Around DB March 2022 by Around DB Magazine

C O M M U N I T Y

L O C A L

I N F L U E N C E R S

L I F E S T Y L E

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

GREEN SCENE New f la v o u rs t hat p ut v e ge ta b le s centre s t age

PA R E N T I N G

M A R CH 2 0 2 2 | A R O U N D D B.CO M

INVEST IN YOURSELF

ONE WORLD SPIRIT

DB VOLUNTEERS WORKING HARD TO HELP US PLAY SOFT

What a personal trainer can do for you

ENZO

THE STARS ARE ALIGNED FOR 13-YEAR-OLD RAPPER ENZO HILAIRE

GREAT DRINK • GREAT FOOD • GREAT COMPANY

Address: E&F G/F, Seaview Crescent Plaza, Tung Chung, Lantau Island Website: www.atavola.hk Tel: 2321 5500

REASONS TO VISIT US: An amazing sunset, al Fresco Dining OUR POLYNESIAN CUISINE AND SERVICE Address: Shop G-12-G15, Sheraton Tung Chung No 9 Yi Tung Road, Tung Chung, Lantau Tel: 2777 8980, 2777 8982 Email: info@cabanabreeze.hk

THE UPPER DECK

The Only American Steak house in Tung Chung whom offer modern dishes and our SIGNATURE steaks with the perfect cocktion level and smoked flavour.

WEEKEND SPECIALS: LIVE BAND FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 9 PM BRUNCH MENU AND FREE FLOW CONTACT INFO Shop 101, 1st Floor, T Bay, Tung Chung, No 9 Yi Tung Road, Lantau. +852 2757 8889 info@theupperdeck.hk

The Hemex 尚堤 - 漪蘆

1,508 SF (S)

4 BEDS | 3 BATHS

Ref: #296180

Headland Village 蔚陽 - 朝暉徑

Verdant Court 蘅峯 - 彩暉閣

1,183 SF (S)

757 SF (S)

3 BEDS | 2 BATHS

Ref: #300019

$13.5M

Midvale Village 畔峰 - 畔山徑 1,520 SF (S)

3 BEDS | 2 BATHS Ref: #293213

$25M $75K incl.

Ref: #303788

Crestmont Villa 蘅峯 - 倚濤軒 1,436 SF (S) 3 BEDS | 2 BATHS

$8.4M

Crestmont Villa 蘅峯 - 倚濤軒 1,436 SF (S)

Ref: #39369

$21.9M

Seabee Lane 蔚陽 - 海蜂徑

3 BEDS | 2 BATHS Ref: #295820

$18.5M

1,406 SF (S)

4 BEDS | 4 BATHS

$65K incl.

Ref: #17156

OKAY.com is a proud Founding Member of Forbes Global Properties and exclusive member in Hong Kong. For homeseekers and property owners alike, experience an elevated level of representation for all of your real estate needs.

Find Your Home with Us. Visit www.OKAY.com today. 2102 0888 | db@okay.com OKAY Property Agency Limited (C-036846) | 15/F, Wilson House, 19-27 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong

$70K incl.

MARCH 2022 W W W. A R O U N D D B .CO M

FEATURES 20

Profile How Enzo Hilaire, a former DC student, got signed by Warner

Community One World Spirit improving quality of life in DB and beyond

Fitness Structure and motivation! What a personal trainer can do for you

Parenting Ages and stages! Easing common parental headaches

38 ESCAPES Portugal’s pretty little capital

44 RECIPES Making veggies the main event

56 OUT THERE

Peter Sherwood talks back

12 EVENT ROUND-UP 18 ACROSS LANTAU 48 DB FACES 50 CLASSIFIEDS 53 LOCAL NUMBERS

2 0 O N T H E C OVE R

WE AL S O P UB L ISH ISL AND -WIDE NEWS

LOCAL INFLUENCERS

L ANTAU DESTINATIONS

COMMUNIT Y SNAPS

YOUR GUIDE TO HONG KONG’S ‘GREEN JEWEL’

IN G

PHOTO COURTESY OF Francois Hilaire

Enzo Hilaire back from Junior Eurovision and cutting his first album

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

What’s hot in the South Plaza

06 DB EVENTS

Why decorative design is making a COVID-related comeback

15 DB DESTINATIONS

Insider

AGENDA

REGULARS

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2022

REDISCOVER FREE YOUR BAY DISCOVERY MIND New storesAT and hot properties INSPIRATION LAKE

TUNG CHUNG WILD RIDE SUPPLEMENT

What to expect from the PLUS AofLITTLE XMAS Tiger! F&B Year the Water

FREE

Publishers in Lantau since 2002

2019 / 2020

AGNES PANG

Doing itINTERher way

ISLANDERS

myriem alnet , chun-kit chan and kai-chun yip

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

WELCOMING OUR NEWLY LAUNCHED WEBSITE

wwww.lifeonlantau.com

DB EVENTS

+852 2987 0167

www.arounddb.com

info@baymedia.com.hk

_ PHILI P JAY

Publisher/ Owner RACHE L A I N S L EY Managing editor

rachel@baymedia.com.hk RACHE L S A D L ER Assistant editor

rachel.s@baymedia.com.hk S A R A H M U I R H EAD Digital manager

sarah@baymedia.com.hk S A R IN A LE

JOIN THE DBYC!

Active in DB since 1999, Discovery Bay Yacht Club (DBYC) aims to draw local sailors together in friendly and social sailing events, and to introduce beginners to the fun of sailing and racing yachts. “DBYC is volunteer-run and therefore very affordable to join,” says Commodore Nikolaus von der Luehe. “There is something for every budget and every level of interest, whether you own or part own a yacht or are simply looking to crew.” To get involved, visit www.dbyc.net. [PHOTO BY Michele Felder].

sarin@baymedia.com.hk S A M M Y LO

IT/ Graphic designer

sammy@baymedia.com.hk

CO NTRI BU TORS

RAY AU, IMOGEN CLYDE, KATE FARR, ELIZABETH KERR, PETER SHERWOOD

P HOTOGRAPH E RS B AL J IT G I DWANI

PET PORTRAITURE FOR A CAUSE

www.evoqueportraits.com R I CH A R D G OR DO N

P RI NTI NG

C H A MP I ON D ESIGN & P RODU CT I ON CO LTD Flat C & D, 9/F Sing Teck Factory Bldg, 44 Wong Chuk Hang Rd, Hong Kong

B AY M EDI A GRO UP

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

D I S CL AIME R

Sophie Vallis, a 17-year-old DB resident, is raising funds for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), through drawing and painting animal and pet portraits. Her two passions are art and animals, especially big cats, and with the new lunar year being the Year of the Tiger, she’s decided to support WCS. Sophie is an art scholarship student at Victoria Shanghai Academy in Aberdeen. For enquiries about her portraits WhatsApp 9874 4503.

SHOP LOCAL AT GALLERY ARTEMIS

The views expressed in Around DB are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or contributors. The publisher and editor cannot be held responsible for differences of opinion or statements published in good faith. The publisher, contributors, their employees and partners are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors or omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication and expressly disclaim all and any liability for any such action of any person. The mention of specific companies or products in articles or advertisements does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by this magazine or its publisher in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without permission. © BAY MEDIA GROUP 2022

Kudos to the staff at Uncle Russ Coffee Shop 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 www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

s g in n e pp Ha STUFF TO

Art director

www.richardgordonphotography.com

UNCLE RUSS RECYCLING WITH DB GREEN

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

Garden Artemis in DB North Plaza continues to expand its offering of well-priced, locally sourced products, with handcrafted noodles, vegan cheese, organic tempeh and artisan kombucha, plus organic vegetables from Tung Tung Farm in Nim Shue Wan. To promote sustainability, Garden Artemis also stocks a wide range of biodegradable bamboo products – everything from bath towels and dish cloths to toothbrushes and massage candles. Open seven days a week; visit www.gardenartemis.business.site.

BLACK VELVET COLLECTIVE’S ALBUM LAUNCH

DB EVENTS

Black Velvet Collective’s long-awaited first album, Sunset Peak, launched in February and is available now on Spotify and other streaming services. The band – core members Mark Rawson, Mark Basford, Jim Alba-Duignan and Dan Marguilles with support from Aleks Softley, Sarah Johnson and Charles Edwards – has been actively gigging in Hong Kong since 2020 and has built up a loyal following. Fans love the unique sound, which draws on British, Canadian and Irish folk music. “Sunset Peak features songs both light and happy plus a few more reflective ones,” says Mark Rawson. “The lead track Take a Moment is a song of hope in difficult times, a song reflecting on life beyond just putting up with what is thrown at you. It’s a song of inspiration.” The Collective habitually collaborates with other leading Hong Kong-based musicians, and Take a Moment features Sarah Johnson, of The 852, on vocals. It’s based on a traditional Irish tune with words by Mark. Catch the video at

& Events!

KNOW IN MARCH!

SMOOTH SAILING AT LANTAU YACHT CLUB

Lantau Yacht Club (LYC) welcomed the first member’s boat in late August 2020, and DB Marina (the only marina built specifically for superyachts in Hong Kong) has since become a superyacht showcase. The club has attracted numerous top-of-the-line yachts including the Pershing 140, Custom Line Navetta 30, Princess X95, Mangusta 130, 39.6m Astilleros MCIES, Sanlorenzo SX112 and Azimut Grande 35 Metri, all of which are firsts in Asia. Moving into 2022 with overseas travel still restricted, LYC expects the local yachting scene to continue to thrive, and it is looking forward to the delivery of new superyachts, some over 60 metres, in the coming months.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKK8Lx0uNRk. Other tracks feature some of the Collective’s wider family with Jamie Alba-Duignan and Nicky Basford performing with their fathers on some songs. Fans of the Collective will already be familiar with many of the songs on Sunset Peak since they’ve been performed at recent gigs, including Yung Shue Wan Folk Festival in December and What the Folk Festival in November. What the Folk was a fiveday event featuring over 20 acts including DB artists Benzine and and Saxon & Jarvis. That it was organised by Mark will come as no surprise to long-time DB residents since he was one of the original organisers of Picnic in the Park, alongside Mark Basford and Jim Alba-Duignan. Gigs to support the launch of Sunset Peak are currently on hold… but the Collective is keeping busy. “Our second album is already at the mixing desk and we are working on a batch of new tracks for album three. Lockdowns have had a small positive impact on creating time to write,” Mark says. To find out more, head to Black Velvet Collective Facebook page. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Black Velvet Collective.]

A premium, members-only club offering world-class mooring facilities and recreational options, LYC received its first major accolade on its first anniversary, September 2021, when it was accredited as a Five Gold Anchors marina by the Marina Industries Association. The award positioned the club among the most outstanding marinas in the world for both its facilities and services. To further enhance its offering, LYC is establishing a Yachting Academy Centre for club members, and wake surfing classes will soon be on offer. Providers are also on board for onsite yacht care services, maintenance and yacht management services, as is The Chandlery store, for boats, dinghies and water toys. “We would like to extend a warm welcome to our service partners and we look forward to building an allencompassing maritime ecosystem here at LYC to promote water activities and a premium yachting lifestyle,” says Charlotte Ho, Director of Hospitality Marketing and Membership of Auberge Hospitality. In the coming months, LYC also plans to build its reputation as a beautiful and exclusive venue for industry and private events. A number of events are already planned for 2022, including the Hong Kong Yacht Show organised by the Hong Kong Boating Industry Association. [PHOTO COURTESY OF LYC.] AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

DB EVENTS

BEACH TENNIS ACES

Whether you are looking to try beach tennis for the first time, finetune 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 on offer in DB for players of all ages and abilities. To find out more, visit www.forwardmotionhk.com or call 9779 0747. [PHOTO BY Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com.]

