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LADY JANE’S GUIDE AWARDS
Skye Tahirali, Rosie Wood, Robyn Wechsler, Fiona Scheer and Kaia Tahirali received their Lady Jane’s Guide Award, the equivalent of the Duke of Edinburgh/ HK Award for Young People Bronze, in June. The DB guides have been working towards this award for two years, completing a wide variety of badges and challenges, including camping, survival skills and team skills. For more on the DB Guides, email Bethan Clark at contact@db-guides.com or visit www.db-guides.com. [PHOTO BY Richard Gordon richardgordonphotography.com.]
DB artist Eleanor McColl is hosting a fullrange of courses this summer at her DB studio, with parent and child workshops (seven years and up), four-day summer camps for kids aged six to 14 years and drop-in classes for adults. Eleanor is also hosting her third oOOMA Retreat from July 15 to 17 in Cheung Cha, where you can focus on Pilates and tap into your creativity with some mindful art sessions. To find out more and enrol, head to www.eleanormccoll.com. [PHOTO BY Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com.]
s g in n e pp a H STUFF TO DARUMA JUDO CLUB’S CAFÉ
Cedric and Emily Lau of Daruma Judo Club opened Chaya Daruma in Peng Chau last month, where they’re serving up a tempting fusion of Japanese and European dishes. The multi-faceted entrepreneurs opened the café, which has a smart outdoor area, with the aim to offer residents and visitors an authentic experience in a setting reminiscent of Japan. The menu is big on rice-based dishes, including a copious Japanese-Style Grilled Eel Rice (HK$108) but if you’re more into noodles, try the Mentaiko Butter Cod Roe Udon with Japanese Fish Cake (HK$60) or the Triple Cheese Spaghetti with Mentaiko (HK$75). Dessert lovers should not miss the mouth-watering, homemade Tiramusu (HK$48), so good that it’s already been approved by an Italian family living in Peng Chau. Equally tempting, the drinks menu offers an array of nonalcoholic drinks, craft beers and cocktails such as Matcha Gin Tonic (HK$78) and Kikupine (HK$78), a mix of whisky, pineapple, chamomile and soda. Cedric and Emily continue to hold classes at Discovery College Primary Sports Hall on Wednesdays and Saturdays for judokas aged five years to adult. For more on Chaya Daruma, call 6580 0158; for judo, call 6244 6093. [PHOTOS BY Raphael Blet.]
DB NEWS
BEACH TENNIS COACHING
Whether you are looking to try beach tennis for the first time, fine-tune your skills or take your game to the next level, Forward Motion’s team of professional coaches can help. One-on-one and group coaching sessions are held in DB for players of all ages and abilities. To find out more, call 9779 0747, email info@forwardmotionhk.com or visit www.forwardmotionhk.com. [PHOTO BY Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com.]
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MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP
Mind HK, one of the most proactive and influential campaigners for better mental health in Hong Kong, was founded five years ago by Central Health. If you’re interested in helping others manage their mental health symptoms and crises, you can sign up for the internationally accredited Mind HK: Mental Health First Aid (Standard) Course. Zoom sessions are held in the evenings, July 18 and 19, with an online self-learning period from July 11 to 17. Scan the QR code to enrol.
KNOW IN JULY! ANNIVERSARY SALE AT COMPLETE DEELITE
RECYCLING AT UNCLE RUSS
Kudos to the staff at Uncle Russ Coffee who’ve been doing their bit for the environment by washing and preparing used liquid cartons for recycling. Once a week, DB Green volunteers collect and weigh the cartons before taking them down to the Green@Community pop-up recycling station near Parkridge Village. Be sure to say a big thank you to the staff the next time you grab a coffee, and if you forget your reusable cup, you can borrow one there. [PHOTO BY Richard Gordon richardgordonphotography.com.]
It’s incredible to think that DB resident Agnes Chin founded Complete Deelite 19 years ago. To celebrate, the baking studio is holding a Great Anniversary Sale, running from now until September 30. The exciting promotion offers a 15% reduction on all Cakes-To-Go and Photo Cakes. You can take your pick from the delicious selection at the Central store or shop online at www.completedeelite.com. Don’t forget to use promo code JULY2022-SALE during checkout. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Complete Deelite.]
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY JULY 2 | GATHER AT THE PLANT MARKET in DB Community Green Square from 2pm to 4pm. Visit the Dynamic DB Facebook page.
JULY 10 | SHOP THE DISCOVERY BAY SUNDAY MARKET in DB Plaza from 11am to 6pm. Visit www.handmadehongkong.com.
THROUGH JULY | DONATE PRELOVED FURNITURE to people in need. Check the DB Mothers & Friends Facebook page for collection days. AROUND DB / JULY 2022 AROUND DB / JULY 2022
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REUSABLE MASK DESIGNS BY DC STUDENTS
In a joint DC and KGV competition, initiated by the DC Green Cobras to tackle the problem of single-use plastics, students were asked to create reusable mask designs. The four winning designs, created by Ananya Bhandari (DC, Year 9), Csombor Balogh (DC, Year 9), Maddie Osmund (KGV, Year 7) and Kayleigh Kao (KGV, Year 12), were made into masks by Tsunami Sport and sold through June 27. Plastic Free Seas is encouraging schools to engage students on reducing waste with this creative programme. For more information, head to www.plasticfreeseas.org. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF DC Cobras.]
MOMENTOUS AT DISNEYLAND
Be sure to catch Momentous – The Most Magical Show on Earth at Hong Kong Disneyland this month. The all-new nighttime spectacular takes spectators on a momentous, six-chapter journey, which celebrates each stage of life. Projection images of around 150 Disney and Pixar characters light up the Castle of Magical Dreams, alongside spectacular multimedia elements, including large-scale 3D projection mapping technology, choreographed fountains, illuminated water projection, lasers, theatrical lighting, pyrotechnics and fireworks effects. To find out more, visit www.hongkongdisneyland.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Hong Kong Disneyland.]
MOOMIN-THEMED STAYCATION AT AUBERGE This month, Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong is all about Moomin. You’ll find the small, white family of trolls and their friends everywhere from the hotel lobby to the themed guest rooms. Families can choose to staycation in a Moomin-themed room, complete with Moomin cushions, window stickers and shower curtains, or drop by to enjoy the Moomin Afternoon Tea Set. If you opt for the fantasy staycation, welcome gifts include Moomin slippers, luggage tags and travel pouches. To find out more, visit www.aubergediscoverybay.com or www.facebook.com/AubergeDBay. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong.] 8
AROUND DB / JULY 2022
DB-RUN THE CHIPPY NOW OPEN IN TST
Long-time DB family the Barnetts, in conjunction with their close friends and business associates, have opened a traditional fish and chip restaurant in Granville Food Square, just off Nathan Road. The Chippy offers customers a truly authentic experience, serving Icelandic cod and a range of renowned ‘chip shop’ dishes, including mushy peas and curry sauce, that are all exclusively sourced in the UK. Only certified, sustainable, UK-sourced vegetable frying fat is used. Must-trys include the signature Cod and Chips (12oz, HK$188 /6oz, HK$108) and, for those who love a chip butty, The Chippy Bread Roll (HK$15). For meat lovers, there are succulent Pukka Pies (HK$58) and Jumbo Pork Sausages (HK$38). Taking place in June, The Chippy’s opening party was a huge success, with the Barnetts at the helm of the brand’s outreach strategy. The fishing industry is in the family’s heritage (learn more about that when you visit The Chippy) and they’re passionate about serving the finest fish and chips in Hong Kong. In fact, you may remember they launched a similar concept as a pop-up at Best of British 2015, Hong Kong’s first British festival. Look out for The Chippy on Deliveroo, where pick-up and delivery options will soon be available. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/thechippyhongkong or Instagram @thechippyhk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Col Sim – www.colsimphotography.com.]
PORTUGAL GOLDEN VISA WE ADVISE ON CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT SCHEMES INTO PORTUGAL Many countries offer Citizenship by Investment programs to attract much needed foreign direct investment to help drive economic growth. However, few if any provide the ease of access, affordability, and attractive benefits of Portugal. • Live and work in Portugal and anywhere in the EU • 4th best passport in the World for Digital Nomads and Global Citizens • Low minimum stay requirements, averaging 7 days per year over first 5 years • Visa free travel within all 26 Schengen countries • Qualify for citizenship or permanent residency after 5 years • Establish a business within all 26 Schengen countries • 10 years non-habitual residency tax exemption • Invest in one of the fastest growing property markets in Europe
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DB NEWS
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CALL OUT FOR NEW GUIDING LEADERS DB’s Guiding leaders need new women to join the team; all training is provided and no previous experience is required. By volunteering as a leader for DB’s Guiding community you get to play a unique role in a girl’s life. You have the opportunity to make a real and lasting difference, to help her find her way, learn skills and face challenges. Being a volunteer leader for Happy Bees (five to six years old), Brownies (seven to 10) and Guides (11+) offers friendship, fun, opportunities, adventure and growth for the leaders, not just for the girls. Even with recent challenges, the DB units have run charity fundraisers, completed a wide variety of interest badges and attended day camps, ukulele workshops and revels (Brownie get-togethers). It’s important to note that being a leader is not limited to the mothers of Happy Bees, Brownies and Guides, anyone who wants to get involved in this global girl-led movement is welcome to join. The team is a small (but effective) group of women, with a wide range of interests, backgrounds and skills. Meetings will resume on September 10 and are held in DB every Saturday morning during term time. To learn more, email membership@englishspeakingguides-hk.com or visit www.db-brownies.com, www.db-guides.com or www.englishspeakingguides-hk.com. [PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon – www.richardgordonphotography.com.]
