Around DB March 2015 Issue

t Wi and o see n ticke Th ts C at A avalia e Smu , r Che t is a art cl rfs a V f’s C er b s s e vou hoice and s che gif t rs

MAR 2015

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do it!

Play at the HK Sevens ♦ Explore Guilin ♦ Throw the best birthday party ♦ Island hop ♦ Find happiness ♦ Party at the Tennis Nations Cup

Join your community online @ www.arounddb.com

Publishers in DB since 2002

MArCH 2015

愉景廣場 DB PLAZA

$23K

頤峰 GreenvALe

Gross: 813’ Saleable: 633’ 2 1

$26K/6.5M

津堤 AMALfi

Gross: 999’ Saleable: 870’

Well appointed unit with good size living space.

Stone’s throw from Plaza and all its amenities.

觀景樓 CLeAr view

$58K

3

Gross: 1214’ Saleable: 953’

Well maintained apartment. Convenient for all bus routes and near school. A must see!

2

$38K

海澄湖畔二段 SienA TwO

$58K

3 2

Rarely available, bright & airy family size apartment w/ terrace & balcony. 24 hr concierge service.

尚堤 CHiAnTi

$68K/17.8M

T

EN

G EA

L

SO

Gross: 1836’ Saleable: 1399’ 3 3

Beautifully joined unit, spacious living, modern kitchen and bathroom. Great view.

頤峰 GreenvALe

$3.8M

2

1

Renovated apartment with modern open kitchen, mountain view, easy access to all transport. Vacant sale.

海澄湖畔二段 SienA TwO

$11.7M

2

Newly renovated, spacious living, close to Central Park & schools. Balcony w/ sea views.

$7.2M

4 3

2

Great location with open view. 3 bedrooms converted to two. Close to Plaza and Pier.

碧濤軒 COASTLine

$13.2M

2

Beautifully renovated lowrise with great views.

Open modern kitchen and in a tranquil location.

$8.8M

Gross: 1243’ Saleable: 1028’ 4 2

Spacious combined unit, well equipped kitchen and rare in market. A must see!

海藍居 LA Serene

$18.7M

Gross: 1668’ Saleable: 1401’

Gross: 1471’ Saleable: 1282’ 3

Popular choice. Nicely renovated, open modern kitchen, spacious living & 24 hr concierge services.

觀星樓 STArview

Gross: 919’ Saleable: 776’ 2

Gross: 1315’ Saleable: 1020’ 3

Rare in market. Beautiful large lawn and patio.

Fully upgraded with all new appliances.

康慧臺 HiLLGrOve

Gross: 533’ Saleable: 456’ 1

Gross: 2128’ Saleable: 1641’

Gross: 1388’ Saleable: 1110’ 3

3 2

Fitted designer furniture, south facing, well equipped kitchen & with amazing sea views. Sale with tenancy.

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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 Stanley Plaza Store 2/F Stanley Plaza, 23 Carmel Road, Stanley T: 2555 6318

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MARCH 2015 FEATURES

36

28

PROFILE Meet DB human-rights lawyer Michael Vidler

32

IN FOCUS Time to find the happiness within

36

FAMILY MATTERS How to throw the best birthday party – ever

43

EXPLORER Island hopping on your doorstep

52

ESCAPES Making the most of a mini-break in Guilin

58

ACTION All the fun of the Tennis Nations Cup

63

LIFESTYLE Mastering the art of display

REGULARS 46

27

COMPETITIONS Win big prizes at www.arounddb.com

46

TALKING POINTS What do you really know about your hair?

50

MOMENTS DB mum Hui Huang’s exciting new startup

68

DB FACES Candid community snaps

80

OUT THERE Thoughts on island life

AGENDA 50

28

10

IN&AROUND DB Catch up with the latest community news

23

ACROSS LANTAU See what’s happening island wide

66

HK HAPPENINGS Find fun things to do across the harbour

70

CLASSIFIEDS Great deals, employment, businesses and more

74

PROPERTY Choice local and overseas homes to buy or rent

77

LOCAL NUMBERS Your ultimate guide in DB and Lantau

58

Win tick to and see The ets Cav Sm at Art alia, art urfs Chef’s is a Ver classes Cho b and vouche ice gift rs

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

For the latest Around DB updates, find us on

Facebook

MAR 2015

t

Jus

do it!

day party the best birth in ♦ Throw Tennis Nations Cup ♦ Explore Guil ♦ Party at the HK Sevens Play at the d hop ♦ Find happiness 2002 in DB since Publishers ♦ Islan .com nddb www.arou unity online @ Join your comm

ON THE COVER Mini DB Pirates headed for the Hong Kong Sevens Photo by Baljit Gidwani

Twitter and www.arounddb.com

YOUR ROUNDUP OF RECENT COMMUNITY EVENTS!

Publisher Corinne Jedwood corinne@baymedia.com.hk Managing editor Rachel Ainsley rachel@baymedia.com.hk Production & operations manager Danielle Higgins danielle@baymedia.com.hk

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

Advertising & sales manager Lissa Morris lissa@baymedia.com.hk Art direction Terry Chow terry@baymedia.com.hk Editorial assistant Hannah Ball hannah@baymedia.com.hk Accounts Beatrice De Magistris accountant@baymedia.com.hk Photography Baljit Gidwani

Photos by Emma Yong

DOG FUN DAY DB Plaza

Dog-centric activities at the Dog Fun Day on January 31, organised

by Discovery Bay Services Management, included talks and training demonstrations.

Illustration Fred Boot Rift Leschinsky Contributors this month Angie Bucu Josh Clery (intern) Jane Clyde Kathryn Gardner Elizabeth Kerr Ruhi Kumar (intern) Peter Sherwood Kay West Samantha Wong 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.

VALENTINE’S DAY Throughout DB

Love was in the air on February 14, as DBers enjoyed a romantic night out, and thousands of candles were lit on Tai Pak Wan.

Photos by Emma Yong

IN&AROUND DB

Racing from SUNRISE TO SUNSET Siena Park

The winning Discovery College staff team completed over 100 laps at the second Sunrise to Sunset relay race on February 7. The event saw 91 participants race from 8am until 8pm, raising funds for Pathfinders, the local charity which supports migrant mother and babies in Hong Kong. To see the full list of results, visit http://s2s.discovery.edu.hk.

Photos by Koharu Urawa

Walk for DOMESTIC HELPERS

Discovery Bay Church, Discovery Bay Road On February 8, in the 26-kilometre sponsored walk, starting in DB and ending in Stanley, a group of 60 plus, including six DB residents, helped raise over HK$44,000 for the work of Helpers for Domestic Helpers (HDH), the non-profit run by St John’s Cathedral.

Photo courtesy of Armin Kalyanram

The plight of HOPE The death of Hope, a Chinese White Dolphin injured by boat propellers in January, has reminded us all to appreciate the beautiful creatures living in Lantau waters.

“We tried everything to save Hope, but in the end the injuries were just too bad,” says DB resident and eco-activist Gary Stokes. To learn more about the endangered dolphins on our doorstep, read Life on Lantau magazine’s April issue.

Photos by Gary Stokes

March 2015

11

IN&AROUND DB

LION DANCE

DBRC and Club Siena On February 20, DBers welcomed in the Year of the Goat with lion-dance performances outside both clubhouses.

Photos by Baljit Gidwani

Island Dance ON PARADE

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Tsim Sha Tsui A group of elite dancers from DB’s Island Dance had the honour of performing on and alongside Ocean Park’s float at the 2015 Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade on February 19.

Photos by David Feehan

12

March 2015

IN&AROUND DB

YOUR GUIDE TO UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS!

Find more information and events @ www.arounddb.com

BREAKING NEWS!

Bay Media Group acquires Life on Lantau Last month, right before Chinese New Year, Bay Media Group acquired the Tung Chung-based magazine, Life on Lantau. “It’s incredibly exciting to see the Bay Media Group portfolio growing,” publisher Corinne Jedwood says. “With Around DB coming out monthly and Life on Lantau printing bi-monthly, we’ll be able to offer the Lantau community so much more, both online and in print,” managing editor Rachel Ainsley adds. We are happy to introduce Life On Lantau’s founder, Tung Chung resident Danielle Higgins, who is now the production and operations manager for both magazines. Danielle has lived in Tung Chung for 12 years, and she founded Life on Lantau in 2011.

10 YEARS OF YROCK DB and Central

In addition to its monthly performance at The Venue, DB North Plaza on March 20, YRock is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the first of a series of monthly concerts at Orange Peel in Central. You can also catch a dozen teen YRockers performing at the Hong Kong Sevens, March 28 to 29. YRock now offers teens monthly gig opportunities and workshops, costing HK$400 per month. To sign up, visit www.yrock.com.hk.

Photo by Baljit Gidwani

7 March

out ugh o r h T h Marc

STOCK UP AT THE PLANT MARKET

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

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March 6

March 2015

across from Haven Court, 2pm to 4.45pm.

For more information, call 2238 3617.

Goodbye to SPORTS WORLD

Last month saw the surprise closure of Sports World, the much-loved DB North Plaza store.

Set up in 2008, the store has been a favourite of many, a supporter of many and the organiser of many great events.

“Sports World has been such an integral part of our community here in DB, and the whole team has put their Photo by Ricardo Casanova heart and soul into it – it wasn’t just a business to them, it was a passion,” says long-term DB resident and keen hiker, Lindsey Coen-Fernandez, who was a regular customer at the store.

Founder Bruce Pye and director of retail and marketing Karen Veen, along with their team, have this to say: “We want to thank the DB community for their support, loyalty, encouragement and amazing friendship over the past eight years. It is with a heavy heart that we come to the end of our tenure but like all things in life, change is the only constant.”

Happily for DBers, Sports World is introducing Sky Blue Bikes (www.skybluebikes.com) to the community. Based out of Sheung Wan, the store supplies and services bikes, and is also looking into providing courses and races on DB and across Lantau.

We’ll give Sports World the final word: “Thank you for trusting us to be your source of sporting goods and for your participation and support of our events. This is not a goodbye; it’s a ‘See you later!’”

IN&AROUND DB

Lantau Calves DUATHLON Start: Siena Park

7 March

Kids aged six to 14 need to sign up before March 4 to take part in the Lantau Calves Duathlon, starting at 8am. This annual race, organised by Lantau Buffalos and proudly sponsored by Around DB and Life on Lantau, sees kids run and bike around DB, before attending an after-party and prize ceremony at Bayside Dental in DB North Plaza. Limited to just 100 participants, entry costs HK$170, and race proceeds are donated to Feeding Hong Kong. To sign up, visit www.lantaubuffalos.org.

Photo by Terry Chow

March 8

h8 Marc

SHOP THE DISCOVERY BAY SUNDAY MARKET in DB

Plaza from 11am to 6pm. Visit www.handmadehongkong.com.

JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP at Sam Pak

Wan, organised by Plastic Free Seas and DB Green, at 1pm.

Visit www.dbgreen.org.

ion Submiss : n deadli e March 10 http://serc.carleton.edu

h8

rc Ma

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY to all the fantastic women in our DB and Lantau community!

Your chance to GET PUBLISHED!

Budding young writers have just a few days left to enter Around DB’s Young Writer’s Competition! This year, your task is to write a nonfiction account of 600 to 700 words, about a life-changing moment in your life or someone else’s. To find out more, go to www.arounddb.com.

