Around DB November Issue 2019

NOVEMBER 2019

DB’s Globetrotting 5 back from a year’s sabbatical

Stuart Bridge, DBIS’s dynamic new headmaster

How to tame your tech monster

T h e BIG Pic n ic

Buy an event wristband and get ready to party on November 9!

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

FREE

Price SALAD (4lb) Guest name Contact number E-mail Self-collection date and time Or Delivery date Delivery time

11am — 1pm

1pm — 3pm

3pm — 6pm

HK$308

Roast Chicken with Pumpkin, Capsicum and Feta Salad

HK$388

Cranberry and Quinoa Salad with Candied Walnuts

HK$328

Assorted Cold Cuts and Cheese Platter

HK$598

FROM THE OVEN

Delivery address

Total amount HK$ Card type VISA Master Credit card number Card holder’s name Expiry date MM/YY __ __ / __ __ Card Issuing Bank Signature

Roasted Vegetable Salad with Caper Dressing

Roast Whole Turkey with Giblet Jus and Cranberry Sauce (14-16lb)

HK$798

Honey Glazed Boneless Gammon with Honey Pineapple Sauce and Dijon Mustard (4.5lb)

HK$528

Roast U.S. Beef Strip Loin with Herb Jus (6.5lb)

HK$1,788

Roast Pork Spare Rib with BBQ Sauce (4.5lb)

HK$598

DESSERT Signature must correspond to the specimen signature of the above credit card account.

Christmas Cinnamon Cheese Cake (2lb)

HK$588

Buche de Noel (2lb)

HK$568

Quantity

EAA LIC C-033418

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CONTENTS

Join your community online

November 2019

PROFILE - 38 Meet Stuart Bridge, DBIS’ new headmaster

IN FOCUS - 42 Would you take a year off to travel as a family?

EDUCATION - 46 Getting kids off their gadgets

TOP TIPS - 51 Why boredom is good for you

ESCAPES - 54 What to see in Seoul

38 REGULARS

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

AGENDA

31

SUCCESS STORY Marc Meldrum

08

DB EVENTS

49

WISH LIST November must-haves

33

GIVEAWAYS

58

RECIPES Italian from A Tavola

61

HK HAPPENINGS

DB FACES In and around the plaza

65

CLASSIFIEDS

64

68

PROPERTY

72

OUT THERE Peter Sherwood talks back

69

LOCAL NUMBERS

ON THE COVER The BIG Picnic is ready to rock DB on November 9

We also publish…

TH

FR

5

YOUR GUIDE TO HONG KONG’S ‘GREEN JEWEL’

YE

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EE

A

RU

N

N

IN G

NOVEMBER 2019

Stuart Bridge, DBIS’s dynamic new headmaster

DB’s Globetrotting 5 back from a year’s sabbatical

Turn to page 25 for the band schedule and event info

2019 / 2020

How to tame your tech monster

T he BIG Picnic

Buy an event wristband and get ready to party on November 9!

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

FREE

Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Rocks

FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF FOOD & DRINK • LIVING • PETS • SPORTS • PASTIMES • EDUCATION • HEALTH • BEAUTY • SERVICES • TRAVEL & EXCURSIONS • COMMUNITY

www.arounddb.com Publishers in Lantau since 2002

CLOCKENFLAP

PUBLISHER Corinne Jedwood corinne@baymedia.com.hk GENERAL MANAGER Philip Jay philip@baymedia.com.hk MANAGING EDITOR Rachel Ainsley rachel@baymedia.com.hk PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Elizabeth Jerabek elizabeth@baymedia.com.hk ART DIRECTION Terry Chow terry@baymedia.com.hk GRAPHIC DESIGNER Duey Tam duey@baymedia.com.hk DIGITAL & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Alexander Grasic alexander@baymedia.com.hk OFFICE MANAGER Nikki-Ann Yee nikki@baymedia.com.hk PHOTOGRAPHERS Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com Col Sim www.colsimphotography.com CONTRIBUTORS Jason Broderick Anoush Davies Elizabeth Kerr Suveera Sharma Peter Sherwood Dorothy Veitch PRINTING Champion Design & Production Co. Ltd Flat C & D 9/F Sing Teck Factory Bldg 44 Wong Chuk Hang Rd Hong Kong

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in AroundDB 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.

© BAY MEDIA GROUP LTD

www.evoqueportraits.com

TENNIS CHARITY CUP

Almost 200 DB tennis players battled it out on court at the 16th Forward Motion Tennis Charity Cup on September 28, as they raised funds to support Watchdog Early Education Centre and The Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association. Just Wanna Smash it were crowned Charity Cup champions, the DB Justice League won the Goodwill Cup, and the 80’s Servivors took home best dressed.

s t n e v e y t i n u rece nt c om m

THE HOTTEST

IN DISCOVERY BAY

www.arounddb.com November 2019

9

DB EVENTS

KAPUHALA FARMERS MARKET

With chef-cooked food from Spain, Italy, India, Panama, Peru and more, DB residents enjoyed a feast at the Kapuhala Farmers Market on October 19. Part of the event proceeds went to food rescue organisation Food Angel.

www.evoqueportraits.com

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November 2019 www.arounddb.com

DB EVENTS

DB BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Eight community teams hooped it up at the DB Basketball Tournament Community Health Cup on October 19 at Discovery College. The tournament, sponsored by Love.Together@DB, saw DB Holy Trinity Chapel take home the cup, Castle place second and Triple Threat third.

www.colsimphotography.com

DBRC SWIMMING GALA

Both individual and parent-child relay races were hotly contested at the Discovery Bay Recreation Club Swimming Gala on October 20.

www.colsimphotography.com

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November 2019 www.arounddb.com

DB EVENTS

JAZZ ON THE BEACH

Jazz on the Beach, held on October 5 at Treasure Island in Pui O, was a big hit, with performances from internationally celebrated jazz musicians Sybil Thomas and Kevin Guffy, and in-demand local artists Elaine Liu, Café 852 and Fusion Five.

Photos by Terry Chow

BARCLAYS MOONTREKKER

Starting in Mui Wo, runners raced overnight to beat the sun on October 18 and 19. Barclays MoonTrekker delivers a choice of three course distances – the Moonlit 30, Sunrise 40 and Phoenix 50 – covering some of the toughest sections of the Lantau Trail.

www.barclaysmoontrekker.com

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November 2019 www.arounddb.com

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FitzGerald Lawyers have offices in Hong Kong and Sydney.

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TAKE A HIKE AROUND DISCOVERY BAY!

Overlooked by 465-metre Tiger’s Head, and surrounded by scenic trails and glorious beaches, Discovery Bay is regarded as one of the best hiking destinations in Hong Kong. This weekend, why not enjoy a leisurely stroll from plaza to plaza through Central Park, or make your way to Mui Wo via the Trappist Monastery? Both routes are familyfriendly and definitely worth revisiting.

From plaza to plaza Photos courtesy of Hong Kong Resort

Easy stroll. 2.3 kilometres It seems a waste to hop on a bus when you can take a short, scenic walk from DB Plaza to DB North Plaza.

From the DB ferry pier, keep right and make your way through D’Deck and around Tai Pak Beach. The promenade ends at the far side of the beach, and here you turn left at the playground and follow Seahorse Lane until it joins Discovery Bay Road.

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November 2019 www.arounddb.com

Turning right onto Discovery Bay Road, walk up the hill past SKH Wei Lun Primary School and Discovery Bay International School. As often as not, you can enjoy a welcome breeze at the top of the hill near Parkridge Village before you continue down to make a right onto Siena Avenue. About halfway down Siena Avenue, a pedestrian path on your right leads to Central Park.

Here you can stop to watch the koi swimming in the lake, give the kids a break at the playground, or enjoy a picnic under the trees.

Before you go on a hike, grab a copy of the DB Hiking Guide at DB Plaza ferry pier, or by the escalator near Cali-Mex in DB North Plaza.

You can also download the map at www.visitdiscoverybay.com

From the park’s main lawn near Club Siena, keep right and pass the entrance to Discovery College, before turning left at the school’s football pitch. The Hong Kong skyline views are stunning as you walk along the bay. Turn right once you’ve passed Club Siena and follow the promenade, which wraps around the water’s edge before culminating at the White Chapel and Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong. Cross the road and you’re in DB North Plaza – you’ve earned a cool drink and a bite to eat.

To Silvermine Bay

Decent challenge. 7.5 kilometres To make your way to Silvermine Bay, start at Nim Shue Wan; you follow the path that hugs the coast for the whole of the first section of this hike. As you walk through the village up a steep hill, you’re immediately surrounded by banana trees and garden plots – it’s funny how quickly you ‘leave’ DB and get out into the countryside. Dogs hang around the village but keep walking and they won’t harm you; they’re used to hikers passing through.

After a sharp descent, you enter a clearing and see a wide road leading up to the Roman Catholic Our Lady of Joy Abbey, better known as the Trappist Monastery.

This section of the hike is steep so take your time.

At the monastery, there’s a beautiful Shrine to Mary, a well-kept garden and a pretty stream that runs beneath a humpback bridge, all of which justify the monastery’s original name – Trappist Haven. Cross the bridge, climb some stairs and you reach the medievalstyle stone chapel. It’s a plain place of worship nestled in the hills, quiet and remote. If you’re lucky enough to arrive during a Divine Office, you can listen to the handful of monks in residence chanting.

Back on the trail, you’re looking at a fairly long climb up to a pagoda at around 300 metres above sea level. It’s all uphill for a while, so mind your pace. While there is a trail that skirts the pagoda, it’s worth taking the stairs up to it (on your left) for the great views.

On your way down, you see Discovery Bay Golf Club on your left, Peng Chau ahead, and Hong Kong Island and a sliver of Hei Ling Chau to your right. You’re now on the homestretch – a casual 1,000-stair descent to Mui Wo. It’s best to take the steps sideways-on at the end because they’re pretty narrow. Here you look down on Mui Wo in the shadow of 869-metre Sunset Peak.

At the bottom of the stairs, follow the path to the right until you wind down to Silvermine Bay. Treat yourself to a swim and a long lunch before ferry-, bus- or taxi-ing it back to DB.

www.arounddb.com November 2019

17

DB EVENTS

YOUR GUIDE

E H T TO

L A I T N E S UPCOMING ES COMMUNITY EVENTS

BOX OF HOPE

DMR DANCERS AT DISNEYLAND

All DB schools

Hong Kong Disneyland

November 4-8

November 9 & 23

www.dmr-hk.com

Catch dancers from DMR School of Ballet at this year’s Disney Youth Performing Arts Parade. The ballet group is performing on November 9, the modern and tap group on November 23. For more information, visit www.dmr-hk.com. www.dbis.edu.hk

Box of Hope is back for its 12th year, pledging to collect a massive 33,000 shoeboxes. All kids need to do is find a box, decorate it and fill it with goodies and essentials to help those in need in Hong Kong and throughout Asia. To get involved, visit www.boxofhope.org.

REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE Discovery Bay International School November 11

THE BIG PICNIC

DB Plaza & Tai Pak Wan November 9 www.dbis.edu.hk

At the second Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) Remembrance Day Service, the community is invited to come together to give thanks, and remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. To find out more, visit www.dbis.edu.hk.

OPERATION SANTA CLAUS WALK Start: Tai Pak Wan November 16

hongkong-rocks.com

The BIG Picnic is ready to rock DB again on November 9. Catch live performances from local talent at Hong Kong’s biggest community music and dance festival. For more event information, including the band schedule, turn to page 25, or visit www.thebigpicnichk.com.

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November 2019 www.arounddb.com

discoverymind.edu.hk

For Discovery Mind’s 14th annual sponsored walk in aid of Operation Santa Claus, residents are encouraged to dress in their festive best as they walk from Tai Pak Wan to Siena Park. To get involved, visit discoverymind.edu.hk

TEAM FEAR

PARKINSON’S CHARITY QUIZ

Throughout DB

McSorley’s Ale House

November 17

November 29

stock.abobe.com

www.team-fear.com

Kids aged eight to 18 have been training hard for this year’s Team FEAR Junior Challenge, in which they adventure-race across DB in support of local charity Youth Outreach. To find out more, visit www.team-fear.com.

HKWMVC ANNIVERSARY CONCERT Sheung Wan Civic Centre

Form a team of four to six to compete to win prizes and raise money for Parkinson’s UK at 7.30pm. There’s a picture round and bingo quiz, and the HK$100 entry fee includes one standard drink. All the prizes have been donated by McSorley’s, and participants can enjoy happy hour prices on all standard drinks throughout the evening. Reserve your place in advance at McSorley’s or by calling 2987 8280.

