July 2014 issue

DEVELOPING

HOME

LANTAU

AND AWAY

THE PROPOSALS THAT HAVE RESIDENTS UP IN ARMS

HOW CULTURE VULTURES VACATION WITH THEIR KIDS

ping shop ou t h e n n li h e S T a an o W in c h e r f o r o p an d t i o n h u p vo i c a n S b s c r i Afr nth su ailies’ ts D ke mo six- a Kids plus tic dy to per, e m e ie co s pa n ew a n A u s s Do r a t h to ht and Live! nig p l o r e r Ex

JULY 2014

n a M

of the moment!

Marley Omole, changing the world one step at a time Join your community online @ www.arounddb.com

Publishers in DB since 2002

OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE DB THE BEST COFFEE COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG!!

% Arabica Fusion

Slayer Single Group

% Arabica Kyoto

Our kiosk at Fusion finally opened in June.

We are currently selling coffee beans freshly roasted every morning at % Arabica DB North. Please drop by when you shop at Fusion next time.

As soon as the single group Slayer Espresso arrives to us, we will start serving coffee drinks at % Arabica Fusion. This compact Slayer machine is as powerful as the big two group Slayer at DB North Plaza. Please come experience real coffee.

We'll open % Arabica Kyoto in April. The opening party is set on August 29th. We are located in Higashiyama near the world heritage, Kiyomizu Temple. Looking forward to seeing you when you come to Kyoto next time.

% Arabica Fusion Free Coffee Voucher

% Arabica New Bean Selections

% Arabica Facebook Page

We offer a free coffee drink with this voucher when you purchase a bag of coffee beans at % Arabica Fusion. One drink per customer per purchase. Please cut this part and bring to % Arabica Fusion.

"Panama Hartman Typica" and "Ethiopia Yirgacheffe" have arrived! Hartman is a sweet and mild tasting bean with a fantastic floral aroma. Yirgacheffe has a more fruity taste with undertones of berry and orange.

Both are good for espresso and drip coffee.

Visit "% Arabica" on Facebook! Make sure to click "Like" and "Follow" to receive our latest news about upcoming events and new exciting items! www.facebook.com/percentage

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COMe ExPErIeNCe REAl CoFFeE

JUlY 2014

觀海樓 SEAVIEW

$14K/3.5M

頤峰 GREEnVAlE

Gross: 530’ Saleable: 440’ 1 1

寶峰 PARKVAlE

Gross: 999’ Saleable: 870’

Lovely renovation apartment, effective layout & easy access to all transport. Ready to move into.

碧濤軒 CoAStInE VIllA

$24K

$50K

3

Gross: 1134’ Saleable: 980’

Nicely renovated apartment with modern kitchen and stunning views. Easy access to all transports.

2

海澄湖畔二段 SIEnA tWo

$33K/8.5M

$60K

3

Bright and airy. Balcony offering sweeping sea views. Fully equipped modern kitchen.

2

海藍居 lA SEREnE

$65K

T

EN

G EA

L

SO

Gross: 1519’ Saleable: 1322’ 3 2

Nicely renovated, modern open kitchen and a high efficient layout. A must see!

海堤閣 CoStA CoURt

$5.25M

Gross: 1388’ Saleable: 1110’ 3

Beautiful large garden & patio. Upgraded family apartment. Convenient for all transport.

2

康慧台 HIllGRoVE

Gross: 650’ Saleable: 527’ 2 1

Bright and airy living area, walking distance to DB plaza and pier. Vacant sale.

寶珊閣 CoRAl CoURt

$10.95M

Gross: 1668’ Saleable: 1401’

$7M

3

Stunning designer duplex, modern equipped kitchen, spacious living, terrace with panoramic sea views.

2

蘅欣徑 CAPERIDGE DRIVE

Gross: 919’ Saleable: 776’ 3

Gross: 1311’ Saleable: 1171’

Convenient location. Good sized unit with a balcony offering sea views. Great investment.

2

海燕徑 SEABIRD lAnE

$11M

3

Beautifully renovated apartment with open kitchen.

Has to be seen! Spacious and practical layout.

2

倚濤軒 CREStMont VIllA

T

EN

G EA

L

SO

Gross: 1454’ Saleable: 1249’ 4 2

Beautifully joined unit, enjoys panoramic sea views and provides large living space. A must see.

2

Solid investment in popular Beach Village. Renovated family home with large terrace. Don’t miss it!

$16.5M

T

EN

G EA

L

SO

Gross: 1280’ Saleable: 962’ 3

$9.75M/43K

Gross: 1707’ Saleable: 1436’ 3 2

Fully renovated duplex with terraces and a huge roof terrace. Great sea views. Good rental yield.

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Sale starts

Friday 4 July up to 50% off th

Pedder Building Store 5/F Pedder Building,12 Pedder Street, Central T: 2522 7112 Horizon Plaza Store 21/F Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau T: 2552 5000

www.bumpstobabes.com

www.facebook.com/bumpstobabeshk

JULY 2014 FEATURES 28 PROFILE Meet DB marathon man, Stefano Passarello 32 IN FOCUS Why development plans are endangering Lantau 38 FAMILY MATTERS Sustaining kids’ friendships when they change schools or move away

32

45 MONEY MATTERS Your guide to the global markets 52 ESCAPES From Lhasa to Mount Everest Base Camp 58 ACTION Are you a Strava addict?

62 LIFESTYLE Travel-led decorating

REGULARS 38

22 COMPETITIONS Win big prizes at www.arounddb.com 48 TALKING POINTS How to plug kids into a cultural holiday 50 MOMENTS Be inspired by man-ofthe-moment Marley Omole 68 DB FACES Candid community snaps 80 OUT THERE Thoughts on island life

AGENDA 10 IN&AROUND DB Catch up with the latest community news

28

24 ACROSS LANTAU See what’s happening island wide

48

66 HK HAPPENINGS Hot stuff from across the harbour 70 CLASSIFIEDS Great deals, employment, businesses and more 74 PROPERTY Choice local and overseas homes to buy or rent 76 LOCAL NUMBERS Your ultimate guide in DB and Lantau

58

HOW N ES VACATIO S VULTUR IR KID WITH THE

LANTAUALS

Readers with a feature story idea, please email editor@arounddb.com If you would like to publicise a local event, email hannah@arounddb.com For general enquiries, email info@arounddb.com To advertise, email lissa@arounddb.com AROUND DB, Bay Media Ltd, 7E Glamour Court, Discovery Bay Call 2987 0577 | Fax 2987 0533

For the latest AROUND DB updates, find us on

Facebook,

50

HOME

AY AND AW E CULTUR

PING DEVELO POS THE PRO E RESIDENTS THAT HAV S UP IN ARM

ON THE COVER

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Publishers

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2002

Photo by Terry Chow

Twitter and www.arounddb.com

YOUR ROUNDUP OF RECENT COMMUNITY EVENTS!

Publisher Corinne Jedwood corinne@arounddb.com Editor Rachel Ainsley editor@arounddb.com Editorial coordinator Hannah Ball hannah@arounddb.com Advertising Lissa Morris lissa@arounddb.com Art direction Terry Chow cckterrychow@gmail.com Photography Baljit Gidwani www.photosdb.net Illustration Fred Boot Rift Leschinsky Accounts Rebecca Wong accountant@arounddb.com Contributors this month Talla Buffery (intern) Jane Clyde Isabelle Demenge Martin W. Hennecke Elizabeth Kerr Nina Rossiter (intern) Karmel Schreyer Peter Sherwood Nic Tinworth Cecilia Yee 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 Terry Chow, Man Sing Ng and courtesy of Sabrina Ridaura

DB DRAGON-BOAT DAY June 1 saw some 49 teams and well over 1,000 paddlers enjoying the Discovery Bay Dragon-Boat Races off Tai Pak Wan. A special shout-out goes to the winners: Buddhist Tai Hung College for the COC Youth Cup, Lamma Dragons for the Sinopec Cup (Ladies’ Race) and Drunk Dragon Sport Association for the Sinopec Cup (Men’s Race).

Jardine Sports Association (Team B) took home the COC Mixed Bowl, Cathay Pacific Dragon Boat (Team B) the COC Mixed Plate, and Team Mushu the COC Mixed Cup.

Dragon boating off Tai Pak Wan, and a Kayak n Run off Nim Shue Wan. Island Dance’s packed-out end-ofterm show, and an emotional YRock farewell gig. DBIS students at the FOBISIA Games, and Battle of the Bands. And a sponsored dog walk, organised

by DC kids.

For more It’s all been event photos happening visit the photo gallery at in DB!

www.arounddb.com

IN&AROUND DB

July 2014

11

IN&AROUND DB

Island DANCESPIRATIONS! Some 750 young performers took part in the annual Island Dance end-of-term show, Dancespirations, at the Y-Theatre, Chai Wan, June 6 to 8. Their homage to Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, BeyoncĂŠ and Fred Astaire pulled a crowd of over 500 at each performance. For details about summer activities at Island Dance, email dance@islanddance.com.hk, or call 2987 1571.

Photos by Peter Fung

BATTLE OF THE BANDS!

www.photosdb.net

12

July 2014

On June 12, at the Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) Battle of the Bands, 11 bands (six from the primary school, and five from the secondary school) took to the stage in the DBIS Globe Theatre. LLRC and The Elations were joint winners in the secondary-school category; and Popshock and Rock Revolution came first and second in the primary-school category. The four winning bands performed at Hemingway’s on June 15.

OZZIE COZZIE HK ’s

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s tor e s t sw r e s or t e im & we ar

The sou

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shop an

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503 Tak Woo House, 1-3 Wo On Lane, Lan Kwai Fong, Central

2810 1356 www.ozziecozzieco.com

IN&AROUND DB

Action Asia KAYAK N RUN! Action Asia’s Teva Kayak n Run, off Nim Shue Wan on June 15, saw 120 teams compete. Congratulations go to Martin Doekes and Jens Floor, the winners of the Adult Race, and the Family-Race winners Stewart and Isabelle Sharpless. For the full list of results, visit www.actionasiaevents.com.

Photos courtesy of Action Asia Events

SPONSORED DOG WALK

On May 31, Year 6 Discovery College students, Lauren Sparks, Maddie Mexted, Adi White, Kristen van den Berg and Francis Hawkey, organised a sponsored dog walk from DB Plaza to DB North Plaza. Sponsored by My Pet Shop DB, the event saw 50 walkers (and their dogs) raise a whopping HK$5,000 for Animals Asia Foundation. Visit www.animalsasia.org.

www.photosdb.net

14

July 2014

www.facebook.com/zenvarahk

Email hannah@arounddb.com if you’d like to be included in this section

IN&AROUND DB

DBIS WINS FOBISIA GAMES May 20 to 24, Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) hosted the B1 Division FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia) Primary Games. Nearly 300 students from seven schools across Asia competed in athletics, swimming, football and tee ball. Thanks to a fabulous show of strength by local students, DBIS ended up coming first overall in the FOBISIA Primary Games!

YRock FAREWELL GIG!

Photos courtesy of DBIS

YRock’s Leaving the 852 Farewell Gig at Hemingway’s on June 8 saw soulful Indie performances by 10 talented teens. The event was a send-off for YRock-ers of longstanding, Lauren Miller, Daisy Biggins, Justin Woo, Nicky Chan, Campbell Harris, Jacob Woodrow and Ezra Kohn, who are all leaving Hong Kong this summer. Good luck guys, you rock!

www.photosdb.net

16

July 2014

Interdisciplinary Children's Therapy Centre

Canadian Family Getaway

Speech & Language Therapy slots available Monday - Saturday in English and Cantonese.

Supporting Children and their families with school readiness, classroom skills, social skills and special needs. t: (852) 2807 2992 contact@spot.com.hk www.spot.com.hk Location: Central & Wong Chuk Hang

The world’s leading shopping cart now available in Hong Kong y nt rra on ls a r w d de ea ide o 3 y rov ing M p ld fo all

Exclusively available from our online store FREE delivery to Discovery Bay and Lantau Shop online at www.onthemove.asia for our wide range of Models

$1,175,000 Cdn Dollars

A tranquil, 3-bed, 3-bath home for sale on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia!

This comfortable 3,100 square foot, 2-storey home sits on 10 acres of land with stunning views of the ocean. This modern home with a gourmet kitchen is perfect for entertaining and relaxing with family and friends.

SUTTON WEST COAST REALTY Contact Steven Shuster by steve@suttonwhistler.com

YOUR GUIDE TO UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

IN&AROUND DB

6 July 1 to 2

Photo courtesy of DBRC

DBRC BOOK COLLECTION The Discovery Bay Recreation Club (DBRC) wants your lightly used books!

Just drop them off at reception, and they’ll be used to stock a book sale being held at the club on the weekend of August 2. Proceeds will go to The Society for AIDS Care (Hong Kong). For more information, call 2987 7381.

July 5

Make sweet music with the Discovery Bay Youth Orchestra.

Enter a chess tournament, and get into softball. Save the date for PiP, book your stall at the Back to School Fair, and drop-off your lightly used books at the DBRC. Shop Friend us the flea market, on Facebook buy a plant, and for event adopt a pet. It’s reminders all happening this month in DB!

Caissa CHESS TOURNAMENT

STOCK UP AT THE PLANT MARKET across from Haven

Court, 2pm to 4.45pm.

DBYO JUNIOR ENSEMBLES

Discovery Bay Youth Orchestra’s summer-long Junior Ensembles (group music-making activities) kick-off at 3pm in the Discovery Bay Community Hall. There’ll be auditions to place musicians (Grade 5 or below) in chamber groups appropriate to their level.

Coaching sessions run weekly through August 29, 3pm to 5pm, at the DB Community Hall, culminating in a gala concert on August 30. Free chamber music workshops are also available for students (Grade 6 or above) over the summer. To find out more, visit www.ozziecozzieco.com www.piano-violin.com/dbyo.