MOON BEAR CONCERT

Globe Theatre, Discovery Bay International School Don’t miss an evening of great music performed by class DB acts at the annual Moon Bear Concert. Organised

by Clara Chan, a DB resident of over 20 years, the concert starts at 7.30pm, and all proceeds go towards Animals Asia Foundation’s work to help end bear-bile farming. To purchase tickets (costing HK$180 for adults, HK$90 for concessions and HK$50 for helpers), visit Island Veterinary Services in DB Plaza. For more information, visit www.moonbearconcert.tk.

h 14

rc Ma

Photo courtesy of Animals Asia Foundation

March 2015

15

IN&AROUND DB

ICE RUN!

14 March

ril 5

Start: Irkutsk, Siberia

HEAD TO THE HEALTHY DB POP-UP EVENT

at The HIT Room, DB North Plaza, 2pm to 6pm. For the full list of vendors, visit the Healthy Living in DB Facebook page.

-Ap March 16

Good luck to two-year DB resident, Cathay Pacific pilot Matt Prior and his friend Dennis Malone as they tackle the Ice Run, a sponsored ride from Siberia to the Arctic Circle on a World War II Russian Ural motorbike and side car. The pair will endure temperatures as low as -50˚C and travel roughly 2,500 kilometres, to raise funds for Help for Heroes, Plan UK, Cool Earth and Soldier On. To sponsor the pair, visit www.teamontherocks.co.uk.

World DOWN SYNDROME DAY Throughout DB Don’t forget to wear colourful or mismatched socks on March 21, to raise awareness on the 10th World Down Syndrome Day. The idea is that we can all embrace differences in sock wearing – and people! Discovery Mind Primary School in DB is already on board, honouring a Year 2 student with Down Syndrome. And at ESF International Kindergarten, Tsing Yi, the principal, Victoria Bewsey is organising a ‘lots of socks day’ in honour of her adopted daughter, Fei, who has Down Syndrome. Visit www.worlddownsyndromeday.org.

21 March

DBers at HONG KONG SEVENS! Hong Kong Stadium, Causeway Bay

Photos by Baljit Gidwani

www.fostercarevalues.com

GET KITTED OUT

1-22 March 2

in the latest swimwear at the Ozzie Cozzie Roadshow, OpenSpace, DB North Plaza, from 10am to 6pm.

TENNIS NATIONS CUP Discovery Bay Recreation Club Don’t miss the much-anticipated 22nd Tennis Nations Cup. Head down to the Discovery Bay Recreation Club to watch the matches, starting at 8am, or enjoy the court-side carnival, from 10.30am to 5pm each day.

To find out more, turn to page 58, or visit www.dbrc.hk.

ch Mar

21 &

22

Photo courtesy of DBRC

Photos by Hubert Kriegel and courtesy of Matt Prior

Good luck to all the DB Pirates’ minis who are set to play against other local clubs, before the international matches at the Hong Kong Sevens.

“Every year a couple of thousand of Hong Kong’s mini rugby players get to play on the ‘big stage’ as part of the minis’ showcase,” says DB Pirates’ chairman Steve Kean. “It’s a huge buzz for the kids, and this year promises to be the best yet as it is the 40th anniversary.”

For more details, email admin@dbpirates.com.

7-29

ch 2 Mar

Friend us on Facebook for event reminders

IN&AROUND DB

EARTH HOUR Across Hong Kong

Help raise awareness about climate change by taking part in Earth Hour and switching off your lights for one hour from 8.30pm to 9.30pm. Earth Hour, which launched in Hong Kong in 2009, engaged over 3,900 companies, 320 schools and over 2.8 million residents in Hong Kong last year. To find out more, visit www.earthhour.org/hong-kong.

8 ch 2 Mar

Bonaqua ACTION SPRINT Start: DB Plaza

!

ATE

ED E TH SAV

www.actionasiaevents.com

www.ws.cuhk.edu.hk

You can register now for the third race in Action Asia Events’ Bonaqua Action Sprint Adventure Run series. Taking place on April 26, the hugely popular 13-kilometre trail-run starts at 9am and entry costs HK$380. Visit www.actionasiaevents.com.

IN&AROUND DB DB IN&AROUND

NEW IN DB ONLINE REALTORS Check out online property agency, OKAY.com, which launched in DB on March 1. Not only can you buy, sell, lease or rent several thousand properties across Hong Kong and several hundred in DB, the company’s five dedicated DB agents use mobile tablets to provide real-time listings and information. Visit www.okay.com; you’ll also find the listings at www.arounddb.com.

Photo by Hannah Ball

NEVALE KITCHEN If you fancy some tasty Turkish cuisine, head to Nevale Kitchen in DB North Plaza. Six-year DB resident Süleyman Kaya and his wife, Nowel opened the deli-cum-eatery last January. To make a booking, call 2172 7099.

www.okay.com

HIKING GROUP Keen hikers looking to meet new people in DB can join At Home in DB’s brand-new Thursday morning hiking group, led by long-term DB resident Elspeth Shaw. Residents of all fitness levels can sign up for free. Visit www.athomeindb.com.

www.russianballetschool-hk.com

RUSSIAN BALLET Photo courtesy of Sue Meldrum

Photo courtesy of Sue Meldrum

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March 2015

Great news for dancers in DB: Russian Ballet School, the first ballet school in Hong Kong to exclusively use the Vaganova system, is offering classes for both adults and kids at Open Space, DB North Plaza from April 15. Led by professional Russian ballerina, Elena Egorova, classes are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. To find out more, call 2570 2006, or visit www.russianballetschool-hk.com.

Valid until 31 January 2015.

Terms and conditions apply.

Not to be used in conjuction with other promotions.

this discount is valid for any hair tinting and highlights

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH

a DB resident of seven Hong Kong-born Samantha Cornelius, ips talks shop years and founder of StandOut Internsh

List your Lantau business for free @ www.arounddb.com

Tell us a little about your business?

I founded StandOut Internships in 2011. Our recruitment business seeks to match students struggling to get a foothold on the career ladder due to lack of work experience, with business owners who need an extra pair of hands to help them grow. The companies we work with range from large multinationals to non-profits and startups, and we take on both local and international students.

How do students benefit?

As well as arranging internships, we also offer professional development training to students with tips on improving their CVs, writing good cover letters and preparing for and performing in interviews, as well as business etiquette and professionalism. We send our students monthly newsletters, which feature internship opportunities as well as job application tips. For international students, we offer a package which includes their internship, accommodation, visa processing, social events and sightseeing trips.

What’s the secret of your success?

My background as an employment lawyer and knowledge concerning laws on minimum wage, immigration, contracts and general employment issues are a great help in the context of arranging internships.

Do you have a favourite on-the-job moment?

The best part about my job is receiving feedback from interns who feel that their internship really made a difference to their job prospects and career choices. Several of our interns have received permanent job offers at the end of their internship.

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

Photos courte

sy of Samanth a Cornelius

I hope that the business will continue to grow – I’ve always worked from home in DB but last September we took on an office in Central and hired full-time staff. We would like to be viewed as the go-to provider of interns and internships in Hong Kong.

Call StandOut Internships on 2763 0738, email hongkong@standoutinternships.com, or visit www.standoutinternships.com.

Valid until 31 January 2015.

Terms and conditions apply.

Not to be used in conjuction with other promotions.

this discount can be used for any stylist excluding Lorena Severi

SEE WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS LANTAU! Photos by Claus Rolff, Wilson Chong and Anya Belcher

FEBRUARY 14 RACE

Start: Nam Shan, Sunset Peak Runners of all abilities took to the trails for Lantau Base Camp’s 14-kilometre LBC Valentine’s Day Race. There are too many top athletes to mention, but a special shout out goes to Pui O resident Matt Moroz, who placed third overall with his partner Marie McNaughton, and Pui O residents Zein Williams and Garrett Quigley, who placed fourth. Congratulations also go to Pui O residents Martin Williams and Tim Bardwell, who were the third men’s team to finish, and DB residents Stephanie Frossard and Carine Milcent, who finished second for the ladies. For the full list of results, visit www.racematix.com.

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

THE RED LANTERN

Genuine antiques, small pieces of delightful furniture from the late ‘Ching Dynasty’

Six minutes walk from the Mui Wo ferry to the direction of the Silvermine Beach Hotel.

TEL: 2984 0099 FAX: 2980 4833 EMAIL: glandam@netvigator.com

May 16th Raidlight Stairmaster Lantau 20K 2000m elevation May 23rd Raidlight Stairmaster Twins 10K 1000m elevation Register at: http://events.lantaubasecamp.com/ See new spring/summer items & Clearance items: http://shop.lantaubasecamp.com/

ACROSS LANTAU

www.marriott.com jawg1982.deviantart.com

LANTERN CARNIVAL

ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS FOR YOU TO ENJOY!

Find more information and events @ www.arounddb.com

ar y 1 1-aJa cnhu5-8 rM r e b m e D ec

TRANSLANTAU!

Man Tung Road Park, Tung Chung Check out the beautiful lantern displays, lit up from 6pm to 11pm each night.

On March 7, you can watch lion-dance parades, Shaolin kung-fu performances, a Chinese instrumental concert and Oriental dance at the New Territories West Lunar New Year Carnival Night, from 7.30pm until 10pm. Kids can also enjoy all the performances at a special youth night on March 8, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Admission is free. To find out more, visit www.lcsd.gov.hk.

DASH FOR A BEER

Start: Ma Po Ping Prison, Tong Fuk Don’t miss the chance to enter the Lantau International Beer Dash, on April 18.

Around DB and Life on Lantau are proud sponsors of this 5-kilometre fun run, which sees participants dress up and drink a different international beer at every checkpoint.

Entry costs HK$350 for an individual and HK$1,360 for a team of four. To sign up, visit https://regonline.activeglobal.com/lantauinternationalbeerdash2015.

pe tion o a r t s i 16 Reg March

Start: Silvermine Beach, Mui Wo Spaces are now full for the fourth annual TransLantau race, starting and finishing in Mui Wo, but why not head to the beach to support the many DB and Lantau residents taking part. The event sees over 2,000 participants tackle the 100-, 50-, 25or 15-kilometre race, solo or in teams of two. For race times and details, visit www.translantau.com.

13 - 1 5 March

ns

Photo courtesy of Agnes Pang

Photo by Terry Chow

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March 2015

Photo by Michael Ma

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COMPETITIONS

Here’s your chance to win great prizes!

Win tickets to see The SMURFS YOUR PRIZE: MEI Live is offering two readers three, A-reserve tickets (worth HK$488 per ticket) to see The SMURFS Live On Stage on April 4 at 11am.

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

To enter, email info@baymedia.com.hk, 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!

When did Chef’s Choice open?

Where can you see The SMURFS Live On Stage?

Photo courtesy of Sami Verho

Take home treats from Chef’s Choice www.smurfsliveonstage.com

YOUR PRIZE: Chef’s Choice is offering two readers a gift voucher to use in the store (worth HK$500 each).

FIND THE ANSWER: Catch The SMURFS Live On Stage from April 2 to 5 at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wanchai. There’s something for fans of all ages to enjoy, as the evil wizard Gargamel attempts to cancel spring and capture the Smurfs in the process. For more information, visit www.smurfsliveonstage.com; for tickets, starting at HK$250, visit www.hkticketing.com, or call 31 288 288.

FIND THE ANSWER: Great quality meats, cheeses, seafood, antipasti and gourmet sandwiches are on offer at the DB North Plaza deli, Chef ’s Choice, set up by four-year Tung Chung resident, Sami Verho in November last year.

