Around DB August Issue 2016

WHAT KIDS GAIN

FROM AN ARTS EDUCATION EXPAND YOUR FAMILY ON

INTERNATIONAL DOG DAY DO YOU LOVE YOUR OCTOPUS? MEET THE DB ORIGINATOR FEMALE AVIATORS

NEW ALBUM RELEASE

MAKING IT IN A MAN’S WORLD

HELIUM3 ALSO: ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

Join your community online

Publishers in DB since 2002 AUGUST 2016

Rentals/sales 康頤閣 GLAMOUR COURT

$13K

愉景廣場 DB PLAZA

Gross: 472’ Saleable: 398’ 0

海燕徑 SeABIRD LAne

$40K

1 1

蘅峯 PenInSULA

$42K

3

$4.3M

4 2

Successfully combined unit, balcony with great views, walking distance to DB plaza and pier. Must see!

明翠台 PARKRIDGe

$37K

Renovated lowrise apartment, balcony with great sea views. Close to DB plaza and pier.

2

海馬徑 SeAhORSe

$4.68M

$70K

Gross: 1703’ Saleable: 1626’

Gross: 1454’ Saleable: 1249’

Spacious living and modern open kitchen lowrise apartment. Ready to move in.

2

海堤居 LA COSTA

Gross: 1037’ Saleable: 929’

Cosy apartment in DB plaza. Very convenient for transport and shops. Must see!

寶峰 PARKvALe

Gross: 1037’ Saleable: 962’ 3

$16.5K

Gross: 594’ Saleable: 439’

Best location! Cosy studio flat with balcony, walking distance to DB plaza and pier.

1

AUGUST 2016

3

Spacious living, garden with full seaviews. Walking distance to beach, DB plaza and pier. Don’t miss!

2

寶晶閣 CRYSTAL

$6.2M

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EN

G EA

L

SO

Gross: 629’ Saleable: 546’ 2

Gross: 713’ Saleable: 588’

Nicely renovated apartment with modern kitchen.

Vacant sale.

1

旭暉閣 JOvIAL

$9.8M

2 1

Practical layout. Bright and airy. Walking distance to all bus routes.

明蔚徑 PARKLAnD

$12.3M

Gross: 835’ Saleable: 722’ 2 1

Cozy apartment, balcony with great views, walking distance to DB plaza and pier. A must see!

頤峰 GReenvALe

$15M/48K

T!

EN

AD

AG

LE

Gross: 1356’ Saleable: 1270’

Gross: 1446’ Saleable: 1220’ 5 2

Combined unit with fully equipped open kitchen, spacious living and in a tranquil location. Don’t miss!

4 2

Renovated lowrise, balcony w/ panorama seaviews.

Spacious living & in a tranquil location. Vacant sale.

Gross: 2087’ Saleable: 1817’ 6 3

Nicely combined unit with spacious living and modern kitchen. Easy access to all transports.

www.headlandhomes.hk

2987 2088

EAA LIC C-033418

INSPIRING FUTURES

ESF Sports

Open to ESF & Non ESF Students

at Discovery College

ENROL ONLINE

Term 1 Sports start 26 August 2016 Announcing an expanded offering of ESF Sports at Discovery College!

In addition to our progressive basketball and swimming programmes, ESF Sports will add gymnastics and girls football classes. Our fun classes and qualified coaches will help your child develop their love of sports. Join us!

Basketball Girls Football Gymnastics Swimming

Check out our website for more details sports@esf.org.hk F

ESF SPORTS

Tel: 2711 1280

www.esf.org.hk

Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong has meticulously arranged a fun-filled summer holiday with the “Eat, Play, Stay” Summer Fun for you and your family.

15 July - 31 August

Starting from 15 July, Café bord de Mer & Lounge offers lunch and dinner buffets every Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and nightly dinner buffets will be extended for the month of August. Food selection includes sashimi, seafood skewers, rainbow pizza, summer sweets and Häagen-Dazs ice creams.

Lunch Buffet

Dinner Buffet

HK$298* / Adult HK$198* / Child

HK$338* / Adult HK$198* / Child to receive a 15% discount* on buffets.

Like & share

Our hotel has prepared an exciting summer holiday for your kids with a range of fun activities during your stay with us, which includes: Art and craft

Miniature home living frame DIY

Mosaic tiles

Phone case DIY

Cycling

Scavenger hunt

Kite making

Bubble soccer

Soap making

Recycle Paper making

Cooking class

Short and sweet horse carriage ride

Summer Adventure Package HK$1,818 up *

( For two adults and one child aged below 11 )

One-night stay in a Mountain View Room Breakfast buffet Free Wi-Fi Access to kids activities and outdoor pool Epicland Tickets for one adult and one child

Dream Come True Package HK$1,688 up *

( For two adults and one child aged below 11 )

One-night stay

Free Wi-Fi

Breakfast buffet

One-way airport shuttle

Access to kids activities and outdoor pool Dream Come True Education Park admission tickets

For more details, please visit www.aubergediscoverybay.com or contact 2295 8288. *Terms and Conditions apply on room packages. *All prices are subject to 10% service charge. *Prices and activities are subject to change without prior notice. *Discount offer is applicable to lunch and dinner buffets between 15 July and 31 August, 2016 only, and cannot be used in conjunction with other promotion offers.

A New Season of Theatrical Adventures in Discovery Bay!

star New S e ts S epte ason mbe r 17 th

“A wonderful programme that does a world of good for kids” Faust Parent

Faust International Youth Theatre With qualified & experienced leaders, unrivalled resources and over 17 years of experience, we offer the best in drama and theatrical education Join us for drama workshops that develop self-confidence and teamwork in a fun-filled learning environment

Weekly Saturday Drama Workshops 10am - 12.30pm Ages 4 - 5

Ages 6 - 7

2pm - 4.30pm Ages 8 - 11

Ages 12 - 16

Workshops take place at Discovery Bay International School

“It’s great fun. It’s the one activity I never want to miss”

Faust Student, age 11

Contact us now to reserve your child’s place for this September Call 2547 9114 Email Info@FaustWorld.com Visit www.FaustWorld.com FaustHongKong 5 Floor, Nan Dao Commercial Building 359 & 361 Queen's Road Central Sheung Wan th

Top 10

Best After-School Activity

Winner

2014, 2015, 2016

Hong Kong

Summer Activities for Kids

Best

After-School Activities for Tots to Teens

Harvey Law Tigers

AUGUST 2016 FEATURES

39

20

PROFILE Meet Helium3, releasing a second rockin’ album this month

26

IN FOCUS Female pilots discuss flying high in a man’s world

30

FAMILY MATTERS What kids gain from an arts education

43

ESCAPES The big vacation – Big Sur and beyond

50

ACTION Smashing cricketing opportunities for DB kids

REGULARS 26

18

COMPETITION Win big prizes at www.arounddb.com

39

TALKING POINTS Is your family ready to rehome a pet?

47

MOMENTS Paul Chan on inventing the Octopus card

61

DB FACES Candid community snaps

72

OUT THERE Thoughts on island life

AGENDA 20

30

10

IN&AROUND DB Catch up with the latest community news

57

HK HAPPENINGS Find fun things to do across the harbour

63

CLASSIFIEDS Great deals, employment, businesses and more

66

PROPERTY Choice local and overseas homes to buy or rent

69

LOCAL NUMBERS Your ultimate guide in DB and Lantau

50 WHAT KIDS GAIN

FROM AN ARTS EDUCATION

If you have a story idea, email rachel@baymedia.com.hk To publicise a local event, email sam@baymedia.com.hk For general enquiries, email info@baymedia.com.hk To advertise, email lissa@baymedia.com.hk Call 2987 0577/ 2787 0886 Fax 2987 0533

We also publish…

AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER 2016

EXPAND YOUR FAMILY ON

INTERNATIONAL DOG DAY DO YOU LOVE YOUR OCTOPUS?

MEET THE DB ORIGINATOR FEMALE AVIATORS

NEW ALBUM RELEASE

MAKING IT IN A MAN’S WORLD

HELIUM3 ALSO: ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

Join your community online

Publishers in DB since 2002

ON THE COVER Helium3: DBers Steve Jones, Nick Flavell, David Belcastro and Brendan Delfino

Photo by Vincent Ypersiel

AUGUST 2016

2 0 1 5 TALK OF THE TOWN

MEET PUI O ARTIST MARTIN LEVER

SAY HELLO, WAVE GOODBYE

CAN KIDS’ FRIENDSHIPS SURVIVE RELOCATION?

Win to see thea Veni The tre tick Mer ets ce, to see conc chan ert t e-vo Suede, ticketsof Leo’ uchers and s Fine from Food

IN THE SWIM

REVISITING LANTAU’S TOP FIVE BEACHES ALSO: ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

Join your community online

Publishers in Lantau since 2002

SPORTS • LIVING • PETS • HIKING • DINING • HEALTH • COMMUNITY

For the latest Around DB updates, find us on

and www.arounddb.com

YOUR ROUNDUP OF RECENT COMMUNITY EVENTS

Publisher Corinne Jedwood corinne@baymedia.com.hk Managing editor Rachel Ainsley rachel@baymedia.com.hk Assistant editor Sam Agars sam@baymedia.com.hk Digital strategist & coordinator Claire Severn claire@baymedia.com.hk Advertising & sales manager Lissa Morris lissa@baymedia.com.hk Sales executive & accounts Monika Carruthers monika@baymedia.com.hk accountant@baymedia.com.hk Art direction Terry Chow terry@baymedia.com.hk Photography Baljit Gidwani, www.evoqueportraits.com Contributors this month Emily Dowd (intern) Trisha Hughes Patricia Jover (intern) Elizabeth Kerr Jonathan Ogden Katie Scott Peter Sherwood Cecilia Yee Printing Fantasy Printing Limited 7/F Tin Fung Industrial Mansion, 63 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong

Disclaimer The views expressed in Around DB are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or contributors.

The publisher and editor cannot be held responsible for differences of opinion or statements published in good faith. The publisher, contributors, their employees and partners are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors or omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication and expressly disclaim all and any liability for any such action of any person. The mention of specific companies or products in articles or advertisements does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by this magazine or its publisher in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without permission.

Photos by Chris Edwards, Karen Touzel, Lie Fhung and Susannah Wood

DISCOVERY BAY BEAUTY We’ve been challenging readers to send in their best snaps of DB. We’re sure you’ll agree that the photos are superb. Email your images to us at info@baymedia.com.hk, or use the hashtag #arounddb on Instagram. Enjoy!

Find more photos of community events @ www.arounddb.com

IN&AROUND DB

SPORTSMANSHIP SOUJOURN

After 13 years of coaching in DB and 11 Sportsmanship Friendly Meets, Charles Chan has decided to take a break and there will be no Sportsmanship programmes running until further notice. Charles plans to re-evaluate and reframe Sportsmanship in Discovery Bay in the coming months and hopes to resume classes later in the year with the goal of integrating students’ body, mind and spirit.

Photos by Around DB

IN&AROUND DB

YOUR GUIDE TO UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

Find more information and events @ www.arounddb.com Photo by Around DB

INFLATABLE BEACH MAZE

ugh Thro t 28 s Augu

Tai Pak Wan

DB is hosting Hong Kong's largest inflatable beach maze, open every Thursday through Sunday. Some 75 metres long and 15 metres wide, the maze covers an incredible 10,000 square feet and offers three stages of difficulty, each with increasing wall heights. After mastering stages one and two, stage three introduces extra challenges, including various obstacles and high-platform water guns to help you cool down.

DB ANGELS REGISTRATION Discovery Bay

Registration for new and returning DB Angels (members of the all-girls football club) is open from August 1 onwards. The season runs from September to May and includes 25 coaching sessions and up to four tournaments. Registration for a full year costs HK$1,200 and you can sign up at www.dbangelsfc.hk.

STOCK UP AT THE PLANT MARKET across from

Haven Court, 2pm to 4.45pm.

For more information, st 6 Augu call 2238 3617.

12

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

st 1

u Aug

YOUNG BOY ON THE MEND A young Discovery Bay boy, who was found motionless in the water by a fellow swimmer at Club Siena in July, is working his way back to health and Photo by Around DB has been released from hospital. He was one of two children who had to be rescued from the pool in July.

Reacting to members’ concerns about pool safety, the club released a statement on July 18, saying it “immediately looked into the matter and set up further precaution measures to avoid similar incidents in the future”.

t

Photo courtesy of DB Angels

TO ADOPT A PET through

ou gh t u o s Thr Augu

Protection of Animals Lantau South (PALS), call Jacqui Green on 9197 4371, for Hong Kong Paws Foundation (PAWS), call Kat Cheung on 9485 5188.

IN&AROUND DB Like us on www.facebook.com/ AroundDB for event reminders

HELIUM3 ALBUM LAUNCH Grappa’s Cellar, Central

Doors open at 7.30pm for the launch of Helium3’s new album, Welcome to the New World. You can buy your copy from August 8 on iTunes and Spotify, and at Uncle Russ in DB Plaza. For tickets to the launch, visit www.ticketflap.com/helium3.

Read a review of the album on page 24, and turn to page 20 to read a profile of the rockin’ DB band.

t8 gus

SHOP THE DISCOVERY BAY SUNDAY MARKET in DB Plaza from 11am to 6pm.

st 14

u Aug

BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR

7 st 2

u Aug

Discovery Bay International School

Au

Photo by Vincent Ypersiel

MEDITATE WITH MONK GEN

At the sixth annual Back to School Fair, 9am to 1pm at the Discovery Bay International School Globe Theatre, you can find everything you need to know about local clubs and businesses.

Some 50 local sports, arts, learning, social and health organisations (plus the Around DB team) are on hand to answer questions. For more information, contact Kimberley Whiley at info@factory2home.net.

Photo by Around DB

UNTIL 20 PREMIER

DB Community Hall, DB North Plaza

Multi-purpose Hall, DB Plaza Every Thursday after the summer break, from 7.30pm to 9pm, Monk Gen Kelsang Rabten, the resident teacher of Kadampa Meditation Centre Hong Kong, is hosting a meditation class to help residents overcome painful emotions. Everyone is welcome, no booking is required and the class works on a donation basis (suggested donation HK$50 to HK$100 per class). For more information, visit www.meditation.hk/discovery-bay.

st 25

u Aug

DB’s Hong Kong International Learning Academy (HKILA) is hosting the Asia premier of award-winning documentary Until 20, a story about a teenager bravely battling cancer.