Local trail runners are reminded to register for the TransLantau™ by UTMB® this month. Taking place in November, the event offers three races on Lantau – 25km, 50km and 100km. Open to runners of all abilities, it’s hugely popular amongst international runners with 43 different nationalities represented at the last edition. To find out more and register, visit www.translantau.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Clement Dumont.]

YOUNG READERS FESTIVAL

Running from March 7 to 25. the 11th annual Hong Kong International Young Readers Festival creates unique opportunities for young people to interact with some of the world’s greatest storytellers, including Michael Morpurgo, Elena Favilli and Malinda Lo. Schools can book in-person or virtual author visits to support lifewide learning, creative writing and language skills. To find out more, visit www.festival.org.hk.

GALLERY JEEUM’S 2ND ANNIVERSARY

Hailey Shin opened Gallery Jeeum, Discovery Bay’s first art gallery, in DB Plaza in February 2020, with no clear idea of what the pandemic might bring. She set out to create a bridge between art and the community – a muchneeded cultural hub – and DBers have responded enthusiastically. The exhibitions at Jeeum change every month with a focus on local artists, as well as Hong Kong-based expats like American abstract artist Tyler Jackson Pritchard and Yulia Shautsukova, a Russian-born DB resident. “In celebrating our second anniversary, I would like to share our joy with friends and neighbours who have been such heartwarming supporters of the gallery,” Hailey says. “We can’t have a birthday party but I hope readers will enjoy looking at these event highlights.” Visit www.jeeumgallery.com to find out more. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF Hailey Shin.] 8

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

KOREAN ARTISTS EXHIBITION, APRIL 2020 DB ARTISTS EXHIBITION, DECEMBER 2021

ERIN MORRISON EXHIBITION, JANUARY 2021

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION, AUGUST 2020

HLG023_2022 KartRace_AroundDB-half-pg Ad_FA2.pdf

8/2/2022

Sat,14 May 2022 • 9am to 5pm Standard Category: Age Groups 7–8, 9–10 & 11–12 Freestyle Category: Age Group 7–88

3:01 PM

W. O N R NTE

THE RACE IS ON!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

CMY

SHIRTS BY:

MEDIA BY:

This is a community event with all proceeds going to charity.

hlgkartrace.com

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Drink

Address : Shop G101 South Plaza Discovery Bay,HK +852 6636-3303

Takeaway Free Delivery!

Opening Hour Mon-Fri 9am-9pm Sat-Sun 9am-10pm

Dirk has first-hand experience having gone through the process over six years ago when searching for a boarding school in the UK for his son that balanced education with football and offered a pathway into the professional academy system.

UK SPORTS SCHOOLS: COMBINING A UK EDUCATION WITH SPORTING PATHWAYS UK Sports Schools (UKSS) is the brainchild of formerDB resident Dirk Haddow, who is also the co-founder of Progressive Sports Asia which runs the hugely popular Tekkerz football programme here in DB and Tung Chung. UKSS offers specialist, free advice for parents and students seeking to attend independent private schools in the UK that combine academic excellence with clear, proven and potentially elite sports pathways. The primary focus is football although other sports include rugby, tennis, swimming, golf and hockey; UKSS represents more than 10 leading UK schools.

“It was difficult identifying a good school that met our criteria and expectations, but after significant research, and a trip back to the UK, we found what we were looking for,” Dirk says. “After that, unofficially I helped quite a few parents whose boys wanted to come to the UK and challenge themselves in an environment full of aspiring footballers from all over the world.” As interest grew, Dirk set up UKSS. Now UK-based, he’s in a unique position to find placements for kids (10+). “I’m visiting schools, talking to key staff, getting the inside knowledge and thus identifying which school would be best for each client. What’s more, we offer honest and unbiased advice along with personalised recommendations all for free.” To learn more, visit www.uksportsschools.com. (FB: UK Sports Schools. IG: uk_sports_schools.) To arrange a free online Zoom chat, contact Dirk by email at enquiry@uksportsschools.com or by WhatsApp on +852 9770 4548 or +44 73669 79889. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Dirk Haddow.]

JHAVERI & CO: DIAMANTAIRE DE PRESTIGE

DB’s trusted jeweller since 1987, Jhaveri & Co. specialises in bespoke jewellery, restorations and valuations. These days, the firm is headed up by Nilesh Jhaveri, a seventh-generation jeweller, who trained as a gemologist at the International Gemological Institute (IGI), a state-of-the-art educational facility in Mumbai. Following in his family’s footsteps, Nilesh has grown Jhaveri & Co. into a flourishing trading company, specialising in sourcing diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires worldwide. He credits a large part of his success to the strong relationships he has built with both wholesalers and private clients. When creating bespoke jewellery pieces, the team at Jhaveri & Co prides itself on helping clients bring their ideas to life, providing advice and attention to detail in the craftsmanship. “Once a design is agreed, we can source the gems that are needed and create the piece inhouse; clients have full and complete access the whole way through,” says Nilesh. 10

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

Jhaveri & Co. also specialises in restoring treasured family heirlooms. “If it’s a style you love, we recommend jewellery restoration,” Nilesh says. “Our antique jewellery restoration services range from stone replacement to rebuilding prongs, settings and supporting galleries. Our finely detailed repair work can usually undo past damage, restoring your vintage jewellery to its original, beautiful condition. “Repurposing antique jewellery is another option,” Nilesh adds. “We can remove your diamonds and gemstones and set them into a new or existing piece of jewellery.” To find out more or book a consultation in DB, call Jhaveri & Co. on 9011 1319 or email jhaveri1987@outlook.com. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF Nilesh Jhaveri.]

MULTI-GENERATIONAL ESTATE PLANNING ARE YOU LEAVING A LEGACY OR A TAX BURDEN FOR YOUR LOVED ONES? British Nationals are exposed to IHT on worldwide assets and could be taxed at 40%*. All Nationalities with UK assets are subject to IHT on death**.

Soteria Trusts utilise bespoke solutions to protect your wealth and legacy, such as: Trusts Accounts International Retirement Planning Stamp Duty Land Tax Refunds * ** Subject to individual domicile and marital status. IHT is charged at 40% on net estate value above the Nil Rate Bands of £325k & £650k for singles and couples.

www.soteriatrusts.com | Tel: +852 2168 0626 | enquiries@soteriatusts.com Soteria Trusts is a member of the Business Class Group

Gallery Jeeum 9819-7176 LG-01, Office Block One, DB North Plaza, Discovery Bay info@jeeumgallery.com

www.jeeumgallery.com

A BIG THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY FROM HAILEY EUNHYE SHIN AS SHE CELEBRATES TWO EVENTFUL YEARS AT GALLERY JEEUM Since opening at DB North Plaza in February 2020, Gallery Jeeum has been actively promoting local and international artists from around the world. We are very proud to have acted as a bridge between art and the DB community during the past two years as Discovery Bay’s ﬁrst art gallery. In celebrating our second anniversary, I would like to share our joy with friends and neighbours who have been such heart-warming supporters of the gallery. Although due to the current situation we are unable to host a party to celebrate in person together, we take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the community.

I wish to thank all the artists, related parties, and visitors who have shared such a meaningful time with us. Working with those artists who represent Discovery Bay at the DB Artists Exhibition has been especially memorable. The exhibition is held annually in December. Gallery Jeeum is open every day except for Mondays and public holidays. We look forward to warmly welcoming our DB friends and neighbours to the gallery. We will continue our commitment to being a cultural centre of the community, delivering hope and joy to the world through art.

Thank you.

EVENT ROUND-UP

Out & About!

WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO!

TWO BY TWO

PHOTOS BY Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com, Sarah Muirhead & Samantha Cribbin

Residents made the best of Hong Kong’s zero-COVID policy in February, heading out in pairs – and showing up on mass at the compulsory testing centres in DB.

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

EVENT ROUND-UP

LOVED UP IN DB

PHOTOS BY Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

Valentine’s Day celebrations may have been somewhat subdued last month due to ongoing COVID restrictions but what of it? Looking back over Baljit Gidwani’s recent ‘portraits in the plaza,’ love is all around us in DB every day of the week.

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

Call us now for services in Hong Kong

Food and Cold Chain Logistics ALWAYS ON YOUR S IDE

Main Services:

Mr. Scott McArthur TEL: (852) 3841 7038 / (852) 9723 5533 E-MAIL: scott@myriadgbl.com WEBSITE: www.myriad-logistics.com

All transactions are subject to the Myriad’s Standard Trading Conditions (a copy is available upon request), which in certain circumstances limit or exempt the Myriad’s liability.

corporate & business services

LusciousPicnics for Two

T8 Corporate offer a professional dedicated service with a wide range of solutions to help all company needs. • Company Incorporation • Company secretariat • Accounting services • Government filings and returns

• MPF & Payroll • Bank account set up • Virtual office • Registered address

Special offers valid until 29th April 2022 Unit 2, G/F, Office Block 1, 92 Siena Avenue, Discovery Bay North, Lantau Island, Hong Kong Drop in for a chat or call 2517 8248 or email sharon.m@corporate.com

www.t8corporate.com

Indoor Set Up

Outdoor Set Up

Contact Lina at IG @lusciouspicnics FB @lusciousboardsnpicnics Wa +852 9769 2563

DB DESTINATIONS

DB Plaza!

MORE SHOPPING AND DINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2022

here are myriad trendy stores in newly renovated DB Plaza, some with a Hong Kong-wide presence and some exclusive to Discovery Bay. We’ve detailed a few of our favourites here. (Can’t get enough of the zero-waste shopping at Slowood or the roses at Bloom.) Of course, DB Plaza’s expansion has created space not just for a new-and-improved retail offering but also for everbetter dining and takeout options. Our top picks include Levain Bakery for its healthy and delicious sourdough, Peony Chinese Restaurant where the dim sum is hard to beat, and Bones & Blades with its inspired restaurantbutcher shop combo. We’re also looking forward to the March opening of La Creation Premium and Raf & Sons.

Shopping

ECO STORE SLOWOOD

FLORIST BLOOM

PET SHOP THE DOG'S GARDEN

Focused on sustainable living, Slowood provides a zero-waste shopping experience, and its refill station includes everything from rice and pulses to detergent – just bring your own containers. Healthy snacks, teas, seeds, spices and herbs are also available to buy in bulk (much cheaper than buying packaged food). Beyond the pantry, Slowood stocks plants (exclusive to DB), essential oils and incense, clothing, homeware, beauty products and more.

Bloom specialises in bespoke bouquets and floral arrangements for every occasion, importing fresh flowers from Colombia and Ecuador every two days. Its signature bundle of sweet-smelling Colombian roses lasts up to nine days with the flowers retaining their shape. The store is soon to expand its offering with a juice bar serving fresh, no-sugar, no-added-water detox juices, CBD juices and protein shakes.

The Dog’s Garden is a health-driven, eco-aware one-stop shop providing everything a healthy dog needs from food and supplements to toys, beds and collars. Quality products are sourced from around the globe, including a tasty selection of raw, human-grade dog treats. The Dog’s Garden also provides an extensive grooming service that includes organic spa treatments, as well as hair and nail clipping and bathing.