To find out more, visit the Chef ’s Choice DB Facebook page, call 2172 6111, or email info@chefs-choicedb.com.

Win tickets to see Cavalia

Art is a Verb giveaway

YOUR PRIZE: Cavalia is offering three readers two Cat-4 tickets (worth HK$895 per ticket) to see the show on April 2.

FIND THE ANSWER: Cavalia, showing at Central Harbourfront from March 31 to April 12, is sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club as part of its 130th anniversary celebrations. It integrates acrobatics, dance, aerial stunts, live music and equestrian arts, in front of a constantly changing digital background. For tickets, starting at HK$395, visit www.cavalia.net.

Where is Cavalia showing?

www.artverbstudio.com www.cavalia.net

YOUR PRIZE: Art is a Verb is offering readers three adult paint-jam sessions (worth HK$300 each), and three children’s art classes (worth HK$248 each). Be sure to tell us if you’d like to win a kid’s class, when you’re entering this competition.

FIND THE Which ANSWER: The classes are on 1,600-square-foot offer at Art is art studio, Art is a Verb? a Verb opened in DB North Plaza last www.artverbstudio.com December. Budding artists of all ages can take advantage of classes and workshops in painting, drawing, crafting and designing with French contemporary artist, Leslie Lachiche. For more details, call the studio on 2682 8099, or visit www.artverbstudio.com.

Congratulations to last month’s winners Louise Sanderson, Irene Karton and Shermila Buxani for the

Strand and Science HairSPA giveaway; Helen Wong, Mary Quinn, Julia Mins, Rin Hayakawa, Jennifer Aarons and Jan Campbell for tickets to the Asia Contemporary Art Show; and Renafin Prieto and Selene Lam for the ShoeSee foldable shoes.

March 2015

27

PROFILE

LEGAL EAGLE One of Hong Kong’s hottest human-rights lawyers, Michael Vidler sits down with fellow DBer Angie Bucu to talk about family values and civil liberties

M

ichael Vidler is not your typical lawyer, for one he likes talking to the press. On the day we meet, he had already been interviewed on TVB Pearl and on RTHK’s Radio 3. “I’m a bit unusual,” he tells me, “most lawyers will run screaming from the press, but I see [journalists] as allies because the cases I represent are socially active, publiclaw cases and I engage the media to get public dialogue going.”

Photos by Terry Chow

A familiar face around DB, and a resident of 12 years, Michael is (not to put too fine a point on it) Hong Kong’s go-to human-rights lawyer. Landmark victories with William Leung’s case (2006) and the ‘W’ case (2013) have boosted gay rights in the city; the ‘T’ case (2014) successfully upheld key elements of freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate, just before the unfolding of the Umbrella Movement; and a local case, yet to be ruled on, has highlighted issues regarding racial discrimination against ethnic minorities, a matter important enough that the Equal Opportunities Commission got involved.

Not all of Michael’s work is high profile however – his firm does a lot with Mother’s Choice and children in long-term foster care. “Recently, a gentleman approached me in DB and introduced his son and thanked me for helping with his adoption,” Michael tells me with a huge amount of pride.

“This makes you feel very good and makes it all worthwhile.”

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March 2015

Human-rights defender

Family values

Michael’s crusade against social justice started early in life. Brought up in a politically and socially aware family, he didn’t, and still doesn’t, believe in conforming to the mainstream, if the mainstream view isn’t ‘right’. Attending a conservative private school in the UK, he found himself in the minority but not alone. I can sense his satisfaction as he confides that some of his teachers were actually “quietly supportive” of his views.

Looking for a higher standard of living, Michael and his Hong Kongborn wife Huen Yee moved to DB in 2003, some nine years before George, their adorable son was born.

An interest in civil liberties found Michael switching from politics to law at university. He then practised criminal law for what was then London’s largest criminal legal-aid firm, spending unenviable hours in dreary police stations in London’s East End. “It was the coal-face area of civil liberties,” he says, “people in jail being assaulted and intimidated, and bad police practices.”

Like many of us, Michael had no plans to settle in Hong Kong when he arrived after a few months of travelling in 1992. But he ended up joining a local law firm, as a criminal advocate. Some 10 years later, he set up his own practice, Vidler & Co, to have the freedom to take on the work he really wanted to do: “I give priority to cases where the result will create a precedent which will affect either the law or many people,” he explains. “Cases that could change many people’s lives rather than just one person’s.”

“It’s like a refuge when you come back to a place that is so peaceful,” Michael says, “you get a sense of decompressing, and on the weekends this is important.” He’s effusive about the advantages of living in DB, especially now that the family of three has grown to four with the addition of Archie their dog, but equally vocal about a few perceived glitches he’d like to see resolved.

It’s clear that you might be able to take the man out of the suit when he comes home to DB, but you can’t take the social-justice crusader out of the man.

Michael cycles to keep fit and the conversation quickly turns to the recent cycling ban in DB North Plaza.

“People live in DB to escape the traffic and be able to use bikes to get around, free from the fear of a crazy taxi driver mowing your kids down,” he says with more than a little irritation. As the legal advisor to the Hong Kong Cycling Alliance, Michael suggests that their involvement may stir up matters in relation to the ban; however Huen Yee may have more influence as the chairperson of Parkvale Village Owners’ Committee and a member of the City Owners’ Committee.



PROFILE

Michael Vidler is Hong Kong’s go-to human-rights lawyer

March 2015

29

PROFILE I ask Michael how he instils his strong principles in three-year-old George, whose favourite game at the moment is sword fighting. “Huen Yee and I share the same views and values, so this makes it possible to work as a team with him,” he explains. “We are always saying, ‘Thank God we agree on that!’”

Not surprisingly perhaps, the whole family regularly attends rallies and demonstrations, and supports the ongoing Umbrella Movement sit-ins.

“We want George to be brought up with a sense that he has a voice and that expressing his voice not only is a right, it is a duty,” Michael says. “Unless you express your concerns about things that are wrong, things don’t change for the better.”

and old, Michael suggests. “There is an incredibly supportive network,” he adds. “On a hot day, people would be fanning George, and the wave of people parted as we walked with shouts of ‘OK, kid coming through’.

People are amazingly considerate.”

those arrested in relation to the Umbrella Movement. He tells me that over the duration of the demonstrations, 900 people were in need of legal services and hundreds, yes hundreds, of lawyers offered to help them pro-bono – free of charge, for the public good.

For the public good

I recall reading a quote from Michael about his victory with the transgenderrights ‘W’ case: He said it was “like he had taken the through-train to justice”.

Speaking about it now, in light of recent events, he describes it as a long, hard struggle, and a vindication of Hong Kong’s legal and judicial systems. This too came under threat in 2014, and Michael tells me how heartened he felt that 1,800 lawyers stood up to support the independence of the judiciary.

Michael and his team have worked together with other lawyers, who volunteered their time, to represent

Peaceful demonstrations, such as Hong Kong’s annual July 1 march, are accessible to young Find more local heroes

Michael in DB with wife Huen Yee, son George and Archie, their dog

“If enough people stand up to do what is right,” he concludes, “then right will prevail.” @ www.arounddb.com

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IN FOCUS

32

As little kids we were busy being happy and our joy was contagious.

So what happened?

March 2015

IN FOCUS

WHERE IS

HAPPINESS?

The exhausting pursuit of happiness is a fool’s game. DB resident Peter Sherwood reveals that what we all seek really is found within

R

evisiting a book of mine about happiness, I notice that the major societal change, in the decade since I wrote it, has been the mind boggling array of instant communications and social media designed to keep us all connected and bring us closer together.

If the subtext of these great innovations was to make us happier, then technology has largely failed.

Unhappiness in the western world parallels the rise of wealth and disposable incomes since the early 1970s, but with new technology designed to facilitate closer human connection, loneliness, alienation and unhappiness have only increased.

If you’re lonely, get a dog? Maybe it says something about isolation in society that in the US pet ownership has more than tripled since the 1970s.

The external search It’s a complicated subject, but the cliché that happiness is internal is a universal truth. The basics have not changed, and nor will they as long as we continue to look outside ourselves.

Many of us don’t understand what is meant by ‘happiness is within you’ and consequently have no idea how to tap into it, although we should be suspicious that after

decades of buying new stuff with a manufacturer’s promise of ‘feeling better’ tag attached, it is probably not where we’ve been looking.

When advertising is not engaged in telling us how wonderful our lives will be if we would only fork out for a new handbag, a thinner and more geeky mobile device, or a long soak in a Bali spa, it is instructing us in what to be fearful of, offering more insurance, a bamboo bike helmet and creams and lotions by the bucketful. Should we fail to do so, we will look ancient, lose partners and become desperately lonely and alienated. In the Western world alone more than US$500 billion dollars is spent every year on cosmetics, none of which are proven to achieve anything except make a lot of loot for the makers.

Non-stop shopping says it all. It has become an act of intense desperation, a hobby, a sport and an obsession. It’s insane, and if it made us happier we could stop after we max out our credit cards – and be forever at peace.

If the external search for happiness really worked, then we would already have achieved it with the first purchase of all that amazing new stuff. The chase for more and better ‘happymaking’ experiences – accumulating more money, new partners, 10-year plans, diets, gurus, beauty treatments

and exotic holidays – would have proved fulfilling.

Clothing designers understand that, which is why they introduce a new range every couple of weeks. We get stuck in this hopeless cul-de-sac and despite all our frenetic external activity, we seem shocked to find happiness and contentment out of reach.

We are here to be happy As far as I can tell we are here on earth to be happy – and achieving it comes partly through selflessness.

The fundamental requirements are Community, Meaningful Work, Contribution and Love.

Certainly no mentally healthy human being ever set out to be utterly miserable, even though with much of our behaviour, both conscious and unconscious, misery is inevitable.

In 1963, Leo Rosten wrote in This Week magazine: “I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.”

Rosten was right – and wrong. The purpose of life is to be happy, and one of the best ways to maintain happiness  March 2015

33

IN FOCUS

and fulfillment is, as he says, by giving and by making a difference. The secret is not the exhausting pursuit but an understanding that we were born excited, whole – and happy. It’s our natural state.

Primitive life and death stuff When you were born, the hospital delivery room didn’t have areas sectioned off for ‘happy’, ‘neurotic’, ‘depressed’ or ‘low self-worth’ babies.

We were born with 100% self-love, bubbling with excitement. As little kids we were busy being happy and our joy was contagious. So what happened?

Life happened. It started beating us up: Do this, don’t do that, don’t be like this. Don’t say what you honestly mean, or be yourself. Just fit in!

The message is received as being who you are is not good enough. The best thing is to develop an image to be at one with society. It is hardly surprising that the most common thought in the world is, ‘I am not enough’.

This is primitive life and death stuff.

It’s rooted in survival – our strongest instinct. Fail to be like us and do like us and we (your tribe) will throw you to the wolves.

Inevitably, we get stressed out politely playing a role, caught up in the relentless pursuit of happiness – the happiness we had before we gave up on the loving, giving, open, honest and spontaneous being we once were. As Woody Allen said, “I always wanted to be somebody. I should have been more specific”.

Our natural condition Imagine after this brief life going to your grave having rarely been in touch with the unique and joyful person you really are, unable even to remember what it was like to be free, spontaneous, and not tightly bound up in worrying what others might think

Many of us don’t understand what is meant by ‘happiness is within’ so we get caught up in the exhausting pursuit

of you. Dying with your image intact, cremated with your new red Ferrari, beautifully, fashionably, perfectly, wearing Christian Dior or Canali – with society-approved music and just the right words spoken – safe and without controversy to the end.