ADOPT A PET through Hong Ko ng Paws Foundation (PAWS) in DB Plaza on November 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 2pm to 6pm .

Call Kat Cheung on 9485 5188.

STOCK UP AT THE PLAN

Court on November 2 from 2pm T MARKET across from Haven to 4.45pm. Call 2238 3617.

ENJOY FREE YOGA FOR HE LPERS classes at Yoga Bay DB North Plaza on November 3, 10, 17 and 24 from 7am to 8am , .

Call 6704 9851/ 9150 7019 or visi t yogabay.hk.

November 28

SHOP THE DISCOVERY

in DB Plaza on November 3 andBAY SUNDAY MARKET 24 from 11am to 6pm.

Visit www.handmadehongkong.c om.

HAVE YOUR PRELOV

ED your home on November 5, 7, ITEMS COLLECTED at 12, 14, 19, 21, 26 and 28 from 2pm to 4pm. WhatsApp Nikki Boot at 9677 6676.

JO

www.discovery.edu.hk

Support DB members of the Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir (HKWMVC) as they celebrate the choir’s 40th anniversary with a special concert, Thank you for the Music, at 8pm. For tickets, starting at HK$300, visit www.urbtix.hk. You can also catch the HKWMVC performing on the Beach Stage at The BIG Picnic on November 9 at 12.45pm.

IN A BEACH CLEAN-UP November 16 with Plastic Free at Sam Pak Wan on Seas from 9am to 11am.

Visit plasticfreeseas.org.

HAVE YOUR DRINK CART

(food containers and packaging ONS AND POLYSTYRENE ) collected for recycling at the bac k of Hemingway's on November 17 from 9am to 11am.

HELP YOUR HELP

ER! En helpers with the tools to save, rich HK workshops equip budget and plan for a future wit h greater financial security. Visit ww w.enrichhk.org. www.arounddb.com November 2019

19

DB EVENTS

CONGRATULATIONS

COMPETITION

LES BIRD

#beautifuldb2019

Photo courtesy of Les Bird

A Small Band of Men – An Englishman’s Adventures in Hong Kong’s Marine Police, by five-year DB resident Les Bird, is filled with gripping stories spanning 20 years. “It was all a bit Blackadder in the trenches,” Les says of his early experiences as a young police inspector based in Tai O. “Dispatches took two days to reach me and to communicate with the outside world, I had to shout into the trumpet-shaped mouthpiece of a big old Bakelite telephone.” A Small Band of Men, published by Earnshaw Books, is available from November 14 at Bookazine, Kelly & Walsh and Swindon. You can pick up a copy and meet the author at Bookazine in Exchange Square on November 20.

Turn to page 34 to check out the four top-placed photos in the #beautifuldb2019 photography competition, sponsored

by Love.Together@DB. The winner and runners-up were selected by the DB community through a popular vote on the Around DB Facebook page from October 8 to 15. To see all the finalists’ photos, visit www.arounddb.com.

FOR A GOOD CAUSE

NEW AT CENTRAL PIER 3

CHRISTMAS TREE HONG KONG

EXCHANGE PLASTIC BOTTLES FOR CASH

www.colsimphotography.com

www.pexels.com www.pexels.com

Order your Christmas tree now and do your bit for charity.

Lantau-based business Christmas Tree Hong Kong is donating HK$20 to Impact HK for every Nordmann fir purchased. You can pick up your tree on December 7, between 8.30am and 1.30pm, in Discovery Bay, Tung Chung or Mui Wo. For more information and to order, visit www.christmastree.hk.

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November 2019 www.arounddb.com

Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong’s ‘Tap, Return & Earn’ Beverage Bottles Redemption Scheme, in partnership with Octopus Cards Ltd and World Green Organisation, allows you to exchange empty plastic bottles for cash. There are deposit machines throughout Hong Kong, including Central Pier 3.

Simply deposit an empty plastic bottle and receive a HK$0.2 cash rebate by ‘tapping’ your Octopus card. To find out more, visit www.octopus.com.hk.

DB EVENTS

LANTAU HIGHLIGHTS HALLOWEEN BEACH PARTY

Treasure Island, Pui O Beach November 1

OVERNIGHT FAMILY CAMPING Ark Eden, Mui Wo

November 9-10

stock.adobe.com

Eat, drink and be scary at the Treasure Island Halloween Beach Party. You can expect a movie and disco for the kids, followed by an adults-only after-party with a DJ on the decks. To find out more, visit www.treasureislandhk.com.

TUNG CHUNG BAY CLEAN-UP Meet at Tung Chung MTR Exit A

November 17

www.arkedenonlantau.org

Ark Eden is now offering a back-tonature camping experience for the whole family at its base in the foothills of Mui Wo. Everything you need is provided – including tents and a campfire. For more information and to make a booking, visit www.arkedenonlantau.org.

Photo by Terry Chow

Join a family-friendly beach clean-up of Tung Chung Bay, hosted by Lance Lau, a 10-year-old student and young climate activist. Despite being close to so much development, Tung Chung Bay is still a precious habitat for Hong Kong wildlife.

To get involved, visit www.facebook. com/events/1272381612965376.

SAVE the DATE DB 10KM RUN FOR CHARITY Siena Park

December 7

Discovery College

December 7

www.evoqueportraits.com

It’s time to lock in your slot for the 15th annual DB 10km Run for Charity and support Banyan Service Association, an NGO dedicated to helping impoverished elderly people in Hong Kong. Register at HK$350 until November 25, and at HK$400 from November 26 to December 5. To find out more, visit www.dbrunforcharity.com.

22

DC FAMILY FUN DAY

November 2019 www.arounddb.com

www.discovery.edu.hk

At the annual Discovery College Family Fun Day, you can expect charity and commercial stalls, an international range of food booths, and plenty of family-friendly entertainment. To book your space for a commercial stall, email the Discovery College Parent Teacher Association at pta@dc.edu.hk.

SAVE the DATE YHKCC INTERNATIONAL FUN FAIR YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College

December 7

XMAS MARKET AND CHARITY BALL Treasure Island, Pui O Beach

December 14-15

www.yhkcc.edu.hk

There’s plenty of fun to be had at the YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College (YHKCC) International Fun Fair.

Highlights include a bazaar, giant inflatables, game booths, an ethnic food court and student art show. For tickets to the ever-popular student talent show, (matinee, HK$40 and evening, HK$60), email Amanda Shek at amanda.shek@yhkcc.edu.hk.

www.treasureislandhk.com

You can shop for last-minute gifts at the Treasure Island Christmas Market on December 14 and 15, and then enjoy festive celebrations at the group’s annually popular Charity Beach Ball on December 14. Proceeds from the ball benefit Lantau-based animal welfare charities. For more information, visit www.treasureislandhk.com.

The BIG Picnic is back!

The countdown is on! Hong Kong’s biggest community music and dance festival is being held at DB Plaza and Tai Pak Beach on November 9th from 10 am to 10 pm. With hours of live entertainment on four great stages, a kids zone, and food, beverage and Handmade Hong Kong market stalls, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

1 Become immersed in the festival spirit – experience live and original performances from Hong Kong’s best and rising talent.

2 3

Support our mission to encourage Hong Kong’s local and independent performers to showcase their art.

Help us make a difference. We are donating a generous percentage of the proceeds from the sale of event wristbands (priced at HK$100 each) to Plastic Free Seas.

Truly a community festival on all levels, The BIG Picnic enjoys greater visibility and easier accessibility than ever before. Festival-lovers step straight off the ferry at DB Plaza, or off a bus at DBAY Bus Terminus into the hustle and bustle of market stalls, food and drink vendors, the main plaza stage and the dance stage.

A few more steps through the promenade’s alfresco dining area and you reach the beating heart of the festival on Tai Pak Beach, where you find two professional festival stages, a big screen, a beach bar with acoustic and DJ acts, and multiple pop-up dining facilities.

For more on The BIG Picnic: Website: www.thebigpicnichk.com Instagram: instagram.com/thebigpicnichk Facebook: facebook.com/thebigpicnichk Wristband sales have gone live on Ticketflap, so head to ticketflap.com/thebigpicnic2019

The Beach

The Plaza

EV E NT S C HE D UL E

10:00

McDermott School of Irish Dance DMR School of Ballet – juniors

11:15

12:00 12:00

13:00

12:45

13:30

14:00

14:20

The Unsung

Heroes

Embody Studio 12:30

Colderplay

13:15

Hong Kong Trio

14:00

Signal 8

Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir

Benzine

15:40

20:00

21:00

22:00

DMR School of Ballet – seniors

13:45

Aeden Alvarez

14:45

Toni Villa

15:30

YRock

Bus Uncle Diamond 6 Dance for Joy

Hudson Hornet Armonia Vocale

16:15

Static Radio The Beat Studio – juniors

16:50

The 852’s

17:00 17:30

19:00

Edge n Pointe

Kapuhala

16:30

18:00

DC

The Naggin Eejits

16:00

17:00

12:30

Edge n Pointe 14:50

16:00

Future Stars Dance Academy – juniors

The Taken

15:00 15:10

DBIS

17:50

Grounded

18:45

Shum King Mansion

19:40

Helium 3 / Colderplay

20:35

Jack Rabbit Slim

21:30

Rockstars Anonymous

Saxon & Jarvis 17:45

19:30

Dominic Hill (DJ)

Andy is Typing...

Budgie Smugglers

18:30

Coolhitz

19:00

Don’t Panic

19:30

Paul Michael (DJ) & David Howarth (DJ)

Future Stars Dance Academy – juniors

Nidhi Bhagania Dance Conservatory

Let US help YOU!

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SUCCESS STORY

DB

entrepreneur of the month Marc Meldrum, Founder of Expat Insurance

Photo by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

M

y business provides independent advice on private medical insurance (plus a whole range of other insurances) for expatriates in Hong Kong.

We work with our clients face-to-face to select suitable medical insurance products by comparing the options available and discussing the coverage offered. We do not charge for our initial advice and we provide recommendations without obligation. This personal service is not limited to the initial contact and is provided for the renewals and, if requested, when there are complicated claims. I set up Expat Insurance in response to a growing demand in Hong Kong’s expatriate community for coverage and protection that meets the unique needs of the globally mobile. We now have clients scattered all across the world. To succeed in business, you need to love the work.

It is not a matter of wanting to make money. It’s also vital to remember how the business began. I treat a new client with the same enthusiasm I had for my first client. To start up my business, I spoke to everybody I knew to see if anyone needed help with medical insurance. Fortunately, my first clients must have been pleased with my advice because they referred me to others and gradually the work began to spiral upwards.

The greatest challenge I face is rising premiums in the medical insurance world – these are constantly increasing due to the cost of care.

We like to offer cost-saving solutions to these scenarios on an ongoing basis, whether that be a transfer to a different insurer or an adjustment to your current plan. My greatest achievement is being able to run and manage a large business, and to feel we’re doing something worthwhile. It’s always a pleasure to see that maternity benefits have been paid and that we have helped parents at such a happy time. There are also those times when someone has been diagnosed with a critical illness and the insurance we have arranged removes the financial worries. I suppose we see the benefits of our work at the best and worst of times. My plan for the future is to continue what we’re doing, but with more consulting staff. While the insurance world is progressing to online advice and guidance, I firmly believe the personal touch is necessary for a subject such as medical insurance. I, for one, wouldn’t want to buy something online which I don’t clearly understand.

When hiring staff, I always look for four key attributes – approachability, confidence, an outgoing personality and a happy smile. When someone is considering medical insurance, there is much to consider, and it requires patience and empathy to help with these decisions. Product knowledge can be taught, but the ability to help people is an innate virtue. I suppose being a parent would be an advantage too, in that we have our own stories to tell about maternity costs and perhaps medical issues with families. My personal motto is ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away.’

I am in the medical insurance world after all…

FIND IT • Expat Insurance, 701 Connaught Commercial Bldg, 185 Wanchai Road, Wanchai, 3563 9771, www.expatinsurance.com.hk

www.arounddb.com November 2019

31

HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES!

GIVEAWAYS

Around DB prizes are incredibly easy to get your hands on, and you have until the 10th of the month to apply. Scan the QR code, or go to www.arounddb.com/giveaways, select the giveaway you want, and enter your details into the online form

Win tickets to Clockenflap!

