Around DB January Issue 2020

JANUARY 2020

Kids’ guide to CNY

How to expand your recycling regime

Live the life you want!

8 reasons to escape to Luang Prabang

DOUBLE HAPPINESS Here’s to 2020! And a Happy Year of the Rat!

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

FREE

EAA LIC C-033418

We are proud to celebrate 30 years in DB! After three decades, we know that our specialty is matching the right properties to DB residents.

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倚濤軒 CRESTMONT Gross: 1290sqft’ Saleable: 1108sqft’

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頤峰 GREENS Gross: 533sqft’ Saleable: 456sqft’

蘅峰 CAPERIDGE Gross: 1600sqft’ Saleable: 1359sqft’

Charles 6140 7971

Katie 9150 7319

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Rachel 9265 7555

寶峰 WOODS Gross: 895sqft’ Saleable: 769sqft’

Meeta 9047 7252

info@headlandhomes.hk

Sue 9700 2399

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CONTENTS

Join your community online

January 2020

PROFILE - 26 Meet the author: Les Bird

IN FOCUS - 30 Where and how to recycle in DB

EDUCATION - 38 Chinese New Year for kids

TOP TIPS - 45 How to change your life in 2020

ESCAPES - 48 A long weekend in Luang Prabang

26 REGULARS

If you have a story idea, email rachel@baymedia.com.hk To publicise a local event, email elizabeth@baymedia.com.hk For general enquiries, email info@baymedia.com.hk To advertise, email philip@baymedia.com.hk

AGENDA

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Q&A Relationship advice

43

WISH LIST January must-haves

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DB EVENTS

25

GIVEAWAYS

52

HK HAPPENINGS

DB FACES In and around the plaza

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CLASSIFIEDS

60

PROPERTY

OUT THERE Peter Sherwood talks back

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LOCAL NUMBERS

For graphic design, email philip@baymedia.com.hk Call 2987 0577/ 2787 0886 Fax 2987 0533

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ON THE COVER Enter the Year of the Rat!

We also publish…

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YOUR GUIDE TO HONG KONG’S ‘GREEN JEWEL’

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JANUARY 2020

Kids’ guide to CNY

How to expand your recycling regime

Live the life you want!

8 reasons to escape to Luang Prabang

DOUBLE HAPPINESS Here’s to 2020! And a Happy Year of the Rat!

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

FREE

To read the cover story turn to page 38

2019 / 2020

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

www.arounddb.com Publishers in Lantau since 2002

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

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in AroundDB are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or contributors. The publisher and editor cannot be held responsible for differences of opinion or statements published in good faith. The publisher, contributors, their employees and partners are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors or omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication and expressly disclaim all and any liability for any such action of any person.

The mention of specific companies or products in articles or advertisements does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by this magazine or its publisher in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without permission.

© BAY MEDIA GROUP LTD

www.colsimphotography.com

MUSIC FOR LUKE

The DB community turned out in force at Hemingway’s on December 7 for a fundraising benefit gig for Luke Inkin, a brave 12-year-old member of the DB community who has been re-diagnosed with leukaemia. There were performances by Case Sensitive, Naggin Eejits and Grounded.

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

THE HOTTEST

IN DISCOVERY BAY

DMR ON PARADE

DMR School of Ballet dancers took part in the Disney Youth Performing Arts Parade at Disneyland in November. The ballet group performed on November 9, and the modern and tap group on November 23.

www.dmr-hk.com

DMA CHRISTMAS PARTY

Discovery Montessori Academy students and their families celebrated the festive season with a Christmas performance and bazaar on December 6. Fun games and activities for the whole family were on offer, plus festive food and drink, raffle prizes and a special visit from Santa.

www.montessori-ami.edu.hk

www.arounddb.com January 2020

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DB EVENTS

DB 10KM RUN FOR CHARITY

DBers covered 10 kilometres on December 7 to raise a whopping HK$107,205 for Banyan Service Association. The organisers banned the use of single-use cups (saving 1,000 cups), and introduced a reusable race shirt initiative, #the1shirt.

www.evoqueportraits.com

HEMINGWAY’S ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Hemingway’s celebrated its ‘lucky’ 13th anniversary on November 21, providing a two-hour open bar and live music.

www.colsimphotography.com

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January 2020 www.arounddb.com

EPICLAND CHRISTIAN ACTION PARTY

On December 11, EpicLand hosted a Christmas party for friends of Christian Action, a charity which benefits orphans, refugees and families from low-income areas in Hong Kong.

www.arounddb.com

PARKINSON’S CHARITY QUIZ

The charity quiz night at McSorley’s on November 29 saw HK$37,938 raised for Parkinson’s UK. Teams competed to win prizes donated by local businesses and members of the DB community.

Photos courtesy of Carol Keen

www.arounddb.com January 2020

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DB EVENTS

CAROLS ON THE PITCH

Discovery Bay International School held its annual Carols on the Pitch on December 12. In addition to the music, residents enjoyed hot chocolate, mulled wine, mince pies and a Christmas bazaar.

www.dbis.edu.hk

FUTURE STARS’ DANCE FOR CANCER FUND

Over 100 dancers from Future Stars Dance Academy participated in a Dance for Cancer dance-a-thon on December 1 at EpicLand. Participants danced to raise funds for Hong Kong Cancer Fund and to promote awareness of the charity’s mission to ensure that ‘no one faces cancer alone.’

Photos courtesy of Melissa Thornton

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January 2020 www.arounddb.com

DB EVENTS

DC FAMILY FUN DAY

Students, teachers, parents and friends got involved in another successful Family Fun Day at Discovery College on December 7.

www.depictionbysvetlana.com

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January 2020 www.arounddb.com

SPONSORED CONTENT

LOVED UP IN… DISCOVERY BAY! T

Photos courtesy of Hong Kong Resort

he cooler weather makes this the perfect time to spend crisp days and long nights cuddled up with someone special.

Whether it’s strolling along Love Lock Promenade, browsing the Discovery Bay Sunday Market, or enjoying a fairy-tale weekend getaway, Discovery Bay is the perfect place for couples to hang out. What’s more, the Romantic Rendezvous @ Discovery Bay decorations go up on January 7, giving everyone a chance to get a head start on that loved-up Valentine’s Day feeling.

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If it’s a romantic meal you’re after, the D’Deck and DB North restaurants have some of the best alfresco options in Hong Kong, combining gourmet international dining with panoramic 180° sea views. From January 1 to February 14, diners get a HK$100 dining voucher to be used for subsequent spending when they spend HK$880 or above in a single transaction at the designated

restaurants* and present the original same-day receipt at the Dine ‘N Ride Service Counter.

On January 12 and February 9, lovers can meet at the Discovery Bay Sunday Market in DB Plaza to browse over 100 booths, showcasing handmade items by local artists and indie-crafters. With so much to choose from, you are certain to find a very special gift for that very special person.

On February 8, 9 and 14, meanwhile, couples can redeem their own padlock to add on to Love Lock Promenade in DB North.

Simply like the Visit Discovery Bay Facebook page and the Valentine’s Day promotional post, leave a comment on the post and tag three friends. To redeem the complimentary love lock, present your Facebook post comment at the Love Lock Redemption Counter in DB North. Once you’ve written your names on the lock, you can lock it to the railings of the

January 2020 www.arounddb.com

promenade to symbolise your love and commitment to each other.

While in DB North, lovers can ride off into their own ‘happily ever after’ in a horse-drawn carriage, taking in the elegant European-style architecture lining the route and breath-taking views along the coast of Yi Pak Beach. You can pick up tickets for the classic horse-drawn carriage ride at the Activity Centre at Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong.

Valentine-themed rides are available from February 14 to 16, from 9.30am to 11.30am and 3pm to 6pm. Each ride costs HK$300 and lasts for about 10 minutes, with a maximum of four people per carriage.

But no Valentine’s Day in DB would be complete without the annual candlelight event on Tai Pak Beach.

Every year, the beach is lit up by thousands of candles arranged in heart-shaped displays, making it the ideal place for couples to exchange their vows and capture moments of love.