If like so many people you are living just to survive, the news is not great.

You are going to die. The good news is you still have the energy, self-love and

March 2015

If we are destined to become lost and confused – and based on our desperate need to look outside ourselves for something, anything, to make us feel a bit better, that is the case. Then the challenge is not to search for the happiness we never had, it is to return to the natural happy state that is our birthright.

Peter Sherwood worked in awareness and personal development seminars with more than 10,000 participants. He is the author of So You Want to be Happy?, published in Australia and the UK and is the editor/ contributor to Robert White’s book Living an Extraordinary Life, published in the US.

Find more topical local topics

34

curiosity you were born with. Feeling good is our natural condition.

@ www.arounddb.com

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FAMILY MATTERS

IT’S MY

PartY

Photos courtesy of Complete Deelite, DiscoveryLand and Jumping Castles

Ask any parent, there’s a lot of competition involved in throwing kids’ parties. Children expect a lot and parents are under pressure to provide the best party ever. Kay West provides some cool solutions

36

Bouncy Party – Jumping Castles can set up your chosen bouncy indoors or out

March 2015

FAMILY MATTERS

T

hrowing a kid’s party isn’t the jelly and ice-cream affair of times past. Even a clown doesn’t cut it unless he can pull a few seriously cool stunts out of the bag. So as party planning gets more competitive, it’s worth thinking seriously about what you really want to achieve, and all the exciting alternatives on offer.

Firstly, pick a theme that works with you, not against you. Your child may beg for an outlandishly complicated theme but that can be hard to carry off convincingly. Remember timeless classics, like jungles and wild things, or pirates and princesses, never go out of fashion. And whatever style of party you go with, be sure to make it magical. Parties can be so much more than just pass the parcel. Try holding a treasure hunt for wannabe pirates, playing wave music at a mermaid party, or setting off magical firework ‘spells’ in a Hogwarts-look room.

You can also get imaginative with the food. For example, treat your budding astronauts and space rangers to ‘edible moon rocks’ (rice-crispy cakes), ‘comet tails’ (candy floss) and ‘flying saucers’ (imaginatively filled mini-bagels). As an alternative, to keep things simple and cute, present the food in individual party boxes. You only need a few items in each – a small yoghurt and plastic spoon, a cheese string, a homemade sandwich, some crisps/ grapes, a fairy cake, a pretty napkin and a paper hat.

Consider too that the number of guests at your child’s party doesn’t matter.

Children will be happy with a small gathering as long as it feels special to them. And by limiting the invites to just best friends and family, you’ll find the whole experience a lot easier.

Bouncing around In setting up a fun-filled party at home, don’t be afraid to rely on professional help. Bring in a juggler or a magician, or maybe go all out and hire a bouncy castle. Not so long ago, bouncies were

only available at festivals and malls but now they are the highlight of many private parties – kids jump at the chance to let off steam and go a little wild.

Importantly, you don’t need a garden to accommodate a bouncy castle. All you need is a reasonably level area, like a paved space or a clubhouse. South Lantau resident Ben White of Jumping Castles, Hong Kong’s largest supplier of certified bouncy castles for rent, has even set up a medium-sized bouncy castle in the living room of a Headland Drive flat after the weather turned bad.

“It was just a case of moving a few couches,” says the Australian pilot, himself a father of three. “An indoor event is preferable because you don’t need to worry about it getting washed out in the wetter months.”

Ben’s 16 castles all feature a jump area and a slide of some sort and come in small, medium and large sizes – the small ones suited for children as young as two and the largest good for kids up to 12. For added fun, Ben can also supply a helium-balloon kit that includes a disposable, recyclable helium tank and 30 balloons.

“Parents get as much joy out of seeing the kids have fun as the kids do,” says Ben. “And, of course, if the kids are busy for three or four hours, then the parents can enjoy the social aspect of the party, too.”

Action stations There is of course no reason to host your child’s party at home, you may want to choose an alternate plane that will be fun for the kids and stress-free for you. Consider a paintball party – the 10,000-square-foot playing field at Paintball Headquarters in Kowloon Bay has light, sound and smoke effects to keep the adrenaline pumping. Or how about an ice-skating party? At The Rink at Elements in Tsim Sha Tsui, there’s fun to be had for kids of all ages, and cute penguins guide the less steady partygoers across the ice.

March 2015

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37

FAMILY MATTERS

If a pony party fits the bill, Tuen Mun Public Riding School in the New Territories offers supervised rides for children. You can also bring along your own birthday cake and drinks.

Likewise, the teepees at Palm Beach on Cheung Sha Beach make camping out easy. Everything is already set up and there are plenty of sports on offer.

Even closer to home, DiscoveryLand in DB North Plaza is a great onestop-shop party option, catering for groups of 10 to 50 plus. A typical party package, at the 14,000-square-foot indoor entertainment centre, includes party invites and banners, two hours’ use of a private function room and allday access to the play zones. There is also face-painting and tattoos for each child, plus a photo.

Adventure Party – DiscoveryLand provides a private function room plus access to the play zones

“The idea is to make it as easy as possible for parents. The children all have badges and can be called into the private room when it’s time to cut the cake,” says Koren Thomas, a 20-year DB resident, who set up the entertainment centre with business partner Karina Aswani seven months ago.

“Play is never going to go out of fashion,” Koren adds. “When kids get that sugar high [after party snacks], it’s great for them to burn it off and do something physical.”

For a very special event, DiscoveryLand can host laser-tag parties. Staged in the evening, these need a minimum of 14 children and the kids get the run of the whole venue. “My daughter turned 11 in December and had a laser-tag party, which turned into a disco,” says Koren, adding that adults sometimes book laser-tag parties, too.

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Baking Party – At Complete Deelite kids make and decorate cakes and cake pops

More alternative venues

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel would be more suitable – girls get to dress up in Disney Princess costumes and have their photos taken.

It’s clear that alternative party venues abound, whatever your child’s age or special interest. You may want to rent the Director’s Club, a 16-seater theatre in Cityplaza, Taikoo Shing, so that the kids can sit back and enjoy a favourite flick. Unlimited popcorn, drinks and a hot dog are provided. Or perhaps the

For something entirely different, 11year DB resident Agnes Chin, who runs Complete Deelite in Central with her daughter Jacinta, offers baking parties.

A typical party will see children aged 10 and up decorate pre-baked cookies or cupcakes and then make and decorate lollipop-style cake pops.

March 2015

One of the most successful parties Agnes helped arrange was billed as ‘Britain’s Best Baking Competition’ and the 15 partygoers competed to win the coveted title. The birthday girl chose individual winners and then there was a bake-off between the boys and girls. The boys won.

“We enjoy this kind of customised party. It’s not a matter of, ‘Oh that’s boring, I came to the last one’. It’s something different and the kids have fun,” Agnes says. “Children don’t want 

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19/01/2015 13:10

FAMILY MATTERS

simply to be entertained, they want to do something, create something.”

Agnes says the key to pulling off a successful children’s party is to make sure it’s something that the child wants. She was impressed by a 10-year-old Korean girl who decided she wanted a baking-themed party, went online and found the Complete Deelite website. She cut and pasted the information into a document and gave it to her mother asking her to book it for her.

“When the child is excited then the party becomes very vibrant and inspiring,” Agnes says. “Children need to be involved in the process of choosing, especially those aged nine and up.”

Find it • Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, www.hongkongdisneyland.com • Complete Deelite, www.completedeelite.com • Cityplaza, www.uacinemas.com.hk • DiscoveryLand, www.discoverylandhk.com • Jumping Castles, www.jumpingcastles.com.hk • Paintball Headquarters, www.paintballhq.com.hk • Palm Beach, www.palmbeach.com.hk • The Rink at Elements, www.rink.com.hk • Tuen Mun Public Riding School, www.hkjc.org.hk

Find more child-centric stories

@ www.arounddb.com

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EXPLORER

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ISLAND HOPPING

Lantau is just one of an incredible 263 Hong Kong islands, and some of the most interesting are not all that remote.

Samantha Wong reveals some hidden and largely uninhabited gems TUNG LUNG CHAU Surrounded by delightful coves and caves that echo, Tung Lung Chau lies off the Clear Water Bay Peninsula.

You’ll see the foundations of a fort, abolished in 1810, and some fascinating prehistoric stone carvings.

To get there from Hong Kong’s Eastern district, head to Shau Kei Wan. Ferries leave from Lei Yue Mun Pier, or you can rent a sampan at Sai Wan Ho Typhoon Shelter.

March 2015

43

EXPLORER

SOKO ISLANDS The Soko Islands in the southwest of Hong Kong are as yet undeveloped, and the surrounding waters are teeming with fish and coral. Rock forests surround the coasts, and you’ll spot the occasional Chinese White Dolphin. There are two particularly picturesque beaches on Siu A Chau. And deserted Tai A Chau, the main island, is of special interest since it was home to Vietnamese refugees from 1975 to 1999. To get there, hire a sampan at Cheung Chau Pier.

PO TOI Po Toi off the south-eastern tip of Hong Kong Island is a hikers’ paradise, encircled by eagles. Scenic trails lead up the hill to the top of the island for fabulous views. Walk to the south, where ancestral graves are scattered across the hilltops, to take in curious natural rock formations like Monk Rock and Tortoise Rock. Descend the concrete steps on Buddha’s Palm Cliff, to see a group of prehistoric carvings.

A ferry runs from Aberdeen via St Stephen’s Beach, Stanley.

TUNG PING CHAU Situated in Hong Kong’s most northeastern corner, Tung Ping Chau was once home to 10 villages – the few homes that remain, and the 250-yearold temple, are made from rock materials and mud. At A Man Wan, you’ll see layers of colourful rocks eroded by the water tilting into the sea. A ferry runs from Ma Liu Shui Pier in Shatin.

TAP MUN CHAU Northwest of Mirs Bay off the Sai Kung Peninsula, Tap Mun Chau (Grass Island) has some excellent teahouses and a Tin Hau Temple, built in 1737. Its 100 or so residents are mostly fishermen. Take a ferry from Wong Shek Pier in Sai Kung.

Ferry services to the out-of-the-way islands vary according to the time of year, and whether or not you are travelling at the weekend.

For ferry times, you are best advised to enquire at the relevant pier a week or so before you plan to head out. You can also visit www.td.gov.hk.

Find more eco-aware articles

44

March 2015

@ www.arounddb.com

OZZIE COZZIE ROADSHOW SAT 21st & SUN 22nd MARCH

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TALKING POINTS

HEAD TO HEAD Is Hong Kong’s hard water and pollution giving you a constant bad hair day? Jane Clyde gets some essential tips from two top local hair and scalp experts

T

Photos by Josh Clery and courtesy of BYTHD

o say that Aline Jahns and Lorena Severi know a lot about hair is an understatement. Put them in a room together to discuss their shared passion and the atmosphere would be electric – sparks might even fly. They share the same goal to inform people about their hair and how best to care for it, and they both take a holistic approach, but the way they present couldn’t be more different.

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Brazilian-born Aline, who opened Strand and Science HairSPA in DB North Plaza back in December, is a former oral surgeon. Having treated people’s teeth for more than 10 years, she’s just qualified as a trichologist (hair and scalp specialist). Her naturally curly hair is super sleek and poker straight, thanks to regular Discovery smoothening treatments, and it’s sharply cut. A self-confessed “geek”, March 2015

she’s exceptionally pretty, friendly and vivacious, and on a mission to save our strands through science.

exasperation: “So many things people do at home are wrong. There’s so much information that nobody is telling you.”