Shop 151, 2944 5189

Shop G35, 6117 7653

Shop G34, 2987 2077

info@slowood.hk www.slowood.hk

espressoblooms@gmail.com www.espressoblooms.com

sales@thedogsgarden.com www.thedogsgarden.com AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

DB DESTINATIONS

Snacking

BAKERY LA CREATION PREMIUM

BAKERY LEVAIN BAKERY

COFFEE SHOP THE COFFEE ACADEMICS

Slated to open in mid-March, La Creation Premium is a Japanesestyle bakery, founded in Osaka, that provides both eat-in and takeaway options. Fresh bread is baked daily using Japanese flour. La Creation also offers a range of toasts, cakes, desserts and deli items, many of which are imported from Japan. Try the new Saga Ichigosan Strawberry Cake and the signature Light Rye Walnut Raisin Bread.

Levain Bakery’s European-inspired breads, pastries and desserts are handmade by artisan bakers using carefully selected, high-quality ingredients. All products are additivefree and made without bread improvers, synthetic flavourings or preservatives. A number of Levain’s products are vegan, and all its breads have a low gluten content. Levain is one of the few bakeries in Hong Kong that produces 100% levain-leavened sourdoughs.

Founded in 2012 in Causeway Bay, The Coffee Academics’ reach now extends across Asia. Its world-class specialty coffee is made using stateof-the-art coffee machines and brewing equipment. The Coffee Academics strives to reduce its carbon footprint and offers a series of green initiatives like bring your own cup; biodegradable, takeaway cutlery and vegan milk. Its comprehensive food menu features plant-forward ingredients.

Shop G62, 2320 3326

Shop G63, 2726 4922

Shop G65, 2882 2280

www.a-1bakery.com.hk

info@levain-bakery.com www.levain-bakery.com

contactus@the-coffeeacademics.com www.the-coffeeacademics.com

Bones & Blades

JAPANESE SUSHI NO EN Takeout store Sushi No En boxes up high-quality sushi and sashimi, plus Japanese-style curries, rice bowls and salads all at affordable prices. There’s also a customised catering service featuring seafood imported directly from Japan. The menu is updated regularly to incorporate seasonal items and special menus are introduced during festive periods.

Shop G58 & G64, 3705 9984

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

Levain Bakery

The Coffee Academics

Bloom

La Creation Premium

Robata Master

Sushi No En

Raf & Sons The Dog’s Garden

Bones & Blades Levain Bakery

The Coffee Academics

Dining La Creation Premium

Robata Master

Sushi No En

Bloom

JAPANESE ROBATA MASTER

DB DESTINATIONS

Raf & Sons The Dog’s Garden

WESTERN BONES & BLADES

STEAKHOUSE RAF & SONS

Japanese restaurant and bar Robata Master specialises in traditional robatayaki skewers grilled to perfection over hot charcoal. The barbecue menu features a prime selection of meat, fish and seafood, as well as veggies. Izakaya-style dishes are on offer to accompany the grilled dishes. Robata Master offers a wide selection of IPAs, craft beers, draught beers and sakes to enjoy either indoors or on the terrace.

Opening in March, Raf & Sons steakhouse is set to provide guests with a unique and delicious European dining experience. The menu is sophisticated and elevated, and chefs are known for their whipsmart culinary feats. Raf & Sons specialises in sizzling steak and seafood, grilled to perfection in its state-of-the-art open kitchen. Adding to this is an elaborate and soughtafter wine list.

Bones & Blades carefully sources its meats from around the globe. Its butcher shop provides premiumgrade, pure meats, alongside homemade items like lasagnas, pies, pâtés and sauces. The restaurant is known for its tasty selection of steaks, burgers and bone-in meats, with signature dishes including beef tartar and chicken liver pâté. There’s also a special catering menu for parties and events.

Shop G101, 6636 3303

Shop G51B & G52, 3611 8369

Shop G61, 2383, 0792 ordering@bonesandblades.com www.bonesandblades.com

Slowood Peony Chinese Resturant

CHINESE PEONY CHINESE RESTAURANT Newly opened as an independently operated restaurant, Peony Chinese Restaurant serves both classic and innovative Cantonese cuisine prepared by Head Chef Chu Ting Kwok and Dim Sum Head Chef Tony Chan, who have years of experience in Michelin-starred restaurants and 5-star hotels. Peony has a modern and elegant decor and enjoys a panoramic view of DB; menu highlights include seasonal delicacies made from specialty ingredients.

Shop 153A , 2215 0833 reservation@dbpeony.com www.dbpeony.com AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

! k oo l r e s o l Worth a c

ACROSS LANTAU

3 LANTAU DAY TRIPS

Fun facts to rekindle your interest in Silvermine Cave, the Shui Hau Mudflats and Fan Lau Fort and Stone Circle PHOTOS BY Duey Tam

SILVERMINE CAVE You’ll have heard, however vaguely, that Mui Wo was a centre for silver production in the late 19th century hence the name of its glorious bay, waterfall and ‘cave.’ In the late 1880s, at the height of the silver rush, people flocked to Mui Wo to work the mine, and the surrounding area was developed into a village called Pak Ngan Heung, literally translated as ‘Silver Village.’ The main entrance to the mine, now called Silvermine Cave, remains a local attraction. Today, the tunnel extends just 10 metres or so, having been sealed for safety reasons, but it reveals something of the largescale silver mine, which was developed and owned by Ho A Mei, a local entrepreneur and social activist, and in operation from 1886 to 1896. These days, with the miners long gone, Silvermine Cave has been taken over by a large colony of indigenous bats – Cynopterus Sphinx Short-nosed Fruit Bats to be precise. They’ve made their home in the dark, disused shafts and tunnels of the old mine, and their stay is secured by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

THE CAVE

THE BATS

The ‘bat cave’ sits just a few steps up the hill from Silvermine Waterfall, which is one of the prettiest and most easily accessible in Hong Kong. Walking up from Silvermine Bay, simply follow the path along the Islands Nature Heritage Trail – Mui Wo Section, and the Olympic Trail. It’s an easy 20-minute stroll through sleepy villages and there are no hills to climb.

SHUI HAU MUD FLATS Situated in the far southwest of Lantau, Shui Hau is a designated marine reserve, and its mudflats are among the best coastal wetlands in Hong Kong. The ecosystem in the mudflats is diverse with more than 180 species recorded. While beachcombing, you can expect to find giant Asiatic clams, spiral-shelled snails and cockles as big as your hand. Swarms of tiny fish ebb and flow in the nearby shallows attracting birds like the Little Egret and, during migration season, a few shorebirds. 18

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

THE WATERFALL

ACROSS LANTAU

Navigating your way across the mudflats at low tide, be prepared to witness hundreds of brightly coloured juvenile horseshoe crabs scurrying across the flat sandy beach, dipping in and out of their tiny holes in the sand. Known as ‘Living fossils,’ juvenile horseshoe crabs spend an average of 10 years on the mudflats before migrating to the sea, when they reach sexual maturity. Shui Hau’s high biodiversity and soft flats ensure it is a suitable nursery – it is one of the few breeding sites in Hong Kong for this scarce and declining species. The easiest way to get to Shui Hau is by bus from either Tung Chung or Mui Wo, and there are two routes to the mudflats. You can walk there from the village, past small vegetable plots and through abandoned fields. Or, you can take the equally tranquil path alongside a football pitch, just east of Shui Hau. Both paths lead to the west of Shui Hau Wan, where small streams run in from the hills.

FAN LAU FORT AND STONE CIRCLE One of the best ways to get to Fan Lau is to hike there from the bus stop at Shek Pik; you’re headed for Lantau’s far southwestern tip, where there are no roads. The Qing dynasty fort and megalithic stone circle are a short way from the village. Walk along the beach towards the giant boulder on the far headland – and keep going.

THE MUDFLATS

You soon come across the fort, which was declared a monument in 1981. Built in 1729 to protect the Pearl River Estuary, it was occupied by pirate gangs later that century and then reconquered by Qing troops in 1810. The 10,500 square-foot, rectangular stone structure was manned by eight cannons and served as a garrison with 20 barracks. It was abandoned by the British around 1900. Initial restoration work was undertaken on the fort in early 1985, followed by a large-scale restoration and repair project in 1990.

THE FORT

THE STONE CIRCLE

Fan Lau Stone Circle was declared a monument in 1983 – just don’t expect Stonehenge. It’s only 10 feet in diameter at its widest point and, if it were not for the fence around, it would be easy to miss. A few small stones form a circle on the ground, but a megalithic circle nonetheless. Dating somewhere between 5,000 and 2,000 BC, it was likely used for pagan rituals. An information plaque reveals that this kind of stone structure became common in China during the late Neolithic (New Stone Age) and early Bronze Age before spreading throughout the world. AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

PROFILE

! w o l F n a C d i K DREAM CATCHER

Just back from tearing up the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Paris (and cutting his first album), 13-year-old rapper Enzo Hilaire settles in for a Zoom chat with Ray Au

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Francois Hilaire

nzo Hilaire released his first album, Tic Tac L’album, with Warner Music in Paris, on December 17, 2021; he placed third in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest two days later; and he made it to the final with judge Soprano in season 7 of The Voice Kids France back in August 2020. It’s been a busy 18 months or so for the former Discovery College student. Just back from Paris, quarantining with his family in Thailand en route to Hong Kong, Enzo enthusiastically agrees to a Zoom interview. Totally at ease in front of the camera, he’s clearly Gallic – a big gesticulator, almost constantly in motion. “It’s 21 days quarantine in all, and it’s going to be extremely long, but I’ve got food and I’ve got my phone so I think I’ll be fine,” he opens with a chuckle. “Here in Hua Hin, I’ve got an amazing view as well; and we’re in a good hotel so I’m happy.” Happy about quarantining? Enzo’s positivity is one of the first things you note about him, that and his wild shock of rap-star hair. His enthusiasm is infectious; his passion, drive, dedication, humility and raw ambition quickly shine through. Am I sensing star quality? The bigwigs at Warner, Junior Eurovision and The Voice Kids France clearly think so.

JUNIOR EUROVISION French-born Enzo was in his living room, playing with his dog, when his father Francois received the email from France Television asking him to represent France at Junior Eurovision. “I was super happy, super excited,” Enzo says. “For me it was a dream to represent a country that I absolutely love, that’s in my blood.” And Enzo thinks he knows why Eurovision pursued him. “I’m a singer and a rapper,” he points out. “They listened to my YouTube channel, and on my YouTube channel, there are lots of urban songs, lots of pop songs, a lot of sad songs. I feel like there’s a range of 20

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

different music styles.” (See for yourself at www.youtube.com/c/EnzoHilaire.) Enzo was in Paris for six months. “I spent an absolutely amazing time there – every day achieving and realising my dreams,” he says. “I remember watching stars like Justin Bieber and Michael Jackson do studio recordings and interviews, being on stage, going on TV and that finally happened to me.” Finally? Amusing as it is to anyone over, oh, 25, that a secondary schooler could feel his big break was a long time coming, it’s best to bear in mind how youth-driven the modern music industry is. Justin Bieber (Enzo’s a fan of The Biebs – check his superb cover of Lonely on YouTube) is 27 years old and has been a pop star half his life. At 13, Enzo is just about the right age to start a music career in these youthful, TikTok/ Instagramhero days. He’s a step ahead of the game too – 30 million people watched him perform at Eurovision on a massive stage with video drones overhead. So, what was that like? “It was the best part of this whole experience,” Enzo says looking slightly bemused. He’s being asked to state the obvious, right? “People are watching you but they’re just like, having fun… they’re jumping! Just thinking about it makes me want to do it again. It’s so addictive.” No nerves then? “It was kind of nerve-racking but when you’re in the moment – you’re concentrating, you’ve got your microphone, you’ve got your back-up dancers, you’ve got your lights, you’ve got everything you could possibly have – your mind is straight. You want to achieve your goal. I was stressed but I put it to one side. My passion and joy always come first.” And how about the other contestants? Did everybody get along? “Of course, we did,” Enzo says gently, again slightly baffled by the question. “We were

PROFILE

remember watching stars "likeI Justin Bieber and Michael Jackson do studio recordings and interviews, being on stage, going on TV and that finally happened to me!