Kicking off a series of fundraising initiatives planned for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September, the screening has been organised by DB resident Gaylene Meeson, whose daughter Hannah attends HKILA and is a brain cancer survivor. For tickets (HK$100), contact gaylene.meeson@gmail.com. All proceeds will go to the Children’s Cancer Foundation, here in Hong Kong.

7 st 2

u Aug

Photo courtesy of Gaylene Meeson

OZZIE COZZIE ROADSHOW OpenSpace, DB North Plaza

Photo courtesy of Charles Chan

8 August 27-2

Look your best this summer with the latest designs from leading swimwear brands Seafolly, Baku, Moontide and Sunseeker.

With something on offer for men, women and children and certain items on sale, this truly is a one-stop family pop-up. For more information, head to www.ozziecozzieco.com.

Photo courtesy of Ozzie Cozzie Co www.arounddb.com August 2016

Photo courtesy of DMR

13

IN&AROUND DB

SAVE THE DATE BART’S BASH

DBRC CHARITY TENNIS CUP

East Lantau waters

8 7-1

DB Plaza and Tai Pak Wan

Discovery Bay Recreation Club

1 ber

tem Sep

THE BIG PICNIC ber

vem No

5

4

er 2

b em t p Se

www.bartsbash.com

The day the world goes sailing: Bart’s Bash is an international sail race taking place at hundreds of different venues and involving thousands of sailors. Funds raised this year go to help promote and develop disabled sailing globally. To get involved, contact the Lantau Boat Club at www.lantauboatclub.com.

www.evoqueportraits.com

www.evoqueportraits.com

It’s time to get your head in the game in the lead up to this year’s Charity Tennis Cup, which sees teams dress up and take to the court in the name of charity. To register and find out more, call 2987 7381.

Get ready to say goodbye to Picnic in the Park and hello to The Big Picnic. Hong Kong’s favourite live music and dance festival promises to be bigger and better than ever before this year. And it’s not just the name that’s changed – the party will be taking place at Tai Pak Wan and DB Plaza.

NEW IN DB ADVENTURE SPORTS ACADEMY EpicLand, DB North Plaza

INVENTUM WOMEN’S CHOIR Discovery Bay International School

5 st 1

gu Au

www.evoqueportraits.com

Adventure Sports Academy (ASA) has been providing children with professional sports training, with a focus on football and basketball, since 2007. It’s now made it to DB, with a summer camp starting on August 15 and regular training sessions running from September. There is a set syllabus for each age group but the ASA coaches personalise each session to serve individual players’ needs. Find out more at info@adventuresportsacademy.com or 3998 4042.

14

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

Photo courtesy of Bethan Clark

You can sign up now for the Inventum Women’s Choir, directed

by DB resident and established choral conductor Bethan Clark.

The choir completed a successful six-week trial earlier in the summer and its first two terms will run from September 7 into December, with rehearsals every Wednesday during term time.

All women are welcome, no audition is necessary and you don’t need to be able to read music. Contact sararshaw@live.com or visit www.facebook.com/inventumwomenschoir.

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IN&AROUND DB

CONGRATULATIONS

LANTAU HIGHLIGHTS FIGHT FOR THE WETLANDS

PIRATES MAKE HK TEAM

High Court, Queensway, Admiralty

r 27

be

gh ou t 7 r h T gus Au

tem Sep

RUN LIGHT PADDLE: LANTAU South Lantau

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28

Photo courtesy of TerraMar Events Photo by Jason Pagliari

Photo courtesy of HKNA

Well done to DB residents Michelle Arkell and Kate Jolly, who are representing Hong Kong in the 2016 Asian Netball Championships in Bangkok, July 31 to August 7. Michelle and Kate both play for the Pirates’ Black Pearls in the Hong Kong Netball League, and they are competing in Bangkok as part of a 12-strong national squad.

A date has now been fixed for the High Court hearing of the Judicial Review that seeks to put an end to the constant plundering of South Lantau’s unique wetlands and natural environment. Join the Living Islands Movement (LIM) in the High Court public gallery at 10am to show your support. You can contact LIM at www.livingislands.org.hk.

Drama - Acting - Performing Creativity - Confidence

Discovery College Black Box Theatre Tue 3:30 Performance Junior ACT I (4-5yrs) Tue 4:30 Performance Actor ACT II (6-8yrs) Wed 3:30 Performance Actor ACT II (6-8yrs) Wed 4:30 Performance Actor ACT III (9-13yrs)

Classes start 23/24 August Free trial – Sibling discount – 2 performances each year Season 1 (Aug-Dec 16 hours) Fees $2960.00 Come along & meet our fabulous new Program Director, expat DB resident Zoe Clout Dey.

REGISTRATION & INFORMATION www.actingantics.com / admin@actingantics.com

Tel: 8122 9475 / 6842 8092

Why not spice up your summer with an exhilarating paddle and hike?

Families start the 2-kilometre kayak and 3-kilometre trail at Pui O Beach and finish in Shap Long, while the open category (7-kilometre kayak and 19-kilometre trail) starts in Mui Wo and finishes at Pui O Beach. For an early bird discount, register before August 8 at www.terramar.hk.

ITS EDUCATION ASIA

ENJOY THE Beautiful GAME!!!

EVERY GIRL PLAYS at the

Discovery Bay Angels Football Club Lowest Cost Highest Value Sports Program in DB Only “All Girls” Football Club in Discovery Bay Fully Inclusive All skill levels are developed No girl is left on the sidelines U8, U10, U12 and U14 Age-group Teams Season runs September through May practices at DBIS Sundays 9:00 AM-12:30 PM

REGISTER NOW FOR NEW SEASON The Discovery Bay Angels Football Club is a nonprofit community based GIRLS ONLY youth soccer program founded in 2009 with the aim of providing a safe, fun and all-inclusive learning environment for young girls ages 6-14 to develop their soccer skills, teamwork and enjoy the game for life. We continue this year with a great group of dedicated coaches and are always open to parent and family participation at our practices and team social events.

Please register now through our website and Enjoy the Beautiful Game with us.

Discovery Bay Angels Football Club New Season Registration begins August 1 FREE TRIAL DAY Sept 11 for new players Contact us at: www.dbangelsfc.hk

Education Consultancy for Families Experts in School and University Admissions We provide expert education guidance and private tuition to help children flourish, from Early Years to University level.

Bespoke school search services School selection and admissions Academic assessments

Call us on +852 2116 3916 or email info@itseducation.asia www.itseducation.asia If it’s education, it’s ITS

Here’s your chance to win great prizes!

COMPETITION

Win tickets to see The Hunting of the Snark

Around DB competitions are incredibly easy to enter (you’ll even find the answers to our questions right here). You have until the YOUR PRIZE: Lunchbox 10th of the month to submit your answers.

To enter, email info@baymedia.com.hk, Theatrical Productions is offering click on the competitions link at two readers three tickets (worth www.arounddb.com, or scan HK$550 each) to see The Hunting the QR Code below. Don’t forget of the Snark at the Hong Kong to give us your name and telephone number!

Academy for Performing Arts, Where was Wanchai on September 20, Who wrote Pep Bou born? the poem

at 3.30pm.

The Hunting of the Snark?

Photo courtesy of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions

Win tickets to see Pep Bou’s Bubble Magic

Photo courtesy of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions

FIND THE ANSWER: A hilarious adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic poem, The Hunting of the Snark features high-energy performances, daft humour and witty songs. An Edinburgh Festival hit, the family-friendly musical is in town from September 20 to 25 ahead of its debut on London’s West End. For tickets, visit www.hkticketing.com.

YOUR PRIZE: Lunchbox Theatrical Productions is offering two readers three tickets (worth HK$550 each) to see Bubble Magic at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wanchai on September 14, at 3.30pm.

FIND THE ANSWER: Join Spanish bubble master and mime artist Pep Bou in the magical world of bubble theatre from September 14 to 18. This mesmerising visual spectacular is filled with fun and laughter and promises to enchant children and adults alike. For tickets, visit www.hkticketing.com.

Win a Sky Shuttle helicopter model YOUR PRIZE: Sky Shuttle Helicopters is offering two readers a 1:50 scaled AW139 helicopter model (worth HK$800 each).

How fast can a Sky Shuttle helicopter fly from Hong Kong to Macau?

Photo courtesy of Sky Shuttle Helicopters

FIND THE ANSWER: Known for its fleet of newgeneration, twin-engine AW139 helicopters, Sky Shuttle Helicopters offers 40 flights a day between Macau and Hong Kong, and six flights a day between Macau and Shenzhen. Each flight takes just 15 minutes. Visit www.skyshuttlehk.com.

Photo courtesy of ABA Productions

Win tickets to see Roald Dahl’s The Twits

Who wrote the book The Twits?

YOUR PRIZE: ABA Productions is offering one reader four tickets (worth HK$495 each) to see Roald Dahl’s The Twits at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wanchai on November 25, at 5pm.

FIND THE ANSWER: In this mischievous stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s well-loved book, brave children and their families are invited to bear witness to the most horrid couple of all time – Mr and Mrs Twit – as they take to the stage from November 25 to 27. For tickets, visit www.hkticketing.com.

Congratulations to last month’s winners Trine Lewis and Jacob Sacuto to see the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow; Barry Brown, Nicole Izsak and Moira Green to see Jeeves & Wooster’s Perfect Nonsense; and Farrah Hernandez and Stephanie Payne to see Hi-5 Fairytale.

18

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

PROFILE

Photos by Vincent Ypersiel

READY FOR TAKE-OFF

20

Looking at a second album release on August 8, Discovery Bay’s own Helium3 props its feet on the Marshall and makes a case for the resort as a rock ’n’ roll haven. Elizabeth Kerr reports Helium3: Nick Flavell in the foreground, with Brendan Delfino, David Belcastro and Steve Jones

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

PROFILE

T

he first record Nick Flavell recalls buying with his own money was Dire Straits’ 1985 juggernaut Brothers in Arms, and his first concert was The Choirboys. Buddy David Belcastro reckons his rock ’n’ roll firsts were Unmasked by Kiss and INXS. Despite that, neither is posing as a shaggy-haired, aloof, leather-clad rake on this warm afternoon in DB. Both are casual but clearly polished.

They’d look good in suits.

Roots and influences

Make that uniforms. When 20-year Hong Kong residents Nick and David aren’t shredding as Helium3 on the SAR’s stages they’re doing their best imitations of Iron Maiden vocalistpilot Bruce Dickinson, flying for Cathay Pacific. UK-native Nick has lived in DB for 15 years, while Melbourne-born David has made it his home since 1996. Like so many, both intended staying in Hong Kong for just a “three-year stint”.

“I think all of us wanted to be musicians before we wanted to fly airplanes [or in Brendan’s case write] for a living.

We were all reasonably accomplished musicians before starting other careers, and that stays with you forever,” theorises Nick on the quartet’s origins.

“We all, also, have very similar taste in music. We just clicked.” David went looking for collaborators when he got the itch to play music again, something he’s done since his early teens. “Hong Kong is small enough not to have to put ads in the paper looking for a bass player or whatever,” he says. “It was easy enough to seek them out one night and give them my details. They seemed cool.”

For them, playing music is a way to unwind from an undeniably stressful job. “That’s why lots of pilots have successful second businesses,” cracks Nick. Though there is bleed: “My brain is working double time at the moment because we’re finishing the record,” he says of balancing two opposing disciplines. “Not to a distracting level but I do catch myself thinking about melody at work.”

The longer you sit with Nick and David, the easier it is to see the dual personalities in each. Nick is the classic frontman, all rhythmic energy and be-shaded cool (the sunglasses never come off, though in his defence it was bright out). Bassist David is the quiet Bill Wyman-type. They’re gracious over comments from this writer about how loathsome Coldplay is, their touchstone for Helium3’s sound, and are even more gracious about my clumsy explanations of the Hong Kong music scene. In other words, they look like they should have rock-star attitude, but don’t.

Helium3 was born around 12 years ago, chiefly as a relaxation tool. Vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Nick and bassist David make up one half of the band, along with drummer Brendan Delfino and guitarist Steve Jones.

Brendan, a journalist, has lived in DB for 27 years, Steve, an outlier pilot with Cathay Dragon, for 15. The four make up Discovery Bay’s, nay Hong Kong’s, own rock gods.

After a few years playing covers and a smattering of originals, Underground’s Chris B, widely referred to as the tattooed fairy godmother of the Hong Kong music scene, talked them into a Battle of the Bands appearance. “We expected to get booed off the stage but every two weeks we’d get through to the next show and the next show,” recalls Nick. “Long story short, we ended up runners-up at the 2008 final in Hong Kong. MTV was there, Channel V was there. We had no idea it would be so huge.” This led to major label interest that Helium3 was unable to commit to. However, the band did manage a DIY release: the 2009 HMV Top 20 title Skindeep.

It’s possible Helium3’s time has come.

Though Nick will also cop to respect for Oasis and Prince, the influences 

www.arounddb.com August 2016

21

PROFILE

he talks about fall on the classic rock spectrum: Pink Floyd, the Eagles and Eric Clapton. For David, it’s “a lot of old Australian rock ’n’ roll… Paul Kelly – he tells really good stories”.

This jives with the way modern listeners are turning to the familiar, like the killer pop song-killer pipes combo of Adele, noisy retro bluesrock like The Black Keys and the eternal Coldplay. Even rap (“rubbish that [David doesn’t] have any time for”) is looking towards its incendiary roots à la Kendrick Lamar.

This page: Performing at Picnic in the Park, 2015

While both Nick and David have strong ideas about what constitutes good rock music, they agree on the end game. “People don’t buy albums anymore. Well maybe you and I do,” says Nick. “The stuff we grew up on was complex. Twelve-minute songs?

You can’t do that anymore. And you can’t switch up songs on Dark Side of the Moon,” he argues. The more cynical David rues the omnipresence of pop stars who can’t play an instrument and industry litigiousness. “I think every melody and every chord progression has already been written,” he says, citing the 2015 Tom Petty/ Sam Smith dispute. “There’s nothing new anymore. It’s impossible. You just have to make it your own to stand out.”