Italian-born Lorena of BYTHD salon in Central, who is opening a Jean Louis David salon, also in Central, in April, has been in the business for 30 years.

Naturally, she’s got great hair, and it’s unabashedly natural looking – big, long and free flowing. She’s the earth mother – warm, sexy and assured, and with a body of knowledge behind her she’s chosen to focus on nurturing our hair naturally.

Determined to get us informed, Aline is also a champion of the latest innovations in the industry. Her go-to tools of the moment include a GHD Aura hairdryer that blows hot and cold simultaneously, and a Sonaki showerhead that eliminates 99% of the chlorine and chloramine present in Hong Kong’s water.

The scientist The first thing I learn from Aline is how to wash and dry my hair – correctly (see overleaf). Having straightened me out about the basics – don’t rub or brush wet hair, use a pre-shampoo and a styling product – Aline says in

Aline’s enthusiasm is equally infectious about products that are scientifically proven to enhance hair. She is a big fan of the Philip Kingsley range, which is based on 60 years of trichological experience. These take-home products cater to individual hair texture, length and level of processing. “We can treat your hair but you must know how to care for it at home,” she says.

TALKING POINTS

Lorena Severi of BYTHD and Jean Louis David; Aline Jahns of Strand and Science HairSPA (opposite)

Strand and Science doesn’t offer the Brazilian Blowout smoothening treatment, due to its formaldehyde content, but Aline is 100% for the use of “good chemicals”. “Everything is chemical, water is chemical,” she says. “Even products that claim to be all-natural or organic usually contain certain chemicals, like silicon, monoethanolamine, ethanolamine or peroxide, in their composition.”

Science-minded as she is, Aline is clearly not averse to making use of natural ingredients. She has just introduced the Josiane Laure range, which is big on clay treatments and essential oils, and organic-certified oils from Australia (applied with a cutting-edge nano machine) are an essential part of the Strand and Science treatment range. Aline also recommends Bona Vida organic coconut oil for pre-shampoo. “All

products are good, you just need to know how to use them correctly,” she says.

The earth mother Over in Central, at BYTHD and soon the Jean Louis David salon, Lorena is equally passionate about products and treatments that can help make our hair beautiful – and healthy. The new salon is fashion forward and state of the art, with a headquarters in Paris, and interestingly, Lorena follows the current trend for all things pure and organic.

“I take care of hair the natural way,” she says. “I don’t like to take away from the real woman.” Notably, Lorena is totally anti the Brazilian Blowout, and what she likes about Balayages, the all-new highlighting technique she is about to launch in Hong Kong, is that the “shading looks natural”.

Equally, when discussing the upto-the-minute Jean Louis David product range, Lorena’s focus is the “fruit content”. The range may be technologically advanced but what excites her is that it contains naturally derived elements, like lavender oil, guar, zinc and even wheat.

Determined to turn us on to allnatural haircare, Lorena who was the World Champion of Unisex Hair Design in 1996, mixes her own 100% organic, sulphate-free clay cleansing masks. Rich in salt minerals, rosemary and lavender, they are made as you watch – and available to take home. Taking this formula one step further, Lorena is soon to introduce a range of haircare products based on Chinese medicinal herbs.

“I studied the value of Wuyi tea and the cordyceps [mushroom] in  March 2015

47

TALKING POINTS

Beijing,” she says. “They have been used for healthcare and as a longevity recipe since ancient times. The new customised haircare treatments I’ve come up with are free of chemical additives, and leave the hair shining like silk.”

Clearly there are 101 ways to keep your hair healthy and happy, and a good starting place is to get great advice from an expert and some top products to play with at home.

tips Practical home haircare 1 Wash your hair correctly. Rub a coin-sized nub of shampoo in the palm of your hands and gently massage it into the roots. When you rinse, the shampoo will run down the rest of your hair, washing it sufficiently. Smooth conditioner on to your hair, avoiding the top of the head. Note that shampoo opens the hair’s cuticles (think of them like fish scales) and if you rub them they will break. This broken hair is what we call frizz.

2 Dry your hair gently. Since wet hair is fragile, don’t rub or towel dry it, or brush it when wet. Remove excess water with paper towels, and make sure your hairdryer is not too hot.

3 Eliminate frizz. Regular smoothing treatments and masks help, and you can also massage your hair with a pre-shampoo or natural oil to keep it hydrated and close the cuticles.

Find it • BYTHD, www.thd.com.hk • Strand and Science HairSPA, www.strandandscience.com

4 Cut out split ends. There’s no cure for old hair that’s been damaged for a long time. Look to Vitamin S – scissors!

5 Avoid pollution. Apply a silicon-based styling product before you dry your hair, and never go out with wet hair. Wet hair attracts dirt.

Find more topical local topics

@ www.arounddb.com

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MOMENTS

SUPER MUM Through her brand-new, online marketplace Sooq, four-year DB resident Hui Huang is making life (and shopping) easier for busy mothers like herself. Hannah Ball reports

F

eeding her three-monthold daughter, Amelia, as she finishes the leftover tea from her first meeting before rushing straight into the next, Huizhou-born Hui Huang makes balancing motherhood, running a business and coordinating a whole host of side projects, look easy.

Armed with an MSc in Management from Lancaster University, England and a career in online marketing and e-commerce, she simply hasn’t stopped since moving to DB in 2010 with her English husband Luke.

“After four years in London and two in the Mid-Levels, and with my first daughter Siena on the way, I couldn’t wait to move here and get stuck into the community,” she says.

Unfortunately, they’re scattered all over Hong Kong, making it difficult and time-consuming to reach them.

To me, it seemed like a no-brainer for someone to unite the two in a virtual shopping space online.”

Early on, Hui shared her idea for Sooq with fellow mum, British-born Gillian Thompson, a DB resident of three years, founder of GMT Foods and administrator of the Facebook group, DB Mums. Gillian loved the idea so much that she not only became a vendor, she also signed on as the company’s business developer.

“It’s great having Gillian on board,” says Hui. “Selling products at markets like Handmade Hong Kong, she tells me what makes the vendors tick. She’s

And get stuck in she did. In the summer of 2011, Hui set up the community Facebook group, DB Mama. Then, when she was pregnant with Amelia, she came up with the idea for Sooq.

The online platform, launched last December, allows busy mums, like herself, to purchase unique, handmade and bespoke items from the comfort of their own homes.

Hui Huang with daughter Amelia

Photo by Hannah Ball

Entrepreneurial streak

50

“As a mum and an expat in DB, I kept meeting people who were tired of travelling all over Hong Kong looking for items that weren’t either uber highend or mass-market. There was very little in-between,” she says. “Over the past few years, I’ve also met a number of talented designers and artisans with beautiful, handmade products, or hard-to-come-by, imported products.

Juggling work and kids With DB Mama going strong, Hui is concentrating on Sooq, and with 25 vendors already on board and some great sales, she’s happy with progress so far. “I’d rather be busy than bored,” she says. “I’ve decided that I will enjoy every moment as it happens, and accept the fact that what with caring for the kids and growing my business, I can’t do everything at the same time.”

Interestingly, Hui and her team of six are determined to stay small. “Of course, we want to give our buyers a good selection, but we also don’t want to be the size of sites like Taobao [China’s eBay] or Etsy,” she says. “We want to avoid buyers having to spend hours searching for what they want. In fact, we’re happy to limit the number of vendors to no more than 100.”

In addition to her great colleagues, Hui is quick to admit that she’d be lost without her family. “I feel extremely lucky to have such a supportive husband by my side,” she says. But it’s her daughters that really inspire Hui to make Sooq a success. “I want to teach my girls about equality, and that they can be successful in their chosen career,” she says. “I want them to be proud of their Mummy, and say, ‘We can do that too!’”

Find it Seru Rabeni set to beef up DB Pirates’ play

Find more local gossip March 2015

got a great eye for detail and high standards when it comes to quality.”

• Sooq, www.sooqcentral.com

@ www.arounddb.com

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On a whistle-stop, five-day tour, Kathryn Gardner discovers why Guilin has for centuries been the destination of Chinese painter-poets seeking to immortalise its improbable natural beauty

52

W

ith five days in hand, you have plenty of time to take in Guilin and Yangshuo, two of the ‘three beautiful sisters’ of Guangxi Province. Famous for its dream-like karst scenery, jade-green rivers and other worldly mountains, this area has long been an inspiration for painters and poets and is one of the most popular destinations in China.

karst mountains. The main industry is tourism, so it’s much cleaner than other cities in China, with very little pollution. Added to which, there are several five-star hotels, including a Sheraton and a Shangri-La, as well as the recently opened Club Med property, which is situated within a modern art park.

Located just one-and-a-half hours from Hong Kong, Guilin is a beautiful city, surrounded by two rivers and four lakes and studded with sheer-sided

Arriving in Guilin in the early afternoon – it’s just a 30-minute drive from the airport – we immediately booked a cruise on the Li River for

March 2015

Exploring Yangshuo

the next day. Straight out of a Chinese landscape painting, the trip takes around five hours and covers over 83 kilometres. The boats used are not luxurious, but with the views on offer, this isn’t an issue. Take advantage of the seafood lunch on board, freshly caught while you are sailing.

The boat docks in the beautiful town of Yangshuo, a haven away from the city, and now something of an outdoor activity centre. If time allows, I would recommend staying here for a night or two to enjoy the scenery and the countryside. Its resident five-star hotel,

ESCAPES

A cruise on the Li River is straight out of a Chinese landscape painting

The Green Lotus, is very comfortable, but there are many guesthouses and homestays, which would also provide a charming base.

The best way to explore Yangshuo is by bike and these are easy to rent on the main street. Arm yourself with a local map, and you can then spend a day cycling around the local villages, and the interesting back streets of the old town, experiencing the beautiful scenery close up.

If adventure activities are your thing, Yangshuo offers some great rock-

climbing, abseiling and trekking, and this can all be booked either before you go, or on the main street.

During your time in Yangshuo be sure to check out the amazing Impression Liu Sanjie light show, designed and directed by Zhang Yimou, who directed the opening ceremony at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It’s set in a spectacular outdoor theatre, with the Li River and 12 misty mountains serving as the backdrop. The story depicts the life of the local river people and over 600 performers are involved, along with bamboo boats and

cormorants (used for fishing in this area). Accompanied by a mixture of modern and classical Chinese music, it gives a real insight into the local ethnic minorities’ way of life.

Another must do, is a visit to the stunning Longji terraced rice fields in Longsheng, also known as the Dragon’s Backbone, due to their shape.

This is where many of the ethnic minorities live and farm the land.

(Guangxi and Guilin are home to 12 different ethnic minorities besides the Han Chinese). Construction of the terraces began in the Yuan Dynasty   March 2015

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You can spend a day cycling around the local villages, and the interesting back streets of Yangshuo

(1271-1368), and continued until the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It’s also possible to spend a night here at one of the homestays, which is a great way to learn more about the local people’s way of life.

Glorious Guilin

Elephant Trunk Hill is a symbol of Guilin

We returned to Guilin, after a twohour drive, on the morning of day four, and immediately took a cable car up Yao Mountain, the highest of Guilin’s city peaks. Stopping at one of the local teahouses, the views from the top were sublime. There are literally scores of rocky crags and peaks but Elephant Trunk Hill, nearby, is frequently used as a symbol of the city – with a large natural arch cut into it, it resembles the trunk of an elephant dipping into the river.