Check out Caissa Chess Club’s third Open Blitz Chess tournament at BMSE, DB North Plaza, at 11am. In seven, 20-minute qualifying rounds participants compete for a place in the finals, where seven, 10-minute rounds decide the winner. Players of all ages are invited to enrol before July 5: HK$250 for Caissa members and HK$350 for non-members. For more information and to sign up, visit www.caissahk.com/blitz2014.

July 12

July 11

Photo by Hannah Ball

July 27

Photo courtesy of Patrick Leung

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July 2014

ADOPT A PET through Protection of Animals Lantau South in DB Plaza, from noon to 4pm.

YOUR VIEW

July 27

Email editor@arounddb.com if you have a view to share with other readers

BUY AND SELL all your lightly

used goods at the flea market in DB Plaza from noon to 5pm.

GET READY for PiP! The date has just been announced!

Hong Kong’s largest live music and dance festival, Picnic in the Park Hong Kong is coming to you this year on November 8 in Siena Park.

The coolest family event of the year, (it just keeps getting better), provides 10 hours of live entertainment from over 20 bands, over two stages.

ate!

Save the d

Smoke-free plaza? John Rempel, Beach VOC member

and father to a seven-year-old, is looking to focus readers’ attention on nicotine overload in DB Plaza. “Perhaps a larger percentage of the plaza could be designated nonsmoking, or we could have the whole plaza designated nonsmoking on weekends (8am to 8pm), when there are so many kids running around,” he suggests. Adamant that any decisions taken should be sensitive to both smokers and non-smokers, John says, “I do not want this to be another action of intolerance – enough of that around as it is.”

Play SOFTBALL!

Are DB dog owners a danger? A recent example of an unleashed dog attacking a domestic cat on the edge of Siena Park has prompted residents to ask that we remind readers to leash their dogs in public areas. It is not only cats and dogs that are at risk but also small children (as the alarming incident in June, where a kindergarten student was bitten on the face by a dog near DBIS goes to show). To gen up on the government regulations regarding dog ownership, visit www.pets.gov.hk/en_dog_1_5_2.php.

DBHKSoftball, a group of (mainly) North American pilots, plays slow-pitch softball on Monday and Tuesday evenings at DB North Plaza Pitch. On June 17, more than 20 visiting US marines met up with them in DB for a game. Refreshments followed! To join in the fun, contact league founder, DB resident Ken Dubinsky at dbhksoftball@gmail.com.

Celluloid dreams. Here’s some hot gossip from Philippe

Joly, one of the Lantau actors/ filmmakers featured in June issue. When filming Dragon Blade with Jackie Chan just a few weeks ago, Philippe didn’t know which Hollywood hard-hitter would be joining him. Until that is, he heard someone behind him say, “Hi, I’m Johnny!” Philippe turned to meet, greet and shoot a scene with the one-andonly John Cusack.

Photo courtesy of Ken Dubinsky

BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR Local clubs and businesses need to sign up for a stall at the Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) Back to School Fair by August 1.

This year’s fair is being held at DBIS Globe Theatre and Cafeteria on the morning of August 23. A large table costs HK$480 and a small, or shared table costs HK$250. To save your spot, email Eva Tsui at eva_mpp@yahoo.com.hk.

Rajasthan’s riches! The travel article we featured in June issue has caused quite a stir, and not at all in the way that we intended. The aim was not to denigrate but to celebrate one of India’s most treasured states. We sincerely regret any upset this quirky homage has caused.

!

ate Save the d

Photo by Around DB

Photo courtesy of www.galleryhip.com

July 2014

19

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH

IN&AROUND DB owner Ivy Minshall, 29-year DB resident and shop of M Spa Beauty Centre in DB, talks

Email hannah@arounddb.com if you’d like to see a DB, SL or Tung Chung business included in this section

When did you open M Spa and what makes it unique?

We opened in 2006. I was prompted by the way massage had helped me after I underwent open-heart surgery in 2003. We provide a very personal service both on our premises and in our customers’ homes. Customers feel comfortable and fully relaxed, and build a trusting relationship with our therapists.

What resources did you need to start up your own business?

Money, aspiration and support from family and friends. Family in the mainland helped me find the equipment and furniture needed for the spa.

Do you enjoy being self-employed?

Yes, it gives me freedom to do what I believe is needed to make the business a success, while also giving me the flexibility to look after my home and family.

What has been the most important contribution to your success?

The support of my family, my determination to succeed, providing a service which my customers appreciate and building friendly business relationships with regular customers.

Tell us three things you enjoy outside work.

I enjoy learning about new beauty and health practices, sewing and beading, and looking after my family.

How do you see your business looking in five years’ time?

Photos by Hannah Ball

Much the same as now, with a strong, loyal and happy customer base, which is large enough to allow me to pay the rent!

Call M Spa Beauty Centre on 2987 0614

Peking Duck Natural Medicine Solutions for Your Children Our caring doctors and practitioners specialise in: • • • •

Strengthening children’s immunity Overcoming allergies, asthma, eczema Learning and behavioural issues Physical posture and coordination skills

at IMI’s new clinic in DB North Plaza.

Please call 2537 1087 for more information. www.imi.com.hk

enquiriesDB@imi.com.hk

returns to PEONY

Peking Duck Two Courses Super Summer Offer

$288

(original price $418)

Peking Duck Skin served with Mini White Flour Pancakes and Stir-fried Shredded Duck Meat in Lettuce Wraps (Seng Choy Bao) Reservations: 2500 1950

Location: G02 Office Block Two, North Plaza, Discovery Bay

Special offer is available on weekdays dinner from Mon to Fri until 31 July 2014; Original price applies on Sat, Sun & Public Holidays; For dine-in only.

WORLD CUP FEVER Come and watch the crucial matches of World Cup LIVE on a big screen and join our “Guess the Winners” game to win fabulous prizes!

Grand Prize Star Cruises SuperStar Virgo Cruise Holiday for 2 in Balcony Cabin (Hong Kong - Sanya - Vietnam) Worth HK$24,680

Semi-finals 09/07

04:00

10/07

04:00

Final

14/07

03:00

Reservations: 2500 1862 Special Thanks

Entry deadline of the game will be on 8 July 2014 | Special terms & conditions apply

COMPETITIONS

Here’s your chance to win great prizes!

Play along with Dora the Explorer LIVE!

Around DB competitions are incredibly easy to enter (you’ll even find the answers to our questions right here). You have until July 10 to submit your answers.

To enter, email info@arounddb.com, click on the competitions link at www.arounddb.com, or scan the QR Code below. Don’t forget to give us your name and telephone number!

Kids will want to catch Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer LIVE! Search for the City of Lost Toys, showing at Kowloon Bay International Trade and Exhibition Centre (KITEC), July 11 to 13. This fun and interactive, 2013 musical has already been seen by over two million people worldwide. For tickets, starting at HK$150, visit www.hkticketing.com.

How many people have seen Dora the Explorer LIVE! Search for the City of Lost Toys? www.domesticgoddesque.com

Photo courtesy of MICF and The Fringe Club

For how many years has MICF been running?

Catch an all-Aussie comedy night Five of Australia’s top comedians perform at the 14th annual Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow (MICF), July 14 to 20 at The Fringe Club, Central. Get ready to be entertained by Ronny Chieng, Harley Breen (pictured), Luke McGregor, Joel Creasey and Anne Edmonds. For tickets, starting at HK$250, visit www.hkticketing.com.

Star One Culture is offering two readers three A-reserve tickets (worth HK$450 per ticket) to see the musical on July 11.

MICF and The Fringe Club are offering two readers two A-reserve tickets (worth HK$300 per ticket) to see the show on July 17.

South African Shop giveaway

Win a six-month subscription of Kids Dailies

Everyone who loves Biltong, Boerewors and the like, will want to visit The South African Shop. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can request items to expand the online range. Orders made before 11am, Monday to Friday are delivered to DB and Tung Chung the next day. Visit www.thesouthafricanshop.com; or for specific requests, email info@thesouthafricanshop.com.

Kids Dailies provides trilingual daily newspapers (in English, Cantonese and Mandarin) for children age two to 12. There’s My Little Paper for two- to five-year olds, Daily 7 for five- to eight-year olds, and Daily 10 for eight- to 12-year olds. The papers contain current news and events, plus fun facts. Visit www.kidsdailies.com.

My Little Paper targets children of what age?

Can you name two food items The South African Shop stocks?

Photo by Karin Jensen

The South African Shop is offering four readers a HK$250 gift voucher to purchase treats from its online store.

www.kidsdailies.com

Kids Dailies is offering three readers a six-month subscription to My Little Paper, Daily 7 or Daily 10 (worth HK$528 per six-month subscription).

Congratulations to last month’s winners Wanda Leschinsky and Andy Green for tickets to see Love Song with Kassia Choirs; Alfreda Tolliday-Wright for fashion accessories from M.O.P.S Amsterdam; Uschi Mirus and Tracy McLaughlin for a month’s pass to Discoveryland; and Colin Sercombe for tickets to see Rapunzel.

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July 2014

ACROSS LANTAU

SEE WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS LANTAU!

Photos courtesy of Action Asia Events

Zein Williams ACTIONS ASIA! Congratulations to Pui O resident Zein Williams, who was the first female finisher in the 12-kilometre, Bonaqua Action Sprint adventure run in Sai Kung on May 31. Her win (in one hour and 43 minutes) made her series champion, as she also finished first in the 2014 Bonaqua Action Sprint races in DB and Repulse Bay. This is the first time a female runner has won all the races in the series! For upcoming Action Asia events, visit www.actionasiaevents.com.

An Action Asia hat-trick for Pui O runner Zein Williams, a new dental clinic in Tung Chung, and 1,600 For more pandas event photos in Ngong visit the photo gallery at Ping. It’s www.arounddb.com all been happening in Lantau!

Photo courtesy of Bayside Dental Tung Chung

Brand-new BAYSIDE! DB resident Sandeep Jain opened Bayside Dental DB three years ago, and he has just branched out with Bayside Dental Tung Chung in Caribbean Square. Open six days a week, the new clinic is roughly the same size as the one in DB with four surgeries. To make an appointment, call 2185 6550.

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July 2014

Quality Meat, Fish, Poultry, BBQ packs and Value-Added Products for the best value-for-money in Hong Kong!

Chilled Steaks, Marinated Chickens (Flatties / breasts / wings), Pork, Ribs, Lamb, Sausages, Burgers, Bacon, Cold Cuts, Hams, Salamis & Chorizo, Cheese, Smoked Chicken, Duck & Pork, Boerewors, Fresh & Smoked Salmon and a lot more…

For home deliveries to DB and Tung Chung please check: www.foodhub.com.hk

OPENING HOURS: HOME DELIVERIES: Wednesday – Monday 9:30 am – 6:30 pm Available for Tung Chung and Discovery Bay Call Sami at 6504 or 4208 orinfo@chef-express.hk email info@chef-express.hk | More about us on Closed onFACEBOOK Tuesdays – Chef’s Express www.foodhub.com.hk email

Wine & Dine Affordable Quality Wines, Cheese, Antipasti and more.... coming soon to our shop next door Check us out on Facebook for updates....

FUN IN THE SUN!

Protective swimwear, Sun screen, After sun lotion and Organic Baby food now on stock.

Now online!

Check out www.facebook.com/patchworkjack Email: patchworkjack@gmail.com

ACROSS LANTAU

PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PANDAS RAISE AwARENESS! Along with their creator, French artist Paulo Grangeon, 1,600 papier-mâché pandas landed at Hong Kong International Airport on June 9. Part of a world tour to promote sustainable development, their Hong Kong layover included a viewing at the Big Buddha, Ngong Ping. Kids can sign up for a Papier-mâché Panda Workshop at PMQ (the former Police Married Quarters), Central, through July 17. Classes cost HK$188 with all proceeds donated to WWF-Hong Kong. To sign up, or adopt a panda, visit www.1600pandashk.com/en/workshop/.

MUI WO FERRY SCHEDULES Mon-Fri (except Public Holidays)

Sat, Sun and Public Holidays

From DB 3.10pm

From DB

From Mui Wo

7.15am ＊ 8.45am # 10.45am 11.45am # 1.15pm 3.05pm # 4.15pm 6.15pm 8.05pm

7.45am ＊ 9.15am # 11.15am 12.15pm # 1.45pm 3.35pm # 4.45pm 6.45pm 8.30pm

From Mui Wo 7.20am -

(Above ferry route via Peng Chau)

＊ Operates on Saturday (except Public Holidays) only ＃ Operates on Sunday and Public Holidays only

Photos courtesy of AllRightsReserved

THE RED LANTERN Genuine antiques, small pieces of delightful furniture from the late Ching Dynasty.

4 minutes' walk from the ferry in Mui Wo in the direction of the Silvermine Beach Hotel.

Free Delivery to DB Tel: 2987 0099 Fax: 2980 4833 glandam@netvigator.com

ACROSS ACROSS LANTAU LANTAU OFFICE 3483 5003

www.homesolutions.hk

Kelly Merrick Sharon Riley Angie Lindsay Karmen Cheung

9331 8141 9664 4749 6175 0155 9520 8243

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PROFILE

LA

DOLCE VITA Photos courtesy of Stefano Passarello

Italian transplant, five-year DB resident, Stefano Passarello shows that it is possible to run your way to being a better person, writes Elizabeth Kerr

28

First local finisher in the Standard Chartered Marathon Hong Kong, 2014

July 2014

PROFILE

S

tefano Passarello doesn’t look like an accountant. He looks like an athlete, as well he should as the local star of Standard Chartered Marathon Hong Kong this February. Watching him zip past the ferry pier, decked out in black running gear and sleek sunglasses, I can well imagine him completing this 42-kilometre race in just two hours, 34 minutes (the first Hong Kong resident to reach the 2014 finish line).

“I don’t want to sound like some cheesy, motivational speaker but I found a little secret in my life,” he tells me on a warm Sunday afternoon. “If I do something every single day, I’ll get where I need to go. I want to be consistent. I started running every day because I wanted to lose some weight.

At first it was hard, but after a while not doing it was harder.”

I soon gather that racing around DB aside, Stefano has applied a typically European ethos to his life since he landed in Hong Kong a decade ago.