- ENZO HILAIRE AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

PROFILE

all in the same hotel and it was so cool to share the moment with them. They’re feeling basically the same thing I’m feeling – excited, kind of stressed. We just all love each other. Incredible!” Tic Tac, the song Enzo performed at Eurovision, was written and composed by French singer-songwriter and music technician Alban Lico. Enzo points to its originality. “Thousands of songs come out every day but for me there’s nothing a bit like Tic Tac,” he says. “People either love it or hate it. I love that song: It makes you want to dance, makes you want to jump, makes you want to have a good time.” Tic Tac, Enzo explains, also has an important message: “Slow down time, do everything with passion and don’t precipitate.”

TIC TAC L’ALBUM As prolific as Enzo is on YouTube, his first studio recording session was in France, and he goes into raptures about the learning curve. “Before I came to France I knew about music, I knew how to do the basics but studio recording… that’s like a whole different side of music. When we were making Tic Tac L’album (available on most streaming platforms), I saw the producers mixing the sounds; I saw them taking their time without wasting any time; I saw them doing everything efficiently.

THE NEXT STEP Enzo is returning to France in two months’ time… He can’t say much about future plans but hints at another album in the works and a couple more singles coming out soon. For now, he’s busy homeschooling with an online school (British Curriculum), which he loves. “It’s the perfect combination, a miracle! I’m learning important subjects every day but at the same time having more time for my passion, more time to work on my craft. “I heard an interview once and someone said hard work is luck. So, people can say I’m lucky or whatever but I work super hard too.” Ask Enzo how friends have reacted to his success, and he hesitates for the first time. “I wouldn’t say it’s a success,” he says. “I feel like I can say it’s an improvement. I’ve achieved a lot of my dreams but there are bigger dreams I want to achieve. It’s not over, I’m working every day, I can be better – we can always be better! “Move on! Let’s go!” Enzo finishes. “Big things are coming soon – really big things! I think you’ll be surprised! Stay tuned!”

“Seeing all these talented people working around me and for me was an honour, a responsibility as well,” Enzo adds. “Staying humble is the most important aspect of this adventure. Warner is one of the biggest labels in the world. Just to be on it is incredible; just to think about that is incredible.” In France, Enzo got to meet a lot of Warner musicians, many of whom, like Barbara Pravi, he describes as his idols. He has a special shout-out for Alban Lico: “Just being in the same studio as him was amazing, I got to see different sides of his work. He’s one of the most music-talented and music-smart guys I’ve ever met. You might think he was only with me to record Tic Tac but in fact he came to record a lot of the songs on the album.” Two of those songs, are Enzo’s own? “Yes!” he says, practically dancing in his chair with excitement. “On my album you can find two songs that I composed and wrote at home in Cheung Sha, and I got the chance to record them in a professional Warner studio. There’s Stars Aligned which I made just after The Voice final, and Broken Heart, a song that means a lot to me because it talks about my uncle who passed away a year ago. I was really close to him, that’s why I dedicated it to him. “People see me as Tic Tac man,” Enzo adds. “But actually, I sing a lot of songs, like songs by Lil Baby and Travis Scott. They’re inspirations to me. I feel like people don’t know that. That’s why I think people should go listen to my album.” 22

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

ENZO’S STAR QUALITY SHINES THROUGH

! th on M e th f o r u e n e r p Entre GORDON OLDHAM

Gordon Oldham arrived in Hong Kong from the UK in the late 70s, and it’s likely you’ve heard of him. The question is who do you know him as? The founder of leading independent Hong Kong law firm Oldham, Li & Nie (OLN) or the founder of award-winning Pavilions Hotels & Resorts, now in 14 locations around the world? Maybe you’ve heard of Gordon as the man who created MTV Asia or Action Asia Events. Here, he provides some inspirational advice for budding entrepreneurs.

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

Q What are the main characteristics that every successful entrepreneur needs? A passion for the business he wants to do that keeps him awake at night and is the first thing he thinks of in the morning. The ability to pull people together and inspire them. (An unfriendly hermit entrepreneur has a short life.) A conviction that what he is doing is ultimately making things better for people rather than just creating wealth. A large set of cojones helps. Q What’s the single most important thing to consider when setting up a business? Do I have the commitment and the energy to see this through because it’s no use getting excited for the first week and then deciding it’s all too difficult. Set yourself a test – set the alarm for 5am, have a cold shower for at least two minutes, then walk two kilometres down the road. Walk back and write a piece of poetry even though it’s your first time doing any of these three things. If you can do that you may just have the strength of character required. Otherwise, just turn off the alarm when it rings, roll over, go back to sleep and keep your day job. Q Should you only start a business if you’re passionate about it? Well, if your sole motivation is to make money then of course you don’t need to be passionate about it. But it certainly helps. If your sole motivation is making money then go and do it, but it kind of takes the fun out of things, doesn’t it? If it isn’t fun, don’t do it. Then it becomes just another job. I read recently that over 50% of people frequently regret not doing something and suffer the torture of “what if…” Stop thinking – get up and do it. Q What’s the key to entrepreneurial success? Innovation plus business rigour. It’s easy to be a very unsuccessful entrepreneur. There are lots of failed geniuses who have come up with brilliant ideas but can’t see them through, and then a businessperson comes along who has the wit, experience, money and work ethic to turn it into a success. Q Are entrepreneurs high risk takers? To a degree. My biggest disappointment is with people who avoid trying to innovate or be creative because they don’t want to screw up a bonus or change something that isn’t broke. But that attitude doesn’t keep you moving forward. In my hotel group, we always ask what if we could… And then we go ahead and do it, and pleasantly enough half the time it succeeds. Q As a lawyer, can you tell us the common legal mistakes that entrepreneurs make? Not documenting their verbal agreements and not protecting their intellectual property are two things

but also thinking that their product/ service is the best there is – that’s a fallacy, there’s always better. People also tend to ignore the boring parts of business – getting the goods produced and shipping on time with no short shipments, and collecting money for payment. These processes are the very foundation and superstructure of a business. Get that right and it doesn’t matter what you build around that structure – it will succeed very often. Another common mistake? Not getting professional legal advice in time. Lawyers are widely seen as expensive, but I can tell you that today most legal services are affordable even for small businesses. However, if you haven’t consulted a lawyer in time and find yourself in the middle of a dispute, the legal costs are just silly. That is why my law firm created OLN Online, a starter’s guide to creating businesses. The preliminary advice and standard documentation is set at an affordable price and takes you in front of your competitors from the get-go. Q What types of contracts should every small business have? Depends on the nature of your business, but shareholders’ agreement, website terms of use, confidentiality agreement and employment contract are at the top of the list. Oldham, Li & Nie has been actively involved with Hong Kong start-ups for many years, the OLN Online platform is a ‘law as a subscription service,’ built for small businesses that don’t necessarily need or can’t afford an in-house lawyer. It’s the first such platform introduced by a Hong Kong law firm and it provides instant access to a wide range of legal documents, 24/7, remotely, with online support from our lawyers. Q Lastly, what do you do when you have made a success of your business? Ha-ha! Start another one – and start giving back. Over the years I’ve realised I actually enjoy seeing people happy. That service mentality has helped enormously with my hotels and my law firm supports various Hong Kong charities. We’ve recently started sponsoring local sports events, like the DB Beach Tennis. Gordon Oldham is the Senior Partner at Oldham, Li & Nie, a full-service independent Hong Kong law firm. Established in 1987, the firm has some 45 lawyers, admitted to one or more jurisdictions, including Hong Kong, France, the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada and Japan. The team’s start-up practice has been helping Hong Kong entrepreneurs for many years. To find out more and hear more from Gordon, visit www.oln-law.com.

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

COMMUNITY

! it r i p S That's the

THE WORLD AT HOME

Until we can go to the world, DB-based charity One World Spirit is bringing the world to us – and with it some tolerance and communication. Elizabeth Kerr sits down with the founder Shirlee L. Dickert and event organiser Hans Dickert to find out more

PHOTOS BY www.evoqueportraits.com, www.richardgordonphotography.com & courtesy of Shirlee L. Dickert

n two short years, One World Spirit Association (OWS) has made a big impression on DBers. Fully living up to its name, the non-profit, volunteer-run charity has set out to promote cultural diversity and exchange, tolerance, and harmony, while raising awareness for local charities focused on children, such as Po Leung Kuk, the city’s oldest, and Living Hope Ministry. Working alongside an enthusiastic and growing group of volunteers, OWS’ founder Shirlee L. Dickert and event organiser Hans Dickert have focused on providing a vibrant series of multicultural events designed to appeal directly to residents. The offering has included Xmas visits from Saint Nicholas, numerous bazaars, a Hanfu parade in Western District, even a small-scale Oktoberfest, and you can bet your bottom dollar there is more to come.

LIVING WITHOUT BORDERS When we finally get to meet, the Dickerts are sitting in a DB coffee shop just after the Lunar New Year. Shirlee’s dressed in traditional hanfu for the lunch she’s heading to shortly. Husband Hans is parked at the next table, tapping away on his phone, and scanning papers, catching up on some of his work with a German industrial tech firm. Aside from the paperwork, the couple looks relaxed, almost in holiday mode, which belies a packed calendar that includes their work with OWS. OWS’ aim to promote multiculturalism within DB, while helping underprivileged children across Hong Kong is clear but interestingly enough none of this was in the original mission statement. OWS (find them at www.1worldspirit.org) was incorporated in 2011 so Shirlee could run a business teaching Salsa dance. Though she has an official career in finance, the Guangzhou native has explored her artier, more socially minded side whenever possible since relocating to Hong Kong aged 10 with her soprano mother and bassoon musician father. 26

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

ONE WORLD SPIRIT CO-FOUNDERS SHIRLEE AND HANS DICKERT

COMMUNITY

Shirlee changed course and registered OWS as a charity in 2020 when COVID descended on the world, sent everyone into a funk and grounded normally adventurous Hongkongers. “We got to talking with friends who couldn’t go home for Christmas, and I decided to create something that would inject some positivity into the atmosphere,” she recalls. “It seemed like a seasonal, cultural event would distract people and deliver a meaningful message to them too. This is how we started.” OKTOBERFEST 2021

GOODWILL TO ALL MEN So, in December 2020, Shirlee tapped her husband’s German heritage and formalised a programme the pair had started years before as a favour for DB friends with kids – making home visits dressed as Saint Nicholas. Their version wasn’t the jolly CocaCola shilling version most of us are accustomed to. After getting an idea of how many kids are in the home, ages, genders and names, Hans would show up dressed up like Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas – which he had done previously back home in Germany – with small gifts and sweets, sharing the historic folklore that gave birth to the myth of the man in red. The response was strong from the get-go: The 2020 visits were mostly online, but for 2021, in person visits were back – and the Dickerts needed three Saint Nicks to visit 27 DB families and 42 kids.

HANFU PARADE IN WESTERN 2020

Shirlee was teaching dance when she and Hans first moved to DB from Hong Kong Island 12 years ago. “We moved here because the environment is good and it’s very international,” she says, citing a stat claiming 48 countries are represented in DB. “I actually fell in love with the community when I was a student and working for the census.” She is also holding onto some words of wisdom imparted by a 75-year-old Salsa dancer she met in Hamburg years before. “She said ‘dancing has no nationality, no boundaries and no age,’ and I’ve carried that attitude with me ever since.”