ACTIVITIES FOR SWEETHEARTS

AUBERGE SPECIALS

• January 7 to February 17: Delight in the Romantic Rendezvous @ Discovery Bay decorations in DB Plaza and DB North

• February 14 to 16. Priced from HK$2,688**, the Valentine’s Day Room Package at the Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong includes a one-night stay in a mountainview room for two, plus a breakfast buffet, Valentine’s Day Set Dinner and arts-and-crafts workshop. Couples also receive a complimentary heart-shaped lock souvenir

• January 12 and February 9, 11am to 6pm: Pick a heart-warming gift for your sweetheart at the Discovery Bay Sunday Market in DB Plaza • February 8, 9 and 14, 2.30pm to 10pm: Redeem a complimentary love lock to seal your love at DB North near the clock tower • February 14 to 16, 9.30am to 11.30am and 3pm to 6pm: Enjoy a romantic ride in a horse-drawn carriage at the Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong • February 14, 6pm to 11pm: Take a selfie beside the thousands of candles arranged in heart-shaped displays on Tai Pak Beach

• February 14. At HK$1,588** for two, the Valentine’s Day Set Dinner at Café bord de Mer & Lounge delivers a decadent selection of dishes, ranging from sea urchin and soft quail egg capellini pasta with caviar cream sauce, to grilled black angus filet mignon with sesame sauce and red wine foam. Diners are also entitled to a photo session beside the hotel’s European-style horse-drawn carriage at the White Chapel. Pay in full before January 31 to receive a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine • Valentine’s Day Giveaway: The first 100 couples who book a Valentine’s getaway or set dinner will receive a HK$1,000 I-Primo cash voucher and a Pevonia Travel Kit

*The designated restaurants are: 22º North, Three Sheets Marquee Bar, Coyote Mexican Cantina, Ebeneezer’s, Figos, First Korean Restaurant, Hemingway’s, Il Bel Paese, Koh Tomyums, McSorley’s Ale House, Pascucci Italian Caffe & Fine Food, PizzaExpress, Shanghai Breeze, Solera, Zak’s, Cali-Mex, Mirch Masala, MooFish, TigerLily, Peony Chinese Restaurant and D’Café at Discovery Bay Recreation Club and Café bord de Mer & Lounge at Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong ** Terms and conditions apply; all prices are subject to 10% service charge

www.arounddb.com January 2020

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DB EVENTS

YOUR GUIDE

E H T TO

L A I T N E S UPCOMING S E COMMUNITY EVENTS

ISLAND DANCERS ON STAGE

DBIS PTSA FLOWER MARKET

Central Harbourfront Event Space, Central

Discovery Bay International School

January 11

January 17

unsplash.com

Catch DB performers from Island Dance on the community stage at the AIA Great European Carnival, from 3pm to 4pm. Visit www.islanddance.com.hk.

Join the Discovery Bay International School community at their annual Chinese New Year Flower Market from 7.30am to 8.45am at the front entrance of the main campus. In addition to the flower stalls, you can expect Chinese drumming performances, lion dancing and calligraphy demonstrations. For more information, email ptsa@dbis.edu.hk.

LES BIRD BOOK SIGNING

DMK OPEN DAY

Bookazine, DB Plaza

Coastline Villa, Peninsula Village

www.islanddance.com.hk

January 11

January 18

www.arounddb.com

Join Bookazine bestselling author Les Bird as he hosts a book signing of his memoir, A Small Band of Men: An Englishman’s Adventures in Hong Kong’s Marine Police. The book is packed with gripping stories and spans 20+ years from 1976 to 1997. To RSVP, email enquiries@bookazine.com.hk, for more on Les, turn to page 26.

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January 2020 www.arounddb.com

www.discoverymind.edu.hk

Discovery Mind Kindergarten is holding an open day from 10am to 12pm. Head along to the playcentre and kindergarten for a chance to meet the staff and learn about the curriculum and campus life. To know more, visit www.discoverymind.edu.hk.

ALL-GIRLS BEACH FESTIVAL

AUSPICIOUS CNY BUFFET

Tai Pak Wan

Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong

January 18-19

January 24-28

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Enjoy a weekend-long celebration of girl power at the DB Pirates International All-Girls Beach Festival, with rugby and netball matches, and a dragon-boat showcase. Minis rugby and youth netball matches are played on the Saturday; youth and ladies’ rugby and ladies’ netball matches on the Sunday.

To register, email beachfest@dbpirates.com; to know more, visit dbpirates.com.

KUNG HEI FAT CHOI! Across DB

www.aubergediscoverybay.com

Café bord de Mer & Lounge’s Prosperous Buffet features a selection of festive dishes signifying good fortune, as well as the must-have Chinese New Year Fortune Pot. The lunch buffet is available from January 25 to 28, the dinner buffet from January 24 to 28. Call 2295 8299 to make a booking.

HAVE YOUR PRELOV

ED your home on January 2, 7, 9, 14,ITEMS COLLECTED at 16 and 21 from 2pm to 4pm.

WhatsApp Nikki Boot at 9677 667 6.

STOCK UP AT THE PLAN

January 26

Court on January 4 from 2pm to T MARKET across from Haven 4.45pm. Call 2238 3617.

ADOPT A PET through Hong Ko ng Paws Foundation (PAWS) in DB Plaza on January 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 2pm to 6pm. Call Kat Cheung on 9485 5188.

BUY

LIGHTLY USED GO DB Plaza on January 5 from 12pODS at the DB Flea Market in m to 5pm. Call 2238 3617.

ENJOY FREE

YOGA FOR DB North Plaza on January 5, 12,HELPERS classes at Yoga Bay, 19 and 26 from 7am to 8am.

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

JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP with Plastic Free Seas from 2pm at Sam Pak Wan on January 11 to 4pm. Visit plasticfreeseas.org.

SHOP THE DISCOVERY

in DB Plaza on January 12 from BAY SUNDAY MARKET 11am to 6pm. Visit www.handmadehongkong.com .

BRING YOUR DRINK CART

www.evoqueportraits.com

DBers are invited to celebrate the second day of Lunar New Year by watching the traditional lion dances at the entrances of Discovery Bay Recreation Club and Club Siena. For more information, visit www.dbrc.hk. For more CNY celebrations and customs, turn to page 38.

(food containers, packaging and ONS AND POLYSTYRENE fruit nets) to be collected for recycling at the waterfront side of Hemingway’s on January 19 from 9am to 11am. Visit the DB Gre en Facebook page.

HELP

YOUR HELPER! Enrich HK works hops equip helpers with the tools to save, budget and plan for a future with greate r financial security. Visit www.enric hhk.org. www.arounddb.com January 2020

17

DB EVENTS

COMPETITION

NEW in DB

CNY DRAWING COMPETITION

HSBC EXPAT

Deadline: January 22

www.expat.hsbc.com

www.clipartwiki.com

Calling all students at DB primary schools! Here’s your chance to put pen (or brush) to paper to celebrate the Chinese New Year with your art. Students should submit their designs (2020 is the Year of the Rat) to their schools on A3-sized paper (with their name, school name, class and email on the back). To find out more, turn to page 22 or visit www.arounddb.com.

Whether you’re about to move, are already enjoying life overseas or have financial interests internationally, HSBC Expat can help you manage your money and plan for your future. By opening an account, you enable a valuable and consistent connection between your life abroad and your finances elsewhere in the world. To learn more, call HSBC in DB North Plaza (2822 3225) to arrange an appointment with a member of the HSBC Expat team, or visit www.expat.hsbc.com.

CONGRATULATIONS DBIS SECONDARY STUDENTS

HEDGE FUND FIGHT NITE WINNERS

MORAN ZUKERMAN

Photo courtesy of Devi Kumar

www.dbis.edu.hk

Secondary students at Discovery Bay International School raised HK$12,380 for Plastic Free Seas and ImpactHK at a Pre-loved Christmas Gift Sale on December 5 and 6.

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Sam Luck took home the Best Fighter award at the annual white-collar boxing Hedge Fund Fight Nite on November 28 at the Conrad Hong Kong, while fellow DBer Stephen Aldred was named runner-up. The event included seven boxing bouts and a silent auction to support Operation Smile.

January 2020 www.arounddb.com

hkrun.com

Moran Zukerman, DB resident and president of the DB Rotary Club, raised HK$16,968 for ImpactHK by competing in The North Face 100, December 14 to 15 in Tai Mei Tuk. This was Moran’s first 100-kilometre ultra-trail challenge.

DB EVENTS

FOR A GOOD CAUSE THE AMBER FOUNDATION

CHRISTMAS TREE COMPOSTING

stock.adobe.com

Instead of trashing all the airline and hotel travel-and-toiletry kits you picked up over the holidays, donate them to the Amber Foundation by dropping them off at Bookazine in DB Plaza. The foundation collects and repurposes these kits for distribution amongst the homeless, women in shelters, refugees and the elderly in Hong Kong. To find out more, visit The Amber Foundation Facebook page.

PLEASE BE YOU KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN

unsplash.com

Packing up Christmas decorations?

Contact Winson Cleaning Services to have your live Christmas tree collected for a small fee. City Management will have the trunks either recycled into decorative items (like the wooden stools already appearing at DB bus stops) or processed into wood chips. For more information, call Winson Cleaning Services at 3176 3188.

Photo courtesy of Joanne Hay

Help raise funds for DB resident Joanne Hay’s children’s book, Please Be You, which shares important values and concepts of self-love for kids aged three to eight years old. Joanne’s empowering little ABC book is designed to foster selfesteem and resilience in kids. To find out more, visit the Please Be You fundraising campaign on www.kickstarter.com.