Clockenflap is offering two readers each a pair of single-day tickets, worth HK$2,100 per pair, to this year’s three-day festival, taking place at the Central Harbourfront Event Space from November 22 to 24.

Continuing Clockenflap’s mission to bring Asia’s most compelling musical talents to Hong Kong, this year’s edition welcomes a variety of top acts from around the region. Demonstrating the strength and diversity of Taiwan’s music scene are acclaimed singer-songwriters

Crowd Lu and Waa Wei, and rapper Leo Wang, the first hip-hop artist to win the Best Mandarin Male Vocalist award at the Golden Melody Awards (2019). Fans of Japanese girl groups are looking forward to performances by kawaii-metal duo Babymetal and offbeat electronic rock band Chai.

Korea, meanwhile, is well represented by indie rockers Say Sue Me and rapper Colde of Off On Off fame.

To find out more and to purchase tickets, starting at HK$880, visit www.clockenflap.com.

www.clockenflap.com

Asia’s premier outdoor music and arts festival is now in its 12th year, and Clockenflap’s reputation for bringing both established artists and breakthrough acts to Hong Kong is well deserved. Among the big-name acts confirmed to appear this month are British indie giants Mumford &

Sons, US electro-pop sensation Halsey and controversial Miami rap star Lil Pump. The star-studded line-up also delivers English rock heroes The Kooks, Australian psychedelic rockers King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and British-based post-punks the Idles.

Win a place on a Faust winter holiday programme Faust International Youth Theatre is offering two readers a place on either its Holiday Theatre or Creative Writing programme (worth HK$2,400). Each fourday programme is held over a two-week period, from December 17 to January 3, at the Faust studio in Sheung Wan.

www.faustworld.com

Faust’s Holiday Theatre programme allows children, aged four to 13, to learn or build on their drama and performance skills, with plenty of fun and action to encourage creativity and self-expression. The Creative Writing programme helps children, aged six to 13, develop their writing skills and creativity in a fun and relaxed environment. For more information, visit www.faustworld.com.

Win a holiday photo session with Delphine Riche-Franz Photography Delphine Riche-Franz (DRF) Photography is offering one reader one holiday photo session, worth HK$1,580. Make some family memories during the 20-minute outdoor session, and you will later receive eight fully edited highresolution images.

www.drf-photography.com

Delphine is a DB resident, and as a photographer she specialises in “capturing natural and precious childhood moments with images that put a smile on your face and can be cherished forever.” For more on DRF Photography, and to book your holiday photo session, visit www.drf-photography.com/special-offer.

Congratulations to last month’s winners Stella Phillips and Aida Onate for afternoon tea for two at HanMade Teahouse, and Alex Papadimas for a signed tetralogy of Trisha Hughes’ books. www.arounddb.com November 2019

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#beautifuldb2019:

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION The results are in!

Whether it’s beautiful sunrises over Hong Kong’s iconic skyline, or scenic views from mountain-top peaks, Discovery Bay is full of beauty everywhere you look. The winning photos in the #beautifuldb2019 photography competition, pictured here, celebrate the beauty of DB. The winner and runners-up were selected by the DB community through a popular vote on the Around DB Facebook page from October 8 to 15.

Visit www.arounddb.com to view all of the finalists’ photos.

IN FIRST PLACE Col Sim

First prize: A stay at the Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong, plus dinner buffet and breakfast buffet for two

IN THIRD PLACE Martina Stevens

Runner-up prize: Lunch buffet for two at the Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong

IN SECOND PLACE Jules Angeline

Runner-up prize: Dinner buffet for four at the Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong

IN FOURTH PLACE Eva Thieulle

Runner-up prize: Afternoon tea for two at the Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong

The organiser has the discretion to use the photos for promotion purposes and reserves the right of final decision in the event of any disputes. Terms and conditions apply.

Love.Together@DB is a community-caring platform initiated by Hong Kong Resort Company dedicated to serving the Discovery Bay community. The platform has been supporting and coorganising diversified corporate social responsibility initiatives with NGOs, community leaders and volunteers to promote the loving and caring culture in the sustainable and multicultural DB community.

深色底

深色底

E

RAL - HONG K NE ON GE G &

CAU MA

CON SU LA T

深色底

Photo by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

PROFILE

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DB

DYNAMO

Ditching Dulwich College to take up the headship at Discovery Bay International School, Stuart Bridge is looking to blaze a new trail. Elizabeth Kerr reports November 2019 www.arounddb.com

A

sk Stuart Bridge, the new headmaster at Discovery Bay International School (DBIS), what inspired him to work in education and his reply is quick and firm. “Children…

I thoroughly enjoy working with children. For me, it’s the best job in the world.”

Teaching is a calling, and when DBIS sent out a clarion call for a new leader, Stuart, a native of Derbyshire and an economics graduate from Liverpool University, was immediately drawn to the school’s child-centred, communitybased ethos. “I was struck by the strength, the friendliness, the happiness, the inclusiveness and the positive involvement of the DBIS community,” he says. “The children are happy at the school and have a strong energised spirit with a sense that anything is possible.”

Of course, that was months ago, long before Hong Kong entered into a protracted period of turbulence. But fortunately, Stuart is familiar with the SAR’s ebbs and flows. “Over the last 25 years, my wife and I have visited Hong Kong on many occasions (my brother-in-law worked at West Island School for 15 years), and for the last six years Hong Kong has been our choice holiday location,” he explains.

The “50 very, very soon” reformed accountant (he started his career with KPMG) was drawn to education when he first became an uncle and a godfather.

Realising teaching was his true calling, he enrolled in Hull University for teacher training. It was there that he met his wife of 24 years, Louise.

Still, Stuart and Louise are technically newcomers: they’ve

been living in Discovery Bay full time for just two months. “We have settled into DB very well – everyone has been very welcoming and friendly,” Stuart says. “Our dog is loving the more relaxed lifestyle and the beautiful walks.”

“Given the strength of the community and our location, I passionately believe that we can become world leaders in terms of wellbeing and experiential/ outdoor learning” The couple relocated from Suzhou, where their two sons, 20 and 21, graduated from Stuart’s last posting, Dulwich College (DCSZ). After six years in China – he joined DCSZ in August 2013 as head of senior school and became headmaster in 2017 – Stuart was ready for a change and a new challenge. Louise, an English, German and French language teacher, is evidently ready for a break. She’s taking what amounts to a sabbatical.

Leadership goals Stuart officially took the reins of DBIS at the beginning of August, and he says he was drawn to the way the 37-year-old school “operates with a level of professionalism, expertise, knowledge, confidence and experience that immature schools lack.”

Despite being the educational vanguard in DB, founded in 1983, with fresh competition now coming from elite ‘brands’ like Harrow and Malvern, DBIS has its work cut out for it, if it’s to stay ahead of the curve. It needs a trailblazer in the big chair.

Given his leadership experience at DCSZ, and at a host of other top UK and international schools, including Tanglin Trust School in Singapore, it’s clear Stuart is the right man for the job.

There’s no doubt that academic excellence will be high on Stuart’s agenda at DBIS, just as it was at DCSZ. In July 2018, his International Baccalaureate students celebrated an average points score of 38.8; “a record best ever for the Dulwich group and one of the highest averages in the world.” At DBIS, however, Stuart is looking forward to the opportunity to furthering students’ academic success on his own terms. He’ll be steering his own ship, without having to adhere to a “centralised set of values and culture, driven by a very different school in a different part of the world for children with very different interests and needs.”

Academic results aren’t everything, of course, and Stuart places equal import on extracurriculars that will ensure DBIS students are prepared for the world they’ll be graduating into.

“Given the strength of the community and our location, I passionately believe that we can become world leaders in terms of wellbeing and experiential/ outdoor learning,” he argues. “DBIS prioritises wholeperson education. Our students need to be well-rounded global citizens, who are well-equipped to  deal with future challenges.”

www.arounddb.com November 2019

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PROFILE

“Tomorrow’s world,” as Stuart calls it, is already looking radically different than the one just a few years back, and the global push for representation and inclusion is playing a major part in that sea change. Will DBIS be nimble enough to respond to shifting student concerns?

“One of the things that attracted me to DBIS was how the individual child comes first, rather than children being forced to fit into a particular school brand’s way of doing things,” Stuart comments.

“I think DBIS is inclusive and I’m

proud to share with you that our students have just introduced our first Pride Club.” Indeed, DBIS’s kids are doing better than the rest of Hong Kong on that front.

No matter which way you cut it, Stuart is taking over DBIS at a time when education seems more crucial than ever – and in many ways more exclusive. “The thing that really saddens me most about education is that those who need it most, often can’t or choose not to access it,” he laments. “Children get one go at this and it is a real shame.”

To ensure that DBIS students’ ‘onego’ at through-train education is enriching and productive, Stuart is determined to raise standards across the whole learning programme and increase the range of opportunities available outside the classroom, while maintaining DBIS’ inclusive ethos.

“Given its location and strong community, DBIS is in a fantastic position to continue to progress and move forward,” he finishes. “It’s a great school and I am immensely proud to be headmaster here.”

Find more local heroes @ www.arounddb.com

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READERS’ GUIDE TO WINTER CAMPS 2019 In the December issue of Around DB, we are featuring a guide to winter camps in DB and across Lantau.

To advertise your camp in our guide, call 2987 0577, or email corinne@baymedia.com.hk.

Winter camps Ark Eden December 17-21

A.C.T Worldwide December 18- 22

A.C.T Worldwide offers a dramaintensive, Christmas-themed aged extracurricular programme for kids Through 8 to 12 in DB and Tung Chung. students various drama-based activities, in are empowered to speak confidently front of others. One-to-one performance and coaching in presentations, voice acting are also available. m,

5996 0921, info.actworldwide@gmail.co www.actworldwide.com

focus on Ark Eden’s Christmas camps nurturing kids’ love of the outdoors.

Surrounded by nature on a hillside five in Mui Wo, the group is hosting to 5 different camps for kids aged of 11. Each camp offers up a range cooking, activities, including campfire scavenger hunts, playing in a treehouse and nature crafts.

2984 5355, info@arkedenonlantau.org, www.arkedenonlantau.org.

Dr Bear Education Centre

Coding Kids

December 17-21 & December 31-January 4

December 17-21, January 2-4

set up for Coding Kids has winter camps all different ages and levels at Seaview the Parkridge. Tutors make coding games incredible adventure that it is, using to and online tools that are guaranteed spark curiosity and innovative thought. to Children learn everything from how build a to make their own computer to how company website.

Dr Bear Education Centre’s Christmas Plaza Mandarin Immersive Camp in DB provides a relaxing and joyful learning above. environment for kids aged 2 and Classroom-based learning includes topics such as Christmas, winter, travelling and the New Year.

6762 6264, drbearschool@gmail.com, fb.me/drbearschool.

om,

6274 1167, twayburne@codingkidshk.c www.codingkidshk.com

Banana Art Club

December 17, 18, 20, 24, 27 & 31, January 2 & 3 Banana Art Club’s Christmas camps kids at Discovery College encourage explore aged 3+ and teens aged 12+ to their artistic boundaries and creativity.

Each multi-activity art camp covers different mediums like calligraphy, painting, Chinese painting, crafts, canvas printmaking and 3D building. bananaartclub@gmail.com, www.bananaartclub.com

HK Dragons Football Club

December 17-21 & December 31-January 4 HK Dragons Football Club’s Christmas Plaza and New Year camps at DB North for Community Centre Pitch are suitable Dragons Little Dragons (U4 to U5), Junior (U9 and (U6 to U8) and Senior Dragons up). Kids develop technique, improve and safe skills and play matches in a fun a environment. Each participant receives certificate at the end.

Cool ways to keep your kids entertained over the Xmas break Pantone 103C

Mandarin for Munchkins

Kapuhala Train-in-Space

iGym

December 15-17

takes iGym’s Christmas camp, which fluid a unique approach to teaching gymnastics, is open to boys and girls aged 4 and up. Beginner and intermediate sessions include games, and arts and crafts to support healthy, happy children in a high-energy learning environment. iGym’s FOBISEA Gymnastics camp is also available to help gymnasts prepare for their competition international upcoming in January.

December 17-21 & 31, January

December 17-21

Kids aged 5 to 9 can enjoy an active Kids break with friends at Kapuhala Christmas camp in DB North Plaza.