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! July 29
ACROSS HONG KONG
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ANIME QUIZ
Getting ready for cosplay at this month’s Ani Com & Games at the HK Convention and Exhibition Centre? Find out how much you really know about anime PHOTOS COURTESY OF Fandom
1. When was the Ani-Com & Games first held in HK? A. 1991 B. 1999 C. 2002 2. How much will the winner of this year’s Cosplay Contest win? A. HK$1,000 B. HK$3,000 C. HK$5,000 3. What is anime? A. A style of Japanese film and television animation B. A style of Japanese comic book and graphic novel C. A style of Japanese martial art 4. Which year did Astro Boy, one of the first ever anime TV series, premier in Japan? A. 1963 B. 1973 C. 1983 5. Which anime holds the world record for the longest-running animated TV series? A. One Piece B. Sazae-san C. Doraemon 6. Sophie is a character from which anime? A. Go! Princess Precure B. Snow White With The Red Hair C. Howl’s Moving Castle 12
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ACROSS HONG KONG
7. Which is the only anime to win an Oscar? A. Spirited Away B. The Tale Of Princess Kaguya C. Mirai 8. What is the eponymous hero of Naruto? A. A samurai B. A ninja C. A knight 9. Which anime was James Cameron’s Alita: Battle Angel based on? A. Gundam B. Gunnm C. Gintama 10. In the Seven Deadly Sins, which of the following is a sin? A. Diane B. Dave C. Wolf 11. Which anime did Pizza Hut sponsor to get featured in the show?
17. Who is Kiki’s best friend in Kiki's Delivery Service? A. A Pokémon named Pikachu B. Jiji, a talking cat C. A True Dragon named Veldora Tempest 18. What can the magical dragon balls do in Dragon Ball Z? A. Transform into spacecraft B. Transform into robots C. Grant wishes 19. Where is the girl found in The Tale of Princess Kaguya? A. Growing out of a flower B. Inside a bamboo stalk C. On a toy truck 20. In One Punch Man, what does Saitama seek? A. A worthy adversary B. A wife C. A crystal 21. Who is at war in Princess Monake?
A. Code Vein B. Code Breaker C. Code Geass
A. The forest gods and a mining colony B. Angels and demons C. Ents and Orks
12. What is Kaneda in Akira?
22. In Assassination Classroom, what does Koro-sensei try to teach his students? A. How to kill him B. Algebra C. Okinawan karate
A. The leader of a motorcycle gang B. A race car driver C. A bicycle courier 13. Which of these animes did Hayao Miyazaki direct? A. Voices of a Distant Star B. Ponyo C. Alice SOS 14. Who does Ms Sweets mediate between in Humanity Has Declined?
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23. In My Neighbour Totoro, what doesn’t happen to the sisters? A. They meet Dakota and Elle Fanning B. They meet woodland spirits C. They take a ride on a cat bus 24. Where is Grave of the Fireflies set?
A. Fairies and humans B. Aliens and humans C. Vaxxers and anti-vaxxers
A. Neo-Tokyo, 2338 B. Kobe, 1945 C. Osaka, 2022
15. In which anime are superpowers called ‘quirks’?
25. What are the names of the bounty hunters in Cowboy Bebop?
A. My Hero Academia B. Sailor Moon C. Dr Stone 16. What sport is played in Eyeshield 21? A. Ice hockey B. American Football C. Quidditch
A. Onyx, Jet and Amber B. Spike, Lee and Faye C. Spike, Jet and Faye
You can check your score at www.arounddb.com/acrosshk/anime-quiz. AROUND DB / JULY 2022
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! t I o D st JuSISTERS ACT
DB students Dhaanya and Reaha Ganeriwal are challenging all of us to do better, and standing up for climate change action, one Friday at a time. Elizabeth Kerr reports
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PHOTOS BY Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com & Sheetal Ganeriwal
id you know Hong Kong is the third biggest per capita consumer of beef in the world? Ahead of the United States?” demands Dhaanya Ganeriwal, easily one of Hong Kong’s youngest climate action activists. She baffles at that statistic, one of the factoids she shares with passers-by after she and her sister Reaha assault them with her climate action challenge board as part of their Friday strikes – now in their third year. Oh, Dhaanya is 11 years old. It’s a couple of days away from the end of the school year, but Dhaanya and nine-year-old Reaha have found the time to wander down towards the ferry pier for a chat about their busy schedule. No, it’s not packed with summer reading or music lessons that will look good on high school admissions applications, but they do have a couple of speaking engagements about climate action coming up. Demands for action have morphed from din to dull roar in recent years, most often spearheaded by the literal children who have to deal with the increasingly visible fallout of climate change. Dhaanya and Reaha have somehow found time to do their weekly strikes, harass Starbucks for an explanation about its HK$4 surcharge for non-dairy milk (they started a petition to get the fee for “making the right choice” dropped), and participate in a Tedx talk at Chinese University of Hong Kong. What did you do this week?
CLIMATE ACTION STRIKES OK, assault is an exaggeration, but Dhaanya and Reaha are now climate action veterans. “Every Friday we stand out with our boards and ask people to pick a number, say 14
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DHAANYA AND REAHA SPEAKING AT A TEDX EVENT ON JUNE 18
number one, which is a five-minute shower. Then we talk to them about how a shorter, cooler shower is good for the environment,” Dhaanya says. It’s safe to assume the girls themselves do all 10 actions on the board, which includes waste reduction and education. “We don’t do this one, girl,” says Reaha, pointing at the “shop local” food tag. They do, however, upcycle (they’re fans of Retykle), and buy clothes made of recycled materials. And they drink tap water. Aside from a few cases of smart mouthed “adults” unfairly sparring with them (“Some people try to bully us and talk to us like we’re climate scientists. We’re 11 and nine,” scoffs Reaha), and overenthusiastic security guards chasing away “panhandlers” (not a good look
PROFILE
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EVERYONE TO MAKE CLIMATE ACTION A HABIT
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Hong Kong), they’ve been met mostly with positive responses from people at DB Plaza, the North Plaza and occasionally the Central Waterfront when they approach with their signboards. “Some people ignore us, but just as many participate and take a pledge. Then they come back the next week and ask what else they can do. It’s really quite thrilling,” says Dhaanya. She then launches into a story about an elderly Tung Chung couple who they saw every week when they lived in the area, but who didn’t understand a word they said. Fortunately, they were hanging out with fellow climate striker Lance Lau one day, and he translated for them. The next week they saw the couple with their own food containers and cloth shopping bag. “Little changes like that add up and it was really exciting to see we could have an impact,” says Dhaanya. They’ve also gotten great support from their parents, and from Discovery College, where they go to school. Their extra-curricular actives often wind up on the school’s The Explorer page.
TWEEN TALK Dhaanya was born in her parents’ hometown of Mumbai, and left as an infant when her banker dad was relocated to Singapore. Reaha was born there, and after two years in the Lion City the family moved to Hong Kong where they’ve been for the last eight. Despite their eco-warrior status, Dhaanya and Reaha are most definitely pre-teen sisters. They constantly jump in with extra details during a story, they talk over each other and finish each other’s sentences. There’s almost a riot of vindication when I agree that despite being frequently mistaken for twins, they look nothing alike. Dhaanya is a self-confessed bookworm (she’s read both Helen Keller and Anne Frank biographies) who plays rugby and has an interest in architecture. Her earliest role model was Martin Luther King Jr, followed shortly by David Attenborough. Reaha isn’t as bookish, but she is working through David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny. She fiddles around with a gym set in her bedroom and would love to be a gymnast, but wonders, “What would I do after that?” One thing the sisters do share are ridiculously long lashes that peek out above their masks.
@MYGREENMANTRA The lashes and, of course, @MyGreenMantra (check them out on Instagram), the name they’ve given to their strike action. Dhaanya’s epiphany came at around seven years, when an image of a turtle strangling on plastic six-pack rings set her on her path. After asking her parents a few questions and digging into some 16
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kid-friendly research (which has since expanded), she hit the street. “I was really tired of hearing news about plastic, and pollution and climate change, and how governments weren’t doing anything about it, so I thought, ‘Why can’t I?’ We made some signboards and went outside.” Ever the curious little sister, “When she went out, I was all, ‘Where are you going? I want to join,’” recalls Reaha. “At first I just held the signs but as I learnt more, I got into it.” That eventually gave birth to @MyGreenMantra. “Mantra is a Sanskrit word for ‘chant’ and when repeated becomes a habit,” Reaha says. “We want everyone to make climate action a habit.” And she really wants to get away from the linear economy that has put us where we are. “We produce, produce, produce, use, use, use, and waste, waste, waste. We’d love Hong Kong to be a role model of sustainability and the circular economy, which is where you produce something and then make it into something else when you’re done with it.”
BEING THE CHANGE To that end the girls plan on beating the drum on climate change this summer. They’re off to a smashing start, following a June 18 TedX event, where they were two of 11 speakers talking about how one person can create a ripple that leads to bigger change. “It was awesome. There were about 100 or 200 people…” Dhaanya starts, only to be cut off by Reaha. “There weren’t that many!” They go back and forth and realise yes. There were that many. The activism continues this month, with Dhaanya and Reaha featuring alongside a couple of their teachers in a Cable TV-produced short, which aims to increase awareness in local communities. The show airs on Channel 77 Open TV at 7.30 pm on July 2 (in English with subtitles), and after a week it will be posted on the Cablewish Facebook page. Watch out too for an Encompass Hong Kong event in August, at which the girls will be talking to other local school kids about climate change (with a translator for maximum impact). Dhaanya and Reaha count Dana Winograd at Plastic Free Sees as someone to aspire to, but the most obvious comparison is Greta Thunberg, who’s not hopeful enough for the Ganeriwal girls. “We’re doing what we can at our level. We don’t want to chase other people’s expectations,” reasons Reaha. “And besides, we should be enjoying our lives, not cleaning up the mess generations before us made. We don’t want our kids living like this.” Dhaanya listens on, nodding, before finishing the thought. “We know individual actions can’t change the world, but enough of them together, as a community, can.”
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Eat Smart!
SUSTAINABLE MEANS LOCAL Discovery Bay is the place to be if you’re into eating local. Raphael Blet meets three residents who are at the heart of it all
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PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com & Raphael Blet
etting hold of local produce in Hong Kong is easier than you think, even more so when living here in Discovery Bay. From eco-conscious residents looking to spread the word about sustainable living to fully-fledged organic stores and farms, the resort and its immediate surroundings set the tone for eating right. And you don’t have to take our word for it, Dana Winograd of Plastic Free Seas agrees. “DB stores from Fusion and Wellcome to il Bel Paese have evolved to supply the growing demand for local produce,” she says. “Star Mart stocks some unusual items as well as everyday staples, and then of course there’s Slowood DB and Garden Artemis.”