“No one can travel, and Europeans, especially the Dutch, really enjoy Sinterklaas activities,” Hans chimes in. He even offered to come with Saint Nick’s trusty – and sightly creepy – aide Krampus. “You need to be careful with him. But he can just stand in the corner, and if the kids start crying, I send him outside,” he quips. Both hope that the volunteers they have helping on the Christmas visits will keep up the tradition down the road. And yes, if COVID vanished tomorrow, they’d do the personalised Saint Nick visits next year too. “It’s not a commercial event but we’re open to doing it for more families, and maybe even in more districts,” adds Shirlee. The Saint Nicholas visits are a prime example of what Shirlee hopes to accomplish with OWS, and it’s something she thinks the world needs more of right now. For her it’s a fulfilling second career. “I enjoy it. I’m less worried about earning, and at this stage of my life I’d like to do something that I think the community needs,” she states. “We want to support underprivileged children in Hong Kong too, and I hope families in DB are willing to donate a bit to help others. This is how we connect with the other districts in Hong Kong.” AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

COMMUNITY

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW OWS’ 2021 Christmas Bazaar at Lantau Boat Club (LBC), co-organised by LBC and Living Hope Ministry, conformed equally well to Shirlee’s agenda. In addition to the community-led Xmas stalls, mulled wine and barbecue snacks were on offer for token prices. Again, proceeds from the event went to support Po Leung Kuk.

XMAS BAZAAR CO-ORGANISED BY LBC AND LIVING HOPE MINISTRY 2021

OWS’ plans for January this year were even bigger – a CNY Fun Fair and Market, packed with festive food and flowers, and introducing residents to Fai Chun calligraphy, traditional tea art and Hanfu clothing. The event was scuttled by the rapid emergence of Omicron but ever-positive, Shirlee sees this as a temporary setback – and an opportunity to plan for OWS’ future. Shirlee knows everyone loves food: “We want to do more cookery workshops and get more people, from more parts of the world involved. All cuisine has a story. Now’s not the right time but we’re definitely doing a food-based event,” she says. A series of workshops are being planned – including one on Zen culture (with tea art and calligraphy) to help residents de-stress. “Right now, we’re also organising an online event to cheer everyone up,” says Shirlee. “We want residents of different nationalities to join our video shooting programme, sharing video clips of themselves in traditional dress.” Of course, many of OWS’s goals depend on overcoming challenges in space, money and manpower. The clutch of volunteers OWS has collaborating with it are tireless and dedicated, but more is always merrier. The few venues the organisation has needed in the past 24 months have been lucky finds, like the LBC providing its space for the Christmas Bazaar, a DB village playground for the Oktoberfest and a private garden outside official DB boundaries for the cancelled CNY fair.

SAINT NICHOLAS VISIT 2021 MINISTRY 2021

“This is for the community by the community. We don’t have any big sponsors, so we need all the help we can get. We want to do more, so if anyone appreciates what we’re doing now we would be happy to take venues,” Shirlee finishes. “It would be great if HKR could provide us with a small space where we could organise workshops… We’re planning for the long term.”

OWS’ VOLUNTEERS Events: Danny Sullivan, May Wai Sze Chan, Peter Chan, Sergius Trautner, Charles Liu, Leung Cheuk, Professor Stephan Sze Man Hung and Agnes Tse and Olli Tuominen Pekka (co-founders of Living Hope Ministry). School support: Po Leung Kuk teacher Leon Tin and the students at Po Leung Kuk Tong Nai Kan Junior Secondary school and Po Leung Kuk Vicwood K.T. Chong Sixth Form College. Admin: Cynthia Chu, Kitty Tam, Rosanna Yip, Thomas Ng, Vincent Cheung, Wango Man and William Cheung. EVENT VOLUNTEERS 2021 28

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

To get involved, WhatsApp 6219 3817.

The only real gift we can give our children is an education.. A boarding school education ensures students gain good qualifications, confidence, independence and a breadth of interests - a true education for life! The environment of a boarding school is motivating, nurturing, caring and aims to give each child the opportunities to develop their personal talents to the full and achieve their academic potential. One of the key features of boarding school life is the wide range of activities and experiences, which gives boarders the opportunity to develop skills and interests beyond the academic curriculum; valuable life skills and interests that contribute to career developmentand adult life. At boarding school you are living in a community; you make friends for life, whatever part of the world they come from. Sports and hobbies, dance, drama, music, art, public speaking, aerobics, philosophy, pottery, gymnastics and much more are all on offer at most boarding schools. Life in a boarding school is excellent preparation for university and employment as it provides many of the non-academic skills that employers are looking for. You are encouraged to participate in team events and there are opportunities to be elected to positions of responsibility, such as Rugby Captain, Head of Boarding House, Prefect, Peer Mentor and many more. Finding the right school is a daunting prospect, many families rely on recommendations by friends, local knowledge or internet searches. Anderson Education are the UK boarding school specialists; our Education Consultants understand the impact of this emotional and financial decision on every family. Our invaluable experience and up to date knowledge will guide you through the process from recommending schools for your consideration, arranging for information to be sent to you and liaising with youand the school through the visiting, testing, registering and admissions process. We all want to provide the best education for our children - there has never been a better time to consider a UK boarding education – contact us today!

www.andersoneducation.co.uk enquiries@andersoneducation.co.uk AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

! l a on s r e p it Make

FITNESS

INVEST IN YOURSELF

A personal trainer gives you structure and motivation, and the confidence to reach your goals through a custom-made exercise plan. Fitness and Health Coach Tyler Treece tells Rachel Sadler all about it PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon – Richardgordonphotography.com

PERSONAL TRAINING SESSIONS ELIMINATE TRIAL AND ERROR as

your trainer can demonstrate how to per form the exercises correctly and safely. A personal trainer can make a real dif ference by instilling accountability; he can ensure you stick to the plan and achieve your goals ef ficiently.

THROUGH A PERSONALISED FITNESS PLAN ,

a personal trainer can focus specifically on you and even advise you about exercises to avoid if you have previous injuries. You should have a 60 -minute trial session with a new trainer to find out if you have good chemistr y –a reciprocal relationship with your trainer is essential to achieving your fitness goals.

BY SETTING A SERIES OF PHYSICAL CHALLENGES, your personal trainer can work

out how hard to push you. From there, he guides you to work on strength, flexibility, balance and coordination through a series of exercises, star ting at a level that suits you; the exercises will get progressively more dif ficult as you progress.

GOALS SHOULD BE SMALL AND ATTAINABLE so as to keep morale and motivation levels high. It’s best to train three times per week with your personal trainer over a five-week programme – this is how long it takes to star t seeing real results. Aim to exercise for 30 minutes per day in between personal training sessions. 30

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

FITNESS

PERSONAL TRAINERS FIND THE EXERCISES BEST SUITED TO YOU.

For instance, for trail runners concerned with speed, TRX is a per fect tool since it strengthens hamstrings and glutes. Pilates and yoga should be incorporated into all fitness regimes since they focus on posture, while engaging the core and strengthening muscles.

WORKOUTS ALWAYS BEGIN WITH DYNAMIC STRETCHING (leg swings and dynamic walks) to increase circulation and lengthen muscles. Upper body and cardio exercises come next, followed by circuit training (it’s impor tant to get the hear t rate going for several minutes). What happens from there depends on your fitness level.

DAILY AEROBIC EXERCISE,

like running, biking and jumping rope, helps you lose fat and build stamina by maintaining a higher hear t rate for a set period of time (10 to 30 minutes). Anaerobic exercises, like jumps and burpees, build muscle through explosive movement.

YOU CAN TRAIN IN PAIRS, GROUPS, OR SOLO. Personal training with friends or family

members can improve confidence and motivation – it can help you show up to class, which is half the battle. Group sessions like bootcamp are ideal for shedding weight, and TRX classes are great for toning and shaping muscles.

A NUTRITION PLAN AND FITNESS PLAN COMBINED will get you faster results, while increasing your energy levels. Focusing on specific goals like shape and toning, as opposed to losing weight, is a healthy approach to fitness and wellbeing.

Tyler Treece founder of Treece Fitness has been a Fitness and Health Coach for over 15 years. He offers personalised training sessions, bootcamp, sport performance camps and TRX classes six days a week for all ages and abilities in DB. To book a session, WhatsApp 9400 4237, email tyler@treecefitness.com, or visit www.treecefitness.com. AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

PARENTAL C HOICES OVER VACCINATIONS AND HOW IT REL ATES TO CUSTODY Jocelyn Tsao, partner, and Philippa Hewitt, professional support lawyer in the divorce and family team at Withers, outline what you need to know Last month, the Hong Kong Government announced that Hong Kong children from as young as three years old could be given the Sinovac vaccine produced in China starting February 15; Germany’s BioNTech vaccine was made available to those aged five to 11 from February 16 as the city deals with the worse wave of the coronavirus. Understandably, parents have mixed views on whether to vaccinate children of such a tender age. This situation could be further complicated by separating or divorced parents who do not share the same view on vaccination. Feelings may run high if one parent is pro-vaccination and the other is not. Where parents are separated or divorced, there will normally be an order for custody, care and control for their children which regulates who has custody of the children and their day-to-day care. Whether parents are granted sole or joint custody orders may impact whether or not they need the other’s consent before a major decision (such as vaccination) can be made, and to what extent. The more common order made by the court is joint custody which recognises that children benefit from the involvement of both parents and that parents should make important decisions on behalf of their children together wherever possible. Parents with joint custody will therefore have to reach a consensus on vaccination before either of them can take their child to be vaccinated. While theoretically, a parent with sole custody is able to make such decisions on his/ her own, he/ she must always consult with the other parent, where possible. Both parents have the right to be consulted in respect of these issues and, should a parent who has been granted sole custody of the children act unilaterally, the parent without custody can make an application to the court to be heard. Sole custody is generally ordered when there has been a breakdown in communication between the parents and it may be the case that certain important custodial decisions are resolved by the court. In practice, if there is a conflict on an issue such as whether to have the child vaccinated, the court has a duty to consider what would be in the best interests of the child. Parents are well advised to seek medical advice 32

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

on this before commencing a court action. If the parents still cannot agree, it is likely that the family court judge will appoint a single joint expert – an approved doctor – to assess and provide an opinion for the court to consider. The parents can agree on the single joint expert, failing which the court has the power to appoint one. It is clearly important for both parties and the court that the expert is unbiased and independent, rather than being funded by one party or the other. Given that vaccination is a matter of custody requiring the consent of both parents, it will be prudent to enquire what the other parent's attitude is and try to reach a consensus on this issue sooner rather than later, so that when emergencies arise requiring immediate vaccination, the decision to vaccinate can be executed promptly without having to seek the Court's adjudication It is important to acknowledge that parents should not be tempted to enter into a conflict situation regarding their children on the pretext that they both have their children’s best interests at heart. Parents should acknowledge that they both have a right to be heard on medical decisions, but that conflict should be kept to a minimum. In the absence of agreement, generally, decisions regarding medical treatment should be left to the doctors.

Withers has extensive experience in dealing with child custody and Hong Kong family law issues. Contact the writers: Jocelyn Tsao at Jocelyn.Tsao@withersworldwide.com and Philippa Hewitt at Philippa.Hewitt@witherskhattarwong.com. Withers, 30/F United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty, 3711 1600, www.withersworldwide.com.

