Around DB April 2023

SOLEAGENT

Positano 愉景灣悅堤-L5座

Peninsula Village 蘅峯 - 碧濤軒 成為福布斯全球物業聯盟香港唯一創始成員的物業顧問

Siena One 海澄湖畔一段-48座

Chianti 尚堤 - 漪蘆 (3座)-3座

Headland Village 蔚陽 - 朝暉徑

Chianti 尚堤 - 映蘆 (6座)-6座

Chianti 尚堤 - 珀蘆 (2座)-2座

我們現正招聘有經驗的地產代理加入愉景灣團隊

有意者請致電 Thorsten +852 6016 1061 查詢

swimming@harrywright.com.hk harrywright.com.hk

“The Harry Wright programme consists of highly qualified coaches who are passionate about coaching. They are professionals who care about not only the swimming skills of athletes but also their well-being. Because of this, they have a long history of developing world-class swimmers” Former Harry Wright Swimmer And Two Time Olympic Medalist

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SAVE ON YOUR NEXT STEAK KING ORDER

This month Steak King is offering Around DB readers HK$150 off any spend of HK$1,500 or above. The Hong Kong-wide meat, seafood and produce provider, with locations in Tung Chung and Mui Wo, delivers to DB on Fridays; delivery is free for orders over HK$1,500. To claim your discount, turn to page 21. To order online, visit www.steak-king.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Steak King.]

BINGO NIGHT AT DBRC

Head down to the Discovery Bay Recreation Club’s D’Cafe on April 14 and 28 for Bingo Night starting at 8pm. Spend at least HK$80 on food or drink and you are eligible to purchase a HK$20 game ticket – maximum two cards per player. Members’ guests are also welcome, subject to a 15% service fee. Good luck on winning the jackpot! To learn more, call the club on 2500 1942.

Happenings STUFF TO

EASTER FUN IN BOTH PLAZAS

There are plenty of Easter-themed activities for families to enjoy across DB on the weekend of April 7 to 8. In DB North, there’s an Easter FunLand offering an Easter-themed photo zone, face painting and an Easter bunny meet-and-greet, with popcorn, cotton candy and balloons provided free of charge. Meanwhile, DB Plaza is transforming into an Ohpama Kids Fiesta with exciting games and workshops on offer.

DB residents were given priority booking (and an early-bird discount) to enrol their kids in the DB Easter Egg Hunt on the Beach, running April 7 to 8. Egg hunters are divided into different age groups (three to four years, five to six years and seven to 10 years) to participate in the respective game sessions at Tai Pak Wan. All entrants receive a Welcome Goodie Bag, including a shovel set, souvenirs and a Certificate of Participation. Kids can redeem the colourful and biodegradable Easter eggs they find to win prizes totalling HK$1 million! To find out more, visit www.dbeasteregghunt.com.

DB SLAM! BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Don’t miss the Discovery Bay Community 5vs5 Basketball Tournament being held at the Club Siena outdoor basketball court and Discovery College sports hall on April 23 and 30. Eight teams are competing in each of the two categories – Men’s Open and Women’s Open – with each team fielding at least four DB residents. There are awards for team champion, first, second and third runner-up and merit, as well as individual awards for most valuable player, best shooter, the sportsmanship award and Mr and Mrs DB Basketball. To find out more, visit Facebook @DynamicDB.

& Events! KNOW IN APRIL!

CLEAN A BEACH ON EARTH DAY

It’s Earth Day on April 22 and you’ll be wanting to show your support for environmental protection. Ways to celebrate include biking or walking – instead of driving or jumping on a bus –planting trees and recycling. Or you can help DB Green and Plastic Free Seas clean a beach…. Participants are requested to wear closed-toe shoes, and to bring sunscreen, bug spray and water in a reusable bottle. Individuals and families are welcome and bags and gloves are provided. Simply email dana@plasticfreeseas.org to RSVP and meet at the gate to DB/ Nim Shue Wan at 2.10pm on April 22. [PHOTO BY Baljit Gidwani – www.evoqueportraits.com.]

ACTION TRAIL SPRINT SERIES, DBAY

The Action Trail Sprint Series kicks off in DB on April 16 before moving on to Sai Kung on April 29 and Repulse Bay on May 14. Organised by Action Asia Events since 2003, the Sprints are known for their well-marked, easy-to-follow courses and fair cut-off times. The DB race (9km or 12km) involves hiking and trail running on an adventure trail route and, for the 12km, a climb up Tiger’s Head. To enrol on a first-come, first-served basis, visit www.actionasiaevents.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Action Asia Events.]

SEED BON BON-MAKING WORKSHOP

You can try your hand at seed bon bon-making on April 16 at Community Green Square under the tutelage of Miss Tung Tung. Participants learn how to make seed bon bons from scraps of recycled paper imbedded with seeds, which they can then plant and nurture. The workshop is child-friendly and aims to promote creative green living. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF CM.]

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

THROUGH APRIL | DONATE PRELOVED FURNITURE to people in need through DB Mothers & Friends. To arrange for pickup, visit Facebook @dbmf.collection.

APRIL 1 | GATHER AT THE PLANT MARKET in DB Community Green Square from 2pm to 4pm. Visit Facebook @DynamicDB.

APRIL 22 | JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP! Meet at the gate to DB/ Nim Shue Wan at 2.10pm. Email dana@plasticfreeseas.org to RSVP.

NEW NURSERY AND RECEPTION CLASS AT DBIS

Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) is excited to announce the addition of another new Nursery and Reception class, starting April 17, for children aged three to five. Places are limited. For more information or to reserve your place, contact admissions@dbis.edu.hk or apply at dbis.hk/apply. [PHOTO COURTESY OF DBIS.]

2 FOR 1 OFFER AT EMS FITNESS HONG KONG

To celebrate the opening of its DB South studio, EMS Fitness Hong Kong is providing residents with a special ‘Try Twice’ promotion, running April 1 to 30. For HK$680, you get to try two, one-onone EMS training sessions and experience what it’s really like to tone and strengthen your body in just 20 minutes. Each session includes 20 minutes EMS (electric muscle stimulation) with a personal trainer followed by 10 minutes muscle relaxation. To enjoy this offer, scan the QR code or WhatsApp 6200 2463. For more on EMS Fitness founders Beatrice Chan and Simon Stoll, turn to page 26. [PHOTO BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

EASTER CELEBRATIONS AT DBICC

On Sunday, April 9 at 10am, Discovery Bay International Community Church (DBICC) is celebrating Jesus’ resurrection with an Easter Sunday Service at the Discovery College Performing Arts Theatre. After the service, the congregation will be invited for snacks and refreshments in the school foyer. For more information about DBICC, visit www.dbicc.org.

PROVERSE SPRING RECEPTION

Nineteen-year DB residents Gillian and Verner Bickley, founders of Proverse Hong Kong, are hosting the Proverse Spring Reception at The Helena May Institute in Central on April 27. The cocktail-style reception is taking place in its traditional pre-pandemic format with complimentary canapés and a cash bar. The Bickleys will launch Mingled Voices 7, the Proverse Poetry Prize (single poems) anthology 2022 and introduce their growing series of audiobooks. You can register to attend at https://mailchi. mp/57145fd9f2ab/proverse-spring-reception-2023. For a playlist of pre-recorded videos related to the programme, subscribe to YouTube @Proverse Publishing. [PHOTO BY Baljit Gidwaniwww.evoqueportraits.com.]

