Around DB December 2023 by Around DB Magazine

C O M M U N I T Y

L O C A L

I N F L U E N C E R S

L I F E S T Y L E

D I S COV ERY B AY ' S O R I G I N A L CO M M U N I T Y M AGA Z I N E - P U B L I S H ED S I N C E 2 0 0 2

Holiday

Round-up

• STUFF TO DO • FOOD TO EAT • QUIZZES TO SOLVE • GIFTS TO GIVE

DECK YOUR HALLS Style up without spending a bomb or harming the planet

PROVERSE PRIZE WINNER Meet Flora Qian author of South of the Yangtze

PA R E N T I N G

D Ec E m b Er 2 0 23 | A R O U N D D B.CO M

Season's Greetings We thank you for your continued support and look forward to serving you again this festive season!

Christmas Catering Menu Highlights Christmas Turkey Glazed Gammon Ham Rosemary Chicken Roast Ribeye of Beef Assorted Cold Cuts Assorted Cheese Platter f o l l ow u s

Savoury Bites

On popular demand our POWERED BY PLANTS vegan menu is now available

Sweet Treats

Please contact us at catering@ilbelpaese.com.hk or +852 9235 1771 for enquiries. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! From il Bel Paese Group

Christmas Party Takeaway Orders can be made with Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong between 15 November and 27 December 2023. Please complete this form and whatsapp to us at 6317 3526, or e-mail to cafe@aubergediscoverybay.com. For enquiries, please call 2295 8299.

Free Delivery within Discovery Bay for orders exceeding HK$2,000

Price

Quantity

Cold Cuts (1.5 kg) Parma Ham with Cantaloupe Melon

HKD$488

Slow Roasted Beef Sliced with Red Onions and Pickles

HKD$488

Norwegian Smoked Salmon Sliced with Onions, Capers and Lemon

HKD$588

Salad (2kg) Tuna and Shrimp Salad with Lime and Mint Dressing

HKD$388

Pomegranate and Pear Salad with Cranberry and Vinegar Dressing

HKD$388

Turkey, Chestnut and Orange Salad with Cranberry Dressing

HKD$398

Smoked Salmon and Strawberry Salad with Yuzu Dressing

HKD$398

Festival Dishes Baked Linguine Bolognese with Mushroom (1.5 kg)

HKD$298

Baked Penne Carbonara with Truffle (1.5 kg)

HKD$298

Christmas Platter Glazed Chestnuts | Braised Red Cabbage | Vichy Carrot | Braised Green Beans and Bacon | Truffle Mashed Potato

Christmas Special Dishes (2.5 kg) Crispy Pork Belly with Rosemary | Pork Sausages | Chicken Sausages | Sour Cabbage

HKD$388 HKD$688

Glazed Smoked Ham with Pineapple and Gravy (2-2.5 kg)

HKD$688

Christmas Roasted Turkey (16-20 lbs) Served with Gravy Sauce, Cranberry Sauce and Christmas Stuffing

HKD$1088

Dessert Christmas Stollen (300g)

HKD$208

Christmas Cup Cakes (Half Dozen)

HKD$398

Christmas Chocolate Pudding (Half Dozen)

HKD$398

Christmas Yule Log (2 lbs)

HKD$688

Guest Name

Contact Number

Date

E-mail

Self-Pickup Time Or Delivery Time

11am – 1pm 1pm – 3pm Other:

3pm – 6pm a.m. / p.m.

Delivery Address

Payment link will be sent after ordering. Order will be confirmed after full payment is completed. Terms & conditions The above Christmas order cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotions or discount offers. Order has to be placed at least 48 hours in advance. Full prepayment is required for order confirmation. No cancellation or refund will be accepted. Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong reserves the right of final decision in case of any dispute. In the event of supply difficulties, we reserve the right to substitute goods with equal quality and value.

Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong 88 Siena Avenue, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong T: (852) 2295 8288 F: (852) 2295 8188 E: enquiry@aubergediscoverybay.com www.aubergediscoverybay.com

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DECEMBER 2023 W W W. A R O U N D D B .CO M

FEATURES 24 PROFILE Proverse Prize winner Flora Qian discusses her celebrated novel South of the Yangtze

28 COMMUNITY Buon Natale! We wish you a Merry Christmas Italian-style; your journey starts in DB North

36 PARENTING Let stories shape young minds: reading sets kids up for a bright and compassionate future

44 INSIDER

How to style up your home for the holidays without spending a bomb or harming the planet AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

REGULARS

AGENDA

20 QUESTIONS Brad Pitt Quiz

12 DB NEWS

ESCAPES Your entrée to Bhutan

RECIPES Bundt cake and cocoa

OUT THERE Peter Sherwood talks back

C O M M U N I T Y

L O C A L

I N F L U E N C E R S

L I F E S T Y L E

D I S COV ERY B AY ' S O R I G I N A L CO M M U N I T Y M AGA Z I N E - P U B L I S H ED S I N C E 2 0 0 2

Holiday

Round-up

• STUFF TO DO • FOOD TO EAT • QUIZZES TO SOLVE • GIFTS TO GIVE

DECK YOUR HALLS Style up without spending a bomb or harming the planet

PROVERSE PRIZE WINNER Meet Flora Qian author of South of the Yangtze

PA R E N T I N G

2 8 O N T H E C OVE R

18 EVENT ROUND-UP 23 GIVEAWAYS 32 WISH LIST 59 CLASSIFIEDS 6 1 LOCAL NUMBERS

WE AL S O P UB L IS H

D Ec E m b Er 2 0 23 | A R O U N D D B.CO M

Buon Natale DB! Enjoying a Merry Christmas the Italian way PHOTO COURTESY OF HKRCL

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Families across DB are looking forward to a visit from St Nicholas on December 3. One World Spirit Association has arranged for the third-century Catholic saint, who inspired the modern version of Santa Claus, to drop in on children aged two to six years. Parents have been asked to prepare a small gift for St Nicholas to deliver when he knocks on their door, and to make a small donation to OWS’ chosen charities. [PHOTO COURTESY OF OWS.]

RAY AU, I M OG EN CLY DE, NICO LE I N N O CEN T I , ELIZA B E TH K ER R ,

PETER S HE R WO O D

STUFF TO KNOW

P HOTOGRAPH E R RICHA R D GO R D O N

www.richardgordonphotography.com

P RI NTI NG

C HA M PI O N DESI G N & PROD U CTI ON CO LT D

HYDRANGEA CHRISTMAS TREE WORKSHOP

Flat C & D, 9/F Sing Teck Factory Bldg, 44 Wong Chuk Hang Rd, Hong Kong

B AY M EDI A GRO UP

Join Jollyhub, Hong Kong’s largest group activity platform, at DB Community Green Square on December 9 from 10.30am to 12.30pm for a Hydrangea Christmas Tree Workshop. For just HK$500, you can build your own tree out of preserved hydrangeas (using blue, pink or green petals). For enquiries call 2238 3601; to enrol visit Facebook @DynamicDB.

Flat 6E Elegance Court, Hillgrove Village, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island

D I S CL AIME R

This month, the HK Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department is providing microchip implants and anti-rabies vaccinations for DB dogs aged five months and up. Simply bring your dog to the first floor of DB Plaza (next to Midland Realty) on December 15 from 10am to 1pm, along with your HKID and HK$80 in cash. To find out more, call the Hong Kong Management Centre on 2550 9211.

s g in n e Happ

CO NTRI BU TORS

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

GET YOUR DOG MICROCHIPPED

NORDMANN FIR DELIVERY

Sustainably grown in Denmark under stric t environmental laws, Royal Fir’s Nordmann Fir Trees are pic ture per fec t – specially selec ted for their even cone shape, dark green colour and sof t-to-the-touch, long-lasting needles. Sizes range from 150cm to 30 0cm and prices from HK$1,880 to HK$5,280. Royal Fir provides door-to door deliver y to DB and follows up with a tree removal ser vice. For enquiries, WhatsApp 6296 3690; to buy your tree, visit royalfir.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Royal Fir.]

1212 A R O U N D D B / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3

DB NEWS

ONE-STOP XMAS SHOPPING

Prestige Fairs is holding a Christmas Gift and Lifestyle Fair on December 12 at the Grand Ballroom, Conrad Hong Kong, Admiralty. Expect over 120 vendors selling an exciting range of products that you won’t find in department stores. Take your pick from eclectic clothing, jewellery, homeware, beauty products, food and wine, pet products and just about everything for kids. To learn more, visit www.prestigefairs.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Prestige Fairs.]

! s t n e v E &

PHOTO SHOOT WITH SANTA

Looking for a photo op with Santa? Sign up for a Meet Santa Photo Shoot with DB photographer Richard Gordon at the DMR School of Ballet studio in DB Nor th Plaza on December 3 or 10. Richard specialises in professional studio photography and his holiday photos are guaranteed to make per fec t Christmas cards. To f ind out more and book your spot, What sApp 9127 0977 or visit w w w.richardgordonphotography.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Richard Gordon.]

IN DECEMBER!

YHKCC INTERNATIONAL FUN FAIR AND BAZAAR Make your way to the YHKCC International Fun Fair and Bazaar on December 9 at the school’s Tung Chung campus. The day-long event is themed Beyond the Stars with the aim to transcend boundaries and create a legacy of unity and cultural appreciation. You can expect a dazzling array of activities, performances and workshops, plus artisan shopping and all the fun of the fair. To find out more, email samuel.castillo@yhkcc.edu.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF YHKCC.]

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

Make your way to Second Ser ve in Peng Chau to treat the kids to a waf fle break fast buf fet with Santa on December 16 and 17, 9.30am to 11am. Children can expec t Xmas songs, festive games, a gif t from Santa and a photo op with Santa. Parents are asked to provide a small gif t, costing no more than HK$10 0, for Santa’s sack. The fee for adults is HK$160 and for kids HK$80; children under the age of t wo get in for free. To find out more and make a booking, WhatsApp May on 6825 1592.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY DECEMBER 2 | GATHER AT THE PLANT MARKET in DB Community Green Square from 2pm to 4pm. Visit Facebook @DynamicDB.

DECEMBER 10 | JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP! Meet at the gate to DB/ Nim Shue Wan at 2.10pm. Email dana@plasticfreeseas.org to RSVP. DECEMBER 10 & 17 | SHOP THE HANDMADE HK MARKETS in DB Plaza from 11am to 6pm. Visit www.handmadehongkong.com.

THROUGHOUT DECEMBER | DONATE PRELOVED FURNITURE to people in need through DB Mothers & Friends. To arrange for pick-up, visit Facebook @dbmf.collection. AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

DB NEWS

DICK WHITTINGTON: THE PANTO

Hong Kong Players is celebrating its 62nd consecutive year of annual Christmas shows with Dick Whittington: The Panto, running December 1 to 10 at the Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Wanchai. Finding the streets of London overrun with rodents (not paved with gold), Dick Whittington sets out to fight the evil Rat Queen with a little help from his friends. Book your seats at www.hkplayers.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Hong Kong Players.]