LIFE

ONLY GETS

BETTER AS

YOU DO

www.treecefitness.com IG/FB @treecefitness WA: 94004237

Treece Fitness provides a unique style of programs that work on building your mental and physical strength through a wide range of exercises and fun challenges that not only burn fat and build muscle but help you become a better athlete.

DMR School of Ballet

2 yrs

Dance With Me! Fun accompanied class with props and partner work

3 - 4 yrs

Baby Ballet & Dinky Dancers! Story based fun

5 - 18 yrs Adults

Ballet, Modern and Tap! RAD and ISTD

Ballet Barre, Adult Ballet, Tap and Jazz! AM and PM classes

www.dmr-hk.com

CALLING ALL CRICKETERS To foster and promote participation in the sport of cricket in a family atmosphere via recreation, coaching and competition in the spirit of the game.

Play competitive matches in Cricket HK’s T20 Challenge League Worldwide cricket tours ~ Australia, Thailand, India and Singapore Skills development, relaxation & cutting edge fitness coaching State of art technology and coaching aides Access to Discovery Bay Recreation Club, Partners, Sponsors and Loyalty Programs Internationally Qualified Cricket Australia Level II Representative Coach

Discovery Bay Cricket Club 2987 0132 or 9011 1319

Diamantaire de Prestige

dbcricketclub@outlook.com www.dbcricketclub.com

PARENTING

! s e g a t S d n Ages a GROWING PAINS

Certain behaviours are shared by children as they grow and develop. Kate Farr explores three common parental headaches, and offers some creative solutions to provide relief PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

ur children go through distinct periods of development as they grow from infants to young adults. During each of these stages, multiple changes in the development of the brain are taking place. What occurs and approximately when these developments transpire are genetically determined. However, environmental circumstances and exchanges with the adults closest to them have a significant influence on how each child benefits from each developmental event. As infants and children progress through this series of growth stages, they will encounter common physical or emotional challenges. Although children differ in the rate at which they develop, the order of the stages does not vary. While it is extremely important to remember that every child is unique and special in his or her own right, there are certain stages every child must go through in order to ensure successful development. Whether you’re raising an energetic child or a placid one, certain challenging behaviours (the sort that give parents headaches) are common at one point or another. The way you respond to these behaviours plays a major role in how they impact upon family life.

PARENTING

age of four or even older. Common wisdom suggests that sleep begets sleep, and so if your little ones are still bouncing off the walls hours after lights-out, it may be that, rather than not being tired, they are actually overtired. Although it sounds counter intuitive, sleep experts agree that sending young children to bed earlier can actually result in a longer overall sleep time. If sleep issues persist, then it’s always wise to consult a professional for guidance, as sufficient rest is critical for young children’s healthy development and your sanity.

CLINGY TOTS The jump from pre-school to primar y can often be a turbulent time for families. A new school, taking the bus and meeting new people can feel over whelming to young children. Even outwardly confident kids can take a while to adjust to the change, and this may manifest in a number of ways. Your child may become reluctant to go to school, star t throwing tantrums, or become quiet and withdrawn.

When it comes down to it, the task of being a parent parallels children’s growth and development. Just as children grow and change as they develop, parents grow and change as they move from one stage of parenthood to the next. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say. Read on to learn more about three common parental headaches that occur at three very different stages in a child’s development – and how best to deal with them.

SLEEPLESS BABES In the early years, some of the most common family stressors centre around sleep – parents want more of it, their adorable offspring resist it. After just a few weeks of snatching micro-naps in between feeds and nappies, parents of new-borns can find themselves completely exhausted, running on adrenaline and at the end of their tethers. Although it can feel almost impossible to be apart from your baby in those intense first few months, it’s crucial that new parents take the time to rest – as the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Hand your bub over to your partner, helper, or friend while you take the opportunity to have a long shower undisturbed, and grab some shut-eye. The smallest amounts of sleep can do wonders for your mood, help you to feel less overwhelmed and give you the energy you need to get on with your day. Sadly, sleep deprivation doesn’t just affect parents of babies. Toddler and pre-schooler sleep habits are often the hardest to alter, with any attempt at change resulting in spirited protests. The average two-yearold requires between 11 and 12 hours of sleep per night, plus a 90-minute to two-hour daytime nap, and some kids may still need a daytime sleep up until the

THE JUMP FROM PRE-SCHOOL TO PRIMARY CAN BE TOUGH AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

PARENTING

It can help for parents to become involved in school activities; joining the PTA, or supervising outings can be a good way of reassuring kids that you are still close to hand. Praising good behaviour, rather than focusing on less desirable traits will help your child feel secure. Ensuring that he has sufficient afterschool downtime will enable him to recharge and process his thoughts and feelings.

An ‘out’ gives teens the privacy that they need, while reassuring them that you’re there and ready to step in if needed. It allows them to develop their social skills, independence and resilience in a safe and supported way.

If your child remains reluctant to attend school after the initial ‘bedding-in’ process, scheduling a meeting with his class teacher can be helpful to rule out any more significant issues, for example bullying. Towards the end of primary school, you are likely to hear plenty of tales of other parents and how much cooler, less strict and all-round better they are than you. While this may sting, it’s best to take these laments with a pinch of salt, as there is a strong chance that their child is at home making the exact same claims about you. Consider allowing a little more freedom within carefully established boundaries – for example, allowing kids to stay up late during a weekend sleepover, if they finish their chores in advance. This can help to reinforce trust and encourage mutual respect.

RECKLESS TEENS Teens often get a bad rap for being difficult, however the teenage years can be rewarding – if you choose your battles wisely, and maintain clear lines of communication. Your child is now desperate to be treated as an adult, which can be tough for parents, who remember the tousle-haired toddler days, to accept. This is the age during which kids may begin to experiment with cigarettes, alcohol and/ or drugs, leading to major conflict with their understandably concerned parents. The first step is to be very clear with boundaries and what behaviours are – and are not – acceptable to you. Some parents will not tolerate drinking under any circumstances, while others may allow moderate consumption at home, or under adult supervision. Sit down with your teen and calmly discuss his opinions about what is, and isn’t acceptable when it comes to drink and drug use, and ask him to help you set the house rules. Despite often being perceived as reckless, many teens are surprisingly conser vative in their attitudes, and so you may be surprised by their response. Teens are often vulnerable to peer pressure. One strategy to combat this is to give them an ‘out’ – a well-disguised ‘SOS’ that they can drop into a text or phone conversation, resulting in you having to immediately collect them due to a ‘family emergency.’ This enables them to save face amongst their peer group, while giving them the confidence they need to escape situations that might otherwise escalate beyond their comfort zone. 36

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

TEENS ARE BIG KIDS, DESPERATE TO BE TREATED AS ADULTS

CMY

Adding sparkle and wonder to inquisitive minds through creativity, exploration, observation, life skills and outdoor learning.

Playgroup - for little ones from 18 months old 2 years old

Drop off Stepping Stones classes for 2-3 year olds

Pre-School K1, K2 & K3 3-6 year olds

enquiry.db@sunshinehouse.hk | www.sunshinehouse.hk / 2185-6134

! l e v a r t r i ha c m r A BEST IN LISBON

ESCAPES

Indulge your ongoing obsession with Portugal’s pretty little capital PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels

LISBON’S POSTCARDPERFECT PANORAMA

encompasses whitewashed houses with terracottatiled roofs; ancient, domed cathedrals; narrow, cobbled alleyways and the mighty River Tagus. To take it all in, head to Portas do Sol viewpoint.

THE FAMOUS TRAM 28 makes light of Lisbon’s seven steep hills and packs in a number of the city’s attractions for the price of your ticket. But you’ll want to navigate the narrow lanes in the old town – Alfama – on foot, admiring the beautiful azulejos (painted tiles) on the buildings as you go.

A VISIT TO LX FACTORY IS A MUST. This ultra-hip industrial

complex contains a fantastic selection of boutiques, art galleries, bookshops, cafés, restaurants and, above all, people! The best time to go is on a Sunday, when the central space is taken over by local vendors selling art, crafts, food, vintage clothes and more. 38

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

FARMERS GATHER AT THE MERCADO BIOLÓGICO

ESCAPES

(Biological Market) every Saturday to sell organic fruit and vegetables, along with home-made olive oils, soaps and cereals. Bargaining is acceptable. Take a stroll around the beautiful Parque Principe once you’ve shopped, and then have lunch at one of its open-air cafés.

FOR THE BEST BACALHAU

(salted cod) make your way to Cervejaria Ramiro. Thanks to its coastal position, Lisbon boasts some of the freshest fish in Europe, and this informal little joint has been a favourite with local and international foodies alike since the 1950s.

LISBON’S PASTEL DE NATA (EGG TARTS) ARE WORLD FAMOUS. First made by nuns

in the 16th century, they are now sold throughout the city. While guidebooks would point you to Pasteis de Belém, try the tarts in Manteigaria – they give the ones on offer at Lord Stow’s Bakery in Macau a run for their money.

HEAD STRAIGHT TO UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES Torre de

Belém (the fortified Tower of St Vincent) and Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (the former Monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome). Castelo de São Jorge (St George Castle) towers majestically over the city and is a great spot to get your bearings.

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

INSIDER

! s p i T p To

MODERN LUXE

Minimalism’s long run as home decor’s default style is far from over but decorative design is making a very definite COVIDrelated comeback. Imogen Clyde outlines the look

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels

oving into 2022, our homes are becoming, for want of a better word, decorative. It seems our dreams of a Spartan, Zen-like future really were just that. Having spent so much time at home – confined to our homes – these past couple of years, we are finding that what we want from them has changed. We want colour, comfort and let’s face it, a touch of glam – cold, clean minimalism has lost a lot of its appeal. The best COVID-lifestyle homes are designed to provide a much-needed escape from bleak reality. Homemakers have always depended on decoration to bring a sense of warmth and individuality to their living spaces. Right now, we want our home comforts, and we also want a taste of old-world luxury. There’s a collective feeling of nostalgia and a need for just a little excess.

The last time this happened was in the war-torn 1940s when modernist philosophy met classicism, and a distinctively ornamental style, classical modernism, came into being. It seems that beset by harsh economic and political realities, we look to interior design to cushion the blow. Just as hemlines go up when world economies prosper, interior design gets dressy and just a little bit decadent when times are bad. Then as now, the decorative look pays homage to the classical past, with designers taking a fresh look at what came before, while celebrating the novel and the new. Modern need not mean minimalist, nor does it demand a rejection of history.