THE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE In recent years, residents have become increasingly aware of the need to eat local produce in order to reduce their carbon footprint and, of course, support local providers. One of them is 12-year resident Crystal Lee, for whom wellness and sustainability have become a constant source of inspiration, not to say a philosophy. At the helm of Kapuhala Space in DB North Plaza – DB’s first social training community – Crystal aims to offer members more than a fitness room, and to this end she provides an organic, locally grown veggie subscription service once a week. WhatsApp 9120 0177 to place your order, and you can pick up your Vegetable Marketing Organisation-sourced veggies at the studio on Wednesdays. What began as a trial for members has struck a chord with residents throughout the community – so much so that Cr ystal says she is sometimes over whelmed with bookings. 20
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“We never thought we would run our veggie subscription for this long, but people always bring new people,” Crystal says enthusiastically, highlighting how residents’ appetite for local produce sets a very encouraging precedent that can inspire the wider Hong Kong community. A runner and avid nature lover, Crystal always favours local produce, as it tends to be healthier, cheaper and non-polluting. “Access to locally grown food is very important,” she says. “I would eat a locally grown choi sum over a veggie that has flown across the globe any day. I get it that there are differences in culture and tastes, but many of the basics are available locally too.” As data demonstrates, such initiatives can have a true impact on our planet. Each year worldwide, food amounts for around 16 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, which adds up to roughly 30% of overall human-produced carbon emissions. What’s more, a study presented last month by the University of Sydney found that global food miles emissions stand at 3 billion tonnes each year, a 7.5 increase from previous estimates. These figures are enough to testify how crucial ecologically minded people like Crystal are to our planet. She isn’t the only one.
THE SUSTAINABLE BOUTIQUE Former marketing executive turned wellness coach Kannie Lee took over at Garden Artemis, the sustainable boutique in DB North Plaza, in May. From handcrafted noodles made in the New Territories to toilet paper produced locally and even ‘made in Hong Kong’ sunglasses, Garden Artemis (9137 4833) has all the attributes of a socially responsible store.
COMMUNITY
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I would eat a locally grown choi sum over a veggie that has flown across the globe any day. I get it that there are differences in culture and tastes, but many of the basics are available locally too - CRYSTAL LEE
CRYSTAL LEE OF KAPUHALA SPACE
ong at G r a n d p a WG a r d e n Grandpa’s
K an ni e L ee is th e ne w ow at G ar de n A rt emne r is AROUND DB / JULY 2022
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Amongst Garden Artemis’ bestselling products are locally made kombuchas, with flavours ranging from passion fruit to the more traditional Chinese tea. Vegan ice-creams are becoming increasingly popular too, recent heatwaves driving the demand. Following in her predecessors’ footsteps, Kannie is also planning to support local farmers by helping them sell their organic produce in her store. “Sourcing locally made products takes time and effort. It’s all about building networks and helping each other with passion,” says Kannie. For 18-year DB resident Kannie, Garden Artemis is more than a shop, it is a haven of relaxation designed to do good. “Local manufacturers can’t go to the supermarket because the fees are very expensive,” she explains. “The main reason I took over this shop is to support them and play my part.”
eggplants to tomatoes. Bananas, papayas and green beans are the main crops on sale over summer. “June was delicate for us because of heavy monsoon rains,” says Grandpa who nevertheless remains cheerful as more and more people are starting to stop by the farm to pick up fresh produce, thanks to word of mouth and social media’s outreach. A senior, the farmer occasionally turns into an educator, something dear to his heart. He explains that local primary schools often organise field trips, to inform students about the whys and hows of crop cultivation. Aware of the lack of garden space available to most DB residents, Grandpa and his wife also rent out plots for people to grow the fruit and veggies of their choice. As luck would have it, they also throw in a regular watering ser vice.
When asked why no flowers are on sale, Kannie responds: “I thought about working with flower farms but try not to compete with other DB shops. They should have their own customers too. I believe in collaboration rather than competition. We have to support each other.” The conscientious entrepreneur hopes to spread positivity well beyond the walls of Garden Artemis. “In order to change the outside, you’ve got to change the inside first,” she says. “If your mindset is not changing, nothing will change.” Looking to the future, Kannie plans to turn her store’s lush terrace into a small café. “I want people to see Garden Artemis as a place to relax, enjoy local products and de-stress,” she says.
THE NIM SHUE WAN FARMS Whilst difficult to imagine, even for many residents, DB has its fair share of local farms, where you can get your hands on fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables. Walk 10 minutes from the DB ferry pier, through Nim Shue Wan village and up the hill towards Mui Wo, and you’ll find Grandpa’s Garden, Tung Tung Farm and Zak’s Garden. In Hong Kong, local fresh vegetable production accounts for only 1.6% of fresh vegetables consumed, and the Nim Shue Wan farmers are proud to stand out from the crowd. Of the three Nim Shue Wan farms, Grandpa’s Garden is the easiest to access, particularly for non-Cantonese speakers. You can call the farm (9137 0640) to find out what’s on sale currently, or better, drop by and chat to Grandpa’s head gardener, who speaks fluent English. You can reserve items or ask her to call you when specific items become available. Prices start at HK$20 – cash only. Named for its owner Mr Wong, Grandpa’s Garden has seasonality at its core, and organic fruit and vegetables are grown adjacently – everything from 22
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ORGANIC FRUIT AND VEG ARE GROWN ADJACENTLY AT GRANDPA’S GARDEN
不一樣的生活態度 Different Attitude to Life Come visit us at DB North Plaza A wide variety of vegan, eco-friendly, organic & local products & unique workshops that support your healthy lifestyle and a healthier planet.
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PARENTING
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! n u S e th uF n in
THE CAMPS ARE BACK!
There’s no reason for DB kids to be bored over the holidays, sign them up for a couple of summer camps and they can be busy and productive instead. Samantha Wong reports PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels 26
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PARENTING
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CONSTRUCTIVE DOWNTIME For many children, school means pressure. Pressure to achieve. Pressure to do things on time. Pressure to learn at someone else’s pace. Some children seem to be wired to meet these challenges, while others are not. For many, the pace and demands of the school setting are overwhelming and, as a result, school can feel defeating. Summer camps encourage and promote pro-social behaviours, and they teach important skills while giving children a break. For most young people, summer camps provide a breathing space in which the pressure is off. Kids can be kids but at the same time learn and grow in a healthy and positive manner. Many children flourish in a different aspect of their life without the stresses school can bring; they have the chance to feel good about who they are and what they can do.
POSITIVE SOCIAL INTERACTION Summer camps offer more than just the development of new skills, they also provide the building blocks for positive social interaction – a fundamental soft skill required to assist young people as they progress toward adulthood. Camp attendees are faced with activities that are emotionally and psychologically challenging. Placed in a situation where they have to meet new people and triumph over obstacles, kids become more resilient and, importantly, more aware of ‘self.’ At summer camp, children are able to ‘connect’ with their surroundings, other people and themselves. Yes, children have the opportunity to socialise and connect at school but at camp, they have more downtime in which to do so. Along the way, they have the chance to learn deeper empathy and better communications skills – they can gain better respect for others and deepen their social intelligence.
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KIDS BEGIN TO SEE THEMSELVES AS PART OF A COMMUNITY
ummer 2022 has brought with it a bumper offering of camps and activities for DB kids, the largest we’ve seen since 2019. You’ll find our top picks on page 30 but know that, whichever type of camp you choose, your kids will be given the opportunity to be busy and social. They’ll be out of your hair for a few hours a day and vice versa. Hopefully too, away from the pressures and social hierarchies of school, they’ll be able to make new friends and, with the guidance of adult mentors, discover new things about themselves. So how do you go about choosing a summer camp from the many different options on offer and what’s really in it for the kids?
Placed in a new environment with new people, kids learn to value the kindnesses of others and they begin to give of themselves in return. In challenging situations, they learn to be sensitive, to empathise and to support friends who are struggling. While building new friendships, they learn to navigate through group dynamics, manage conflict and accept guidance. Children learn that to succeed, they must work together. Rather than thinking only of themselves, they begin to see themselves as part of a community, and with this comes a valuable sense of acceptance and belonging.
NEW EXPERIENCES Importantly too, summer camps often put children in a context where they are interacting with children (and adults) that they do not know. Unhampered by worries AROUND DB / JULY 2022
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PARENTING
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about old friends, jealousies or the expectations of the school group, children are free to pal up with anyone they choose. This gives them a chance to overcome shyness and also to experiment with different ways of socialising. Some of these friendships last, while many will evaporate. It doesn’t matter. What counts, is that children experience getting close to new people, some of whom will be very different from their usual buddies. As a result, they’ll probably learn something about stereotypes, acceptance and understanding. Summer camps teach morals and builds character, while giving children the opportunity to play, laugh and create memories.
such as getting along with a new group of peers, learning how to ask for help, or taking a manageable amount of risk without a parent in attendance. Children learn to work with each other and their adult mentors, outside of the classroom and family unit. By putting themselves out there and trying new things, kids begin to understand what it takes to succeed in life. They develop decision-making skills to get themselves through challenging situations, and they grow in confidence and flexibility.
Children who are fortunate enough to attend summer camp are lucky indeed because a whole new world of friendship, interests, skills and independence is opened up for them.
By tackling an activity that pushes them outside their comfort zone, children come away with a stronger sense of personal pride and self-reliance. As they progress through a course, their confidence builds and they accomplish tasks that at first seemed impossible. All this builds strength of character, courage and determination.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
DECISION TIME
At summer camp, children get the experiences they need to bolster their range of coping strategies. It’s an opportunity for children to face the simple and complex challenges of day-to-day life in a safe environment,
In choosing a summer camp for your children – with your children if they’re old enough – making sure they are going to have lots of fun has to be a first priority. Moving on from there, you may decide to match your kids’ interests with a course that’s available locally. And with so many different classes on offer across the island, this will likely be a no-brainer. Even within DB itself, you’ll find camps that allow your children to focus on everything from ballet and boxing to Maths and Mandarin. Looked at this way, your decision-making process is simple enough. Sign your children up for an activity they already enjoy and give them the chance to focus on it, and get seriously good at it. But have you considered going the other way? Rather than enrolling your kids in a course they already know something about, plump for something new and unexpected, something that will expand their horizons. Let’s say, for instance, that your kids are homebodies and tech obsessed. Any camp you choose will encourage them to unplug and get social, but one that’s based outdoors could be the best bet. Sign them up for a sports course and you’ll see them being physically active and more than that, they’ll be outdoors, connecting with nature in some way. To keep things interesting, there’s also the option of enrolling children in a classroom-based camp. This is a great way to avoid the ‘summer slide,’ where grade points are lost because of lack of tuition over the holidays. And an educational camp doesn’t have to be dull. Specialised, teacher-led summer courses make learning and problem-solving fun and interactive.