Cave lovers should pay a visit to Fubo Hill, a sheer-sided rock, with a cave containing historical stone carvings from the Tang Dynasty and Buddhist inscriptions. At Reed Flute Cave about 5 kilometres west of Guilin, the impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations, resembling lions, monkeys, old men, the skyline of Guilin, and so on, are artificially lit.

There are also plenty of inner-city parks to explore, including Black Hill Botanic Gardens, one of the oldest botanical gardens in China, and Seven Star Park, which offers up a small zoo

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March 2015

Reed Flute Cave, 5 kilometres west of the city

Longji terraced rice fields in Longsheng

Guilin’s dream-like karst scenery

with giant pandas. West Hill Park, meanwhile, boasts a lake, temples and hundreds of Buddhist statues, plus a number of caves.

Guilin Art Museum, the Guilin

Impression Liu Sanjie light show

Museum and the Li River Folk Custom Centre are all worth a visit if you have time. It’s possible to walk to many of these sites from the main hotels, but it’s also very easy to get a taxi. Cabs are relatively cheap but English is not too 

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ESCAPES

widely spoken, so bring a phrasebook.

Alternatively, you can enlist the help of a local guide and driver; this makes life simpler, and will give you a better understanding of the history of the city and the sights you are there to see.

Getting there Direct flights run daily to Guilin from Hong Kong with Dragonair and Hong Kong Airlines.

When to visit

For foodies, there are some excellent cooking schools in Guilin, where you can have a go at making local dishes, which mix Cantonese and Hunanese styles. Classes usually start with a visit to the local market, so you are using produce that is in season.

The weather is generally mild with four distinctive seasons – sunny and vigorous spring, rainy and foggy summer, cool and pleasant autumn, breezy and drizzling winter. Average temperatures vary from 8ºC in January to 28ºC in July. The optimum time to visit is from April to October.

If you have the time, Guilin is an excellent base for exploring the northern end of Guangxi Province but it also makes for a fabulous minibreak – the perfect antidote to builtup, indoor-orientated Hong Kong.

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ACTION

LET THE GAMES

BEGIN!

Photos of the 2014 Tennis Nations Cup by Baljit Gidwani and Josh Clery, and courtesy of the DBRC, Tessa Weinrath and Rosanna Sy-Siong

It’s time for the Tennis Nations Cup, DB’s most competitive – and enjoyable – weekend of sport. Elizabeth Kerr gets into the swing of things alongside the DBRC’s new head tennis coach

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T

he 22nd annual Tennis Nations Cup is set for March 21 and 22 and, as usual, it should be an intense, competitive and, above all, fun weekend. Gathering at the Discovery Bay Recreation Club (DBRC), players from up to 20 countries are there to show off their home country’s tennis prowess. It’s two days of good-natured needling and one-upmanship, with March 2015

everyone in it to win it (and stop the Aussies taking the cup for the eleventh time).

Placing first to third last year were, indeed, Australia (Kirra Beach), the Philippines and the United States.

Teams comprised of eight men and four women – potentially well over 200 players – play round-robin matches on Saturday, leading to semi-

finals and a final on Sunday. In the end, everyone gets to play twice each day, and best of all, everyone has to dress to represent.

Like something from the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, competitors arrive on court in national colours. Canada may not have placed in the standings last year, but they took home the prize for best on-court duds.

ACTION

says. “My partner Begoña, a Spanish teacher, has just moved out here to join me and I have two daughters, Naia and Ainize, back in Spain. I like the family atmosphere in DB, and I feel sure my girls will like it too.”

Originally from Bilbao, Roberto took over the DBRC’s coaching corps in December. And he is looking forward to improving the existing programme wherever possible.

As for imprinting his own personality on the DBRC’s tennis programme: “I would hope to impart an enjoyment of the sport into my work, both on court and off,” Roberto says. “Tennis is a great game for all and we want more people playing more often!”

Game on Roberto is also looking forward to his first Nations Cup. He’s new to the event, which started out as a threeteam tournament back in 1993, but its reputation precedes it. “I have not witnessed the event before but I’ve heard lots about it from members in the short time that I’ve worked at the DBRC,” he says. “I’m sure it will be very competitive but also a great way to make new friends through tennis.”

Court approved Despite some bells and whistles and an overall tone of good sportsmanship (that’s in the rules), the Nations Cup is about sport, and naturally all sports need a coach or two. Taking over as head coach from Paul Summerside at the DBRC is Roberto Santamaria.

After a competitive career as captain of the Basque Country Spanish

Championship U13s and U15s, time as head coach for the Basque Tennis Association and a stint as a coach on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour, Roberto has racked up more than two decades of coaching experience.

“Hong Kong is full of opportunities, and I look forward to growing culturally as well as professionally,” Roberto

Those friends are part of the event’s appeal for viewers and players alike.

“What I enjoy most about the Nations Cup is being surrounded by fellow Canadians, seeing the amazing costumes and team spirit from different countries, and playing some great tennis,” says 10-year Canuck captain and 12-year competitor Tessa Weinrath.

Throwing a little shade at the ATP, she adds: “There is no other tennis tournament like this in the world.”

Australia/ Philippines player (that’s totally legal), Sean Whittle echoes Tessa, who, like her, was encouraged to sign up by friends. “I’ve been playing in the Nations Cup for four years. I got involved through friends who’ve played for a long time,” he says. “I enjoy the team atmosphere the most, and being able to play mixed doubles with my wife.”  March 2015

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ACTION

Having a ball The Nations Cup is also known for being, arguably, the year’s most welcoming event and a highlight of the DB social calendar for its pleasantly gratuitous party atmosphere. As a community and family gathering, hundreds of spectators show up to cheer on their team, and when they’re not courtside most can be found at the various activities that are open throughout the day, on the lawn beside the tennis courts.

DBRC sports and recreation senior coordinator Charito Sacdalan, an eightyear veteran of the event, still looks forward to the weekend, mentioning that there’ll be new games stalls at this year’s carnival to go along with

the requisite food kiosks and bouncy castles for children up to six. Charito, however, is quick to note the carnival isn’t just for little ones. “We have teens, who started coming in when they were small. They’re still here,” she argues with a chuckle. “I always look forward to the Nations Cup, the costumes and the team outfits. It’s one of my favourite events of the year.”

Then of course, there’s the Sunday night after-party. Following the prize presentation at Club Siena on Sunday, players, friends and family famously let loose. “Oh yes, people have a ball,” begins Charito, awe clear in her voice.

Sunday night is when the non-game outfits come out to shine, the most

Find more clubs and activities

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March 2015

notorious of which have included human condoms and an Elvis impersonating band! “It can be crazy,” Charito adds. “Everybody enjoys it.

There’s lots of dancing. It’s really nice.”

The Americans took home best dressed at the after-party last year, in Viva Las Vegas costume. But does Charito have an all-time favourite? “All of them are favourites. Every nation really prepares their own, unique costume, complete with props.”

If pressed, however, Charito will admit a Snow White crew lingers in her memory, largely because Snow White was a big man with an obvious wig and the dwarves were green. So what is the mistress of festivities parading out in this year? “Ha! No comment.”

@ www.arounddb.com

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LIFESTYLE

I

f you belong to the school of thought that believes everything in the home should be functional as well as beautiful, filling in the decorative details is a cinch. You’ll be interested in decorating with roomspecific accessories – serviceable household tools – that double as design features.

After all, it makes sense to decorate a (small) space with what’s on hand, rather than bringing in superfluous accents, however gorgeous. In the kitchen, line open shelves with stylish jars brimful of colourful pasta and place a designer kettle on the hob.

In the bathroom, colour coordinate everything from the towels to the toothbrushes, and use a large shell to hold the soap.

Looked at another way, if even everyday household items need to be displayworthy, your so-called display pieces have to serve a functional purpose as well as a decorative one. Use your prized Chinese pillow box to store bills and keys, and arrange flowers in the Lalique vase you inherited from your grandmother. Rather than keeping family heirlooms and choice antiques locked up behind glass, put them to good use, on a daily basis.

Less is more

Photos courtesy of Jane Clyde

You don’t have to be a die-hard minimalist to appreciate that less is more when it comes to displaying accessories – and it’s not what you display but how you display it that counts.

Clutter a table top with too many ornaments and you will be unable to appreciate individual pieces, so be sure to give each piece ample space and deliberate attention. The objects you display together need to complement each other in terms of style, colour or form – it’s important to display your specific interest in its own space as a cohesive collection, whether it is Chinese porcelain, crystal or Buddha heads.

1

SHOW AND TELL Everything from everyday items to treasured collections can be made to look inspiring.

You just need to master the art of stylish display, writes Jane Clyde While you can use side tables and consoles to support individual pieces or small groupings, you’ll need wallmounted shelves or built-in cabinets to display larger collections of ornaments (or books). Wall niches are another good solution, since each niche stands out in its own right, framing the object and bringing it into focus.

Note too that frames are not just for pictures. Small items, from antique buttons and hat pins, to matchboxes and stamps can be arranged in frames.

Think of them as tiny museums. You can also frame and hang unexpected items, such as vintage fabrics.

Once arranged, things don’t stay that way for good. Moving objects around creates new interest and allows you to see them afresh. If you like collecting pieces, most arrangements evolve without a plan and will naturally change as you add new items. Displays should never be predictable or static; they are there to be changed, rearranged and improved.  March 2015

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LIFESTYLE

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Less is more when it comes to displaying accessories – and it’s not what you display but how you display it that counts

3

4

5 March 2015

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LIFESTYLE

Get the look!

1 Reveal your passion. Mention the word display and most

people think of paintings on a wall or framed family photos on a sideboard. But you can display just about anything. There is nothing to stop you hanging a favourite dress from a picture rail or even positioning your beloved bicycle in place of a painting. If you love something why hide it in a cupboard?

2 Choose a theme. For a display to hang together, it helps to

have a theme. The link might be the type of item, a colour or pattern, or something more personal, like objects trawled from your travels or picked up on the seashore. But don’t get too hung up on what fits with what. The best displays happen organically.

3 Control the colour. It’s easiest to display things against a

white wall but colourful paint and patterned wallpaper can work as a backdrop, as long as you pair it with items that stand out. If you have lots of pale objects, such as a collection of cream pots, consider painting the walls dark red so the display catches the eye. A group of green-based items will look well against green-blue patterned wallpaper.

4 Customise your cabinetry. Arranging items on purpose-

built, fitted shelves or in individual alcoves is a great way to create a display. By covering a length of wall with square-cut inserts, you can exhibit any number of pieces no matter how eclectic the grouping. Use low-voltage down-lights to draw the eye to each niche.

5 Play with scale. Just because a room is small doesn’t mean

that you should use only small ornaments – size doesn’t really matter. One or two large sculptural pieces on a coffee table look more interesting than lots of little things. Consider too the height at which you display pieces. You are looking to create a multi-level arrangement.

6 Use shelves. Beloved books gather dust and make a room look antiquated unless you arrange them artfully. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, preferably set back, work best. Few collections remain static so you should allow for expansion, providing more space than you need initially. Opt for adjustable shelves, as books vary greatly in size.

7 Be practical. Even the most utilitarian kitchen and bathroom

accessories are now designed to be beautiful, so you can use them in place of traditional ornamentation. Opt for open cabinetry, shelves and racks to put functional still-life arrangements on display. It’s show time!