SET THE STAGE

Defined as modern luxe, classical modernism’s latest incarnation is sumptuous and multi-layered without being fussy or over the top. In creating this look, the challenge is to balance comfort with constraint, old with new, the practical with the desirable. Modern luxe celebrates the minimal, the modern and the pure. At the same time, it delights in the beauty, charm and integrity that informed the furnishings of the classical past. The trick is to combine an eclectic mix of classically inspired or antique furniture, within a pared-back setting. The feel remains contemporary, since only a few key pieces are used to shape the scheme and ornamentation is carefully controlled. As an arbiter of timeless good taste, English society decorator Nicky Haslam has perfected the modern

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

INSIDER

“

I think traditional is the

best. I like to create utterly

luxe look. His style is unabashedly opulent; it’s all about craving high-end luxury and old-world glamour, without ostentation. “I think traditional is the best,” Haslam says. “I like to create utterly comfortable places that make life feel good. The Louis XVI world got it perfectly right.” Within this type of scheme, a pastiche of different historical styles typically lives together in one room, creating a sense of worldly sophistication and individuality. The idea is to look to the past to bring a new and original slant to the conventional, which is perceived as ordinary and run of the mill. As a result, a state-ofthe-art item, like a wall-hung television, may feature in a modern luxe room but due to the surrounding colour scheme, furnishings and/ or rich use of texture, the overall look remains classic and luxurious. Past and present find shared principles and the result is a harmonious and extremely liveable whole.

comfortable places that make life feel good. The Louis XVI world got it perfectly right - Nicky Haslam

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

INSIDER

BE BOLD WITH COLOUR

Colour is a key component of modern luxe design, found at the walls and floors as well as in the furnishings. In breaking away from the white-on-white minimalist palette, a whole world of colour opens up with decorators tending to favour rich ‘heritage hues’ taken from defining moments in history, whether Georgian, Victorian or Art Deco. Bold colours like these can work as well in modern homes as they do in older ones, assuming their use is carefully controlled – the racinggreen paintwork on a statement wall might, for instance, be carried through to the patterns in the surrounding soft furnishings. Strong colours make powerful accents, and they pair well with gentle, neutral shades. Remember that the look you are going for is elegant and contemporary – avoid trying to cram all the colours of the rainbow into one open-plan living space. Of course, vibrant colour-use is not a requirement. Tone-on-tone neutrals can be layered to create an appropriately luxurious feel, and you can up the ante with a few pops of black or dark brown. If you’re going the monochromatic route, rich texture is your friend whether introduced in the soft furnishings or accessories.

GET THE LOOK

By daring to be decorative, modern luxe advocates are redefining what is considered contemporary. Super-comfortable, classic pieces (from oversized,

KEY COMPONENTS: A MINIMAL BACKDROP CLASSICALLY INSPIRED FURNISHINGS BOLD USE OF COLOUR AND TEXTURE

VESSEL, A CHIC HAMMOCK BATHTUB BY SPLINTER WORKS

padded ottomans to elegant, wing-back chairs) are making a comeback. Seating, whether reproduction or antique, is, for the most part, luxuriously upholstered and extravagantly cushioned. Silk velvet is currently hot, as is herring-bone tweed. Premier pieces exude quality and simplicity, while adding a touch of glamour. Accents shimmer. Big brands are driving the trend by producing elegant reproductions that are big on antique details. Even in stores like IKEA or G.O.D., you’ll spot smart little classically informed pieces, featuring a turned wood leg here, a Chesterfield stud there. The latest launches are big on pattern (timeless florals and stripes) and general prettiness. Period crystal chandeliers, interior conversation pieces since the 17th century, are officially hip. The trend is for larger lighting fixtures that take possession of a room rather than serving as an unseen architectural element. If your budget won’t stretch to an antique, or a highend, trad-mod design by Swarovski or Baccarat, rely on decorative, artisan-made lamps to introduce the wow factor. Look out for reinterpreted classics in bewitching black crystal, glass mosaic, or brilliantly hued Perspex and aluminium. Modern luxe champions decadence and whimsy, drama and individuality and nowhere is this felt more strongly than in the latest bathroom designs. Take Vessel, the carbon-black hammock bathtub by Splinter Works, pictured above. It pushes the boundaries since it is reminiscent of a classic, claw-footed Victorian tub but at the same time, it looks totally state-of-theart. Set against a pared back, minimal backdrop, this technologically advanced tub makes a cool modern statement, while referring directly to the classical past. When it comes down to it, modern luxe is theatrical, showy and more than a little camp. It’s decadent and historically derived – pure Christian Lacroix. And it isn’t the preserve of huge rooms in historic houses, it works wonderfully in constrained living spaces, even right here in little old Lantau.

AARROOUUNNDD DDBB / / MMAARRCCHH 22002222

HOME RENOVATIONS & PROFESSIONAL CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE | DEADLINES MET & BUDGETS KEPT | HIGHEST QUALITY ASSURED | PROFESSIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN

Full House Renovations

Fitted Kitchens & Bathrooms

Open Plan Living Spaces

Painting Decorating & Tiling

Carpentry & Cabinet Making

New Look Design is owned and operated by Home Renovations expert Westley Lonergan.

Contact Westley directly on 9783 5840

www.newlookdesign.asia

to arrange a site visit or to get an estimation over the phone.

RECIPES

! at e M e h t Go Easy on Thanks to creative and delicious dishes like these, veggies can easily become the main event PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

SARIN’S BUDDHA BOWL Serves 3 1 15oz can chickpeas, drained 2tbsp olive oil 2tsp cumin ½tsp salt ¾tsp chili powder ¾tsp garlic powder ½ pumpkin 100g quinoa

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

Preheat the oven to 190° C. Wash and drain the chickpeas, then toss them with 1tbsp olive oil. Sprinkle over the cumin, salt, chili and garlic, stirring to coat evenly. Cut the pumpkin into thin wedges, toss with 1 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place the pumpkin and chickpeas on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the pumpkin is soft and the chickpeas golden brown. Meanwhile, place the rinsed quinoa in 300ml cold water and bring to a boil. Cook for 12-15 minutes, or until all the water has evaporated. Divide the chickpeas, pumpkin and quinoa between 3 bowls, adding cucumber, tomatoes and arugala. Serve with tahini sauce, balsamic vinaigrette or chili oil.

RECIPES

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

RECIPES

COURGETTE PASTA WITH TOMATOES Serves 4 4 courgettes 4 large, ripe tomatoes, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced ¼ bunch fresh basil, cut into ribbons 3tbsp olive oil Parmesan cheese shavings

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

Cut each courgette length-wise into very thin slices. Place the slices into a large bowl, sprinkle with 1tbsp salt and toss gently to coat. Line one or two baking sheets with paper towels. Transfer the salted courgette slices to the prepared sheets, arranging them in a single layer and let them stand for 20 minutes. Turn the courgette slices over and let them stand for 10 minutes more, before rinsing them under cold, running water. Using a clean kitchen towel pat the slices dry then arrange them in a loose mound on a serving platter. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes with their juices, and the garlic and basil. Toss gently to mix. Stir 2tbsp oil into the tomato mixture and season well. Drizzle the remaining oil over the courgettes. Spoon the tomato mixture over the courgettes. Garnish with parmesan cheese shavings to serve.

Contact us today for a free assessment. Mathnasium of Discovery Bay WhatsApp/Phone : 2628 3362 mathnasium.com.hk/discoveybay Shop 105-B North Plaza

Nepalese

TaKEaWay Curry nigHT EvEry EvEning (EXCEPT SaTurday)

HOLISTIC HEALTHCARE Effectively Addresses •Immune System Disorders

•Emotional Disorders

•Allergies And Intolerance

•Sleep Disorders

•Weight Control

•Gut Issues

•Chronic Pain

•Addiction

WE OFFER 20 MINUTES FREE CONSULTATION SUSAN SMITH (Sekhem Master Teacher, Reiki practitioner) 9276 7229 ANGIE TOURANI (Adv. Certified BodyTalk Practitioner) www.bodytalksystem.com.hk / www.imi.com.hk 6683 5755 ADINA WONG (Certified Hypnotherapist/ Energy Healer) www.nadihealings.com 9314 3905

Mention ADB Magazine and Get a HKD200 Discount on Your First Booking Photo by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

Delivered to the Central ferry pier 3 or Pick up by arrangement in DB plaza Chicken Curry & Rice

$88

Chickpea Curry & Rice

$68

Chicken Chwella & Rice

$98

10 Momos (Nepalese Dumplings) Chicken Pork Vegetable or Mixed

$88

Side dish - Alu Dum (potato curry)

$25

For Full Menu and online order : Direct Order : +852 55978871 Home delivery for a minimum of 10 people with 3 days prior notice.

DB FACES

i n a w d i G it j l Ba

COMMUNITY SNAPS

PH O T OS BY Bal j i t G i dwani w ww.evo q uepo r t rai t s .c o m

UNCLE UNCLERUSS RUSSINSTAGRAM INSTAGRAMCOMPETITION COMPETITION

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!

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST MONTH'S WINNER: Alison Price @alisonprice88

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

CLASSIFIEDS

During the suspension of public worship please join us on zoom. Details on the website

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

CLASSIFIEDS

Discovery Bay International Community Church

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

So that MY WORD will not return to me empty but it will achieve what I DESIRE Isaiah 55:11

10% Discount Code: ADBSpecial

Quality Frozen Meat Door Delivery by Cold Chain Mon, Wed, Fri dondonshop.com

4611 6983

Alcoholics Anonymous

If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, we can help.

No dues or fees. 24hr hotline: 9073 5922

www.aa-hk.org

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

The finest selection of lavender essestial oils, shampoos, hand creams, Foam Bath, Wildflower & Geranium, body lotions imported from the U.K. Lavender grown and harvested in the Cotswold with no artificial fragrances. Ginger extract hair serum and herbal teas from Thailand. A range of branded alcohol hand & hand Sanitisers.

Tel: 2527 0118 / 6050 5737 Gmail: essentialssophia@gmail.com

https://sophiaessentials.com

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

CLASSIFIEDS

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

www.arounddb.com

Unit 17, 1/F, Office Building Block Two, North Plaza, Discovery Bay

+852 9685 7856

DrBearSchool@gmail.com

Mandarin Fun Playgroup COURSE INFO Age From 2 To 3.5 Years Old A Creative, Motivating and Cheerful Environment Various Activities of Singing, Dancing, Storytelling, Playing Games, Artwork and Others Develop Children’s Gross & Fine Motors, Collaboration Ability, Social Skills and Aesthetic Sentiment Daily Life Topics Such As Autumn, Community, X’mas and Others.

100% Guarantee Services

CA8<2>

使用安全環保產品進行

>=6 >=6 !8<8C43 蟲害及白蟻消滅服務

1BJOUJOH %FDPSBUJOH 3FOPWBUJPO $MBEEJOH

Domestic Pest & Termite Management

HOTLINE: 2458-8378

9810-3824 www.trulycare.com.hk info@trulycare.com.hk

5JMJOH

DB PROPERTIESFOR FOR RENT DB PROPERTIES RENT

M O$POUBDU 4UFWF %POPWBO D E R N A P A R T M EMODERN N T S IAPARTMENTS N D I S C OINVDISCOVERY E R Y B A BAY Y

Short or Long Term rents. Short or Long-Term Rentals. BU Next to Tunnel and Club Siena with quiet sea views Next park, to Tunnel Club Siena with bed linen, over Fully and furnished, washer/dryer, DBMM PS 8IBUT"QQ 600over kitchenware. sq ft, 60 inch TVs, Wi-Fi, Sound bar. quiet sea views park. Please contact owner: Fully furnished, washer/dryer, bedlinen, 93170624 or nialady2011@gmail.com USJNDPIL!HNBJM DPN kitchenware, 600sft, 60 inch TV, Wi-Fi, Sound bar.

