852 92750225 | Facebook: justdanceparul | YouTube: parulgupta | Instagram: parulguptadance

SOUL FOOD Seema Puri Bhatia

Entering the food business in a highly competitive market like Hong Kong was a huge challenge. It’s an extremely competitive market. The biggest challenge I faced was ‘space’. I grew up in Nairobi with ample space, huge kitchens and gardens. Here, I found the limited space extremely confining. The entrepreneurial drive, although very strong in Kenya, is tempered with great work-life balance. In HK, it seems like everyone works 24/7 - in Africa we tend to have great equilibrium - the extensive availability of cheap labor, great outdoors, green fairways for golf and club life allow for this balance. Hong Kong, although green in country parks, I feel one has to make an extra effort to get to those places. Also the supermarket scene here is another story all together... we can seldom find everything under one roof as we can in the superstores in the UK and also in Kenya! This can in some instances pose as a real challenge for small food businesses. I was recently in Carrefour in Nairobi and I was amazed to see more than 24 checkout counters, products from

s a little girl, I typically dreamed of several different careers - from a glamourous film star, a high-flying flight attendant or a caring nurse! My mother, author of ‘India, The Cuisine of The Kings’, ran her own food business in Nairobi, Kenya. On graduation from Richmond College, UK, I joined the family food business - you could say I was my mother’s ‘sous chef’!

all over the globe - literally everything under one roof! As a woman, the biggest challenge I faced is balancing motherhood and work. Having said that my husband and children are extremely accommodating and supportive and have always encouraged me to grow. Earlier when the children were much younger it was difficult to take on so much as I prioritized them - I wouldn’t have given that up for anything, I have two beautiful daughters - my world and my life :) Sometimes the food business can get extremely challenging and exhausting but when you bring a smile onto others faces or they say they loved your product or service that is success and happiness for me - a job well done! The vision for our tea brand, PranaYum, is to spread wider into the spa industry and tap into events. Also, there is something new and exciting in the pipeline which I will be sharing very soon!

Phone: +852 95485280 | email: seema@prana-yum.com | website: www.prana-yum.com | Instagram: pranayum

28 We, The Women

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presents

3rd ANNUAL

CROWNING GLORY

YOUNG DREAMERS

Rajshree Amit Wakade

was born and brought up in Hyderabad in simple, traditional Maharastrian-Brahmin family. Since my childhood I was passionate about two things, following fashion and working towards becoming a lawyer. This vision brought me where I am today. I continue to believe in dreaming big and following one’s passion.

After graduating with an Honours Degree in Law, I was registered as a Lawyer at Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh. At some point during my practice, I felt I wanted more from life. I moved to UK for Masters in International Business Law from University of Central Lancashire. I am qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales. Marriage brought me to Hong Kong in 2011. In 2014, we were blessed with handsome baby boy. After coming to HK I found huge difference in culture and fashion here, as compared to UK. And I love it! I had done some photoshoots and performed classical dance at cultural programs here, the images of which I shared on my social media.It was then that I was invited to participate in a beauty pageant and offered work in the fashion industry. I realisedit was time to fulfil my other childhood dream – making style an integral part of my adult life. Life always comes with ups and downs. When I auditioned for the pageant, my mother was hospitalised in India and her condition was critical. It would’ve been easy to give up on my dreams then, but at that point my family and friends came forth with their support and urged me to complete my audition rounds for Mrs India Worldwide (January 2019). By the grace of God, blessings of my parents, wishes from my family and friends, I was selected as a finalist for Haut Monde Mrs India Worldwide 2019.

SATURDAY, 31ST AUGUST 10.00AM - 3PM Estoril Court ClubHouse, Mid Levels *Art Competition *Goodie bags & Certificates | *Best Out of Waste - Competition | *Prizes & Trophies for Winners *Arts & Crafts Workshops *Mindful Parenting Talk *Parents - Kids Activities Age Group: 2-4yrs, 5-7yrs & 8-10yrs

I ensure I manage my work within the daytime so that I can spend quality time with my son and husband in the evenings. Being mother is a blessing. My son brings me immense joy. His arrival has taught me multitasking and patience. You are always a role model for your kid. I want him to follow his dreams and work hard towards it. I’m happy that as parents, we are both setting this example for him.

THEME - SUSTAINABLE HONG KONG

From all over the world, more than 15,000 contestants had participated in this pageant. Only 171 contestants are selected as a finalist from 15 countries. I feel fortunate and take pride in being a selected one.