7

Find more on stylish living

@ www.arounddb.com

March 2015

65

HK HAPPENINGS

10 FUN THINGS TO DO IN HK THIS MONTH!

ugh Throrch 8 Ma

Get your events listed @ www.arounddb.com

www.socialhospitality.com

RESTAURANT WEEK Across Hong Kong

Enjoy affordable lunches and dinners at more than 100 popular, local restaurants during the bi-annual Hong Kong Restaurant Week. Hoping to win awards for service and cuisine based on customer reviews, participating restaurants offer specially designed, three-course meals, with prices ranging from HK$118 (lunch) to HK$418 (dinner). To find out more, or make a booking, visit www.restaurantweek.hk.

LANTERN CARNIVAL Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Tsim Sha Tsui

March

5

ED SHEERAN LIVE!

Hong Kong ART WEEK

AsiaWorld-Expo Arena, Chek Lap Kok

Across Hong Kong

Not only did English singersongwriter Ed Sheeran write All These Little Things and 18 for One Direction, playing at the same venue on March 18, the 23-year-old’s own singles have earned him two Brit awards and a huge fan base. For tickets for the 8pm show, costing HK$680, visit www.hkticketing.com.

www.hong-kong-traveller.com

Watch ethnic Chinese dancers and singers, take part in lantern riddle games and have your palm read at the Urban Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival at 7.30pm. Admission is free. You can also check out the impressive lantern displays, lit up from 6.30pm until 11pm daily through March 22. To find out more, visit www.lcsd.gov.hk.

4

-1 March 12

www.comedyfest.com.sg

66

10 March www.mushroom.com

FRINGE COMEDY FEST Across Hong Kong

Competing for a place at the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, more than 20 local and international comedians are set to perform 30 shows at the Magners International Comedy Festival. Must-sees include Aussie-born John Robertson, who performs one of his sets in total darkness, and Vivek Mahbubani (pictured), host of the RTHK ATV (World) series Hong Kong Stories. For tickets, starting at HK$300, visit www.ticketflap.com; for more information, visit www.comedyfest.com.sg.

March 2015

March 12-17

1 Asia Contemporary Art Show, March 12-15, Conrad Hong Kong, Admiralty. The 3,000 works of art on show include original paintings, limited editions, sculpture and photography. asiacontemporaryart.com.

2 Asia Hotel Art Fair, March 13-16, Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel and Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui. Aiming to promote Asian art, paintings are displayed in hotel rooms (and a shopping mall). www.hotelartfair.kr.

3 Art Central, March 14-16, Central Harbourfront.

This brand-new art fair features over 70 leading international galleries. artcentralhongkong.com.

4 Art Basel, March 15-17, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wanchai. Some 230 leading galleries from 37 countries present museumquality pieces by proven masters and new artworks by emerging artists. www.artbasel.com.

HK HAPPENINGS

Friend us on Facebook for event reminders www.jamesandalex.com

March 13-15

SALSA FESTIVAL Across Hong Kong

Expect street dancing, live music, performances and workshops by salsa experts, plus parties galore at this three-day dance fiesta. For more information, and tickets to watch the World Salsa Championships at Ocean Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui (starting at HK$350), visit www.hksalsafestival.com.

PARTY WITH PITBULL!

1

ch 2 Mar

CAVALIA

www.reddit.com

Central Harbourfront

-29 March 20 Victoria Park, Causeway Bay • With more than 50 stalls to shop, plus beautiful floral arrangements and landscape displays, the annual Hong Kong Flower Show is a great place to stock up on beautiful flowers and plants

AsiaWorld-Expo Arena, Chek Lap Kok Grammy award-winning American rapper, Armando Christian Pérez (aka Pitbull) makes his Hong Kong debut at 8.15pm. His collaborations with artists like Christina Aguilera and Ne-Yo have more than 1 billion hits on YouTube, and he wrote and recorded We are One (Ole Ola) for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte. For tickets, costing HK$1,080, visit www.hkticketing.com.

Hong Kong FLOWER SHOW

March

21-22 www.4dimages.blogspot.hk

BEACH 5’S

Repulse Bay Beach If you couldn’t get tickets for the Hong Kong Sevens, March 27 to 29 at the Hong Kong Stadium, Causeway Bay, why not head to Asia’s biggest beach festival. Starting at 9am, the Prudential Beach 5’s, which began with just beach rugby in 2011, now also includes beach netball, dodgeball and for the first time this year, football and a competitive fitness zone. Admission is free. Visit www.hkbeach5s.com.

• Organised by the Leisure and Culture Services Department (LCSD) since 2000, the show is the biggest horticultural event of its kind in the territory • Last year’s show saw over 200 organisations from 15 countries showcase more than 350,000 exotic flowers, and it attracted some 550,000 visitors • This year’s theme flower is the Oncidium (pictured), a type of orchid which grows wild in the jungles of Central and South America • Admission to the show, which runs from 9am to 9pm each day, costs HK$14. Call 2601 8260, or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/hkfs/2015/

April 12 March 31-

This impressive equestrian ballet features 50 magnificent horses, plus riders, aerialists, acrobats, dancers and musicians from all over the world.

Created by Normand Latourelle, a Cirque du Soleil cofounder, Cavalia takes place in the largest touring big top in the world. For tickets, starting at HK$395, visit www.cavalia.net; to win tickets turn to page 27.

www.meetup.com

www.fabiovisentin.com

March 2015

67

DB FACES

COMMUNITY SNAPS!

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

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

COMPETITION

Photos by Baljit Gidwani, Eugenia Robertson and Elysia Roach

Win prizes from Uncle Russ Coffee and The Pier Bar!

A

B

Y

C

Congratulations to last month’s winner Nicola Maw! Please contact our office on 2987 0577 to collect your prize.

our challenge this month is to identify which of the 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 photos is the exact copy. You can contact us via the competitions link at www.arounddb.com, by clicking on one of the QR Codes, or by emailing info@baymedia.com.hk by March 10. This is your chance to win a complimentary coffee from Uncle Russ, or a beer from The Pier Bar every day for a week. Don’t forget to include your name and telephone number with your answer. Good luck!

Specialist Mortgage, the No.1 provider of Australian property finance to international investors

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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 www.dbicc.org

HOME & REPAIRS

View local business directories @ www.arounddb.com COMMUNITY

FINANCE & INSURANCE

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS (MORMONS)

AUSTRALIAN TAX RETURNS

Sunday 1pm.

4/F Discovery College.

Visitors welcome. Call 9029 1251

EMPLOYMENT

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

HOME SERVICES

PETS

EXPERT MOVER

THE PLACE WHERE THE PETS GO - PETCODB

• Mover • Storage • Handyman Competitive rates.

Professional quality service.

Contact 2566 4799, sales@expertmover.hk.

Visit www.expertmover.hk

Grooming & Pet Care Services.

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

Contact 2914 0382, info@petcodb.com.

Visit www.petcodb.com

DOG SERVICES

SECRETARY WANTED

To work in DB during May & June.

25 hours per week Monday to Friday.

Native English speaker preferred.

Send brief resume & expected salary to ianrsk@yahoo.com.hk

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

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A MESSENGER?

Michael, an Indian HK resident living on Lantau, seeks post of delivery person for mail/ documents/ small packages.

Full- or part-time.

Call 9145 6731

HEALTH & WELLBEING

HYPNOSIS &/ OR SHORT-TERM THERAPY

Quit smoking quickly.

Divorce/ Post-Divorce Coaching.

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

KIDS

EARLY ADVENTURES PLAYGROUP

A dedicated playgroup with the emphasis on learning through play.

Activities to stimulate all areas of development.

Come & look at our facilities.

Classes for kids from 20 months to 4 years.

Morning & afternoon sessions.

Call 9511 2107, or visit www.earlyadventures.net

Looking for a place to stay?

www.arounddb.com

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

100% safety record over the past 11 years.

Contact Dave Chan on 9872 5439, www.quoquoclub.com

RETAIL ABBELIO WINES

Great value! High scoring! Wines from around the world!

Free delivery & special offer for Discovery Bay residents.

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

DB MARINA CLUB DEBENTURES

Do you have a C Class or B Class Debenture you are not using?

Or one that is expiring, or coming up for extension?

Lifestyle Homes has interested buyers. To find out more, contact info@lifestylehomes.com.hk

MOVEMENT IMPROVEMENT DB NORTH PLAZA We are looking for new teachers to join our expanding team.

• Spinning instructors • Pilates Matwork instructor • Pilates Allegro & Equipment instructor • Gym & TRX instructor Email your CV to claire@ movementimprovement.com.hk

Looking for a business?

www.arounddb.com

March 2015

71

View local business directories @ www.arounddb.com

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

If you want to stop, we can help.

No dues or fees.

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

GIVING LIFE SHOULDN’T BE SO DEADLY Ramatoulaye, who lives in Burkina Faso, was about to give birth to her fourth child, but the boatman was nowhere to be found.

Unable to get to the health centre across the river, she gave birth alone on the river banks.

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

Learn more at www.amnesty.org.hk.

© Anna Kari

72

March 2015

View local business directories @ www.arounddb.com SERVICES ACCOUNTING & COMPANY SERVICES

- Japan qualified – skilled piano technician in DB

Spring is in the air!

We can offer professional advice and services on all piano matters;

NOTARY SERVICES

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

TRAVEL CONCORdE TRAVEL

Creating a good sound to make harmony with your heart!

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

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

FULLY QUALIFIEd SCIENCE TEACHER

With Honours, Bachelors Degree.

Offering tutoring for KS3 & IGCSE Science (all disciplines) and IB/A’ Levels Physics.

Contact 6079 2052, mr.m.walker@yahoo.com.uk

Shop G09-92 Siena Ave. DB North Plaza Tel: 2987 8873 Open Daily 10am – 7:30pm

www.88keys.com.hk E-mail: info@88keys.com.hk Tel : 9687 0726

Leisure Travel and Cruise specialists since 1978.

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

TUITION & COURSES

Mypetshop, North Plaza.

One of the keys to piano maintenance is - How to keep your piano in good condition with a subtropical climate -

Importing all natural, handmade products from small British producers

Easter Mandarin Camp Mar 30 - Apr 11,2015

Full Day & Half Day Camp www.mandarinformunchkins.com

Tei: 2480 3909 Central | Discovery Bay

GMT FOODS Tel: +852 6647 2292 email: gillian@gmtfoodshk.com www.gmtfoodshk.com www.facebook.com/gmtfoods twitter@gillian_GMT

est. 2009

Birth & Postnatal Support Antenatal Classes Breastfeeding support Placenta remedies

Jeanne Hauguel

DOULA

Trust in yourself when it matters...

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

© Cyril Almeras

Prepare management accounts, weekly, monthly or yearly.

Whatsapp 9673 7730.

Email et@ponyservices.com

6496 4318 | jeanne@doulabirthstory.com | www.doulabirthstory.com

Deadline for April issue CLASSIFIEDS

March 10 March 2015

73

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

PROPERTY DB

MODERN 1-BEDROOM FLAT

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

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

Contact Annie on 2987 2626, annie@appletravel.com

2-BED APARTMENT At Greenmont Court, nice & fully furnished.

Call 9108 5525

Search 1000s of DB property listings!

www.arounddb.com NEW 1-BED APARTMENT Brand-new, fully furnished, 533’ 1-bed apartment in Greendale Court. Deluxe renovation, on a high floor, with mountain view. Call 9108 5525

CHERISH COURT 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

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

COSY NEW 1 BEDROOM FULLY FURNISHED 1-BED Smart apartment on a high floor with sea view.