MADAGASCAR: THE MUSICAL

Get ready to rumble in the jungle: ABA Produc tions is presenting Madagascar: The Musical from December 14 to 24 at the Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Per forming Ar ts, Wanchai. Join Alex the Lion, Mar t y the Zebra, Melman the Giraf fe, Gloria the Hippo and the comical penguins on an unexpec ted journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. Book your seats at w w w.aba-produc tions.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF ABA Produc tions.]

SEPTIME WEBRE’S THE NUTCRACKER

Hong Kong Ballet is bringing The Nutcracker to the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui from December 15 to 30. Artistic director Septime Webre’s colourful adaptation is set in 20th century Hong Kong: Clara and her brother Fritz encounter energetic jockeys, blossoming bauhinias, lush cockatoos and proud peacocks. The action begins at a lively Christmas Eve party in a Mid-levels mansion where Clara receives a unique gift. Book your seats at www.hkballet.com.

VERITY AT DISCOVERY COLLEGE

Year 12 and 13 student s at Discover y College (DC) are put ting on a sustainable fashion show to showcase the designs of student s and local brands across the cit y, all whilst raising money to suppor t the Justice Centre, a Hong Kong-based NGO, which provides pro bono legal ser vices to refugees. Through the show, Verit y, the student s aim to increase awareness of sustainable fashion and, at the same time, promote the message of self-acceptance and authenticit y. You can catch Verit y at DC on December 9. Book your seat s at @ verit y.hongkong on Instagram or on the DC E xplorer. [PHOTO BY L aura Paddison.] 14

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

MUSICA VIVA’S ANNA BOLENA

Brush up on your Tudor history at Musica Viva’s Anna Bolena, showing at Hong Kong City Hall, Central, from December 8 to 10. Composed by Gaetano Donizetti, the two-act opera is performed in Italian with English and Chinese surtitles. Drawing almost entirely on local talent, Musica Viva aims to promote performing arts of creative originality: Anna Bolena, which culminates in the tragic beheading of King Henry VIII’s second wife, promises to be just that. Book your seats at www.musicavivahk.org. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Musica Viva.]

! B & F s a Xm GOURMET GOODIES FROM PLANTIN KAVIARI Thanks to Plantin Kaviari’s Gourmet Gift Sets and Christmas Specials, you can enjoy fine French cuisine at home. Gastronomic delights on offer include Caviar, Truffles, Foie Gras, Oysters, Capon, Goose and Turkey… all freshly air-flown from France. Order online by December 13 at 1pm for home delivery by Christmas Eve; delivery to DB is free for orders over HK$2,500. To find out more, WhatsApp 9451 6412 or email contact@plantinkaviari.hk. To order online, visit www.plantinkaviari.hk.

DB NEWS

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE HIDDEN OASIS

Be sure to check out the all-new “Sunday Brunch at The Hidden Oasis” at Lounge bord de Mer, Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong. The brunch includes a fabulous selection of seafood (Alaskan Crab Legs, King Prawns, Jade Whelks, New Zealand Mussels, King Clams and Cooked Abalone in Soy Sauce) plus gourmet items, such as Charcoal-grilled Lamb Chops, 48-Month Iberico Ham with Bone and Fresh Figs, Black Label Prosciutto di Parma with Bone and Swiss Raclette Cheese, along with a variety of desserts. Add-ons include Superior Oscietra Caviar on ice and free-flow Moët & Chandon, plus a choice of red and white wines. To book a table (Santa is at the buffet on December 24 and 31 for a meet and greet), call 2295 8299, WhatsApp 6317 3526 or email cafe@aubergediscoverybay.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong.]

CHRISTMAS CATERING BY IL BEL PAESE Il Bel Paese offers a wide range of bespoke catering solutions and its special Christmas Catering Menu, available until January 1, is designed to suit your every event need. Highlights include Christmas Turkey, Glazed Gammon Ham, Rosemary Chicken, Roast Ribeye of Beef, Assorted Cold Cuts and a Cheese Platter, plus a selection of Savoury Bites and Sweet Treats. There’s also a new Powered by Plants Menu, filled with in-demand, veganfriendly dishes tailor-made to suit each customer. Place your orders two days in advance. To find out more or place an order, call 9235 1771, email catering@ilbelpaese.com.hk or visit www.ilbelpaese.com.hk.

FESTIVE SETS AT SUNSET GRILL Make your way to Sunset Grill at Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung for a Festive Set Lunch December 4 to 22 and 27 to 30. Featured dishes include Gin-Cured Salmon, SlowCooked Turkey Breast, Foie Gras Torchon, Duck Confit and Thick-Cut Gammon Steak, plus seasonal desserts such as Panettone Bread & Butter Pudding and Traditional Pecan Pie. There’s also a six-course Festive Set Dinner December 24 and 25. Highlights include Roast King Scallops with optional Caviar, A5 Wagyu Striploin with optional Truffle or Lobster Tail, and a Mont Blanc dessert with Chestnuts and Winter Berries. To book a table, call 2535 0025 or visit www.sheraton.marriott.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung.]

HOLIDAY DINING AT DBRC

DBRC is serving up festive-themed, two-course set lunches and three-course set dinners at both D Café and Café Siena over the holidays. There’s also a fabulous Xmas Semi Dinner Buffet, 6pm to 9pm, at D Café on Christmas Eve and Café Siena on Christmas Day. Highlights of the festive menus include Roasted Turkey, Panfried Seabass and Angus US Beef Ribeye. To find out more or make a booking, call 2987 7381, or visit www.dbrc.hk. AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

DB NEWS

XMAS ON ICE

Book your seats for Joyous Christmas on Ice at DB Ice Rink on December 16 and 17. The per formance gives coaches and students of DB Ice Skating School the oppor tunit y to take the spotlight and showcase their hard work and dedication. Know too that on December 28 at 3.15pm, you can join a special Santa-themed ice-painting workshop at DB Ice Rink. To find out more and make a booking, visit w w w.dbicerink.com. [PHOTO COURTESY of DB Ice Rink.]

SANTA MEET AND GREET

Treat the kids on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day by taking them to DB North Plaza for a Santa Meet and Greet from 2pm to 2.30 pm, 4pm to 4.30pm or 5pm to 5.30pm. This is their chance to grab a photo with Santa and pick up a free Popcorn and Cot ton Candy Giveaway. Ho! Ho! Ho! To find out more, visit www.visitdiscoverybay.com.

SEASONAL STAYCATION AT REGALA SKYCITY HOTEL Looking for a delicious staycation? Check out the Chocolatey Christmas Room Package on of fer at Regala Sk ycit y Hotel. Book now for stays December 22 to Januar y 2 to enjoy a complimentar y “Hello Cocoa” workshop, carolling sessions and stor y telling with Santa, plus a free ticket to Chill 11 at AsiaWorld Expo on designated dates. To find out more and make a booking, call 3556 3288, email info@skycity.regala-hotels.com or visit www.regala-hotels.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Regala Skycity Hotel.] 16

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

FOODIE WORKSHOPS AT DBRC Head down to Club Siena for a Christmas Fun Day on December 17, with a choice of two festive workshops. Join a Xmas D.I.Y Gingerbread House Workshop from 2pm to 4.30pm: HK$80 for club members, HK$150 for members’ guests. And a Parent-Child Xmas 2D Chocolate Workshop led by Rayca’s Cacao Chocolate from 11am to 1pm: HK$480 for one adult and one child. Both workshops are open to kids aged six and up. To find out more, call 2987 7381, or email dbrc-lessons@dbrc.hk.

CAROLS BY THE BAY DB Chorus is presenting Carols by the Bay: An Af ternoon of Christmas Carols at DB Nor th Plaza Communit y Hall on December 3. The per formance star t s at 1.45pm, led by direc tor Maneesh Dasanayake. Entrance is free and ever yone is welcome to join in with the festive celebration. To f ind out more, follow @ thedbchorus or call 5175 8894.

! t u o b A & t u O

EVENT ROUND-UP

WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO! AT THE DB DRAGON BOAT GALA

Tai Pak Wan was packed on October 29 with paddlers – and spectators – enjoying the DB Dragon Boat Gala. The event was organised by Discovery Bay Services Management Ltd and there were six fiercely contested race categories: Open, Ladies, A45, Community, Gala and Mixed. [PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

RACE RESULTS Open Race

1. 坪洲鄉事委員會啓青隊 2. Team Mushu All-Stars 3. KML - The Barrels

Ladies Race

1. Tados Dragon 2. HKR Filipino Dragon 3. Renegades

A45 Race

1. 港九電船拖輪商會龍 2. 坪洲鄉事委員會 3. 偉倫龍舟隊

Community Race

1. DB Dragon 1 2. 正誠自由龍 3. Dutch Connexion

Gala Race

1. 坪洲鄉事委員會啓青隊 2. 港九電船拖輪商會龍 3. Seagods Red

COC Cup

1. Seagods Red 2. RHKYC 3. 正誠自由龍

COC Plate

1. LTA Dragon Boat Club 2. Spanish Dragon 3. DB Dragon 1

COC Bowl

1. Loreley 2. Tados Dragon 3. Today Fit 18

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

EVENT ROUND-UP

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

EVENT ROUND-UP

DISCOVERY BAY LADIES CLUB LAUNCH

Discovery Bay Ladies Club launched on November 8 in DB Plaza providing an open space for women to make new friends, expand their network and spend quality time together. Monthly workshops are planned and there’s also a showroom featuring women’s and children’s clothing, plus home decor and beauty products all from female-owned businesses, including KRSV. [PHOTOS BY Sarin Ale.]

TRANSLANTAU AT DBIS

In the TransLantau by UTMB, runners traverse Lantau, choosing between four distances – 25km, 50km, 100km and 140km. This year, DBIS was part of the action, hosting the final checkpoint on November 11 and 12. Students, staff and DBers were there on the final morning to cheer on the school’s Head of Year 9, Neil O'Maonaigh-Lennon, as he passed through the checkpoint on his way to the 140km finish line in Mui Wo. Neil completed the course in 39 hours, 3 minutes and 59 seconds. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF DBIS & TransLantau.]

AT THE DB CULTURAL CARNIVAL

One World Association staged a Belt and Road Hanfu Show at the NAAC DB Cultural Carnival on October 22 at DB Plaza. The volunteers followed up with a Splendid Chinese Culture Hanfu Show on October 28 at Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF OWS.]

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

EVENT ROUND-UP

HALLOWEEN ON HEADLAND

The decades-long tradition of trick or treating on Headland Drive continues and this year, there was an amazing turnout of witches, goblins, ghosts and super heroes on October 31. [PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

AT THE MAD SCIENTIST ICE LAB

DB Ice Rink transformed into a Mad Scientist Ice Lab on October 29 with attendees aged 12 and under invited to explore a world of chillingly inviting discoveries. Highlights of the evening included a candy buffet bar, costume contest, Scientist Bling Bling Light Workshop, face painting, photo corner and sensory mystery box. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF DB Ice Rink.]