SAVING MOTHER EARTH

Managing career aspirations and nurturing passion taught me to be confident in what I undertake and made me capable of multitasking. With the job in hand I could handle multiple things together and that confidence made me think, I can do this, too. This attitude helped me reach here. I am grateful for the blessings and encouragement of family, friends and supporters for letting me explore my potential and believing in me. I am eagerly looking forward to make the best of this opportunity and be the winner of this glorious beauty pageant.

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F&B Partner

Judges & Workshop Conductors

I wish for furthermore support from the Indian diaspora, to be the Mrs. India Worldwide 2019. Also, please like and subscribe my Facebook & Instagram links to enable me to win the much coveted, Mrs Popular contest.

Phone: +852 54407547 | email: rajee1425@gmail.com | Instagram: rajshreewakade

Media Partner

For More Details: KASHMIRA DOSHI contactus@kitkateventz.com Kashunutz Art Studio Kowloon Whatsapp: 6427 9282

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ROBERTA BOFFO Roberta’s Art House Sai Kung

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URMILA MENON

Urban Sketcher & Artist Hong Kong Island

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30 Philanthropreneur

IN SERVICE & SONNETS

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What are the core Sindhi values that continue to have an inﬂuence on your life? Being born in a Sindhi family, embracing the tenets of Hinduism, with the fortune of having a religiously oriented, compassionate mother, had a multifarious and profound effect in the family up bringing. The unique aspect of Sanatana Dharma, synonymous with Hinduism, is the utter freedom of an individual to seek the path of self-realization, without any dogmatic or peer pressure. There are no commandments, there is no compulsion to follow a specific mandate or set of doctrines. In its quintessence, the beauty of Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma lies in the expanse of freedom to choose and arrive at your own conclusions without marginalizing your intellect and reasoning faculties. When did you discover the poet within you? When I started to write my first book Ekta ki Gunj comprising 41 poems on various topics and when the translation of Saheb Kabir’s 300 dohas in a perfect English rhyme. The book is titled ‘Kabir Speaks’. You seem to absorb a lot of different philosophies from Sufism, the Japanese culture, alternate therapies, yogic sciences, numerology… how do these contribute to your personality? Do you feel learning should continue lifelong? Knowledge of values, scriptural truths and corresponding practices when assimilated and lived with,give you a better frame of mind with a humanistic outlook. Life is a movement in relationships and to harmonize and to live harmoniously with eclectic communities is important for everyone’s peace of mind and progress.

‘H

ari Om’ the gentle baritone sound of Daduzen’s greeting is already calming and therapeutic. ‘Daduzen’, a name by which entrepreneur, author and poet Dayal Harjani is fondly known, speaks of life and learning, duty and devotion, philosophy and philanthropy

Yes surely, one must never cease to be a student in this university of earthly existence. Consistent learning is a hallmark of humility and progressive evolution. A businessman, an author, a poet, a philosopher, a philanthropist… - which role do you enjoy the most? Author, for the mind absorption and a feeling of ecstatic timelessness.

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How do you maintain a work-life balance?

naturally follow the career of such karmic impressions.

By learning to enjoy my work thoroughly and making it a flowering of my life.

However, you need to have a right attitude towards people and profit. If success is evaluated only on the basis of profits and people are sacrificed, then such a society or country can never achieve over all happiness.

You talk about the importance of learning one’s native language. How do we as families living away from our home countries, encourage our next generation to learn their language? Cultural transmission is of crucial importance and must be done consciously and passionately. Some things are caught and some things are taught. And if parents do not practise what they preach then the youth will remain in dilemma and therefore vulnerable to temptations. Parents have to haul and redefine themselves correctly to transmit the culture to the younger generation in a scientific and practical manner. On the other the youth should think from their conscience about the meaning of ‘mother tongue’. A great man is known by the devotion to his mother and if I may add mother tongue. Look at our esteemed Prime Minister, Modi as a perfect example of this devotion. Between academic degrees and work experience what is more important to build a successful career? For a a successful career you need both, unless of course your birth inclinations (samskaras) have made you a prodigious personality. In which case you will

Life is not about acquisition of wealth alone but also wisdom that will lead you to a harmonious relationships and salvation thereof. Who was your guiding force in your business? My Grandfather, my father and our business associate in the 1970’s Dhirubhai Ambani of Reliance Industries. What is your advice to young entrepreneurs? Life is like roller-coaster with its ups and downs. When you are ‘up’ learn to look down below in humility and serve God by serving humanity. When you are in your lows and or are cornered with obstacles or sorrows, pick up your bow and arrow like Arjuna with lord Krishna or God of your heartas your divine charioteer and fight. Surmount all illusionary or imaginary difficulties, knowing in your heart that nothing is permanent and everything passes away. What you start you must finish with acumen and confidence otherwise the unfinished task will finish you instead.