THE BENEDICTINE WAY AT DB CHURCH

Moving into spring, Reverend Mark Rogers of DB Church is introducing his congregation to the Benedictine Way. “The way of Benedict is to see ‘God,’ the sacred, whatever name we give it, in the ordinary, humdrum things of life,” Mark explains. “Benedict stressed that we must find a healthy balance in our lives between things that nourish the mind, body and spirit.” To apply this at DB Church, Mark is providing study groups for the mind; awareness trips for the body; and for the spirit, Sunday worship. There will also be a day retreat at the Trappist Haven Monastery where churchgoers can put these three elements into practice. Mark is giving an online Compline (Night Prayers) service every evening during Holy Week, April 3 to 11. To learn more, visit www.discoverybaychurch.org.hk. [PHOTO BY Sarin Ale.]

Out & About!

WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO!

PAWBLEMS SOLVED AT CM’S DOG FUN DAY

At the Dog Fun Day on March 4 in Siena Park, DB dogs and dog lovers took the opportunity to hang out and get acquainted, while listening to live music. Highlights of the free community event included pet portraiture, and a series of seminars where residents could learn how to train and care for their dogs.

[PHOTOS COURTESY OF CM.]

BLOOD DONATION AT DISCOVERY COLLEGE

On March 4, Discovery College (DC) held its first Love From Luke Annual Blood Drive, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Red Cross. The school’s Senior Student Centre served as the blood donation site, with over 100 students, teachers and parents taking part. The aim was twofold, to spread awareness and action regarding blood and bone marrow donation and to create a lasting legacy for DC student Luke Inkin, who has beaten Leukemia three times. To donate blood or register as a bone marrow donor, visit www5.ha.org.hk. To find out more, follow Instagram @lovefromlukeannualblooddrive. [PHOTOS BY

Franziska Louw.]

RECYCLING TUESDAYS AT THE GREEN@COMMUNITY COLLECTION POINT

Residents have been making good use of the government-funded Green@Community collection point, open on Tuesdays from 10am to 1pm and 2.30pm to 5.30pm at the Green Icon@DB. It’s the place to get all your polyfoam and plastic – other than bottles – recycled, along with liquid cartons (Tetra Paks), disposable coffee cups and fibre food containers, rechargeable batteries, energy saving light bulbs and waste electronics. For more information, visit Facebook @Islands Recycling Station. [PHOTOS BY Joanna Hewitt.]

A HOLI DAY TO REMEMBER IN DB NORTH

DB North Plaza beach was bathed in sunshine and bright colours on March 12 as the Indian community celebrated Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colours. The Holi festivities begin the night before with a bonfire and extend into the next day when celebrants throw colourful powder ( gulal ) over each other, eat festive food and dance. The ancient festival marks the end of winter and celebrates the triumph of good over evil. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF Purvi Vyas.]

DB’S TAICHI KHO WINS BIG AT WORLD CITY CHAMPIONSHIP

Congratulations to DB-born Taichi Kho, who placed first at the World City Championship, held from March 23 to 26 at Hong Kong Golf Club. The championship is the seventh Asian Tour event on the 2023 calendar, and the first international, professional golf tournament to be held in Hong Kong in more than three years. With his win, Taichi made history on two counts, becoming the first Asian Tour winner from Hong Kong and the first player born in Hong Kong to qualify for The Open. [PHOTOS BY Richard Gordonwww.richardgordonphotography.com.hk.]

One Seed, One Tree!

DB’S JOHNNY APPLESEED

Ahead of Earth Day, Suren Safaya sits down with Elizabeth Kerr to discuss the fruit trees he grows across from his apartment and much else besides

long rambling chat with Suren Safaya ends with a beer on a park bench on the east side of Discovery Bay. After a circuitous, leisurely walk around Peninsula Garden and past the 60-odd trees he’s planted over the last six years, Suren plonks down on the bench and pontificates on his post-semi-retirement second career as an LED lighting specialist. “I’m not earning a living from it,” says the former IT pro. “It’s purely for my own interest and to help out somehow. And it keeps my grey cells engaged.”

Eventually Suren’s wife, Soshima, shows up with the aforementioned beer, a fruity San Pellegrino soda for him. Suren looks low-key aggrieved, but takes it and has a sip after he gets A Look, maybe the same one he got when he started growing fruit trees in their flat years ago – from seeds. Not flower market or garden centre seeds; seeds from whole fruit. Once the avocado, mango, pomegranate, lemon, lime, sufeda, tamarind and date plants started looking like something from The Last of Us , Soshima decided enough was enough.

“My wife told me either I leave the apartment or the plants leave. Uh oh,” Suren says with his hallmark gentle chuckle. “It was quite a jungle in there.” Sure is why DB now has fruit trees.

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

Born in Kashmir and educated in Kolkata, Suren and Soshima, an educator, relocated to Beijing in 1983, where he was assigned by Unisys for a United Nations development programme to implement a mainframe for the government. A student of electronics and telecommunications, with a master’s in computer science, Suren is an original gangster tech guy, working in tech industries before there were tech industries. He will tell you things about your iPhone you didn’t even know existed.

After eight years in Beijing, the couple and their two children landed in Hong Kong. That was 40 years ago, and 31 of those have been spent in DB. Suren left Unisys in 2005 to work as a consultant to the HKSAR Government on its IT and to “chill.”

As it turns out, Suren hasn’t done much chilling. His penchant for keeping busy led him to helping out DB’s former onboard dwellers with solar light options, as well as LED options for his neighbours who were having trouble making a green solution work. “OK, I’ll have a go,” he recalls. “That’s how I got into the LED lighting business.”

A ham radio hobby also keeps him engaged, but at heart Suren’s a scientist, which is the main reason he started a jungle on his windowsill. His inner urban farmer was always there.

“I always loved to put a seed in a pot and watch it grow. I just got curious as to what might happen,” he explains of his Peninsula Garden experiment. “There’s

a fruit in India, kala jamun, that I used to eat all the time as a kid. It’s deep purple, oval, a long seed – and it turns your tongue black. The last time I was in Pune I saw some and ate them all. I saved the seeds, brought them back, and put them in a pot at home. All 13 grew.” Though he was focused on work when the potting journey started, eventually the time for a deep dive beyond what we all learn in Grade 10 biology cropped up. Suren casts his memory back for a second, recalling the moment it came to choose academic streams in school.

“There was an agriculture stream, but I wanted to do science. My advisor told my mum I’d be better suited to agriculture. In hindsight he knew something I didn’t.”

FRUITS OF HIS LABOURS

Luckily for Suren he happened to be on the Peninsula Village Owners Committee, and so he had an advantage when he pitched the idea to plant some fruit trees around the village in 2014. Armed with a PowerPoint presentation, he made an argument for the plantings and the committee went for it.

Suren did some research into what would be an invasive species and what wouldn’t, and what might have been here before the Second World War razed everything to

"THERE WAS AN AGRICULTURE STREAM, BUT I WANTED TO DO SCIENCE. MY ADVISOR TOLD MY MUM I’D BE BETTER SUITED TO AGRICULTURE. IN HINDSIGHT HE KNEW SOMETHING I DIDN’T."

- Suren Safaya

the ground. “Most of the trees you see in Hong Kong are secondary trees. They were imported from Australia after the war. There were local trees but nothing that grew to any level. Some work – like guava and jackfruit – some don’t. I made sure to bring stuff from along the same latitude to give them a head start.”

He’s also an occasional tour guide to DB’s flora (WhatsApp him on 9020 3729). A little girl trying her best to pull a branch off one of his kala jamun trees led to a chat with her mother about not pulling branches off, and the mother organising a garden tour. Ideally, Suren will be able to label every tree so everyone has a chance to become more knowledgeable about them.

In the time he’s been planting in DB (some saplings went off to new developments like Chianti), there have been successes and failures – excitable dogs, rain, typhoons – but mostly successes. If you see a tree with green protective lattice around it, it’s probably Suren’s work.