SPOOKY CHILLS @ DISCOVERY BAY

There was plenty of spooktacular Halloween fun to be had in DB Plaza on October 29, with scary surprises at the Halloween Night Market; a No Tricks, Just Treats candy giveaway; and photo ops in the Spooky Pumpkin Forest. Owners and pets dressed in their Halloween best to take part in the Spooky Pet-Walk Costume Contest to win prizes totalling over HK$20,000. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF HKRCL.]

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

EVENT ROUND-UP

DBFC WIN IN PHUKET

DBFC players got together for an over 35s 5-a-side tournament in Phuket, Thailand from November 11 to 12, and came away as champions. On the Saturday, they played three of their group games winning two. On the Sunday, they won their fourth and last group game to make it to the semi-finals. On winning the semi, they played the final against the winners of their same group (the only team to beat them) and this time took sweet revenge, winning the final with some fine football. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF DBFC.]

AT THE INTER-ISLAND FESTIVAL

People jumped on the Inter-Island Ferry and made their way between Cheung Chau, Mui Wo, Chi Ma Wan and Peng Chau to take part in the Inter-Island Festival, which was held over four weekends from November 4 to 26. Popular events in Mui Wo included an Island Bee & Bee Workshop, where attendees learnt to make bamboo BnBs for solitary bees, and a Mui Wo Sunset Stroll, which involved a tour of various festival exhibits and installations (including the Mui Wo Time Portal) and dropins at Pause Studio and The Humble Room. [PHOTOS BY Sarin Ale.]

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

GIVEAWAYS

FA R M E R ’ S M A R K E T

IS OFFERING T WO RE ADERS A PACK AGE OF FROZEN STAPLES (E ACH WORTH HK$1,200) Online food distributor Farmer’s Market is renowned for its ethically sourced meat-based product range and has just introduced an exclusive fresh and frozen Hooked seafood selection. Its frozen staples package includes 2 x 250g packets beef mince; 1 x packet beef striploin (approx. 400g); 1 x packet chicken drumsticks; 1 x packet chicken breast (approx. 700g); and 5 x pieces of New Zealand King Salmon (approx. 800g frozen in the one packet). Farmer’s Market has expanded its offering to DB with door-to-door deliveries Monday to Saturday. Order online Monday to Saturday before 12 noon for next day delivery. Orders over HK$800 are delivered free and the charge for orders under HK$800 is just HK$70. To find out more and make an order, call 9556 0070, email info@farmersmarket.com.hk or visit www.farmersmarket.com.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Farmer’s Market.]

CONGRATUL ATIONS TO L AST ISSUE’S WINNERS

Leonie Erasmus and Hayley Vermeire for tickets to see Madagascar: The Musical, and Betty Fu and Karen Boag for tickets to see Dick Whittington: The Panto.

HOW TO WIN!

Around DB prizes are incredibly easy to get your hands on, and you have until the 15th of the month to apply. Simply scan the QR code or go to www.arounddb.com/giveaways, select the giveaway you want, and enter your details into the online form. (Terms and conditions apply.)

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

PROFILE

! y it t n e d I d n a e g a u g n a L GOOD COMMUNICATOR

Translator, editor, finance-pro and now author Flora Qian looks back on her youth in her first novel, South of the Yangtze. Elizabeth Kerr reports PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com & courtesy of Flora Qian

he revelation that Flora Qian’s father is a retired philosophy professor isn’t really much of a surprise. Her first novel, South of the Yangtze, has just come off the presses but she’s looking fairly relaxed. Sitting in Moojoo near the Discover y Bay ferr y pier, she comes off as, for lack of a better word, philosophical about it all. About a lot. “I think writing is essentially building bridges. The urgency to write something often comes from a ver y lonely place,” Flora begins of what she calls an only-child hobby. “The page becomes the only destination for thoughts that are uncompromised. It’s communicating.” Communicating is something Flora puts a lot of thought into, and she’s confident her novel strikes that fine balance between universality and specificity. The vaguely autobiographical South of the Yangtze won 2022’s Proverse Prize, sponsored and created by longtime DB residents Gillian and Verner Bickley of Proverse Publishing. Its reflective tone about language and identity promises to resonate with Hong Kong readers.

THE BACKSTORY Born in Shanghai, Flora studied English literature at Fudan University and got her first gig working in words after graduation, but it was kind of in the blood. “I do have a professor parent… so I was always surrounded by books and a dad who talks a lot about deep questions,” she says with a chuckle. “I worked at a publisher in Shanghai for a little over a year. I was editing and I translated one of Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series. I wasn’t terribly excited by my job.” 24

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By 2007, Flora was enrolled in a translation programme at Chinese University of Hong Kong. Though armed with an MA in Translation, she wound up working in finance, which connected her with her future husband. In 2014, she went off to do an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Mar yland, finishing her degree in her husband’s native Washington DC, while he stayed in Hong Kong for work. After a pit stop in Singapore in 2016, the couple made their way back to the SAR in 2018. The duo lived first in Mid-Levels but made their way to DB when Flora got pregnant with their now two-year-old daughter. “We wanted more space, someplace safe,” Flora explains. “We like it here. When you have a young child, it restricts what you can do. For us a fun activity is just taking a walk. DB is beautiful, the landscape is beautiful and there are a lot of people with kids.”

THE NOVEL Flora’s short fiction has appeared in the Asia Literary Review, Eastlit and a few anthologies. While experimenting with short stories, she really dug in for a first draft of South of the Yangtze in 2018. She was inspired by a trip she and her husband took to her ancestral village in Zhejiang Province. “My grandparents came from there. They moved to Shanghai in the 1940s. That trip was quite memorable,” explains Flora. “For my husband it was to get familiar with my culture and for me it was to remember my childhood and some of the folk tales and poetry that were specific to the area.” Flora describes South of the Yangtze as a nostalgic coming-of-age-story set in the 1980s and ’90s about a woman growing up in a fast-evolving China. Following

PROFILE

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

PROFILE

her journey from childhood to her teens, the novel touches on family history and how hard it can be to reconcile, it ponders language and how it impacts everyday life, and finally it interrogates her decision to put her original culture and language in her past. “It’s personal and political. I feel these are hard to separate,” Flora says. “When you look back, the 1980s was only 10 years after the Cultural Revolution. Things were still being built from the ashes,” she adds. “I have a cousin just a few years younger than me who doesn’t realise how much it’s changed. So I wondered if I was the last generation that remembers the poverty, the transition to a market economy and how different it was.” Ask Gillian about Flora’s Proverse Prize win, and she says: “We are delighted that Flora is one of two writers awarded the Proverse Prize 2022 for a booklength previously unpublished work of fiction, nonfiction or poetry, submitted in English. Beginning from the first edition in 2009, we have each year received interesting and individual works as entries for the Proverse Prize and 2022 was no exception. What stood out in Flora’s submission was the interplay of background and personality, and the extremely interesting discussion of how the way we write and read impacts our emotions and thoughts. The world Flora describes is, as she comments, vastly changed. The thoughts of the central character in South of the Yangtze record and help us understand many of the experiences which have shaped a huge number of our fellow human beings.”

THE POWER OF LANGUAGE As a translator and literature student – with that philosophical dad – Flora often considers the power and meaning of language, how we use it, how it defines us and our experiences, and how hard it can be to describe those experiences with just one tool at your disposal. It’s one of the reasons she wrote South of the Yangtze in English, even though she’s trilingual. “I think when I first star ted writing fiction seriously it was in Hong Kong and it was all in English. The writing groups and communities were in English and I found it ver y liberating. There’s a lot of baggage with Chinese. Whenever I wanted to talk about something original when I was growing up, my father would always give me some quote from the past. And it was never what I meant. So I found writing in a second language made it easier to express myself.” When Flora isn’t running around after a toddler, she’s hiking on her own hidden trail, where she can turn over what she might like to tackle next in her head. An attempt at folk and fair y tales might be in order, stories along the lines of personal favourites Hans Christian Andersen, Oscar Wilde (The Selfish 26

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

FLORA QIAN WITH GILLIAN BICKLEY

"HONG KONG IS A GOOD PLACE FOR ME TO PUBLISH. MY MAIN AUDIENCE IS HERE

- FLORA QIAN

Giant and The Happy Prince), or Frederik van Eeden (Little Johannes). “When I saw the adver t for Proverse Prize submissions in Around DB, I had just moved here and was finding out what the community was about,” she says. “When I was accepted, I was delighted: Hong Kong is a good place for me to publish. My main audience is here. In addition, Proverse books are available world-wide, including via Amazon, and distributed by the Chinese University of Hong Kong Press. Proverse has bookshop friends in Canada, Andorra and the UK as well as Hong Kong. For an author, it is a dream come true to be able to reach out to such a broad audience.”

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! e l a t a Buon N

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS Experience an Italian-inspired Winter Wonderland @ Discovery Bay

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

COMMUNITY

he Christmas decorations and activities provided in DB are traditionally second to none and this year is no exception. We are being treated to a Buon Natale, a Merr y Christmas Italian-style, with DB transformed into a Winter Wonderland featuring European-style lighting and decorations, ar tificial snow and a host of festive programmes and dining options. The festivities began on November 24 with a lighting ceremony, romantic snow spectacle, parades and music and dance per formances at DB Nor th Plaza. DECORATIONS ACROSS DB Your European winter journey star ts in DB Nor th Plaza where the buildings are hung with over a thousand LED lights to create a dazzling backdrop that is both glamorous and welcoming. Light projections on the ground up the wow factor, providing a per fect space to share unforgettable moments with loved ones. The stand-out decorative feature at DB Nor th is the clock tower, which has been transformed into a 13-metre-high replica of Milan Cathedral, complete with stained glass windows and glittering fair y lights. The stunning set piece is grandly surrounded by 10 pillars and four illumined angels, each three metres tall. A beribboned, six-metre-high Christmas tree stands close by the “cathedral” in an enchanting gondola-shaped base. The magic continues at DB Plaza and D’Deck, where a six-metre-high Christmas tree and eight, twometre-tall illuminated angels take pride of place. WINING AND DINING ‘Tis the season to eat, drink and be merr y and DB is the place to do just that. The restaurants at D’Deck and DB Nor th Plaza are providing a truly international range of festive delicacies with special menus and offers which you can enjoy both indoors and out. Notably, Peony Chinese Restaurant in DB Plaza has a Christmas Set Menu available for lunch and dinner on December 24 and 25. Meanwhile, Auberge Discover y Bay Hong Kong is pulling out all the stops this Christmas star ting with a delightful staycation package, which includes onenight’s hotel stay, breakfast buffet for two, festive dinner buffet for two and the oppor tunity to attend a Christmas workshop. Fur ther offerings at DB’s celebrated “hidden oasis” include a sumptuous Sunday Brunch at Lounge bord de Mer available throughout December, including Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, plus a Christmas Dinner Buffet at Lounge bord de Mer from December 22 to 31, with Santa in attendance on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. You can also enjoy a two-hour, AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