Welcome to the New World Ahead of the August 8 release of the band’s sophomore effort, Welcome to the New World (reviewed overleaf), Googling the band still results in the precious gas, but if Helium3 can harness the power of social media and Spotify that could change. Nick admits getting the word out and wrangling support is hard. No one thinks Hong Kong can rock. “We have to prove that,” he says. “It’s certainly hard. There are some great bands here and to stand out in Hong Kong you need a little of that international, commercial rock aspect, but you have to prove to naysayers that this is a Hong Kong band. Hopefully people will listen to Welcome and be surprised they’re listening to a DB band.”

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Welcome was recorded in Nick’s home studio in DB in between Hong Kong gigs and long-haul flights. Nick and David would be happy with a repeat of Skindeep’s success – and would both ground themselves for a while for a chance at a club tour in support of the record – but they’d be just as happy entertaining the home crowds (at events like, fingers crossed, Clockenflap). Holding them back is Hong Kong’s dearth of 300-seat venues.

“Right now we’ve got The Wanch, which is a great little place and it’s really happening. But it’s really small, and there’s nothing at the next level

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

up,” laments Nick, who incidentally has taken over organising duties for Picnic in the Park. Slated to rock DB on November 5, it’s going to be performed on Tai Pak Wan and in DB Plaza, and there’s a slight name change…The Big Picnic.

I have one parting query for Nick. If he could have written any song in the world, what would it be? “That’s very difficult,” he says after pondering the question. Though it didn’t grab him at first, it’s a song whose lyrics resonated at an unhappy time. “You’re going to hate it,” he says with a laugh.

“Fix You by Coldplay.” What, not Run to the Hills? 

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PROFILE

WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD New album release by Helium3 (Hazard Records) Review by Elizabeth Kerr Discovery Bay’s own Helium3 does not sound like Coldplay. Personal feelings about ‘the world’s blandest band’ will determine whether or not that’s a slur or a compliment, but ‘Coldplay-ish’ has become a catchall to describe most millennial pop-rock.

Helium3’s sophomore effort, Welcome to the New World, is more reminiscent of late-’70s and early-’80s post-punk laced with a little new wave, a little classic rock, a little Prince.

Released on August 8, it’s jangly, familiar four-chord pop-rock that often flirts with that loud-quiet-loud Mumford & Sons construction, frequently to earworm effect.

The most radical thing primary songwriter Nick Flavell and producer Brendan McReynolds have done is create an holistic album rather than a compendium of singles. (Quick, name another song on Lorde’s first album. Check that, name the album.) New World starts strong, with the title track showing barnburner potential, followed shortly by a Metallica-lite riff on Let Me Invite U 2 Leave and the infectious rolling drum line and plucking guitar on Best Bad Plan (both co-written with Maitreya Jani). Helium3 comes closest to Coldplay on Satellite, ironically one of the stronger entries, with its piano intro and Nick’s Greg Kihn-ish vocals in a flighty (no insult, turn to the band profile on page 20) reflection on fleetingness.

The second half of Welcome to the New World slows down, becoming more ballad-heavy and less defined. But the hometown crowd gets a shout-out on the wistful, country-infused City of a Million Lights, and on South Stand, which is pretty much what you’d expect from an ode to the Hong Kong Sevens. This is an album best experienced live, in a crowded, smoky club – or at a festival. Helium3 will be headlining at The Big Picnic in DB on November 5 and, in the meantime, you can buy your copy from August 8 on iTunes and Spotify, and at Uncle Russ in DB Plaza.

Find more local heroes

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Photos by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com, and courtesy of Sara Boulton and www.wikimedia.org

IN FOCUS

26

REACHING FOR

THE SKIES

Trisha Hughes talks to two DB-based female pilots to understand what it’s like to fly high in a predominantly male world

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

IN FOCUS

A

s a woman who’s been married to a pilot for almost 20 years, I know that life can be like a circus act at times. You juggle rosters, family events and emergencies and it often feels like all the planets have to be in alignment for you to accomplish even a simple happy-hour get-together.

Over the years, I’ve pouted and complained about my plight in life, and I have always been somewhat in awe of the few women in my circle, who have chosen to be pilots and tackle the gender-related hurdles, while successfully blending their career and family lives.

Female pilots operate in their own small clique in professional aviation. They are women who have chosen a difficult and challenging career and have succeeded in a predominantly male world. And there’s no doubt about it, being a pilot, male or female, requires extraordinary skills.

These include intense concentration, good hand-eye coordination and the ability to remain cool and calm when dealing with challenging operational and environmental conditions. But these skills are not gender-related. So why is it that we still do a double take when we see a female pilot?

Overcoming gender stereotype DB resident Sara Boulton began her aviation career as a flight attendant, firstly with Alitalia and then British Airways. Before relocating to Cathay Dragon nine months ago, Sara had been flying as a commercial pilot in Australia for 10 years and as such, has valuable insight into life as a female pilot. “This may seem like a man’s world with an average of about 5% of pilots being female,” she says, “but personally, I just think of it as an aviator’s world. It just happens that the majority of aviators have been men.”

Of course, aviation officially came into its own with fighter pilots during World War I and World War II. Back

then, it was an unstated fact that men accepted the dangers of fighting wars, while most women supported the cause through war work, nursing and child raising. After these wars, commercial aviation emerged and it’s a rather obvious step to understand

a wife and homemaker,” she says with a smile. “If I was a different person, I might have taken offence, however, I actually saw it as a beautiful and genuine comment from a man who had traditional beliefs. His comments inspired me to work the hardest I possibly could to succeed in my chosen career, as I felt as passionately about flying, as he did about his traditions.

I always have a giggle when I think about his well-intentioned ‘advice.’”

Over the past 10 years, a slow societal change seems to have taken place resulting in female pilots becoming more ‘acceptable’. “Nowadays, the only time this ‘man’s world’ issue becomes apparent to me is when passengers come up to me and say they have never seen a female pilot before, or they think it is so wonderful that I can be a pilot,” Sara says. “These are the times that I realise I am in a perceived man’s world.”

Sara Boulton in the cockpit

that the vast majority of commercial pilots came from the military, and as such were men.

“In my younger days as a flight attendant,” Sara says, “female pilots were rare, and despite my constant thoughts about being in the flight deck – not just to flirt with the cute, young first officers, but to actually fly this awesome beast of a machine, (a B767 at the time) – it took flying with a stunning, blonde, female first officer, an ex-‘trolley dolly’ like me, to help me kick myself into gear and put those thoughts into action. From this meeting, I never looked back.”

That said, Sara recalls having to battle stereotype when she first started training. “I always remember one of my flying instructors, a very traditional older gentleman, advising me that being a pilot was a challenging career and that a lady’s place was at home as

DB resident Tracey Wilcock, a Cathay Pacific pilot and a single parent of two, has similar thoughts on the subject.

Discussing what it’s like to work primarily with men on a day-to-day basis, and how male pilots tend to view their female counterparts, she says: “You need to keep in mind that while we are a small minority in the overall industry, when we are flying the airplane, there is only the two of you, so it very much comes down to personalities regardless of your gender.

In this regard, I find a sense of humour goes a long way.”

Highs and lows Becoming a pilot is not an overnight decision. It takes years of study, dedication and self-sacrifice, and some female pilots have to handle the added responsibilities, commitments and challenges of managing a busy family environment as well.

As a single parent, Tracey well knows the difficulty of getting the life balance 

www.arounddb.com August 2016

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IN FOCUS

right. “I’m not sure it’s coping so much as just living my life,” she says. “I have some wonderful friends, supporting me in Hong Kong, and I have an amazing domestic helper who helps me be able to go to work, keeping in mind I have to go away for days and nights at a time.”

But there can be no doubt in anyone’s mind that there are pressures involved. Sometimes pilots are required to make quick decisions based on constantly changing circumstances and act on them immediately. They are, after all, flying an aircraft worth millions of dollars with hundreds of people’s lives in their hands. So what of the ‘Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus’ scenario, which labels women as more emotional, nurturing creatures prone to worry and fret, while men are more inclined to compartmentalise and simply get on with the task? How do these female pilots keep their cool?

When it comes to being in the cockpit, both women agree that a pilot’s job is to fly an aircraft as safely and efficiently as is humanly possible.

Pilots are dedicated to the profession

and although it does take a certain personality and level of professionalism to deal with the stressors of the role,

“In my opinion, to become a pilot, you need to have a passion for it,” Sara adds. “It can be a very difficult career path, particularly when you are starting out.

If you love it, the expense, sacrifice and hard work are all just little hurdles that can be leapt over, even if there are a few stumbles along the way. When you finally get into that role of flying a jet aircraft, cruising above clouds in a world that seems to be standing still, and then descending with a rush of speed to break out into a clear sky, it’s impossible to describe to anyone who does not have the good fortune to experience it.

Tracey Wilcock in DB

men and women alike are trained to deal with these stressors and achieve a high safety standard.

Find more topical local topics

“With regards to the overall industry, and the aspects of living an aviation life as a female, I have found I either thrive or just survive,” Tracey says. “I have found myself in both camps over the course of my career and life, and I think a lot of it depends on your personal circumstances and how supported you are outside of the career. Working in this environment can be both isolating and very demanding.”

“All I can say for sure is that I adore flying,” Sara concludes. “I think that any girl can excel in a career as a pilot, they just need to have the desire to reach for the skies, so to speak.”

@ www.arounddb.com

FINANCIAL PLANNING ASK THE EXPERT HELLO RESIDENTS OF DB, LANTAU AND THE REST OF HONG KONG! It’s time to consult THE EXPERT about your financial planning!

My thoughts We all go through different stages of life and so do our insurance needs. If you’re thinking about getting pregnant, insurance may be the last thing on your mind. But you can save yourself a lot of money and stress, by investigating your options well before you conceive.

Your existing health insurance plan may cover some of the expenses associated with pregnancy, but it is worth noting that most medical plans don’t cover issues related to being pregnant and, if they do, they may cover complications to the mother only. Check to see if it covers all the doctor’s appointments you will need (twice monthly visits for the whole nine months of your pregnancy are recommended). You don’t want to have to start skipping visits in order to save money, as this could create problems for both you and your baby.

If you are looking into specialist maternity health insurance coverage, there are plenty of options to suit all budgets. Local plans like AXA are a good bet, as are international plans like AETNA/A+/IHI-BUPA. If you like the look of USA, choose the more expensive USA Premium option.

All specialist maternity health plans are valid for one year, but most maternal insurance plans have a one year waiting period, meaning they must be renewed for a second year.

Each will pay out a maximum amount for a normal delivery and a different amount for a C-section

I AM: KayeKaye Khemlani (PIBA No. 0032-009006), a native Englishspeaking insurance advisor, with a strong presence in Discovery Bay and Hong Kong.

MY OFFER: I can do a comparison shop for you free of charge, to ensure that you have made the right choice, and check that you have the right product at the right price.

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FAMILY MATTERS

A drumming workshop at DC’s Discovery Culture Festival, 2015

ALL-ROUND

EDUCATION

Photos courtesy of DC and DBIS

When schools cut back on budgets, the arts are usually the first to go.

Fortunately, this is not happening here in DB as two upcoming student festivals go to show. Sam Agars reports

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here is plenty of research on how children benefit from an arts education, ranging from the way it promotes right brain activity (emotional perception, intuition and creativity), to how it helps build confidence, dedication, non-verbal communication and problem solving.

Most importantly, perhaps, children enjoy the arts – painting, drawing, making music, acting – so a school which promotes these activities tends to be a fun school to attend.

At Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) and Discovery College (DC) the arts are not only studied individually, they are also used to support students in other facets of their learning and life.

The DBIS arts programme starts at kindergarten age, with the school dedicated to offering many options for its students, including arts elements built in to the curriculum, afterschool activities and lunchtime clubs.

Roughly 250 students learn a musical

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

instrument within the school. The approach to the arts at DC is equally inclusive. Every student has to take at least one arts subject, be that music, drama or visual art, through Year 11.

The 2016/ 2017 academic year kicks off with big arts events at both schools. DBIS is preparing to host the FOBISIA Music Orchestra Festival from September 23 to 26, and DC’s Discovery Culture Festival is set to run from November 30 to December 7. These events play a key

FAMILY MATTERS

DBIS students at the FOBISIA Music Orchestra Festival, 2015

role in the overall arts programmes of both schools, aiming to promote student learning and engage pupils in experiences that help them grow into well-rounded individuals.

It’s show time at DC The Discovery Culture Festival, a week-long celebration of arts, culture and literature, is now into its ninth year and, according to DC’s deputy head of school and festival chair Peter Lasscock, it is designed in a way that ensures every student at the school participates. The line-up for this year includes author talks, an ensemble evening, a photography competition and workshops in Chinese watercolour painting, street dance, drumming and stage fighting.

“Students do a whole range of activities, like site visits to artists, designing their own hike and Capoeira,” Peter says.

“It’s a very broad view we take on what culture actually is.”

The festival offers students experiences that they may not otherwise get, with the majority of activities linked back to the school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum.

“What we want to do is broaden their horizons, so in some ways it is to

look at different perspectives on what they are already studying and give them access to people with skills and experiences they might not have within the curriculum,” Peter says. “Generally, it is something the students really look forward to. We try and get them to go a little bit outside their comfort zone and try something new.”

After nearly nine years of involvement with the festival, Peter has seen it grow and has had a first-hand view of just what students have gained. “I think it is something that is very positive and beneficial to them,” he says. “For the senior kids it is often about giving them experiences that might point them in the right direction for their diploma studies.

“It complements the academic side; the people who are doing well in this fast-changing world are the people who have creative skills and who are adaptable,” Peter adds. “We think it’s really beneficial in terms of making our students confident, creative, able to interact with people in different ways, and be successful in life.”

Music in the air at DBIS Six years into its relationship with The Federation of British International

At the Discovery Culture Festival, 2015

Schools in Asia (FOBISIA), DBIS continues to benefit from the range of competitive, learning and networking events offered by the organisation. As one of 52 member schools throughout Asia, DBIS is able to participate in all sorts of drama events, music festivals, sports competitions and more.