Right now, his pomegranate bushes are flowering, and the tucked away lime trees give off a vibrant, intoxicatingly sweet scent when the leaves are rubbed. And even though some residents have wondered who would “own” the fruit once trees bore them, Suren believes most people are thrilled just to have them there.

PASTURES NEW

In the coming months and years, Suren’s going to have to rely on the kindness of local gardeners to nurture what he’s started. With grown kids – son Sameer, a hydrologist in the Netherlands and Smriti, a geologist who just completed her PhD in Citizen Science in the UK – and considering Soshima retired from the Canadian International School a few years ago, the couple has decided it’s time to travel again. From a new homebase in Pune, they can flit around the globe, and Suren can continue the next phase of his work. Smart man Suren, but clearly confused about the concept of retirement. He’s working with a group of scientists researching the light spectrum’s influence on seed growth, and how to use LED to replicate it and speed up growth to make seed modification quicker, technically AI-assisted speed-breeding agro-tech. Don’t start him on GMOs and the anti-science movement that seems to be sweeping the globe, the unfounded illness fears and push back on all the good that GMOs do, like disease prevention, insect resistance and fortification to work in a world where climate change will impact food supply. Shady seed suppliers that bankrupt farmers are not a science issue.

Suren has no idea where this research might lead, if anywhere, but in true scientific fashion, that’s not necessarily the point. “There’s a greater good at play,” he says. “That [anti-science fear] is a good point and maybe if I work at that level one day I’ll address it, but for now I’m happy just doing the science.”

SUREN HAS PLANTED 60+ FRUIT TREES IN DB SINCE 2014

Togetherness! FEEL THE LOVE

Love.Together@DB has been helping residents embrace diversity and build a loving community for a little over a decade. Ray Au takes a look

Home to around 20,000 people hailing from 50+ countries, Discovery Bay is a truly unique place to live. Unique in its cultural mix certainly, but also in how happily residents of different nationalities, backgrounds and ages coexist.

That ours is a harmonious, close-knit community is thanks in no small part to Love.Together@DB, the community-caring platform initiated in 2012 by Hong Kong Resort Company Limited (HKRCL). Over the years, Love.Together@DB has introduced numerous events, programmes and activities with the aim to bring the community together and promote a caring, sharing culture.

“The strength of our community lies in the strength of the connections that we have with each other,” opens Simon Tu, General Manager, DB Operations of HKRCL. “Forging these connections takes time and effort but it’s worth it. The Love.Together@DB ethos is ‘Embrace Diversity and Build a Loving Community’. We set out to foster strong bonds and a sense of belonging within the DB community, while encouraging community service.”

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

The fabulous DB Fun Fun Carnival, co-organised by Love.Together@DB and the Neighbourhood AdviceAction Council (NAAC), is one of the most popular events on the DB social calendar, bringing handicraft workshops and on-stage dance, music and fitness

demonstrations. True to the Love.Together@DB ethos, local performers from different countries and cultures are invited to take part. For DB Dragon Boat Race Day, Love.Together@DB joins hands with City Management and the City Owners’ Committee. A high-profile, community building event, it serves to promote sports and a healthy lifestyle, while encouraging residents and stakeholders to meet and mingle.

The DB Kids Farming Programme, launched in May 2022, is a relatively new Love.Together@DB flagship programme that helps residents build relationships through shared activities. Local schoolchildren, alongside their parents, siblings and elderly neighbours, are given a small piece of farmland to cultivate inside the greenhouse at DB Community Green Square. Members of the DB Landscape Team are on hand to teach the kids valuable farming skills.

“Love.Together@DB initiatives are based on one or more of the following pillars – green living, healthy lifestyle, arts and culture, youth education and family harmony,” says Sara Lai, Senior Manager, Community Relations of HKRCL. “We are delighted that the DB Kids Farming Programme touches on so many of these.”

The story-telling sessions and handicraft workshops, co-organised by Love.Together@DB and the Outlying Islands Women’s Association (OIWA), are another case in point. “The aim is to help foster harmonious family relationships,” says Luvis Wong, OIWA’s Community Services Development Manager. “The diversified, family-based programmes let

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HKRCL

OIWA reach out to many young DB parents and expand children’s horizons.”

The annual competitions Love.Together@DB organises, alongside the Around DB team, are equally family-orientated, and specifically tailored to celebrate DB’s multicultural demographic. In the DB CNY Drawing Competition, DB kids and students share their New Year wishes and greetings with the community. In the DB Baking Competition – themed Love to Bake! Bake to Love! for 2022, resident cooks of all ages were invited to share a favourite family recipe that friends and neighbours might choose to add to their own culinary repertoire.

SHARING THE LOVE

In seeking to build a loving and connected community, Love.Together@DB makes DB’s elderly residents a priority. Elderly Fun Days, co-organised

by City Management, are held every Tuesday and Thursday at the Multi-Purpose Hall encouraging older members of the community to get together and enjoy a range of activities, such as early morning exercise, table tennis, tea-sharing, dancing and Rummikub. Regular talks on useful topics like health, home safety and crime prevention are also provided, as are Christmas and CNY gatherings.

Love.Together@DB is well aware that living in a wellconnected community is important for people’s

“ The strength of our community lies in the strength of the connections that we have with each other. Forging these connections takes time and effort but it’s worth it.”

- Simon Tu, General Manager, DB Operations of HKRCL

STORY-TELLING SESSIONS AND HANDICRAFT WORKSHOPS

SPORTS AND WELLNESS ACTIVITIES

DB FUN FUN CARNIVAL

DB KIDS FARMING PROGRAMME

wellbeing and, with this in mind, it supports the numerous activities the NAAC provides at its centre in DB North and at the DB Community Centre.

“Thanks to Love.Together@DB, we can strengthen our connection with the DB community, tailoring our diverse services to the needs of residents,” says Henry Yip, NAAC Centre Manager. “The more community activities we hold, the more residents we connect with, and the more easily we can identify people who need our support.”

NAAC wellness workshops on offer include laughter-yoga and mindfulness, and there are sports clubs for table tennis, badminton and dance. Music-based activities include busking (DB Vibes), a choir for adults (Sing for Joy) and a percussion band for children.

Love.Together@DB also supports DB residents James Lee and Jane Tsui, co-founders of Sing for Love, who provide Cantonese Opera training classes at Cub Siena as a form of community service. The programme is open to children as well as adults, and all the coaches are volunteers.

“We have a strong sense of belonging in DB. It’s our home and we want to make a solid contribution,”

says James, who composes music and writes lyrics for the children he teaches. “Through the programme, we teach children about Chinese culture and promote positive thinking and values. All our members live or study in DB, so we see strong friendship bonds develop.”

“We are not merely an interest class; we are a support network,” says Jane, formerly deputy principal at S.K.H. Wei Lun Primary School. “We want to care for elderly residents, especially those whose children have moved out of DB. We hope to ease their loneliness. By singing together, many of us have become friends. During COVID, we helped elderly members get to the vaccine centres and we sourced necessities for them.”

ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY SERVICE

Volunteering is something that Love.Together@DB encourages and enables, with a focus not only on DB’s elderly population but also on locally based NGOs, such as Plastic Free Seas.

“People who volunteer feel more connected to the community they serve, and it’s also a good way to connect with other residents and have fun,” says Sara. “In addition, volunteering boosts personal development; it broadens people’s horizons, helping them understand those they are trying to help.”