Kindly download freely and check Module Dil Se under courses in www.daduzen.com. It will surely charge you to a higher spiritual voltage. Tell us about how Erase Poverty started? Erase Poverty was founded in November 2011 by Babu Bharwani, KP Daswani and Kan Lakhani, respected old-timers of Hong Kong. I joined in January 2012 as Chairman of Fund-raising committee along with Prakash Sujnani as Treasurer. We started with our pet project to feed young student girls mid-day meals for their sustenance and education. We started our journey with the great expectationof garnering support from our Indian community to be member for only HK$ 3.30 a day approximately and ‘We are still expecting’! At he very outset the committee members promised each other that we shall serve this platform of charity, selflessly without any personal drawings and overheads only in case of emergency and dire need to run the Society in an effective manner. Yes, we have survived with diligence and determination. What is your vision for Erase Poverty? The vision is to convince and sensitize members of all social enterprises extant in Hong Kong to join our society as members giving more preference

32 Philanthropreneur toserving the poor than social indulgences that simply pass away as a token of transient pleasures and fanning individual vanities. The vision is to take this crusade to the horizons of sanity and alleviation of poverty at all levels physical,mental and spiritual. As long as there is even one poor soul crying in a backyard of despair, somewhere in some corner of the world, we should not rest. Poverty the greatest form of violence is not a karmic injunction but a massive mismanagement of resources by the greedy, egotistical and the selfish people of this world. Outward poverty is a direct manifestation of inner poverty (spiritual vacuum) individually and collectively. What according to you makes a good humanitarian? When your heart palpitates with compassion, when your hands extend from your pockets to the poor with feelings of universal brotherhood and sympathy; when you can serve the needy people as children of God without any discrimination with a feeling of unconditional love; when selfishness is transformed in selfless actionand when all these become a part of your psyche, that to me is being a humanitarian. How can the younger generation get involved in serving society? Get involved with the likes of Erase Poverty and grow with us in good karma. Become a beacon of light and inspiration to all the souls we touch together.

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10 COMMANDMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL LIFE I am in no position to give commandments however can share my thoughts as suggestions.. 1) Better to do small things in a big way rather than big things in a small way. 2) A wise man does not deny the pleasures of life that comes his way, but he himself pursues the path of prosperity, peace and prayer. 3) Respect your body and do all you can to keep your self fit, by preventing diseases to inflict your mind and body. 4) Do not waste your time trying to be a ‘somebody’. In the end all fades away for those who are obsessed by name and fame. 5) Know the true purpose of life as per the mystical saying “Know thyself” and keep on reminding yourself till the fickle mind rests in the crucible of this divine call. 6) Keep up the company of wise – sincere men and books - spiritual and mundane, to hone your vocation and to to keep yourself charged and inspired. Keep up with all kinds of changes in science and technology. Read about Chanakya and emulate. 7) Swami Sivananda once said: Sing a little, dance a little, laugh a little, read a little, serve a little, a little bit of all that brings you relaxation, peace and happiness in the mode of goodness. 8) Contemplate, meditate and never forget to celebrate in your soul this breath and existence called life. 9) Serving the poor with devotional love is the ultimate prayer. 10) Serve the elders, your mother and father and uncles and aunties and all to elicit blessings from their heart regularly. It is these blessings that will become your shield against all kinds of adversities which will eventually lead you to prosperity God-hood. Hari Om Tat Sat

34 Home

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VAASTU MEETS FENG SHUI H

aving a house in Hong Kong, rented or owned, teaches us to make the most of our space. Space here is very precious. We fit our whole world in our homes and wish for it to bring us joy, comfort and peace

Living Room

Ancient architectural sciences of Vaastu Shastra of Indian-origin and Feng Shui of Chinese-origin have many commonalities that reassure us about how to plan our space. The physics of energy and five elements form the basis for both. Vaastu or Feng Shui principles adopted while constructing the house and planning its layout would be ideal, but it may not always be possible. It is, however, possible to incorporate positive elements within your given arrangement. Let’s enlist some common principles to follow while designing the main areas of the home – entrance, living room, kitchen and bedroom

‘Family time’ happens in the living area. The same space where we also entertain guests. The area where we spend most of our awake hours. Even without the principles of Vaastu or Feng Shui guiding us, our common sense tells us that this area needs to be aesthetically appealing and welcoming. Typically, we all have ‘our spot’ in the living room. According to Vaastu, the head of the family should be seated facing North or East to remain in command over the household.