“I enjoy life,” he says. “Everything in moderation, otherwise you create a sense of deprivation that will amount to an attack on everything.”

Chatting over coffee puts Stefano in an Italy state of mind. He describes summer mornings in Sicily with the smell of a ragù wafting from the family kitchen. He misses that occasionally, and the Italian in him still sneaks out from time to time. “Sometimes I say [to strangers], ‘Hi, how are you today?’ People are shocked,” he admits with a laugh. “The first time I met my [Chinese] mother-in-law, I kissed her… I just jumped up with ‘Ciao.’ The culture shock is still there, but now they’re used to the kissing.”

Hello Hong Kong The epitome of the modern Hong Kong expat, Chianti-born Stefano is someone who uses his foreignness to his advantage while still being able to appreciate the good, the bad and the odd about the SAR. Arriving here in

2004, for an accountancy internship, was a wake-up call. He recalls renting a room in Wanchai, in a less-thanfancy apartment block, with a brothel on the third floor, a massage parlour and a shoemaker.

“That was my first contact with Hong Kong,” he says. “A really big bag, and no lift. I’m covered in sweat. This girl is waiting, playing Andrea Bocelli – she thought I might like it. I hate Bocelli. The toilet is in my bedroom.

In the blink of an eye, I’m back down to earth. I’m jetlagged, I have no salary, I’m in this crappy place and the humidity is killing me. I wanted to go home.” He pauses after telling the story, the kind of amusement dancing on his face that only hindsight can provide. “When I think back on it now, it was pretty cool.”

Within 12 months, Stefano had founded accounting firm People&Projects (P&P), which now has six offices and 1,000 clients across the globe. As with most independent businesses here, Stefano saw a gap in the market he felt uniquely qualified to fill, specialising in accounting and tax services for European and South American firms operating in Hong Kong and other parts of Asia.

“At the time, you could go to a local accountant down the street who had no idea what was going on in Europe because they were working purely on local standards. Or you could go to the super-top-notch KPMGs or PriceWaterhouseCoopers. We’re right in the middle,” he explains. “We’re just a little more expensive than the local guys but we provide our service in many languages.”

His first client, a Sicilian supplier, proved Stefano’s theory: When it comes to crucial health, legal, or business issues most of us are more comfortable discussing them in our native tongues. “It’s the same reason my wife [Hong Kong-born, American-raised, Lee Wan Yue] wants to have our second child

here,” he says. “Our son, [Francesco, just two years old and named after his grandpa], was delivered in Italy and Wan Yue was freaking out. You could get a cappuccino waiting for the doctor, but she decided never again.”

At home in DB As many young people do, Stefano and Wan Yue relocated to Discovery Bay for a change of pace, and with a mind to extending their family.

“One of the things I like about DB is that it’s more aired out,” he says.

“I used to live in Mid-Levels and it was enclosed. You can live with open windows here.”

Stefano was lucky – and financially astute – enough to purchase a flat in DB around the time of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, but so far he’s resisted the maniacal Kool-Aid. He sees DB as zuccherato (sweetened) with a little bit of plastic in it.

“I like it here, but I’m not one of those crazy DB fanatics,” he says. “Every time I come home from a cocktail party late, a bit tipsy, on the ferry, I say, ‘That’s it, we’re moving next year,’ but I’m always here the next year. There’s the mountain, kids play in the plaza, and it’s safe and pet friendly. There’s lots of sport and it’s very multinational. That’s a good environment to raise kids in.”

It is this environment that has allowed Stefano’s running to really take off, something he likens to his professional life in that it’s about persistence rather than pure skill. Before his success at the Standard Chartered Marathon Hong Kong, Stefano ran for fun and placed fourth with no real training in the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore in 2008. “Running is the ultimate vanity,” he says. “You really go hard on yourself. I go out at 6am and then go to work.”

That vanity is at the root of a much larger picture that has Stefano  July 2014

29

PROFILE

Stefano runs each and every morning

Training for the BMW Berlin Marathon Stefano with his two-year-old son, Francesco

accomplishing something other than just placing first.

Life, he says, is, “like a hamster wheel. I got to the stage where I thought I’m not producing energy, just burning it. What if I link a little wire to this wheel? What if I produce electricity, and produce something good from it? So I started a little charity and I contribute to [a] kids’ cancer charity. It’s an experiment whereby I’m doing something good for myself and someone else.” In other words, he’s not just in it for the cool shades.

For Stefano, “sport is good for the body and also for the spirit;” he sees it as a “powerful antidepressant.”

Chatting about the DB Dragon-Boat Races this June, Stefano says how much he enjoyed competing as part of a team (the Latin Dragons). “I saw a lot of businessmen and housewives going all out and looking happy as never before. This dragon-boat thing is the best expression of what DB can offer in terms of letting people feel integrated and energised.”

Find more local heroes

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July 2014

Stefano is off to Germany in September for the BMW Berlin Marathon, which will also give him a chance to catchup with what’s happening in the office P&P is opening in the German capital. Of the race itself, he remains philosophical in a glass-half-full way.

“Berlin is the fastest marathon in the world, so I’m going to break a Hong Kong record no matter what – unless I break myself first. It’s either me or the record. Either way something is breaking.”

at www.arounddb.com

IN FOCUS

DEVELOPMENT

FOR WHO?

Photos courtesy of www.frankbauer.com, www.whereismelvin.com, muiwoandme.blogspot.com, www.sonjamarleene.com and www.don’tstopliving.net

With rumoured plans to create a (third) Central Business District and two new MTR stations in Tung Chung, Lantau’s social and environmental health is caught in the crossfire. Elizabeth Kerr reports

32

V

ery little slows the march of progress in Hong Kong, particularly when residential and office space is in short supply and the city continues to lure tourists. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) is scheduled for completion in 2016, and that has prompted the government to step up plans for transport improvements around Lantau, which include two new Tung Chung MTR stations, a tunnel link between Mui Wo and the North Lantau Expressway, and extending the cable car to Tai O. And that’s the tip of the iceberg.

In March the South China Morning Post reported that Lantau Development Advisory Committee (LDAC)

July 2014

member Brave Chan Yung warned of more local-mainland friction in the border areas if something isn’t done to make the tourist experience smoother. Add to that a January announcement by Chief Executive CY Leung that Lantau’s east side would be remade into a residential and commercial hub.

At the time, a source told The Standard that plans included reclaiming up to 2,400 hectares of land around Hong Kong Island, Sunny Bay and Lantau. The official line is that all this will increase efficiency, capacity and create jobs.

So what will it cost? More than just money if the reaction by residents’

advocates and green groups is any indication.

Of little benefit to residents “As someone who does not understand [the] politics in the slightest I won't try to decode it,” begins Ark Eden’s programme coordinator, Jasmine Nunns. “In my mind it’s not a tourism issue, it’s a resource issue. The focus really needs to be on the sustainability of increased tourism.”

DB resident Tracey Read, founder and CEO of Plastic Free Seas, agrees, arguing that development will simply add traffic congestion and increase pollution, while being of little real benefit to residents. “Lantau is visited

IN FOCUS

because it is rural and has historical and cultural heritage, natural beauty and undeveloped beaches, hiking trails and an abundance of wildlife,” she says.

“Encouraging thousands more tourists to this area will detract from this. The current infrastructure could not cope with a massive influx of tourists unless there was complete redevelopment.”

About the proposed development, Dr Merrin Pearse, chair of Living Islands Movement (LIM), has a laundry list of complaints. Among the trouble spots are a lack of a strategic needs analysis, a misleading public consultation on the reclamation, developers with potential conflicts of interest on the LDAC, disregard of the more sensitive 2007 Concept Plan for Lantau and the eightyear Mui Wo Facelift.

“What would residents think of a motorway being built all along the south-side of Hong Kong Island?

Their response will be very different

to a motorway being built on the north side,” reasons Merrin, noting that each part of Lantau is as distinct as any part of Hong Kong.

Jasmine is more concerned about environmental impact than transport logistics. “No doubt someone has already thought about… expanding transport systems and roads, but what will that do to our environment?” she asks. “How many more trees will we need to tear down in order to make this happen? We already have an air-quality problem; will this not encourage more roadside pollution and emissions?”

Soon to look like Central?

On the other side of the island, Mui Wo is the location of three, new, proposed Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) apartment towers. It’s hard to argue with the government’s intention to supply affordable housing, and it’s even harder not to look like the bad guy for opposing it. But LIM claims there has been neither an environmental or housing demand assessment on the land in question (near the fire station).

Still others seem to think no one will notice legal breaches with all the activity going

on. Erik Uebel, a small business owner and seven-year resident of Lantau, has been trying to get the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) to do something about the ongoing wetland destruction around Pui O. He, and dozens of other residents, claims the water buffalo’s natural habitat is being converted to farmland, excavated or developed.

Complaints to both departments came back with the same response.

It’s private property and government can do nothing about it. Some of the land has been leased to organic farmers from the New Territories, which elicits a, “It’s a big joke, really,” from Erik.

“On the one hand the government says the wetlands are protected but on the other the AFCD is sponsoring the local farming scheme,” Erik charges. “You need to see the kind of destruction happening there. One day there’s a footpath and the next day there’s a house going up. The villagers get away with murder because they have the support of the rural committee,” he scoffs. “It won’t stop until it looks like Central.

The East Lantau Metropolis will also compromise Hong Kong's historic heritage,” Erik adds. “The proposed [North Lantau-Mui Wo link] runs along the Islands Nature Heritage 

Do you want Lantau’s glorious trails and unspoilt vistas over built?

July 2014



33

IN FOCUS

Trail and will devastate villages of deep historical significance, such as Pak Mong, Pak Ngan Heung, Tai Ho and Tin Liu.”

We cannot breathe money nverted to i O wetlands co loped?

Pu e th e se to t Do you wan vated and deve farmland, exca

Do you want to see Mui Wo moderni connected up to th sed and e North Lantau Expressway?

Jasmine is unequivocal when asked if all this unchecked development is an environmental disaster waiting to happen. “Yes! I read an article the other day that said Hong Kong had slipped to fourth [in a world competitive rankings survey] and this made me panic. Not because [it] dropped but because I know there are going to be people, developers, politicians, you name it, who will do whatever they can to claw their way back up the rankings.”

Tracey fears the influence development will have on the landscape and biodiversity, commenting, “These large-scale projects will impact negatively on the habitats of Chinese White Dolphins, horseshoe crabs and finless porpoises to name a few of the endangered and vulnerable species.”

Merrin echoes the two, while reminding that the marine environment has already been compromised by the airport and reclamation for the justapproved and still broadly scorned incinerator at Shek Kwu Chau.

a) turned into ng Cheung Sh di lu nc (i hub? e sid d commercial ntau’s east a residential an Do you want La

Do you want the

34

July 2014

tourist-packing ca ble car extended to

sleepy Tai O?

Enquiries about the need for the infrastructure plans and their ecological impact netted bizarre results. The EPD referred requests for comment to the Development Bureau (DEVB), which in turn passed the buck to the Transport and Housing Bureau – who said the question should indeed go to the DEVB. The same silence came from the LDAC, which tellingly has no Lantau residents on it. Even the normally agitating WWF-Hong Kong deferred comment, citing a lack of information on the issue at present.

Ultimately, Around DB never did get an official response.

“There is no value being placed on Hong Kong's natural land and water.

The only value they hold is the dollar 

IN FOCUS

sign behind it,” adds Jasmine, pointing out that the natural environment is taken for granted and undervalued, while Tracey takes issue with the lack of a long-term plan for sustainable development. They agree that tourist dollars are blinding decision-makers to what makes Lantau unique – and to what residents want for now and future generations. “We cannot breathe money,” laments Jasmine.

Ultimately Merrin sees housing and business as crutches upon which government can hang alleviation of tourist congestion. If that’s the case, then he thinks they’re going about it the wrong way, since the co-existence of nature and urbanity is what makes Hong Kong what it is.

“Hong Kong would best safeguard its attraction by preserving its natural assets – the country parks and beaches

Find it • Ark Eden, www.arkedenonlantau.com • Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), www.afcd.gov.hk • Development Bureau (DEVB), www.devb.gov.hk • Environmental Protection Department (EPD), www.epd.gov.hk • Transport and Housing Bureau, www.thb.gov.hk • Lantau Development Advisory Committee (LDAC), www.devb.gov.hk • Living Islands Movement (LIM), www.livingislands.org.hk • Plastic Free Seas, www. plasticfreeseas.org • The Naked Islands Project – HK Facebook page • WWF-Hong Kong, www.wwf.org.hk

Find more topical local topics

AroundDB_Jul14_op.indd 1

of Lantau,” he says. “Destroying the natural environment is therefore a ‘whole of Hong Kong’ concern.”

at www.arounddb.com

6/16/2014 12:16:32 PM

Photos by Baljit Gidwani, and courtesy of Karmel Schreyer

FAMILY MATTERS

38

July 2014

Best friends forever: Genie, Laura, Ulrika and Blaise

FAMILY MATTERS

FOREVER

FRIENDS Leaving friends behind, when changing schools or moving away, can be an anxious time for children. Two local experts offer advice on how parents can help kids through the transition – and encourage lasting friendships. Karmel Schreyer reports

T

here is a scene in the Disney movie High School Musical 2 when Gabriella breaks off with her boyfriend Troy. Tired of the ‘politics’ at the desert resort where the entire gang of school friends – and ‘frenemies’ – are employed for the summer, she bids him farewell by singing Gotta Go My Own Way. While this popular movie showcases the emotional experience for a pair of high-school sweethearts, it can also apply to children and their ‘besties’.

Genie, Laura, Blaise and Ulrika forged their friendship at Discovery College, but come August all but Ulrika will be attending different schools

Take, for instance, the young DB ladies pictured, for whom this summer marks both an ending and a beginning.

Genie, Laura, Blaise and Ulrika forged their friendship at Discovery College, but come August all but Ulrika will be attending different schools. While Laura and Blaise are continuing their schooling in Hong Kong, Genie is all set to move to Canada with her family.