While being DB-centric, the Love.Together@DB volunteering programme extends to the wider Lantau community, with a focus on Tung Chung and Peng Chau. One such initiative, on March 4, saw Love.Together@DB and the HKRI Care and Share Volunteer Team, alongside their families and friends, join with 30 other teams to paint a series of murals by the waterfront at Tung Chung Development Pier. The first mural highlights activities that Love.Together@DB arranges or supports; the second depicts signature DB events and facilities.

“For this event, we partnered with Tung Chung Safe and Heathy City, with whom we have a longstanding relationship,” Sara says. “It created an opportunity for our staff to make a contribution to the wider community. They were also able to enjoy quality time with colleagues, families and friends while volunteering.

“No matter whether you choose to provide a community activity or service, or sign up as a recipient, you will experience heartfelt fulfilment! Come join us,” Sara concludes.

VOLUNTEERING IN TUNG CHUNG

Love.Together@DB is a community-caring platform initiated in 2012 by Hong Kong Resort Company Ltd dedicated to serving the Discovery Bay (DB) community. The platform proactively supports and co-organises diversified corporate social responsibility initiatives with NGOs, community leaders and volunteers to promote a loving and caring culture in the sustainable and multicultural DB community.

CANTONESE OPERA TRAINING CLASSES

Entrepreneurs of the Month!

BEATRICE CHAN AND SIMON STOLL

Having expanded their reach with a second branch in DB, the co-founders of EMS Fitness Hong Kong share the secrets of their success

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMS Fitness Hong Kong

Ask a bunch of entrepreneurs what drives them and most will say their passion, their belief in whatever it is they are sharing with clients. Beatrice Chan, co-founder of EMS Fitness Hong Kong, is no exception. “I had a leg injury six years ago when I was living in Germany and it was difficult for me to do sports,” she opens. “EMS [electric muscle stimulation] training gave me good results. I saw the impact of EMS at first hand. So, I decided to get my personal training certification and join an EMS studio to learn more about the benefits.”

By 2021, Beatrice and her husband Simon Stoll had moved to Hong Kong and launched EMS Fitness in Central, confident that they had spotted a gap in the market. “Before we opened, I looked into the sports and health scene in Hong Kong and I saw that EMS training was not present,” Simon says. “EMS is well-established in Germany and we felt there was a place for it here.”

Finding the right target audience is essential to any start-up and Beatrice and Simon were convinced they had found that in busy, office-bound Hongkongers. “Time is very important to people here and EMS is an effective way for them to keep fit in a short period of time,” says Simon, referring to the way a 20-minute EMS training session can deliver the same result as a two-and-a-half-hour conventional gym workout. “EMS technology helps to contract over 90% of muscles simultaneously thus providing a shortcut to strengthening, body toning and fat burning,” he adds. “It’s USP, and why it’s proving such a hit in Hong Kong, is that it works but it’s not time consuming.”

Nevertheless, launching a new business during a pandemic has to be seen as a… bold move. What advice does the couple have for wannabe entrepreneurs, who are stuck on the fence, waiting for the ‘perfect time’ to start out. “You need to find the determination to go for it – even if the odds seem stacked against you,” says Simon. “We had a couple of entrepreneur friends advising us to be cautious about opening a business. But we were so convinced by our business model that despite the uncertainty, we went ahead.

“If you open a new business, the important thing is to be flexible,” Simon adds. “We started on a small scale with just the one branch in Central. This really paid off. Be resilient and test the response before you invest too much, that’s important!”

So after a relatively cautious start, what spurred the expansion to DB and how did the couple go about it? “Expansion of a business should align with demand,” says Beatrice. “Many customers in our Central studio wanted to work with us in DB, which is why we decided to open a branch in DB South.” Simon also did his market research, and decided that DB had the right demographic. “DB has the expat and health-conscious crowd,” he says. “It’s different from other suburbs in Hong Kong.”

Supported by referrals from both existing clients and local clinics, Beatrice and Simon are happy with the way their business is growing. The question has to be asked, however: what do they say to the sceptics out there, people who find the idea of EMS too good to be true? “What we see is that once people try it, they are much more convinced,” Beatrice says simply. “And once they see the results, they keep coming back.

“The 20 minutes are very tough. It’s not like you are standing there doing nothing. People are sweating within five minutes. EMS is tough but efficient. It’s a shortcut to fitness.”

Clients are also impressed by the state-of-the- art equipment on offer, and Simon advises anyone starting out in business to invest in the best. “Our EMS machines are designed and made in Germany,” he says. “We decided to go with the market leader because of its long-standing reputation. Also, these German machines are medically certified.”

Asked to share more secrets of their success, the couple are quick to point out the importance of choosing the right people to work with, in this case their five personal trainers. “Some of them have personal training backgrounds and others, like me, have a service industry background,” says Beatrice, a former flight attendant. “We look for people with good people skills because they need to give customers a pleasant experience and motivate them to stick to a routine.”

Looking to the immediate future, the couple believe consistency will keep their business on track and, in terms of expansion, they have a quality over quantity mindset. “Depending on how 2023 picks up, we may set up a third branch or even move to DB South Plaza,” Simon says. Meanwhile, the couple’s endgame is to make EMS Fitness the market leader in Asia. “We’re very confident!” Beatrice concludes.

EMS Fitness Hong Kong offers a range of personal training session packages and attractive membership plans. For more on the DB studio and to make a booking, WhatsApp 6200 2463 or visit www.ems-fitness.hk.

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A Little Bit of Trivia! EARTH DAY QUIZ

In the lead-up to Earth Day on April 22, we test your environmental awareness starting with the 5 Rs

1. Who launched Earth Day?

A. Gaylord Nelson

B. Al Gore

C. Sir David Attenborough

2. What is the theme for Earth Day 2023?

A. Invest In Our Planet

B. Plants Trees Not Bombs

C. Restore Our Earth

3. What are the 5 Rs?

A. Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle

B. Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Return, Recycle

C. There are only 3 Rs

4. Which of these factors most contributes to current global warming?

A. The hole in the ozone layer

B. Carbon dioxide emissions

C. Littering

5. When are Hong Kong’s landfills expected to be full?

A. 2030

B. 2050

C. 2080

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Wikimedia & HKRI

6. Why was synthetic plastic invented?

A. As a substitute for shellac

B. As a substitute for ivory

C. To replace glass

7. Which DB-based eco group is not led by Dana Winograd?

A. DB Green

B. Plastic Free Seas

C. DC Green Cobras

8. In 2022, members of which climatecrisis action group threw tomato soup on Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers?

A. Just Stop Oil

B. Sea Shepherd

C. Extinction Rebellion

9. How many food-waste collection bins are there in DB?

A. 18

B. 28

C. 54

10. In 2003, which eco-measure did the New Zealand government propose?

A. A nationwide plastic ban

B. A cow burp and flatulence tax

C. A ban on domestic flights under one hour

11. Where is DB’s Green@Community collection point located?

A. Club Siena

B. Green Icon@DB

C. Love Lock Promenade

12. What’s the name for buses powered by overhead electric cable?

A. Funiculars

B. Guided buses

C. Trolley buses

13. What does Greta Thunberg’s mother do for a living?

A. Farmer

B. Opera singer

C. Spokesperson for Sweden’s Green Party

14. Where will the UN Climate Change Conference 2023 be held?

A. Paris

B. Cairo

C. Dubai

15. How much of the ocean does the Great Pacific Garbage Patch cover?

A. 5 million square kilometres

B. 10 million square kilometres

C. 20 million square kilometres

16. How many country parks does Hong Kong have?

A. 12

B. 24

C. 38

17. What causes the Northern Lights?

A. Alfvén waves

B. Aurora borealis

C. Climate change

18. How many lai see packets were recycled this year in DB?

A. Around 2,500

B. Around 5,000

C. Around 10,000

19. In 2021, which country’s foreign minister filmed a speech to COP26 in the ocean?

A. Tuvalu

B. Palau

C. Vanuatu

20. Who designed the cyclical recycling symbol?

A. Gary Anderson

B. Rachel Carson

C. Jacques Cousteau

You can check your score at www.arounddb.com>20questions>earth-day-quiz

You Deserve it! YOUR PORTAL TO GREAT REWARDS

By connecting Lantau residents with local businesses, Bay Media Rewards Club ensures everyone benefits

Newly launched Bay Media Rewards Club (BMRC) sets out to provide its members with exclusive discounts on products and services across various sectors. As a DB-based rewards platform, BMRC is dedicated to connecting Lantau residents to the best deals, while supporting local businesses.