CHILDREN EXPERIENCE GETTING CLOSE TO NEW PEOPLE 28
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Most summer camps last a week at most, and they’re pretty affordable, so here’s your answer: Sign your kids up for three different courses. This way they’ll be able to explore their favourite hobbies and try something new, while keeping up with their studies. It’s starting to look like a busy, productive and most importantly fun summer!
DMR School of Ballet sA
is Never M
e c n a h C
! e c n a D To
2022 - 2023 schedule is now available! Classes in Ballet, Modern (Jazz) and Tap for dancers aged 2 - 18! Private classes available upon request
Whatsapp +852 5210 7208
Highly qualified and FIDE licensed coaches
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Email info@dmr-hk.com
Info & registration
Summer Camps 2022
* *
Discovery Bay: 7 morning camps starting from 27 June Sheung Wan: 10 morning camps starting from 13 June Online: 10 afternoon camps starting 13 June
5 days camps at DB or SW: 15 hours per week 3,300HKD 5 days online camps: 10 hours per week 2,600HKD
Summer
DB DESTINATIONS
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@HOME
CHESS
DANCE
C OM P LE T E D E E LI T E
CAISSA HONG KONG
BA LLRO OM B E E S
Complete Deelite’s customised DIY Cake Kits provide a perfect activit y for kids to enjoy at home over the summer. Inside each kit, children find everything they need to craft showstopping cake creations. There are plent y of design options for cupcakes, cookies and cake pops. All materials are provided, plus instructions and access to a step by-step instructional video.
Caissa Hong Kong Chess Club is running eight five-day summer camps in DB Plaza through August 19. The action-packed three-hour morning sessions are conducted by Caissa’s popular World Chess Federationlicensed chess coaches. Caissa camps are fun and competitive, with a focus on tactics and strategy. Children of all levels, aged 5 years and up can join.
BallroomBees’ week-long Dance and Movement Camps are being held across HK (including in DB) through August 27. Kids, aged 1.5 to 12 years, are challenged and stimulated with ageappropriate, high-energy, ballroombased exercises, dance games and choreography to chart topping hits. Camps finish with a Dancing with the Stars showcase so parents can see how much their kids have learnt.
6468 7226 (WhatsApp) info@completedeelite.com
6938 7603 contact@caissahk.com
4622 3215 info@ballroombees.com
w w w.completedeelite.com
w w w.caissahk.org
www.ballroombees.com
AROUND DB / JULY 2022
DB DESTINATIONS
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DANCE
LANGUAGES
OUTDOOR
DA N C E FO R J OY
Y I FA N M A N DA R I N
AR K E DE N
Held in Tung Chung, Dance for Joy’s summer programme comprises fun, energising performing arts classes for kids aged 2 and up. Students learn choreography and technique, while developing their understanding of rhythm, body awareness and selfexpression. Each week, from July 3 to August 27, students learn a new set of dance routines and combinations. All levels are welcome.
At Yifan Mandarin’s weekly Mandarin-immersion programmes, children learn Mandarin through fun and varied, hands- on activities. The DB North Plaza summer camps, for kids aged 3.5 to 9 years, run from July 11 to August 19, Monday to Friday, 9.15am to 12.15pm. Week 1 is themed The Ocean, Week 2 The Sky, Week 3 The Human Being and Week 4 School.
Ark Eden’s multi- day Summer Forest Camps bring out the adventurous, curious and compassionate side of children, aged 5 to 11 years. Running through August 26 in the Mui Wo hills, the camps are both fun and educational with dif ferent eco - minded activities, like treehouse building, campfire cooking and swimming in waterfalls on of fer each day.
9264 8597 info@danceforjoyhk.com
2486 9012, 9208 7611 (WhatsApp) learn@yifanmandarin.com
2988 5355 info@arkedenonlantau.org
w w w.danceforjoyhk.com
w w w.yifancamps.com
www.arkedenonlantau.org
OUTDOOR
OUTDOOR
OUTDOOR
F R I E N D LY RIDES & GUIDES
LE A R N W I T H D R AG O N F LY
TREASURE ISL AND
Friendly Rides & Guides’ five-day camps offer children aged 7 years and up a fun-filled, summer-holiday experience adventuring around HK. Designed for beginner to intermediate riders, the camps cover all of the fundamental skills for kids to safely progress and have fun on the trails. Camps run through August and are filled with cycling adventures, waterfall exploring and educational activities.
Through August 26, Learn With Dragonfly is back with its popular outdoor adventure camps for children aged 7 to 11 years. Two-day, threeday and five-day options are available in Mui Wo, Cheung Chau and Sai Kung. Activities include kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, canyoning, coasteering, abseiling, search and rescue, and survival skills.
Through August 26, Treasure Island is providing a full programme of award-winning Surf and Adventure Camps in Pui O for surfers of all levels aged 5 to 16 years. The week-long day camps are divided into three age groups (Grommets, Intermediates and Young Adventurers), and kids are given the opportunity to learn water skills, ocean safety and environmental awareness, as well as surfing. New this year, is the Summer Extreme Adventure Camps programme for young people aged 9 to 13 years, and 13 to 17 years.
5117 0051 friendlyridesandguides@gmail.com
2111 8918, 5345 7235 (WhatsApp) enquiries@learnwithdragonfly.com
5236 7016 inquiries@treasureislandhk.com
www.friendlyridesandguides.com
www.learnwithdragonfly.com
www.treasureislandhk.com
AROUND DB / JULY 2022
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! th on M e th f o r u e n e r p e r t En STEFANIE HEMSHALL
Stefanie Hemshall established Escapade Sports in 2002 with her husband Keith, and she continues to run the company with her brother Christian Ross. The trio opened Escapade Sports’ Causeway Bay store in 2009, the Central store in 2011 (which recently moved to a new location on On Lan Street) the online store in 2014, and the Repulse Bay store in 2015. The main driver is to help everybody from professional athletes to first-time participants reach their full potential by providing them with top quality sportswear and accessories. Here, as she celebrates Escapade Sport’s 20th anniversary, Stefanie provides some inspirational advice for budding entrepreneurs.
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Q How did Escapade Sports’ journey begin?
Q Do many of your customers shop online?
We bought the sports shop at the Hong Kong Cricket Club (HKCC) in 2002 in order to give my father-in-law employment. His investments had gone south, and he was looking for income. As an honorary member of HKCC, he liked the idea of working the shop that was there at the time. I took over from him about two years later when he had sorted out his investments and wanted to retire, and I took it from there.
Our online sales are growing but they are still only a very small percentage of our overall sales. What’s great is that we offer same day deliveries within Hong Kong.
Q What are the main characteristics that every successful entrepreneur needs? Firstly, believing that if you work hard, you can make a bad situation good again – and being prepared to work hard. Secondly, being passionate about what you do. Thirdly, admitting that you cannot be good at all aspects of the business and finding help with the aspects that you are not good at or don’t like doing. Q Did you look at your competition when deciding to start-up? When we opened our flagship store in Causeway Bay, we had no competition as we specialised in sports that were considered niche at the time, like rugby and triathlon. Q What’s the most important thing to consider when setting up a business? It is a lot less glamorous than most people think, and you must have stamina. Q What’s the key to entrepreneurial success? There are two: Being able to think out of the box, and being able to reflect your passion to the people around you. Q What’s the best piece of entrepreneurial advice you have ever been given? To improve my forecasting and planning. A lot of entrepreneurs don’t like this part as it’s not much fun. Q How do you reach your target audience? By a mix of word of mouth, print advertisements and social media, as well as collaboration with event organisers. Q What qualities do you look for when hiring staff? A good command of English and a willingness to learn. Ideally too, they are passionate about sport. Q How do you operate in closed markets, i.e. COVID? It’s very hard. You really have to think out of the box. When gyms and LCSD facilities closed, we had to make sure we had a lot more home exercise equipment on offer and get used to the fact that we would sit on rugby and hockey items much longer. When you have a shop on the beach (as we do at Repulse Bay) and beaches close, it is so very hard. You have to negotiate with landlords and limit your opening hours and think of other ways to cut costs.
Q What value-added services do you provide compared to the existing competition? We believe that our customers are the most important part of our business and we try to make them feel that way. We try to help them, advise them and make their buying experience as enjoyable and smooth as possible. We also have a Super Active VIP membership programme in place so that loyal customers can enjoy discounts and special offers. Q Do you advocate Corporate Social Responsibility? Definitely! That’s one of the best parts of running a business. We love helping others. Even gestures that are small for us, like donating Shock Absorber sports bras for female refugees through RUN Hong Kong, can help people a lot. We always want to help. We’ve been collecting used shoes for over 10 years. We work with Crossroads Foundation Hong Kong to make these shoes available to those who can’t afford them. Q How do you reduce your carbon footprint? For the benefit of our customers and our environment, we apply environmental friendliness as a criterion when selecting new brands and products. We work with our suppliers to reduce packaging by reusing cardboard boxes and we have relinquished the use of plastic. Since December 2019, we no longer offer customers plastic-based shopping bags. If you forget to bring your own bag, you can purchase one of our ‘No More Plastic Bags For Me’ shopping bags. These cotton bags are priced at HK$28 of which HK$12 is donated to Plastic Free Seas to support its education and action campaigns about plastic pollution in society. Q How do you diversify? Diversity is Escapade Sports. We currently employ staff of six different nationalities. We were one of the first signatories of the Racial Diversity & Inclusion Charter for Employers, that was launched by the Equal Opportunities Commission in 2018.