Each day, the Little Warriors challenge such themselves with a different activity, and as team games, racing, spin bikes strength bootcamp, while improving their skills. and endurance and learning new 9480 7464, crystal@kapuhala.com, www.kapuhalaspace.com

December 2018 www.arounddb.com

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2486 9012, db@mandarinformunchkins www.mandarinformunchkins.com

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YogaUP

Yoga Bay

Rumple and Friends

December 17-21 & December 31-January 4

December 17-21, 26-28 & December 31-January 4

December 17-21

Rumple and Friends’ Crazy Christmas kids Camp in Sheung Wan transports where aged 3 to 10 to the North Pole, sleigh. they help the Elves to fix Santa’s and Children can expect drama exercises carols games, arts and crafts, Christmas in an and dances, and they get to perform original play for friends and family. ,

9830 8287, info@rumpleandfriends.com www.rumpleandfriends.com

of Aerial Yoga Bay is hosting three weeks kids for Yoga camps in DB North Plaza and aged 7 to 14. Children can explore a safe relax their bodies and minds in and environment with English, Mandarin They Cantonese speaking instructors. body develop essential skills such as awareness, strength, balance, flexibility, fitness, confidence, discipline, focus, concentration and social ability.

6704 9851, namaste@yogabay.hk,

North At Yoga Up’s Kids Camp in DB and Plaza, kids, aged 3 to 12, stretch energise their bodies, while learning mindfulness and self-calming and also relaxation techniques. Kids can a variety explore their creativity through positive of art materials in a harmonious, and non-competitive atmosphere.

8197 5591, hi@yogaup.com.hk

yogabay.hk

5322 5556, theoffice@dragons.hk, www.dragons.hk

2018 www.arounddb.com December

38

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and Mandarin for Munchkins’ sensation camps creation Mandarin Immersion 3 to at DB North Plaza see kids aged day.

7 focus on a different theme eachhear, Teachers guide children to see, and touch and create, while learning speaking Mandarin.

39

IN FOCUS

The globetrotters

return!

Photos by Baljit Gidwani & courtesy of Marie-Christine Merkley

Remember the DB family who took a year off to travel the world?

Well they’re back, and sharing their adventures with Suveera Sharma

42

W

hen I first met Doug Tahirali and MarieChristine Merkley back in June 2018, they were about to embark on a 12-month tour of the world with their beautiful daughters Kaia, then 13, Skye, 10, and Willow, 8.

Now they’re back, having visited 24 different countries across four continents, and I can’t wait to hear about their adventures. It’s like the excitement you feel when the sequel to your favourite movie is about to be released.

There’s no doubt the family has had an exhilarating ride this past

year and a bit. Starting out in Mongolia and returning to DB via Canada, they’ve spent three-anda-half months in Asia, three-and-ahalf months in Africa, five months in South America and a week in North America. They’ve been on the road for 389 days, covering 86,723 kilometres by air, train, bus, car and ferry.

Memories to last a lifetime In dreaming up this trip, MarieChristine (M.C.) and Doug wanted first and foremost to share their love of travel with their kids, and open their eyes to a world of

November 2019 www.arounddb.com

possibilities. Having provided the girls with 10 years of stability in DB, they decided to seize the moment and take a year’s sabbatical, while they still could, before the pressures of schooling became too great.

“I knew we would see fantastic stuff but I did not know how fantastic,” opens M.C. “Mount Everest and Victoria Falls. Crossing the Tropic of Capricorn in Namibia and hanging out on the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia, visiting the Potala Palace in Tibet and Machu Picchu in Puru… Experiences like these are forever.”

could have gone bad, but we got lucky and things got turned around,” Doug says.

“We also managed to make friends and we are still in touch with three families that we were on a ship with,” Doug adds. “We made some strange connections while exploring. We met people in the remotest of places, who knew our friends back in Hong Kong. It made us realise what a small place the world is.”

The challenges But was it all sunshine and roses?

Wasn’t it exhausting to travel together as a family for so long without a routine, just taking each day as it came?

Marie-Christine and Doug with Skye, 11, Kaia, 14, and Willow, 9

For Kaia, the highlight of the trip was the diving. “I started the training in Goa and completed it in Oman. I also managed to get my advanced certification in South Africa, while diving with sharks.” Skye, meanwhile, loved the Naadam Festival in Mongolia.

“I remember a random stranger came up and kissed my dad on the cheek; he was so happy to see us tourists in such a small place.” And for Willow? “Africa. I love animals and we camped by a watering hole in Botswana. But I loved Abu Dhabi and snorkelling in Oman too.”

A shared highpoint for the family was that first fabled glimpse of the Taj Mahal. But ask them where they would choose to settle out of

all the countries they visited, and the unanimous answer is South Africa. “The beauty of the country, the interest of the people we met along the way; the food, wine and weather – it is a spectacular country,” says M.C. “We just wish there weren’t the political issues and, in areas, the violence. Every country has a dark underbelly but with three young girls, it’s just not worth the risk.”

A degree of danger is unavoidable in a trip that takes you this far off the beaten track, and M.C. recalls looking out of a local bus in Colombia, and seeing the body of a man who had just been shot, likely in a gang war. “There were so many moments where things

“It was challenging sometimes keeping everyone happy,” Doug admits. “For example, the younger girls were great at forming connections and making friends.

Especially Skye, she is our family’s ice breaker. She always managed to find someone to play with and kept herself occupied. With Kaia, our eldest, however, it wasn’t that easy. Not many people do what we did with kids that are Kaia’s age.”

It turns out that most of the travellers the family came across were either adults (gap-year students to solo pensioners) or families with young children. “The reality is that at Kaia’s age traditional schooling gets more complex. She therefore met very few kids of her own age,” says M.C. “I think other parents might consider this a deterrent to travelling with teens.” Kaia, who admits to sometimes feeling lonely without her friends, says WhatsApp and Instagram helped.

It turns out that what everyone missed most during the trip were the comforts of home. “The basic amenities that you take for granted become a luxury on a trip like this,”  M.C. says. “Just the familiarity and

www.arounddb.com November 2019

43

IN FOCUS

the road, from the people they met, the things they did and saw... They all learnt Spanish during our time in South America.

Namibia. At the Tropic of Capricorn

“The purpose of the trip was to regain time with family and we achieved that,” M.C. adds. “We understand them even more. They now know their parents can be goofy, fun and caring at the same time. We cooked, explored, walked and built great memories.”

Home sweet home

Nepal. Paragliding in Pokhara

Bolivia. At the Uyuni salt flats

comfort of your own bed to come back to after a day of exploring.”

She is proud that the girls have learnt to appreciate “the simpler things, such as living in a safe country, and having a permanent home, drinkable water, flushing toilets, hot showers and their own bed.”

The takeaways So, in what other ways have the girls grown from this experience according to Mum? “With Kaia, now 14, a key moment came when we were in Bolivia, 10 months in. She was crying at bedtime…

She said she’d suddenly realised how lucky she was, and that she understood that most don’t, or will never be able to experience a trip like this in their lifetime.” And for Skye, 11? “She still struggles with it but she has realised that life isn’t black and white. She understands the complexities of travel and the importance of safety/ awareness.”

And Willow, 9? “She didn’t like it, but she realised that she had to eat what was available!”

Peru. At Machu Picchu

Ask Willow herself what she learnt on the trip and she says, sagely, “Expect the least and you will get the most.” Skye shares another very mature takeaway, “On the map we see the continents and they look huge but when you visit them, you realise that the world is small. Anyone can go anywhere any time.”

While M.C. admits that homeschooling Kaia stretched her limits, she says she loved understanding how each of the kids learnt, and seeing them progress. “We found an app (iTooch) which covered the French Lycée curriculum for their years and we used that to teach.

We invested in Kindles. There is a lot out there and, importantly, it’s available when you are offline.

Doug handled the English. I handled the French.

“We taught usually in the morning for around two hours. It was easier to teach when we were based somewhere for several days or weeks but we didn’t stress about it too much. They learnt so much on

The big question, of course, is how well the family has adjusted to being back in DB. Doug, it seems, has hit the ground running; he was back to the grindstone just three days after they landed. M.C., who is waiting to go back to work until the girls are settled, has been able to take things a bit easier. “I still haven’t put my watch back on,” she says. “For now, I’m cherishing that little bit of freedom.” The girls, meanwhile, are back at French International School and enjoying reconnecting with their BFFs. “They’ve struggled a bit with the concept of time,” M.C. says. “The idea that if you miss this bus, you’ll miss your ferry, you’ll then miss your school bus and miss school… They feel some stress.”

While the family didn’t know where they would settle at the end of the trip, the economic realities made DB the logical place. “And we love our ‘hood,’” says Doug. “The community spirit, the hills, the sea.”

And yes, the girls have caught the travel bug. When asked where they’d like to go next, they come back with a list of 34 countries.

“Time to start saving up again,” says M.C. with a smile. “Our next trip will be Thailand at Easter and we plan to visit family back in Canada next summer.”

Find more topical local topics @ www.arounddb.com

44

November 2019 www.arounddb.com

We are hiring sales people!

Bay Media Group, publishers of Around DB, Life On Lantau and Best of Lantau Thanks to our rapid growth, with our digital media and design studio, we are looking for SALES PEOPLE (part-time or full-time) to join our dynamic, DB-based team!

What’s required: • You are a people’s person and you love talking to existing and potential clients • You are not scared of ‘cold calling’ and closing deals • You have excellent written and spoken English • You are a team player, with great interpersonal skills • You are a problem solver • You are reliable, conscientious and enthusiastic • Previous sales experience an advantage but not necessary Responsibilities: • Drive sales and close deals, i.e. selling advertising space and work for the design studio (brochures, videos, logos, banners, and much more) • Maintain relationship with existing clients and renew and grow contracts Interested parties please contact our General Manager Philip Jay Please send your full resume to philip@baymedia.com.hk

EDUCATION

TAMING YOUR TECH MONSTER Are your kids in need of a digital detox?

Parent educator Anoush Davies says it’s time to reduce screen time and get back into family life

Photo courtesy of www.wikimedia.org

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46

ay back in 2010, Eric Schmidt, then CEO of Google said: “Every two days now we create as much information as we did from the dawn of civilisation up until 2003. That’s something like five exabytes of data.” Nine years have passed since then.

Technology has developed much further and we now have the first generation of adults who don’t know what it is to exist without a computer or smartphone.

As we get ready to enter 2020, a new generation is emerging: People who think that touchscreens and free video calls to the other side

of the planet are the absolute norm. Our kids are growing up in a world of high-end technology and social media. Each day there are new achievements in all aspects of our life; we talk about long life expectancy, biohacking, artificial intelligence and world digitalisation.

It is happening all around us and, of course, our kids are drawn to this world of gadgets and new technology. We, as parents, have to make daily decisions about whether or not we allow screenand gadget-time, and for how long and of what type.

It seems to me that the answer is ultimately all about balance. The

November 2019 www.arounddb.com

same restraint that permits two sweets but not the whole pack, or two glasses of wine but not the whole bottle ought to be applicable to devices. It would be strange – and unfair – in this day and age to completely prohibit access to tablets and smartphones. But to allow children access to the digital world without any control is not sensible, and could well be dangerous.

So how do we achieve this balance?

When should you get a smartphone for your child and how many hours per week can he watch YouTube or play video games? Each family has its own rules, and paediatricians

and scientists still can’t agree on a solution that keeps everyone happy. Nevertheless, here are a few common ground rules that might be useful.

Set the right example As always, start with yourself. Look realistically at how much time the adults in your family spend on gadgets. If you spend hours on your smartphone or tablet then you will find it hard to explain to your child why he can’t do exactly that. If your onscreen time is work related, then explain that to your children.

Show them what you are doing on the phone; show them the results of your work and remind them that even though Google is a good source of information not all of it is verified and true.

It is worth having clear family rules establishing blackout times when no one can use their gadgets.

Before school and during meal times, for example. Explain why these rules are implemented: “In our house we don’t watch TV or play electronic games before school because it distorts attention and makes it harder to concentrate.

During meals, we eat and talk and don’t stare at our screens. (Except sometimes when we go out to a restaurant and Mummy and Daddy want to chat…).

Ideally, bedrooms should be gadget-free zones (yours too), and that means no TV, no tablet, no smartphone and no chargers. No one should get into the habit of going to sleep with their devices turned on, doing so disrupts sleep patterns, and means you never really switch off.

Re-engage as a family Now that we’ve covered your commitment to change and the importance of modelling this change, what else can you do? Tip

one, limit your children’s choices.