Entrance The main entrance of the home is from where the energies flow within the home. To summon strong, positive energies, Vaastu suggests keeping the entrance uncluttered. This ensures that energies aren’t blocked. It’s believed that a nameplate at the entrance allows these energies to reach home’s owner. Feng Shui says the same – the entrance must be wide and clear to allow easy flow of ‘chi’. It also suggests making the area beautiful and welcoming to invite good vibes in. Both Vaastu and Feng Shui say that a pleasant chiming or tinkling bell at the entrance (and other openings of the home) shatter and ward off negative energies. As per Vaastu, fire has the cosmic power to remove negative energies that can have ill-effect on wellness. Diya, dhoop or incense at the start of the day helps in clearing negativities that may have entered. Feng Sui suggests having a fountain ideally in front of the entrance. But not everyone has this luxury. You can keep a small fountain indoors – just ensure the flow of water is towards the inside of the home. If there are specific energies you want to attract - place the fountain in North for excelling in career, East for health and South-East for wealth.

Also, as per Vaastu, square and rectangle furniture is ideal, and round or oval shapes should be avoided in the living area. Artificial or dried flowers, even pictures of dried flowers, should NEVER be in the living room. Avoid cacti as they are considered inauspicious. Vaastu also recommends using multiple levels of lighting – basic ceiling lights should be accompanied with floor or/and table lamps. Play around with the lighting to set the appropriate mood. White, yellow, blues and greens are good colours for this area. Red and black must be avoided. Feng Shui says the living room must remain clutter-free (of course, as all areas should) and each item must have its proper designated place. The living room shouldn’t be as much about décor and opulence as it should be about comfort and warmth. If it’s ‘too nice’, you’ll remain stressed about children messing it up or guests damaging something. There is a lovely explanation Feng Shui offers to plan the placement of things – imagine the flow of chi as flow of water. If it were to come in through the entrance, it should slow cheerfully and easily through the home, nourishing all the spaces of the home before flowing out. Allow abundant flow of fresh air and natural light. Within the décor, reflective materials like metal, glass and mirror are best suited for the living area. It enhances the positive vibes. Materials like wood shouldn’t be excessively used.

Kitchen The laws of Vaastu say that the kitchen is best set up in the South-East corner of the home; and at a fair distance from bedroom and bathroom. However, in pre-designed houses this may not be possible. Kitchen is the source of the family’s nourishment. Food, too, represents wealth in a sense. Maintain an ergonomic design in the kitchen which has a logical flow of activities. As per Feng Shui, the kitchen generates a general wellbeing in the home. Keeping it clear of mess keeps the home healthy. Never store medicine in the kitchen. Also regularly check and discard rotten/expired products. Attend to any leaks in the kitchen (or bathroom) immediately. Leakage represents loss of wealth.

36 Home

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Bedroom Simply put – bedroom is a space for relaxation. Though ancient sciences, the updated versions of Vaastu and Feng Shui insist that the bedroom must remain free of all technology. No television, phones, laptops, tablets… Tough, we know, but the logic is that technology interferes or disturbs the otherwise calm vibes of the bedroom space.

Vaastu defines the sleeping positions as per direction - sleep with legs towards east for fame, towards west for peace, towards the north for wealth. But never sleep with legs towards south as it may cause poor sleep, bad dreams and mental illness. While these are just basic, common guidelines from Vaastu and Feng Shui, if you are keen to align your home on principles of ancient sciences, we recommend consulting a specialist.

The master bedroom is a reflection of the couple’s romantic life. Everything must be in twinning – pillows, nightstand, bedside lamps, seating (if any). Even the dresser must hold twos of basic things like combs, fragrances, etc. This generates a harmonious balance between the couple and the home in general. Don’t have anything hanging over your bed or stored under your bed. Both can cause disturbed sleep. Art and images should all have positive connotations to it. Do not have war images displayed in the bedroom. Both sciences agree that the mirror should not reflect any part of body of the couple. Vaastu believes the body part that reflects in the mirror may experience aches. Feng Shui says that the reflection of the couple in the mirror may bring in a third person in the relationship. The mirror in the bedroom should reflect something that one is happy to look at. For a complete and therapeutic experience, the bedroom must stimulate all five senses. Pick a pleasant and gentle colour scheme and place things you like to look at. Add soft textures like silk and velvet that are exciting to touch. A little lavender scent on the pillows or in the diffuser adds a sense of calmness. Though the bedroom must never be the place where you eat… a little jar of salted/honey nuts or mints is nice to stimulate the taste buds. And finally, a little white noise helps in peaceful sleep – even something like the gentle humming of the air conditioner.