One of those events is the FOBISIA Music Orchestra Festival that DBIS is hosting next month. The festival sees students converge on DB from as many as 12 schools from the likes of Taipei, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Each school selects a group of its most gifted and talented musicians, with DBIS set to form a team of 10 secondary students. The chosen kids work with a professional conductor in the lead up to the final-day concert.

“It’s the opportunities that you remember,” says Clare Lambert, DBIS’ head of creative arts. “Children don’t look back and think, ‘that was a nice maths lesson,’ they tend to look back and go, ‘remember when I was in that show.’”

The FOBISIA Music Orchestra Festival presents students with the perfect opportunity to test themselves at a higher level than that traditionally available in the classroom and helps 

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FAMILY MATTERS

familiarise them with high-pressured working environments. By being exposed to such focused and specific teaching, students can explore their true music potential.

“They learn the skills of working together and working with a professional conductor, which is obviously more demanding,” Clare says. “The learning that they achieve is amazing over the three days and their musical achievement rises so quickly when they’re in that environment and they’re challenged.”

For Clare, an arts education isn’t just something that can lead into a career, but something that can support students’ well-being, develop their life skills and help them to relax: “Music and drama, particularly, lead to confidence, performing, public

Skills children learn from the arts • The ability to think creatively with an open mind • Confidence, and how to convincingly deliver a message • The ability to observe and describe, analyse and interpret • Non-verbal communication and the ability to express feelings, with or without words • The ability to accept constructive feedback • Problem-solving skills and critical-thinking skills • The ability to collaborate with other children and with adults • Perseverance, dedication, accountability and focus • Awareness that all kids can excel in the arts, despite physical, emotional or learning challenges speaking and communication skills,” she says. “If students can enjoy one of the creative arts, I feel I’ve done my job.”

Of course, just like at DC, there is also the correlation between what is

Find more child-centric stories

learned through the arts and academic success. “When we do our concerts we aim for the students to be as actively involved as possible,” Clare says. “It all enhances what they’re doing within the classroom.”

@ www.arounddb.com

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BACK TO SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

DISCOVERY BAY, TUNG CHUNG & SOUTH LANTAU THE ARTS ACTING ANTICS, DB 8122 9475, admin@actingantics.com, www.actingantics.com Through classes focused on drama, acting and performing, children boost their creativity, confidence and communication skills at Acting Antics. Classes, for kids aged four to five, six to eight, and nine to 13, are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Discovery College. Term starts on August 24.

CODINGKIDS HK, DB 6274 1167, info@tmrwdigital.com, www.codingkidshk.com CodingKids helps prepare children for modern life by providing them with skills for the future. Technology is the future and being able to communicate with it is the most valuable skill children can learn. Classes, starting in September for children aged six to 16, teach problem solving, logical thinking and, of course, code.

DANCE FOR JOY, TUNG CHUNG 9264 8597, info@danceforjoyhk.com, www.danceforjoyhk.com Dance for Joy offers fun and engaging fitness and performing arts classes for children and adults of varied experience. Aimed at sharing the fun and joy of dance with the community, classes include Hip-Hop, Jazz Funk and Kids Pop. Dance for Joy also offers dance parties and events services.

DMR SCHOOL OF BALLET, DB 2987 4338, info@dmr-hk.com, www.dmr-hk.com Children, aged three and up, and teenagers have the opportunity to learn to dance in a professional and enjoyable environment in DB Plaza. The full schedule covers a wide variety of styles from Ballet and Tap to Modern and Jazz.

FAUST INTERNATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE, DB 2547 9114, info@faustworld.com, www.faustworld.com Faust International Youth Theatre is set to host a new season of theatrical adventures on Saturdays at Discovery Bay International School. Fun and exciting drama classes are available for kids aged four to five, six to seven, eight to 11 and 12 to 16. Workshops begin on September 17 and are now open for registration.

ISLAND DANCE, DB AND MUI WO 2987 1571, dance@islanddance.com.hk, www.islanddance.com.hk Island Dance offers a variety of dance styles, including Disco Freestyle, RAD Ballet, Hip Hop, Tap and Contemporary, for students aged 18 months to 18 years. Classes are held six days a week at Discovery Bay Recreation Club and Club Siena in Discovery Bay and at Mui Wo Sports Centre in Mui Wo. KIDZNJOY, DB AND TUNG CHUNG 6273 7347, info@kidznjoy.com, Facebook: Kidznjoy.HK Kidznjoy English playgroup offers a unique programme designed for kids aged nine months to three years. Through a variety of fun activities, children learn all the basics, such as letters, numbers, colours and shapes. Kids enjoy a fun, social time that helps build their confidence.

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August 2016 www.arounddb.com

THE ARTS PIANO TEACHER, TUNG CHUNG 9467 4633, sydneychui@gmail.com A professionally qualified piano teacher with over 20 years’ experience caters to kids aged four and up. During classes, students work towards passing recognised exams. Classes are held at Caribbean Coast.

THE STORY STUDIO, DB, TUNG CHUNG AND SOUTH LANTAU 6341 3989, thestorystudiohk@yahoo.com, www.thestorystudiohk.com The Story Studio’s writing workshops for creative kids are perfect for children who love to read and write. Children practise their writing skills and explore their own unique creativity in engaging and varied workshops.

ENTERTAINMENT EPICLAND, DB 2441 0098, events@epiclandhk.com, www.epiclandhk.com Hong Kong’s largest indoor adventure playground (in DB North Plaza) keeps families entertained year round. It features stateof-the-art laser tag equipment, function rooms, the only air-trek course in Hong Kong and a party and team-building venue.

Monthly and annual passes are available.

RUMPLE AND FRIENDS, THROUGHOUT LANTAU 9830 8287, info@rumpleandfriends.com, www.rumpleandfriends.com Rumple and Friends Big Top Academy is running termtime courses on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from September, for kids of all ages. The winter term sees students looking at circus, magic, drama, puppetry and musical theatre, and preparing for a Christmas show. Discounts are available for siblings.

FITNESS EMBODY, DB 6624 8712, susan@embody.hk, www.embody.hk Embody for Kids enables children aged three to 11, as well as teens, to enjoy everything from Yoga and Pilates to Hip-Hop and Zumba. Qualified instructors and small groups ensure a personalised service. With its primary goal to improve flexibility and body awareness, Embody also offers classes for adults in Pilates, Yoga, Zumba and Piloxing.

ESF SPORTS, DB 2711 1280, sports@esf.org.hk, www.esf.org.hk/sports Term starts on August 26 and there is now an expanded offering of ESF Sports at Discovery College. In addition to its progressive basketball and swimming programmes, ESF Sports is adding gymnastics and girls’ football classes. Through fun classes with qualified coaches, children, aged infant to 15, develop their love of sport.

FITNESS

TEAM & WATER SPORTS

FUNFIT, DB 6302 6327, info@funfit.hk, Facebook: FunfitHongKong An active learning programme for kids aged six months to three years, Funfit helps develop balance, coordination, fine and gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Activities strengthen and stretch children’s muscles, which promotes their body awareness and helps them become natural, confident movers.

DISCOVERY BAY ANGELS FOOTBALL CLUB, DB dbangelsfc@hotmail.com, www.dbangelsfc.hk The only all-girls football team in DB, Discovery Bay Angels Football Club is a community-run club, open to all girls between the ages of six and 14. Providing hands-on coaching, the Angels’ season runs from September to May and includes 25 training sessions and up to four tournaments.

iGYM, DB 6077 2758, igymhk@icloud.com, Facebook: iGymGymnastics iGym offers weekly gymnastics fun, for children aged three to 15, through beginner- to advanced-level classes. Innovative programmes are designed to support healthy, happy children and include a motor-skills development programme for toddlers.

HARRY WRIGHT INTERNATIONAL, DB 2575 6279, swimming@harrywright.com.hk, www.harrywright.com.hk Established in 1975, Harry Wright International offers a successful programme of swimming lessons and training for children. It provides lessons once or twice a week for swimmers of all abilities, aged four months to 12 years. Courses run from August 15 to December 17 at Club Siena.

KIDDING AROUND YOGA, DB 2987 5852, admin@movementimprovement.com.hk, www.movementimprovement.com.hk Kidding Around Yoga makes yoga fun for kids. By combining creative and interactive activities with music, children learn about breathing, meditation and physical movement, while improving their coordination and concentration. Classes are available for kids, aged two to five, at Movement Improvement, DB North Plaza.

KIPMOVIN, DB 6180 3256, thomas@kipmovin.com, www.kipmovin.com KIPMOVIN offers fitness and running classes for kids aged five and up. The new term begins on August 15.

TEAM & WATER SPORTS ADVENTURE SPORTS ACADEMY, DB 3998 4042, info@adventuresportsacademy.com, www.adventuresportsacademy.com Adventure Sports Academy has partnered up with EpicLand to offer sports classes, followed by a one-hour play session.

Classes, running from September, are catered to kids aged 18 months to six years, and aim to help children have fun, while introducing them to football and basketball.

ASIA PACIFIC SOCCER, TUNG CHUNG 2385 9677, admin@apsoccer.hk, www.apsoccer.hk With more than 20 full-time coaches, Asia Pacific Soccer Schools (APSS) runs professionally planned training sessions for boys and girls of all skill levels. The Kinder Kicks programme introduces soccer to children under five, while APSS sessions focus on building soccer skills for older players in fun and demanding lessons.

HK DRAGONS FOOTBALL CLUB, DB, TUNG CHUNG AND MUI WO 2987 4274, office@dragons.hk, www.dragons.hk As Lantau’s premier football coaching company, HK Dragons Football Club welcomes all players, aged three to 21. Challenging, fun and interactive sessions are coached by professionals, and there are league and tournaments opportunities.

KINDER BOUNCE BASKETBALL, TUNG CHUNG 2385 9677, admin@apsoccer.hk, www.kinderkicks.hk/basketball Kinder Bounce offers a fun, basketball-based programme that uses different games to improve hand-eye coordination, as well as teaching children how to catch, throw and dribble the ball.

Kids, aged two to eight, learn the basics of basketball, while learning to follow instructions and interact with others.

TUNG CHUNG RUGBY CLUB, TUNG CHUNG tc.rugby.fc@gmail.com, www.tcrc.org.hk, www.tungchungrubgyclub.org Part of the Hong Kong Mini Rugby Football Union, Tung Chung Rugby Club is a community rugby club that welcomes girls and boys aged four to 13.

VIKINGS FOOTBALL CLUB, DB 9533 2600, vikingshk@outlook.com, www.vikings.hk Vikings Football Club offers structured and progressive programmes designed to ensure enhanced motor skills and coordination. Students, aged five to 11, enjoy professional soccer coaching. Sessions are held at Discovery College.

DBEES ICE HOCKEY, DB 9867 9240, dbeesicehockey@gmail.com, www.dbeeshockey.com The DBees is a non-profit community-based ice hockey team committed to the development of youth ice hockey in Hong Kong. Kids of all skill sets, aged five and up, can get involved.

DBees aims to ensure all players enjoy the game and feel good about their development. Classes are held at Elements Ice Rink in Kowloon.

DB PIRATES RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB, DB 2516 7397, admin@dbpirates.com, www.dbpirates.com DB Pirates is a non-profit, community sports club offering rugby, hockey, netball and dragon boating for players from four years to adult. Anyone can join the DB Pirate community by contacting the club’s membership team.

www.arounddb.com August 2016

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TALKING POINTS

Claire Roberts with pup Feby and husband Philip holding their Italian Greyhound, Maddie

PET

RESCUE

Liz Kennedy with husband Gareth Arthur, son Ben, daughter Caitlin and their dogs – from back left – Toppa, Bella, Misha and Gemma

Photos by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

August 31 is International Dog Day. To mark this, Katie Scott speaks to some DB families who have recently welcomed pets into their home, and celebrates the local heroes who save abandoned animals across Hong Kong

O

n any given day in Discovery Bay, whether in rain, shine, squalls or a sweat-fest, you can see the furriest of the community’s residents having a walk. Our enclave is possibly one of the most animal-friendly places in Hong Kong, as the number of pets and most notably the number of rescue animals pays testament.

Claire Roberts, of Doctors Beck & Stone (The Ark Veterinary Hospital) in DB North Plaza, adopted her one-year-old mongrel puppy, Feby, from Hong Kong PAWS Foundation

(PAWS). She and her husband fostered for a week before adopting and then took the same approach when adopting Maddie, a seven-yearold Italian Greyhound.

“We have always had a four-legged family member, so it seemed right to meet with PAWS to discuss options, especially as we know there are so many animals out there looking for that ‘forever home,’” Claire says.

The Roberts also foster kittens and are currently looking after one with a neurological disease, which affects its mobility.

Fellow DB resident Liz Kennedy also has a houseful of animals, with three adult dogs – Bella, a Golden Retriever, and Gemma and Misha, both Tong Gaus (local street dogs) – and three cats – Tawny, Freddie and Gracie. Liz adopted her pets from Protection of Animals Lantau South (PALS), having first fostered three of them. She is also currently fostering another Tong Gau, eight-month-old Toppa.

Liz considers DB “a fantastic place for dogs as there are plenty of open spaces and trails to exercise and socialise them”. She extols the joys of dog owning

www.arounddb.com August 2016

39

TALKING POINTS

but warns any potential adopter to go into it with realistic expectations and a great deal of thought about the present and future.

“Ask yourself whether you have the time, finances and ability to make a commitment,” Liz says. “It breaks my heart that animals are abandoned when people leave Hong Kong. If you’re not completely sure you are going to be able to take your dogs or cats (or any other animal) with you, then maybe consider fostering.”

Are you qualified?

Incredibly, dogs commonly get abandoned not just if a family relocates but if they grow too big, become too active, or simply because their adopted family tires of them. Locally, both PALS and PAWS are working to stop these ‘returns’ from happening by ensuring families are prepared before they take on a pet.

PALS founder Jacqui Green, a 27-year Mui Wo resident, currently has 13 dogs in her care, three adult cats, four older kittens and one four-week-old kitten.

Jacqui has had decades of experience homing dogs and now gives potential adopters a honed survey to gauge their ability to be “good parents”. She explains: “I will sometimes turn people down and this is usually related to the amount of time they want to leave their pets alone. If you are working, you have to have a helper or a dog walker who knows what they are doing.”