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

you IIff yo u a are r e l o looking o k i n g t o rto e n trent o r s eor l l asell p r o pae rproperty ty and and would like to see it listed on this wo u l d l i ke t o s e e i t p r o m o t e d o n t h i s p a g epage, , e m a i l info@baymedia.com.hk info@baymedia.com.hk email 52

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

CA8<2> >=6 >=6 !8<8C43

1BJOUJOH %FDPSBUJOH 3FOPWBUJPO $MBEEJOH 5JMJOH $POUBDU 4UFWF %POPWBO BU DBMM PS 8IBUT"QQ USJNDPIL!HNBJM DPN

DO YOU HAVE PLAN B? *Assessing the Different Risks in Life *Taking Actions Now and Tackling Future Challenges DISCUSS WITH JOEY VIA WHATSAPP 9193 7531

#Covid #Hospitalization #IncomeProtection #EducationFund #RetirementPlan #Annuity #HighinterestSavings #Life #QDAP #VHIS #PremiumFinancing #PledgedLoan

LOCAL NUMBERS

TUNG CHUNG

EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 Tung Chung Ambulance Depot Tung Chung Fire Station Tung Chung Police Station

2988 8282 2988 1898 3661 1999

HOME & REPAIRS Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths Mr Chan 24-Hour Handyman ShunYu Engineering

2109 2330 9343 3718 2988 1488

HOTELS Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Novotel Citygate Hong Kong Regal Airport Hotel SheratonTung Chung

3969 1888 3602 8888 2286 8888 2535 0000

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 Raffles Medical Emergency

2185 6550 2109 9396 2109 2288 3467 7000 2194 0020 2403 6613 2403 6623 2261 2626 2261 0999

REALTORS HomeSolutions

3483 5003

REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals 2421 8088 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 ReloSmart 2561 3030 SwiftRelo 2363 4008 RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Caribbean Coast Clubhouse Caribbean Coast Management Office Coastal Skyline Clubhouse Coastal Skyline Management Office Seaview Crescent Clubhouse Seaview Crescent Management Office Tung Chung Crescent Clubhouse Tung Chung Crescent Management Office

2109 9277 2109 9288 2179 6678 2179 6621 3473 8700 3473 8833 2403 6770 2109 1222

RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY ATavola Bar & Grill 2321 5500 Airport Izakaya, Regal Airport hotel 2286 6668 Andante, Novotel Citygate 3602 8828 Cabana Breeze 2777 8982 Café Aficionado 2286 6238 Café Lantau, SheratonTung Chung 2535 0021 Essence, Novotel Citygate 3602 8808 Funky Monkey 2427 1111 JasmineTung Chung 2162 8018 La Rosabelle Bar & Grill 2881 8788 LaVista 2368 6866 Lobby Lounge, SheratonTung Chung 2535 0023 Maison Du Mezze 2330 0131 Mint & Basil 2762 8077 Moon Lok Chiu Chow 2116 8149 MyThai 2907 6918 Nha trangVietnamese Cuisine 2234 9199 PizzaExpress 2297 3588 Regala Café & Dessert Bar, Regal Airport Hotel 2286 6618

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

2428 2566 9733 5483

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

6314 9887 2988 1534 2328 7282

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

2162 5752 2286 6266 9551 6468 969 21888

The China Beach Club The Gallery The Kitchen Treasure Island Beach Club

2983 8931 2980 2582 5991 6292 5236 7013

SOUTH LANTAU MEDICAL North Lantau Hospital

3467 7000

REALTORS Findley Leung HomeSolutions

2984 8334 3483 5003

EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 Lantau South Police MuiWo Fire Department

3661 1696 2984 1570

HOME & REPAIRS KoonWah Hardware LeeWo Construction Engineering Man Shun Construction & Engineering New Look Design

2984 8487 2984 1802 2984 9833 9783 5840

HOTELS Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel

6810 0111 2985 8383

REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals 2421 8088 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 Lee Hing Loong 2984 2268 ReloSmart 2561 3030 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 MuiWo Language Cafe Silvermine Bay School

2109 9886 2985 5365 2984 0302 2984 0302 2980 3676 2984 0302 3689 7033 5511 6107 2984 0006

RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY BahçeTurkish Restaurant 2984 0222 Bathers 2504 4788 Cafe Isara 2470 1966 Caffe Paradiso 2984 0498 China Bear 2984 9720 La Pizzeria 2984 8933 Lantana Italian Bistro 5465 5511 Long Island 2320 2001 Pause Cafe 5267 5549

RETAIL Friendly Bike Shop 2984 2278 Garden Plus 2980 2233 IslandWines 9521 8481 Loi Chan Frozen Meat Co. 2984 8346 Lantau Base Camp 9889 4375 Lantau Grocer 2702 0050 Red Hall Chinese Antiques 2988 1368 Tony’s Salon 2984 0990 ValueVigilantes 6132 9120 VIBE Book & Music Shop 9088 2370 SPORT & RECREATION Long Coast Seasports South Lantau Paddle Club Treasure Island Beach Club

5545 5625 6058 8843 2546 3543

WELLBEING & BEAUTY Pause by the Banyan Spa Ambiance

9708 0187 2984 2488

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

LOCAL NUMBERS

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 2160 8585 HSBC 2233 3000 Parsons White Wealth Management 2433 6981 The Stephen Putnam Practice 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 6114 2436 DBIS 2987 7331 DBIS Kindergarten 2914 2142 Discovery College 3969 1000 Discovery Mind International Play Centre 2987 8088 Discovery Mind Kindergarten 2987 8088 Discovery Mind Primary School 2914 2202 Discovery Montessori Academy 2812 9206 Dr Bear Education Centre 9685 7856 Epic Adventurers 2441 0098 Eye Level Education Learning Centre 9366 0000 Funfit 6302 6327 HKILA 2416 3198 La Petite Enfance Kindergarten 8191 0813 L’Ecole Pierre et Marie Curie 8191 0813 Links Parenting 6114 2436 Mandarin for Munchkins 2480 3909 Mathemagic (home tutoring) 9135 4724 Mathnasium 2628 3362 SKH Wei Lun Primary School 2987 8608 54

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

Sunshine House International Preschool 2987 8143 Treasure House 2987 4217 Woodentots 6108 9131 Zhi Zhi Chinese 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 2987 2088 Kingsland 2987 2987 Land Master Property 2987 6238 Okay.com 2102 0829 Savills 2987 1919 REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals 2421 8088 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 Hoi Yu Transportation 2987 4488 ReloSmart 2561 3030 SwiftRelo 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 2658 9696 22º North 2987 2298 Bones & Blades 2383 0792 Café Bord de Mer & Lounge 2295 8299 Caffe Pascucci 2591 1426 Cali-Mex 2904 7698 Coffee Academics 2882 2280 Coyote Mexican Cantina 2987 2848 Ebeneezer’s 2987 0036 Epic Foods 2172 6111 Figos Seaside Café 2987 2915 First Korean Restaurant 2987 9123 HanMade Teahouse 2322 8858 Hemingway’s 2987 8855 il Bel Paese 2987 0202 Island Café 2987 9311 Koh Tomyums 2987 0767 La Creation & Châteraisé 2987 1829 Levain Bakery 2726 4922 Lekker Laa 6857 1620 McDonald’s & McCafe 2987 1033 McSorley’s Ale House 2987 8280 Mirch Masala 2987 1337 Moofish by Zak’s 2987 6318 Osmanbey Turkish Restaurant 5401 8350 Pacific Coffee 2987 1662 Paisano’s 2673 4445 Pascucci Italian Caffe & Fine Food 2591 1426

LOCAL NUMBERS

DISCOVERY BAY Peony 2215 0833 PizzaExpress 3164 1340 Robata Master 6176 7573 Shanghai Breeze 2987 7808 Solera 2555 0772 Starbucks 2246 8372 Subway 2914 0005 Sushi No En 3705 9984 Taste of Thai 2987 2010 The Pier Bar 2520 2166 Three Sheets Marquee Bar 2987 0966 Uncle Russ 2840 1188 Viet Bu Tong Kitchen & Bar 2338 8970 Zak’s 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 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 2259 3422 Club Siena 2987 7382 DBees 6473 4277 DB Ice Rink 2234 0187 DB Pirates 9255 6133 DB Golf Club 2987 7273 DB Recreation Club 2987 7381 DMR 5210 7208 Embody 6624 8712 EpicLand 2441 0098 Fit 852 9680 7665 Future Stars Dance Academy 2987 6867 Gallery Jeeum 9819 7176 Greenwich Yoga School 9685 8366 Harry Wright International 2575 6279 HK Yoga 6113 6770 Kapuhala Train-in-Space 6101 8434 Korea Taekwondo Cheung Do Kwan 9663 8077 Lantau Yacht Club 2987 9591 MGK Fight Club 9303 2996 The Bike Hub 5402 9970 Yoga Bay 6704 9851 Yogika 6749 7836 YogaUP 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 Ready, Pet, Go!

2987 9003 2987 8873 2987 0428 5721 6181

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 2987 0283 Bay Spa 9837 0969 DB Pure Spa 9794 0918 Head to Toe Spa By Nailed it 2988 1188 Herbal Health Care 2834 7276 Nailed It! 2987 2266 Nest Care 2499 8826 Salon De Coiffure 2987 4112 Sophia Essentials 2527 0118 Spa Botanica, Auberge Discovery Bay 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 / MARCH 2022

OUT THERE

Delusion can be a safe and rewarding place to hang out, like for a journalist of my acquaintance given to ingesting exotic substances. She told me of an interview she conducted with a caveman of the Palaeolithic era. As she put it, “My interlocutor was a Mister Homo Heidelbergenis.” Curiosity aroused, I pressed her for details without wishing to doubt her grip on reality, and pursued her story with interest, having seen a little green man or two in my time after adventures with the demon drink. Martians are commonplace but discussions with prehistoric man are rare amongst even the most inebriate members of the fourth estate. Who was I to be critical? But to the best of my knowledge no cave paintings have been discovered depicting two people seated on rocks, one with a stone tablet and chisel taking verbatim notes. My friend was adamant and offended that I should question her taking notes electronically, a reaction alarming enough to make me wonder if I should quietly call 999. Nothing in her demeanour suggested anything but confidence, and when I sought to pin her down on the precise date, she was unfazed: “It was between 2.5 million and 10,000 BC – March 21 at 3pm to be exact.”

WHAT HAS REALITY EVER DONE FOR ME?

! on o p m DB La

INTERVIEW WITH A CAVEMAN

Talking to a journalist friend, Peter Sherwood discovers delusion is everywhere, not only in Disco Bay PHOTO COURTESY OF Pexels

he eternal Discovery Bay curse: Residents of elsewhere bleating the intellectually worthless phrase, “DB is not the real world.” Bereft of meaning and astronomically asinine, it pretentiously assumes that where they live is superior and culturally significant, as if there is a real world (someplace else), and temporary geographical location trumps all. But then delusion takes myriad forms. If where I live is a tribally engineered myth, then bring it on. What has reality ever done for me?

AROUND DB / MARCH 2022

Praying for a white van and men with a large net to arrive, I tried to humour her, seeking the location of this extraordinary event. “That’s easy. The northern hemisphere, no doubt about it. No sign of kangaroos or koalas, just your woolly mammoths and dinosaurs.” Nothing can be done when someone is convinced beyond all reason that they’re right. Just ask 70 million Trump supporters. There is no cure for it. My friend ranted on with absurdity and clarity in equal measure. Hell, I came close to believing her myself. “My interviewee was the head man in his cave. Fire had recently been discovered; warmth and cooking... what else do you need?” I nervously suggested she might need a padded cell and psychological evaluation, but she was undeterred, relating interview questions like, “What do you do for entertainment?” And the answer: “We don’t need childish distractions; we keep busy painting animals on the walls so in the future people will wonder why we did it. They’ll think we might have been an advanced artistic civilisation, when in fact we’d only just eaten for the first time in a week, and we were bored.” I had hoped to continue this fascinating conversation another time, but the hack disappeared. Reports said she had left town and was running for public office – in America. That sort of fits. Seems the sky’s the limit. Peter Sherwood has lived in DB for 20+ years. The former head of an international public relations firm, he is the author of 15 books and has written around 400 satirical columns for the South China Morning Post.