LANTAU HIGHLIGHTS SPCA DOGATHON

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort January 5

NGONG PING CHARITY WALK

Start: Citygate Outlets, Tung Chung January 12

ENDURO FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE Start: Tong Fuk Wan

January 12

unsplash.com dogathon.spca.org.hk

Help raise funds to support animal rescue, homing services and de-sexing programmes by joining the 34th annual SPCA Dogathon from 8.30am to 3pm.

The theme for the 2020 event is 12 Zodiac Animals Walk Together, and everyone is welcome. For more information, visit dogathon.spca.org.hk.

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www.npcw.org.hk

Enjoy Lantau’s beautiful scenery and raise funds for Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association at the 14th Ngong Ping Charity Walk. Participants can choose between 10-kilometre, 20-kilometre and 32-kilometre routes. For more information, visit www.npcw.org.hk.

January 2020 www.arounddb.com

At Kitesurf for a Cleaner Ocean’s Enduro Fundraising Challenge, kitesurfers are challenged to complete as many laps of the 5-kilometre course as they can within a six-hour period.

The more laps you complete, the more money you raise for Ocean Recovery Alliance. To get involved, visit www.foracleanerocean.com.

The Colours of Chinese New Year

C N Y 2020 Draw i ng Compet it ion C alling all students at DB primary schools!

Illustration by Terry Chow

Here’s your chance to put pen (or brush) to paper to celebrate the Chinese New Year with your art.

From delicious food to traditional clothing and fantastic fireworks, CNY is a truly vibrant festival, and the theme for this year’s competition is The Colours of Chinese New Year. You can focus on whatever aspect of the festivities you like – just be sure to include at least one rat (2020 is the Year of the Rat) in the fun.

Students should submit their designs on A3-sized paper (with name, school name, class and email on the back) to their schools

by January 22. So come on kids, get your creative caps on and start planning your perfect CNY-themed picture! For more information, visit www.arounddb.com.

KEY DATES Jan 22: Submission deadline Feb 14: Schools provide the shortlist of finalists Mar 5-13: Online voting on the Around DB Facebook page Mar 16: Results posted on the Around DB Facebook page and website Prize winners’ pictures published in the April edition of Around DB Apr 1:

PRIZES! Winner:

HK$2,500 in vouchers

1st Runner-Up: HK$1,500 in vouchers 2nd Runner-Up: HK$800 in vouchers

Merit:

3 x HK$400 vouchers

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

HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES!

GIVEAWAYS

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

Win VVIP tickets to The Great Circus of Europe The Great Circus of Europe is offering four readers three VVIP tickets each (worth HK$1,650 each) to see the circus at Central Harbourfront Event Space, Central any time before it leaves town on February 16.

tgec.asia

The Great Circus of Europe is back in Hong Kong through February 16, with a new series of unbelievable acts. Fancy some heart-pounding performances mixed with a touch of humour and laughter? What about five motorbikes going full speed in perfect sequence in a metal globe? For event information, and tickets, starting at HK$200, visit tgec.asia.

Win tickets to the finale of Beare’s Premiere Music Festival Premiere Performances is offering two readers two tickets each (worth HK$960 per pair) for the finale of Beare’s Premiere Music Festival: The Original Mendelssohn Octet on January 16 at Hong Kong City Hall at 7.30pm. The Borromeo Quartet is performing the octet alongside other festival musicians.

www.pphk.org

From January 8 to 16, Beare’s Premiere Music Festival (previously the Hong Kong International Chamber Music Festival) is hosting 35 internationally acclaimed musicians for six ticketed concerts and 10 free events. For tickets, starting at HK$100, visit www.pphk.org.

Win a Sparkling Water Machine from SodaMagic SodaMagic is offering three readers a Bubble, Maxi or Smart Sparkling Water Machine (worth HK$980, HK$1,280 and HK$1,480 respectively).

www.sodamagic.hk

SodaMagic offers carbonation systems that transform tap water into sparkling water in the comfort of your home and office. Aiming to help customers save 80% of costs and reduce plastic waste, CO2 refills are available across Hong Kong. Free delivery services are available for orders over HK$600. For more information, visit www.sodamagic.hk.

Congratulations to last month’s winners William Sage and Alice Chuck for a place on a Faust CNY programme; Jon Boag for tickets to see The Snowman & the Bear; Sonia Kashyap and Becky Edwards for tickets to see Sleeping Beauty – The Panto; and Paula Fletcher and Mark White for soy-wax candles from Red Velvet Designs

PROFILE

Photo by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

Bird’s Eye 26

View

Former Marine Police commander turned bestselling memoirist Les Bird reflects on Hong Kong’s unique history from a unique perspective.

Elizabeth Kerr reports January 2020 www.arounddb.com

A

t one time in his youth, in the hirsute 1970s, Les Bird sported a truly righteous moustache that later earned him the nickname Magnum, after actor Tom Selleck and his legendary whiskers. “I’ve tried to destroy all evidence of that,” Les chuckles, something he does often, over coffee in ifc.

It’s the week after Hong Kong’s local elections, and there’s a bit of a spring in everyone’s step, yet another shift in the city DBer Les has called home for over 40 years, half that time in the currently contentious police department.

Now he’s reinventing himself as the Bookazine bestselling author of a memoir, A Small Band of Men: An Englishman’s Adventures in Hong Kong’s Marine Police, about his stint in the force from 1976 to 1997.

The book may not be the ‘gungho guns and action’ thriller people expect, but it is a vivid snapshot of a specific time and place, and an often funny recollection of a niche workplace. It also sounds like a great Netflix mini-series, as long as you cast the right Les. “The young me? Well he’s got to be tall and good-looking,” he says with a guffaw. “But really I only know old actors.”

Portrait of an era The Staffordshire, England native began his circuitous journey to Hong Kong after secondary school. The scion of a Royal Navy family, the military was an option until he realised the chances of actually getting on a boat were slim. It was the 1970s in the UK, and as Les succinctly puts it, Britain was in a terrible state.

“For young people there was no foothold. There was a miners’ strike, it was a three-day workweek, nothing was working, the IRA had just started its bombing campaign.

It was really depressing, so I took off for Australia,” he says.

That led him to a tour of Africa before returning to England, to his father’s bafflement. Needing a vocation, Les responded to a newspaper ad for a civil service job in the Far East. It would put him near the water and in the sun, both pluses, and in a matter of weeks he was in Hong Kong. It was 1976.

Things were pretty unruly at the time: Peter Godber had just gone to prison, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was trying to justify its creation, and the force badly needed new blood. Not everyone got through training but those who did got to choose their department.

Les went straight to the Marine Police, where Search and Rescue was a big part of the job. The end of the war in Vietnam brought refugees to Hong Kong, a port of first asylum. Tired of the expense and the ‘bad’ optics, many Southeast Asian countries were turning away sinking refugee boats.

(How little things have changed.)

“In some ways it was social work.

It was looking after people. It was never a chore. It was the right thing to do, and to be part of that was a very proud moment,” explains Les of the unit’s day-to-day tasks. The humanitarian aspect is easy to forget, especially at a time when policing everywhere is coming under fire. “My guys, the constables who worked for me, never hesitated to just give up whatever they had to help – and these were guys living in pokey apartments on very small salaries,” he says. Was there ever a time when he didn’t want to do the job? No. “Because if I don’t, who’s going to?”

Wild Times in Tai O Admittedly the gig had plenty of upsides. Early on, Les was put in charge of western Lantau, stationed at Tai O and living in what’s now the Tai O Heritage Hotel. Les’ quarters, the entire top

floor of the police station, could only be dreamed of by others in the force: three bedrooms, a dining room and Officers’ Mess.

His fabulous view was across the Pearl River Estuary to the South China Sea beyond. And he was paid to live there.

“We really were out in the sticks.

There was a dirt track to Mui Wo and an overgrown footpath to Tung Chung, which back then was a small fishing village,” Les recalls. And being so remote, there were some pretty crazy miscommunications with headquarters in Central. “It was all a bit Blackadder in the trenches in World War 1.”

Rifling through indelible memories of his time as Tai O’s Marine Police inspector, Les picks out the phone that didn’t work when it rained, being stranded (with his dog) on the rope ferry and having to be rescued by local fishermen, and good old-fashioned debates in the Officers’ Mess, where after a pint or two low-ranking officers would let fly with criticisms of their superiors.

Destined for Netflix?

It was reflecting on and sharing some of these stories as chair of the Rhinos Rugby Football Club that finally led Les to A Small Band of Men. “I’d been writing for the club newsletter for a long, long time, and some of the stuff was getting out of hand – longer and longer,” he explains. “People were commenting that I was able to really capture moments, and that it was funny, then I started exchanging old marine stories.”

The idea for a book blossomed when Les and his wife, a vice president with Adidas Asia-Pacific, moved to Discovery Bay four years ago. The move was his wife’s idea. “She likes the lifestyle; the commute to Central is easy,” Les says. “I like the open air and our  flat overlooks the ocean. Coming

www.arounddb.com January 2020

27

PROFILE from the most landlocked part of England made me appreciate the sea, which I didn’t see until I was six or seven years old.”