Dialogue it before it happens

Regardless of whether a move like this is the result of a child’s wishes, or due to matters beyond his/ her control, adjusting to changes in the old friendships while making new ones can be a challenge. And there’s much we need to understand in order to help our children navigate the transition.

To offer insight for parents, Karla Handcock, of SPOT child therapy centre and New Dawn Counselling Practice here in Discovery Bay, draws not only on her counselling training, but also on her years as resident nurse at the Canadian International School of Hong Kong – and a mother to three boys. Changing schools can be stressful, even if the family is not uprooted, and she is clear that parents have a role to play.

“Parents are there to guide their children, so they need to know where they are going,” she says. “Parents need to find out about the new school,

about school activities and extracurriculars, so that their child will find something familiar and meet people that way. Check also if the new school has an integration/ orientation programme (for parents as well as students), not all do.”

When your child changes schools, family celebrations can be expanded to include both ‘old’ and ‘new’ friends.

“Birthday parties in our family are usually low-key, but when my son switched [schools], we organised a huge paintball party, and it was an opportunity for all his friends to get together,” says Karla. “It was also a chance for us [parents] to get to know his new friends.”

Having said that, Karla adds, “Relationships are going to change, so we must prepare [children]; dialogue it before it happens. Parents need to persevere in connecting with their kids, especially teenagers, because they may not be forthcoming right away; they may still be processing things.”

She adds that sometimes the situation can go beyond what a parent can deal with, in which case it is wise to ask for assistance from a counsellor, or third party you can trust.  July 2014

39

FAMILY MATTERS

The girls sharing a friendship album

Resist the urge to ‘fix’ things In giving advice to parents and children on how they can manage this transition period in social relationships, Marie Marchand, consultant and trainer for DB-based Parenting Dialogue, draws on 20+ years’ experience as a schoolteacher. While parents do have a role to play in helping their children, she cautions them to steer clear of what she calls ‘a communication trap’.

“Sometimes, as parents, we think that we listen well but in fact, we are doing the opposite,” Marie explains. “You can spot a communication trap in the following responses to this common reflection of a child: “Mum, I really miss Lucy and she is not answering my messages.” Advising – “You should do this or that.” Dismissing – “She is probably busy.” Criticising – “Well, I told you to not bug her all the time!”

Distracting – “Oh let’s go to the movies, that will take your mind off it.” Reassuring – “Don’t worry, she will write soon, she is your best friend.”

How many times have we found ourselves suggesting any one of the above? Parents need to resist the urge to ‘fix’ things for their children, and

40

July 2014

just listen. Sometimes, that’s all a parent can do.

Marie draws on a catchphrase from Dennis Trittin’s book Parenting for the Launch – give your children ‘wings, not strings’. Says Marie, “Strings [include] interfering, nagging, meddling, living life through our children, not letting our children fail (and face consequences), and being over protective. Giving children wings, on the other hand, means equipping them for the future and allowing them to become their own person. We help foster this by conveying trust, giving freedom within limits, empowering our children and guiding them, and training them to handle real-world situations.”

Be there to listen Still, there are some proactive things a parent can do, before the separation.

“Be there to listen to any feelings that your child is sharing,” says Marie.

“Listen, validate the feeling and clarify what the issue is. Ask: “How can I help you?” “What do you think you should do about it?” With your help, a child may decide to keep in touch via Facebook, Skype or Whatsapp; send a

care package; meet for a holiday, etc.”

Marie also suggests you ask your child how he/ she would like to say goodbye. Ideas include making a friendship album for all the people in the group (you can do this digitally now); exchanging a special gift (like a friendship bracelet); throwing a party; and writing a list of all the great memories they have together.

One good way to help your child maintain strong bonds with friends is to encourage joint participation in activities away from home, such as weekly sports or dance lessons. As the children grow, their shared interests can lead to summer travels, camps, or internships together. Even distance relationships, if made of the right stuff, can be picked up at vacation time, especially if care has been taken throughout the year to keep in touch.

Social media does make this easier but it is not a panacea.

When all is said and done, Marie says that parents should not force their children to stay close friends if it is not really happening. “If they do, great, if they don’t, that’s life. When a child starts school somewhere else, he/ 

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FAMILY MATTERS she needs to take the time to make new friendships.” Marie also warns to be mindful if your child is spending too much time maintaining distance friendships through social media, as that can not only interfere with studies, but can also inhibit the forming of new social bonds.

It is common for us to reflect on the value of our oldest friendships, so we need to remind ourselves that in today’s more transient life, such friendships are much harder to form.

As parents, we do a service to our children by helping them, in any way we can, to choose their friends wisely, to know when to let things fall away, and to know what’s worth keeping.

Personally (as one of the mums in this mix), I hope the four girls featured in this article – Laura, Genie, Ulrika and Blaise – hold on tight and never let go.

A champion friendship Just 18 months ago, Genie, Laura and Blaise were Discovery College students – and the Under 11 Girls’ Team FEAR champions. Now, they are each blazing new trails: Laura will be starting her second year at YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College very happily ensconced among new school friends there; Blaise follows her sister to the Canadian International School of Hong Kong and looks forward to adding French to her studies; and Genie will attend St Andrew’s Catholic High School in bucolic Victoria, Canada.

Find it

• New Dawn Counselling Practice, karla@newdawncounsellingpractice.com • Parenting Dialogue, www.parentingdialogue.com • SPOT, www.spot.com.hk

Find more child-centric stories Around DB_July2014_PQ.pdf 6/20/2014 4:12:34 PM

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Genie, Laura and Blaise then and now

at www.arounddb.com

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MONEY MATTERS

GLOBAL UPDATE From Russian gas to the London gold fix and a whole lot of Belgian waffle, Martin W. Hennecke provides a whistle-stop tour of the world markets

I Photos courtesy of www.mymoneybazar.com and www.ijcomptyltd.com

n April this year, while everyone was busy following the events in the Ukraine, the International Comparison Programme (ICP), conducted with the World Bank, updated its estimates of the purchasing power of money in countries across the globe. The results were pretty sensational.

If you remove distortions caused by market exchange rates from the equation, China’s economy is not only larger than previously thought, but poised to overtake the US as the world’s largest economy this year.

China on the up Interestingly, the high economic growth and large size of China’s economy has not been reflected in the performance of its stock market recently. In fact Chinese equities have been one of the world’s major laggards over the past five years, with the Shanghai Index falling by over 50%. This means that in terms of fundamental valuations, such as Price to Earnings ratios, Chinese equities

are now among the most attractively priced globally.

Chinese banks currently trade at particularly attractive valuations of 4.4 times their estimated 2014 earnings on average – the lowest on record. Hence, the sector should not be excluded from a Chinese equity basket.

There are risks involved with holding exposure to this area, such as bad loans associated with local government vehicles, and a potential rise in defaults related to property investments/ mortgages. But on the upside, China’s non-performing loan ratio still compares favourably with, for example, European averages (1.04% for China versus 3.2% for Germany and 8.6% for Italy).

Chinese banks are also very profitable, having consistently grown their businesses for many years, and they have one of the highest, reserve requirement ratios in the world, which provides investors with a significant

safety buffer. Moreover, they may benefit substantially from increased international Renminbi (RMB) business going forward, as the Chinese currency goes global.

Before year’s end, both the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock markets are expected to benefit from new rules (the so-called through-train), allowing direct share trading between the two exchanges. Hong Kong and overseas investors will be able to purchase up to RMB13 billion (HK$16.16 billion) a day – or up to a gross yearly total of RMB300 billion – of some 560, Shanghai-listed equities.

Mainlanders will be able to invest up to RMB10.5 billion a day – or up to an annual aggregate of RMB250 billion – in 266, Hong Kong-listed shares.

First discussed in August 2007, the through-train has been plagued by delays. Many investors have, by now, grown tired of the idea. But when the new rules finally do go live, the effect on the markets may well surprise on the upside.  July 2014

45

MONEY MATTERS

Russia energised by exports Russia for one has recognised China’s ascent and secured itself a big slice of the cake. Following in the footsteps of a US$27 billion oil-export deal reached last year, which turned China into the largest buyer of Russian oil, last month saw the signing of a US$400 billion, long-term natural-gas contract.

This solidified Russia’s position as the world’s largest energy exporter.

As of 2018, gas will be supplied along the eastern Siberia route, and President Putin is hoping to win a second, similar, natural-gas deal on the so-called western Altai route, which he says could be developed even faster.

It’s a match made in heaven for both parties. China’s demand for natural gas is soaring amid a growing economy and a worsening pollution problem, while Russia is seeking to reduce its reliance on the West where growth is slow and the threat of sanctions remains.

US tapering on track?

Curiously, neither significant sales of US treasury bonds by Russia over recent months, nor the Federal Reserve’s ‘tapering’ of treasury bond purchases has resulted in the price of US treasuries dropping and yields rising. Instead, yields have dropped to yet lower levels.

Some believe that this may simply be due to tapering of bond purchases (from US$85 billion down to US$35 billion/ month) having been overly priced into the market beforehand.

However, other market analysts, including former assistant secretary to the US Treasury Dr Paul Craig Roberts, have an alternative explanation for the drop in US yields.

easing/ month is not a small amount.

They are suggesting that there may be another, more intriguing factor at play, namely that Belgium is being used as a front by the Federal Reserve, allowing it to continue its quantitative easing policies, at the same level as before, without losing face.

Europe and the London gold fix

Belgium has purchased US debt totalling US$181 billion over the past four months, and in the process became the third largest foreign holder of US treasuries after China and Japan.

It’s clear that tiny Belgium could not possibly have funded such a purchase itself (by selling waffles)!

In any case, it should be well noted that the Federal Reserve is not actually attempting to reduce its enormous balance sheet; the aim is rather to expand it at a slower pace.

Even US$35 billion of quantitative

US interest rates, meanwhile, look likely to remain relatively low for some time. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is reported to have said that he does not expect the US’s main benchmark interest rate to get back to its long-term average of around 4% in his lifetime.

Looking to Europe, the European Central Bank (ECB) has cut its deposit rate to minus 0.1%, and ECB President Mario Draghi has signalled that further stimulus measures may be taken to counter stagnation.

Investors should, therefore, position their portfolios to protect against rising inflationary risks.

Finally, it is interesting to note that the daily London gold and silver price fixes could be discontinued soon, following increased scrutiny

by European and US regulators into precious metals price-setting.

This in turn might finally reduce manipulation in the sector going forward, if indeed it has been taking place.

Investors take note! After the very sharp drawdown we have witnessed in the precious-metal sector over the past several years, gold and silver may well be due for a rebound.

Gold may be about to regain its lustre

Martin W. Hennecke is chief economist of The Henley Group, part of the St James’s Place Wealth Management Group, a financial advisory firm specialised in providing individually tailored portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning strategies. Email him at mwh@thehenleygroup.com.hk.

Find more monetary advice

46

July 2014

at www.arounddb.com

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TALKING POINTS

FINDING THE SPARK

Photos courtesy of Isabelle Demenge

Revisiting a family holiday in Cambodia, Isabelle Demenge reveals how to make a cultural vacation fun for kids

48

Emile on finding the lion (part of the family’s treasure hunt) in Bayon

July 2014

TALKING POINTS

O

ur boys, Emile, Noam and Marcel were age eight, six and three, when my husband and I realised we couldn’t face yet another ‘relaxing’ family beach holiday.

We were thirsty for adventure and cultural experiences.

Googling ‘exotic travel with kids’ didn’t help me much. I found plenty of tips from families selling off everything they owned in order to fund year-long, round-the-world trips. Yikes! I also found numerous ‘ideal’ family vacation packages, with the requisite kids’ clubs and kiddie meals. Not what we were looking for either!

adapted to our trip. This involved gathering the games our kids enjoyed and plugging them into our itinerary.

Some of the activities I planned were age-appropriate (Cambodia-themed puzzles for Emile, step-by-step drawings for Noam, and colouring pages for Marcel), others, like the treasure hunt in Bayon, were for all of us to enjoy together.

The secret then is in finding the way to make the experience fun for each child. As I said before, all you need is the spark – the little idea that’s going to take him from, “Why do we have to see another temple?” to “Come see, there’s the Hindu god carving with 10

Noam completing a step-by-step drawing

Emile and his cousin Mae imitating Garudas

We wanted to visit Cambodia as a family, but could it be done? Would the kids actually enjoy themselves? Would we be better advised to wait until they hit their teens (and had a vague understanding of Khmer civilisation), before letting them loose in Angkor Wat? Fortunately, we took the plunge, and I quickly discovered that any child can enjoy a cultural holiday. All you need to provide is the spark that ignites his or her imagination.

arms! I’ve collected five different types of leaves in the Ta Prohm courtyard!”

Turn temple-hopping into a game In the lead-up to our trip, I thought a lot about what my husband and I wanted to see, and how we could make that work for the children. Notebooks and colouring pencils weren’t going to cut it, not if we were going to templehop for two or three days.

So I came up with the idea of putting together a journal/ travel book

Children may not appreciate all the fine details of a bas-relief frieze but they will most definitely enjoy playing a game of ‘I spy’ in the temples.

Throw in a simple explanation of the Buddha’s various hand gestures, and they’ll be off trying to count how many statues are in the teaching position and how many are meditating. Suddenly, the game takes over and the kids are running around purposefully, asking questions and really enjoying themselves.

Make eating (and shopping) fun On this trip, I also focused on ways to make shopping (at the Angkor Night Market) fun for the kids. Equipped with a small allowance and basic haggling techniques, my two eldest boys ended up having a great time.

I spiced things up by sending them off on a (supervised) scavenger hunt and they proudly brought back all the items on their list.

Eating abroad is often an adventure in itself, but it can turn nightmarish with picky eaters. The choice is simple: live on rice, bread and crackers or turn mealtimes into a game. My suggestion

Emile and Mae puzzle solving

is to make it the kids’ mission to record and grade everything they eat, just like a food critic.

Can they guess what’s in the dish in front of them? Would they order it again? What’s the difference between steamed rice, glutinous rice, wild rice and fried rice?