Let your kids know that they have x-amount of free time after dinner and homework (more at the weekends once they’ve completed certain chores), and it is up to them what they choose to do with that time. If necessary, they can ask for additional time and you can discuss whether that is viable and on what terms. Once children gain an understanding of the constraints of time, they can begin to make decisions about how to best utilise that time for themselves. What’s today’s priority? A bike ride to improve their chances in the Team FEAR Challenge (November 17), or another game of Minecraft?

Make an effort to watch TV together from time to time, so that you can stay up-to-date with your kids’ viewing preferences and also get them interested in programmes and series of your choice. Discuss with your kids the cartoons and movies that they watch, ask what exactly they like or don’t like about them – let them know that you are involved and engaged in what they are doing.

While watching TV, it might be useful to discuss advertisements. Explain how advertising works, that it tries to play with our subconsciousness and make us want that purple plastic train or top-brand pair of trainers that in reality we really don’t need.

Try to be informed about the computer games and YouTube videos that interest your children.

If you’re feeling really daring, start playing online games with them – appropriate ones, with managed times. This will help kids see that not all tech is ‘bad’ and that you’re happy to share some of the good

stuff with them. Allowing your children to teach you how to play will help you find more common ground. It will mean some good conversations can begin.

It is way too easy these days to browse something ‘mature’ or to stumble across something not ageappropriate online, so make sure content filters are set on every single device. There are also many control apps you can install to check how much time your child has spent on the computer (try inthemoment. io), or to check their online activity history (try mspy.com). Apps like these can be installed on phones and tablets, as well as computers.

Make a point of explaining to your kids why you have installed them.

And finally, be aware that gadget dependency can develop quite quickly. It’s your responsibility to watch out for the first ‘red flags.’

Does your child spend more than three hours per day glued to his smartphone, tablet or computer?

Is that the only time he’s happy?

Does he fly into a rage (or get passive aggressive) when you try to limit his access to them?

If any of those signs are present in your child, it’s time for a ‘digital detox.’ Lose the tablet charger, lock and change the password on the smartphone and hide the TV remote. Come up with a hike, adventure or holiday to remind your child about the beauty of the ‘real’ world. When things are back to normal, you can reintroduce gadgets but this time with clear mutually accepted rules.

Good luck and may the force be with you!

FIND IT The founder of UpBright, Anoush Davies is a professional life coach, positive discipline parent educator and certified NLP and Emotional Intelligence practitioner. To find out more and check out her blog, head to www.upbrightglobal.com/blog.

Find more on education @ www.arounddb.com www.arounddb.com November 2019

47

EDUCATION

6

ways tech benefits kids

O

ne of the things that technology is doing is changing the parameters of how we do things, and education is no different. The iPad was not specifically designed as a piece of educational technology, but it was designed as a mass communication device, and so for educators to incorporate tablets into their classrooms is probably more natural than parents may feel.

Here are six ways kids can benefit from properly managed onscreen time, both in the classroom and outside it.

Photo courtesy of www.wikimedia.org

1 Knowing

48

they can ask the computer anything they want to know drives children’s desire to do independent research. Children can only learn what is available to them, and traditionally parents, friends, teachers and the wider community were the only gateways to learning. Now the internet gives kids a vast library of material, which they can access at the touch of a button.

2 Educational

games that require children to follow objects and interact with them can boost hand-eye coordination. Young gamers also learn how to interact with systems, for example they discover that pressing the right button will invoke the desired action.

3 Many children use their voice to enter their search

queries into search engines, and they then need to read and evaluate the results that are presented.

Over time, this improves kids’ language skills, and they become faster and more adept at finding the information they want.

4 Interactive websites and games help children learn to solve problems, for instance when they work their way through challenges to get to the next level.

Even simply using their devices makes them more adept at problem solving; they work out how to play new games or interact with new programmes, and they learn to solve connectivity issues.

5 Screens

offer a stimulating environment of colour, sound and movement that can be more interesting to children than reading a book. They provide an opportunity to engage children who are struggling with traditional learning environments.

6 Being

able to use gadgets, both socially and professionally, is now an essential life skill. Our whole future is about technology and, arguably, the kids who can navigate it best will be at an advantage as they get older.

Find more on education @ www.arounddb.com November 2019 www.arounddb.com

WISH LIST

TECH-FREE TREATS

Christmas gift ideas from Bookazine to encourage everyone to switch off their gadgets and do something more interesting instead

RAINBOCORNS, THE ULTIMATE SURPRISE EGG,

HK$200

ME BY ELTON JOHN,

HK$300

LEGO STAR WARS ADVENT CALENDAR,

HK$380 2020 DO IT ALL MOM WALL CALENDAR,

HK$150

HUGH JOHNSON’S POCKET WINE BOOK 2020,

HK$180

Photos courtesy of Bookazine

LLAMA SOCKS,

HK$60 FIND IT CHRISTMAS SHOPAHOLIC

BY SOPHIE KINSELLA,

HK$195

WHITE BIRD BY R.J. PALACIO,

HK$210

• Bookazine, Shop 104B, Block A, DB Plaza, 2987 1373, www.bookazine.com.hk

www.arounddb.com November 2019

49

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TOP TIPS

The upside of downtime Done the right way, boredom is good for us, it frees the mind to get creative and start solving problems.

Jason Broderick reports

I

Photos courtesy of unsplash.com

f you’re waiting for brilliance to strike, try getting bored first.

That’s the takeaway of a study published in March this year in the Academy of Management Discoveries, which found that boredom can spark individual productivity and creativity.

In the study, people who had gone through a boredom-inducing task – methodically sorting a bowl of beans by colour, one by one – later performed better on an idea-generating task than peers who first completed an interesting craft activity.

Boredom is a search for neural stimulation that isn’t satisfied, and if we can’t find that, our mind will create it. As demonstrated by the new study and plenty others before it, boredom can enable creativity and problem-solving by allowing the mind to wander and daydream. There’s no other way of getting that stimulation, so you have to go into your head.

Boredom-induced daydreaming provides a brief escape from the day to day, and it can be a good thing for your mind, imagination and productivity.

Too busy to be bored? Well that’s your prerogative but how about your kids? Have you considered that they could benefit from a little downtime?

Be still, relax, get bored As a kid I remember getting bored and having to remedy this myself; in our neighbourhood we made our own fun. We spent long days outdoors, playing; and on wet days, when we had to stay home, we entertained ourselves with cards, or colouring, or we read a  book. We weren’t supervised or

www.arounddb.com November 2019

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TOP TIPS

coached. Our parents weren’t there to entertain us or arrange playdates.

But these days it seems a taboo to allow our children to be bored.

Kids today are constantly being entertained, coached, tutored or babysat. Most have a full weekly schedule, packed with activities both before and after school, and often even at the weekends.

Productive as it seems, this lifestyle causes stress for both parents and children. Are we trying to juggle too many balls?

There’s no doubt that all this juggling occurs for a myriad reasons and with nothing but good intentions. We want our children to fit in with their peers and make friends; we want them to have great opportunities; we want them to have the best education possible; we want them to develop their talents and express themselves creatively. Ultimately, we want to provide the best for our children and that is admirable – but this leaves very little time for our young children and teenagers to be still, to relax, even, dare I say it, to get bored.

Childhood and adolescence serve a very real purpose. Growing up is a stage in which young people need be nurtured and protected so that they can become healthy and happy adults. If we truly want to assist our children, the best we can do for them is to give them the opportunity to be less codependent on our structuring their lives for them. Instead of filling their time 24/7, we need to provide a balance that will allow them the time and space simply to be. But how do we do this?

Tip 1: Simply say no. It’s time to take the reins and be in control!

To protect our kids, we need to start turning down the continual invitations they get to parties,

Unplug, do nothing and let your mind wander

How to be bored the right way 1

Pick an activity that requires little or no concentration – a purposefully tranquil activity, such as yoga or meditation, likely doesn’t meet the definition of trying and failing to find stimulation. So, walk a familiar route, swim laps or simply sit with your eyes closed, and let your mind wander without music or stimulation to guide it.

2 Unplug.

Our cultural attachment to our phones is destroying our ability to be bored, while preventing us from ever being truly entertained. We’re trying to swipe and scroll the boredom away, but in doing that, we’re actually making ourselves more prone to boredom, because every time we get our phone out, we’re preventing our minds from wandering and solving our own boredom problems.

sleepovers and weekends away.

We may even have to say no to their own requests for yet more extracurricular activities. The aim is to create regular downtime, in which the whole family can experience a sense of calm despite their busy lives. Children need a bit of space, in which to release tension, recover and grow; this serves a vital purpose in child development.

but if you are consistent, you will notice a change in your children’s approach to what they do with their time. We need to allow opportunities for those we love to become independent rather than being constantly guided, supervised and entertained.

This will also give some time and space back to us parents, some time off to take care of ourselves.

Tip 2: Take a backseat. We need to allow children the opportunity to be as they claim ‘bored,’ because this will empower them to become creative about making their own fun. We need to be strong as parents and say, “I’m not here to entertain you!” Yes, it will take time

Our children have their whole lives to be adults and to deal with the complexities of life, but only a short time in which they can be carefree.

Allow them this opportunity to be a child for as long as they can – it will be one of the greatest gifts you could give.

Jason Broderick is a wellbeing coach and counselling psychologist at Discovery Bay International School (DBIS). To follow him on Instagram, head to @wellbeingcoach101. For more on DBIS, visit www.dbis.edu.hk.

Find more top tips @ www.arounddb.com

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November 2019 www.arounddb.com

ESCAPES

10 reasons to visit Photos courtesy of www.wikimedia.org & stock.adobe.com

Seoul

54

From a futuristic cultural centre and a bustling temple to the ‘scariest place on Earth,’ Dorothy Veitch outlines exactly what you need to see in the South Korean capital

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art

November 2019 www.arounddb.com

1 The Leeum Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, South Korea’s premier art gallery, is dedicated to preserving traditional Korean art and showcasing modern art. Fans of early- and mid20th-century painting, sculptures and installations head straight to Jean Nouvel-designed Museum 2 to view works by top international artists, like Damien Hirst, Willem de Kooning, Jean Fautrier and Jean Dubuffet.

Bongeunsa Temple

2 Bongeunsa Temple Nestled on a hillside, overlooking the high-rises of downtown Seoul, Bongeunsa Temple is where worlds collide. Here you can see a 23-metre-tall statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha, and over 3,000 150-year-old woodblocks inlaid with Buddhist scriptures. Visit on a Thursday, when the monks provide a temple tour, tea ceremony and Zen meditation – all in English.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

3 Gyeongbokgung Palace In a city awash with beautiful palaces, Gyeongbokgung is the one you simply must see. Built in the late 1300s, its reconstruction in the 1860s virtually bankrupted the Korean government. The complex is reminiscent of Beijing’s Forbidden City, and highlights include the ornate two-storey Geunjeongjeon (main palace building), and the spectacular Gyeonghoeru, a picturesque pavilion in the centre of an artificial lake.

4 Dongdaemun Design Plaza Designed by the late, great Zaha Hadid, in undulating aluminium and concrete, with lawns that rise up to its roof, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) is new Seoul’s pride and joy. This neo-futuristic cultural centre – DDP stands for Dream-Design-Play – is filled with galleries, event spaces and design-led shops.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Gwangjang Market

5 Gwangjang Market

6 Korean Demilitarized Zone

While the fabric stalls in Gwangjang Market are a real find, its food alleys are among the most popular in Seoul. This is the place to order up a no-frills Korean barbeque mezze with 101 sides (including kimchi). If you’re feeling brave, ask for some san-nakji, raw octopus tentacles that wriggle on your plate.

Described by Bill Clinton as the ‘scariest place on Earth,’ the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) divides the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, and there are armies on both sides. You can book a guided tour of the frontline to see no man’s land, intercepted infiltration tunnels and  the now barricaded Freedom Bridge.

www.arounddb.com November 2019

55

ESCAPES

7 Bukhansan National Park Located just outside the city and covering 79.92 km², Bukhansan National Park is a hiker’s paradise, with trails for every skill level.

Established in 1983 to provide the city with a much-needed green lung, the park is packed with imposing granite peaks, shady forest glades and 1,300 species of flora and fauna.

Bukhansan National Park

8 Namdaemun Market Open all day and long into the night, Namdaemun Market is the largest in Korea. You can shop here for just about everything, including cut-price designer knock-offs. If this all seems a bit too ‘Shenzhen,’ check the upper floors of Building C for a tempting range of Korean handicrafts and souvenirs.