Creating the book entailed three years of research, travelling to meet old friends and colleagues, editing down 120,000 words, and having 21 submissions to publishers met with mostly silence. “One of the goals of writing was to see if I could write a decent book, but there was no way I was going to self-publish,” Les says. Two publishers finally bit, an impressive feat for a first-timer.

“Two! I got two!” Les chuckles. He went with Earnshaw Books, who published A Small Band of Men in November, 2019.

After the final edit, A Small Band of Men emerged as a portrait of an era, specifically the last two decades of British colonial rule

and the changing dynamic within Hong Kong and its people. What Les experienced was a freefor-all defined by trepidation, as smugglers were plying the waters to China in greater numbers.

“Put it all together and it’s an interesting tale,” Les says.

“Running through all of it was a thread about the relationship between the locals and expats I lived and worked with, knowing that 1997 was coming.”

The book is populated with colourful characters – only Les is identified by name – and he’s not ruling out another one. Les’ adventures could

easily lend themselves to fiction, perhaps pivoting on early breakout character Don Bishop, as “thick as he is wide, and wide as he is tall,” who all but screams Tom Hardy.

For the immediate future, Les is basking in his success, and getting ready to welcome both grown-up daughters back from London for Christmas. Maybe they can help with ideas for that Netflix series. The Full Monty’s Tom Wilkinson could bookend the story as the older Les, and for the young version, my money’s on Nocturnal Animals’ Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

After all, he too has been known to sport a righteous ’stache.

You can meet the author at a book signing at Bookazine in DB Plaza on January 11, from 5pm to 6pm. Les will be laying on some wine at the event. A Small Band of Men: An Englishman’s Adventures in Hong Kong’s Marine Police is available at all branches of Bookazine, Kelly & Walsh and Swindon.

Find more local heroes @ www.arounddb.com

IN FOCUS

Waste not, want not

It’s clear that we want to reduce our impact on the environment, but are we doing enough, and are we doing it properly?

Ray Robertson reveals exactly how and where to recycle in DB

Separation bins throughout DB (paper, metal, plastic and glass)

Waste transfer station near the Mui Wo ferry pier (large electrical appliances, CDs and DVDs)

Unbagged food bins at participating villages

Photos by Tim Draper, Sophie Bonner-Rocher & Alexander Grasic

(food)

30

R

efuse! Reduce! Reuse!

Recycle!

This has to be our mantra for 2020. We all need to use less, re-use what we can and, most importantly perhaps, treat our waste like the waste industry sees it – as a resource. Drink cartons are being converted into paper pulp, glass into eco-bricks, plastic bottles into clothing… the type of waste that can be recycled is rapidly expanding. So, now’s the time for all of us to recommit to recycling.

By expanding our existing recycling

regimes, we can ensure more of our waste stays out of landfill and gets a new lease of life.

“Most DBers separate their waste for recycling, and it’s so important to do it and to do it properly,” opens Dana Winograd of DB Green and Plastic Free Seas.

“Everyone needs to understand the ins and outs of what can go into the separation bins and what can’t. And they also need to know how easy it would be for them to recycle more items.”

January 2020 www.arounddb.com

Where to recycle It goes without saying that there are separation bins for paper, metal, plastic and glass at each village (as well as some bus stops and both plazas). But there are many more recycling options in DB. You can take large electrical appliances to the waste transfer station near the Mui Wo ferry pier. Alternatively, you can contact either Winson Cleaning Services or Alba Integrated

containers, fruit nets and product packaging, also need to be clean, with no food residue.”

Winson Cleaning Services

Collections are held by DB Green representatives each month at the waterfront side of Hemingway’s.

The next collection drive is on January 19, from 9am to 11am. The polyfoam is recycled through the government-funded Missing Link – Polyfoam Recycling Scheme.

The drink cartons are picked up in DB by Mil Mill, a Yuen Long-based pulp mill and education centre supported by Recycling Fund. Mil Mill is able to process 10 tonnes of beverage cartons daily, and convert them into paper pulp.

(large electrical appliances)

Alba Integrated Waste Solutions (large electrical appliances)

Village Management Offices

“The schools are getting on board now too, which is great,” Dana adds. “Discovery Bay International School, Discovery College, Bayview House of Children and S.K.H. Wei Lun Primary School are all encouraging their families to save their clean liquid cartons and bring them into school once a month for recycling.”

(If you want to get your school involved, you can email Dana at dana@plasticfreeseas.org.)

(small electrical items, rechargeable batteries, fluorescent tubes and energy-saving lightbulbs)

DB Green

(polyfoam and drink cartons)

Waste Solutions to arrange for collection. Alba processes TVs, computers (including monitors, printers and scanners), refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machines to create secondary raw materials.

You can drop off CDs and DVDs for recycling at the waste transfer station near the Mui Wo ferry pier.

Other household items that can be saved from landfill include small electrical items (WEEE),

rechargeable batteries, energysaving lightbulbs and fluorescent tubes, all of which you can hand in at your village management office.

Importantly too, DB Green is now collecting polyfoam and liquid cartons for recycling. “In order to be recycled, all cartons need to be cut open and washed with the plastic spout and lid removed, and they should be dried, flattened and sorted by type (white-back and silver-back),” says Dana.

“Polyfoam items, including food

Another endeavour that’s helping to reduce waste at source is the food collection scheme running in some DB villages. Residents participating in the scheme are encouraged to place loose/ unbagged food in the food bin at their village. The waste is collected

by Winson, composted and used as fertiliser in local landscaping.

What to recycle It’s time now to take a fresh look at the way we recycle on a daily basis, to ensure that we are separating our waste effectively. “It’s important to know what can and cannot be put into the recycling bins and to put things in the correct bin,” says Dana. “It’s important that they are clean, too. Also, don’t bag your recyclables before putting them in  the bins – put them in loose.”

www.arounddb.com January 2020

31

IN FOCUS

Arul Muralikrishna and Béatrice De Magistris collecting liquid cartons and polyfoam at a DB Green recycling drive

When it comes to paper, it should be free of paint and oil, and not plastic coated – so no take-out coffee cups. Plastic windows should be removed from envelopes, and be aware that laminated paper, such as some brochure and magazine covers, is non-recyclable. Cardboard boxes should be flattened and left next to a paper separation bin.

Most glassware can be recycled, and you can leave the labels on your bottles. Some of the glass collected is processed at the Green.Icon@DB eco centre near Parkridge Village and reused as a construction material. The rest is picked up by Baguio Waste Management & Recycling, an external company, that handles a large proportion of Hong Kong’s waste. Note that mirrors, regular light bulbs, crystal glassware, glass cookware and tempered windows cannot be recycled.

Film plastics, like bags and soft-food packaging, are more challenging materials to handle compared to hard plastics, such as bottles. While there is a higher

Discovery Bay International School secondary students manning a liquid carton collection

chance that these materials don’t end up getting recycled – for a variety of reasons, including contamination, high cost of sorting and lower resale value – it is possible, so put them in the plastic separation bin.

Items that cannot be recycled and therefore should not be placed in separation bins include crisp packets, candy wrappers, toothpaste tubes, disposable coffee cup lids, lids from glass jars, and anything contaminated by food. And when it comes to plastic, be sure to check the number in the chasing arrows triangle. A 1, 2, 4 or 5 applies for recycling in DB (though not necessarily elsewhere). If it’s a 3 or 7, unfortunately it’s destined for landfill, as are most 6s.

It’s no secret that Hong Kong’s landfill sites are full to bursting with rubbish, and one of the ways the government hopes to tackle the issue is by promoting recycling through the Municipal Solid Waste Scheme. “Under the scheme, which has yet to be passed through legislation, all nonrecyclable waste would be placed in designated garbage bags, and households would be charged based on how much they send to landfill,” Dana explains.

It’s not clear yet how the charges would be implemented in DB, however Dana hopes that residents would be charged by volume in order to incentivise them to practise waste management at source, the idea being that the less you pollute, the less you pay.

FIND IT • Alba Integrated Waste Solutions, www.weee.com.hk • Baguio Waste Management & Recycling, www.baguio.com.hk • DB Green Facebook page • Plastic Free Seas, plasticfreeseas.org • Winson Cleaning Services, 3176 3188

Find more topical local topics @ www.arounddb.com

32

January 2020 www.arounddb.com

Q&A

DEAR AUDE AND BRUCE Can you help? I need to feel desirable again!

I’ve been happily married to my wonderful husband for eight years but since the birth of our child (four years ago) things have been going downhill. Our marriage has become more distant. I feel that I’m taken for granted. Intimacy and communication are both really struggling. I don’t feel like a woman anymore, instead I’m now just ‘mum.’ Can you help me get back to my old self and reignite the spark that used to be there? TROUBLED DB MUM

AUDE: I hear your pain in not feeling like a woman anymore. It is always painful when we feel we’ve lost a part of ourselves and our relationship. Addressing it is the first step towards getting things back on track, even if it doesn’t seem that way at the moment.