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38 While Ago

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NO FILTER VOL.II M

usubi Hong Kong hosts an unforgettable art show at an eclectic space where fine arts culminate to arouse all senses. Meenakshi Gupta relives the evening for us

Co-owned by Kyle and Alicia, The Aftermath is newly opened this year and has already become a regular place for promoting art in all its forms – be it through exhibitions, comedy, improvs or music. Located conveniently in Wyndham street, Central, the club is sectioned off into areas - the main exhibition area with comfy seating, scattered to accommodate the mingling crowds; and a little gallery of photographs separates it from the bar area and the live band. No Filter Vol II was the art exhibition held at The Aftermath showcasing the works of upcoming artists across the spectrum and a mix of nationalities across the globe. All the focus and lighting were on the walls of the club where the paintings were displayed. The work of Krishna Kanaiya, make-up & hair stylist grabs you by the eyeballs. Her series of three similar painting calledOcean Eyes’in vivid red and black draws heavily from Japanese style of depicting Goddesses. Showing the fusion of eerie and beautiful she details these paintings with women staying true to themselves despite violence, suffering and sacrifice. Her other work, aptly titled ‘Hostage’ was her way of dealing with the pressure society puts on women to conform. This work was also extremely personal for her as she was coping with news of cancer being detected in members of her family. Another work which captured my attention was by self-taught experimental Indian artist Urmila Menon. Dabbling in traditional as well as digital media, she finds Hong Kong architectural landscape very inspiring and colourful. Adding urban sketching to her repertoire, Urmila especially enjoyed painting the Nan Lian Gardens. There was a striking painting by Nepalese artist Nisham Limbu and another which appealed to me by Nicole Roquel. Keep an eye for the announcement of No Filter Vol. III and let the wave of colours take over!

40 Auny MVP

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THE SUPPORT-SYSTEM WE OFTEN FORGET Hong Kong families dedicate time to their careers or studies. The host nations are increasingly achieving success in terms of ensuring that the working conditions of the foreign workers are favourable and that they are empowered to deliver the best quality of services. Yet many caregivers go through emotional tortureand sadly, sometimes physical too. They have nowhere to vent their grievances. Often, they continue to work under these stressful and humiliating conditions. To quote few examples that have come to light through friends… Such as one employer after having interviewed her on Skype, signed a lady under a contract. However, on her arrival, the employer didn’t approve of ‘her looks’ and blatantly told her that she is terminated on account of her appearance!

As mothers, working or homemakers, we do a lot of household chores from cooking, cleaning, laundry along with outdoor errands like buying groceries, picking and dropping children from school or classes; and raising the family. We now share this role with hired help that take a large burden of these chores off our shoulders.

This lady was devastated. Eventually some kind family hired her within 14 days of waiting period. These caregivers come with the hope of working with loving families who treat them with respect and dignity. Another caregiver had worked for her employer for longperiod. Once the employer learnt that she was suffering from cancer, she terminated her contract without any remorse or concern for her condition. We all talk about humanity. What does it really mean to us? It’s is a thought-provoking, conscious pricking dilemma. HUMANITY should be action-oriented and become a ‘KARMIC MANTRA’. Remember each letter in the in the word ‘HUMANITY’ is very meaningful. • Humble attitude • Understand people • Mindful of feelings • Accept situations • Non-judgmental • Important to give • Tolerant of others

Helpers leave their homes to earn good wages to support their family. They serve their employer to the best of their abilities. And they are labelled ‘domestic helpers’. Why can’t we address them as ‘Home Caregivers’?

• Yearn to help What’s the solution? Remind yourselves that respecting others should be our primary duty. Before you hire a caregiver, talk to your children about the importance of her role.They should talk to them with respect and not be over-demanding. At times a casual chat with them to ask them about their families back home is a nice way to make them feel like a part of your home. Small gestures on their birthday is welcoming. When sick, allow them enough rest. This way you will be teaching common ethics to your children and spreading the word of goodness through these caregivers.

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