Close to pier & DB Plaza. Available fully furnished.

Call Tiareti on 9732 8985

Cosy & brand-new 1-bedroom flat with sea view, convenient location, fully furnished with bed linen, kitchenware, washer/drier & English & Chinese TV channels. Free cleaning once every 3 days upon request. Minimum stay 3 nights. Contact Mary on 9726 6219, marydbay@gmail.com

PROPERTY OVERSEAS

LUXURY 2-BED 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

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

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

74

March 2015

AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY 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

PHUKET VILLA SHORT-TERM RENT Deluxe, spacious 4-bedroom villa, with ensuite bathrooms & private pool.

Wireless internet access, sala, bar & BBQ area.

Kitchen is fully equipped with laundry area.

Close to Laguna. Contact Roenel on 9050 4772, atsea@netvigator.com

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

Exclusive barbecues for exclusive lifestyles

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

SOUTH LANTAU

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

AQ Prettiness Jumping Castles Shoesee Foldable

FOOD, RESTAURANTS & BARS

9527 6202 9662 1747 5502 6128 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 Mansarover Indian Cuisine 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 2109 1927 2338 2338 3602 8838 3602 8818 3180 0000 2286 6618 2286 6868 3969 1888 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 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

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

6627 4806 6385 0304 9708 0187 6770 1462 2984 0990 HOME & REPAIRS

2786 9699 3147 4088 2185 6550 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 2109 2330 2988 1488 HOTELS

Novotel Citygate Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott

3602 8888 2286 8888 3969 1888 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

9021 1502 2987 8070 2162 5538 6273 7347 6976 8867 3520 3500 2611 9193 2164 7210 2420 1068 2109 3873 2109 4962 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

2984 0222 2984 1847 2984 0498 2984 9720 2984 0009 3484 3095 2980 3002 2984 8933 5465 5511 3489 1282 5402 4154 2984 7982 2984 0418 2984 1265 9022 5737 2983 8931 2980 2582 5991 6292 2980 2699

HEALTH & WELLBEING

HEALTH & WELLBEING

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

LANTAU NUMBERS

2988 8282 2988 1809 3661 1694

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 0302 2980 3676 3689 6709 2984 0006

PROPERTY AGENCIES

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 2984 0080 2984 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 3114 0030 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 2984 7918

Add your business for FREE @ www.arounddb.com

DB NUMBERS

LEARNING CENTRES

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

2987 0855 2323 0738 2259 3422 2988 1515 2987 8136 2987 7061 2987 5633 2666 6183 2834 7276 2537 1087 2987 7575 2987 9003 9029 1251 2259 3422

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

2987 1571 www.islanddance.com.hk

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

9327 0507 littleexplorers@team-fear.com

2812 2660 2987 8226 3480 1348 2987 8460 2987 2098

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

2987 4401 2987 7486 2448 1180 2987 4089 2947 9092

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

2233 3000 2682 1210 2987 1851

2987 1313 2987 4488 2987 0061 2987 5087 2987 7803 2987 1041 2987 0222 2987 0222 2987 7082 2987 0789 2886 8555 2987 0789 2987 9268 2987 4428

International Canadian Law Firm in DB North Plaza offering you customised legal services on the many aspects of your personal and professional life 2116 1333 www.harveylawcorporation.com

Grooming & Pet Services With Trust, Love & Safe Care For the ones you love 2914 0382 info@petcoDB.com www.petcoDB.com

Previously Midget Gems Kids Club www.positivestepsplaygroup.com positivestepsplaygroup@gmail.com

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

FÊTE Event Planners

Bespoke event planning services, from coordination to execution, making your event stand out.

5199 9743 www.fete-eventplanner.com

PetcoDB

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

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

Harvey Law Group Playtime Kids DB

DAILY NECESSITIES

Apple Travel

Little Explorers

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

OTHER SERVICES

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 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

Amity Shoes Care Gillian florist, North Plaza Mypetshop, North Plaza Pets Gallery The Optical House Well Supreme Laundry Services

5369 2329 2529 8256 2987 8873 2987 0428 2987 1368 2987 5151

PROPERTY LISTINGS & BOATS

AQUABLU

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

LEARNING CENTRES

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

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

9632 4287

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

Future Stars Dance Academy

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

2987 6867 melissa@futurestarsdanceacademy.com

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March 2015

Art is a Verb, North Plaza Bayview House of Children DB International School (Kindergarten) DB International School (Pri / Sec) Discovery College Discovery Mind International Play Centre Discovery Mind Kindergarten Discovery Mind Primary School, North Plaza Discovery Montessori School, North Plaza DMR School of Ballet Early Adventures Learning Centre Funfit HK International Learning Academy, North Plaza Kumon, North Plaza L’Ecole Française de Discovery, North Plaza Links Parenting, North Plaza Mandarin for Munchkins, North Plaza SKH Wei Lun Primary School Sunshine House Int’l Pre-School Sunshine House Kindergarten, North Plaza Treasure House

2682 8099 6114 2436 2914 2142 2987 7331 3969 1000 2987 8028 2987 8088 2914 2202 2987 1201 2987 4338 9511 2107 9380 5771 2416 3088 2459 8808 8191 0813 6114 2436 2480 3909 2987 8608 2987 0813 2987 8143 2987 4217

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

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

2987 8484 2987 2023 2987 2088 6055 0146 2987 2987 2987 6238 2102 0888 2987 1919

FOOD & BEVERAGE, HOTELS

% Arabica Coffee Roaster & Farm 2987 1373 2987 8494 2914 2378 3105 3588 2987 7111 2987 8898 2987 1777

DB North Plaza 2885 1312 info@arabica.hk www.arabica.hk 22º North Auberge Discovery Bay (Hotel), North Plaza Berliner

Around DB’s April issue is coming out April 1

2987 2298 2295 8288 2987 8203

Add your business for FREE @ www.arounddb.com FOOD & BEVERAGE, HOTELS Café Duvet Caramba Mexican Cantina Chef’s Choice, North Plaza Ebeneezer’s Figos Seaside Café First Korean Restaurant Fresh Fruit Juice Paradise Hemingway’s by the Bay il Bel Paese Island Café Jaspa’s, North Plaza Kiraku Tei Koh Tomyums La Création Bakery Life Café McSorley’s Ale House Mirch Masala, North Plaza Nevale Kitchen, North Plaza Pacific Coffee Paisano’s, North Plaza Peony Chinese Restaurant Salt & Pepper Solera Subway Super Super The Venue Brazil Churrascaria & Bar Uncle Russ, DB Plaza Uncle Russ, North Plaza Zaks

2987 0966 2987 2848 2172 6111 2987 0036 2987 2915 2987 9123 2987 4768 2987 8855 2987 0202 2987 9311 2997 8688 2987 2886 2987 0767 2987 1829 2591 1422 2987 8280 2987 1337 2172 7099 2987 1662 2673 4445 2500 1950 2336 8001 2555 0772 2914 0005 2914 1308 2777 8411 2682 0068 2682 8110 2987 6232

SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

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

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

34887724 info@tinytots.com.hk www.tinytots.com.hk Club Siena DBees Ice Hockey DB Pirates Ltd. Discovery Bay Marina Club Discovery Bay Golf Club Discovery Bay Recreation Club

2987 7382 6473 4277 2517 8248 2987 9591 2987 7273 2987 7381

TOYS & KIDS’ PARTIES

Bayside Aquatics “Everyone is a swimmer” Affordable Swimwear, training equipment & accessories.

9725 3142 www.baysideaquatics.hk

Babyland Bo Bo House Discoveryland Toysland

2997 8080 2987 4230 2441 0098 2987 7859

TRANSPORT SERVICES

DB NUMBERS

UTILITIES, SERVICES & EMERGENCY HOTLINES 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

2525 6798 2238 3388 2987 4052 2987 6046 2435 4511 2988 2369 2987 6738 2835 1473 2811 0788 2824 5000

WELLBEING

A Mother’s Touch

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

Child & Family Development Practice Developing potential, exploring possibilities 2914 2223 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.

9154 1570 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

Limousine Rental

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

DARUMA SPORTS Offering Judo classes for adults & children at Discovery College & Community Hall 6244 6093 darumasports@gmail.com

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

6283 9270 2914 2727 2914 0186 2987 7351 2987 6348 2987 0208 2987 9368

Nailed It Professional artificial nail services in DB 2987 2266

MOW | Grooming & Skin Care 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

UTILITIES, SERVICES & EMERGENCY HOTLINES

Embody Classical Pilates, Yoga and more!

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

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

3651 2345 2728 8333 2678 2678 2987 4242 2987 7502 2238 3601

Afflatus Hair Workshop, North Plaza Body Talk Maximum Care Salon De Coiffure Sense of Touch Spa Siena Strand and Science HairSPA, North Plaza

2987 0283 6683 5755 2987 2060 2987 4112 2987 9198 2987 7382 2886 3820

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

View the business directory @ www.arounddb.com March 2015

79

OUT THERE

EYE OF THE BEHOLDER Peter Sherwood takes a fresh look at Lantau through the eyes of a visiting Rugby Sevens fan

I

was out of town when an Aussie friend arrived for the Hong Kong Sevens. Kevin is from the outback and refreshing in his ability to take a thought and without recourse to any split-second intellectual examination spit it out as a keen observation. Before the games, he found his way to Discovery Bay where he asked for my whereabouts, assuming everyone must know me, ‘this being a small place and all’.

down a few of them scrawny looking trees and you could make a pretty big fire in the middle for everyone to chuck their sausages and lamb chops on.

He sent this note: “Hey Peter, me and Brenda were in Hong Kong for the Sevens and made it over to where you live. We couldn’t find you. Back in Oz it would be easy. Go to the pub and wait. Discovery Bay looked a bit like Westworld, the movie with that bald bloke Yul Brynner, where this robot goes nuts and scares the hell out of visitors at a futuristic amusement park.

Your ‘DB’ was a bit of an out-of-body experience, so we went on that funny looking boat to Goldmine (was it?)

Bay. This bloke in the boozer there said we should take a bus to see your Big Buddha. He was spot on: it is a very big Buddha alright. But there’s nothin’ much to see and you can’t get a cold beer. My missus says she’s a bit spiritual and she saw a sign saying ‘Moving your spirits and senses’ but it was about a traditional Chinese

Photo by Elysia Roach

My missus thought it was very cutesy.

But then old Brenda thinks snakes and crocs are nice too.

80

Yeah, a pretty unusual place alright, and I dunno about all them picnic tables. Seems weird to have tables and no barby. You should make one. Chop

We saw your beach with no surf, nothin’. If you’re not going to lie in the sun or go for a swim, what’s the point of having a beach?

More of Kevin’s keen observations

Some young Sheila on the ferry reckoned we ought to see Po Lin Monastery – something about a ‘silent order’. I mean how do you give orders in silence? Beats me. Back on the farm I have to yell me bleedin’ lungs out just to get my blokes out of the sack in the morning.

We ended up on a bus to Tai O and it’s pretty weird there too – more shops and beer that tastes like sheep dip.

At a restaurant, the bloke bought us a few dishes of unidentifiable wildlife and a pile of green stuff with tractor engine oil all over it, so we just had a few more beers.

Anyway, mate, sorry we missed you.

By the way, someone’s pinching the buggies off your golf course and driving like fools. Call the cops.”

Peter Sherwood has lived in DB for 16 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 March 2015

shopping ‘village’ made of plastic. I had to drag her away.

@ www.arounddb.com