Photo by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoque.portraits.com

BRUCE: Indeed, the first step is always the biggest – identifying that there is a problem and finding a way to voice that problem. Many people continue on as if all is well and let these issues persist in the background, so well done for raising yours.

AUDE: Your reaching out is actually showing that you are still in love and that your relationship matters. Like Bruce said, most people don’t talk about things like this, but what you are going through is what most couples in your situation go through. We were raised with a fairy-tale ideal about our futures; the princess marries the prince and they live happily ever after.

Reality, obviously, is far from this. When a child is born, even though it is a blessing, it’s a lot to handle.

Our role as individuals changes completely. We are not only lovers, focused on each other, now we are also partners, raising another human being. With all of this comes lack of sleep, exhaustion, emotional ups and downs, stress, responsibility…. and this is all on top of our already busy lives.

BRUCE: When I work with couples this issue comes up all the time. Let me address the male perspective here. It’s a conversation that the man’s role as a lover to his partner has now been superseded by the arrival of the child. He may be feeling left out, or even jealous of the attention that the child is

Aude Garderet and Bruce Taylor of A and B Therapy

www.arounddb.com January 2020

35

Q&A receiving. His connection to his partner has been challenged, in fact he may feel, or indeed see, that there is little to no space for that connection.

AUDE: Once a woman gives birth, she will have a period of emotional ups and downs, and weeks (perhaps even months) of low libido. There is a biological reason for this – the low libido is a survival mechanism, so that she can dedicate all of her focus on the survival of the new child. A new mum will also have to grow a new confidence – she may feel insecure about the changes in her body post birth, and she may be fearful about experiencing pain when having sex. All this takes time. The man, meanwhile, may feel jealous of the bond between his wife and baby, and he may feel rejected because his wife has less or no desire for intimacy.

It’s important to stay in constant communication – allow this time to exist and trust that it’s just a phase that everyone goes through.

BRUCE: Without conversation, without open lines of communication through which both parties can discuss how they feel, the results are pretty much set in stone. The initial lack of intimacy becomes entrenched, the man feels further marginalised from his ‘male past’ and trapped in his ‘fatherly future,’ and his partner feels the same way.

This gap will continue to widen if it is not bridged with effective, direct and compassionate discussions that nurture both parties. The good news here is that once this phase is over, it’s time to step back into your role. At this point, it is critical for the man to reclaim his position as the husband and lover, not just the father. He needs to step up and cut the cord between mother and child. Notice that the man is helping to cut the cords of co-dependency, thus allowing the child to begin to open up to the world.

Here’s a super effective communication tool for you to try: Always talk about yourself, your needs and desires, by using ‘I.’ For instance, “I need to feel like a woman again. I would be so happy to have a date night once a week.”

What you don’t want to say is: “You don’t make me feel like a desirable woman anymore, we never do anything together.”

AUDE: Your child is now four years old and it’s time for you to start reclaiming your identity. I would suggest that you start by talking with your husband about your feelings and desires. Tell him what you lack, need and miss, but be careful not to blame him for anything here – there is no finger pointing. This is about your needs, and about creating a dialogue which will, of course, then allow him to open up about his needs as well.

Here’s a super effective communication tool for you to try: Always talk about yourself, your needs and desires, by using ‘I.’ For instance, “I need to feel like a woman again. I would be so happy

to have a date night once a week.”

What you don’t want to say is: “You don’t make me feel like a desirable woman anymore, we never do anything together.”

BRUCE: Absolutely. You want to ensure that your partner receives these opening statements and that he is able to communicate in equally personal terms. This is all about finding common ground to walk back towards each other.

AUDE: And make sure that you are talking about this at the right time, definitely not while you are feeding the baby! Make sure it is a time for just the two of you, no distractions.

BRUCE: Body language is so important here. Lie or sit together chest to chest, heart to heart, and look into each other’s eyes. Communicate in a space of openness and freedom; be intimate, be exposed.

AUDE: You will both need to be ready to open your hearts and be courageous in order to address your pain. What you are going through is normal (I can’t stress this enough) and the good news is that you can address this together, just the two of you, as long as you are open and honest. Communication is key to relationships. Explain how you feel in detail. Never assume your partner knows what you are thinking, even after years of being together. It is your responsibility to explain how you feel. Couples all go through the same struggle. You are not alone... the question is are you going to do the work to put things right?

FIND IT Aude Garderet is a Practitioner of Psychotherapy and Bruce Taylor is a Reiki Master Healer, both are DB residents. You can contact them at A and B Therapy, aandbtherapy@gmail.com, www.aandbtherapy.com.

For more on Aude, visit www.brieftherapyhk.com; for more on Bruce, visit www.brucechi.org.

Find more from Aude and Bruce @ www.arounddb.com

36

January 2020 www.arounddb.com

A year of artistic creativity and a chance to dance That’s 2020 at DMR Shop 112 DB Plaza, Discovery Bay

2987 4338

info@dmr-hk.com | www.dmr-hk.com

EDUCATION

CELEBRATE

CNY!

Family gatherings! Fireworks! Zodiac animals! There’s a lot to love about Chinese New Year. Samantha Wong outlines everything kids need to know about it

F

Illustration by Terry Chow

irst up, a few facts. Based on the lunar, rather than the Gregorian calendar, Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the new moon, which falls any time between January 21 and February 20 each year. While the lunar calendar is based upon the monthly cycles of the Moon’s phases, the Gregorian calendar is determined by the Earth’s revolution around the Sun. The lunar calendar is about one month behind the Gregorian calendar (which starts on January 1) because it has between 30 and 50 more days per year. This year, January 25 is the first day of the Lunar New Year.

38

Also known as the Spring Festival, this celebration dates back thousands of years and it’s an important public holiday in many countries including China, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan.

Chinese communities all over the globe celebrate CNY in their city’s Chinatown districts. And it’s a major holiday (January 25 to 28) here in Hong Kong. During the festivities, ancestors are honoured and traditional ceremonies are held where people get together and

welcome the new year with customs that are believed to bring good fortune, prosperity and happiness.

What’s with the animals?

The Chinese zodiac calendar has a cycle of 12 years, and each year has a Chinese zodiac animal as its symbol. The 12 Chinese zodiac animals are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. 2020 ushers in the Year of the Rat. The animals always come in the same order, so 2019 was the Year of the Pig, 2020 is the Year of the Rat and 2021 will be the Year of the Ox. The last Rat years were 2008 and 1996.

An ancient folk story explains how these animals made the final cut to be immortalised in the zodiac – the Jade Emperor called a race, decreeing that the first 12 animals to swim across a fast-flowing river would each have a year named in their honour. Thirteen animals lined up on the riverbank; however, the poor cat was pushed into the water by the rat, and was excluded from the final line-up. The rat reached the opposite bank first, by riding on the ox’s back, which is why he

January 2020 www.arounddb.com

is the first of the 12-year cycle of animals in the Chinese zodiac.

To complicate things a little bit, the Chinese zodiac animals are combined with the five elements (metal, earth, fire, wood and water) over a 48-year cycle. 2020 is a Metal Rat Year, 2008 was an Earth Rat Year, 1996 a Fire Rat Year, 1984 a Wood Rat Year and 1972 a Water Rat Year.

Just as people take on the characteristics of their Chinese zodiac animals, so do the years named after them. What then can we expect of 2020, the Year of the Rat? Importantly, it’s going to be a time of new beginnings (remember the rat ranks first among the Chinese zodiac animals). The Rat promises to deliver more prosperity, better luck and plenty of change.

Why all the flowers and food?

CNY festivities are always marked by floral decoration, with a variety of auspicious plants on sale to usher in prosperity for the new lunar year.

Miniature kumquat trees are popular – the fruit’s orange/ golden colour is a symbol of money, while pomelos, often seen in pairs, are said to signify family unity.

You’ll also see orchids galore – these delicate blooms are symbolic of both fertility and luxury, so they are always popular during the Spring Festival.

It’s traditional to fill the home with flowering plants – which symbolise growth and new beginnings – and to give them as gifts. Live potted plants are preferable to fresh cut flowers but if any flower blooms in your home on Lunar New Year’s Day, you can expect to prosper in the months ahead.

People are assigned a Chinese zodiac sign according to the year of their birth, and they are thought to display certain characteristics unique to their zodiac animal. For example, Tigers are thought to be great leaders and Goats are creative, while 2019’s ‘mischief’ of Rats are said to be quickwitted, wily and resourceful.

Prince Harry, Eminem and Katy Perry are all Rats.

We also eat ‘auspicious food’ during the new year period. For many, this means fish dishes.

A fish is a symbol of good luck, wealth and a healthy life. Long noodles are also popular because they symbolise both good fortune and long life.