All this has changed the way we travel as a family. Now the boys are the ones asking for cultural excursions, exotic food and even trips to the market, plus, of course, a little family time on the beach.

Isabelle Demenge is the author of Leap & Hop Cambodia; Leap & Hop India, Rajasthan; Leap & Hop Sri Lanka; and Leap & Hop Hong Kong. The entire series, which focuses on ways to make cultural travel fun for kids, is available at local bookshops (including Dymocks, DB), www.amazon.com and www.leapandhop.com.

Find more child-centric stories

at www.arounddb.com

July 2014

49

MOMENTS

MAKING A DIFFERENCE They say ‘every little helps’, and by taking the initiative and performing a simple, selfless act, 14-year-old DB resident Marley Omole has shown us just how true this is. Hannah Ball reports

F

irst off it has to be said this wasn’t a publicity stunt.

Marley Omole was simply caught on camera quietly doing the right thing – picking up rubbish as he waited to catch the bus to school. Here at Around DB, we only got to know about it because the man who took the photo, local environmentalist and 28-year DB resident, Kevin Laurie, emailed it off to us to post on Facebook.

Within five minutes, the June 10 Around DB post had reached well over 1,000 people. By end of day, it had been shared by 100 people and ‘liked’ by nearly 2,000; it had received 119 comments and been seen by nearly 36,000 people!

rubbish, I just fired off a few photos.

“Action speaks louder than words, and that’s the example Marley sets,” Kevin adds. “Just imagine if every day, each person in DB picked up just five pieces of rubbish and put them in a rubbish bin. Do the maths – then extend that across Hong Kong.”

Not long after the post went up, Marley, a DB resident of three years and

Marley took time out to clear up other people’s trash

Reading these figures to Americanborn Marley, I watch as his jaw drops. “I knew people had seen it, but not that many!” he says. “All I did was pick up some rubbish while I was waiting for my bus. I’m sick of always seeing it lying around, and I guess others in the Lantau community are too.” He pauses ruminatively, before adding, “I just wanted to save the environment.”

Photo by Terry Chow

Why the post went viral

50

“I thought then and I think now, what a fantastic student,” says Kevin. “I actually went to Pier 5 in Central to photograph polluting New World First Ferries. There is always a lot of rubbish left there because of the late-night drinkers who are waiting to catch ferries home. When I saw [Marley] picking up Find more local heroes July 2014

West Island School student, received a phone call from the head of West Island School’s Learning Centre. “Ms Charles said I’d done a good job, which made me really happy,” he says. “If some small act like this can have such a positive effect on our community, maybe more people will do the same.”

Among those who were moved by the post was 10-year DB resident and environmental activist Gary Stokes. “I think the reason why the act and image went viral was because of its ‘realness’,” Gary says. “Marley shows the humane good in a selfish world where everyone is too busy to care unless it directly benefits them. If we all followed Marley’s example, the world would be a whole lot better, a whole lot faster!”

It’s clear that Marley has made a lot of people proud, including of course his mother, Truth, a learning support teacher at Discovery College.

“When a co-worker showed me the photo of Marley which came with such a huge string of comments attached, I had to look twice,” she says. “I guess the fact that Marley took care of something outside of himself really surprised people.”

A typical Year 9 student, Marley enjoys maths and science, taekwondo, watching episodes of Heroes, skateboarding, hanging out with his friends and teaching himself karate.

Now he’s adding a weekly pier clean-up to his list. “I’ll only do it once a week, and if anyone wants to join me they can,” he says. “I’d like to do my part to keep Hong Kong clean.”

at www.arounddb.com

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ESCAPES

ROOF OF THE

WORLD

Photos courtesy of Flight Centre Hong Kong

Taking in palaces, temples and monasteries, mountain passes, glaciers and Mount Everest, Cecilia Yee shares 10 days in Tibet

52

P

eople had warned me that Tibet has changed drastically in the past decade, so I arrived in Lhasa with mixed feelings of excitement and trepidation. Ultimately though, being in a place that remains a mystery to many, that has such a colourful culture and rich history was a privilege. It made me giddy.

Tibet is also, of course, a place that’s higher than most. Lhasa, the capital, July 2014

stands 3,650 metres above sea level.

Like most travellers, I hunkered down in my hotel on arrival, determined not to succumb to altitude sickness.

In and around Lhasa My guide, Tashi, greeted me with a welcoming smile the following day, ready to show me the sights. First stop, jaw-dropping Potala Palace. Founded in 637, it was reconstructed in 1645, and now towers over 100 metres.

It’s best viewed in sections, as there’s a lot to see. In the White Palace, you can view the 14th Dalai Lama’s former residential quarters. The Red Palace is completely devoted to religious study and Buddhist prayer. And then there are the chapels, stupas, fortifications and glorious gardens.

The Potala Palace complex is now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Packed with people chanting, ladling yak butter into

ESCAPES

Potala Palace, Lhasa

lamps, and spinning prayer wheels, the religious enthusiasm in the chapels is intense. The interiors are dark; my impressions a blur of silk brocades, billowing smoke and elaborate frescoes.

temple. Pilgrims pray inside and out, queuing patiently for hours just to touch their foreheads to the image of the Jowo Shakyamuni Buddha, the single most venerated object in Tibetan Buddhism.

That afternoon, we visited Jokhang Temple, adjacent to the Potala Palace.

Built in 642 by King Songsten Gampo, who is credited with introducing Buddhism to Tibet, many see it as the country’s most sacred and important

Inspired by the all-pervasive spirituality, I also experienced sensory overload. The sound of chanting monks; the wafting smell of yakbutter candles and incense so intense you can almost taste it; and the sight

of colourful draperies, gold Buddha statues and rainbow-hued prayer flags.

I wanted to stay longer but my guide hurried me out to Barkhor, the heart of the old town. Here, pilgrims prostrate themselves in prayer as they approach the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple.

Their devotional circumambulation is marked by four large incense burners.

With its old Tibetan buildings, Barkhor is beautiful but there’s no denying that New Lhasa encroaches.  July 2014

53

ESCAPES

I spent three full days in Lhasa, and this gave me the chance to visit its ‘great three’ university monasteries: Ganden, Sera and Drepung.

My favourite turned out to be the largest, 1416-built Drepung. Built on the slopes of Mount Gambo Utse, 5 kilometres out of town, it’s incredibly picturesque, and you can view the colleges, residential compounds and chapels. The monks with their highboned, sunburnt features reminded me of Incas.

Himalayan highlights On leaving Lhasa, I embarked on the ride of a lifetime; we drove for hours but I didn’t get bored. After crossing the mighty Brahmaputra River, which originates in the Angsi Glacier, on the northern side of the Himalayas, we began the steep, gradual climb to Kamba-La Pass (elevation 4,700 metres). Here I got my first sight of breath-taking, fan-shaped Yamdrok Lake. While taking photos, I had to keep reminding myself that I was photographing an actual place and not a painting.

I can still picture the blue sky (peppered with soft white clouds), the turquoise waters and verdant greenery… not a hint of pollution or smog.

On the other side of Kamba-La Pass, I saw a group of Tibetans tying prayer flags to a pole. I watched them arrange the colourful flags, while silently saying prayers. The scene was utterly transfixing.

An hour or so later, we arrived at Karo-La Pass (elevation 5,010 metres) for more spectacular views of snowcapped mountains. I took in Mount Nojin Kangsang, which stands 7,206 metres above sea level, and the glacier that drips from its south face. Strange as it may seem, right there in the Himalayas, I was reminded of the Scottish Highlands.

The drive was long, and after a while, I dozed off, only to awake in Gyantse, an incredibly appealing and

54

July 2014

Gyantse, a busy and beautifully preserved frontier town

Prayer wheels being spun by a Tibetan pilgrim

Rainbow-hued prayer flags high up in the Himalayas

Yamdrok Lake, viewed from Kamba-La Pass

Mount Everest (North) Base Camp

seemingly ‘untouched’ frontier town.

Situated on the trade route to Bhutan and India, it remains a bustling centre of commerce and pilgrimage.

I was greeted by shy Tibetans, market-trading Muslims, and store/ restaurant-owning Han Chinese.

Gyantse Dzong fortress, built in the 1450s, which perches high above the settlement on a huge rock spur, is a must see, as is 1497-built Gyantse Kumbum, an awesome, 34-metrehigh, octagonal stupa.

Mount Everest Base Camp We reached Pang-La Pass (elevation 5,150 metres) on the morning of day seven. When we got there, dark clouds covered my eagerly anticipated view.

My first glimpse of Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth, (its peak is 8,848 metres above sea level), would have to wait.

Tent Village, just off Friendship Highway near Shelkar, is the nearest private cars can get to Mount Everest 

FINANCIAL PLANNING ASK THE EXPERT Who am I?

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

My thoughts

I understand we all go through different stages of life and so do our insurance needs. What’s more in recent years, after so many bank scandals and product scandals (think mini-bonds), many investment-linked insurance products have become over regulated, and unappealing.

So what coverage do you really need in order to protect yourself and your family? What products are viable and essential when times are tough? My advice? Go back to the safe, traditional products, such whole-life, term-life and education plans.

Life insurance What you are looking for is guaranteed whole-life insurance, which equates to life insurance + dividends + savings with a fixed cash out.

Note that with whole-life insurance you can also set payment/ contract terms. Payments can be made monthly or annually. And in addition, you can opt to pay a fixed amount over 10, 15 or 20 years and then never have to make a payment again.

For people with kids and/ or mortgages, top-quality term-life insurance is particularly essential. When researching a product, look out for high death benefits and low premiums.

With term-life you can cancel anytime upon annual renewal.

Of course whole life-insurance products include: • Underwriting considerations • Medical exams • Suicide clauses • Waivers of premiums • Periods of contestability So, in addition to examining your needs and budget, be sure to do your homework and read the small print.

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.

ESCAPES (North) Base Camp. So at mid-day, we set out on foot. Within an hour, (half way through the hike) I was totally exhausted, out of breath and dehydrated. Fortunately, a tourist bus appeared out of nowhere, and we were able to hitch a lift.

At base camp, Mount Everest (Tibetan name: Chomolungma) was still covered by clouds, and it stayed that way. But back at Tent Village, hours later, the skies cleared up and I got what I had come for. In spades.

Heading back to Lhasa the next day, we stopped at Shigatse (the second largest city in Tibet) to check out Tashilhunpo Monastery.

‘Templed out’ as I was, I still found this 1447-built, sublimely peaceful monastery beautiful. I gravitated toward the prayer wheels, and started turning them as I walked.

When to go • Visit from April to October, when the weather is not too harsh and most areas of Tibet are accessible • Early autumn when skies are clear, is the best time to drive through the Himalayas

e How to get ther • Fly to Lhasa via Chengdu (there are no direct flights from Hong Kong) • Take the Qinghai-Tibet Train (Lhasa Express) direct from Beijing

Flight Centre Hong Kong specialises in first-class yet affordable flights and holiday packages. To book your Tibetan getaway, give the expat travel consultants a call on 2830 2776, visit www.flightcentre.com.hk, or drop by the retail stores in Central or Happy Valley.

Find more exciting travel destinations

at www.arounddb.com

ACTION

Photos by Kurt Lynn and Tracey van Geest, and courtesy of Tibor Bejczy and Antony Pringle

STRAVA

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STARDOM

An online platform allowing athletes to share their stats and competitively encourage each other to go faster, further and higher, Strava is big news in DB. Nic Tinworth reports

T

ibor Bejczy left his flat in DB last winter with a clear focus in mind – to ride his bike down a particular section of road faster than he ever had before.

coming to a complete stop, adrenaline coursing through his veins, he vowed never again to attempt anymore of these dangerous KOMs. Tibor is a Strava addict and, along with more than a million other professional and amateur athletes worldwide, he was using the social app and website to keep track of his rides. More importantly, he was using it to keep ahead of the close community of his riding friends who are also on it.

the Mountains (a term borrowed from the Tour de France) and one earns the moniker by recording the top time on any of Strava’s millions of global ‘segments’ – hills such as the one mentioned above and other climbs, descents or straight-ways that Strava users have carved out.

What he wasn’t counting on was turning a corner to find a cow standing in the middle of the road. With his Waxing lyrical about other close calls heart in his mouth, Tibor struggled to he’s had with delivery vans, Tibor swerve around the nonchalant bovine, is introspective about the dangers his life, or at least the potential for involved with this kind of glory grave injury, hanging in the balance chasing. “Strava is a great motivator, The MdS is a seven-day, 240-kilometreKOM stage raceisthrough the Sahara Desert; everything and tents in their packshe as he regained control.

Eventually an abbreviation forcompetitors King of carrybut you except have water to use it sensibly,” July 2014

ACTION

Strava addicts: Tibor Bejczy, Antony Pringle, Fritz Gross, David Coudert, Peter Nott and Reza Alawdeen

says. “For sure I targeted downhill segments not too long after I joined.

It’s fun but it’s simply too dangerous on open roads.”

Building a community Described as a community of athletes from all over the world, Strava (meaning ‘strive’ in Swedish) was born in 2008, the product of a pair of dataobsessed bikers.

Using any dedicated GPS device, or by automatically uploading data as they train via the iPhone and Android apps, athletes can plan and track their rides, runs, swims and more, and then analyse and quantify their performance on leader boards. Users see the platform as providing motivation and a strong sense of camaraderie

between individuals within a close-knit community.

Local athlete and DB veterinarian Justin Choo started using Strava in 2011, creating over 80 segments himself around Lantau and ‘winning’ the requisite KOMs as there were few other DB users at that time. “It was ego and testosterone that drew me to keep using it to find new segments and be on top of the leader board,” Justin says. “It definitely improved my cycling and motivation, as I would go hard at known segments then get home eager to upload the data.”

Concerned about the dangerously fast, downhill segments new enthusiasts have created, Justin now uses Strava mainly to track his workouts and those of others. “It’s great to monitor

my training progress by tracking my performance on segments over different sports (cycling, running, kayaking and swimming),” he says.