If you get the green light, the next thing to think about is what kind of dog you want. PAWS volunteer, DB resident Kate Halstead says: “My best advice, if you are thinking of adopting a dog, is to forget about ‘looks’ and really think about your lifestyle. Are you active? Will the dog come hiking or running with you, or do you prefer to go for light strolls to DB Plaza and around Siena Park? If you hate hiking or exercising then a dog like a young Husky would be wrong for you; a

Dogs in search of ‘forever homes’ at a PAWS Adoption Day in DB Plaza

slightly older, smaller breed of dog would be much more suitable.”

The age factor is significant in more ways than one. Puppies and kittens can be a lot of work, whereas older animals, though still playful, are already toilet trained. Jacqui adds that potential adopters should also consider the age of their children. “If you have one child and then you get a puppy, then you have two children,” she says.

The wider issue At any one time there can be 30 dogs in PAWS’ care, many of whom are street dogs who have been found wandering around the city, construction sites or villages, such as those in the New Territories, Lamma or Peng Chau.

Jacqui says that there was a time when some villagers used to literally throw litters of puppies away. Nowadays, dogs and cats left by construction workers, when they have finished on a site, are the main concern.

PALS is working with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Both PAWS and PALS take in a large number of ex-breeding dogs, which is why there are so many pedigree dogs at their regular fostering and adoption days in DB Plaza. Kate explains: “These dogs normally come to us at around three to six years of age, and they are normally pedigrees, such as Poodles, Pomeranians and Labradors, that were kept in cages at puppy-mill breeders. Once dogs are of no use to the breeders they will get rid of them, so we take them in and home them.”

Jacqui is currently lobbying LegCo to better police the breeders. “There will always be breeding, but there should be stringent rules,” she says. “It’s an immoral and unethical trade at the moment, whereby animals are treated like money. Life should not be bought in the shops.”

The need is great despite the Herculean efforts of local animal activists, like Jacqui and Kate. If you could provide a home for a pet, whether permanent or temporary, the benefits for your family could be huge. Why not take August 31 to think about it?

Find it • Hong Kong PAWS Foundation, www.hkpaws.org • Protection of Animals Lantau South, www.pals.org.hk • Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, www.spca.org.hk

Find more topical local information

40

(SPCA) to de-sex and microchip abandoned dogs, but both Jacqui and Kate point out that pet owners also have a part to play. “If everyone either spayed or neutered their pet, this would help control unnecessary pregnancies and the dog populations in Hong Kong,” Kate says. “It is just as important for male dogs to be de-sexed as it is females. As well as helping rescues like PAWS, it also has health benefits for our furry friends as it considerably reduces the risk of a number of cancers in dogs as well.”

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

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ESCAPES

On the Pacific Coast Highway at the first big-ticket Big Sur fixture – Bixby Bridge

ALL-AMERICAN

ROAD TRIP Photos courtesy of Flight Centre Hong Kong

Tearing down the Pacific Coast Highway in a red convertible, Cecilia Yee discovers a passion for the California coast

W

In and around Carmel

Determined to make the most of the trip, my friends and I rented a big, red Ford Thunderbird (convertible) and

Retro-hip Santa Cruz was our first overnight stop, with its famous beach boardwalk and ’50s-style amusement park. As a tourist you feel like you’ve walked straight on to a film set and the 1987 vampire movie The Lost Boys was in fact filmed here. You’ll meet surfers, hippies, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs (slumming it) and loads of students (the University of California, Santa Cruz is nestled up in the hills).

ithout doubt one of the world’s most memorable road trips, the Pacific Coast Highway is on the top of everyone’s list when it comes to US travel. It snakes some 198-kilometres along the California coast, and has been designated an All-American Road, one of the country’s most scenic. Hugging the cliffs, it’s extremely narrow in places with sharp drop-offs providing glorious, and sometimes hair-raising, views of the ocean below.

powered south out of San Francisco.

As we left the city behind, we were welcomed by the ocean breeze and a real feeling of freedom.

The road to Monterey, the centre of California’s sardine-packing industry into the late ’50s, is lined with pretty beaches from which you can spot all kinds of marine life, including sea lions, sea otters, harbour seals, bat rays, pelicans and dolphins. A popular base with scuba divers, most visitors head into town to the celebrated Monterey Bay Aquarium, home to hundreds of thousands of marine animals and plants. You will also want to hang out at Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row (immortalised by the John Steinbeck novel). Here the old canning factories have been converted into a gentrified strip of gift shops, seafood restaurants and bars. 

www.arounddb.com August 2016

43

ESCAPES

Big Sur – a place of big winds and big views

Heading further down California’s rugged Central Coast, we drove through picturesque Pacific Grove, stopping off at Lone Cypress – perched high above the Pacific, it’s one of the most photographed trees in the US – before reaching Carmel-by-theSea. Comprising whimsical cottages, inns, shops and galleries, and home to artists, poets, actors and the seriously well-heeled, Carmel is quite simply picture perfect – it’s where I would like to live when I grow up. Take a walk on the mile-long Carmel River State Beach, visit the 1919 home of poet Robinson Jeffers, and treat yourself to a round of golf at worldclass Pebble Beach.

Just a 10-minute drive from Carmel, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is a fine place to stop and get a taste of the magnificent scenery to come. The popular 0.8-mile Cypress Grove Trail meanders across rugged cliff tops, while also taking in flower-strewn meadows and forests of Monterey cypress. On a good day you’ll spot black-tailed deer, grey foxes, sea otters and sea lions; migrating whales pass by from December through April.

McWay Falls, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey

Soaking up Big Sur After driving through the Carmel Highlands, a residential district that’s more upmarket than the Hollywood Hills (and with better views), you reach Big Sur, a 145-kilometre stretch of pure scenic bliss. Here on in, the coastline gets truly dramatic – elemental even – as massive waves beat against the rocks

44

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

The Lone Cypress, Pebble Beach

ESCAPES

Scenic Avenue home, Carmel-by-the-Sea

and towering redwood groves stretch skyward. We were forced to pull over at virtually every turn to take it all in. It’s easy to understand why Henry Miller, who lived in Big Sur for 18 years, said it was here that he learned to say amen.

Just 15 miles south of Carmel is the first big-ticket Big Sur fixture – Bixby Bridge, one of the world’s highest single-span bridges, arching 80 metres high and 200 metres across. Stopping for a photo op, it was here that we decided to cut short our end-ofvacation stay in Los Angeles, in order to buy ourselves a little more time in the area.

Hunkered down in Big Sur, we spent three full days exploring Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, where the roads and walking trails are lined with redwoods, sycamores and ferns. Heading down Sycamore Canyon Road, we found ourselves at Pfeiffer Beach, a longtime hippie haunt known for its ‘good vibrations’. The crescent-shaped beach is dominated by a huge, arched rock formation, through which surf and sunlight stream in equal quantities.

The following morning, we woke early and headed straight to Big Sur Bakery, which gets flocked by visitors for a reason. Fortified by delicious pastries, we found our way to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park to visit the truly awesome McWay Falls. Be sure to follow the short trail above the beach to see these majestic, 70-foot falls

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

tumbling over granite cliffs and freefalling into the Pacific. Later in the day we had a burger at Nepenthe. This hip indoor-outdoor restaurant, perched 245 metres above the sea, was once favoured by the Beat Generation poets.

Our road trip ended here but, if time allows, you can follow the Pacific Coast Highway across the southern stretch of Big Sur all the way to Morro Bay. I would have liked to have seen Ragged Point, with its fabled million-

dollar view and hiking trail down the cliff face, and to have spent some time at Hearst Castle, newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst’s lavish estate, now a state historical monument. The artsy coastal colony of Harmony has also captured my imagination, as has the chance to hunt for moonstones and California jade at Moonstone Beach in Cambria. But all this I’ll save for another summer, after all, few people take this once-in-alifetime road trip only once.

Flight Centre Hong Kong specialises in tailor-made travel experiences, the widest choice of airfares and unique products, and 24-hour emergency assistance. To book your getaway, call 2830 2776, visit www.flightcentre.com.hk or drop by the retail stores in Discovery Bay, Central, Happy Valley or Wanchai.

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MOMENTS

OCTOPUS

ORIGINATOR

Sam Agars sits down with 23-year DB resident Paul Chan, the man behind the ever-expanding electronic payment system we all know and love

O

f the 20,000 or so people who live in Discovery Bay, you would be hardpressed to find many as unassuming as Paul Chan. When asked, he admits he is proud of his achievements, but the 23-year DBer is totally low-fuss when chatting about his career and his all-important role in creating a Hong Kong institution, the Octopus card.

Born in Hong Kong, Paul moved to the UK as a six-year-old – “my uncle opened a typical Chinese restaurant so my dad sent me over” – and took his first degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at King’s College, London. Interestingly, his children, Nicholas and Chloe, are following in his footsteps, with Nicholas currently at the University of Surrey studying Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Chloe, fresh out of Discovery College, heart set on taking a Physiotherapy degree in the UK.

work on its automatic fare collection (AFC) system. By the early ‘90s, he was leading the team behind Octopus and, since its inception in 1997, he has watched his brainchild become a crucial part of everyday life in the city.

“I developed the magnetic stripe technology at the very beginning,” Paul says. “In those days, the comeand-store-value ticket was the same as Octopus but they used the magnetic stripe like a bank card.”

Paul returned to Hong Kong in 1979, at his parent’s urging, convinced that there were big opportunities for graduates in the then territory. Un-enamoured by the prospect of high-rise living, he quickly settled in Sai Kung, and then moved to DB just as it was coming up.

Photo by Sam Agars

Connecting a city Looking back on his career, Paul remembers the exact day it all began: October 1, 1979.

This was the date that he joined the MTR Corporation to start Find more local heroes

Paul Chan, a 23-year DB resident, with his brainchild

To fully appreciate the impact Octopus has had on the city, it is worth considering that there are currently 24 million cards in circulation, according to Paul, of which seven million are active in a population of seven-and-a-half million people. Little wonder, when you can use it to pay for transport, to buy food, as a library card, to access your apartment building and even to record your child’s attendance at school.

“We had a lot of discussions with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, saying Octopus will be the future e-payment system in Hong Kong,” Paul says. “They said we were only MTR, that we couldn’t take the whole of Hong Kong. But we convinced them it was the next generation and Octopus became multi-application around 2001.”

With an MBA and a PhD under his belt, it has been an interesting ride for Paul. In addition to his 35-year stint with the MTR, he has worked as a consultant throughout Asia and in Europe, where he helped develop the AFC system in Holland and the Oyster card in the UK. Now in his mid-60s, Paul has taken a step back, having finished up his full-time role at MTR. Self-employed as a consultant, he is enjoying the change of pace and the chance to spend some well-earned time at home.

“I love DB very much and I don’t think I would ever leave,” he says.

@ www.arounddb.com

www.arounddb.com August 2016

47

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ACTION

TOP SPINNERS

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If your kids are keen to get into cricket, there are some exciting coaching opportunities available right here in DB. Jonathan Ogden and Sam Agars report

50

DB Smashers’ victory run with founder Avneesh Saxena

A

s every cricket-loving DB parent knows, there are two big cricketing clubs catering to DB kids – the DB Smashers, managed by Avneesh Saxena, Jonathan Mapp and Mark Panckhurst, and the Junior Cricket Academy (JCA), headed up by Nilesh Jhaveri.

Established in 2005, the JCA holds classes for boys and girls, aged five to 15 years old, at Discovery Bay International School (DBIS).

2015-founded DB Smashers, meanwhile, offers coaching to boys and girls aged six to 14 at both DBIS and the Discovery Bay Recreation Club (DBRC).

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

Next month, both clubs will select teams to compete in the Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA) Junior Cricket League. The season starts in September, with the first matches in October. “Numbers permitting, we want to put two U11 teams in the softball and hardball leagues respectively, and one in the U13

ACTION

hardball league,” says Avneesh. The JCA kids didn’t play in the HKCA Junior Cricket League last season, but Nilesh hopes to field both U11 and U13 teams this year.

DB Smashers victorious For the DB Smashers, it all started in mid-2015 when a group of likeminded, cricket-loving parents decided to set up some practice sessions and drills for their kids. Within a few months, as more children joined, coach Ankur Vasishta, a Hong Kong national team player, encouraged Avneesh to take it further and get a team registered with the HKCA. Entering the U11 softball cricket league in September, the DB Smashers broke the mould by picking a girl captain, Venezia ‘Vinnie’ Ogden. Marshalling her troops from behind the stumps as an aggressive wicketkeeper, she also proved a pugnacious batsman, often coming in late in an innings and bludgeoning boundaries, inspiring those around her.

DB Smashers celebrating their win: Back row: Joshua Mapp, Arnav Saxena, Daniel Panckhurst, Aryan Chandiramani, Sameen Dar and Pratish Vyas.

Front row: Aneka Ogden, Venezia Ogden and Daniel Mapp

By the end of the year, the DB players had begun to find their feet. The bowlers started to get their sights straight and opposition batsmen started to fear rather than feast on them. When the team went out to bat at the HKCA cricket ground in Diamond Hill, runs started to flow rather than wickets tumble.

Stars began to emerge. Danny Mapp, 8, developed a formidable bowling action and pace. His older brother Joshua, 10, got in on the act as well, producing a much-talked about hat trick. Avneesh’s son Arnav, a gangly 11-year-old, started showing the way as an opening batsman. One of his memorable innings started six, six and four. Pratish Vyas, 9, played his part as a wily spin bowler and enthusiastic fielder.

Gradually the DB Smashers came to understand that everyone had an important part to play, even the

Coach Ankur Vasishta with the DB Smashers

youngsters, including Ryan Morais, 10, Ved Hardas, 8, Zaid Faizar, 10, Sujai Thirumalaikumar, 8, and Aneka Ogden, 10, who only got in on a few games.

After a nail-biting semi-final win

against the HKCC Dragons, brought about by top scorers Arnav and Daniel Panckhurst, 9, and previously unsung bowlers Sameen Dar, 11, and Aryan Chandiramani, 10, the DB Smashers found themselves in the final – up against the Avengers. 

www.arounddb.com August 2016

51

ACTION

Junior Cricket Academy bowler Connor Broadley with coach and founder Nilesh Jhaveri

Junior Cricket Academy on the rise DB Smashers’ winning wicket, April 30: Venezia Ogden and Sameen Dar

The DB Smashers batted first.