COMMUNITY

free-flow drinks package at The Bounty Enter tainment & Spor ts Bar from December 24 to 26, and ring in 2024 at the Auberge’s celebrated Countdown Par ty on December 31. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Dreaming of a white Christmas? Ever y weekend through December you can watch simulated snow fall at DB Nor th Plaza from 3pm to 3.10pm and 6pm to 6.10pm. On the lookout for last-minute Christmas gifts? Head to the Christmas markets at DB Plaza on December 10 and 17 from 11am to 6pm. You can expect over 100 local vendors offering a wide array of handmade goods, clothing, household items and Christmas delicacies, plus live music and dance per formances. Moreover, kids get the chance to write letters to Santa Claus and receive his reply! This year, DB has also par tnered with the Neighbourhood AdviceAction Council to organise a charity market on December 24 and 26 from 11am to 7pm. Be sure to shop the NA AC Christmas Charity Markets at DB Plaza to assist Hongkongers in need and add an

extra dimension of goodwill to the festivities. Into figure-skating? Book your seats for Joyous Christmas on Ice at DB Ice Rink on December 16 and 17. The mesmerising per formance gives coaches and students of DB Ice Skating School the oppor tunity to be in the spotlight and showcase their hard work and dedication. Know too that on December 28 at 3.15pm, you can join a special Santa-themed icepainting workshop at DB Ice Rink. Fancy a festive singsong? Make your way to DB Plaza on December 24 from 7pm to 8pm to join in the Christmas Carolling, and again on December 25 and 26 from 3pm to 5pm for Christmas Busking. And finally, why not give the kids an extra special treat on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Take them to DB Plaza from 1pm to 1.30pm or DB Nor th Plaza from 3pm to 3.30pm or 6pm to 6.30pm for a Santa Meet and Greet. This is their chance to grab a photo with Santa and pick up a free Popcorn and Cotton Candy Giveaway. Ho! Ho! Ho! We wish you a Buon Natale! To find out more, visit www.visitdiscover ybay.com.

EVENTS AT A GLANCE DECEMBER 10, 11AM TO 6PM | Christmas Market, DB Plaza DECEMBER 16 | Joyous Christmas on Ice, DB Ice Rink DECEMBER 17 | Joyous Christmas on Ice, DB Ice Rink DECEMBER 17, 11AM TO 6PM | Christmas Market, DB Plaza DECEMBER 24, 11AM TO 7PM | NA AC Christmas Charity Market, DB Plaza DECEMBER 24, 7PM TO 8PM | Christmas Carolling, DB Plaza DECEMBER 24, 1PM TO 1,30PM | Santa Meet and Greet, DB Plaza DECEMBER 24, 3PM TO 3.30PM/ 6PM TO 6.30PM | Santa Meet and Greet, DB Nor th DECEMBER 25, 1PM TO 1,30PM | Santa Meet and Greet, DB Plaza DECEMBER 25, 3PM TO 3.30PM/ 6PM TO 6.30PM | Santa Meet and Greet, DB Nor th DECEMBER 25, 3PM TO 5PM | Christmas Busking, DB Plaza DECEMBER 26, 3PM TO 5PM | Christmas Busking, DB Plaza DECEMBER 26, 11AM TO 7PM | NA AC Christmas Charity Market, DB Plaza DECEMBER 28, 3.15PM | Ice-painting Workshop, DB Ice Rink 30

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

TO RECEIVE

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ALPHA X CARRYALL TOTE IN METEOR GREY, TUMI, HK$5,500, WWW.TUMI-HK.COM

2XU RUN VISOR IN BARBIE PINK, ESCAPADE SPORTS, HK$159, WWW.ESCAPADE.COM.HK

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B TRIPLE C FACIAL BALANCING GEL, AESOP, HK$960, WWW.AESOP.COM

SUMMIT STIMSON FUTURELIGHT JACKET IN CORAL, THE NORTH FACE, HK$$5,990, WWW.THENORTHFACE.COM.HK

KID’S JUMPER EAST IN ORCHID MELANGE, AMERICAN VINTAGE, HK$1,100, WWW.AMERICANVINTAGE-STORE.COM

SILVER FLAT CHAIN TRIPLE WRAP BRACELET ON BLACK LEATHER, JOHN HARDY, HK$8,540, WWW.JOHNHARDY.COM

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

CELINE SWING LEATHER EARRINGS IN BURGUNDY, VESTIAIRE COLLECTIVE, HK$3,405.88, WWW.VESTIAIRECOLLECTIVE.COM HK

RITUAL SET WITH REFILLABLE SCENTED CANDLE, WICK TRIMMER & CANDLE SNUFFER, DIPTYQUE, HK$2,870, WWW.DIPTYQUEPARIS.COM

WISH LIST

CHRISTMAS ROASTED TURKEY (16-20LBS), SERVED WITH GRAVY SAUCE, CRANBERRY SAUCE & CHRISTMAS STUFFING, AUBERGE DISCOVERY BAY HONG KONG, HK$1,088, WWW.AUBERGEDISCOVERYBAY.COM

JOLLY JAMBOREE CHRISTMAS HAMPER WITH FESTIVE TREATS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, FEATHER & BONE, HK$1,688, WWW.FEATHERANDBONE.COM.HK

CANTINE SANT’AGATA PRO NOBIS RUCHE, WINE RACK, HK$238, WWW.WINERACK.COM.HK

FESTIVE TREATS Show your loved ones you care by stocking up on Christmas essentials and gourmet delights

LOBBY LOUNGE CHRISTMAS CAKE (2LBS), SHERATON HONG KONG TUNG CHUNG, HK$500, WWW.SHERATONTUNGCHUNGSHOP.COM

GOURMET HAMPER, PLANTIN KAVIARI, FROM HK$320, WWW.PLANTINKAVIARI.HK

THREE BUTCHES MULLED WINE, RECIPE BY FEATHER & BONE, HK$188, WWW.FEATHERANDBONE.COM.HK

MOET & CHANDON, IMPERIAL BRUT, WATSON’S WINE, HK$298,

NZ KING SALMON FILLET (1.1-1.4KG), SASHIMI GRADE (WHOLE PIECE), FARMER’S MARKET, HK$875, WWW.FARMERSMARKET.COM.HK

WWW.WATSONSWINE.COM AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

SPONSORED CONTENT

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED! The new owners of Farmer’s Market, Matthew Beldham and Kenly Soloren, discuss quality, sustainability and affordability, and their ongoing plans for expansion When Kenly Soloren and Matthew Beldham took over Farmer’s Market in January, it was already one of Hong Kong’s leading online food distributors, with a loyal client base in Discovery Bay. Kenly and Matthew, who also own Hooked Fish Gallery and Hooked Fish & Chips, immediately set out to grow the business.

“We are now offering DB customers a doorto-door delivery service, you can order online Monday to Saturday before 12 noon for next day delivery,” Matthew adds. “Orders over HK$800 are delivered free and the charge for orders under HK$800 is just HK$70.”

“We have eight years’ experience providing our fresh Hooked seafood to customers in Hong Kong, and we have learnt that what they look f o r a n d v a l u e m o s t i s q u a l i t y, a ff o rd a b i l i t y a n d delivery with the personal touch,” Kenly opens. “We separate ourselves from the competition by focusing on fresh produce over frozen, and making the buying experience personal both online and in store.”

No doubt, affordability is important to Kenly and Matthew: the question is how do they achieve that given the high quality of their produce? “We order our products direct from approved suppliers, which means we can reduce costs in the supply chain, and we carry these savings over to our customers,” Matthew says. “We also manage all aspects of the supply chain in-house, including food preparation and logistics, which keeps our operational costs to a minimum.”

Farmer’s Market is renowned for its premium-grade meat and poultry imported from sustainable sources in Australia and New Zealand, all of which is free range, organic and antibiotic- and hormone-free. This year, Kenly and Matthew have expanded the F a r m e r ’s M a r k e t o ff e r i n g , p ro v i d i n g c u s t o m e r s with an exclusive fresh and frozen Hooked seafood selection. The new range of seafood is mainly imported from New Zealand and includes King Salmon, Wild Whole Snapper, Yellowfin Tuna Fillets and Canadian Wild-Caught Tiger Raw Prawns.

Q u a l i t y c u s t o m e r s e r v i c e i s a n o t h e r p r i o r i t y. Farmer’s Market has a small dedicated delivery team and employs a contracted local cold-chain supplier for friendly, face-to-face home delivery across most of Hong Kong. “We operate as a family business and apply the personal touch with our customers,” Kenly says. “We provide regular offers across our entire product range, and we also encourage our customers to give back. This month, we’re supporting Angels for Children, a charity which is very close to our hearts.”

Kenly and Matthew are expanding Farmer’s Market logistically too. “We already cover most of Hong Kong including Tung Chung, and South Lantau is coming early next year," Matthew explains. “We plan to partner with a local delivery firm, so we will be able to offer South Lantau customers a same day click-and-collect option, just as we do in Central. Peng Chau, Ma Wan and Lamma are also on our radar for 2024.

Lastly then, what are Farmer’s Market’s bestsellers in the lead-up to the holidays? “Our Australian Shoulder Ham and New Zealand Canterbury Turkey are hot sellers, also our New Zealand H a n d - S m o k e d S a l m o n , ” K e n l y s a y s . “ We ’ re selling these items against pre-order this month but everyone can take advantage of the special Christmas promotion we have running on our Chilled New Zealand King Salmon.”

For more on Farmer’s Market and to place an order, call 9556 0070, email info@farmersmarket.com.hk or visit www.farmersmarket.com.hk. 34

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

PARENTING

! n O e Writ

LET STORIES SHAPE YOUNG MINDS There are plenty of reasons to encourage kids to snuggle up and get lost in the pages of a book (or Kindle). Here are some you may not have considered PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

PARENTING

W hen children spend their time reading, they ’re constantly exploring new worlds, meeting different characters and living through a whirlwind of adventures. All of these experiences fuel the imagination. Books encourage children to visualise the story in their minds; this enhances their ability to imagine scenarios, people and places. It’s no surprise then that children who love to read often have a knack for creativity and can think outside the box.