When celebrating at home, it’s customary to set out bowls of oranges (for good health and long life), tangerines (for fruitful, lasting relationships) and persimmons (for happiness and wealth). We also

offer guests eight varieties of dried fruit (or sweets) to ensure they start CNY sweetly.

How about lai see?

Throughout CNY, we wish each other good luck, happiness and wealth. We say Gong Hey Fat Choy (pronounced Gong-hee-faat-choy) in Cantonese, and Gong Xi Fa Cai (pronounced Gong-she-faa-tsai) in Mandarin. Both are wishes for a prosperous New Year.

To get the Lunar New Year off to the right start, we give each other lai see, those little red packets stuffed with a crisp dollar note. When giving lai see, the first thing to bear in mind is that it’s not a tip or a yearend bonus. It’s a blessing, a wish of good luck for everything to go smoothly in someone’s life and for their work to be profitable. There’s an order to lai see-giving too: older to younger, married to nonmarried, and between people of the same generation. Importantly, children should not give lai see – it would be considered insulting – kids receive only.

The amount of money that goes into each lai see packet varies.

Here are some ballpark figures. As a simple gesture of appreciation, HK$20 will do. For young kids, HK$10 is acceptable. For older kids and young adults, it’s HK$20 to HK$50. For helpers, at least HK$500. Bosses, married couples and older relatives tend to give higher amounts.

The Spring Festival festivities last over a fortnight in most countries.

The new year period is celebrated with dragon dances, lion dances, gift exchanging and fireworks.

It typically ends, with lantern festivals, on the 15th day. Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous Year of the Rat!

www.arounddb.com January 2020

39

EDUCATION

Things to do (and avoid doing) on

Lunar New Year’s Day

E

verything that happens on Lunar New Year’s Day (January 25) impacts on the year ahead, so be careful with your words, your deeds, what you eat and whom you greet. The first interaction you have sets the tone for your relationships throughout the coming year, so make sure it’s a positive one.

Photo courtesy of www.wikimedia.org

What you experience on January 25 will keep recurring over the next 12 months. Fill your day with love and laughter – don’t cry, and don’t lend or borrow money. Greet your relatives, neighbours and friends and wish them well.

40

If you meditate, use the time to say goodbye to things that no longer serve you, and give thanks for everything that’s good in your life. Burn a little sage to free your home of negative energy, and pay your respects to your ancestors.

Traditions to keep CNY is a public holiday for a reason – it’s considered unlucky to work at this time, particularly on Lunar New Year’s Day itself. So, the trick is not to do too much. You clearly won’t be heading to the office and neither should you take the opportunity to catch up on work around the house. Don’t cook (using knives or scissors cuts your luck), don’t clean (lest you sweep your luck away), and don’t do laundry or wash your hair (this will wash away your luck).

CNY is a celebration of change.

It’s important to speak positively about the coming year, and avoid talking about the year gone by, or things in the past. Wear new clothes, remembering that red is the colour of joy and happiness. Avoid wearing white or black, as these are the colours of mourning. Avoid all mention of death – don’t say 四 (the number four in Chinese) because it sounds like 死亡 (the Chinese word for death), and don’t tell ghost stories.

What’s important is that you get together with family and friends for a celebratory preprepared meal (remember no cooking) to welcome in a new, prosperous year. But if you want to get out and about, head to the carnival in Tsim Sha Tsui to watch the traditional dragon and lion dances.

Another popular Spring Festival ritual, and one that kids will love, is an excursion to Lam Tsuen and its famous wishing trees. This Tai Po village is home to two ancient trees that were traditionally visited during CNY, when people would throw joss paper into the branches and make their wishes for the upcoming year. It was thought that the higher the branch your paper landed on, the more likely it was that your wish would come true. These days, in order to protect the trees, you attach your paper to nearby racks, but the wishes remain just as strong.

Gong Hey Fat Choy!

Find more on education @ www.arounddb.com January 2020 www.arounddb.com

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

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

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

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

Family law expertise across Hong Kong and Australia Angie Todd is a family law specialist focused on protecting her clients’ interests.

1. Government hospitals – you know how that works.

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

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

My offer: These are oversimplified concepts and different people have different budgets. I can do a comparison shop for you free of charge, to ensure that you have made the right choice and check that you have the right product at the right price.

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FitzGerald Lawyers have offices in Hong Kong and Sydney.

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43

TOP TIPS

“W

hat do I want to do with my life?” This is a question most of us ask ourselves from time to time and, as often as not, at this time of year. There’s something about entering a new year, and in this case a new decade, that makes us reassess our lives, reflect on what’s missing, and look for ways to change things up.

Before we get into how we can create change in our lives, it’s important to acknowledge that there are going to be obstacles to overcome. Sometimes, the core issue is that we don’t know what we truly want. We’re afraid to make the conscious decision to live in a different way because we’re not even sure what we need to change. All we know is that there’s something missing.

Photo by Bruce Mars - unsplash.com

Another thing that holds us back is fear of change, and let’s face it, fear of failure. As we weigh up the pros and cons of taking a new path, we convince ourselves that it’s easier to continue on the road we’re on, going through the motions, doing what’s comfortable and familiar.

We decide it’s too late to leave all that stability behind to embark on a completely new journey of discovery. It just doesn’t seem logical to risk a current way of being that at least ‘works,’ in order to pursue an alternative that might (and only might) bring more meaning to life.

But enough of the negative; it really is time to ring in the new! If 2020 is your year to seek fulfilment, here are some questions to ask yourself. Your answers will help you paint a clearer picture of what you actually want to do with your life, and from there you can start making good things happen.

NEW YEAR NEW YOU! Is 2020 your year to start doing what you want to do and being who you want to be?

Then read on.

Jason Broderick can help

What makes me feel alive?

Start by thinking about what  fulfils you. For instance, which www.arounddb.com January 2020

45

TOP TIPS

part of your job doesn’t feel like work? Maybe you enjoy writing up reports, analysing data, creating solutions, or collaborating with colleagues. If so, magnify that task and make it a larger part of your day. The point is, figure out what you love doing, then do more of it.

current circle, who do you admire the most? What are their best qualities? Why do you respect them? What can you learn from them? As motivational speaker Jim Rohn said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the

What do I resent doing?

The next step is working out what you don’t want to do. Your aim is to remove the negative from all aspects of your life, so start with your current role. What are the things you have little time for, the tasks you consistently put towards the end of the to-do list? If you resent being away from your family or friends due to late nights at the office or business travel, it’s time to find a new job or restructure your current one. Find a role that allows you to have less to none of what you dislike doing, and more of what makes you feel happy.

What would I do if I could?

Now think about what you would do if you had no limits. If you had all the money and time in the world, where would you go? What would you do? Who would you spend time with? Answering these questions will help you envisage the life you want to live. From there, you can begin setting goals to reach certain milestones – you can start creating a path towards happiness and fulfilment. Stop thinking about limitations and what may be impossible, focus on what you want and find out if you have the courage to pursue it.

Who do I admire?

Once you have taken a good look at yourself and what you like and dislike about your current way of being, focus on the people you surround yourself with. In your

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. So, don’t waste your time with people who hold you back from achieving your dreams most time with.” So, don’t waste your time with people who hold you back from achieving your dreams. Spend time with happy, successful, optimistic people and you’ll become one of them.

With these questions answered, you now need to decide whether you are going to take that first step toward improving your life.

Remember, it’s never too late to do what you’re passionate about and become the person you truly want to be. Don’t give in to self-doubt.

The real question is how hard you are willing to work to get what you want. Big changes never come easily. It takes a tremendous amount of courage and effort even to start doing something that you believe will bring more meaning to your life. In all likelihood, you’ll be working more hours than the average person to begin with, living outside your comfort zone and learning as much as you can to achieve as much as you can. The good news here is that once you’re on the right path and actively making changes, life becomes more interesting. You’ll find that things start falling into place, and you’ll immediately feel energised and more empowered.

A lot of this really is about positive thinking, after all you shape your reality by the way you perceive it.

Being able to control how you look at things is the key to breaking free, and starting over again.

Shaping your perception is so powerful that just a small change in perspective can completely change everything. Once you learn to take control of your mind and break free of self-imposed limitations, you are on your way to doing what you want to do with your life.

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

Find more top tips @ www.arounddb.com

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Time to break free

January 2020 www.arounddb.com

Need professional assistance with your designs and graphics?

From logos, leaflets and company brochures, to book publishing and website creation‌

We can help all businesses

For enquiries, please contact Philip Jay, our General Manager at philip@baymedia.com.hk

www.baymediastudio.com

ESCAPES

Photos courtesy of unsplash.com & www.wikimedia.org

TIME OUT IN LAOS

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For a long weekend away, Phuket and Bali are the obvious choices but if you’re looking for something a little more exotic, Luang Prabang may be the better bet. Dorothy Veitch reports January 2020 www.arounddb.com

1 French-Laotian old town The pretension-free vibe of north central Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site steeped in Buddhist spirituality, is ideal for four perfect days. Laos was a French protectorate from 1949 to 1993, and needless to say, a colonial and traditional Laotian mish-mash reveals itself around every corner, particularly in the languid old town.