Sensing the big occasion, most of the top-order batsmen got among the runs, with Josh top scoring with a quick fire 20 not out, Arnav hitting 19, and Vinnie smashing a rapid 12 not out. That left the Avengers facing the huge task of making 125 runs in 14 overs to win. Their opening pair got off to a reasonable start. But the DB Smashers in the field were now a well-oiled machine – the batsmen couldn’t find the boundary, their path always blocked by eager fielders.

The Avengers were reduced to taking singles.

As the innings wore on, the pressure mounted on the Avengers to start scoring fours and sixes. This led to wickets tumbling, with Danny bagging a much-celebrated three. At the end of play, on April 30, the Avengers were left all out with just 62 runs – exactly half the DB Smashers’ total. The DB Smashers had won the U11 final of the HKCA Junior Softball Cricket League – as Avneesh says: “Not bad for an opening chapter.” 

52

2016 is shaping up to be a big year for Discovery Bay’s inaugural cricket coaching school, the Junior Cricket Academy (JCA). Comprised of more than 30 children, JCA was thriving as recently as two-and-a-half years ago, when DB founder Nilesh Jhaveri was forced to relocate to the UK for personal reasons. Nilesh is now back in DB and determined to get JCA back on track – bigger and better than it was before.

“In September we will be back in the Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA) League, fielding U11 and U13 teams,” Nilesh says. “I’m trying to harness what we had going before I went away.”

JCA offers top-level coaching for boys and girls, aged five to 15, and Nilesh is looking to build a strong team of mentors. “I’m going to get two other coaches to help out,” he says. “They are either going to be part of the Hong Kong national team or ex-national team players.”

JCA trains every Saturday during term time at DBIS and spent the past season playing competitive matches against other teams from around Hong Kong. The Discovery Bay Cricket Club, of which Nilesh is captain, uses JCA as a feeder club, which ensures continuity and a seamless progression for kids as they move up the grades, while giving them the opportunity to play cricket at a competitive level.

Find it • DB Smashers, avsaxena@gmail.com, hilltopnj@gmail.com • Discovery Bay Cricket Club, www.dbcricketclub.com • Hong Kong Cricket Association, www.hkcricket.org • Junior Cricket Academy, www.jcahk.com

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

Thomas Kiprotich Founder Tel: 852-6180-3256 www.kipmovin.com thomas@kipmovin.com

New term for Kipkids begins August 15th.

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Adult classes (KipRunning and KipCore) for all abilities also begin August 15th.

All schedules available on www.kipmovin.com For details please contact thomas@kipmovin.com Like us on facebook to keep up-to-date with KIPMOVIN Tel: +852 61803256

ACTION

Bayside Dental cricket success A Bayside Dental team competed in the inaugural Kids Premier League cricket tournament, held at Po Kong Village Road Park, Diamond Hill, back in April. The team, brought together by Sandeep Jain and featuring a host of Discovery Bay children, ended up winning the tournament.

Find more clubs and activities

Professional Cricket Coaching in Discovery Bay

DB’s own Junior Cricket Academy  Internationally Qualified HKCA Accredited Coaches  Structured, progressive & tailor-made programmes for boys & girls aged 3.5 - 13yrs old

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HKTDC FOOD EXPO

August 11-15

Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wanchai Hong Kong’s 27th annual HKTDC Food Expo features over 1,200 vendors from all parts of the world. Among the quality products on offer, you can expect a wide selection of cheese, wine and organic food. Admission to the public hall starts at HK$10. Visit www.hktdc.com.

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Across Hong Kong

-30 August 16 The Summer International Film Festival, presented by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, brings local cinephiles some of the best in home-grown and international cinema. Set to feature over 30 movies, audiences can expect Asian flicks, Bollywood hits and restored classics, plus award-winning films fresh off the festival circuit. Mustwatch classics include A Man and a Woman (1966) by Claude Lelouch and Kurosawa Akira’s Rashomon (1950). For tickets and screenings, visit www.cinefan.com.hk.

Get your events listed @ www.arounddb.com

COMMUNICATIONS FEST Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wanchai

A must for tech-savvy gizmo lovers, the Hong Kong Computer and Communications Festival showcases the very latest technology and is your onestop source for everything digital. Get up-to-date with all the latest computer software and hardware, cameras, computer games and more.

Visit www.chkci.org.hk.

19-22 t s u Aug

ARNIE’S MULTI-SPORT FESTIVAL

AsiaWorld-Expo, Chek Lap Kok

20-21 t s u g Au www.arnoldsportsfestival.com

Get up close and personal with fitness celebs, sport stars and Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Arnold Classic Asia Multi-Sport Festival. Live sport, health and fitness workshops and a seminar by The Governator himself are included in the line-up of events. To purchase tickets, starting at HK$150, visit www.arnoldclassicasia.com.

www.propertycasualty360.com

www.arounddb.com August 2016

57

HK HAPPENINGS

Like us on Facebook for event reminders: www.facebook.com/ AroundDB Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Ballet

st Augu

SWAN LAKE

19-28

Hong Kong Cultural Centre, TST Hong Kong Ballet is opening its 2016/ 17 season with Swan Lake, showing at both the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Yuen Long Theatre. Expect live accompaniment from the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and a guest performance by Jurgita Dronina of the National Ballet of Canada. For tickets, starting at HK$100, visit www.urbtix.hk.

JIMMY CARR: FUNNY BUSINESS

st Augu

24-29

King George V School, Ho Man Tin

British comedian Jimmy Carr is best known for his guest appearances on various panel shows, notably Stephen Fry’s QI. His often controversial stand-up tours have been seen by over 1.5 million people, and his dark, politically incorrect humour is at full throttle in Funny Business. Purchase tickets, starting at HK$488, at www.hkticketing.com.

www.nachostime.net

www.frugaledmontonmama.com

SLIDE THE CITY

Back for the second summer and bigger and better than before, Slide the City features higher and steeper waterslides, plus an artificial beach. Expect to get soaked as you squirt, spray, splash and slide. For further information and tickets, starting at HK$180, head to www.slidethecity.hk.

HI-5 FAIRYTALE

1. Disney’s Hollywood Hotel. Just 2 kilometres from Hong Kong Disneyland, the hotel offers family packages that include complimentary tickets to the theme park. Kids also enjoy the pianoshaped pool and meal times with Mickey Mouse and the gang. Visit www.hongkongdisneyland.com.

Exhibition Centre, Kowloon Bay

A hi-tech theatrical extravaganza, Hi-5 Fairytale sees the ‘hi-fivers’ embark on a fun-filled adventure with princesses and knights, travelling bugs and rapping beavers. Get ready to sing along to the big Hi-5 hits, L.O.V.E, Wish Upon a Star and Living in a Fairytale.

Purchase tickets, starting at HK$250, at www.hkticketing.com.

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

3. Pousada De Coloane. In operation since the mid ‘70s and situated at sleepy Cheoc-Van Beach on Coloane Island, Pousada provides a taste of old-colonial Macau. There’s a large swimming pool, picturesque terrace and genuine Portuguese restaurant.

All rooms have a Jacuzzi and balcony.

Visit www.hotelpcoloane.com.mo.

And if you’re expecting guests… book them into the Auberge Discovery Bay. The hotel’s Summer Adventure Package includes a buffet breakfast and complimentary passes to EpicLand.

Visit www.aubergediscoverybay.com.

t ghou u o r Th st Augu

ust Kowloonbay International Trade & Aug 8 27-2

58

No holiday plans this month? Why not enjoy a weekend getaway – right in your own backyard.

2. Tai O Heritage Hotel. Converted from a 1902 police station, this seaview boutique hotel is the perfect base from which to get away from it all and explore Lantau. Visit www.taioheritagehotel.com.

Central Harbourfront, Central

25 t 24s u g Au

TOP SUMMER STAYCATIONS

www.hkticketingcom

www.afar.com

Extra care comes standard The support you need to make relocating more successful for the whole family.

In fifty years we’ve learned a lot about what makes relocations more successful for everyone.

With experienced and knowledgable people on the ground in more than 60 countries we equip you well for your relocation: • We’ll help you get to know the destination well before you go • Show you how to make it easier and more exciting for children, and less stressful for pets • We’ll look after your belongings with expert packing and transport • And when you arrive, we can help you get settled quicker and enjoy the thrill of a new place or a different culture

Tel: 852 2636 8388 hongkong@crownrelo.com

Go knowing

crownrelo.com/hongkong AroundDB magazine ad.indd 1

22/2/2016 4:01:46 PM

22-07-2016 Peking Duck AroundDB Ad.pdf 1 22/07/2016 18:22:08

C

香 脆

PEKING

DUCK RETURNS TO

北 京 片 皮 鴨 超值價回饋牡丹軒食客

PEONY

M

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CM

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Photo is for reference only.

CY

圖片只供參考

CMY

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Peking Duck (Two Courses) 片皮鴨 (二食) First Course (第一食) :

Peking Duck Skin served with White Flour Pancakes and Condiments 片皮鴨配摩摩皮

Mon - Fri

Sat, Sun & PH

$248 $268

(Member Price 會員價) (Normal Price 正價)

Based on menu price

$318 $338

(Member Price 會員價) (Normal Price 正價)

Based on menu price

請參閱餐牌價錢

Second Course (第二食) :

Stir-fried Shredded Duck Meat with Assorted Bell Pepper 七彩炒鴨絲 or 或 Braised Duck with Bitter Melon 涼瓜炆鴨件 or 或 Stir-fried Shredded Duck Meat served with Lettuce Wraps 生菜包鴨崧

Peking Duck (Two Courses) Promotion Period: From Aug to Sep 2016 片 皮 鴨 ( 二 食 ) 優 惠 由 2 0 1 6 年 8 月 至 9 月 止 。 Reserve one day in advance 敬 請 於 一 日 前 預 訂 。

請參閱餐牌價錢

2500 1950

COMMUNITY SNAPS!

DB FACES

Email your photos for DB Faces to info@baymedia.com.hk. Around DB accepts no liability for the photos sent

Who do you know? Find more familiar faces @ www.arounddb.com.

Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

Win prizes from Uncle Russ Coffee and The Pier Bar! Congratulations to last month’s winner: Colin Sim (@colsimphotography)

T

he best snap wins! Your mission this month is to share a photo taken in DB or Lantau on our @around_db Instagram page and hashtag it #arounddb. You have until the 10th of this month to enter – so get tagging.

This is your chance to win a complimentary coffee from Uncle Russ, or a beer from The Pier Bar every day for a week. We will contact the winner via Instagram. Good luck!

View DB property listings @ www.arounddb.com

WORSHIP SERVICE

Natural, Eco-Friendly, Replacement-Free Water Solution from Austria.

Discovery College Sundays @ 10 am

CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP PRACTICAL BIBLE TEACHING KIDS CHURCH & TEENS Free Consultation Hotline: (+852) 2314-2608 enquiry@grandertechnology.com www.GranderTechnology.com

Pastor James Buckner Tel: 2987 7061 www.dbicc.org

View local business directories @ www.arounddb.com EMPLOYMENT

FINANCE & INSURANCE AUSTRALIAN TAX RETURNS

EMPLOYER WANTED

Cherrie Toriaga, 29, is looking for an employer – her contract ended on July 12.

A registered nurse from the Philippines, she is an experienced child minder of babies & young kids.

Easy going yet hardworking, Cherrie can cook Chinese & Western food, & handle all household chores.

Call 6427 3163

DELIVERY PERSON/ MESSENGER

Michael, a HK resident, is available to deliver documents & small parcels around HK. Full/ part time.

Please leave a message on 9145 6731

EMPLOYER LOOKING FOR A HELPER? OR HELPER LOOKING FOR AN EMPLOYER? Place your free classifieds ad here.

Email info@baymedia.com.hk

Need to lodge your Australian tax return?

If you are an expat or collect rental from Australian property, you must lodge an annual return.

Let us do it for you here in HK. Contact Dwight Stuchbery, Australasian Taxation Services on 3571 8700, dwight@smats.net, or visit www.smats.net

HEALTH & WELLBEING

HYPNOSIS &/ OR SHORT-TERM THERAPY

Quit smoking quickly.

Divorce/ Post-Divorce Coaching.

Resolve: • Fear of Flying/ Public Speaking • Overeating • Couples’ Conflicts • Career & Command-Training Stress • Anger Management • Phobias • Nail Biting • Insomnia • Exam Jitters Call Dr Melanie Bryan, Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist & Hypnotherapist on 2575 7707, or visit www.mindmatters.hk

HOME SERVICES

HOME SERVICES

PETS

SONTHRA HANDYMAN

THE PLACE WHERE THE PETS GO - PETCODB

Furniture repairing by indoor/ outdoor & polishing specialist. Any kind of solid wood. Also picture hanging & all types of wall work.

• Better quality • Great value • Low prices • Satisfaction guaranteed Contact Peter on 9674 7531, Sonthrapeter@gmail.com

EXPERT MOVER

• Mover • Storage • Handyman Competitive rates.

Professional quality service.

Contact 2566 4799, sales@expertmover.hk.

Visit www.expertmover.hk

AKASH MOVING

info@cambridgeweightplan.hk 25257165

Local packing & moving service.

Best move – best rate.

Akash offers a packing/ unpacking service, provides boxes & packing materials & makes small deliveries.

Call 2421 8088, or visit www.akash.hk

DOG SERVICES

Home boarding, behaviour modification, Tui Na Massage & grooming. Reliable & honest.

100% safety record over the past 11 years.

Call Dave Chan on 9872 5439, or visit www.quoquoclub.com

RETAIL ABBELIO WINES

EXPAT PAINTER & DECORATOR

Colourwash, wall papering, artwork, plastering, plumbing, electrical works, picture hanging, shelving & more.

For a quality, fast, clean service, contact 9074 5232, goldingdec@netvigator.com

FTC RELOCATIONS

The experts in local & international moving.

World-class service – competitive rates. FTC also provides short-term storage & handyman services.

Operating throughout DB & Lantau. Call 2814 1658, or visit www.ftc.hk

Grooming & Pet Care Services.

Trust us to provide loving & safe care for the ones you love!