COMMUNICATION AND EMPATHY There’s a good chance that children who are well able to express their thoughts and feelings, are bookish. Reading opens up a whole universe of words, phrases, idioms and expressions. It helps children understand the nuances of language and how different words can be used to convey various emotions and ideas; it provides children with a rich vocabular y and a flair for expressing themselves. What’s more, children who spend lot of time lost in books truly understand the power of words. They’ve laughed, cried, been inspired and felt a whole range of emotions, all thanks to the words on a page. They’ve seen how words can build and destroy, heal and hurt, inspire and demotivate. They know that a well-placed word can change a situation or even a life. And they carry this understanding into their interactions with others. They’re mindful of what they say, how they say it, and when they say it because they know the impact their words can have. They value meaningful conversations and aren’t afraid to delve deep.

o you remember that friend who could spin a s tor y out of thin air? Or that clas smate who always had the mos t creative ideas? Chances are, they were one of those kids who spent their time immer sed in books.

Children who read a lot are used to analysing complex plots, understanding character motivations and predicting outcomes. They often develop strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which can be invaluable in later life. Moreover, their broad vocabular y, effective communication skills and empathetic nature (all a product of their reading habits) can give them an edge at school and beyond. Their love for learning and open-mindedness can contribute to personal growth and fulfilment as well.

Avid readers tend to excel at conversation, debating or any situation that requires clear and effective communication. But it’s not just about talking. Reading also improves listening skills as it trains the mind to absorb information, follow complex plots and understand different viewpoints. It follows then, that children who devour books have a heightened ability to understand and share the feelings of others. They’re often incredibly empathic. Children who love to read grow up engrossed in stories about characters from all walks of life. Whether it’s empathising with Charlie as he navigates the challenges of the chocolate factor y or feeling the pain of Scout as she grapples with racial injustice, reading allows children to walk in someone else’s shoes, even if just for a few hundred pages. This results in something magical: it ensures children have compassion and can easily connect with others on an emotional level. It helps children understand that ever yone has their own stor y, their own battles and their own unique perspective. AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

PARENTING

LOVE OF LEARNING

PERSONAL FULFILLMENT

Children who spend a lot of time reading of ten develop an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. They’re the ones who are always curious, always questioning and always seeking answers. Books have taught them that there’s a wealth of knowledge out there waiting to be explored. They understand that ever y day of fers an oppor tunity to learn something new and they grab it with both hands.

This might sound like a bit of a reach, but children who spend a lot of time immersed in books are independent and self-fulfilled. For instance, they understand that being alone doesn’t always mean being lonely. Reading is a solitar y activity, and children come to realise that sometimes, they need that space: that quiet corner where they can dive into another world and forget about ever ything else.

There’s a cer tain beauty in the way children who grow up reading a lot perceive the world. It’s as if they’ve been gif ted a pair of 3D glasses that allows them to see life from various angles. Books have the amazing ability to transpor t children to dif ferent places, times and cultures. One day they’re a wizard in England, the next they’re a geisha in Japan, and then a rebel in a dystopian future.

Growing up as keen readers, children learn to enjoy their own company. They understand that sometimes, it’s fine to step back from the crowd and spend some time with their thoughts (or a good book). It’s not about being anti-social or aloof, lonely or isolated; it’s about finding comfor t and peace in solitude.

This exposure to diverse perspec tives helps children develop an understanding and appreciation for dif ferent cultures, traditions and ways of life. And it’s not just about geographical or cultural diversity. Books also expose children to a myriad of ideas, philosophies and ideologies. This exposure broadens their horizon and makes them more openminded and accepting. Another benefit? Reading helps children develop their abilit y to focus. Imagine a child engrossed for the first time in the adventures of Jane Eyre or Oliver Twist, completely oblivious to the noise of the television in the nex t room or their siblings’ chat ter. That level of concentration isn’t easy to achieve. Reading requires children to sit still, concentrate on the words and let their mind weave a mental tapestr y of the stor y. It ’s an exercise in mindfulness that helps children improve their at tention span and abilit y to focus on one task at a time.

Likewise, reading teaches patience. Whether it’s waiting for the plot to unfold, for a character’s redemption, or simply for the next book in a series to be released, reading isn’t about instant gratification: it requires time and patience. Reading’s not like watching a twohour movie where everything wraps up neatly. You have to invest yourself in it, and turn page after page to see how the story unfolds. This habit of waiting for the climax or resolution in books, allows children to learn that good things take time, and that it’s OK to wait, to be patient and trust the process. Lastly, children who love to read know how to find joy in simple things. There’s something undeniably pleasurable about curling up with a good book (or Kindle) on a rainy day, and loosing oneself in a wonder ful stor y. This ability to find pleasure in little things extends beyond children’s reading habits. It reflec ts in their life too. They appreciate small gestures and cherish quiet moments. They understand that Dumbledore was right when he said: “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

BOOKISH CHILDREN DEVELOP A REAL THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE 38

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

We help people experiencing homelessness to transform their lives At non-profit ImpactHK we have a vision for an inclusive Hong Kong where everyone has a safe place to call home and cares for their neighbour. We work with people experiencing homelessness to help them settle in a safe home, restore their mental and physical wellbeing, build their self-esteem and discover their purpose.

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CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT Junior Account Manager Ray Abraham reveals how working at leading corporate service provider, Monx, has brought his interest in business to life Meet Ray Abraham, a bright and ambitious Junior Account Manager at Monx, and a proud resident of Discovery Bay. As a Junior Account Manager, Ray balances his academic pursuits in Business Management with hands-on experience in the fastpaced world of accounting and corporate services. Let's dive into his journey at Monx and see how it's shaping his career aspirations. Ray, can you tell us a bit about your day-to-day responsibilities at Monx and how you see your role evolving within the company? As a Junior Account Manager at Monx, my primary focus is on building and maintaining strong relationships with our clients. This involves a lot of collaborative work with Senior Account Managers and playing a key role in ensuring our operations run smoothly. I see my role evolving as I gain more experience, potentially I will go on to lead more significant projects and take on greater responsibilities in client management. What inspired you to continue your journey with Monx after your internship began, especially in such a competitive industry?

Looking back, how has your time at Monx influenced your understanding of the business world and your career aspirations? My time at Monx has been eye-opening. It has deepened my understanding of the intricacies of the business world. More importantly, it has helped shape my career aspirations by showing me the impact of effective account management and client relations. It’s a field where I can see myself growing and making a significant contribution. Finally, if you were to share your experience at Monx with the residents of DB, what would you say? Studying Business Management has fuelled my interest in business and working at Monx has brought that interest to life. To the residents of Discovery Bay, I’d say: imagine a journey where your passion is the main focus while the complexities of accounting and corporate services are expertly managed. Being part of Monx has given me the opportunity to assist in taking care of both DB residents and their businesses, ensuring a smoother path to their goals.

Monx has an incredibly vibrant work culture that constantly motivates me to give my best. The company not only values, but actively invests in the growth of young professionals like me. This environment of empowerment and the exposure to diverse facets of the accounting and corporate services industry are what inspired me to continue my journey here. In your experience, what three words or phrases encapsulate the essence of Monx? Client-centric. Global. Forward-looking.

Do you run a business? Contact Monx today for expert accounting, tax and corporate services. Email us: hello@monx.team.

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

! a i v i r T f o t i B e l Litt

20 QUESTIONS

BRAD PITT QUIZ

Find out how much you know about our favourite Hollywood actor-producer, starting with when he was born 1. When is Brad Pitt’s birthday? A. December 1, 1963 B. December 18, 1963 C. December 25, 1975 2. Who does Pitt play in True Romance? A. A stoner called Floyd B. A newly-wed called Clarence C. Elvis Presley 3. In which movie did Pitt get his first leading role? A. Fight Club B. 12 Monkeys C. The Dark Side of the Sun 4. Who did Pitt marry in 2000? A. Angelina Jolie B. Gwyneth Paltrow C. Jennifer Aniston 5. In which movie does Pitt’s character personify Death? A. Meet Joe Black B. Moneyball C. Bullet Train 42

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

20 QUESTIONS

6. What is Pitt’s real name?

14. What is Pitt’s Chinese Zodiac sign?

A. Bradley James Pitt

A. Tiger

B. William Bradley Pitt

B. Rabbit

C. James Bradley Pitt

C. Dog

7. In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button what is unusual about Pitt’s character?

15. How many Oscars has Pitt won and been nominated for respectively?

A. He ages backwards

A. 1 and 5

B. He walks on water

B. 2 and 7

C. He’s a vampire

C. 4 and 8

8. Of the movies produced by Pitt, which was the first to win an Oscar for Best Picture?

16. In which movie did Pitt meet Angelina Jolie?

A. The Departed

A. Mr and Mrs Smith

B. 12 Years a Slave

B. Babylon

C. Moonlight

C. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

9. What is Pitt’s character’s name in the Ocean’s movies?

17. Who is Pitt's character married to in Legends of the Fall?

A. Cliff Booth

A. Isabel Two

B. Rusty Ryan

B. Kayli

C. Billy Beane

C. Susannah

10. Which African country was one of Pitt’s children born in?

18. Which Pitt movie begins with a quote from The Book of Job?

A. Namibia

A. World War Z

B. South Africa

B. The Tree of Life

C. Kenya

C. Burn After Reading

11. In Inglourious Basterds, what is the nickname of Pitt’s character?

19. Who is Pitt’s co-star in the upcoming Apple thriller Wolves?

A. Aldo the Bear

A. George Clooney

B. Aldo the Apache

B. Matt Damon

C. Aldo the Great

C. Tom Cruise

12. In which movie does Pitt play a cowboy hitchhiker?

20. Which famous 90’s sitcom did Pitt star in for one episode?

A. Thelma and Louise

A. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

B. Troy

B. Seinfeld

C. Seven

C. Friends

13. Which Guy Ritchie movie does Pitt star in? A. The Covenant B. Wrath of Man C. Snatch

You can check your score at www.arounddb.com> 20-questions>brad-pitt-quiz. AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

INSIDER

! s p i T p To

DECK YOUR HALLS Capture the magic of a classic holiday season by following Jane Clyde’s stylish and totally doable decorating tips PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

INSIDER

or me the holidays have always star ted on December 1, when the Christmas tree goes up and the box of decorations comes out. The nostalgia kicks in immediately, as I’ve had some of the baubles, stars and santas in my collec tion since I was a child. What I like to do is use memorabilia that I’ve inherited from Christmases past to decorate my home in new and novel ways each year. For most of us, a good holiday decor is built on tradition – there’s the (sustainably sourced) tree, a couple of themed centrepieces, candles and a wreath or two. But when working with these staples, you don’t have to play it safe. Meaning you don’t have to create the exact same atmosphere or look from year to year. One of the top decorating themes for Xmas 2023 is “excess”: glamorous, glitzy and big on bling, it’s as decadent as can be. Tr y that if you want, but to me it’s more interesting to go the other way. Rather than piling on the gold and silver, and going totally over the top with tinsel and streamers, why not simplif y, get innovative and style up?