Businesses currently offering exclusive discounts to BMRC members include Lifestyle Insurance (up to 25% off), Aitch’s Biltong (12% off), Bandit Coffee (15% off) and ATS Collective (15% off).

Lifestyle Insurance (www.lfsinsurance.com) is an independent insurance broker, established in 2010 to provide a first-class, impartial, comprehensive general insurance service. Its founder, DB-based Mark Kirkham says that the opportunity to give back to fellow residents is what first drew him to partner with BMRC.

“After two decades living in this vibrant community, it's a rewarding experience to be able to offer savings to friends and neighbours through BMRC,” Mark says.

“BMRC, through Lifestyle Insurance, gives members access to essential coverages such as Helper, Travel and Home Contents Insurance from top quality insurers – all with a 25% discount,” Mark adds. “BMRC members can also enjoy up to 25% off International Health Insurance premiums. But that's not all! Lifestyle Insurance is currently looking into adding more lines of insurance products, so our business community and other business owners can benefit, too.”

At Aitch’s Biltong (www.aitchsbiltong.com), biltong (sliced or in slabs), chilli bites and broëwors are the speciality, freshly made in Kwai Chung using Australian Wagyu beef. Through their online business, co-founders HP and Bessa Odendaal also supply a full range of quality, chilled and frozen meat. Having partnered with BMRC, the Cheung Sha-based couple are providing club members with a 12% discount on all online orders.

“This discount will be ongoing for BMRC members and it will give them the best prices on all of our products, guaranteed,” says Bessa. “More good news: we offer free delivery for all orders above HK$350 and only charge HK$30 for orders that are less than HK$350.”

Bandit Coffee (www.bandithk.com) founder Robbie Hunter is offering BMRC members a discount of 15% on his premium, fresh-roasted coffee selection. The pay per order and subscription-based coffee roaster provides free delivery on all orders over HK$250.

ATS Collective (www.atscollective.com) is another burgeoning South Lantau-based business with a big heart. Specialists in family, maternity and newborn photography, ATS is providing BMRC members with a 15% discount on complete (90-minute) and full (45-minute) photography packages.

“As a small business, partnering with BMRC allows us to reach a wider Lantau audience,” ATS co-founder Philippa Black says. “More than that, it helps us support the community directly since we can offer BMRC members a discount they will not receive anywhere else.”

It's clear that BMRC is proving a win-win for all those involved. BMRC members are rewarded with exciting discounts from local businesses. And those very same businesses, the BMRC partners, are given the opportunity to give back to loyal customers and expand their reach.

“We are so excited to get the platform up and running,” says Philip Jay, Managing Director of Bay Media Limited. “We can’t wait to partner with many more local businesses, showcasing unique offers for BMRC members’ benefit.”

Time For Chores! SORT YOUR LIFE OUT

Encouraging children to help around the house sets them up for adulthood, while allowing them to feel competent and responsible in the here and now. Kate Farr reports

PHOTOS COURTESY OF

Adobe Stock

While many of us are fortunate enough to have a helper to relieve us of daily household chores, outsourcing all of the domestic drudgery can have some unexpected disadvantages. For kids who are accustomed to always having ‘Auntie’ around, the university years, and the subsequent forays into independent adulthood can come as a pretty rude awakening. Ultimately, it falls to us parents to ensure that our kids turn out to be productive people, rather than pampered princes and princesses.

The good news is that you can start teaching life skills to even the tiniest of tots, simply by having them near you as you and/ or your helper go about your daily chores. Older kids, meanwhile, are capable of doing practically any household task that you can do, as long as they are given plenty of guidance.

The first step is to make sure children know exactly what they’re being asked to do. Start by showing them how to do a specific chore, like loading and unloading the dishwasher, and then monitor their progress until you are certain they can do it unattended. Make your expectations clear and demonstrate how you'd like even the simplest tasks to be done.

Second step, establish a regular schedule. Start by giving children a few simple tasks to complete, then add to the list once these chores have become part of their daily routine. As always, be mindful about the need for balance: children need the opportunity to acquire valuable life skills by helping out at home but they also need plenty of time to do their homework and have some fun.

TAKING CHARGE

By the time your children reach their teens, they should have a regular roster of household tasks to tackle without supervision. Examples include vacuuming, stripping the sheets from the family’s beds, and even cleaning the bathrooms. This helps to build trust, and sets a benchmark for cleanliness for your soon-to-be-independent young people.

In addition to helping out around the house, a chores list for teens should provide them with the opportunity to take responsibility for themselves and their things. Encouraging teenagers to be tidy (particularly in their bedrooms) can be challenging, but here’s a smart hack – introduce them to the wonderful world of Stacey Solomon, the empathic organising consultant, who hosts popular British TV show Sort Your Life Out . Solomon and her team have some genuinely helpful and relatable de-cluttering/ tidying tips that can benefit everyone, including the messiest teen on the block. Solomon’s basic mantra? Sort your possessions by category, keep

MAKE IT CLEAR THAT HARD WORK WILL ALWAYS BE REWARDED – AT HOME IN THE HERE AND NOW, AND ALSO IN THE FUTURE, IN THE FORM OF BIGGER PAY CHECKS

only the items that you absolutely love or need, and donate, sell, recycle or toss the rest.

Adopting Solomon’s method results in tidier living spaces, no doubt, but there’s more to it than that. The realisation that items they no longer want –clothes, gadgets, furniture – can be given (or sold) to someone else can be a big one for teens, inspiring regular clear-outs and an altruistic mindset.

Teens like to be in charge, so it’s a good idea to reflect this in their chores list by asking them to take care of other family members. Tasks like babysitting younger siblings and making their school lunches, watering household plants, and feeding and caring for the family pet, empower teens. They realise you feel they are responsible enough to have someone (or something) depend on them.

Whether your teen is a dab hand in the kitchen

or completely disinterested in the culinary arts, a cooking course that covers all the basics can be a wise move, equipping them with the tools they’ll need to feed themselves in the outside world. Designate one night per week for your older teen to take charge of feeding the family, meaning that they get to hone their skills while you reap the benefits.

AN EYE ON YOUR WEIGHT BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE MAGIC WORDS

‘EVERYTHING IN MODERATION?'

Speaking of rewards, pocket money can be a major motivator for teenagers, especially if they are saving up for something really special. While bribing children with cash to get them to do their chores is not recommended, a small cash reward can be a little extra incentive for them to go above and beyond at home. Make it clear that hard work will always be rewarded – at home in the here and now, and also in the future, in the form of bigger pay checks.

CHORES FOR TWEENS

Tweens become increasingly independent and, from around nine or 10 years, they can tackle many core household jobs, such as cleaning surfaces, washing up, emptying bins and sorting the recyclables. This serves to reinforce the message that a clean home takes some effort, and that ‘the rubbish fairy’ doesn’t actually spirit their discarded wrappers away. It will also stand them in good stead for maintaining shared student accommodation in the years to come.