“Strava is more user-friendly for multisports than it was in 2011.”

DB athlete Nora Senn was turned on to Strava a couple of years ago. Although in the beginning she used it only for tracking her cycling, she now uploads data from her runs, swims and hikes too. “There is certainly a competitive aspect in it,” she says. “I like it if I get a course record [the running equivalent of a KOM], and it hurts a little if one of mine gets stolen by somebody!”

Many, like Nora, Justin and Tibor, are drawn to Strava by the social, competitive and motivational benefits, but there are just as many ‘lone wolf ’  July 2014

59

ACTION

users. To avid cyclist and Lantau Buffalos club member Antony Pringle, these talented ‘dark horse’ athletes bring an interesting and unknown element to the table, riding around DB every day under the radar as they try to set new course records.

“These folks can kick our butts from the privacy of their own GPS without ever dealing with us, or the intimidation that perhaps comes from trying to join a weird culture of (primarily) middle-aged men who shave their legs and obsess over weight and diet,” Antony says.

Segments can be a great daily motivator for athletes, but that’s not the only fun element to Strava. The site also runs regular daily, weekly or monthly challenges that normally involve running or riding a certain distance, or climbing to a certain height, the results of which appear on leader boards.

Several cycling members of the Lantau Buffalos recently completed a Gran Fondo Challenge (meaning ‘great endurance’ in Italian) which urged riders to complete a 130-kilometre ride in one day.

Many of these challenges are done simply for bragging rights but there are some that have links to charities and other altruistic endeavours.

Enjoying Strava responsibly Where there is competition, testosterone and ego involved, there often sadly follows questionable ethics by a few unscrupulous users who look for ways to cheat the system. This has been made easier by a service called Digital EPO that enables people to upload their data to a website that will make it appear they rode faster than they did, before uploading to Strava.

Other users have been known to log a ‘ride’ from a car, bus or ferry, whether inadvertently or on purpose.

Strava now enables users to flag anything suspicious and has developed an algorithm to find and automatically

Antony Pringle and Dan Mullin seeking King of the Mountains leader-board status

flag dubious data. But where there is a will there will always be a way and though cheaters may never prosper, they can certainly sit at the top of a KOM leader board for several weeks before they are found out.

Indeed this raises the question of whether some people might be taking Strava a little too seriously, or whether by its very nature the service itself is pushing people to take risks they might not usually take. Last year, Strava won a court battle over its role in the death of cyclist William Flint, who was killed while riding in California in 2010 after hitting a car.

He was pushing, the suit alleged, to reclaim a Strava KOM he had lost.

Flint’s family filed in 2012 on the premise that Strava was behaving like a race organiser by bringing athletes together and capitalising on their

Find more clubs and activities

60

July 2014

Justin Choo uses Strava to monitor his performance in running, cycling, kayaking and swimming

Nora Senn enjoys setting course records, the running equivalent of KOMs

pushing each other to get faster times.

The case was dismissed (the judge believed that Strava’s lawyers had shown that cycling was an inherent risky activity), and Strava was quick to reiterate that common sense and sound judgement should take priority over segments and KOMs. Strava continues to evolve. Any rider can now flag a segment he’s ridden that he believes to be unsafe, making sure that no leader boards are published for that segment, and Strava blocks anyone from setting goals for a segment if the downhill gradient is too steep.

“I compare it to driving cars,” Tibor says. “Almost all cars can go way above the maximum speed limit for the countries they are in. Is it up to the government to ban cars that can go faster, or is it up to the driver to use his toy safely?”

at www.arounddb.com

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LIFESTYLE

THE INTERNATIONAL

Photos courtesy of Jane Clyde and www.designmixer.wordpress.com

We all love to shop the globe, writes Jane Clyde. The option is there to jazz up our homes with a few exotic treasures or to go all out with a travel-led scheme

62

Lantau homemakers typically combine the familiar with the foreign, and feel comfortable doing so. The lamp is Moroccan, picture frame Italian, kitchen accessories French and bar stool Swedish

July 2014

LIFESTYLE

T

he homes I’ve visited in Lantau (and right across Hong Kong) have one thing in common.

Regardless of their size, shape or design savvy, they all exhibit a strong global awareness. Or to put it another way, we Hong Kongers love to shop and travel, and shop while travelling, and this is reflected in our homes.

Travellers have always had a taste for the exotic and there is nothing new about decorating with objects from other cultures. As far back as the 2nd century BC, the Silk Road ferried luxury items, such as silk and jade, from China to Rome. During the Renaissance, the world opened up to exploration and connoisseurs everywhere began to collect exotica, and use it on an everyday basis.

When you substitute ordinary objects with a multicultural blend of furnishings chosen for their unique shape, pattern or craftsmanship, you are well on the way to designing a chic, global-style interior. Creating an exotic atmosphere starts by adding a few unexpected surprises to a room: replacing that boring glass coffee table with a weathered Indian drum, or exchanging a pretty museumbought poster for a dazzling beaded Nigerian George fabric.

Travel-led style is about making practical household pieces stand out by selecting unusual, global treasures in lieu of machine-made, massproduced goods. As French architect Le Corbusier said back in the 1920s: “The home should be the treasure chest of living.”

Tricks of the trade The idea is to combine the familiar and the foreign without falling into farce. The Victorians loved a themed room, in particular Turkish rooms, in which low divans were piled high with cushions and lavishly draped with Persian rugs, but today this kind of themed approach is definitely

An exotic-looking seating area with old and new, globally sourced pictures, fabrics and furnishings

out – too studied at best, too kitsch at worst. What you are aiming for, instead, is an imaginatively furnished interior that incorporates a host of different cultural objects and influences. The trendiest travelled schemes combine furnishings, fabrics and accessories from all over the globe.

From the romantic curves of a wicker daybed crafted in Java to the festive hues of an Indian throw, every element you select for a room changes the

overall dynamic and reveals something about your personality.

A way of creating surroundings that reflect an appreciation for the beauty of other cultures, global chic relies more than any other style on personal taste and decorating ability. A strong sense of purpose and aesthetic vision is required – it’s the way you put the look together that counts. And as a general rule, a minimal layout works best, showing off your discerning eye and bringing each piece into focus.  July 2014

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LIFESTYLE

Think out of the box Global style can be carried right through the home – even to outdoor spaces. Added to which, furnishings are often used in new and imaginative ways for purposes entirely different from their original intent. A bejewelled marriage chest from Rajasthan is both decorative and useful as a side table; ethnic floor cushions look good indoors as well as out.

Make a mood board From fusion cuisine to travel-led decorating, the exciting thing about blending influences from around the world is in creating something original. But creating a harmonious living environment from pieces from far-flung places isn’t the easiest of options. You’ll need a mood board to check that contrasting shapes and colours work together. While quality alone can sometimes be enough to justify a piece’s presence in a scheme, objects must combine well to create a unified backdrop for living. For early 20th-century architect and designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: “God [was] in the details”. For lovers of global style, heaven is in the total environment.

Shop ‘til you drop Mix it up Unusual textures and bold hues are fundamental to a travel-led scheme.

Wood, lacquer, pewter and porcelain, as well as animal skin, fake fur and beaded or ethnic fabrics can all feature. To cool things down, subdued materials, like wood, steel, silk and cotton, also figure prominently. In choosing key pieces, you are not confined to any one country, and neither are you tied to one period of time – modern pieces can combine well with curios and antiques. It’s about mixing things up to achieve a global perspective.

Find more on stylish living

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July 2014

Global decorators are not inspired by the big brand names, they are more likely to pick up a couple of contemporary Shona statues on the roadside in Cape Town, or a one-off dining table at a flea market in Paris. Above all this look champions the unique, the interesting and the erudite.

at www.arounddb.com

HK HAPPENINGS

10 FUN THINGS TO DO IN HK THIS MONTH!

www.hkbookfair.hktdc.com

Hong Kong BOOK FAIR

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ic Editor’s p

Head to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wanchai, for the 25th annual Hong Kong Book Fair, July 16 to 22.

Last year’s event saw some 900,000 visitors! Not only are books of all genres on offer, there’s also a chance to meet some of the authors at a series of talks. Entry is free. For more information, visit www.hkbookfair.hktdc.com.

DORA the explorer!

You can catch Nickelodeon’s much-loved cartoon heroine, Dora the Explorer, on stage from July 11 to 13 at Star Hall, Kowloon Bay International Trade and Exhibition Centre (KITEC).

Dora the Explorer LIVE! Search for the City of Lost Toys is an action-packed minimusical, in which Dora uses www.maidavalemums.com her directional, counting, musical and language skills to reach her goal. The audience is invited to think, sing and play along. For tickets, starting at HK$150, visit www.hkticketing.com. To win tickets to see the show, turn to page 22.

Celebrate the 17th anniversary of the SAR. Attend the 25th Hong Kong Book Fair, and the 32nd International Arts Carnival. Have a blast at the Lan Kwai Fong Beer and Music Fest, and a smashing time at the World Masters Squash Championships. See Dora the Explorer on stage, and play drinking games at Amazake.

Let Spanish artist Friend us Miquel Barceló on Facebook inspire you, and for event sign up to help at reminders a SPCA flag day!

DID YOU KNOW? 1 The smash US television series Dora the Explorer has been delighting preschoolers since 2000.

2 Each half-hour episode incorporates play-along viewing and computerstyle interaction.

3 Dora the Explorer is now watched worldwide, translated into 30 different languages.

4 As well as toys, books, video games and online activities, there are now two Dora the Explorer LIVE! stage adaptations: Dora’s Pirate Adventure and Search for the City of Lost Toys.

AMAZING AMAZAKE! All-new Amazake in Lan Kwai Fong serves up a unique dining, drinking and game-playing experience.

Inspired by the crazy nightlife of Japan, you can expect superb food, creative cocktails and plenty of drinking games (there’s even a games’ manual to get you started). Late at night, the 3,500-squarefoot venue transforms into a true play centre, with customised beer-pong and flip-cup tables. To make a reservation, call 2537 7787.

INTERNATIONAL ARTS CARNIVAL

Photo by Sean Young

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July 2014

Now in its 32nd year, the International Arts Carnival hits the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Wanchai, July 11 to August 17. Showcasing everything from drama and puppetry to magicians and acrobatics, the carnival brings together top local and international performers.

Workshops, cultural tours, exhibitions and outreach programmes are also on offer. For tickets, starting at HK$20, visit www.urbtix.hk; to find out more, visit www.hkiac.gov.hk.

www.boozingear.com

Email hannah@arounddb.com if you’d like to be included in this section

vourite!

Family fa

www.curiouscatontherun.wordpress.com

LKF STREET PARTY! At the Lan Kwai Fong Beer and Music Fest, July 19 to 20, over 100 world-famous beers are on offer at over 70 street stalls. Aside from your tried-and-tested international favourites, you may also decide to sample some novelty (chocolate and pizza flavoured) beers! Expect live rock and R&B performances from up-and-coming local bands from 1pm onwards. Entry is free. To find out more, visit www.lankwaifong.com.

1 Flag-raising Ceremony – 8am, Golden Bauhinia Square, Wanchai.

2 Kick-off Ceremony (with onstage and f lag-raising performances) – 1.30pm to 3.30pm, Central and Western District Promenade.

Photo courtesy of Ben Brown Fine Arts

Experimental

SPANISH ART

www.worldmasterssquash.com.hk

JULY 1 CELEBRATIONS! Make a day of it by taking in a whole host of activities from flag-raising ceremonies to dance carnivals and lion dances, marking the 17th anniversary of the SAR.

World-class SQUASH The World Masters Squash Championships, one of the most prestigious international tournaments for mature squash players (aged 35 and over), is taking place at the Hong Kong Squash Centre, Admiralty, July 4 to 11. More than 780 athletes from nearly 50 countries are set to battle it out for the World Champion title. For tickets, visit www.worldmasterssquash.com.hk.

Top 5:

Multi-media, Spanish artist, Miquel Barceló is showing his recent works at Ben Brown Fine Arts Hong Kong, Central through July 15. Drawing on his home city of Mallorca and its surrounds, Courant Central features earthy ceramics, paintings inspired by ancient cave drawings, and a series of all-white, marine-based canvases. For more information, visit www.benbrownfinearts.com.

3 Parent-Child Fun Day – 10am to 6pm, Discovery Park, Tsuen Wan.

4 Street Dance Competition/ Dance Carnival – 2.30pm to 6.30pm, Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.

5 Variety Show and Carnival

(featuring traditional Chinese performing arts, and game booths) – 2.30pm to 5.30pm, Hong Kong Velodrome, Sai Kung.

For a full list of events taking place across the SAR on July 1, visit www.hksar17.gov.hk.

SPCA FLAG DAY The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is looking for 8,000 volunteers to join its territory-wide flag day on August 2, from 7am to 12 noon. Around DB is one of the sponsors of this worthy event, through which the SPCA hopes to raise HK$2 million to support its 24-hour Emergency Hotline, Animal Welfare Inspectorate Unit, Adoption Service, and De-sexing Programme. To register, visit www.spca.org.hk/flagday.

www.spca.org.hk

www.militaryphotos.net

July 2014

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DB FACES

COMMUNITY SNAPS!

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

COMPETITION

Photos by www.photosdb.net

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

Great prizes from Uncle Russ Coffee!

A

B

C

Congratulations to last month’s winner Monika Konopacka-Carruthers!

Please contact our office on 2987 0577 to collect your prize.

Y

our challenge, this month, is to identify which of the three photos above is the exact copy of a photograph featured elsewhere in this issue of Around DB. You need to list the page number the photo appears on, as well as which of the three pictures is the exact copy. Contact us online via the competitions link at www.arounddb.com or email us at info@arounddb.com before July 10. This is your chance to win a complimentary coffee from Uncle Russ every day for a week. Don’t forget to include your name and telephone number with your answer. Good luck!

Savour the World Cup! Recharge and relax with us at

THE PIER BAR and UNCLE RUSS COFFEE! Your first-stop for freshly brewed coffee, or an alcoholic brew, from morning ‘til late! Brew yourself a favour!