The sleepy French colonial old town

2 The Alms Giving Ceremony Get up before sunrise and hit the streets to watch hundreds of monks collecting alms in the morning.

The tak bat ritual is performed in silence; the almsgivers do not speak, nor do the monks, who walk in meditation. Each monk carries a large lidded bowl, which almsgivers – who sit or kneel on the street – reverently fill with vegetables and sticky rice.

3 Palaces and temples Wat Xieng Thong, one of the largest and most ornate temples in Laos, is a good place to start a stroll through the old town. Winding your way in and out of the rabbit warren of tiny streets also takes you right past Haw Kham, the former royal palace now the national museum, and the entrance to Wat That Chomsi Stupa, the atmospheric hilltop temple that looms over the old city on Mount Phou Si.

Xieng Thong Temple

4 Heuan Chan Heritage House Make your way off the main drag to find Heuan Chan Heritage House, an authentic longhouse on treetrunk stilts that showcases the traditional Laotian way of life. At once a museum and handicraft centre, it also provides cookery classes where you can try your hand at classic dishes like Laos pho (beef noodle soup). Finish up your visit with a chilli-topped pork baguette (khao jee) at the inviting  palm-shaded café.

Heuan Chan Heritage House

www.arounddb.com January 2020

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ESCAPES

5 Villages that time forgot For many visitors, Luang Prabang’s real charms lie outside the city. A short ride away, you find hamlets like Ban Chan and Ban Ou, small villages whose lifeblood is farming, and the textiles, ceramics and traditional wines they still make there. Walking through verdant fields to a tiny village, you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time.

On the outskirts of Ban Chan

6 Kuang Si Falls After a day in the surrounding villages, head out to Kuang Si Falls, about 30 kilometres south of Luang Prabang. The 50-metrehigh waterfall cascades into a series of elegantly tiered pools making it one of the area’s most renowned attractions. Kuang Si is surrounded by the type of forested parkland that makes it perfect for a picnic – and for wildlife.

Kuang Si Falls

7 Haven for moon bears At the foot of Kuang Si falls, you find Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre, a world-class haven for moon bears, operated by Australian charity Free the Bears. Many of the bears have a tragic history, as victims of illegal trade, and it’s a pleasure to see them swinging in hammocks, playing with tires and generally having a good time.

Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre

8 Pak Ou Caves Another day trip takes you 30 kilometres up river to Pak Ou Caves, one of the most revered holy sites in the country. Access by car is possible but a ride on the river is the best way to go.

The caves date back thousands of years and are now packed with just as many Buddhist icons. To add a relaxing spin on the day, ask your hotel to arrange lunch on one of the sandy beaches on the small islands that dot the river.

Pak Ou Caves

Find more exciting escapes @ www.arounddb.com

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January 2020 www.arounddb.com

GIVING LIFE SHOULDN’T BE SO DEADLY

www.arounddb.com

Ramatoulaye, who lives in Burkina Faso, was about to give birth to her fourth child, but the boatman was nowhere to be found.

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

Register with us and receive

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

our newsletters

Learn more at www.amnesty.org.hk.

Win prizes in our monthly giveaways!

Join our 16,000+ (and growing) Facebook followers © Anna Kari

Like us for Lantau news and events!

PROFESSIONAL EVENTS PHOTOGRAPHER

WEDDINGS . BIRTHDAYS . SPORTS . SEMINARS . BALLS . PARTIES

t. +852 6620 3421 e. info@colsimphotography.com w. www.colsimphotography.com

HK HAPPENINGS

KIDSFEST!

Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wanchai Through February 23

10 FUN THINGS TO DO IN HK THIS MONTH! THE LION KING AsiaWorld-Expo, Chek Lap Kok Through January 12

www.kidsfest.com.hk

Produced by ABA Productions, KidsFest is dedicated to providing exciting theatre for the whole family. This month, catch Tabby McTat (January 16 to 24), The Gruffalo (January 15 to 24), and Mr Men and Little Miss (January 20 to February 2). For more information, visit www.kidsfest.com.hk. For tickets, starting at HK$195, visit premier.hkticketing.com.

CHEERS!

Across Hong Kong The Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s annual Cheers! delivers a full line-up of family fun ranging from music and dance to puppetry, acrobatics, multimedia performances and film.

January’s performances www.cahootsni.com include Shh! We Have a Plan by Cahoots NI, and DJ Kid Koala’s Nufonia Must Fall.

For tickets, visit www.urbtix.hk. For more event information, visit www.lcsd.gov.hk.

Through February 23

lionkinginternational.com

Brilliantly re-imagined by acclaimed director Julie Taymor, and the winner of over 70 major international theatre awards, The Lion King sees the beloved Disney movie transformed into an onstage spectacular. Hold onto your seats as Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist and the Serengeti comes to life as never before. For tickets, starting at HK$399, visit premier.hkticketing.com.

2020 FESTIVITIES Across Hong Kong

January 1

AIA GREAT EUROPEAN CARNIVAL Central Harbourfront Event Space, Central

Through February 16

woawstore.com

At once a carnival and a festival, the AIA Great European Carnival delivers rides, games, attractions, food and much more. The Great Circus of Europe is back again this year in the big top with a brand-new troupe of performers. For tickets, starting at HK$120, visit tgec.asia.

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January 2020 www.arounddb.com

www.remotelands.com

When in Hong Kong, the only way to ring in the New Year is by watching a traditional lion or dragon dance. There are performances across the city, with the most popular being held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui from 11am to 5pm. For more information, visit www.hong-kong-traveller.com.

HK HAPPENINGS

HONG KONG STREETATHON

Get your events listed @ www.arounddb.com

Across Hong Kong

January 12

CNY CELEBRATIONS Across Hong Kong

twitter.com

January 25-28

Participants in the Hong Kong Streetathon are encouraged to play dress-up, as they complete either the 32-kilometre or 10-kilometre course. Themed Eat Play Run, the race sees downtown Central lined with stalls where athletes can pick up free food and even get a massage. For event details and registration, starting at HK$288, visit streetathon.com.

JAAP’S BEETHOVEN 1

Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui To launch Beethoven year – 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth – Hong Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes superstar pianist Lang www.hkphil.org Lang in a programme featuring the music with which Beethoven began his career. For more information and tickets, starting at HK$580, visit www.hkphil.org.

January 16 & 18

VIBRAM ULTRA TRAIL RACE Start: Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung January 18-19

travel.virginaustralia.com

This year, a new four-day fun-filled carnival in Tsim Sha Tsui replaces the traditional CNY night parade, and you can expect to see world-champion acrobats among the dazzling troupe of local and international performers. The 25-minute fireworks display at Victoria Harbour on January 26 is an annual highlight of the holidays. For more CNY events, visit www.discoverhongkong.com.

RACE DAY FOR RATS Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin

January 27

www.runsociety.com

The Vibram Hong Kong 100 Ultra Trail Race covers Hong Kong’s famous Maclehose Trail but with some diversions to ensure that runners spend more time in its most scenic sections. The 103-kilometre course involves a cumulative elevation gain of over 5,300 metres, with a cut-off time of 32 hours. To find out more or sign up as a volunteer, visit www.hk100-ultra.com.

racingnews.hkjc.com

Wind down the CNY celebrations at the Chinese New Year Race Day, one of the top equestrian events of the year.

Attendees can also expect a full line-up of world-class entertainment, plus traditional dragon and lion dances.

Tickets, starting at HK$10, are available at the venue. For more information, visit www.hkjc.com. www.arounddb.com January 2020

53

DB FACES

Snaps COMMUNITY

Photos by Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com

Find more familiar DB faces @ www.arounddb.com

Win prizes from Uncle Russ Coffee and The Pier Bar!

Congratulations to last month’s winner: Emma Martin (@ emm_martin)

54

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

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

January 2020 www.arounddb.com

AWESOME BAMBOO SOCKS EXTRA SOFT

HEALTHY

ECO-FRIENDLY

DB-based Eureka (bamboo) Socks aren’t just regular socks, but healthy ones thanks to the natural bamboo fibres which make them gorgeous, soft and comfortable and ready for every step they’ll take!

Eureka Ba mboo Socks are

100%

committe d to the commu nity

ONE PURCHASE = ONE PAIR DONATED

Let’s reach our 2020 target together: 100,000 pairs of socks will be donated to children in need.

Order online at

www.eurekasocks.com Congratulations to last month’s winner: Tanya Boychuk@tlo789

CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP PRACTICAL BIBLE TEACHING KIDS CHURCH & TEENS

Alcoholics Anonymous

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

If you want to stop, we can help.

Alcoholics No dues or fees.