When it comes to kitchen duties, you can start by involving tweens in the process of packing their own lunch. Make an event of this by choosing a new lunchbox together (bento boxes or stackable tiffins allow for lots of different flavours). Then make a ‘menu card’ of options that includes plenty of fresh fruit and veggies, a protein, a carbohydrate and something sweet. Kids can ‘place their order’ for the week ahead by ticking individual items from each category. Then, they can help you shop for ingredients at the supermarket.

If time allows, a regular themed food day is another good way to get kids interested in the kitchen. Ask them to pick a country from a map, then spend some time researching facts about the culture, the people and, of course, the food. The grand finale is to shop for ingredients together and cook a meal from the chosen country to eat as a family.

CONSTRUCTIVE GAMES

Toddlers and really young children are like sponges soaking up the influences around them, and at this age, the strongest influence of all comes from their parents. Model the type of behaviour that you would like them to learn and encourage them to help with

simple household tasks as early as possible.

Sweeping and vacuuming are endlessly fascinating to young children and a soft duster is a safe tool for little hands. Laundry time is another great opportunity to turn a chore into fun. Toddlers love to load washing into the machine (be vigilant for stray Duplo and toy cars) and pass pegs... and sockpairing becomes a great game when they’re learning to match up colours.

Most little ones adore tidy-up games, so ensure that your toy storage is accessible, bust out a tidying song, and encourage them to be in charge of putting away their own playthings. This helps to reinforce the importance of looking after treasured items and soon becomes second nature.

Your next point of focus is the kitchen – and the daily chores therein. If you have the space, you can encourage kids to stand on a low stool and get handson with the food prep. Scooping, spreading, whisking and even some carefully supervised chopping allows children to understand how their meals end up on the table, and can be instrumental in broadening a fussy eater’s culinary horizons.

By continually reinforcing the message that household chores are everyone’s responsibility, you are giving your offspring valuable life skills that they can draw on throughout their lives. And the earlier you start, the less resistance you’re likely to encounter along the way. So grab your toddler and a dustpan, and get to work.

IT’S GOOD TO KEEP

KIDS WHO CAN COOK CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES

DMR School of Ballet

Hong Kong Disneyland

Congratulations to the DMR Dancers who performed at Hong Kong Disneyland on January 15th, 2023

We look forward to the next magical opportunity!

Little Dancers

For our youngest dancers, ages 2 - 4, we have a range of classes which focus on motor skills, imagination, structure and preparing them for the world of dance

Ballet

From 5 years old, our Ballerinas can participate in our graded classes following the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Syllabus and focus on strength and grace

Modern

Taking aspects from Jazz, Contemporary and Commercial, Modern is a great class to try out different styles, gain flexibility, technique and grow as performers

Tap

Our tap classes focus on rhythm, line and style, and confidence! These classes are based on the ISTD Syllabus and are great fun!

info@dmr-hk.com

+852 5210 7208

Unit 21, 1/F, DB North

Top Tips! SMART BUDGETING

Whether you’re new to financial planning or have struggled with it in the past, Ray Robertson has some pointers to help you keep your finances on track

We’re already into the second quarter of the year, and my daughter Amy, 13, and I have been talking a lot about resolutions for the months ahead. We’ve discussed academic aims, household chores and a pocket money increase, and our little chats have got me thinking about my own ongoing plans and responsibilities for 2023/ 24.

Importantly, I’m determined to spend smarter, starting now. As a husband and father, you’d think I’d have family budgeting sussed by now, and in many ways you’d be right. But as I’ve grown older, I realise I’ve let things slip. I no longer keep a tangible record of my monthly incomings and outgoings;

I don’t actively balance my books. It’s time to go back to a monthly budget plan, and stick to it.

Planning a budget is easy, and there are so many great ways to make it smart. My wife does her personal accounts each month, as a matter of course. This comes as naturally to her as breathing, or, as she says, watching her weight (and my gout problems) by keeping a food diary.

BALANCE YOUR BOOKS

In creating your budget plan, you’re obviously going to write down your mortgage or rent, insurance, utilities, cell phone, cable and creditcard payments, plus food and ferry/ taxi costs and school fees. But that’s not all. You also need to account for your ‘discretionary’ expenses, like meals out, cinema tickets and gym membership –absolutely everything.

Look at your bank book and note any recurring expenses that you had forgotten about, or underestimated. Writing down all your outgoings will help you assess whether they are all entirely necessary. For me, actually seeing (in black and white) how much I spend on golf each month has encouraged me to hit the links a little less.

When making a budget plan, be sure to overestimate a little on your expenses. For example, if your rent is HK$28,000 a month, round it up to HK$30,000. This way you buy yourself a little wriggle room, and make the math easier. If you overestimate all your known expenses, then you’ll have a built-in cushion in case an unexpected expense arises (say, a sale at Escapade Sports).

While you’re at it, underestimate your income a little bit, too. If you typically bring home HK$58,000 a month round it down – log it into your planner as HK$55,000. Again, this will give you a small but handy buffer in case you need it. If you end up with extra cash at the end of the month, you have the chance to treat your family to something special.

AIM TO SAVE

Certainly savings need to figure in any serious budget plan. In this uncertain economy, everyone needs a nest egg, so aim to set aside 10% of your yearly income. While you may not notice the sum deducted from your current account each month, you’ll appreciate the sizeable extra saved by the end of the year.

Your only good excuse for not saving is if you’re using all of your ‘extra’ money to pay off credit-card debt. Priority number one in creating your budget has to be eliminating debt. It’s essential to recognise that

borrowing from your bank is like taking out a loan. It really is a fool’s game. If you don’t pay your bill in full every month, you’ll be charged interest and owe more than you originally spent.

If you’ve ever written a cheque knowing you didn’t have the money in your current account to cover it, but that you would by the time the cheque cleared, you’ve kited. Kiting may seem harmless, but it’s never

a good idea, because if you misjudge the timing, you could bounce a cheque, which in turn could cause another payment to bounce. Letting this happen is not only embarrassing it’s expensive, as most banks charge outrageous fees for overdrafts.

Of course, we are not only accountable to our bank managers. I always try to remember that Amy is watching my spending and budgeting habits. If we spend more than we should, or live beyond our means, our children will likely follow our lead. But if we’re financially responsible and thrifty, they’ll learn these good habits, and use them to be more successful and less stressed in their own adult lives.

DON’T PUNISH YOURSELF

The aforesaid notwithstanding, don’t plan a budget you know you will never be able to keep. Your budget plan should be just as reasonable and achievable as your diet regime or exercise programme.

If you’ve never been able to save well, or are a compulsive spender, don’t expect this to change overnight. Instead, make small changes and take small steps towards your overall budget goals. You’re looking at a long-term strategy, so don’t be punitive. Any sensible budget plan should include an expense entry of at least HK$1,000 per month for unexpected costs. This will cover anything you’ve forgotten, like flowers for Mother’s Day, or anniversary drinks. If you figure unexpected expenses into your budget, you’ll never be short of cash.

Once you’ve completed your budget, have a copy of it handy. Keep it in your bankbook, or diary. When you’re looking to spend a large sum of money, pull out your plan to see if you can afford to do so. See where you can make small cuts to cover your additional costs, or work out how they can be absorbed into your budget over the coming months. In my case, it’s always possible to reduce money spent teeing off.

Every few months, review your budget and make updates or changes according to how you’ve actually been spending. For example, if you change mobile phone plans, and are now paying a lot more or less, update your budget to reflect that. If you notice you’re spending more on utilities or taxi fares, increase that part of your budget, but be sure to take the required funds from somewhere else, like meals out or date nights.