Bring your full UNCLE RUSS COFFEE chop card to THE PIER BAR and enjoy a FREE drink of your choice!

Summer specials:

Any beer and pie combo available at a discounted price!

25% off all Champagne and Prosecco by the glass and bottle, every Friday!

Bring your full THE PIER BAR chop card to any UNCLE RUSS COFFEE and enjoy a FREE drink of your choice!

Hours: Mon – Sun (12pm – 12am) www.unclerusscoffee.com.hk www.facebook.com/thepierbarhk

View DB property listings @ www.arounddb.com

WORSHIP SERVICE Discovery College Sundays @ 10 am

CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP PRACTICAL BIBLE TEACHING KIDS CHURCH XTREME & RDB TEENS

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

Alcoholics Anonymous

NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO?  Counselling for individuals, couples, families & adolescents

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

 Sliding fee scale; affordable options for all clients  English, Putonghua, Cantonese, Hindi, Marathi and Marwadi speaking counselors Call 2523 8979 Now for Appointment http://www.resourcecounselling.org Serving the community over 35 years A Member Agency of the Community Chest

Visit local BUSINESS DIRECTORIES @ www.arounddb.com EMPLOYMENT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A COURIER? Michael, an Indian HK resident living on Lantau, seeks post of delivery person for mail/ documents/ small packages in HK. Full- or part-time. Call 9145 6731

DB-BASED REALTOR SEEKS EAA-LICENSED AGENTS Must have a good command of spoken & written English & Cantonese, an extra language is an advantage.

Strong communication & interpersonal skills, mature outgoing personality, proactive, hardworking & detail oriented.

Attractive remuneration package for the right candidates.

Email your full CV to info@lifestylehomes.com.hk

FINANCE & INSURANCE AUSTRALIAN TAX RETURNS 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

HOME & REPAIRS

KIDS

HYPNOSIS &/ OR SHORT-TERM THERAPY

GOLDING DECORATION UK

LITTLE ADVENTURES

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 Strategies Call Dr Melanie Bryan, Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist & Hypnotherapist on 2575 7707, or visit www.mindmatters.hk

HOME & REPAIRS EXPERT MOVER

• Packing & moving • Cargo collection • Disposal service • Handyman services • Packing material supplies • Storage, with humidity control Professional quality service at a low rate.

Contact 2566 4799, sales@expertmover.hk, or visit www.expertmover.hk

NEED SPACE/ STORAGE?

Humidity controlled, small/ large storage space, short or long term.

Competitive rates. Call 2566 4799 or visit www.expertmover.hk

House painter, very experienced in maintenance work, & hanging wallpaper & artwork. 100% customer satisfaction guaranteed. Fast, clean & tidy, providing down-to-earth prices.

Call Colin on 9074 5231

KIDS

July & August only.

Monday, Wednesday & Friday afternoons, 2pm-4.30pm.

Drop-in session with age-appropriate toys & books!

Parent/ helper must attend with child.

Age: 8 months to 36 months.

Location: Greens.

For further information, email sarah@earlyadventures.net

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

PETS GOOD NEWS FROM PETCODB

Micro Bubble Bath using Nano technology for pets is now available at PetcoDB. This penetrating clean powers deep into the pores, restoring fur condition, regaining moisture & providing relaxation. No shampoo is used. Recommended for pets with skin allergies, dermatitis & body odour. Call 2914 0382

EARLY ADVENTURES SUMMER PROGRAMME

June 30 to August 22.

Weekly themes Monday, Wednesday & Friday, plus Tuesday & Thursday sessions.

Age: 2 years to 4 years.

Location: Greens.

For further information, email sarah@earlyadventures.net

RETAIL ABBELLO WINES

Great Value, High Scoring Wines from Around the World.

Free delivery and Special Offer for Discovery Bay residents.

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

July 2014

71

Visit local BUSINESS DIRECTORIES @ www.arounddb.com

Come down relax and beat the heat at Mypetshop in the North Plaza.

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 GMT Foods is a DB based Importer of award winning, handmade and all natural fine foods from small British producers.

Products include: • Mercers of Yorkshire, conserves and dessert sauces: Available at DB North Plaza Wellcome Store and Market Place by Jason • York Preserves, preserves & chutneys:

Godminster, Organic Vintage Cheddar : Now taking orders for the August delivery of Godminster - 10% discount off all orders placed and paid for between now and 30th July!

Available at Oliver’s, Market Place by Jason, and Loi Chan Frozen Meat Shop in Mui Wo. • All products will be available at the Hand Made Hong Kong monthly markets held at DB main plaza. Next market is September 14th.

For further details contact: Gillian Thompson, Gillian@ yorkpreserves.com, www.facebook.com/gmtfoods, twitter @Gillian_GMT.

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July 2014

Visit local BUSINESS DIRECTORIES @ www.arounddb.com SERVICES NOTARY SERVICES

Now available in DB at affordable rates. For enquiries, 9143 0799, notary@hpi.com.hk

COMPUTER PROBLEMS?

Free over the phone repair, or home/ office visit for a nominal fee!

15 years’ experience & a passion for resolving computer problems.

Call 9649 9910

TRAVEL CONCORdE TRAVEL

Leisure Travel and Cruise specialists since 1978.

Call 2526 3391 or visit www.concorde-travel.com Licence No 350343

TUITION & COURSES

JAPANESE PRIVATE TUITION

Native speaker, 10 years’ teaching experience in HK. Any level/ Any purpose/ JLPT. Contact 6050 1731, (WhatsApp, LINE, Viber) micado66@netvigator.com

Deadline for August issue classifieds

July 10

TUITION & COURSES GUITAR TUITION

One of Hong Kong’s foremost players offers home tuition in Classical, Blues, Ragtime & Rock.

Special rates for morning classes.

Contact Graeme on 9627 3043, graememorris1000@gmail.com

CLARINET/ SAXOPHONE/ FLUTE TUITION

Available in DB from professional musician with 25 years’ teaching experience & graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK. Contact 9413 0498, janetwilliams.clarinet@gmail.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, or visit www.chinesemandarinsite.com

- Japan qualified – skilled piano technician in DB We can offer professional advice and services on all piano matters;

One of the keys to piano maintenance is - How to keep your piano in good condition with a subtropical climate www.88keys.com.hk E-mail: info@88keys.com.hk Tel : 9687 0726

Such a great birthday party !

Call 6710 0391 info@ecole-discovery.com

LEARN SPANISH

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).

Contact Erik R on 9666 9511, rerikm@hotmail.com

MANdARIN CHINESE CLASSROOM

In the Greens. Lessons for adults & children, individually & in small groups.

Any level/ time/ purpose.

Call 6071 9643, or visit http://tclearning.sinacool.com

July 2014

73

Find short-term RENTALS @ www.arounddb.com PROPERTY DB

STUNNING FURNISHED FLAT SHORT OR LONG-LEASE

PROPERTY DB

FLAT FOR RENT

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, www.shortstaydiscoverybay.com

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

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

MODERN EXECUTIVE 1-BEDROOM FLAT FOR RENT

DELUXE SERVICED APARMENTS

Spacious open layout. Quiet, high floor.

Fully equipped kitchen. Shower. Washer/ dryer.

English movies & news, & wi-fi. Just unpack!

Competitively priced. Contact 6680 2007, greenmountain123@gmail.com

For lease. Fully furnished 1-2-bed apartments with beautiful decor, wi-fi & broadband. Well-equipped kitchen, luxurious bedding, weekly cleaning service. Contact Cherry on 2987 2626, annie@appletravel.com

STUDIO FOR SHORT-TERM LET 2-BED APARTMENT FOR RENT At Greenmont Court, nice & fully furnished.

Contact 9108 5525

Comfortable, nicely decorated studio, close to DB Plaza & pier, with fully equipped kitchen. 37” TV, DVD, wi-fi, linens & towels provided. Contact 9190 7348, niceroom_db@yahoo.com.hk

GREENDALE COURT RENTAL GREENDALE COURT RENTAL Brand-new, fully furnished, 533’ 1-bed apartment. Deluxe renovation, on a high floor, with mountain view. Call 9108 5525

MODERN SERVICED APARTMENTS SIENA 2 Quiet with sea views, near Club Siena & tunnel.

Fully furnished, with bed linen & kitchenware.

55’ TVs, wi-fi, Blu-ray home theatre, washer/ drier. Short or long lease. Contact 9317 0624, nialady2011@gmail.com

800’ 2-bed flat with balcony & nice sea view.

Fully furnished, with wi-fi internet access.

Contact Sonya on 5241 9806, syeung72@hotmail.com

CHERISH COURT TO LET 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

PROPERTY OVERSEAS

FULLY FURNISHED 1-BED RENTAL

AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY

Smart apartment on a high floor with sea view.

Close to pier & DB Plaza. Available fully furnished.

Call Tiareti on 9732 8985

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

SHORT-TERM LET 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

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July 2014

PHUKET PROPERTY FOR SALE Perfect holiday house or investment property, close to Surin Beach. Small development, large pool, close to everything. HK$4 million.

Contact 9124 0157, pea@hk.super.net

Looking for investment opportunity?

4/F., Lee Fund Centre, No. 31 Wong Chuk Hang Road, HK E-mail: grea@grea.com.hk C-049044

South lsland Industrial & Office Sales / Lease Kwai Bo Ind. Building 1,820’ 11.9M

• Walking Distance To Future MTR • With Balcony Sungib Ind. Centre 6,009’ 39.5M

Grand Marine Centre 3,815’ 26M

• Remodeled into Open Plan Space • Stunning Waterfront Views

Sun Ying Ind Centre 3,958’ 15.8M

• Very Quiet Location • Views Partially Mountain/Open

Derrick Ind. Bldg.

1,979’ @5,980

Tin Fung Ind. Mansion 1,182’~17,587’ @5,150 & up

ole

Harbour Ind. Ctr. (Corner Side) 742’~2,315’ 4.0M & up / @9.8

• Ceiling Approx. 12ft High • Windows on 2 Sides of Space One Island South 2,327’ 31M

t

en

Ag

S

• Rare Whole Floor • Extraordinary Investment Opportunity in Wong Chuk Hang Global Trade Square 997’~9,820’ @9,500 up

• Grade A Office Space • 13.5ft High Ceiling with Raised Floor System Shui Ki Ind. Building 3,927’ 25.9M / 39K

• Mutli-Purpose Usage • Ready for Immediate Use Workshops on Ground 1,600’~4,000’ Sale by offer

• High Ceiling • Rare in Market

• Flexible Warehouse Space • Very Busy & Convenient Location in Wong Chuk Hang Southmark 2,458’ 18.7M

• Swimming Pool Facility • Greenery View Office • Mountain View Yan’s Tower 690’~6,300’ 4.2M & Up

• Central Air-Condition • Marble Lobby Design Sing Teck Ind. Bldg.

3,396’ 8.2M / 17K

• Minutes Walk to Public Transports • Price Reduced

• Flexible Warehouse Space • Very Busy & Convenient Location in Wong Chuk Hang Kin Teck Ind. Building 3,750’~5,710’ @6,200

• Full Multi-functional Terrace • Fully Equipped Modern Kitchen with The Appliances Heung Wah Ind. Building 7,226’ 43.4M / @10

• High Ceiling & Rare Whole Floor • New Development Projects around the Site Hing Wai Ctr. 1,008’~28,000’ @4,000 & Up

• Unobstructed Seaview • Ample Loading Bay

• Opposite to MTR Station • Frontage to Enjoy Inspiring of Ocean Park Aberdeen Ind. Building 3,150’ 15.8M / @10

• Located Inside a Residential Shopping Arcade • Public Transport at The Door Step Fullagar Ind. Building 1,384’ 5.3M

• Internal Toilet • Town Centre at The Door Step Land Acquisition Projects Site Lot Area 6,000’~9,000’

• Revitalizing Industrial Building • Considering Re-zoning the Wong Chuk Hang Area

0911 9326 3293 / 6401 8889 / 9701 6622 3527 24 hours hotline Jeff

(S-130432)

Jacqueline (S-398189)

Dave (S-447427)

LANTAU NUMBERS

Add your business for FREE at www.arounddb.com

TUNG CHUNG

SOUTH LANTAU

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

AQ Prettiness Jumping Castles Patchwork Jack Shoesee Foldable

FOOD, RESTAURANTS & BARS

9527 6202 9662 1747 9762 1957 9765 2798 FOOD, RESTAURANTS & BARS

360° Sports Bar & Restaurant Airport Izakaya Andante Asian Taste Chef’s Express Deli Viet Bistro Delifrance Café Aficionado China Coast Bar & Grill Dragon Inn Erawan Essence Federal Palace Restaurant McDonald’s Delivery Moccato Olea Pizza Hut Regala Café & Dessert Bar Rouge Skycity Bistro Spaghetti House Starz Wine Bar Zentro Garden

2109 4360 2286 6668 3602 8828 2109 4360 6504 4208 2109 0036 2109 4187 2286 6238 2286 6898 2286 6878 3760 6633 3602 8808 2626 0181 2338 2338 3602 8838 3602 8818 3180 0000 2286 6618 2286 6868 2969 2500 2109 1297 2109 0612 2802 8000

Bahce - Turkish Restaurant Café Bar Bombay Café Caffe Paradiso (Tom’s Café) China Bear Como Lake Deer Horn Restaurant & Bar High Tide Restaurant K’s British Restaurant La Pizzeria Lantana Italian Bistro Lantau Taste Restaurant Maverick’s Restaurant, Pui O Rome Restaurant Sun Fat Restaurant Tak Chai Kee Seafood Taco Loco The China Beach Club The Gallery The Kitchen The Stoep HEALTH & WELLBEING

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

6627 4806 6385 0304 9708 0187 6770 1462 2984 0990

HEALTH & WELLBEING

9 Dragons Fitness Asian Hairdressers Essential Health Family Clinic Human Health Medical Centre Island Veterinary Services Ltd Pets Central Tung Chung Maternal & Child Health Centre Quality Health Dental Quality Health Medical Raffles Medical