GET STARTED Before you jump to any conclusions, this won’t take the fun out of holiday decorating. Far from it! The plan is to set up just a few, key focal points and really make them sing. As a star ting point, remove as many year-round decor items as you can. By so doing you’ll create space, on shelves and side tables, for seasonal displays. And as a bonus, when you reinstate your ever yday ornaments on Januar y 6 (Twelfth Night), you’ll find that you appreciate them all the more. Step two: decide on a two-tone colour scheme and stick to it, religiously. You may find, for instance, that most of the pieces in your box of decorations are red. If that’s the case, pack away the lone purple bauble and the single strand of gold tinsel, and limit your holiday decorating to red plus one other colour. Red with white or lime-green, and Barbie-pink with silver are trendy colour combinations for the 2023 holidays. But, basically any thing goes. Step three: choose a theme, aiming to work with what you have as far as possible. If your aim this year is to simplify, it follows that you won’t want to buy many new pieces. Christmas decorations can bring in an element of serenity that may other wise be absent during the holiday season. So whatever theme you choose, be conser vative with the number of decorations you put in a room.

RETRO DESIGNS ARE BANG ON TREND

own creativity. Let’s say you’re into vintage: you can raid your box of decorations for old favourites, and pick up a few new, trad-style items at a craft fair. Just remember, the look you’re aiming for is classic and elegant, not fussy and old fashioned. Take the oppor tunity to add a chic gilt-framed mirror to your “vintage Christmas collection”: you can hang it on a wall or place it on a table to create an innovative base for a holiday display. For something more up-to-the-minute, why not suspend oversized baubles from a low-hung light fixture, or style up with a couple of miniature trees instead of the usual, 6-foot Douglas Fir? Another ontrend option is to add a pop of black (in the form of trendy chevron ribbons, or tapered candles) to create the “wow” factor.

GET CREATIVE

By doing things a little differently, you will introduce a touch of much-needed whimsy to your holiday decor. With this in mind, simple seasonal stickers are a good option, providing a fuss-free way to dress up a wall and create a chic focal point. Modern stickers peel off easily, so you won’t have to repaint your walls after the holidays.

It’s not what you display but how you display it that counts, so achieving the look you want relies on your

DIY Christmas decorations add a personal touch, and the whole family can get involved in the creative AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

INSIDER

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU DISPLAY BUT HOW YOU DISPLAY IT THAT COUNTS....

process. You’re ahead of the game if you saved last year’s Christmas cards and wrap, as these can be used to make anything from paper lanterns to baubles. Simple paperchains add a fun retro twist; and you can make Christmas tree decorations out of just about anything – dried orange slices, for instance, look good hung on bits of string with fair y lights behind them.

GET ON SANTA’S NICE LIST Christmas is inarguably one of the most unsustainable times of the year but by opting for a more ecoconscious decor, you’re guaranteed to make the “nice” list – Santa promises that. Decorating with pieces already in your possession will win you Brownie points (and reduce your carbon footprint), as will making your own. And if you simply can’t live without some brand-new Xmas bling, be sure to shop ethical and local. Your aim is to decorate your home with goodquality, eco-friendly produc ts that are fairly traded and ethically sourced. Many of the items you find in malls come from overseas, and the impac t of their transpor tation contributes to greenhouse emissions and global warming. So, make the ef for t to hunt down Christmas decorations at local boutiques and craf t fairs. For a range of produc ts made by Lantaubased ar tisans, head to the Handmade Hong Kong Market in DB Plaza on December 10 and the Treasure Island Christmas Market at Pui O Beach on December 17. Another hack to ensure your holiday decor is low impact? Invest in Christmas tree lights that can be run on a timer or controlled digitally with an app. You want your home to look festive but it doesn’t need to be blazing away 24/7. And while you’re at it, rethink (plastic) tinsel, it may transport you back to childhood but it’s tacky, and landfills are loaded with it. Without doubt, there’s something about an ear thfriendly Christmas that harks back to a bygone era. It’s time to skip the mall, think prac tical and put items you already own to new uses. Repurposing makes sense on many levels: it’s always satisf ying to work with what you have, and it cuts costs. You could, for instance, style up a couple of glass vases that you use ever y day with the simple addition of Christmas baubles and candles.

DECIDE ON A TWO-TONE COLOUR SCHEME AND STICK TO IT 46

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

With all this repurposing and craf ting, you’ll feel justified in splashing out on a few fashionable yet timeless decor items. One or t wo well- chosen statement pieces go a long way. Woodland holiday themes are bang on trend, as are retro designs, complete with candy canes and sprigs of pine. Key additions to your scheme this year might also include muted chrome candlesticks, jewel-toned glassware and a frosted Christmas tree. Enjoy decking your halls!

DMR School of Ballet Annual Performance Each year, DMR Dancers showcase their hard work, passion and fun costumes in our annual performance. We can't wait until ‘The Toy Box’!

Hong Kong Disneyland Our dancers, aged 6+, have an amazing and exciting opportunity to perform at Hong Kong Disneyland, along the parade route!

Other Performances We are excited to have the opportunities to perform at different venues around Hong Kong such as DB Dragon Boat, and at the AIA Carnival.

RAD Ballet Our Ballerinas can participate in our graded classes following the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Syllabus and focus on strength and grace.

ISTD Modern and Tap Modern (Jazz) is a great to gain flexibility, technique and grow as performers. Our tap classes focus on rhythm, line and style, and confidence!

info@dmr-hk.com

+852 5210 7208

SEASONAL TAX ROAST Wednesday, 6 & 13 December, 12:30 PM & 6:30 PM

If you have UK property portfolio or UK assets The SEASONAL TAX ROAST event is for you!

SCAN TO REGISTER

The Christmas season brings families together to enjoy the festivities and to welcome in a New Year full of optimism, promise and prosperity, so why not add the topics of legacy planning, estate distribution and tax mitigation to the menu? The Seasonal Tax Roast online seminar is tailored to anyone who wants to be informed about smart tax structures for every pocket.

Unit 21, 1/F, DB North

! e im T on Vacati ESCAPES

LAND OF THE THUNDER DRAGON Escape to Bhutan PHOTOS COURTESY OF Petrie PR

BHUTAN OFFERS A MAGICAL ESCAPE from the chaos of the

festive season, inviting you to immerse yourself in its rich culture, pristine natural surroundings and spiritual serenity. Sandwiched between India, Myanmar and China, in the eastern Himalayas, temperatures during winter var y: while high-altitude areas experience snowfall, the lower valleys are sunny but chilly.

BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE

by exploring the beautiful towns of Bhutan, where you can enjoy a cup of steaming suja (butter tea), as you wander through the bustling markets. Thimphu’s weekend market attracts vendors from across the region, who fill the market halls and surrounding streets with unique handicrafts. Shop for mandalas, wooden masks, prayer flags, camphor and saffron.

THE WARMTH OF BHUTANESE HOSPITALITY is legendar y and there’s

no better way to experience it than through the flavour ful cuisine. You can enjoy a traditional Bhutanese feast with dishes like ema datshi (chilli and cheese stew), locally grown red rice, and phaksha paa (stir-fried pork with chilies and spices), while sipping ara, the local rice wine.

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

ESCAPES

TIGER’S NEST MONASTERY

(Taktshang Goemba) is one of Bhutan’s most incredible sights, miraculously perched on the side of a sheer cliff, 900 metres above the floor of the Paro Valley. The hike up is well worth the effort, not least for the incredible views. From the monastery, you can follow another trail uphill to Machig-phu Lhakhang chapel, where Bhutanese pilgrims come to pray for children.

THE MAJESTIC HIMALAYAN PEAKS create a glorious backdrop

for winter adventures. As you hike through Bhutan’s beautiful forests on the Trans Bhutan Trail, the skies are often clear, providing unobstructed views of the snow-capped Himalayas, including Bhutan’s highest peak, the Gangkhar Puensum. Here you can spot rare and globally endangered black-necked cranes, who migrate to Bhutan every winter from the north.

LAND OF THE THUNDER DRAGON,

as Bhutan is known, is a remarkable place shrouded in legend, folklore and mysticism. The best way to experience the kingdom’s culture and immerse yourself in its traditions is at a temple festival. Most of these festivals are dedicated to Guru Rimpoche – the saint who introduced Bhutan to Buddhism in the early 8th Century.

DZONGS ARE EVERYWHERE in Bhutan. These distinctive fortified monasteries are massive in style, with towering exterior walls surrounding a complex of courtyards, temples, administrative offices and monks’ accommodation. Punakha Dzong is arguably the most picturesque, located on the banks of two rivers – the Pho Chhu (Male) and Mo Chhu (Female) – in Bhutan’s Punakha Valley.

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE

TOP 5 FIN AN CIAL REVIEW C HEC KS TO COMPLETE THE YEAR Mark Kirkham of Platinum Financial Services outlines what you need to know The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect on your finances and make positive changes to achieve your goals. Whether you want to save for a dream holiday, prepare for retirement, or invest for your children’s future education, undertaking regular financial reviews are crucial and ensure that your finances remain in order and on track. Read below as we discuss the top five financial review checks for Hong Kong residents to complete this year. TAX REVIEW Reviewing your tax position and liabilities in Hong Kong is an important task. Hong Kong has a s t r a i g h t f o r w a rd t a x s y s t e m t h a t o p e r a t e s o n a territorial basis. This means that only income ear ned within Hong Kong is subject to taxation. However, it is crucial to consider the tax position of any investments or property assets you have in other countries, as these might benefit from some strategic planning that will reduce your overall tax exposure and liability. RETIREMENT PLANNING Retirement planning is essential for everyone, but especially for expatriates, and it can be challenging to navigate the often-complex rules around pensions. Seeking professional advice will help you navigate the rules and make the most of your retirement options. Besides the regular MPF contributions, there are numerous inter national pension plans available, which offer access to a wide range of asset classes in a tax-efficient way.

realised and turned into a property investment or allocated to other alternative strategies. INSURANCE REVIEW Insurance is essential for protecting your financial future, and expats in Hong Kong should consider their insurance needs carefully. Health insurance should be the very first cover in your insurance portfolio. Depending on your circumstances, you should consider additional coverage, such as life, travel and property insurance, all of which play a vital role in maintaining the standard of living you enjoy in the event of an accident, incapacity or death. ESTATE PLANNING REVIEW Estate planning is necessary to protect your assets and assure your wealth is transferred according to your wishes. Residents of Hong Kong, who have assets in more than one country, may face challenges when it comes to estate planning as inter national laws and regulations can be complex. Seeking professional advice can help you better understand your options and help you navigate the local fiduciary rules around wills, trusts and inheritance tax. C o n d u c t i n g a re g u l a r f i n a n c i a l re v i e w i s o f paramount importance for a prosperous future. By undertaking these checks and taking professional advice as needed, you will be well-equipped to overcome the complexities that exist and maximise the opportunities of your financial situation in Hong Kong.