Think of your budget as a scale, where the two sides ought to be equal. If you take something away from ‘income,’ you need to take something away from ‘spending’. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be able to come up with an effective and fully personalised monthly budget. You should even be able to save a little.

IF YOU’VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO SAVE WELL, OR ARE A COMPULSIVE SPENDER, DON’T EXPECT THIS TO CHANGE OVERNIGHT. INSTEAD, MAKE SMALL CHANGES AND TAKE

SMALL STEPS TOWARDS YOUR OVERALL BUDGET GOALS

YOUR TICKET TO CLEANLINESS AND WELLNESS

Co-founded in August 2020 by Matthew Bentley and Jason Crisp, Island Cleaning Solutions (ICS) is a cleaning and wellness company tending homes, workplaces and businesses across Hong Kong. Services include cleaning of air-conditioning units, soft furnishings, upholstery and leather, as well as whole-home/ office deep cleaning and disinfecting. ICS specialises in providing safe, eco-aware cleaning solutions using plant-based products that do not contain harsh chemicals.

“My daughter was suffering from allergies and asthma a few years back, and I purchased a top-of-the-range Rainbow Vacuum,” opens Matthew, a DB resident. “With COVID taking a hit on my job as a corporate trainer, I thought of branching out and using it to provide professional cleaning services. Jason and I saw the opportunity to set up a business that goes far beyond cleaning surfaces and carpets.”

With its patented water-filtration system and power nozzle, the Rainbow Vacuum is certified to trap dirt, dust, bugs, hair and other allergens, including dust mites, that might otherwise be overlooked. “We saw a gap in the market for the use of this equipment,” Matthew says. “The Rainbow Vacuum is very expensive and bulky and it is not something you would use every day. You can have us come in six or seven times a year for three years and it would still cost you less than buying the unit.”

Placing customer satisfaction first and foremost, ICS prides itself on providing a tailored, professional and personable service. On making an appointment, clients are given an exact time of arrival and guaranteed punctuality. They receive a photo of the team prior to their visit and can even track their realtime location. “We want our clients to feel at ease because after all, we are entering into their personal space,” says Jason. “And we don’t just come and go. We build a relationship with our clients; we follow-up and gather feedback.

“My background and that of other people in the company is from the military, and we prioritise attention to detail,” Jason adds. “We keep a visual

record of each and every visit, so customers can see that the work has been done properly.”

Interestingly, over half the call outs ICS gets are air-con related. “You’ll be surprised how dirty air-cons can get. They’re a perfect breeding ground for mould and bacteria, particularly after they’ve been sitting idle through the winter. My son once ended up hospitalised for three days with respiratory issues because of black mould,” says Jason, who hopes ICS can spare other families with young children from going through the same ordeal.

“Air-con cleaning is crucial for the reduction of energy costs,” Matthew adds. “We recommend you get your air-con cleaned every six to 12 months and we also provide a monthly filter disinfection service.” Never settling for less, ICS offers a choice of five air-freshening air-con fragrances – lavender, lemongrass, cinnamon, tea tree (for homes without pets) and one that promises to make your home smell like a five-star hotel.

Prioritising both cleanliness and wellness, Matthew and Jason are on a mission to ensure that the environments in which we live and work are safe, clean and pleasing to the eye. Their strategy is clearly working since ICS’ existing portfolio includes Forbes-listed clients, high-end offices, luxury brands, conference facilities and over 100 homes in DB alone.

For more on Island Cleaning Solutions, visit www.island-cleaning.com. To schedule a visit, call 6091 5176 or email enquiries@island-cleaning.com.

Founders of Island Cleaning Solutions

Matthew Bentley and Jason Crisp are revolutionising the services industry through exceptional customer experience

PHOTO BY Richard Gordon – www.richardgordonphotography.com.hk

Because You Can! MAKE IT TO CAIRO!

Sink into the City of Sand

A CRADLE OF CIVILISATION

celebrated for historic treasures that span the centuries, Cairo is also the sprawling and bustling Egyptian capital with a population of over 20 million.

Egyptians call the city Umm Ad Dunya – the Mother of the World – and it famously has two sides: Islamic and Coptic. The skyline is a mesmerising mish-mash of mosques and churches, high-rises and pyramids.

THE MIGHTY SPHINX AT GIZA

is a lot smaller than you might expect, though no less formidable. The infamous man-lion sculpture is known as Abu Al Hol (the Father of Terror) in Arabic; the name Sphinx was introduced by the ancient Greeks who saw a resemblance to one of their own mythical monsters, a female who killed anyone unable to answer her riddles.

THE TREASURES OF TUTANKHAMUN

and other great pharaohs are expected to move this year from downtown Cairo’s historic Egyptian Museum to the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on the Giza Plateau. On opening, GEM will be the largest archaeological museum in the world, home to some 18,000 ancient artefacts, including the 5,000-strong full-tomb collection of King Tut.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

THE LAST REMAINING

A NIGHT CRUISE ON THE NILE opens up another side of Cairo, complete with fine dining and belly dancing. If you have plenty of time on your hands, consider prebooking a slow (12-night) cruise up the Nile to Luxor, the ‘world’s greatest openair museum,’ where you can explore the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes.

FRENCHIFIED DOWNTOWN

CAIRO first came into being in the 19th century, when Ottoman ruler Khedive Ismail Pasha set out to turn the largely medieval city into the ‘Paris of the East’. You can catch a glimpse of Cairo’s belle epoque in the fin de siècle, European-style buildings, boulevards and gardens bordering Talaat Harb Square.

TROPHY-FILLED KHAN

EL-KHALILI SOUK was built in the 14th century as an epicentre of regional trade, and it continues on as a medieval-style mall, where you can pick up everything from semi-precious stones to shisha. It’s easy to get lost in the maze of cobbled lanes and tiny courtyards as you barter for gold, incense and spices.

WONDER of the ancient world, Giza pyramid complex has to be the highpoint of any visit to Cairo. The complex was built to entomb pharaohs 4,000 years ago, and must-see sights include the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure and the Sphinx. Venture further into the desert to see more tombs, temple ruins and satellite pyramids.

THE POWER OF REGENERATION CREATES INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Gordon Franks, Managing Partner of Lifestyle Property, suggests it’s time to make your move in Birmingham

Property investors looking for superior returns will often look for areas in the midst of regeneration, where significant internal investment is being made. Urban renewal is a sign of future demand, which often leads to an abundance of new amenities, new residents and ultimately, increased value.

The Big City Plan: The Birmingham Big City Plan is an excellent example of regeneration. Starting with the Bullring in 2003, it has grown into an impressive masterplan that’s seen property prices increase by 200% over the last 20 years. This has totally transformed the city, and made it a highly desirable place for both owners and renters.

The new London? Birmingham has been voted the best regional city in the UK to live in, with the cost of living approximately 60% lower than London. Companies such as HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, KPMG and PwC have recognised these cost savings and relocated many employees to Birmingham. This has boosted the economic output of the city and, importantly for property investors, demand for high quality rental properties.

With a population of just over 1 million and an economic output of £18 billion per year, Birmingham is undoubtably the UK’s second largest city. The grey city some of us may remember from the 1990s is almost unrecognisable today and rapidly becoming its own economic powerhouse.

In the past, UK property investment has focused on London or the areas immediately outside of it, but with a high-speed train connecting London to Birmingham in under 50 minutes expected to commence in 2033, Birmingham must be a consideration for future buy-to-let landlords.

Once in a generation opportunity: Within the regeneration programme, Smithfield in Birmingham’s city centre stands out as an area investors must consider. Birmingham City Council

sees Smithfield as an unprecedented chance to make a profound, lasting change for the city. A development purchased today could provide significantly higher returns in both rental income and capital appreciation compared to other areas. Smithfield is defined by its dynamic mix of uses creating a major cultural and leisure destination, much-needed business space and a new residential community.