HOME & REPAIRS

2786 9699 3147 4088 2109 9396 2109 2288 2988 1534 2328 7282 2109 6800 2403 6613 2403 6623 2261 2626

HOME & REPAIRS

Akash Removals Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths Shun Yu Engineering

2421 8088 9625 1392 2988 1488 HOTELS

Novotel Citygate Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott

3602 8888 2890 6060 3969 1888

5360 0991 2987-8070 2162 5538 6273 7347 6976 8867 3520 3500 2611 9193 6204 7387 2420 1068 2109 3873 2109 4000 3194 5120 2988 8123

SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

Caribbean Coast Club House Coastal Skyline Club House Impact Fitness Seaview Crescent Club House Smash Cricket Socatots Stepz Studio Tung Chung Crescent Club House

2109 9277 2179 6678 6902 2250 3473 8700 5400 4109 2385 9677 3152 7535 2403 6770

UTILITY, SERVICES & EMERGENCY HOTLINES

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

Findley Leung Group Koon Wah Hardware Lee Wo Construction Engineering Man Shun Construction & Engineering Mantech Electrical Wah Sing AV Company

2984 8334 2984 8487 2984 1802 2984 9833 2819 6823 2984 0587 HOTELS

Mui Wo Inn Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel

2984 7225 6810 0111 2985 8383 LEARNING CENTRES

Buddhist Fat Ho College Lantau International Kindergarten Lantau International School Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten Mui Wo Owls School & Kindergarten

2985 5150 2984 0069 2984 0302 3689 6709 2984 0006

PROPERTY AGENCIES

LEARNING CENTRES

Clement Art School Discovery Mind International Play Centre Greenfield International Kindergarten Kidznjoy Kindermusik Little Academy Salala Kids House Soundwaves English Education Centre Sun Island Education Foundation Sunshine House International Preschool Tung Chung Catholic School (Yat Tung) Tung Yan Day Nursery YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College

2984 0222 2984 1847 2984 0498 2984 9720 2984 0009 3484 3095 2980 3002 2984 8708 2984 8933 6331 8974 3489 1282 5402 4154 2984 7982 2984 0418 2984 1265 9022 5737 2983 8931 2980 2582 9160 5986 2980 2699

2988 8282 2988 1898 3661 1694

Home Solutions Real Estate Proper Trip Real Estate

3483 5003 2984 1666 RETAIL

Bikes Mui Wo BMX Shop Friendly Bike Shop Lantau Base Camp Red Hall Chinese Antiques Renge House (clothes & accessories) The Red Lantern ZenvarA

2134 1234 2984 2278 5463 6060 2988 1368 2406 8122 2987 0099 9586 3459

SERVICES & OTHERS

Hop Sing Automobile Jumping Castles SPCA Suzanne Goodwin Photography Thai Palin Massage Twig (Design Studio)

2984 1410 9662 1747 2984 0060 9025 3949 9062 0148 6351 8923 TRANSPORTATION

Lee Hing Loong Hon Kee Transportation Company Lantau Tours New Lantau Bus Company Sun Rising Moving Company

2984 2268 2984 8494 2984 8255 2984 9848 9036 3132

Add your business for FREE @ www.arounddb.com

DB NUMBERS

LEARNING CENTRES

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 Discovery Speech Therapy, North Plaza Health & Care Dental Clinic Herbal Healthcare IMI (Natural Medicine Clinic) Island Health Island Veterinary Services The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council, North Plaza

2987 0855 2259 3422 2988 1515 2987 8136 2987 7061 2987 5633 8120 7835 2666 6183 2834 7276 2537 1087 2987 7575 2987 9003 2259 3422

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES In Style Little Whale, North Plaza Nomadic Start-rite shoes

2987 8226 3480 1348 2987 8460 2987 2098

DAILY NECESSITIES 7-Eleven Convenience Store Fusion by PARKnSHOP Just Green Watson’s Pharmacy Wellcome

2987 4401 2987 7486 2448 1180 2987 4089 2947 9092

FINANCIAL SERVICES HSBC Travelex Money Exchange, North Plaza Luen Fat Securities Co. Ltd

2233 3000 2682 1210 2987 1851

LEARNING CENTRES

Future Stars Dance Academy

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

9740 0171 melissa@futurestarsdanceacademy.com

HK School of Highland Dance Highland Dance classes now available at MI Studio.Teacher qualified by the SDTA. All ages welcome 9123 0863 highlanddancehk@gmail.com

2987 1313 2987 4488 2987 0061 2987 5087 2987 7803 2987 1041 2765 5700 2987 0222 2987 7082 2987 0789 2987 0789 2987 9268 2987 4428

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

Brightsparks Playgroup Fun, safe and interactive environment for your children.

9632 4287

New art studio in DB for 2 year-olds to adults www.bsoahk.com bsoahk@gmail.com 9132 5249

Dumper Trucks & Daisies A Montessori-based playgroup programme that focuses on the growth and development of the whole child.

From 16 months to 4.5 years old 9667 6921 mandy@dumpertrucksanddaisies.com www.dumpertrucksanddaisies.com

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July 2014

OTHER SERVICES

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

Harvey Law Group

Little Explorers A fun place for little ones to play and have loads of fun, fun, fun!

9327 0507 littleexplorers@team-fear.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

Midget Gems Kid’s Club

PetcoDB

Established playgroup for children 2-4 years in DB Plaza 6341 5764 dbmidgetgems@gmail.com www.midgetgemskidsclub.com

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

Playgroup run by Montessori-trained teacher. From 18 months to 4 years. 2623 4099; 9054 0565 playtimekidsdb@yahoo.com, www.playtimekidsdb.com

Let us take the stress out of homework Homework Club and Private Tutoring, conveniently located.

9522 3297 info@wiseowl.com.hk www.wiseowl.com.hk

Woodentots British Studio of Art Hong Kong

2987 1373 2987 8494 2914 2378 3105 3588 2987 7111 2987 8898 2987 1777

Information & Services for Residents of DB. Expat Relocation, Newcomer Orientation, Tours, Courses, Networking 9769 4701 sue@athomeindb.com www.athomeindb.com

French kindergarten open for registrations for school year 2014-2015 from K1 to P6.

LG-05, DB North Plaza 6710 0391 info@ecole-discovery.com www.ecole-discovery.com

Playtime Kids DB Tues & Wed classes at Discovery College 4 to 12 yrs - 2 fully costumed performances a year 8122 9475 admin@actingantics.com www.actingantics.com

MULTIMEDIA Bookazine, DB Ferry Dymocks & Gallery Fotomax (F.E.) Ltd Fun to Read, North Plaza Movieland Pen’n Paper P-Solution

At Home in DB

LEARNING CENTRES

Musical Drama – Acting – Musical Theatre

9511 2107 2416 3088 8191 0813 2987 8608 2987 0813 2987 8143 2987 4217

Island Dance

HOME Good Luck Engineering Hoi Yu Transportation Home Services Engineering Hung Kee Co Interior 18 Japan Home Centre Marc James Design, North Plaza Next Furniture Rapee-living Rich Point Hardware Materials Tai Fat Hardware Store Wing On Department Store Yours Electrical Centre

Early Adventures Learning Centre HK International Learning Academy, North Plaza L’Ecole Française de Discovery, North Plaza SKH Wei Lun Primary School Sunshine House Int’l Pre-School Sunshine House Kindergarten, North Plaza Treasure House

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

6114 2436 2914 2142 2987 7331 3969 1000 2987 8028 2987 8088 2914 2202 2987 1201 2987 4338

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REAL-ESTATE AGENCIES

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

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View the business directory

@ www.arounddb.com

Add your business for FREE @ www.arounddb.com RESTAURANTS & HOTELS

SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

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

% Arabica Coffee Roaster & Farm DB North Plaza 2885 1323 info@arabica.hk www.arabica.hk 22º North Auberge Discovery Bay (Hotel), North Plaza Berliner Café Duvet Caramba Mexican Cantina Ebeneezer’s First Korean Restaurant Fresh Fruit Juice Paradise Hemingway’s by the Bay Figos Seaside Café il Bel Paese Island Café Jaspa’s, North Plaza Kiraku Tei Koh Tomyums La Création Bakery Life Cafe McSorley’s Ale House Mirch Masala, North Plaza Pacific Coffee Paisano’s, North Plaza Peony Chinese Restaurant Solera Subway Super Super The Venue Brazil Churrascaria & Bar Uncle Russ, DB Plaza Uncle Russ, North Plaza Zaks

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SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

CAISSA Chess Club HK

Sports World All your sporting needs right here in DB 2914 1323 info@sportsworld.hk

Studio PS

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

Tinytots

Offering Judo classes for ages 5+ Mon, Wed & Sat classes available elliot@cobrasportshk.com

2987 7382 2987 9591 2987 7273 2987 7381

TOYS, ACCESSORIES & KIDS’ PARTIES

DB Party Lovers For all your party needs in DB 9132 5249 dbpartylovers@gmail.com www.dbpartylovers.com Bo Bo House Toysland

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WELLBEING

Specialists in Pregnancy & Newborn Care Tel: 2851 9654 clientservices@amotherstouch.com.hk www.amotherstouch.com.hk

Holistic therapy for illness, stress, sports injury & learning disorders 6683 5755 angie@bodytalksystem.com.hk www.bodytalksystem.com.hk

Child & Family Development Practice

A professional sports play program specially designed for children 16 months - 5 years of age.

34887724 info@tinytots.com.hk www.tinytots.com.hk

DB COBRAS JUDO CLUB

Discovery Bay Medical Services Discovery Bay Office Centre Discovery Bay Police Discovery Bay Post Office Gas Leakage Emergency Hotline Lantau North Report Room San Hing Gas Co Typhoon Signal Enquiries Water Fault Reports Water Supplies Department

Body Talk

6605 2727 petraseeholzer@yahoo.com

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

UTILITIES, SERVICES & EMERGENCY HOTLINES

A Mother’s Touch

Personal Fitness Training (for one to one or small groups) Studio P/S Petra Seeholzer Lang

Club Siena Discovery Bay Marina Club Discovery Bay Golf Club Discovery Bay Recreation Club

DB NUMBERS

2987 4230 2987 7859

Developing potential, exploring possibilities www.childdevelopment.com.hk info@childdevelopement.com.hk

My Health Coach Lulu Improve your life balance through health and self awareness. I am able to offer a bespoke program just for you. lulu@myhealthcoachlulu.com www.myhealthcoachlulu.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

TRANSPORT SERVICES

Embody

MOW | Grooming & Skin Care

Classical Pilates, Yoga and more!

6624 7812 susan@embody.hk www.embody.hk

A unique retail & treatment space at DBN, that caters to your grooming, skin care & therapeutic requirements 2499 8826 / 6773 3103 www.mowhk.com mowhk@mowhk.com

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

Movement Improvement Pilates, Yoga, Spinning, TRX, Zumba, Personal Training The complete solution on your doorstep at DB North Plaza 2987 5852 www.movementimprovement.com.hk

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 Hire Car Bookings Passenger Telephone Hotline Wiselink Golf Cart Services

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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

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Afflatus Hair Workshop, North Plaza Maximum Care Salon De Coiffure Sense of Touch Spa Siena

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Around DB's August 2014 issue coming out

August 1 July 2014

79

OUT THERE

REAR WINDOW

Looking back 100 years to uncover the good, the bad and the catastrophic, Peter Sherwood has the scoop on the summer of 1914

I

have been wondering what was going on in the middle of 1914, aside that is from excessive European bluster, extreme bloodshed, and the movement of great armies around the continent. I am burdened with a brain that asks silly questions. Maybe it’s a bit like Sartre noted: getting older is like looking out the back window of a speeding car; everything up close is a blur and clarity is in the distance. Or something.

In the summer of 1914, absolutely nothing of significance was happening in Hong Kong. Europe was fast approaching the start of the second greatest catastrophe in human history with the outbreak of the First World War. (The Second World War, born from its mountainous ashes, was the biggest.) Though no one who took Norman Angell’s 1909 bestseller, The Great Illusion, seriously, would have suspected mass murder by summer’s end.

Nobel Prize winner, Angell posited that the world was far too integrated through finance, banking, trade, hightech communications and transport for a major war to be feasible, if not impossible. Just like now.

Photo courtesy of iconicphotos.wordpress.com

Non-aggression highlights

80

There is no getting around June 28, 1914 and the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and wife Sophie as the spark that ignited the conflagration. But the act of a single Serbian nationalist nutter leading to 16 million dead and 20 million wounded was never imagined even by the most war-obsessed politicians and royal ratbags.

Life in the trenches

A dead archduke was a disaster, so hardly anyone noticed the US signing a treaty of commerce with Ethiopia (seriously!) the following day.

Come July things went from good to pretty awful and then to euphoric when on July 27 San Francisco Giants’ outfielder Red Murray caught a fly ball, ending the 21-innings game with a Giants’ win. More glad tidings next evening, when the Foxtrot was danced in New York for the first time by one Harry – you guessed it – Fox. The fun and frivolity lasted a few hours until Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.

July ends with oil being discovered at Lake Maracaibo, bringing economic merriment for Venezuela until Hugo Chavez came along. After that the headlines were a prelude to butchery, at least until August 2 when a new

Then it all goes to ‘crap’ again on August 15 when a male servant of US architect Frank Lloyd Wright sets fire to his quarters, murders seven people and burns Lloyd Wright’s home to the ground. The rest of August is mainly carnage or the preparation thereof, and we need to struggle back to April for any story that looks remotely good, like W.H. Carrier patenting the air conditioner, or the first colour film shown in London, a British silent drama, with the prescient title of The World, the Flesh & the Devil.

Peter Sherwood has lived in DB for 15 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 July 2014

Sherlock Holmes adventure was announced. By now everyone was busy gearing up to crush everyone else, with intermittent non-aggression highlights such as Australia whipping America in the Davis Cup, and golfer Walter Hagen shooting 290 at the US Open.

On August 11, as a cultural breather, William Handy publishes St Louis Blues.

at www.arounddb.com

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