Contact 2914 0382, info@petcodb.com.

Visit www.petcodb.com

KIDS

EARLY ADVENTURES PLAYGROUP

A dedicated playgroup with the emphasis on learning through play.

Activities to stimulate all areas of development.

Come & look at our facilities.

Classes for kids from 20 months to 4 years.

Morning & afternoon sessions.

Call 9511 2107, or visit www.earlyadventures.net

Great value! High scoring!

Wines from around the world!

Free delivery & special offer for Discovery Bay residents.

For details, visit http://abw.hk/db, or call 3170 8458

SERVICES

SONTHRA TAILORING SERVICES

Tailoring for ladies & children.

(Shirts, pyjamas. Shalwar Kameez, baby dresses.)

Individual designs, copies, alterations & modifications.

Bespoke drapery, upholstery, bed & table linens. High quality, excellent service, competitive pricing, satisfaction guaranteed.

Contact 9637 1620, sonthrafarnaz@gmail.com

Deadline for September issue CLASSIFIEDS

August 15

SINCE 1997

OUR SERVICES DOG & CAT GROOMING ( BY APPOINTMENT ) PET FOOD & ACCESSORIES SUPPLIES CAT SITTING SERVICE FREE DAILY DELIVERY Ground floor 11B, Discovery Bay Plaza, Discovery Bay (next to Island Vet) Tel: 2987 0428 / Fax : 2914 1313 / E-mail : petsgallerydb@yahoo.com.hk Open from 9:00 am till 7:30 pm (Mon - Sun)

www.arounddb.com August 2016

63

View local business directories @ www.arounddb.com

Alcoholics Anonymous If you want to drink, that’s your business.

If you want to stop, we can help.

No dues or fees.

24 hour hotline: 9073 6922 Lantau hotline: 5668 2667 www.aa-hk.org

Greenland Pest Control Tailored Pest Control Solutions for Rodent, Cockroaches, Fleas, Mosquitoes, Termites, Ants, Ticks etc…

For info please call Thomas 9871 0771 or May 9774 3554 Email: greenlandpest@outlook.com

Meet our pet of the Month

Sophie Mypetshop in the North Plaza.

Shop G09-92 Siena Ave. DB North Plaza

Tel: 2987 8873

Open Daily 10am – 7:30pm

64

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

View local business directories @ www.arounddb.com TRAVEL concoRdE TRAVEL

Leisure Travel & Cruise specialists since 1978.

Call 2526 3391, or visit www.concorde-travel.com.

Licence No 350343

TUITIon & coURSES

LEARn SPAnISH

db@mandarinformunchkins.com

Native speaker, DELE examiner.

Experienced teacher.

IB, IGCSE, A-Levels & HKDSE Business Spanish & courses for adults.

Flexible schedule & locations.

(Special offers to students who live in DB & Tung Chung.)

For enquiries please contact Mr Erik R at 9666 9511, rerikm@hotmail.com

cHInESE (MAndARIn & cAnTonESE), MATHEMATIcS & EnGLISH

Personal Professional Tutoring Service.

• Curriculum: HSK, IB, GCSE, SAT • ESF & all international schools, Year 1 to 13 • For students & adults (homework/ exams/ business) • Mother-tongue Chinese tutors from the PRC (Levels: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced) • Mathematics tutors (UK B SC) • Native English tutors.

(MA in Education, specialising in Early Childhood Stage) Contact 9107 5655, graciasx@hotmail.com

•Counselling for individuals, couples, families & adolescents • Sliding fee scale; affordable options for all clients • English, Putonghua, Cantonese, Russian, Hindi, Marathi and Marwadi speaking counsellors

www.resourcecounselling.org Serving the community over 40 years A Member Agency of the Community Chest

MAndARIn cHInESE cLASSRooM Lessons for adults & children, individually & in small groups.

Any level/ time/ purpose.

In the Greens.

Call 6071 9643, or visit www.dbmandarin.com

BEEF JERKY, BEEF BILTONG AND PORK CRACKLING

HIGH PROTEIN SNACKS WITH NO ADDED MSG

The perfect snacks for sharing and enjoying together T: E: W: : :

+852 6647 2292 gillian@gmtfoodshk.com gmtfoodshk.com @gillian_GMT /gmtfoods

www.arounddb.com August 2016

65

Find short-term rentals @ www.arounddb.com LANTAU PROPERTY

LANTAU PROPERTY

APARTMENTS IN TUNG CHUNG

2-BED IN CHERISH COURT, DB

Fully furnished, 2- & 3-bed apartments available for long/ short- term lease. Minimum rental period 1 month. In excellent condition.

Contact Miss Man on 9806 9175/ 9872 7395, tanford787@gmail.com. Visit tanford.webs.com

Fully furnished, 2-bedroom flat with wi-fi & Now TV. Full sea view & Disneyland-firework view. Photos available.

Contact Jacqueline 9811 0718, jacquelinedb@gmail.com

DELUXE DB SERVICED APARMENTS

NICELY DECORATED DB APARTMENTS

Fully furnished 1-2-bed apartments with beautiful decor, wi-fi & broadband. Well-equipped kitchen, luxurious bedding, weekly cleaning service.

Contact Annie on 2987 2626, annie@appletravel.com

Nicely decorated, 1-, 2- & 3-bedroom flats available for short term let. Fully furnished with wi-fi & NOW TV. Weekly cleaning service.

Photos available. Contact Serena 9236 1806, cow9146@yahoo.com.hk

OVERSEAS PROPERTY LUXURY APARTMENTS IN SIENA 2, DB Spacious 600’ apartments for short- or long-term rental. Quiet with sea views over park, near Club Siena & DB Tunnel. Fully furnished with washer/ drier, bedlinen, kitchenware, 55” TVs, wi-fi, blu-ray home theatre. Contact the owner on 9317 0624, nialady2011@gmail.com

STUNNINGLY FURNISHED DB FLAT Designer 2-bed apartment, 1-minute from DB Plaza. Renovated to the highest standard.

Weekly cleaning available. Contact Maeve on 6408 4227, maeveororke@hotmail.com

FULLY FURNISHED DB 1-BED Smart apartment on a high floor with sea view.

Close to pier & DB Plaza. Available fully furnished.

Call Tiareti on 9732 8985

66

HAWKS NEST THAILAND FOR RENT

Fully equipped 2-bedroom villa for rent, including rooftop patio with outdoor kitchen, Jacuzzi tub, pool & internet. Situated just south of Hua Hin Thailand, can arrange Bangkok pick-up. For details, visit www.hawksnestthailand.com or email villa@hawksnestthailand.com

VILLA AMITA, BALI FOR RENT Ocean-view, 4-bed, luxury villa with 25-metre pool. On the cliffs of Bukit, close to Nusa Dua & Jimbaran. Spacious & open at 21,000 square feet. Fully staffed. From US$700/ night.

Contact 9040 7675, catyurim@gmail.com

VILLA IN TABANAN, BALI FOR SALE Quiet, furnished 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom villa with private dipping pool. Perfect vacation home after minimal renovation. Surrounded by rice paddies & 5 minutes to the beach. Contact onethingadaythatscaresyou@gmail.com, or visit www.sahajasawahresort.com

LUXURY DB 2-BED

PERTHSHIRE COTTAGE FOR SALE

Newly renovated, 2-bed flat with balcony.

Luxuriously furnished, with TV, cable & broadband. Panoramic harbour views & short walk to pier. Contact Charles on 6140 7971, charles@headlandhomes.hk. Contact Katie on 9150 7319, katie@headlandhomes.hk

Beautiful 150-year-old, 3-bed cottage in Perthshire, with oak-beamed lounge & dining room, modern kitchen, bathroom & shower. Ideal summer cottage/ holiday or retirement home, with lovely gardens. Offers over £375,000 (HK$4.3M) considered. Contact (44) 17964 82527 or bobbiemcgraw@outlook.com for details

SLEEPS 4 IN DB

AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY

Bright, fully furnished flat, sleeps 4. Fully equipped kitchen, plus wi-fi & broadband.

Towels & linens provided. Minimum stay 1 month. Email dbstay4@yahoo.com

Everything you need to know about buying a property in Australia. Information on property markets, taxation, finance, migration & legal.

Free online at www.aussieproperty.com

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

GIVING LIFE SHOULDN’T BE SO DEADLY Ramatoulaye, who lives in Burkina Faso, was about to give birth to her fourth child, but the boatman was nowhere to be found. Unable to get to the health centre across the river, she gave birth alone on the river banks.

Maternal health is a human right — join Amnesty International to defend human rights for women like Ramatoulaye.

Learn more at www.amnesty.org.hk.

© Anna Kari

Back by popul ar dem and!

THE B EST O

F LAN

/ 6 1 0 2 1 5 r 0 2 o f d e ! d 6 n 1 a 0 p 2 x r e e d b n m a e t d p e t e a S d t p u u o y e l Du Ful

TAU

.

7 1 20

UNITY

LIVING TS • SPOR

•

ING • HIK S T E P

G •

IN • DIN

OMM H • C HEALT

An essential guide to all the island has to offer, The Best of Lantau features interesting and informative sections on everything from education and sports to dining and real estate.

We list the top local providers in 12 comprehensive categories.

Contact us to get your business listed!

• • • •

Dining Sports Health Services

• • • •

Living Pastimes Beauty Community

• • • •

Pets Education Excursions Classifieds

From the publishers of Around DB and Life on Lantau Email lissa@baymedia.com.hk or call 2987 0577 to book your advertising space!

Add your business for FREE @ www.arounddb.com TUNG CHUNG

SOUTH LANTAU

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

FTC Apparel

FOOD, RESTAURANTS & BARS

2428 2566 FOOD, RESTAURANTS & BARS

Airport Izakaya Andante Bistro Delifrance Café Aficionado Chef’s Choice China Coast Bar & Grill Dosirak House Essence Federal Palace Restaurant Kimos Mansarover Indian Cuisine Melody Thai McDonald’s Delivery Moccato Olea Pizza Hut Delivery Regala Café & Dessert Bar Resto Rouge Skycity Bistro Spaghetti House Starz Wine Bar Zentro Garden

2286 6668 3602 8828 2109 4187 2286 6238 6504 4208 2286 6898 3520 0848 3602 8808 2626 0181 2886 3646 2109 1927 2988 8129 2338 2338 3602 8838 3602 8818 2330 0000 2286 6618 2886 3156 2286 6868 3969 2500 2109 1297 2109 0612 2802 8000 HEALTH & WELLBEING

Bayside Dental Essential Health Family Clinic Human Health Medical Centre North Lantau Physiotherapy Tung Chung Animal Clinic Tung Chung Vet Centre Tung Chung Maternal & Child Health Centre Quality Health Dental Quality Health Medical Raffles Medical

2185 6550 2109 9396 2109 2288 2194 0020 2988 1534 2328 7282 3575 8370 2403 6613 2403 6623 2261 2626

Bahce - Turkish Restaurant Café Bar Caffe Paradiso (Tom’s Café) China Bear Como Lake Deer Horn Restaurant & Bar La Pizzeria Lantana Italian Bistro Long Island Mavericks Restaurant Tak Chai Kee Seafood The Beach House The China Beach Club The Gallery The Kitchen

Dalcroze Impact Fitness Jill Marshall Pilates South Lantau Paddle Club Tony’s Salon Treasure Island

HOTELS

HOME & REPAIRS

Findley Leung Group Koon Wah Hardware Lee Wo Construction Engineering Man Shun Construction & Engineering New Look Design

3969 1888 3602 8888 2286 8888

Mui Wo Inn Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel

9021 1502 2987 8070 2162 5538 6273 7347 6674 6194 2611 9193 2164 7210 2420 1068 2109 3873 6341 3989 2121 0884 2988 8123 2385 9677 2109 9277 2179 6678 9264 8597 6688 2167 2786 9699 9662 1747 6443 6597 3473 8700 5400 4109 2403 6770

UTILITY, SERVICES & EMERGENCY HOTLINES

Tung Chung Ambulance Depot Tung Chung Fire Station Tung Chung Police Station

2984 7225 6810 0111 2985 8383

DEI Kindergarten Lantau International Kindergarten Lantau International School Lao Shi Lantau Mandarin lessons Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten Mui Wo Owls School & Kindergarten The Story Studio

2109 9886 2984 0302 2980 3676 5197 4647 3689 6709 2984 0006 6341 3989

PROPERTY AGENCIES

SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

Asia Pacific Soccer Schools Caribbean Coast Club House Coastal Skyline Club House Dance for Joy Edge’n Pointe Dance Centre Epic MMA Jumping Castles Perun Fitness Seaview Crescent Club House Smash Cricket Tung Chung Crescent Club House

2984 8334 2984 8487 2984 1802 2984 9833 9783 5840 HOTELS

LEARNING CENTRES

Clement Art School Discovery Mind International Play Centre Greenfield International Kindergarten Kidznjoy Sakura Kids Salala Kids House Soundwaves English Education Centre Sun Island Education Foundation Sunshine House International Preschool The Story Studio Tung Chung Catholic School (Yat Tung) YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College

6627 4806 6385 0304 9708 0187 9688 9112 2984 0990 2546 3543

LEARNING CENTRES

2421 8088 2109 2330 2988 1488

Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel Novotel Citygate Hong Kong Regal Airport Hotel

2984 0222 2984 0498 2984 9720 2984 0009 3484 3095 2984 8933 5465 5511 2320 2001 5662 8552 2984 1265 2504 4788 2983 8931 2980 2582 5991 6292

HEALTH & WELLBEING

HOME & REPAIRS

Akash Removals Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths Shun Yu Engineering

LANTAU NUMBERS

2988 8282 2988 1898 3661 1999

Findley Leung Real Estate Home Solutions Real Estate Proper Trip Real Estate

2984 8334 3483 5003 2984 1666 RETAIL

Friendly Bike Shop Island Wines Lantau Base Camp Quay House Red Hall Chinese Antiques The Red Lantern ZenvarA

2984 2278 9521 8481 5463 6060 2882 8710 2988 1368 2984 0099 9586 3459 SERVICES & OTHERS

Jumping Castles SPCA Phoenix Wills Suzanne Goodwin Photography Thai Palin Massage Twig (Design Studio)

9662 1747 2984 0060 6108 8471 9025 3949 3114 0030 6351 8923 TRANSPORTATION

Lee Hing Loong Hon Kee Transportation Company Lantau Tours New Lantau Bus Company

2984 2268 2984 8494 2984 8255 2984 9848

Add your business for FREE @ www.arounddb.com

DB NUMBERS

COMMUNITY & HEALTH Bayside Dental Practice, North Plaza BMSE, North Plaza Catholic Church (Trinity Chapel) DB Alliance Church Community Centre DB International Community Church Discovery Bay Medical Centre Health & Care Dental Clinic Herbal Health Cares IMI (Natural Medicine Clinic), North Plaza Island Health Island Veterinary Services The Development Practice The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council, North Plaza

2987 0855 2259 3422 2987 9909 2987 8136 2987 7061 2987 5633 2666 6183 2834 7276 2537 1087 2987 7575 2987 9003 2914 2223 2259 3422

Island Dance A dance school offering ISTD Freestyle, Hip Hop & Tap & RAD Ballet classes from Monday to Saturday at DBRC & Club Siena. All ages welcome.