Namdaemun Market

9 N Seoul Tower Head up Mount Namsan, on foot or by cable car, to enjoy panoramic views of the city from the iconic N Seoul Tower. At 236 metres, the observation deck is a great place to get your bearings, and a prime spot at sunset. A number of cafés serve up traditional Korean staples, or you can make your way to n·GRILL for French fine dining.

N Seoul Tower

10 Nami Island An hour’s ride from Seoul, halfmoon-shaped Nami Island is where natural parkland meets theme park. It’s one for the kids offering up a carousel, swimming pool and roller-skating rink. Be sure to stop by the flower-filled Garden of the Morning Calm, and Petite France, where you can wander the cobbled streets of a replica French village. You’ll also find water-sports and rail-biking facilities, and a shooting range.

Find more exciting escapes @ www.arounddb.com

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November 2019 www.arounddb.com

Nami Island

+852 3483 5003

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

My thoughts I understand we all go through different stages of life and so do our insurance needs.

But the mandatory insurances required by the HK Government (including domestichelper insurance, house insurance, automobile coverage and life insurance), are always worth due diligence. This month, I want to wake you up to some things you may not have considered about your health insurance policies.

Health The different types of medical insurance available in Hong Kong are confusing, and the premiums vary tremendously. Here’s how to make sense of a four- tier medical system:

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1. Government hospitals – you know how that works.

2. Lower tier insurance – basic coverage for those of you on a budget. This type of insurance is good for the self-employed and for non-travellers (limits can be really low for Europe, Australia and North America). It can be used at local private hospitals but may leave you short if any major surgery is needed. Be aware too that if you have a large claim your next premium will increase considerably. For outpatient claims, reimbursements are not so high especially if your doctor is in Central or DB. 3. Middle tier insurance – high local coverage that is also sufficient to cover outpatient claims and doctors’ bills in DB and Central. This type of insurance is typically for those at managerial level. It works for frequent travellers, even those heading to Europe, Australia and Canada but those travelling to the US will need a bit more protection.

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4 Top-tier insurance – high-end cover for just about any hospital, anywhere in the world. This type of insurance provides all kinds of benefits, including private rooms, and free delivery for pregnant women. Top-tier insurance is popular with senior executives, independently wealthy people and women who want kids.

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RECIPES “If you’re cooking dried pasta, I’d recommend shaving two minutes off the cooking time on the instructions on the package. Just as it is at A Tavola, the pasta is always really al dente at a trattoria in Italy. So, learn to love the bite, even when you’re eating at home.”

Mangiamo!

The head chef at A Tavola Bar & Grill in Tung Chung shares two quintessential Italian recipes and some expert advice

Photos courtesy of unsplash.com & stock.adobe.com

T

58

he first rule of Italian food is to keep it simple. But simple is harder than it sounds, especially if the recipe contains instructions straight from an Italian nonna like “mix until it feels right” or “cook ‘til it’s ready.” If you don’t have a nonna on hand, what then? Why you talk to the head chef at your favourite Italian restaurant, of course.

Italian cuisine varies from region to region, but the recipes universally champion fresh, high-quality ingredients, straightforward flavours and uncomplicated presentation. Because Italian food is at its best when it is simple, Lakhveer Singh Sidhu, the head chef at A Tavola Bar & Grill in Tung Chung, says the most common mistake home chefs make is to

get too fancy when they’re alone in the kitchen.

Perfect pasta “The best thing to go with that pot of tomato sauce simmering on the stove is homemade pasta,” says Lakhveer. “Perhaps most important is to cook your pasta in a big pot of properly salted water – you want the water to taste as salty as water in the ocean – and to watch the clock carefully for that fleeting moment when the pasta is perfectly al dente.

With a simple recipe – flour, eggs, salt and olive oil – and the proper tools, even a novice cook can crank out fresh pasta. “Combining these ingredients creates a network of proteins, called gluten, which is what gives pasta its stretchy texture and bite,” says Lakhveer. “The more you work the pasta dough, the more elasticity it will develop. Striking the right level of gluten development is key to creating a tender texture in fresh pasta, pizza crusts, bread and most baked goods.”

Get saucy Tomato sauce is a foundational Italian recipe that is incredibly easy to cook at home. A quintessential part of Italian cuisine, there are many, many different versions.

For a simple, classic tomato sauce, Lakhveer says all you need is chopped tomatoes, olive oil, and an allium, like garlic or onion, plus a handful of fresh herbs, like basil, to garnish. You can use fresh tomatoes if you prefer them to tinned, but this requires more work (blanching and peeling). You don’t have to blanch or peel tinned tomatoes because this has already been done for you as part of the canning process.

Ready for something a little more advanced?

“Add anchovies, olives and capers, and you have a perfect Puttanesca sauce,” Lakhveer says. “And don’t forget Arrabiata sauce, which has quite a kick thanks to the addition of chilli peppers.” Mangiamo!

FIND IT • A Tavola Bar & Grill, Shops E & F, G/F, Seaview Crescent Plaza, Tung Chung, 2321 5500, www.atavola.hk

November 2019 www.arounddb.com

PASTA DOUGH Lakhveer recommends this recipe because the dough is easy to make, texturally resilient and versatile enough to form into any shape.

• 3 large eggs, beaten to blend • 9oz all-purpose flour • 1tbsp olive oil • 1tsp kosher salt Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix with your hands to form a shaggy dough.

Continue to knead the dough with your hands, or in a stand mixer until it is smooth and elastic. If you’re using a dough hook on a stand mixer, this should take about 10 minutes; it will take longer, depending on how vigorous you are, if you are kneading the dough by hand. Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a damp towel, and let it rest for at least 30 minutes.

Roll out the dough and shape as desired. (TOP TIP: You can make pasta dough a day in advance, as long as you wrap it tightly and  keep it chilled).

www.arounddb.com November 2019

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RECIPES

VEAL RAGÙ Are you a fan of the veal ragù at A Tavola? Here’s how to make it!

• 50g butter, melted • 1 carrot, finely chopped • 2 onions, finely chopped • 1 celery stick, finely chopped • 300g veal mince • 3tbsp tomato purée • 150ml white wine • 250ml beef stock • 100ml milk • Splash of red wine vinegar • Grated parmesan Melt the butter in a large saucepan and gently sauté the carrot, onions and celery. Season the veal mince and add to the pan, turning up the heat to brown the meat. When the meat has browned, stir through the tomato purée and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the white wine and simmer for 2 minutes, then add the beef stock and milk.

Simmer gently for 1½-2 hours, adding more stock as needed.

Stir through a splash of red wine vinegar. To serve, toss the ragù with cooked pasta and garnish with plenty of grated parmesan.

Find more deliciously simple recipes @ www.arounddb.com

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November 2019 www.arounddb.com

HK HAPPENINGS

Get your events listed @ www.arounddb.com

FREESPACE JAZZ FEST Freespace and Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District Enjoy a swinging weekend of jazz and world music at the first Freespace Jazz Fest.

With over 30 indoor and outdoor performances, the event showcases a stellar lineup of local and international musicians. Featured worldwww.wikimedia.org class artists include the Robert Glasper Trio, GoGo Penguin and the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. For tickets, starting at HK$520, visit www.westkowloon.hk.

November 9-10

INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL Across Hong Kong

November 1-10

PRESTIGE XMAS FAIRS Conrad Hong Kong, Admiralty November 12 & 26

www.wikimedia.org

For its 19th edition, the Hong Kong International Literary Festival is focusing on themes of identity, migration and dystopia. In addition to local talent, the author line-up includes Markus Zusak, Pico Iyer, Jennifer 8. Lee and John Lanchester. Expect readings, talks, workshops and performances. For more information, visit www.festival.org.hk; for tickets, head to www.ticketflap.com.

AWA CHARITY BAZAAR PMQ, Central

www.prestigefairs.hk

The Christmas Lifestyle and Gift Fairs, put on by Prestige Fairs, are an annually anticipated one-stop shopping experience. This is your chance to find unique and thoughtful gifts, arrange all your festive catering and spoil yourself with a pre-Christmas treat. For more information, visit www.prestigefairs.hk.

CLOCKENFLAP

November 7

Central Harbourfront Event Space November 22-24

www.awa.org.hk

The American Women’s Association of Hong Kong’s 32nd annual charity bazaar sees over 85 vendors selling everything from jewellery to fashion, plus Christmas decorations and stationery. You can donate to specific charitable causes at the Giving Tree, try your luck at the Lai See Lucky Draw and bid on silent auction items. Proceeds from the event go to AWA-supported charities across Hong Kong. For more information, visit www.awa.org.hk.

www.wikimedia.org

Presenting an amazing line-up of local and international artists including Halsey, Mumford & Sons and Lil Pump, Clockenflap delivers a weekend-long musical experience with an alternative vibe. Tickets start at HK$880 at www.clockenflap.com, or you can turn to page 33 to win two. www.arounddb.com November 2019

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FLOOR BY FLOOR

YOUR GUIDE TO

HORIZON PLAZA AP LEI CHAU

2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, 2554 9089 About a 15-minute walk from South Horizon MTR Station Exit C Show this to your taxi driver: 香港鴨脷洲利榮街2號新海怡廣場

26/F CARPET BUYER www.carpetbuyer.com

Scan the barcode for further directions

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CARPET BUYER 50% Discount Outlet

Asia’s largest rug warehouse stocks 5,000 handmade rugs.

A discount outlet with 50% off fine, tribal, modern and shaggys.

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Established in 1996, Garden Gallery specialises in outdoor and landscape supplies, ranging from outdoor furniture and gardening equipment to lighting, storage, tents and all kinds of barbecue stoves.

2553 3251 info@gardengallery.com.hk

8/F HARBOUR 1976 www.harbouroutdoor.com.au

Harbour 1976 offers premium indoor and outdoor furniture collections designed to withstand the great outdoors. The lifestyle brand focuses on unique design, incredible durability, and a deep sense of culture derived from Australia's beautiful coastline.

2754 6188 info@harbouroutdoor.com.au

G/F Natuzzi Stylish selection of exclusive home furniture G/F Roche Bobois Celebrating the French Art De Vivre around the world 2/F Sonder Living Premium home furnishings and lifestyle products 5/F OvoHome Exquisite custom-made furniture 6/F Indigo Stylish and eclectic furniture 7/F Garden Gallery Quality European outdoor and landscape supplies 7/F MOD High-end furniture and stylish home accessories 7/F Nook Living Stylish Italian furniture design at competitive prices 8/F Bowerbird Home Thoughtfully curated furniture, accessories and homeware 8/F Harbour 1976 Uniquely designed outdoor furniture with incredible durability 8/F Organic Modernism Fine and functional home and office furniture 9/F Barbecue in All Wide range of barbecue and living gear 9/F Everything Under The Sun The latest quality outdoor furniture for high-end homes 10/F Areahome Indoor and decorative items for the home 11/F Flexa Eco-friendly kids’ furniture 11/F Spaceman Space-saving furniture 12/F Infurniti Homes Sophisticated classical furniture with a contemporary twist 12/F Sun Garden Premium Quality outdoor and barbecue supplies 15/F Irony Home Top-grade indoor and outdoor furniture 16/F Patio Mart Quality outdoor lifestyle products at reasonable prices 16/F Phoenix Curtains Fine classic and modern curtains, plus custom-made sofas and upholstery

7/F NOOK LIVING www.nookliving.com.hk

8/F ORGANIC MODERNISM www.organicmodernism.com

Nook Living offers modernstyle designer furniture and accessories. It also specialises in custom-made wardrobes.

2276 4315/ 2698 0937

Organic Modernism is a Brooklyn based company specializing in nature-inspired pieces made of bronze and American walnut.

info@nookliving.com.hk

2556 9499 horizonplaza@ organicmodernism.com

16/F

16/F PHOENIX CURTAINS

Phoenix Curtains is a onestop shop for curtains, blinds, custom-made sofas and upholstery.

TAKUMI

Takumi supplies stylish and timeless Japanese and Malaysian indoor furniture.

2517 2000

2866 6686 5242 9369 (WhatsApp) info@phoenixcurtains.com.hk

16/F Takumi Japanese and Malaysian indoor furniture and accessories 19/F Toys Club Educational toys for kids of all ages, from pre-schoolers to teenagers, including the latest STEM toys.