Birmingham’s house prices are increasing by 6.3% annually, according to HM Land Registry. This is faster than the UK average of 4.5%. Moreover, property investors can expect average rental yields of 5.11% far exceeding those of London’s 2.9%. With rising interest rates, yield becomes more important and these rental increases are significant, helping to compensate for any potentially higher costs of borrowing.

According to the latest house price forecast from JLL, Birmingham’s housing market is expected to grow by a cumulative 19.2% between 2023 and 2027. This far exceeds the expected UK average of 8.9% over the five-year period and as such should be a consideration for all property investors.

Bay Media

Taichi Kho

The first Hong Kong player to win an Asian tour.

Join us in giving a round of applause to DB golfer Taichi Kho, winner of the World City Championship, March 2023 at the Hong Kong Golf Club

Photo credit: Richard Gordon Photography

FUNNY BUNNY PANCAKES

Makes 4

100g plain flour

2 eggs

1tbsp vegetable oil

300ml milk

Put the flour and a pinch of salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre and crack the eggs, vegetable oil and 50ml milk into the middle. Start whisking from the centre, gradually drawing the flour into the eggs, milk and oil. Then beat until you have a smooth, thick paste. Add a good splash of milk and whisk to loosen the thick batter. While still whisking, pour in the remaining milk until you have a batter that is the consistency of single cream.

Heat the pan over a moderate heat, then wipe it with oiled kitchen paper. Ladle some batter into the pan, tilting the pan to move the mixture around for a not-to-thin, even layer. Cook for about 30 secs until the pancake is golden underneath. Then, flip the pancake using a palette knife and cook for another 30 secs. Continue with the rest of the batter, stacking the pancakes onto a warm plate.

To make an easter bunny, cut out 5 pancake circles for the face, eyes and cheeks. Arrange on a plate, then add two slices of banana and two blueberries to make the eyes, a raspberry for the nose, strips of cheese for the whiskers and two banana halves for the ears.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

Try these easy-to-make, Easter-themed treats – they’re guaranteed to put a spring in the whole family’s step

Baljit GidwaniCOMMUNITY SNAPS

PHOTOS BY Baljit Gidwaniwww.evoqueportraits.com

WIN PRIZES FROM UNCLE RUSS COFFEE AND THE PIER BAR!

The best snap wins! Your mission this month is to share your favourite photo of DB on Instagram, hashtag #arounddb. You have until the 10th of the month to enter.

This is your chance to win four complimentary coffees from Uncle Russ, or four beers from The Pier Bar. We will contact the winner via Instagram. Good luck!

UNCLE RUSS INSTAGRAM COMPETITION

UNCLE RUSS INSTAGRAM COMPETITION

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST MONTH’S WINNER: Jean-Luc Karlin @jlk_hk

Packing, Moving & Storage Services. Provide fix price quote upon onsite survey or choose from rates below.

Hire a Truck: $220/Hour. Minimum 3 Hour

Short Trips: $200.00 up.

Hire Movers: HK$120/hour per Mover. Minimum 3 Hour.

Cartons and Packing Materials:

16x14x14" (Small): HK$12.00.

23x15x15" (Medium): HK$15.00.

24x18x16" (Large): HK$18.00.

36x23x11" (Flat carton for Hanging Clothes): HK$30.00.

24x22x47" (Wardrobe Boxes) : $90.00

Plastic Wrap: HK$60/Roll.

Packing Paper: $160/Ream.

Bubble: HK$50/Roll.

Packing Tape: $8/piece. Plastic boxes and used cartons can be provided free of charge. (Subject to availability)

Serve Lantau, DB, Tung Chung and rest of the HK.

LOCAL NUMBERS

TUNG CHUNG

SOUTH LANTAU

DISCOVERY BAY

Harvey Law Group

International law firm offering a wide range of commercial & personal legal services. Meeting facilities available in DB. Contact 24168618, dboffice@harveylawcorporation.com,

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. Contact 2987 1201, enquiry@dms.edu.hk, www.dms.edu.hk

EpicLand

Billed as Hong Kong’s tallest indoor entertainment centre, EpicLand is home to the city's first ‘air trek’, complete with eight sky-high obstacles, trampolines, slides and more. Contact 2441 0098, reception@epiclandhk.com, www.epiclandhk.com

Tree of Joy

A fun, engaging & supportive environment in which children play & learn. Programmes include a drop-off nursery class, parent-toddler class, afternoon camp & cooking class. Contact 3742 8772, info@treeofjoydb.com, www.treeofjoydb.com

The Rink All Day Lounge

Located in DB Plaza Extension, the The Rink All Day Lounge specialises in international cuisine with a Mediterranean influence, offering guests a superior dining experience. To reserve a table, call 3709 6451.

ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH

Peter Sherwood takes a look at the future of tourism in Hong Kong (with abject apologies to Disney)

Even the most grandiose – if idiotic – notions can gain traction and be implemented. If you don’t believe that try the brilliantly conceived Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, and the exciting prospect of a multi-trillion-dollar, man-made island off Lantau –to house a million people we don’t have. Questions might be asked about poverty relief instead, but there are no international headlines to be had with poor people, the thinking being they should have worked harder at school. A bit late when you’re 95 and living in a bedspace.

No, if we want to grab serious international attention, we need exciting stuff that projects our official logo as ‘Asia’s World City’ (instead of ‘One of Asia’s World Cities’… or something). We need tourists, millions of ‘em. (Tourism was once described by The Times columnist Bernard Levin as as “the worst of the isms”.)

My (their) secret document provides some clues. A zipline for the adventure traveller, sliding down a wire from a great height and for that you need... a great height, and we’ve got lots. A major zipline would cost a fortune but give us a shot at inclusion in the Pantheon of Dumb Ideas.

Of course, we’d have competition: The Monster in Puerto Rico is 8,300-feet long and, like on most of the longest zips, riders reach close to a terrifying 160km/hr. ZipRider at Mexico’s Copper Canyon drops 1,450 feet at the same rate of knots. The daddy of them all in the UAE, Jais Flight, sits atop the country’s highest mountain at 6,345 feet with a hair-raising 9,284 feet of zip.

Like Trump, I probably shouldn’t have this government document in my possession, but then neither should I eat thick-crust, chocolate pizza. I call this official paper The Desperate Document , one of a range of inspired suggestions from civil servants to preserve their iron rice bowls by way of the Peter Principle: “People in any hierarchy will eventually be promoted to their level of incompetence.” This, while the elite can take credit for any award-winning ideas and the underlings get a mention in dispatches.

How to compete? Try these doozies: Hong Kong’s Victoria Peak to the waterfront in Kowloon. After months of investigative work, it was agreed that the rider would hit the Hong Kong Cultural Centre at warp speed leaving an outline in the bricks like Wile E. Coyote in The Road Runner Show, before ending up in the Peninsula hotel lobby as body parts. Lantau Peak to Macau was doubtful from the start, given the airport runway’s mindless interference. Sunset Peak on Lantau to Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island was carefully considered before being reluctantly rejected as ‘utterly insane’ but with a distinction award for the huge cost and no return. It's believed that the idea has not been forgotten, as Disneyland is old news and becomes ever more tedious as a vast money pit.

And why not? A Sunset Peak to Victoria Peak zipline could still be a winner with the world’s media, positioning Hong Kong as a contender for World’s Most White Elephants. Oh, and happy April Fool’s Day!

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

ZIPLINING FOR ADVENTURE TRAVELLERS

PHOTO COURTESY OF Adobe Stock