2987 1571 www.islanddance.com.hk

A drop-off playgroup for ages 18 months upward. Your child will have heaps of fun and make lots of new friends.

9327 0507

3102 2977 2320 1238 3480 1348 2987 8460

7-Eleven Convenience Store Fusion by PARKnSHOP Just Green Watson’s Pharmacy Wellcome, North Plaza

2987 4401 2987 7486 2448 1180 2987 4089 2947 9092

The Best Travel Agency in DB 2987 2626 cas@appletravel.com

International Canadian Law Firm in DB North Plaza offering you customised legal services on the many aspects of your personal and professional life 2416 8618 www.harveylawcorporation.com

PetcoDB

Playtime Kids DB

DAILY NECESSITIES

Apple Travel

Harvey Law Group

Little Explorers

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES Action X Giga Sports Little Whale, North Plaza Nomadic

OTHER SERVICES

LEARNING CENTRES

Playgroup run by Montessori-trained teacher. From 6 months to 4 years. 2623 4099; 9054 0565 playtimekidsdb@yahoo.com, www.playtimekidsdb.com

The Beat

Latin & Ballroom dance classes for adults and children. Wedding dance, Salsa, Beat Cardio, Mommies & Babies, Yoga and many more.

5194 9630 info@thebeat.com.hk www.thebeat.com.hk

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Grooming & Pet Services With Trust, Love & Safe Care For the ones you love 2914 0382 info@petcoDB.com www.petcoDB.com Gillian florist, North Plaza Mypetshop, North Plaza Pets Gallery The Optical House Well Supreme Laundry Services

2529 8256 2987 8873 2987 0428 2987 1368 2987 5151

PROPERTY LISTINGS & BOATS

Parsons White Wealth Management

Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management An expert financial service of distinct quality, integrity and excellence located at DB North Plaza.

2433 6981, 5664 7614 www.sjpp.asia/pwwm

The Stephen Putnam Practice Private Client Wealth Management Tel: 2914 0388 www.sjpp.asia/tspp Bank of China HSBC Luen Fat Securities Co. Ltd

2160 6556 2233 3000 2987 1851

HOME Good Luck Engineering Hoi Yu Transportation Hung Kee Co Interior 18 Japan Home Centre May’s furniture & curtain design Next Furniture Rapee-living Rich Point Hardware Materials Tactful Design & Build Tai Fat Hardware Store Wing On Department Store Yours Electrical Centre

2987 1313 2987 4488 2987 5087 2987 7803 2987 1041 2987 0222 2987 0222 2987 7082 2987 0789 2886 8555 2987 0789 2987 9268 2987 4428

LEARNING CENTRES

Musical Drama – Acting – Musical Theatre Tues & Wed classes at Discovery College 4 to 12 yrs - 2 fully costumed performances a year 8122 9475 admin@actingantics.com www.actingantics.com

Future Stars Dance Academy

Dance classes based on the ISTD requirements conducted in a fun, disciplined and safe environment.

2987 6867 melissa@futurestarsdanceacademy.com

70

Woodentots is a Montessori playgroup providing a caring and nurturing environment in the Plaza. Run by a qualified Montessori teacher for children aged 2 1/2 - 5 years.

6108 9131 woodentotsdb@gmail.com Bayview House of Children DB International School (Kindergarten) DB International School (Pri / Sec) Discovery College Discovery Mind International Play Centre Discovery Mind Kindergarten Discovery Mind Primary School, North Plaza Discovery Montessori School, North Plaza DMR School of Ballet Early Adventures Playgroup Eye Level Centre Funfit HK International Learning Academy, North Plaza Kumon, North Plaza L’Ecole Française de Discovery, North Plaza Links Parenting, North Plaza Little Explorers English For Kids Mandarin for Munchkins, North Plaza SKH Wei Lun Primary School Sunshine House Int’l Pre-School Sunshine House Kindergarten, North Plaza Treasure House

6114 2436 2914 2142 2987 7331 3969 1000 2987 8028 2987 8088 2914 2202 2987 1201 2987 4338 2987 9644 9366 0000 6302 6327 2416 3088 2459 8808 8191 0813 6114 2436 9327 0507 2480 3909 2987 8608 2987 8143 2987 8143 2987 4217

MULTIMEDIA Bookazine, North Plaza Dymocks & Gallery Fotomax (F.E.) Ltd Pen’n Paper P-Solution

2987 1373 2914 2133 2914 2378 2987 8898 2987 1777

Around DB’s September 2016 issue is coming out

September 1

August 2016 www.arounddb.com

AQUABLU

Boat/ Yacht Sales & Brokerage - Berths/ Debentures - Marine Insurance - Marine Problems/ Resolution 6017 7802 Oceanblu@netvigator.com

Please explore the website, or call Michèle to see any of the listings. +852 60550146 www.HKBoatsandHomes.com

Lifestyle Homes & Boats 2914 0888 info@lifestylehomes.com.hk www.lifestylehomes.com.hk Centaline Property Agency EPS Property Consultants Headland Homes Kingsland DB Land Master Property Savills Hong Kong

2987 8484 2987 2023 2987 2088 2987 2987 2987 6238 2987 1919

FOOD & BEVERAGE, HOTELS 22º North Auberge Discovery Bay (Hotel), North Plaza Berliner Café Duvet Café Pascucci Coyote Mexican Cantina Chef’s Choice, North Plaza Ebeneezer’s Figos Seaside Café First Korean Restaurant Fresh Fruit Juice Paradise Hemingway’s by the Bay il Bel Paese Island Café Jaspa’s, North Plaza

2987 2298 2295 8288 2987 8203 2987 0966 2591 1426 2987 2848 2172 6111 2987 0036 2987 2915 2987 9123 2987 4768 2987 8855 2987 0202 2987 9311 2997 8688

Add your business for FREE @ www.arounddb.com FOOD & BEVERAGE, HOTELS

SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

Kiraku Tei

2987 2886

Koh Tomyums

2987 0767

Sportsmanship

La Création Bakery

2987 1829

McSorley’s Ale House

2987 8280

Mirch Masala, North Plaza

2987 1337

Moofish, North Plaza

2987 6318

Nevale Kitchen, North Plaza

2172 7099

Gymnastics Programs, Health Consultancy, Weight Management & Nutritional Supplements 2870 3524 www.sportsmanship.usana.com

Pacific Coffee

2987 1662

Paisano’s, North Plaza

2673 4445

Peony Chinese Restaurant

2500 1950

Salt & Pepper

2336 8001

Solera

2555 0772

Subway

2914 0005

Super Super

2914 1308

The Venue Brazil Churrascaria & Bar

2777 8411

Uncle Russ, DB Plaza

2682 0068

Uncle Russ, North Plaza

2682 8110

Zaks

2987 6232

The HIT Room Bodypump, Grit Strength, Boxing, Core, TRX, High Intensity Training.

Located at North Plaza 6621 7410 www.thehitroom.com.hk info@thehitroom.com.hk

Vikings Football Club Professional Soccer Coaching From ages 18 months to 12 years Tel: 9533 2600 vikingshk@hotmail.com www.vikings.hk

SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

CAISSA Chess Club HK The Club gets together at the DB North Plaza Community Center 9681 2896 contact@caissahk.com www.caissahk.org

Action X, North Plaza Club Siena DBees Ice Hockey DB Pirates Rugby Football Club Discovery Bay Marina Club Discovery Bay Golf Club Discovery Bay Recreation Club GigaSports

2911 4833 2987 7382 6473 4277 2517 8248 2987 9591 2987 7273 2987 7381 2320 1238

TOYS & KIDS’ PARTIES

King’s Chinese Chess Academy

Offering Chinese Chess tutorials for adults and children chinesechessprofessional@gmail.com 6093 1590 www.chinesechessprofessional.com

Discovery Bay Cricket Club An internationally acclaimed club which provides a structure under which players, regardless of age or ability, can thrive.

2987 0132 www.dbcricketclub.com

HK Dragons Football Club Football for 2.5- to 14- year old girls and boys 2987 4274 www.dragons.hk

Embody Classical Pilates, Yoga and more!

6624 8712 susan@embody.hk www.embody.hk

Babyland Bo Bo House EpicLand Toysland

2997 8080 2987 4230 2441 0098 2987 7859

TRANSPORT SERVICES

Limousine Rental

Limo service in HK & China • pick up from / to DB Tunnel • direct transfer to SZ / GZ Airport 5303 3489 / 9654 0899 limo9689@gmail.com ACCESSDB Rehabus DB Golf Cart Services DB Transit Services DB Transportation Services

6283 9270 2914 2727 2914 0186 2987 7351

DB NUMBERS

TRANSPORT SERVICES Hire Car Bookings Passenger Telephone Hotline VIP Logistic Services Wiselink Golf Cart Services

2987 6348 2987 0208 2987 1213 2987 9368

UTILITIES, SERVICES & EMERGENCY HOTLINES 24-hour Customer Service Hotline China Light & Power Emergency China Light & Power Information Line Discovery Bay Commercial Services Discovery Bay Fire & Ambulance Discovery Bay Management Discovery Bay Office Centre Discovery Bay Post Office Gas Leakage Emergency Hotline Lantau North Report Room North Lantau Hospital San Hing Gas Co Typhoon Signal Enquiries Water Fault Reports Water Supplies Department

3651 2345 2728 8333 2678 2678 2987 4242 2987 7502 2238 3601 2238 3388 2987 6046 2435 4511 3661 1694 3467 7000 2987 6738 2835 1473 2811 0788 2824 5000

WELLBEING

Ingredients of Wellness – Mindfulness Training Teaching young people skills to direct attention, to be calmer and concentrate better. angie@ingredientsofwellness.com 9048 5425 www.ingredientsofwellness.com

M Spa Provides door-to-door treatment service. Conveniently located in the Plaza. Reflexology, massage, pedicure/manicure.

2987 0614

Nailed It Professional artificial nail services in DB 2987 2266 Afflatus Hair Workshop, North Plaza Maximum Care MOW: Grooming & Skincare Salon De Coiffure Sense of Touch

2987 0283 2987 2060 2499 8826 2987 4112 2987 9198

View the business directory

Junior Cricket Academy Cricket for 3.5 to 15 year old girls and boys 9011 1319 www.dbcricketclub.com

Movement Improvement Specialized training in Pilates, Yoga, TRX, Spinning, Circuits and Personal training. The complete solution on your doorstep at DB North Plaza 2987 5852 www.movementimprovement.com.hk

@ www.arounddb.com www.arounddb.com August 2016

71

OUT THERE

CON JOB

Photo courtesy of dish.andrewsullivan.com

As Lantau’s summer season gets into gear, spare a thought for the mainland tourists who paid good money for a nature tour but got a gruelling shopping trip instead. Peter Sherwood reports

72

hank you for listening to this recording from Lively Lantau Nature and Involuntary Shopping Tours (and prepare for a surplus of exotic adjectives).

T

transformed into bewitching souvenir shops. Here we cordially invite you to buy as much useless tat as you can carry, while vividly imagining Lantau’s magnificent pink dolphins, which are almost extinct.

Welcome to Hong Kong. For just HK$49 we will take you to alluring Lantau Island, a country park where the government builds things like the illustrious airport, dazzling Disneyland, fortress prisons and convenient concrete steps on the pretty nature trails.

Continuing your tour, you will see more dedicated progress along a charming, white-sand beach, where our tireless government planners, who work endlessly to protect the environment and natural heritage, will soon construct a gargantuan incinerator in the middle of a wondrous marine park.

Lantau is a kaleidoscope of richly hued nature and has a resplendent big Buddha, some luxuriant green trees and an exciting cable car. At the top is a splendid monastery, which displays vibrant gold Buddhas and a mammoth bronze Buddha because every city must have a ‘big’ something like the ‘big banana’ in Australia. The monastery is a silent order, although the millions of visitors are not particularly hushed.

Gweilo spotting in DB We then drive to the radiant city of Tung Chung and gently twist your arm to buy outrageously overpriced jewellery. If you spend an extraordinary amount at our relative’s shop we won’t just dump you there unceremoniously, we’ll continue merrily on to divine Discovery Bay. Here you will see

Next stop, Tai O, a traditional fishing village – at least it was before 10 million people visited it and all the fish disappeared. Happily, the quaint village houses have been tastefully

Don’t worry, these people are not homeless, and if you pay attention you will see hundreds more disembark from the ferries and meet shiny new buses to take them to their gargantuan apartments – to watch the fireworks at Disneyland.

The exquisite Mickey Mouse theme park is just across the water on what used to be another beautiful bay until the government reclaimed it for Disney to entertain millions of you delightful visitors from China.

We could take you there, but it’s ludicrously expensive and not on your splendid journey of discovery. Well, what do you expect for HK$49? By the way, the cost of the tour does not cover your ferry fare back to Central.

Goodbye and good luck.

Peter Sherwood has lived in DB for 17 years. The former head of an international public relations firm, Peter is the author of 15 books and he has written around 400 satirical columns for the South China Morning Post.

Find more from Peter August 2016 www.arounddb.com

many quaint, foreign people riding colourful bicycles and sitting relaxed in a glamorous place called a plaza, like in Paris and Rome.

@ www.arounddb.com

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