Q Once a business is doing well, how do you ensure that it continues to do so? There are no guarantees in our business. We had years of doing quite well and suddenly it flipped. Our bestselling brands opened concept stores next door to us and started competing with us. You really always have to stay on your toes, be nimble and react quickly. For more on Escapade Sports and to shop online, visit www.escapade.com.hk
AROUND DB / JULY 2022
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PETS
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! d n e i r F t s e B s ' n a M HOW TO TREAT YOUR DOG
When we say “it’s a dog’s life,” we mean that life is difficult and unpleasant, but for pooches living in DB that’s far from the truth. Raphael Blet reports
D
PHOTOS COURTESY OF Unsplash
B also stands for Dogs and Babies. It’s a nickname that’s stuck through the years, likely because there’s a degree of truth to it, despite the absence of official figures. Walk around the community and it’s easy to believe the “dogs and babies ratio” exceeds that of most places in Hong Kong. Clearly, DB’s village-like atmosphere appeals to local and expat families alike – and what’s a family without a dog?
Importantly too, My Pet Shop is something of a community hub. While their best friend gets pampered by professional groomers, dog owners can relax and enjoy a snack and a drink, even a beer. To help while away the time, some dog-related literature is available on the small library shelf at the main entrance.
DB is in fact a dog lover’s delight, with its parks, beaches and trails ideal for long, daily walks. What’s more, many of us are lucky enough to live in large (at least by Hong Kong standards) apartments complete with outdoor areas, which provide plenty of space for our canine companions to enjoy. This month, for all you dog lovers out there, we’ve put together a round-up of different pet-service providers, from groomers and sitters to vets.
GROOMING & SHOPPING These days there are three dedicated pet shops in DB: My Pet Shop in DB North Plaza, and Pets Gallery and The Dog’s Garden in DB Plaza. While they all provide grooming services for dogs as well as essential supplies, each has its own unique selling point. Where innovation meets personalisation At My Pet Shop in DB North Plaza, owner Jonathan Morgan has set out to create a complete lifestyle hub for pets. From food to accessories and grooming services, the store is therefore a go-to for dog owners who want to get everything sorted at once. With all the basics covered, My Pet Shop is also somewhere to pick out something special for a beloved pouch, whether that’s a colourful dog tag that can be engraved instore within a couple of minutes, or a supply of up-tothe-minute Pogi’s poop bags that are plastic-free and 100% compostable. 34
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XXX WASH-AND-GO AT MY PET SHOP
For residents wanting to wash-and-go, My Pet Shop offers a self-service dog (and cat) washer/ dryer. Both long- and short-wash options are available and cabins are disinfected after each furry customer has taken a spin. An innovative Spanish import, the machine is ideal for sandy dogs fresh from the beach, and many DB dogs apparently love it. For busy dog owners, Jonathan also offers a full grooming service which includes free pick-up and drop-off within DB, in air-conditioned vehicles. My Pet Shop Shop G09, DB North Plaza, 2987 8873 www.facebook.com/Mypetshop-469116326470889 Satisfying the cravings of VIPs The Dog’s Garden is a health-driven, eco-aware onestop shop providing just about everything a healthy dog needs from food and supplements to toys, beds
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DB is in fact a dog lover’s delight, with its parks, beaches and trails ideal for long, daily walks.
PETS GALLERY HAS BEEN A DB GO-TO SINCE 1997
Co Classic. Many high-end toys are also available, such as handmade crochet basketballs.
THE DOG’S GARDEN FOR POSH POOCHES
and collars. The DB Plaza branch is one of four in Hong Kong. Quality products are sourced from around the globe, including an up-to-the-minute selection of Max & Molly trackable Smart ID Collars. The Dog’s Garden has its own line of raw, humangrade, freeze-dried dog treats, all of which go through a rigorous quality-control process and are approved by Wong Wong, the co-founder’s dog. Boxes of veterinarian-endorsed Bonne et Filou macarons are also available for special occasions. The boutique caters to posh dogs with blankets and beds from premium brands such as Hugh & Hudson and Sydney &
The Dog’s Garden provides an extensive grooming service that includes organic spa treatments, as well as traditional hair and nail clipping and bathing. What’s more, a new pet groomer with over 10 years of grooming experience in Singapore and New Zealand is joining the team, in August. The Dog’s Garden Shop G34, DB Plaza, 2987 2077 www.thedogsgarden.com A United Nations for treats Part of the DB community since 1997, Pets Gallery has become a neighbourhood institution, and owner Raymond Li has witnessed the resort’s tremendous development over the last 25 years. The DB Plaza store specialises in go-to pet food brands from across the globe, including Hill’s Science Diet, Royal Canin, Burns, Kakato, Canidae, Wellness, Mon Ge, Solid Gold, Virbac, Stella & Chewy’s, Zeland Nandi. AROUND DB / JULY 2022
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Pets Gallery also provides a number of tried-and-tested, add-on services including dog grooming with free pickup and drop-off, dog coaching and obedience training.
Island Veterinary Services Shop G10, DB Plaza, 2987 9003 www.petspace.group.
Cat owners should note that Pets Gallery has been providing a personalised cat-sitting service within DB for over 20 years. The process is based on trust – clients leave their keys with the store’s sitters, who then provide in-house feeding and cleaning. The experience is believed to be far less stressful for cats than a stay in an unfamiliar cattery, where their routine is disrupted.
Pet Space Club Shop G38, DB Plaza, 2788 1599 www.petspace.group
Pets Gallery G11B DB Plaza, 2987 0428
VETERINARY PET SPACE, Hong Kong’s “largest veterinary group,” now has a strong presence in DB with Island Veterinary Services in DB Plaza and Pet Space Club in DB North Plaza. Both branches provide a wide range of veterinary services including dental care, vaccination, imaging, microchipping, health checks, senior pet care, surgeries and allergy tests. PET SPACE is well-known for its holistic approach towards pet care, and dog acupuncture and tui-na massage (ideal for older dogs suffering from arthritis) are available at the Wanchai branch. In the event of an emergency, DB dogs can be referred to PET SPACE’s state-of-the art hospital in Sai Wan.
DOG SITTING & WALKING The process of hiring someone to help you care for your dog – a sitter, a walker, anyone – can be troublesome and time consuming, which is where PetBacker comes in. A multipurpose platform targeting tech-savvy dog owners, PetBacker provides a full range of ser vices – think of it as Uber for dogs. From dog walking to boarding, the platform matches users with verified “backers,” whose rating and reviews are made public. Safety at the core, payment is directly processed through the app, and ser vice providers – many of whom live in DB – are thoroughly vetted. When your four-legged friend is in the care of a backer, you receive regular updates complete with photos through the app’s own internal messaging system. Know that only 30% of applicants make the cut to be a sitter on PetBacker. PetBacker www.petbacker.com
Visit us for a wide variety of products to suit your furry friends’ needs!
Shop G09 - Discovery Bay NORTH PLAZA
mypetshop
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mypetshop@live.hk
2987 8873
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Drink
Address : Shop G101 South Plaza Discovery Bay,HK +852 6636-3303
Takeaway & Free Delivery!
Opening Hour Mon-Thu 10:00-22:00 Fri-Sat 10:00-00:00 Sun 10:00-22:00
INSIDER
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! s p i T Top
FIRE UP THE BARBY
DB’s ‘cue culture is booming now that summer’s here and we can again gather in groups. Samantha Wong provides an entry point for would-be grillers PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels
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his summer, we’re looking to use our outdoor spaces as somewhere to get together with family and friends – as many friends as we can pack in. We want our balconies, terraces and rooftops to be fully functional living spaces in which to eat, drink and have a good time. So, what’s the key ingredient? A barbecue. As we all know, no one turns down an invitation to a barbecue party, however high the humidity. And now that most families can claim a resident chef, it’s not only hamburgers and hot dogs that are being thrown on the grill. Experienced cooks are experimenting with seafood, stocking up on gamey meats, and trying out exotic marinades, sauces and salads. But first things first. There are plenty of ways to barbecue – with gas, with charcoal, with wood chips, with split logs – so which do you choose? Here in DB, where smoking out the neighbours is frowned upon, charcoal and gas are your only real options. So, let’s take that as our starting point.
CHARCOAL OR GAS? Purists will tell you to avoid gas grills, that the smoke is an ingredient in itself, and without it, you’re missing out on the nuanced flavour. Gas devotees, on the other hand, point to the way heat distributing materials in gas barbecues work to vaporise drippings and create an aromatic smoke. What ’s impor tant is whether you can taste the
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difference. Do you prefer the strangely delicious overdone beef that only charcoal can provide, or are you good with gas? O ne t hing’s for s ure, i t ’s eas ier an d q uic ker to barbecue with gas. A gas barbecue requires no real warm-up time – the griddle gets nice and hot in just five minutes. With charcoal, you need to wait around 40 minutes for the initial flames to die down before you have the whitened cinders essential for your first hamburger. Generally speaking too, you can fire up gas barbecues with ease, whereas charcoal is a lot more problematic to get going or restart. Gas provides convenience and spontaneity and it gives you more control. Not only can you “fire up” a gas barbecue quickly, adjusting temperatures is as easy as turning a knob, so you are less likely to overcook things. What’s more, gas grills are inexpensive to operate, easy to clean (the residue will burn off during preheating) and you can bring them out whatever the weather. On the other hand, if you are looking at barbecuing as a pastime – if you really want to make a meal of it – then gas is simply no fun. What you’re after is a fiery, challenging experience that can’t be compared to cook ing at a s tove; you’re s atis f ying a basic human need to make fire, and you enjoy the handson experience of lighting charcoal. Waiting for the charcoal to reach cooking temperature is half the fun (picture yourself huddled around the grill with a group of friends disagreeing over whether the coals are hot enough). And you even like the challenge of charcoal grilling in wet or windy weather.
CHARCOAL- OR GAS-GRILLED? CAN YOU TASTE THE DIFFERENCE? AROUND DB / JULY 2022
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If grilling with charcoal is the way you want to go, the proper technique can be summed up in three words: low and slow. Be patient. Flame-grilled is a very misleading term. You need to wait for the flames to die down before you begin. (You want the coals grey and glowing for the hottest, most even heat.) There’s also a knack to controlling the temperature across a charcoal grill. The easiest technique is the “half and half”– put all the coals to one side, so one side is super-hot and the other a lot cooler, with no direct heat beneath it.
TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES O nce yo u’ve d e cid e d o n yo ur p refer re d gr illing method, consider whether you want your barbeque inbuilt or freestanding and/ or por table. This will largely depend on where you will be hosting your barbecue par ties. Similarly, when working out what size model you want, think about the size of your outdoor space, and factor in how many people you will be regularly entertaining. Your best bet is to go for as big a barbecue as you can afford, not least because meat needs to have space around it as it grills. You don’t want your hamburgers and kebabs crammed up against each other, or against the sides of the grill while they are cooking. If barbecues now come in all shapes and sizes, they also vary widely in style, so you can plump for a modest nofrills model that does the job, or something high-tech with all mod cons. Maybe your grilling experience would be transformed if you had a barbecue with stainlesssteel side shelves, integrated utensil holders and a cart to push it around on. Illuminated control knobs that allow you to grill after dark could well be a godsend, as could a charcoal tray add-on to your gas grill. One thing your barbeque really needs is a lid. It locks in flavour, keeps the temperature constant and opens up a world of culinary possibilities. Without one you can’t do beercan chicken, or melt cheese on burgers, or smoke ribs… Barbecuing is all about getting the temperature bang on, so you may want to splash out on a fancy Bluetooth thermometer (or choose a grill with one built in). Alternatively, you can always test the heat – caveman style – by holding your hand around 12 centimetres above the grill. If you can hold it there for just two seconds, the grill is white-hot, four seconds, it’s medium heat and six seconds, it’s low heat. Speaking of tools, the one bit of kit you simply must have, in addition to a heavy-duty oven glove, is a decent pair of tongs. Professional barbecuing tongs give you the most control, and reduce your chances of dropping a succulent slice of wagyu between the grills. 40
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TRICKS OF THE TRADE Be sure to marinate. The phrase “leave for a few hours, ideally overnight” applies doubly to barbecuing and you should continue to brush your meat or fish with the marinade as it cooks. It will add moisture, trap the smoky flavour and make the meat caramelise gently. Don’t ruin the vegetables. What you want is that lovely charring along the bars, so slice your vegetables thin, then grill straight away – no oil, no seasoning. Once cooked, you can add flavour with some quality olive oil and a few herbs. Get the sides right. If you’re trying to serve a balanced meal, the sides will make up two-thirds of what you eat. So, prepare a couple of simple salads, steam some couscous, warm up a few flatbreads and get some corn cobs on the grill. Rest the meat. After removing your meat from the grill, let it sit for a few minutes to seal in the juices, and don’t cut it until you are ready to serve. Another juice-saving tip, don’t poke holes in your meat while it’s cooking – turn it using tongs or spatulas.
! d r a o B On FITNESS
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MAKING WAVES
Wakesurfing is more than a substitute for traditional surfing, it’s a distinct watersport with endless possibilities. Raphael Blet hears all about it from Wakesurf DB’s Alice Leung and Albert Wong PHOTOS COURTESY OF Wakesurf DB
WAKESURFING ALLOWS YOU TO RIDE the waves of a boat’s
wake, rather than be pulled along (as you are in wakeboarding). Wakesurfers stand on the board instead of being strapped onto it. They stay only about 5 metres behind the boat after they let go of the towrope, while wakeboarders can be as far back as 20 metres and hold onto the towrope as they ride.
THE BEST ADVICE for new wakesurfers
is to relax and let the boat do the work. Sit in the water with your heels on the edge of the board, toes pointing up. As the board begins to move, let your knees come into your chest as you dig in your heels. Keep your knees bent until the board flips up to your feet and your weight is over the board. Stand up gently.
TO STAY UP ON THE BOARD,
find your centre of gravity, and stand tall with your chest up, bum in and knees slightly bent over your toes. Once you are comfortably surfing, with a consistently slack line, it’s time to toss the rope. Either throw the rope directly back into the boat, or across to the other side of the wave so that you don’t get caught up with it.
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FITNESS
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TO STAY SAFE,
you should only wakesurf behind a boat whose propeller is not exposed in the back. True wakesurfing involves riding right behind the boat, so it should only be done behind an inboard or V-drive. Wakesurfing behind an outboard is very risky as you culd hit the propeller.
KIDS AS YOUNG AS SEVEN YEARS
THERE ARE COUNTLESS TRICKS
to learn, such as carving turns, floaters, bottom turns, slashes, board slides and 360s. Just about anyone who can wakesurf can perform an Ollie. It’s a flashy but easy trick that involves popping the whole board into the air.
can learn to wakesurf, providing they are confident swimmers. What’s important is that they are taught to wakesurf on a kid-sized board. Riding a full-size board makes it difficult for them not only to get up but to control the board once they are up and riding.
WAKESURFING IS GROWING IN POPULARITY
in part because the ride is significantly slower – 11 miles per hour – than wakeboarding, which takes riders through the water at nearly 20 miles per hour. In wakesurfing, you’re going to tip over more than you’re going to slam or get hurt. You can pretty much guarantee that you will fall –don’t jump, allow yourself to fall gently into the water.
THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES
of wakesurf board: surf, hybrid and skim. Surfshape wakesurf boards, with a large surface area and three-fin setup, provide a stable and forgiving platform on which to learn the basics. Hybrid boards offer greater flexibility by combining stability and manoeuvrability. Ultra-thin skimboards are poppy and nimble – perfect for surface tricks.
YOU DO NOT NEED PRIOR WATERSPORT EXPERIENCE to learn how to wakesurf, and it
provides a great workout for the legs and upper body. It’s a fun and relaxing watersport which can be enjoyed year-round. What’s more, DB is an ideal place to wakesurf, as its surrounding waters are mostly calm.
Based in Peng Chau, Wakesurf DB offers fully captained wakesurf experiences and instruction for children and adults. WhatsApp Alice Leung on 6123 1181 for more information and to make a booking. Follow FB @wakesurfdb and IG@wakesurf.db to find out more. AROUND DB / JULY 2022
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? on z i or On the H ESCAPES
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CHIANG MAI
Discover a totally different side to the land of smiles PHOTOS COURTESY OF Unsplash
RICH IN HISTORY AND TRADITION, Chiang Mai
is northern Thailand’s most culturally significant province and arguably the nation’s best vehicle for educating and entertaining visitors. Rich in mountains, forests and rice fields, it’s still the home of a complex web of tribal groups, who began migrating there over 1,000 years ago from China.
THE OLD TOWN OOZES A BOHEMIAN FEEL and it’s packed
with artisans from all over Thailand, many of whom champion traditional arts and crafts. Like Ubud in Bali, it’s somewhere to watch craftsmen at work – producing everything from handwoven textiles and baskets to intricately wrought silverware – and shop ‘til you drop.
EVERYONE HEADS TO THE WALKING STREET on Sunday
afternoon, which stretches from one side of town to the other. The whole area is blocked off to traffic and filled with stalls, where you find irresistible silks, parasols, silverware and lacquerware, pottery, hill-tribe treasures and, of course, Thai street food. 44
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THAI PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU that you haven’t
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tasted khao soi until you’ve eaten it in Chiang Mai. The soup is a little like masaman in that it’s nutty, but khao soi is richer in coconut milk and topped with crispy flash-fried noodles. You also get to add your own garnishes – chopped coriander, shallots, chilies, pickled cabbage, lime juice – so every mouthful is slightly different from the last.
THERE ARE STUNNING BUDDHIST WATS at every
turn in the old town. One of the most popular is Wat Phra Singh, which takes its name from the important Buddha statue of a lion (singh) it houses. Just a few blocks away, at Wat Chedi Luang temple complex, the 60-metre stupa is guarded by ferocious-looking stone nagas (divine serpent-people).
AT WAT PHRA THAT DOI SUTHEP, half-an-hour’s
drive from the city, some 300 steps lead up to the main temple, where elaborate murals depict the life and teachings of Buddha. At the centre, the gold-covered stupa is encircled by sacred, gilded, Myanmaresestyle parasols.
SAVE ELEPHANT FOUNDATION’S Elephant Nature Park
(www.saveelephant.org), founded and run by Lek Chailert, is arguably the most ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai. You can observe and feed the herds, and help bathe them in the river every afternoon. Long stays are an option as well as day visits – the food is fantastic and the valley beautiful.
AROUND DB / JULY 2022
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RECIPES
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S E R U S A E L SIMPLE P If we learnt anything in lockdown it was to appreciate the simple things in life. Take a break from your newly hectic schedule to enjoy this fresh and colourful Asian-inspired salad PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock
Serves 4 1lb asparagus, trimmed 2tbsp white vinegar 1tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce 2tsp canola oil 1tsp sesame oil
Fill a medium bowl with ice water and place by the stove. Bring 1 inch of water to the boil in a steamer or a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket. Cut off the ends of the asparagus, and then steam until tender-crisp, 5 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness. Transfer the asparagus to the ice water. Drain.
½tsp fresh ginger, grated 2-3 dashes red chili sauce, optional 1 bunch radish, trimmed and cut into wedges 2tbsp finely chopped scallions
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Combine the vinegar, soy sauce, canola oil, sesame oil, ginger and chili sauce in a large bowl. Add the asparagus, radish and scallion; toss to combine. Season well, garnish with fresh chard leaves and serve with grilled prawns and rice noodles.
RECIPES
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DB FACES
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i n a w d i G it j l Ba
COMMUNITY SNAPS
PHOTOS BY Baljit Gidwani
www.evoqueportraits.com
UNCLERUSS RUSSINSTAGRAM INSTAGRAMCOMPETITION COMPETITION UNCLE
WIN PRIZES FROM UNCLE RUSS COFFEE AND THE PIER BAR! The best snap wins! Your mission this month is to share your favourite photo of DB on Instagram, hashtag #arounddb. You have until the 10th of the month to enter. This is your chance to win 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!
Lantau Boat Club
CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST MONTH'S WINNER: Liubov Kosachevskaya @gonkong_s_liubovju
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Packing, Moving & Storage Services. Provide fix price quote upon onsite survey or choose from rates below.