Anonymous

Church Office: 2987 7061 www.dbicc.org

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

Experience God's Love Fellowship and Faith Nurturing Sunday School for Children Creche for Toddlers

View local business directories @ www.arounddb.com EMPLOYMENT AKASH MOVING & HANDYMAN SERVICES

• Local packing, moving, storage & handyman service • All kinds of transport services • Inbound shipment clearance • Having stuff delivered from China?

They are not delivering to DB Or Lantau?

Have it sent to the Akash office in Kwai Chung & delivered to your home.

Contact 2421 8088, info@akash.hk, www.akash.hk

HEALTH & WELLBEING

ENGLISH ASTROLOGER IN DB

Want to know more about your life, love, career or finances?

English astrologer Lynda is visiting DB for two months.

To book an appointment at HK$600 per hour, text 9851 2622 or 07456 414720 (UK)

HEALTH & WELLBEING FACIAL REFLEX THERAPY IN DB

Try Facial Reflex Therapy for: • Stress management • Normalising menstruation • Sleeping disorders • Skin issues (due to hormonal imbalance, allergies etc) • Depression; ADHD; Bipolar disorder Facial Reflex Therapy is a natural face-lifting beauty regime. It also boosts confidence & learning ability.

Contact Tina at 9855 7086 (WhatsApp)

VR, HYPNOSIS: INDIVIDUAL &/ OR COUPLES THERAPY

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

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

Contact 2575 7707, www.mindmatters.hk

HOME SERVICES

SPORTS

TRIMCO HK LIMITED

PRIVATE MARTIAL ARTS COACHING

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

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

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

MPF Services QDAP Insurances VHIS Protection Wealth Management Candy Cheung Financial Planning Manager Bachelor of Business

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ark Eden’s colourful Chinese New Year camps develop children's confidence and love of the natural environment through exciing outdoor experiences.

Designed for children aged 5 to 11 years, each camp is built around a different play-based theme. Accviies include: woodfire cooking, carpentry skills, bamboo den building, imaginaave story drama along with a tented overnight lunar camp experience. te

If you’re reading this, so is everyone else To advertise in print or online, email philip@baymedia.com.hk

www.arounddb.com

Visit www.arkedenonlantau.org

Email : info@arkedenonlantau.org Tel : 2988 5355

Happy Chinese New Year!

Greenland Pest Control Tailored Pest Control Solutions for Rodent, Cockroaches, Fleas, Mosquitoes, Termites, Ants, Ticks etc‌ For info please call Thomas 9871 0771 or Baguio 6776 8400 Email: baguiowong@hotmail.com

Find short-term rentals @ www.arounddb.com

PROPERTY

DB PROPERTY FOR RENT

LUXURY APARTMENTS IN SIENA 2

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

FULLY FURNISHED ONE-BED

TWO-BED IN CHERISH COURT

ONE-BED WITH HOME OFFICE

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

Contact Jacqueline on 9811 0718, jacquelinedb@gmail.com

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

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

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

CLOT HING & ACCESSORIES

FTC Apparel

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

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

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HE A LT H & W EL L BEING

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

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

2421 8088 2109 2330 9343 3718 2988 1488

HOT EL S

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

3969 1888 3602 8888 2286 8888

L E A RNING CEN T RES

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

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

SOCI A L , SP OR T S & EQUIPMEN T

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2984 8334 2984 8487 2984 1802 2984 9833 9783 5840

HOT EL S

Mui Wo Inn Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel

2984 7225 6810 0111 2985 8383

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

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

PROPER T Y AGENCIES

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

2984 8334 3483 5003 2984 1666 RE TA IL

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

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

SERV ICES & OT HERS

Jumping Castles SPCA Miriam Safadi Photography Parteezi Phoenix Wills

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

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

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

FOOD, RES TAUR A N T S & BA RS

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

L E A RNING CEN T RES

HOME & REPA IRS

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

SOUTH LANTAU

TUNG CHUNG

LANTAU NUMBERS

2988 8282 2988 1898 3661 1999

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

2984 2268 2984 8494 2984 8255 2984 9848

www.arounddb.com January 2020

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

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

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

3102 2977 2987 8460

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

2987 2987 2987 2947 2366

4401 7486 4089 9092 6534

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

2160 8585 2233 3000 2433 6981 2914 0388

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

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

9156 0360 2987 1313 9010 5832 2987 4488 2987 5087 2987 1041 2987 0222 2987 7082 2987 0789 2987 0789 2987 9268 2987 4428

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

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

LEARNING CENTRES

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES Action X, North Plaza Nomadic

LEARNING CENTRES

HOME

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

Discovery Mandarin Tutoring Service Certified native Chinese teachers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

January 2020 www.arounddb.com

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

MULTIMEDIA Bookazine Fotomax (F.E.) Ltd

2987 1373 2914 2378

OTHER SERVICES

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

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

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

2529 9172 2987 2987 2987

8256 9152 1777 1368 5151

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

TOYS & KIDS’ PARTIES 6201 2987 2987 5721

7749 8873 0428 6181

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

2987 2987 2987 2987 2102

2023 2088 2987 6238 0829

SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

Bo Bo House Toysland

2987 4230 2987 7859

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

2914 2987 5303 2987 2987

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

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

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

2727 7351 3489 0208 9368

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

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

VIEW THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY @ www.arounddb.com

WELLBEING

The Beat Dance & Fitness Studio BODYPUMP, BODYBALANCE, GRIT, BODYSTEP & Zumba (fitness, toning & kids). Piloxing, yoga & Pilates, RPM (indoor cycling), plus Latin, belly & wedding dance. Classes for adults & children, & personal training. Contact 5194 9630, info@thebeat.com.hk, www.thebeat.com.hk Action X, North Plaza Club Siena, North Plaza DBees Ice Hockey DB Pirates Rugby, Netball, Hockey & Dragonboat Discovery Bay Marina Club Discovery Bay Golf Club Discovery Bay Recreation Club Embody EpicLand, North Plaza FIT 852 Greenwich Yoga School, North Plaza Kapuhala Train-in-Space, North Plaza MAS FIT MGK Fight Club Nutrition and Fitness with Emilie YogaBay, North Plaza YogaUp, North Plaza

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

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

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

Bay Spa

ay Spa

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

Elly House of Beauty

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

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

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

Nail Spa: 2987 2266

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

Massage: 2988 1111

2987 9794 6131 2987 2987 2499 2987

0283 0918 9039 4555 2060 8826 4112

www.arounddb.com

www.arounddb.com January 2020

63

OUT THERE

Ha ppy N ew Bee r!

No fan of the demon drink, Peter Sherwood is on the wagon these days but he isn’t encouraging anyone to give it up for 2020

D

rinks in the plaza and someone draining a large can of beer with an alcohol rating of 12%. Not so much a drink as a mainline injection. It comes from Scandinavia, where it’s a pernicious alternative to suicide in the long, dark winters. So they say. Problem is a three-day hangover that makes you wish you were history.

vegan at the Chicago cattle yards.

The water of life Xmas Day is an arbitrary date.

Unless you’re of the Christian persuasion, it could as easily be May 15. But New Year is just silly, given that time (or at least the

Illustration courtesy of www.wikimedia.org

This particular Scandi brew is a toxic infusion designed to get people legless, fast. Perfect for New Year’s Eve when you’re celebrating and forget the occasion before falling into the gutter. I know. I used to do it, and it would take a week for my tongue to stop feeling like it had been trampled by a caravan of incontinent camels.

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calendar) is a man-made concept designed by Pope Gregory XIII, who decided the average year should be 365.24 days long. We count one to 365, get hammered and begin again. We rejoice as if we had achieved something amazing, when we accomplished nothing. We just sat there, while revolving around Donald Trump 365 times. Maybe drunk is not such a bad condition to be in.

And so, to Scotland – the world epicentre of New Year fun. What is that all about? Hogmanay of course, the first New Year festival we know about, probably Norse or Gaelic. Today, we still sing Auld Lang Syne and down that great Scottish leveller, whisky, first made by the ancient Celts who called it uisge beatha – the water of life. And of headaches.

Getting hosed on New Year’s Eve is about as dumb as the party itself which, after all, is just an allergic reaction to the Xmas festivities that preceded it.

When blood alcohol levels are dropping, and acute depression is kicking in, we need a lift. So, fireworks were invented and the boozing begins anew, with aficionados guzzling enough of the stuff to preserve a dead hippo.

But the God of Inebriation is kind.

He created holidays to follow the stupefying excess, so you can lie comatose in a ditch some place before setting off to work a day later in a worse state than a starving

Wonder of wonders is the New Year’s resolution, a promise we make to ourselves to be thinner, fitter, or to stop indulging in New Year’s resolutions.

We make them secretly, so when we break them after a few days no one will know.

Of course, we could make a resolution any time of year, but if we think of breaking a bad habit in March or April, we don’t have as many months to continue it.

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

Find more from Peter @ www.arounddb.com January 2020 www.arounddb.com

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