20/F Fink - The Art of Living Unique decorative items for the home

20/F Oriental Home Chinese, Mongolian and Tibetan antiques and bespoke furniture in different styles 26/F Ad Lib Oriental antiques, vintage Western lights and decorative arts 26/F Carpet Buyer Hand-made Persian rugs (antique), tribal carpets and contemporary rugs

26/F PAIDI Kids World Quality eco-friendly children’s furniture and beds 26/F Zzue Creation Outdoor furniture of all types by wellknown international brands 28/F Tree Traditionally crafted, sustainable furniture in contemporary designs

DB FACES

Snaps COMMUNITY

Photos by Col Sim www.colsimphotography.com

Find more familiar DB faces @ www.arounddb.com

Win prizes from Uncle Russ Coffee and The Pier Bar!

Congratulations to last month’s winner: Marison Valle (@talapekz)

64

Your mission this month is to share a photo on Instagram of yourself and/ or your nearest and dearest in Halloween costume, and tag it #arounddb. You have until the 10th of the month to enter.

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

November 2019 www.arounddb.com

CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP PRACTICAL BIBLE TEACHING KIDS CHURCH & TEENS

corporate & business services Alcoholics Anonymous

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

If you want to stop, we can help.

Alcoholics No dues or fees.

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Church Office: 2987 7061 www.dbicc.org

24hr hotline:9073 6922 www.aa-hk.org

corporate T8 can&help support with: business services

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Virtual office Company formation Corporate services Book-keeping Administration support Visa Applications

Unit 2, G/F, Office Block 1, 92 Siena Avenue, Discovery Bay North, Hong Kong Email: info@t8-consulting.com Tel: 2517 8248 www.t8-consulting.com

View local business directories @ www.arounddb.com EMPLOYMENT

HEALTH & WELLBEING FACIAL REFLEXOLOGY IN DB • Natural face rejuvenation & massage with facial reflexology

ARE YOU A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL?

• Mind & body deep relaxation & healing with facial reflexology

Quality HealthCare Medical Services is expanding its presence in DB & looking for healthcare professionals to join its team.

• Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s & dementia prevention & improvement with facial reflex therapy • Children’s learning support with (face, hand & feet) reflex therapy

Contact 2987 5633, enquiries.dbmc@qhms.com, www.qhms.com

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Virtual-reality programmes for PTSD, addictions, phobias (fear of flying/ public speaking/ bridges/ enclosed spaces/ storms) • Couples’ conflicts • Overeating • Career/relationship stress • Anger management • Nail biting • Exam jitters Divorce/ post-divorce/ career coaching • Quit smoking quickly.

Dr Melanie Bryan, Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist, Hypnotherapist.

Contact 2575 7707, www.mindmatters.hk

HOME SERVICES

PART-TIME ACCOUNTANT/ BOOKKEEPER WANTED Our Discovery Bay clinic is looking for an experienced Accountant/Bookkeeper who will be able to handle a full set of accounts using QuickBooks and preparing payroll.

Interested parties please e-mail CV to: jane@islandhealth.com.hk Island Health Family Practice Shop 109A, Discovery Bay Plaza, Discovery Bay, Hong Kong Tel: 2987 7575 Fax: 2987 8055 enquiries@islandhealth.com.hk | www.islandhealth.com.hk

TRIMCO HK LIMITED • Painting • Decorating • Renovation • Cladding • Tiling Contact Steve Donovan at 6149 0894 (call or WhatsApp), trimcohk@gmail.com

Well known in the Hong Kong MMA community, Marc Guyon guides you through your journey to become a martial artist. As a former whitecollar-turned-professional fighter, Marc’s understanding of looking for peak performance in all your occupations & activities is like nothing in Hong Kong.

Contact 9303 2996, marcguyonkungfu@gmail.com, www.marcguyon.com

TUITION & COURSES

MATHEMAGIC IS AT DB PLAZA

Support classes in mathematics & sciences now available for: • Year 7 to Year 13 • IGCSE • IB (SL or HL) • A level (Standard & Further Modules) • SATs/ PSATs/ LSATs • UKCEE Home tuition available as well as online classes.

Contact Karim Arditi on 9135 4724 (call or WhatsApp), mathemagicMD@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/HLmathemagic, www.hlmathemagic.com

Christmas 2019 Holiday Camps Ark Eden’s Christmas Holiday Camps bring out the adventurous, curious and compassionate side of children and provide outdoor fun for children, aged 5-11 years. Camps are held deep in the forests of Lantau, with different accviies each day. Accviies include tree house building, campfire cooking, carpentry, playing in rock pools, dramaac story--me adventures and nature play - all with a special sprinkling of Christmas magic!

Candy Cheung

Financial Planning Manager Bachelor of Business

Visit www.arkedenonlantau.org, email info@arkedenonlantau.org, or call 2988 5355

(852) 9172 9152 Email: candy_y_cheung@manulife.com.hk

www.manulife.com.hk

Yoga Therapy Classes for Senior Citizens

Every Tuesday 11:30am

Located at DB North Plaza

Every Thursday 2:30pm

Slow and gentle flow yoga, taught by a qualified yoga instructor. English-speaking and easily accessible from Sunny Bay MTR station. t!

Stay Briiian

likegreenwich@gmail.com

9685 8366

www.greenwich-vinyasa.com.hk

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

For info please call Thomas 9871 0771 or Baguio 6776 8400 Email: baguiowong@hotmail.com

環悅設計工程公司一心致力於您們快樂 及自由的頤年生活。 我們將提供專業家居護理評估來改裝您 們的家，使您們能享受家居安老。 聯絡我們 Contact Us

Tel / WhatsApp: 9710 5728 E-mail: joyceworldco@gmail .com joyceworld_creation joyceworldcreation @joyceworldcreation

Scan QR code to see our video https://youtu.be/nuZ_sPeIrKw

At Joyce World Creation Ltd, we remodel homes so they are safe for the elderly.

We provide a medical assessment on which you can base your home’s reconstruction and we source suitable equipment for assisted living.

Find short-term rentals @ www.arounddb.com

PROPERTY

DB PROPERTY FOR RENT

LUXURY APARTMENTS IN SIENA 2

Spacious 600 square-foot apartments – quiet with sea views over park, near Club Siena & DB Tunnel. Fully furnished with washer/ drier, bed linen, kitchenware, 55” TVs, wi-fi, NOW TV & sound bar. Contact the owner on 9317 0624, nialady2011@gmail.com

FULLY FURNISHED 1-BED

TWO-BED IN CHERISH COURT

ONE-BED WITH HOME OFFICE

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

Contact Jacqueline on 9811 0718, jacquelinedb@gmail.com

Smart apartment on a high floor with sea view. Close to DB Plaza, the bus terminus & ferry. Available fully furnished. Call Tiareti on 9732 8985

Lovely 645 square-foot flat, great location, one bedroom, spacious office & over-sized Western kitchen. Available fully furnished, for short- or long-term rental. Contact the owner at justinsmith3333rental@gmail.com

If you are looking to rent or sell a property and would like to see it listed on this page, email corinne@baymedia.com.hk

CLOT HING & ACCESSORIES

FTC Apparel

2428 2566 FOOD, RES TAUR A N T S & BA RS

A Tavola Bar & Grill Airport Izakaya Andante Café Aficionado China Coast Bar & Grill Curry Lounge Dosirak House Essence Restaurant - Novotel Citygate Federal Palace Restaurant Kimos Mansarover Indian Cuisine McDonald’s Delivery Melody Thai Moccato Coffee Shop My Thai Olea Restaurant - Novotel Citygate PizzaExpress Pizza Hut Delivery Regala Café & Dessert Bar Resto Restaurant Rouge - Regal Airport Hotel Skycity Bistro Tung Chung Pizza Zentro Garden

2321 5500 2286 6668 3602 8828 2286 6238 2286 6898 2960 1977 3520 0848 3602 8808 2626 0181 2886 3646 2109 1927 2338 2338 2988 8129 3602 8838 2907 6918 3602 8818 2297 3588 2330 0000 2286 6618 2886 3156 2286 6868 3969 2500 2466 1010 2802 8000

HE A LT H & W EL L BEING

Bayside Dental Bon’s Mobile Pet Grooming Essential Health Family Clinic Human Health Medical Centre North Lantau Physiotherapy Tung Chung Animal Clinic Tung Chung Vet Centre Tung Chung Maternal & Child Health Centre Quality Health Dental Quality Health Medical Raffles Medical Rainbow Voice and Soundhealing

2185 6550 9099 9959 2109 9396 2109 2288 2194 0020 2988 1534 2328 7282 3575 8370 2403 6613 2403 6623 2261 2626 5178 5658

2421 8088 2109 2330 9343 3718 2988 1488

HOT EL S

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

3969 1888 3602 8888 2286 8888

L E A RNING CEN T RES

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

9021 1502 2987 8070 2162 5538 6273 7347 6674 6194 2611 9193 2164 7210 2420 1068 2109 3873 2121 0884 2988 8123

SOCI A L , SP OR T S & EQUIPMEN T

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

2385 9677 2109 9277 2179 6678 9264 8597 6688 2167 9662 1747 6443 6597 3473 8700 5400 4109 6051 8196 2403 6770

2984 0222 2504 4788 2984 0498 2470 1966 2984 9720 3484 3095 6429 3507 2984 8933 5465 5511 2997 9070 2320 2001 6422 5009 9193 2937 2980 2699 2983 8931 2980 2582 5991 6292 2109 3331 5236 7013

FI T NESS, SP OR T S & W EL L BEING

Pause by the Banyan South Lantau Paddle Club Thai Palin Massage Thai Sa Baai Treasure Island Group

9708 0187 9688 9112 9062 0148 5228 6552 2546 3543 HOME & REPA IRS

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

2984 8334 2984 8487 2984 1802 2984 9833 9783 5840

HOT EL S

Mui Wo Inn Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel

2984 7225 6810 0111 2985 8383

Ashville International Kindergarten & Nursery Lantau International Kindergarten Lantau International School Lao Shi Lantau Mandarin lessons Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten Silvermine Bay School Mui Wo Language Cafe

2109 9886 2984 0302 2980 3676 5197 4647 3689 6709 2984 0006 5511 6107

PROPER T Y AGENCIES

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

2984 8334 3483 5003 2984 1666 RE TA IL

Friendly Bike Shop Greenstyle Organic & Healthcare INSIDE Island Wines Lantau Base Camp Lantau Grocer Quay House Red Hall Chinese Antiques Tony’s Salon Value Vigilantes VIBE Book & Music Shop ZenvarA

2984 2278 9802 0553 2890 8606 9521 8481 2983 8428 2702 0050 2882 8710 2988 1368 2984 0990 6132 9120 9088 2370 9586 3459

SERV ICES & OT HERS

Jumping Castles SPCA Miriam Safadi Photography Parteezi Phoenix Wills

9662 1747 2984 0060 5145 0227 6112 9842 6108 8471 T R A NSP OR TAT ION

U T IL I T Y, SERV ICES & E MERGENC Y HOT L INES

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

FOOD, RES TAUR A N T S & BA RS

Bahce - Turkish Restaurant Café Bar Bathers Caffe Paradiso (Tom’s Café) Cafe Isara China Bear Deer Horn Restaurant & Bar Kebab Korner La Pizzeria Lantana Italian Bistro Le Jardin de Sophie Long Island Mucho Gusto Robert’s Market Stoep @ High Tide Restaurant The China Beach Club The Gallery The Kitchen The Water Buffalo Treasure Island Restaurant

L E A RNING CEN T RES

HOME & REPA IRS

Akash Removals Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths Mr. Chan 24-hours Handyman Shun Yu Engineering

SOUTH LANTAU

TUNG CHUNG

LANTAU NUMBERS

2988 8282 2988 1898 3661 1999

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

2984 2268 2984 8494 2984 8255 2984 9848

www.arounddb.com November 2019

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DB NUMBERS COMMUNITY & HEALTH Bayside Dental Practice, North Plaza BMSE, North Plaza DB Alliance Church Community Centre DB Anglican Church DB International Community Church Discovery Bay Medical Centre Health & Care Dental Clinic Herbal Health Care Island Health Island Veterinary Services The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council, North Plaza Trinity Chapel

LEARNING CENTRES

HOME 2987 2259 2987 2987 2987 2987 2666 2834 2987 2987 2259 2987

0855 3422 8136 4210 7061 5633 6183 7276 7575 9003 3422 9909

DRS Company Good Luck Engineering Hoi Yu Transportation Hung Kee Co Japan Home Centre May’s furniture & curtain design Rapee-living Rich Point Hardware Materials Tai Fat Hardware Store Wing On Department Store Yours Electrical Centre