Hire a Truck: $220/Hour. Minimum 3 Hour Short Trips: $200.00 up. Hire Movers: HK$120/hour per Mover. Minimum 3 Hour. Cartons and Packing Materials: 16x14x14" (Small): HK$12.00. 23x15x15" (Medium): HK$15.00. 24x18x16" (Large): HK$18.00. 36x23x11" (Flat carton for Hanging Clothes): HK$30.00. 24x22x47" (Wardrobe Boxes) : $90.00 Plastic Wrap: HK$60/Roll. Packing Paper: $160/Ream. Bubble: HK$50/Roll. Packing Tape: $8/piece. Plastic boxes and used cartons can be provided free of charge. (Subject to availability) Serve Lantau, DB, Tung Chung and rest of the HK. www.akash.hk 50
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2421 8088
info@akash.hk
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Discovery Bay International Community Church
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No dues or fees. 24hr hotline: +852 9073 6922
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Is It Possible to Buy Custom-Made Household Items at a Reasonable Price?
Yes! CREATE YOUR OWN
UNIQUE HOME STYLE WITH TAILOR-MADE FURNITURE,
TO HOME DECOR AND MORE! Contact El Heng of Lewis & Co., Limited at 6333 6891 to Discuss Further
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DO YOU HAVE PLAN B?
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14/8/2020
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LOCAL NUMBERS
LOCAL NUMBERS
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TUNG CHUNG
EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 Tung Chung Ambulance Depot Tung Chung Fire Station Tung Chung Police Station
Raffles Medical Emergency 2988 8282 2988 1898 REALTORS 3661 1999 HomeSolutions
HOME & REPAIRS Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths Mr Chan 24-Hour Handyman Shun Yu Engineering
2109 2330 9343 3718 2988 1488
HOTELS Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Novotel Citygate Hong Kong Regal Airport Hotel Sheraton Tung Chung The Silveri Hong Kong - MGallery
3969 1888 3602 8888 2286 8888 2535 0000 3602 8989
LEARNING CENTRES Clement Art School Discovery Mind International Play Centre Greenfield International Kindergarten Salala Kids’ House Soundwaves English Education Centre Sun Island Education Foundation Sunshine House International Preschool Tung Chung Catholic School YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College
9757 9157 2987 8070 2162 5538 2611 9193 2164 7210 2420 1068 2109 3873 2121 0884 2988 8123
MEDICAL Bayside Dental Essential Health Family Clinic Human Health Medical Centre North Lantau Hospital North Lantau Physiotherapy Quality Health Dental Quality Health Care Medical Raffles Medical
2185 6550 2109 9396 2109 2288 3467 7000 2194 0020 2403 6613 2403 6623 2261 2626
2261 0999 Rouge, Regal Airport Hotel 2286 6868 Skycity Bistro, SkyCity Marriott 3969 2500 Sunset Grill, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0025 3483 5003 The New Chapter 2907 6988 The Tavern 2907 6822 REMOVALS & RELOCATION Upper Deck 2757 8889 Akash Removals 2421 8088 Yue, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0028 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 Velocity Bar & Grill, Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott 3969 1888 ReloSmart 2561 3030 SwiftRelo 2363 4008 RETAIL FTC Apparel 2428 2566 RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Lantau Balloons 9733 5483 Caribbean Coast Clubhouse 2109 9277 Caribbean Coast Management Office 2109 9288 SPORT & RECREATION 2385 9677 Coastal Skyline Clubhouse 2179 6678 Asia Pacific Soccer Schools 2914 0658 Coastal Skyline Management Office 2179 6621 Aqua Gym 2493 8895 Seaview Crescent Clubhouse 3473 8700 B & S Art Gallery 9264 8597 Seaview Crescent Management Office 3473 8833 Dance for Joy 6688 2167 Tung Chung Crescent Clubhouse 2403 6770 Edge ’n Pointe Dance Centre 2711 1280 Tung Chung Crescent Management Office 2109 1222 ESF Sports Fitness in Motion 9744 4736 HK Dragons 2987 4274 RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY Kinder Kicks Soccer 2385 9677 A Tavola Bar & Grill 2321 5500 Perun Fitness 6443 6597 Andante, Novotel Citygate 3602 8828 Rugbytots 5307 6677 Cabana Breeze 2777 8982 Tung Chung Public Swimming Pool 2109 9107 Café Aficionado 2286 6238 Tung Chung Sports Centre 2109 2421 Café Lantau, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0021 Tung Chung Rugby Club 6079 0825 Funky Monkey 2427 1111 Jasmine Tung Chung 2162 8018 VETERINARY SERVICES & PETS La Rosabelle Bar & Grill 2881 8788 Royal Pets (Pet Sitting) 6314 9887 La Vista 2368 6866 Tung Chung Animal Clinic 2988 1534 Lobby Lounge, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0023 Tung Chung Vet Centre 2328 7282 Maison Du Mezze 2330 0131 Mint & Basil 2762 8077 WELLBEING & BEAUTY Moon Lok Chiu Chow 2116 8149 2162 5752 My Thai 2907 6918 Max Beauty Spa 2286 6266 Nha trang Vietnamese Cuisine 2234 9199 OM Spa, Regal Airport Hotel 9551 6468 PizzaExpress 2297 3588 Tung Chung Nail Ninjas 969 21888 Regala Café & Dessert Bar, Regal Airport Hotel 2286 6618 Quan Spa, Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott
SOUTH LANTAU
HOTELS Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel
MEDICAL 3467 7000 3661 1696 North Lantau Hospital 2984 1570 REALTORS Findley Leung 2984 8334 2984 8487 HomeSolutions 3483 5003 2984 1802 2984 9833 REMOVALS & RELOCATION 2421 8088 9783 5840 Akash Removals FTC Relocations 2814 1658 Lee Hing Loong 2984 2268 6810 0111 ReloSmart 2561 3030 2985 8383 SwiftRelo 2363 4008
LEARNING CENTRES Ashville International Kindergarten & Nursery Buddhist Fat Ho College Lantau International Kindergarten Lantau International School, Reception, Lantau International School, Lower Primary Lantau International School, Upper Primary Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten Mui Wo Language Cafe Silvermine Bay School
2109 9886 2985 5365 2984 0302 2984 0302 2980 3676 2984 0302 3689 7033 5511 6107 2984 0006
EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 Lantau South Police Mui Wo Fire Department HOME & REPAIRS Koon Wah Hardware Lee Wo Construction Engineering Man Shun Construction & Engineering New Look Design
The China Beach Club The Gallery The Kitchen Treasure Island Beach Club
RETAIL Friendly Bike Shop Garden Plus Island Wines Loi Chan Frozen Meat Co. Lantau Base Camp Lantau Grocer Red Hall Chinese Antiques Tony’s Salon Value Vigilantes RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY Bahçe Turkish Restaurant 2984 0222 VIBE Book & Music Shop Bathers 2504 4788 SPORT & RECREATION Cafe Isara 2470 1966 Long Coast Seasports Caffe Paradiso 2984 0498 South Lantau Paddle Club China Bear 2984 9720 Treasure Island Beach Club La Pizzeria 2984 8933 Lantana Italian Bistro 5465 5511 WELLBEING & BEAUTY Long Island 2320 2001 Pause by the Banyan Pause Cafe 5267 5549 Spa Ambiance
2983 8931 2980 2582 5991 6292 5236 7013 2984 2278 2980 2233 9521 8481 2984 8346 9889 4375 2702 0050 2988 1368 2984 0990 6132 9120 9088 2370 5545 5625 6058 8843 2546 3543 9708 0187 2984 2488
AROUND DB / JULY 2022
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LOCAL NUMBERS
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DISCOVERY BAY BUSINESS SERVICES T8 Consulting Ltd
2517 8248
EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 China Light & Power Emergency DB Fire & Ambulance Gas Leakage Emergency Hotline Lantau North Police Report Room
2728 8333 2987 7502 2435 4511 3661 1694
FINANCIAL SERVICES Bank of China HSBC Parsons White Wealth Management The Stephen Putnam Practice
2160 8585 2233 3000 2433 6981 2914 0388
HOME & REPAIRS China Light & Power Information DRS Company Good Luck Engineering Hung Kee Co May’s Furniture & Curtain Design Rich Point Hardware Materials Water Fault Reports Water Supplies Department Well Supreme Laundry
2678 2678 9156 0360 2987 1313 2987 5087 2987 0222 2987 0789 2811 0788 2824 5000 2987 5151
HOTELS Auberge Discovery Bay
2295 8288
LAWYERS & INSURANCE Harvey Law Group International law firm offering a wide range of commercial & personal legal services. Meeting facilities available in DB. Contact 24168618, dboffice@harveylawcorporation.com,
Manulife 9172 9152 LEARNING CENTRES Discovery Montessori School A reputable & well-known international school for authentic Montessori bilingual (English & Chinese) education for children aged 1 to 12 years. Beautiful campus & highly qualified teachers. Contact 2987 1201, enquiry@dms.edu.hk, www.dms.edu.hk 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 6331 7215, littleexplorersdb@gmail.com Tree of Joy A fun, engaging & supportive environment in which children play & learn. Programmes include a drop-off nursery class, parent-toddler class, afternoon camp & cooking class. Contact 3742 8772, info@treeofjoydb.com, www.treeofjoydb.com
Bayview House of Children DBIS DBIS Kindergarten Discovery College Discovery Mind International Play Centre Discovery Mind Kindergarten Discovery Mind Primary School Discovery Montessori Academy Dr Bear Education Centre Epic Adventurers Eye Level Education Learning Centre Funfit HKILA La Petite Enfance Kindergarten L’Ecole Pierre et Marie Curie Links Parenting Mandarin for Munchkins Mathemagic (home tutoring) Mathnasium SKH Wei Lun Primary School 54
AROUND DB / JULY 2022
6114 2436 2987 7331 2914 2142 3969 1000 2987 8088 2987 8088 2914 2202 2812 9206 9685 7856 2441 0098 9366 0000 6302 6327 2416 3198 8191 0813 8191 0813 6114 2436 2480 3909 9135 4724 2628 3362 2987 8608