INVESTMENT REVIEW R e v i e w i n g y o u r i n v e s t m e n t s re g u l a r l y w i l l h e l p you understand your options and manage risk. As your day-to-day requirements and goals change, so will your investment requirements in line with your appetite and attitude towards managing risk. What was once an adventurous investment can be Welcome to Platinum Financial Services, an independent financial planning company that embraces traditional values with innovative products and services. Our commitment lies in delivering excellent service and providing sound independent financial advice tailored to your needs. We’re authorised by the MPFA and Insurance Authority of Hong Kong, offering personal financial advice and planning for life, health and critical illness insurance, mortgages, property investments, retirement, fiduciary and tax planning. To find out more, visit www.fsplatinum.com.

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RECIPES

SIL ENT NIGHTS Treat your loved ones to some quiet time this Christmas by gifting them a hot cup of cocoa and a slice or two of chocolate bundt cake PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE Serves 6 200g dark chocolate 600ml milk 150ml double cream 6 peppermint candy canes

Break the chocolate into chunks and put it in a pan with the milk. Gently heat, stirring until all the chocolate has melted. Continue heating until the milk is steaming, then remove from the heat and stir in the cream. Divide the hot chocolate between 6 mugs, add sugar to taste and hang a candy cane on the edge of each. Pass the mugs round and get everyone to stir their hot chocolate with their candy cane – letting as much of the sweet peppermint dissolve as they choose.

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

RECIPES

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

RECIPES

CHOCOLATE & ALMOND BUNDT CAKE Serves 12 to 16 180g butter, softened

75g ground almonds

225g caster sugar

3 large eggs

¾ tsp almond extract

2tbsp milk

180g plain flour

3tbsp cocoa powder

2tsp baking powder

100g dark chocolate chips

Heat the oven to 180˚C/ fan. Cream the butter and sugar together; stir in the almond extract. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and almonds. Beat one egg at a time into the butter mixture, adding a spoonful of the flour mixture in between. Then fold in the remaining flour mixture and stir in the milk. Finally add the cocoa powder, mixed with 3 tbsp hot water to make a paste, and add the chocolate chips. Pour the mixture into a prepared 1.5-litre bundt tin and bake for 40-45 minutes until a skewer pushed into the centre comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a cooling rack. Dust with a little icing sugar to serve.

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

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TIM AND STANLEY CLARK: WINNERS OF THE DB BAKING COMPETITION 2023

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Franco Savadori has some words of wisdom for would-be collectors

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For 20+ years the Bay Media team has been publishing the original community magazine in Discovery Bay. Around DB is the most trusted source of content for DB residents. From our humble origins we have grown into another two publications, Life on Lantau and Best of Lantau, and a design studio. We have a very active Facebook presence, over 40,000+ visitors to our website every month and provide tailor-made marketing campaigns to reach our unique readership. We are currently offering special advertising packages (both print and digital) 2024.

For further enquiries on details of our packages, please contact our publisher, Philip Jay, at philip@baymedia.com.hk

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AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

UNCLE RUSS INSTAGRAM COMPETITION

SHARE A PHOTO #AROUNDDB TO WIN PRIZES FROM UNCLE RUSS COFFEE AND THE PIER BAR! Your mission this month is to share your favourite photo of DB on Instagram #arounddb. You have until the 15th of the month to enter. This is your chance to win four complimentary drinks from Uncle Russ and The Pier Bar. The Warriors CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST MONTH’S WINNER: @lucyrocketpoodle

We will contact the winner on Instagram #arounddb. Good luck!

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Christmas Services in Discovery Bay Church!

Come & Celebrate the Birth of Christ

Wishing you a peaceful and joyous Christmas Discovery Bay Church (Anglican / Episcopal) Email: markrogers@discoverybaychurch.org.hk Daughter Church of St.John's Cathedral Web: www.discoverybaychurch.org.hk SKH Wei Lun Primary School, Priest in Charge: Discovery Bay Road The Reverend Mark Rogers 10:00am (English) Sunday Tel: 2987 4210 Mob: 5180 5106 58

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

Church of The Incarnation Sunday Services at SKH Wei Lun Primary School Chapel 10:30am Sunday Contact The Church Office 2987 0723

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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. www.akash.hk

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M O D E R N A P A R T M EMODERN N T S IAPARTMENTS N D I S C OINVDISCOVERY E R Y B A BAY Y

Short or Long Term rents. Short or Long-Term Rentals. Next to Tunnel and Club Siena with quiet seaNviews O GEN Next park, to Tunnel Club Siena with Abed over Fully and furnished, washer/dryer, linen, C EE Ybar. kitchenware. 600over sq ft, 60 inch TVs, Wi-Fi,FSound quiet sea views park. Please contact owner: Fully furnished, washer/dryer, bedlinen, 93170624 or nialady2011@gmail.com kitchenware, 600sft, 60 inch TV, Wi-Fi, Sound bar.

CO N TAC T T H E O W N E R O N 9 3 1 7 0 6 2 4 o r n i a l a d y 2 0 1 1 @ g m a i l . c o m

IfI f you yo u aare r e l olooking o k i n g t o to r e nrent t o r s or e l l asell p r oap eproperty rty and and wo would u l d l i like ke t o to s e esee i t l iits t elisted d o n t hon i s pthis a g e , page, e m a i linfo@baymedia.com.hk info@baymedia.com.hk email

LOCAL NUMBERS

TUNG CHUNG

EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 Tung Chung Ambulance Depot Tung Chung Fire Station Tung Chung Police Station HOME & REPAIRS Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths Mr Chan 24-Hour Handyman Papabo Shun Yu Engineering HOTELS Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Novotel Citygate Hong Kong Regal Airport Hotel Sheraton Tung Chung The Silveri Hong Kong - MGallery LEARNING CENTRES Clement Art School Discovery Mind International Play Centre Discovery Mind Primary School Greenfield International Kindergarten Salala Kids’ House Sun Island Education Foundation Tung Chung Catholic School YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College MEDICAL Bayside Dental Essential Health Family Clinic Human Health Medical Centre North Lantau Hospital North Lantau Physiotherapy Quality Health Dental Quality Health Care Medical Raffles Medical Raffles Medical Emergency

REALTORS 2988 8282 HomeSolutions 3483 5003 2988 1898 3661 1999 REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals 2421 8088 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 2109 2330 ReloSmart 2561 3030 9343 3718 SwiftRelo 2363 4008 5541 1502 2988 1488 RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Caribbean Coast Clubhouse 2109 9277 Caribbean Coast Management Office 2109 9288 2179 6678 3969 1888 Coastal Skyline Clubhouse 2179 6621 3602 8888 Coastal Skyline Management Office 3473 8700 2286 8888 Seaview Crescent Clubhouse 3473 8833 2535 0000 Seaview Crescent Management Office 2403 6770 3602 8989 Tung Chung Crescent Clubhouse Tung Chung Crescent Management Office 2109 1222 RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY A Tavola Bar & Grill 2321 5500 Andante, Novotel Citygate 3602 8828 Cabana Breeze 2777 8982 Café Aficionado 2286 6238 Café Lantau, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0021 Funky Monkey 2427 1111 Jasmine Tung Chung 2162 8018 La Rosabelle Bar & Grill 2881 8788 La Vista 2368 6866 2535 0023 2185 6550 Lobby Lounge, Sheraton Tung Chung 2330 0131 2109 9396 Maison Du Mezze 3500 5885 2109 2288 Man Mano Italian Restaurant 2762 8077 3467 7000 Mint & Basil 2116 8149 2194 0020 Moon Lok Chiu Chow 2907 6918 2403 6613 My Thai 2234 9199 2403 6623 Nha Trang Vietnamese Cuisine 2297 3588 2261 2626 PizzaExpress 2261 0999 Regala Café & Dessert Bar, Regal Airport Hotel 2286 6618 9757 9157 2987 8070 2915 0666 2162 5538 2611 9193 2420 1068 2121 0884 2988 8123

Rouge, Regal Airport Hotel 2286 6868 Skycity Bistro, SkyCity Marriott 3969 2500 Sunset Grill, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0025 The New Chapter 2907 6988 The Tavern 2907 6822 Upper Deck 2757 8889 Yue, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0028 Velocity Bar & Grill, Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott 3969 1888 RETAIL FTC Apparel Lantau Balloons

2428 2566 9733 5483

SPORT & RECREATION Asia Pacific Soccer Schools 2385 9677 Aqua Gym 2914 0658 B & S Art Gallery 2493 8895 Dance for Joy 9264 8597 Edge ’n Pointe Dance Centre 6688 2167 ESF Sports 2711 1280 Fitness in Motion 9744 4736 HK Dragons 2987 4274 Kinder Kicks Soccer 2385 9677 Perun Fitness 6443 6597 Rugbytots 5307 6677 Tung Chung Public Swimming Pool 2109 9107 Tung Chung Sports Centre 2109 2421 Tung Chung Rugby Club 6079 0825 VETERINARY SERVICES & PETS Royal Pets (Pet Sitting) Tung Chung Animal Clinic Tung Chung Vet Centre

6314 9887 2988 1534 2328 7282

WELLBEING & BEAUTY Max Beauty Spa OM Spa, Regal Airport Hotel Tung Chung Nail Ninjas Quan Spa, Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott

2162 5752 2286 6266 9551 6468 3692 1888

The Gallery The Kitchen Treasure Island Beach Club

2980 2582 5991 6292 5236 7013

RETAIL Bella Ciao Lantau Friendly Bike Shop Garden Plus Island Wines Loi Chan Frozen Meat Co. Lantau Base Camp Lantau Grocer Red Hall Chinese Antiques Steak King Mui Wo Tony’s Salon Value Vigilantes VIBE Book & Music Shop

9321 0487 2984 2278 2980 2233 9521 8481 2984 8346 9889 4375 2702 0050 2988 1368 5988 2005 2984 0990 6132 9120 9088 2370

SPORT & RECREATION Long Coast Seasports South Lantau Paddle Club Treasure Island Beach Club

5545 5625 6058 8843 2546 3543

WELLBEING & BEAUTY Pause by the Banyan Spa Ambiance

9708 0187 2984 2488

SOUTH LANTAU EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 Lantau South Police Mui Wo Fire Department

MEDICAL 3661 1696 North Lantau Hospital 3467 7000 2984 1570 REALTORS HOME & REPAIRS Findley Leung 2984 8334 Koon Wah Hardware 2984 8487 HomeSolutions 3483 5003 Lee Wo Construction Engineering 2984 1802 Man Shun Construction & Engineering 2984 9833 REMOVALS & RELOCATION New Look Design 9783 5840 Akash Removals 2421 8088 Papabo 5541 1502 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 Lee Hing Loong 2984 2268 HOTELS ReloSmart 2561 3030 Silvermine Beach Resort 6810 0111 SwiftRelo 2363 4008 Tai O Heritage Hotel 2985 8383 RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY LEARNING CENTRES Bathers 2504 4788 Ashville International Kindergarten & Nursery 2109 9886 Bella Ciao Lantau 9321 0487 Buddhist Fat Ho College 2985 5365 Cafe Isara 2470 1966 Lantau International Kindergarten 2984 0302 Caffe Paradiso 2984 0498 Lantau International School, Reception, 2984 0302 China Bear 2984 9720 Lantau International School, Lower Primary 2980 3676 La Pizzeria 2984 8933 Lantau International School, Upper Primary 2984 0302 Lantana Italian Bistro 5465 5511 Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten 3689 7033 Long Island 2320 2001 Mui Wo Language Cafe 5511 6107 Pause Cafe 5267 5549 Silvermine Bay School 2984 0006 The China Beach Club 2983 8931