9156 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987

0360 1313 4488 5087 1041 0222 7082 0789 0789 9268 4428

Tree of Joy A fun, engaging & supportive environment in which children play & learn. Programmes include drop-off nursery class, parent-toddler class, afternoon camp & a cooking class Contact 9787 2755, info@treeofjoydb.com, www.treeofjoydb.com

Woodentots Woodentots is a Montessori playgroup providing a caring & nurturing environment in DB Plaza. Run by a qualified Montessori teacher for children aged 18 months to 6 years. Contact 6108 9131, woodentotsdb@gmail.com

LEARNING CENTRES CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES Action X, North Plaza Nomadic

3102 2977 2987 8460

DAILY NECESSITIES 7-Eleven Convenience Store Fusion by PARKnSHOP Watson’s Pharmacy Wellcome, North Plaza Star Mart, North Plaza

2987 2987 2987 2947 2366

4401 7486 4089 9092 6534

FINANCIAL SERVICES Bank of China HSBC Parsons White Wealth Management The Stephen Putnam Practice

2160 8585 2233 3000 2433 6981 2914 0388

FOOD & BEVERAGE, HOTELS 22º North Auberge Discovery Bay (Hotel), North Plaza Café Bord de Mer & Lounge, North Plaza Caffe Pascucci Cali-Mex, North Plaza Coyote Mexican Cantina Ebeneezer’s Epic Foods, North Plaza Figos Seaside Café First Korean Restaurant Gilmore’s by the Golden Pig Healthy Chicken, North Plaza Hemingway’s il Bel Paese Island Café Koh Tomyums La Creation & Châteraisé McSorley’s Ale House Mirch Masala, North Plaza Moofish, North Plaza Pacific Coffee Paisano’s, North Plaza Peony Chinese Restaurant PizzaExpress Solera Starbucks DB North Plaza Subway The Pier Bar Three Sheet Marquee Bar TigerLily Uncle Russ, North Plaza Zak’s

2987 2298 2295 8288 2295 8299 2591 1426 2904 7698 2987 2848 2987 0036 2172 6111 2987 2915 2987 9123 2662 9168 6933 6990 2987 8855 2987 0202 2987 9311 2987 0767 2987 1829 2987 8280 2987 1337 2987 6318 2987 1662 2673 4445 2500 1950 2465 2426 2555 0772 2246 8372 2914 0005 2520 2166 2987 0966 2997 8688 2840 1188 2987 6232

Discovery Mandarin Tutoring Service Certified native Chinese teachers.

Experienced in supporting IB & IGCSE learners to excel in all aspects of Mandarin: listening, speaking, reading & writing. Contact 9801 1055 to book a 20 minutes free trial lesson

Discovery Montessori School A reputable & well-known international school for authentic Montessori Bilingual (English & Chinese) Education for children aged 1 to 12 years. Beautiful campus & highly qualified teachers (15 years+ experience). Contact 2987 1201, enquiry@dms.edu.hk, www.dms.edu.hk

Future Stars Dance Academy Dance classes based on the ISTD requirements conducted in a fun, disciplined & safe environment. Contact melissa@futurestarsdanceacademy.com, Futurestars Dance Academy Hong Kong Facebook page, Instagram: @futurestarsHk

Island Dance ISTD Freestyle, ISTD Hip Hop, RAD Ballet, tap & Bollywood classes at DBRC, Club Siena & DB Plaza. Five professional instructors, teaching six days a week.

Contact 2987 1571, 9159 0663, info@islanddance.com.hk, www.islanddance.com.hk

Little Explorers The longest running playgroup in DB, Little Explorers eases the transition between home play and kindergarten for children, aged 18 months and up. Contact 9327 0507, littleexplorers@team-fear.com

PapyrusEDU A family-friendly centre offering 3D Modelling & Printing, LEGO Education After School, Junior Food Art. Lifestyle morning programmes: Decoupage, Porcelart, Food Artist. Contact 6360 1715, info@papyrusedu.com, www.papyrusedu.com

Bayview House of Children DB International School (Kindergarten) DB International School (Pri / Sec) Discovery College Discovery Mind International Play Centre Discovery Mind Kindergarten Discovery Mind Primary School, North Plaza Discovery Montessori Academy, North Plaza Discovery Montessori School, North Plaza DMR School of Ballet Dr. Bear Education Centre Early Adventures Playgroup Epic Adventurers Eye Level Education Learning Centre Funfit HK International Learning Academy, North Plaza Kumon, North Plaza La Petite Enfance Kindergarten L’Ecole Pierre et Marie Curie Education centre Links Parenting, North Plaza Little Explorers English For Kids Mandarin for Munchkins, North Plaza Mathemagic – home tutoring Mathnasium SKH Wei Lun Primary School Treasure House Zhi Zhi Chinese

November 2019 www.arounddb.com

2436 2142 7331 1000 8088 8088 2202 9206 1201 4338 6264 9644 0098 0000 6327 3198 8808 0813 0813 2436 0507 3909 4724 3362 8608 4217 2966

MULTIMEDIA Bookazine Fotomax (F.E.) Ltd

2987 1373 2914 2378

OTHER SERVICES

Harvey Law Group International law firm offering a wide range of commercial & personal legal services. Meeting facilities available in DB. Contact 2416 8618, dboffice@harveylawcorporation.com, www.harveylawcorporation.com

Martina Stevens Photography Photographer based in Discovery Bay specialising in small and exclusive projects. Newborns, Maternity, Family and Lifestyle photography.Contact 9487 5242, martina@martinastevensphotography.com, www.martinastevensphotography.com Gillian florist, North Plaza Manulife P-Solution The Optical House Well Supreme Laundry Services

70

6114 2914 2987 3969 2987 2987 2914 2812 2987 2987 6762 2987 2441 9366 6302 2416 2459 8191 8191 6114 9327 2480 9135 2628 2987 2987 9648

2529 9172 2987 2987 2987

8256 9152 1777 1368 5151

DB NUMBERS PETS Kristy’s Paradise - Cat Sitter in Discovery Bay Mypetshop, North Plaza Pets Gallery Ready, Pet, Go!

TOYS & KIDS’ PARTIES 6201 2987 2987 5721

7749 8873 0428 6181

Bo Bo House DB Party Time Toysland

2987 4230 9502 2381 2987 7859

TRANSPORT SERVICES

PROPERTY LISTINGS EPS Property Consultants Headland Homes Kingsland DB Land Master Property OKAY.COM

2987 2987 2987 2987 2102

2023 2088 2987 6238 0829

DB Golf Cart Services DB Transportation Services Limousine Rental Passenger Telephone Hotline Wiselink Golf Cart Services

2914 2987 5303 2987 2987

2727 7351 3489 0208 9368

UTILITIES, SERVICES & EMERGENCY HOTLINES

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

HK Dragons Football Club Football for girls & boys aged 2.5 years to 14 years. Contact 2987 4274, dragons.hk

Tekkerz Football programmes for boys and girls for age groups U5 up to U14. Contact 9770 4548, train@tekkerzfootball.com, www.prosportsasia.com

Action X, North Plaza Club Siena, North Plaza DBees Ice Hockey DB Pirates Rugby, Netball, Hockey & Dragonboat Discovery Bay Marina Club Discovery Bay Golf Club Discovery Bay Recreation Club Embody EpicLand, North Plaza FIT 852 Greenwich Yoga School, North Plaza Kapuhala Train-in-Space, North Plaza MAS FIT MGK Fight Club Nutrition and Fitness with Emilie YogaBay, North Plaza YogaUp, North Plaza

To add your own directory listing box, call the Bay Media office on 2987 0577, or email info@baymedia.com.hk

2911 2987 6473 9255 2987 2987 2987 6624 2441 9680 9685 6101 9387 9303 6385 6704 8197

4833 7382 4277 6133 9591 7273 7381 8712 0098 7665 8366 8434 0735 2996 5425 9851 5591

2345 8333 2678 4242 7502 2345 3601 3388 6046 4511 1694 7000 6738 1473 0788 5000

@ www.arounddb.com

WELLBEING

The Beat Dance & Fitness Studio BODYPUMP, BODYBALANCE, GRIT, BODYSTEP & Zumba (fitness, toning & kids). Piloxing, yoga & Pilates, RPM (indoor cycling), plus Latin, belly & wedding dance. Classes for adults & children, & personal training. Contact 5194 9630, info@thebeat.com.hk, www.thebeat.com.hk

3651 2728 2678 2987 2987 3651 2238 2238 2987 2435 3661 3467 2987 2835 2811 2824

VIEW THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Bay Spa

ay Spa

Massage, facials & nail services in DB Plaza. Contact 9837 0969 (Tel/ WhatsApp)

Elly House of Beauty

Highly skilled skincare specialist committed to providing the most effective skincare services to the DB community. Also postnatal abdominal binding & jamu massage.

Contact 6131 9039, Elly House of Beauty Facebook Page, www.ellyhouseofbeauty.com

Ingredients of Wellness Mindfulness training for children, teens and their parents and teachers. Offering Mindfulness Matters!, Mindfulness in Education (for adults), AMT Mindfulness Teacher Training. Contact 9048 5425, angie@ingredientsofwellness.com, www.ingredientsofwellness.com

Nail Spa: 2987 2266

Afflatus Hair Workshop, North Plaza DB Pure Spa Elly House of Beauty Freedas Maximum Care Nest Care, North Plaza Salon De Coiffure

Massage: 2988 1111

2987 9794 6131 2987 2987 2499 2987

0283 0918 9039 4555 2060 8826 4112

www.arounddb.com

www.arounddb.com November 2019

71

OUT THERE

THE POWER OF NOW – AND THEN Striving to stay in the moment?

Peter Sherwood is mindful that there’s no such thing

I

I don’t get it about meditation either. Never did, even as a kid. If I empty my mind while sitting, what happens when I get up to go to the toilet?

Does my mind fill up again?

And with what? And while it’s empty is there the prospect of a vacuum forming and my skull imploding? As a twerp from suburban Sydney, such weighty questions demanded answers. Sadly, my teachers were unimpressed and just beat the hell out of me.

’m not one for looking back, content to punish myself worrying about the future.

Meanwhile, I strain mightily – and unsuccessfully – to stay in the moment. Here’s what I missed on that subject in Eckhart Tolle’s incredible bestseller The Power of Now: It doesn’t exist. As soon as we say ‘now’ it’s gone. A bummer, I know, but that’s how it is. Still, I adore the philosophy, as far as it goes, and that’s no great distance.

Survival instinct gets in the way as we peer cautiously ahead in sheer terror, a throwback to our primitive origins. Fight or flight. Today, it’s not wild animals or cannibals we have to watch out for, it’s multi-level marketing salesmen and techno freaks who’ve made the original Nokia phone obsolete.

Like a hamster on a wheel Indian guru Jiddu Krishnamurti was big on the here and now. That was cool with me. But his version involved extreme sitting (silently), and a great deal of thinking.

Not my strong suits, individually or combined.

Illustration by Terry Chow

I skipped the yoga boom for the same reason. If I’m not mobile, I’m

72

wasting time, and I’m wasting the now, or rather the just after now.

Frank Sinatra was asked why he stayed in Rome, while shooting a movie up near the Austrian border.

His answer: “I’m an insomniac and I hate not moving.” So, Ol’ Blue Eyes took a chopper from his hotel to the set and back every day.

I get it. I’m obsessed with longdistance walking. I enjoy the scenery as I pass through it.

Passing scenery is interesting; static scenery, on the other hand, stays unimpressively the same.

Which is why I don’t understand people who buy a home for the view. OK, nice view. What’s next?

Night time at The Peak? Excellent.

What else have you got?

But back to the now, actually the just after now. I could burst an artery trying to stay in the moment, or as close as possible given it was a nanosecond ago.

I’m like a hamster on a wheel. It’s a depressing truth that as we age, time goes faster. There are many complicated reasons for that, all of them beyond depressing.

Evolution has messed it up, with a set script of a linear life from birth to aging, illness and our demise. Ideally, we should start out old with a nice house and plenty of money, and work our way backwards.

Anyway, enough. Time to reach into the fridge for a cold beer – to drink in the near future.

Peter Sherwood has lived in DB for 20 years. The former head of an international public relations firm, Peter is the author of 15 books and has written around 400 satirical columns for the South China Morning Post.

Find more from Peter @ www.arounddb.com November 2019 www.arounddb.com

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