Sunshine House International Preschool Treasure House Woodentots Zhi Zhi Chinese
2987 8143 2987 4217 6108 9131 9648 2966
MEDICAL Bayside Dental Practice 2987 0855 DB Medical Centre 2987 5633 Health & Care Dental Clinic 2666 6183 Island Health 2987 7575 North Lantau Hospital 3467 7000 Quality Health Medical Centre 2987 5633 Quality Health Physiotherapy 2473 6200 Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Lok Kwan Home Care Service 2803 2103 Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Lok Kwan District Support Centre (Islands) 2548 0060/ 2546 3739 Yulana Stynder Physiotherapy 5514 1008 PLACES OF WORSHIP DB Alliance Church Community Centre DB Anglican Church DB International Community Church Trinity Chapel
2987 8136 2987 4210 2987 7061 2987 9909
REALTORS Headland Homes Kingsland Land Master Property Okay.com Savills
2987 2088 2987 2987 2987 6238 2102 0829 2987 1919
REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals FTC Relocations Hoi Yu Transportation ReloSmart SwiftRelo
2421 8088 2814 1658 2987 4488 2561 3030 2363 4008
RESIDENTIAL SERVICES DB Office Centre DB Lost & Found DB Management The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Typhoon Signal Enquiries
2238 3388 3651 2345 2238 3601 2259 3422 2835 1473
RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY 101 Tasty House 22º North Bones & Blades Café Bord de Mer & Lounge Caffe Pascucci Cali-Mex Coffee Academics Coyote Mexican Cantina Ebeneezer’s Epic Foods Figos Seaside Café First Korean Restaurant HanMade Teahouse Hemingway’s il Bel Paese Island Café Koh Tomyums La Creation & Châteraisé Levain Bakery Lekker Laa McDonald’s & McCafe McSorley’s Ale House Mirch Masala Moofish by Zak’s Osmanbey Turkish Restaurant Pacific Coffee Paisano’s Pascucci Italian Caffe & Fine Food
2658 9696 2987 2298 2383 0792 2295 8299 2591 1426 2904 7698 2882 2280 2987 2848 2987 0036 2172 6111 2987 2915 2987 9123 2322 8858 2987 8855 2987 0202 2987 9311 2987 0767 2987 1829 2726 4922 6857 1620 2987 1033 2987 8280 2987 1337 2987 6318 5401 8350 2987 1662 2673 4445 2591 1426
LOCAL NUMBERS
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DISCOVERY BAY Peony PizzaExpress Robata Master Shanghai Breeze Solera Starbucks Subway Sushi No En Taste of Thai The Pier Bar Three Sheets Marquee Bar Uncle Russ Viet Bu Tong Kitchen & Bar Zak’s
2215 0833 3164 1340 6176 7573 2987 7808 2555 0772 2246 8372 2914 0005 3705 9984 2987 2010 2520 2166 2987 0966 2840 1188 2338 8970 2987 6232
RETAIL & DAILY NECESSITIES Bloom 6117 7653 Bones & Blades Butcher 2383 0683 Bookazine 2987 1373 DB Post Office 2987 6046 european touch 2918 0868 felix and mina 2130 7013 Fotomax 2914 2378 Fusion by PARKnSHOP 2987 7486 Garden A rtemis 9137 4833 Gillian Florist 2529 8256 Havana@ DBay 2918 0868 Island Wake 2636 0601 Japan Home Centre 2987 1041 Lareina 6882 8982 Market Place 6882 8982 Open Kitchen 2987 8720 P-Solution 2987 1777 Polishfood.hk 9546 0374 Rapee-living 2987 7082 She Creates Stories 9166 8077 Slowood 2944 5189 Star Mart 2366 6534 Tai Fat Hardware Store 2987 0789 The Dog’s Garden 2987 2077 The Optical House 2987 1368 Nomadic 2987 8460 Red Velvet 9010 5832 Toysland 2987 7859 Watson’s Pharmacy 2987 4089 Watson’s Wine 2987 0268 Wing On Department Store 2987 9268 YOPE 2668 2144 SPORT & RECREATION HK Dragons Football Club Football for girls & boys aged 2.5 years to 14 years. Contact 2987 4274, dragons.hk
Island Dance ISTD Freestyle, ISTD Hip Hop, RAD Ballet, Tap & AcroDance classes at DBRC, Club Siena & DB Plaza. Five professional instructors, teaching six days a week. Contact 2987 1571/ 9159 0663, info@islanddance.com.hk, www.islanddance.com.hk
Tekkerz Football programmes for boys & girls for age groups U5 up to U14. Contact 9770 4548, train@tekkerzfootball.com, www.prosportsasia.com The Beat A premium fitness centre situated in two convenient locations at north and south plaza. Offering group fitness, pilates reformer, barre, yoga, kids fitness, personal training and latin dancing. Contact 5721 3000, info@thebeat.com.hk, www.thebeat.com.hk
BMSE Community Centre Club Siena DBees DB Ice Rink DB Pirates DB Golf Club DB Recreation Club DMR Embody EpicLand Fit 852 Future Stars Dance Academy Gallery Jeeum Greenwich Yoga School Harry Wright International HK Yoga Kapuhala Train-in-Space Korea Taekwondo Cheung Do Kwan Lantau Yacht Club MGK Fight Club The Bike Hub Yoga Bay Yogika YogaUP
2259 3422 2987 7382 6473 4277 2234 0187 9255 6133 2987 7273 2987 7381 5210 7208 6624 8712 2441 0098 9680 7665 2987 6867 9819 7176 9685 8366 2575 6279 6113 6770 6101 8434 9663 8077 2987 9591 9303 2996 5402 9970 6704 9851 6749 7836 68054996
TRANSPORTATION DB Golf Cart Services DB Transportation Services Limousine Rental Wiselink Golf Cart Services
2914 2727 2987 7351 5303 3489 2987 9368
VETERINARY SERVICES & PETS Island Veterinary Services My Pet Shop Pets Gallery Pet Space Club Ready, Pet, Go! The Dog's Garden
2987 9003 2987 8873 2987 0428 2788 1599 5721 6181 2987 2077
WELLBEING & BEAUTY Ingredients of Wellness Mindfulness training for children, teens & their parents and teachers. Offering Mindfulness Matters, Mindfulness in Education (for adults), AMT Mindfulness Teacher Training. Contact 9048 5425, angie@ingredientsofwellness.com, www.ingredientsofwellness.com
Afflatus Hair Workshop Bay Spa DB Pure Spa Head to Toe Spa By Nailed it Herbal Health Care Nailed It! Salon De Coiffure Sophia Essentials Spa Botanica, Auberge Discovery Bay
2987 0283 9837 0969 9794 0918 2988 1188 2834 7276 2987 2266 2987 4112 2527 0118 2295 8129
VIEW THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY @ www.arounddb.com To add your own directory listing box, call the Bay Media office on 2987 0167, or email info@baymedia.com.hk
AROUND DB / JULY 2022
55
OUT THERE
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name to Stalin (man of steel) and went on to herd millions into torture chambers, imprisonment and death. He is presently dead, leaving this life age 73, about 73 years too late.
DOPPELGÄNGERS
What’s in a name? Everything, argues Peter Sherwood. Changing your moniker can bring out the real you PHOTO COURTESY OF Unsplash
I
wonder if Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand would have become a Rapp star. But as Foxy Brown she did. Imagine Archibald Leach as a heart throb of the silver screen, or Marion Morrison the macho hero of countless Westerns and war movies. But as Cary Grant, Leach captured the hearts of millions of women worldwide. And although he never fought a war, Morrison, John Wayne, became a rugged man-god. Would Maurice Mickelwhite have achieved six Academy Award nominations? As Michael Caine he made it (the name was inspired by a poster he saw for the Humphrey Bogart classic The Caine Mutiny). Frances Gumm an iconic star? Likely, not. Which is why the studio named her Judy Garland. Some other invented monikers brought catastrophe for millions. A Georgian named Jughashvili (son of a shepherd) was educated in a seminary, changed his
Clearly, he enjoyed inflicting gratuitous horrors on his people for decades, or he wouldn’t have bothered. He was ‘Jovial Jo’, loving his work. The Gulags of icy Siberia were his Disneyland. About 14 million mostly innocents passed through these nightmarish gates, the majority having such a good time they never left. A star turn of Jolly Jo was the Great Famine of 1932-33: the Holodomor (to kill by starving). Grain-rich Ukraine lost most of their crops to Russia and about 5 million people. Jo was on a roll. Moscow’s loving Lubyanka liquidation centre was the place to welcome citizens for intensive suffering seminars. Gently terrorised by the NKVD to stunning reviews, those who were bored with having their hair and fingernails ripped out opted for a bullet in the noggin after having too much fun. About 800,000 took this less merry option. ‘Happy Hitler’ had an even better time than jubilant Jo, killing 29 million Soviets in his invasion, and challenging Stalin for the title of funniest dictator. Moreover, Hitler loved his dog, and it is forever a stain on Stalin’s character that he never owned one. Amiable Adolf went on to slaughter 50 million, mutilate 100 million and generously allow more than that number to seek new accommodation. He would never have achieved all these cheerful milestones had his father not changed the family name from Schicklgruber, hardly a word to provoke mass murder. Compared to altruistic Adolf, Jo was a pussy cat. For the first time in history genial Adolf arranged genocide on an industrial scale. In terms of sheer terror, they were pretty even, with the NKVD and Gestapo vying for the Best Agonising Atrocity and Most Humbling Misery awards. Both geniuses brilliantly employed the mind police technique to great effect, with neighbours finding themselves minus their heads for failing the basic clairvoyance test of not knowing what their friends’ workmates were thinking. As peace-loving pathological sociopaths there was little between them. In the ‘cuddly’ stakes, it was a toss-up, with affectionate Adolf taking Best Girlfriend, and kindly Jo winning Thickest Moustache. Hitler has no heir. Stalin has Putin. Peter Sherwood has lived in DB for 20+ years. The former head of an international public relations firm, he is the author of 15 books and has written around 400 satirical columns for the
CHANGE YOUR NAME, CHANGE YOUR LIFE 56
AROUND DB / JULY 2022
South China Morning Post.