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

LOCAL NUMBERS

DISCOVERY BAY BUSINESS SERVICES Monx T8 Consulting Ltd

5286 0155 2517 8248

EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 China Light & Power Emergency DB Fire & Ambulance Gas Leakage Emergency Hotline Lantau North Police Report Room

2728 8333 2987 7502 2435 4511 3661 1694

FINANCIAL SERVICES Bank of China 2160 8585 HSBC 2233 3000 HOME & REPAIRS Chameleon Design & Interiors China Light & Power Information DRS Company Good Luck Engineering Island Cleaning Solutions May’s Furniture & Curtain Design Rich Point Hardware Materials Water Fault Reports Water Supplies Department Well Supreme Laundry

9219 8169 2678 2678 9156 0360 2987 1313 6091 5176 2987 0222 2987 0789 2811 0788 2824 5000 2987 5151

HOTELS Auberge Discovery Bay

2295 8288

LAWYERS & INSURANCE 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,

Manulife 9172 9152 LEARNING CENTRES & SCHOOLS 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

MEDICAL Bayside Dental Practice 2987 0855 DB Medical Centre 2987 5633 Health & Care Dental Clinic 2666 6183 Island Health 2987 7575 North Lantau Hospital 3467 7000 Quality Health Medical Centre 2987 5633 Quality Health Physiotherapy 2473 6200 Lok Kwan Home Care Service 2803 2103 Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Lok Kwan District Support Centre (Islands) 2548 0060/ 2546 3739 Yulana Stynder Physiotherapy 5514 1008 PLACES OF WORSHIP DB Alliance Church Community Centre DB Anglican Church DB International Community Church Trinity Chapel

2987 8136 2987 4210 2987 7061 3590 8017

REALTORS Headland Homes 2987 2088 Kingsland 2987 2987 Land Master Property 2987 6238 Okay.com 2102 0888 Savills 2987 1919 REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals FTC Relocations ReloSmart SwiftRelo

2421 8088 2814 1658 2561 3030 2363 4008

RESIDENTIAL SERVICES DB Office Centre DB Lost & Found DB Management The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Typhoon Signal Enquiries

2238 3388 3651 2345 2238 3601 2259 3422 2835 1473

RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY The Rink Italian Kitchen Located in DB Plaza Extension, the THE RINK Italian Kitchen offers guests a unique gastronomical experience of authentic Italian flavours. To reserve a table, call 3709 6451.

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

Bayview House of Children 6114 2436 DBIS 2987 7331 DBIS Kindergarten 2914 2142 Discovery College 3969 1000 Discovery Mind International Play Centre 2987 8088 Discovery Mind Kindergarten 2987 8088 Discovery Montessori Academy 2812 9206 Dr Bear Education Centre 9685 7856 EpicLand 2441 0098 Funfit 6302 6327 Guidepost Montessori (DB) 2185 6134 HKILA 2416 3198 La Petite Enfance Kindergarten 8191 0813 Mandarin for Munchkins 2480 3909 Mathemagic (home tutoring) 9135 4724 Rigolo comme la vie 5495 8810 SKH Wei Lun Primary School 2987 8608 Treasure House 2987 4217 Woodentots 6108 9131 Yifan Mandarin 9208 7611 Zhi Zhi Chinese 9648 2966 62

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

Bones & Blades 2383 0792 Café Bord de Mer & Lounge 2295 8299 Caffe Pascucci 2591 1426 Cali-Mex 2904 7698 Coffee Academics 2882 2280 Dough Bros 2408 0448 Ebeneezer’s 2987 0036 Epic Foods 2172 6111 Figos Seaside Café 2987 2995 il Bel Paese 2987 0202 Island Café 2987 9311 JOO Korean Grill & Bar 6706 7520 Koh Tomyums 2987 0767 La Creation & Châteraisé 2987 1829 Levain Bakery 2726 4922 Lekker Laa 6857 1620 McDonald’s & McCafe 2987 1033 Moofish by Zak’s 2987 6318 MOOJOO Lifestyle Cafe 5122 5928 Osmanbey Turkish Restaurant 5401 8350 Paisano’s 2673 4445 Peony 2215 0833 PizzaExpress 3164 1340 Shanghai Breeze 2987 7808 Subway 2914 0005 Sushi No En 3705 9984 Taste of Thai 2987 2010

LOCAL NUMBERS

DISCOVERY BAY The Chippy 2987 8688 The Pier Bar 2520 2166 Three Sheets Marquee Bar 2987 0966 The Rink 3611 8369 Uncle Russ 2840 1188 Viet Bu Tong Kitchen & Bar 2338 8970 Zak’s 2987 6232

MGK Fight Club 9303 2996 Tinytots 3488 7724 Yoga Bay 6704 9851 Yogika 6749 7836 YogaUP 6805 4996 Yrock 6180 0817

RETAIL & DAILY NECESSITIES 7-Eleven 2299 1110 Bloom 6117 7653 Bones & Blades Butcher 2383 0683 Bookazine 2987 1373 Circle K 2991 6337 DB Post Office 2987 6046 european touch 2918 0868 felix and mina 2130 7013 Fusion by PARKnSHOP 2987 7486 Garden A rtemis 9137 4833 Gillian Florist 2529 8256 Greenmont Kids 5345 1451 Havana@ DBay 2918 0868 Island Wake 2636 0601 Japan Home Centre 2987 1041 Market Place and IKEA 2947 9092 Nomadic 2987 8460 Open Kitchen 2987 8720 P-Solution 2987 1777 Tai Fat Hardware Store 2987 0789 The Optical House 2987 1368 Toysland 2987 7859 Watson’s Pharmacy 2987 4089 Watson’s Wine 2987 0268

TRANSPORTATION DB Golf Cart Services DB Transportation Services Limousine Rental Wiselink Golf Cart Services

2914 2727 2987 7351 5303 3489 2987 9368

VETERINARY SERVICES & PETS Island Veterinary Services My Pet Shop Pets Gallery Pet Space Club Ready, Pet, Go! The Dog's Garden

2987 9003 2987 8873 2987 0428 2788 1599 5721 6181 2987 2077

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

WELLBEING & BEAUTY Ingredients of Wellness Mindfulness training for children, teens & 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

Afflatus Hair Workshop Bay Spa DB Pure Spa Head to Toe Spa By Nailed it Herbal Health Care Hypnotherapist Margaret Liu Nailed It! Salon De Coiffure Sophia Essentials Spa Botanica, Auberge Discovery Bay

2987 0283 9837 0969 9794 0918 2988 1188 2834 7276 5925 3469 2987 2266 2987 4112 2527 0118 2295 8129

Island Dance ISTD Freestyle, ISTD Hip Hop, RAD Ballet, Tap & AcroDance 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

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

BMSE Community Centre 2259 3422 Caissa Chess 6938 7603 Club Siena 2987 7382 Daruma Judo 6244 6093 DBees 9867 9240 DB Ice Rink 2234 0187 DB Pirates 9255 6133 DB Golf Club 2987 7273 DB Recreation Club 2987 7381 DMR 5210 7208 Dream Sports Academy 3462 2626 Embody 6624 8712 EpicLand 2441 0098 EMS Fitness Hong Kong 6200 2463 Future Stars Dance Academy 2987 6867 Gallery Jeeum 9819 7176 Harry Wright International 2575 6279 HK Yoga 6113 6770 Kaisei Ryu Ju Jitsu 5315 0227 Kapuhala Train-in-Space 6101 8434 Korea Taekwondo Cheung Do Kwan 9663 8077 Lantau Yacht Club 2987 9591

VIEW THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY @ www.arounddb.com To add your own directory listing box, call the Bay Media office on 2987 0167, or email info@baymedia.com.hk

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

OUT THERE

SORT OF A CHRISTMAS ARTICLE AS REQUESTED ‘Tis the season to be Joycean: Peter Sherwood provides his annual Xmas rant, letting it all out in stream of consciousness without pause for breath or irritating punctuation PHOTO COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

rite something for Christmas she said so here is something for Xmas and worse annoyances with a look at imbecilic aspects of humanity of vacuous and galactically ridiculous stuff no one notices like the pompous trend for ever yone on TV to refer to ever y subject as a space as in the work space the IT space sugar y drinks space and the space space and from where this intellectually deficient lunacy emerges I’ve no idea but it makes me want to hurl my cat through the screen as inane journalists with obsessive compulsive disorder star t rabbiting on about drawing a line in the sand why always sand not mud or wet cement and the brain exploding irritant of on the ground I feel like whacking ever yone at CNN over the noggin on the ground with a wet toilet brush what about the pointless that’s a really good question so you don’t have to give a really good answer and don’t star t me on Australian TV and the childish debate whether the majority white population might give the original inhabitants who arrived 59 765 000 years before them a bit of a say in how the place is run but apparently 24 314 225 days without cricket doesn’t count but the sky high proper ty price space does and should this massive house of cards collapse Aussies will be holidaying in the Bali space via dugout canoes and not a business class air ticket because you only need to be environmentally friendly on the ground in the

XXXXXXXXXX

nature space and to hell with a carbon footprint five and a half times bigger than the back of the bus while tourism the worst of the isms asks us to explore a planet packed with 8 billion people on an adventurous Mediterranean cruise with 5000 vultures for 24 hour buffets the only adventure is some exotic gastrointestinal event and being mugged in Naples and don’t talk to me about spor ts inter views and par ticipants who should be tasered and all involved forced to watch 72 hours of synchronized swimming from Nor th Korea and amazing incredible tennis shots and awesome epithets normally reser ved for the cosmos applied liberally to Federer’s racket then there’s the Mr Obvious tennis commentator with how that volley found the bottom of the net yes we saw it you clown and he should have bent his knees more and he knows it yes he does know it he just did it which is why he is smashing his bat into the umpires shins you dope and why do tennis players wear their caps on backwards and Jeff bloody Bezos gurgling on about saving the planet from the deck of his US$500 million yacht and how’s that for a carbon footprint bigger than a million Indian villages please go to Mars Jeff take all the billionaires with you and don’t come back what about the thrashing to death of the gratuitous phrase going for ward it used to be in the future forgetting that ever ything is anyway so there it is be merr y in the Xmas space on the ground

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. 64

AROUND DB / DECEMBER 2023

SEASONS GREETINGS FROM ALL OF US AT BAY MEDIA!

WE WISH YOU A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2024!