AROUND DB MAY 2023

Chianti - The Premier 尚堤 - 映蘆 Greenvale Village 頤峰 - 蔚山閣

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A conversation (you won’t regret)

Nothing is certain but death and taxes. And in Hong Kong making sure your tax liabilities are not overestimated can seem like an impossible task. Especially if you are an expat busy enough running everything else in your life. We are specialist UK and US tax advisers. We have tons of experience and pride ourselves on our down-to-earth approach. Perhaps we should have a chat soon..

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CONTRIBUTORS

RAY AU, RAPHAEL BLET, IMOGEN CLYDE, ELIZABETH KERR, PETER SHERWOOD

PHOTOGRAPHERS

DANIELLE BOOYSE PHOTOGRAPHY www.daniellebooysephotography. myportfolio.com

RICHARD GORDON www.richardgordonphotography.com

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DISCLAIMER

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 2023

EPICLAND’S ADULT PLAY NIGHT

EpicLand is a place where the whole family can play, and the team recognises the importance of play for adults – play that exercises not only the physical but also the creative muscles. For this reason, the 1,400-square-metre entertainment centre is hosting an 80s-themed Adult Play Night on May 20 from 7pm to 10pm. With the DB North venue transformed into a nightclub, complete with a bar, activities include rock climbing, trampolining, air trek, laser tag, ziplining, virtual reality rides and mini golf. To find out more, WhatsApp 9707 7136 or visit www.epiclandhk.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF EpicLand.]

TEACHER TRAINING AT HK YOGA

Starting August, DB North-based HK Yoga and Wellness Centre is providing an intensive 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training Course accredited by Yoga Alliance USA and taught by Maxim Gagarin. The course includes 200 hours of theory, history and philosophy; 150 hours of group practice; 100 hours of methodology and technique; and 50 hours of yoga therapy. Upon successful completion, participants are awarded the RYT 500 Yoga Instructor Certificate. For more information on the timeslots, fees and to join the course, WhatsApp 6113 6770 or visit www.hkyoga.ru/db.

Happenings STUFF TO

DB SPONSORS FOR 2023

Tim Drew (Tanner De Witt)

Craig Barnett (The Chippy)

Matija Maretic (Marvelsoft)

Rafael Lopes (606)

Tim Bredbury (Cluch)

Tony Ryan (CLA)

Gary Rollinson (DBFC)

DBFC AT HKFC CITI SOCCER SEVENS

Discovery Bay Football Club (DBFC) has been invited to participate in the Masters section of the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens 2023, which is being held from May 26 to 28 after a four-year hiatus due to COVID. The DB team has secured sponsorship from a number of DB residents to enter the tournament as Ampcontrol Discovery Bay, and is set to compete against top international and local teams with some well-known professional players. In 2018, DBFC players won the Masters Cup and in 2017 and 2019, they were runners-up for the Masters Plate. To find out more, visit www.discoverybayfc.com. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF DBFC.]

Lippmann Lee (Ampcontrol)

DBIS SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENT

DBIS (Discovery Bay International School) is hosting an open event for prospective Year 12 students and their parents on May 16 at its Sixth Form campus in DB North Plaza. The event, which starts at 6pm, coincides with the launch of the school’s new Sixth Form scholarship programme. Registration is essential. To register, go to dbis.hk/SixthFormEvent.

[PHOTO COURTESY OF DBIS.]

& Events! KNOW IN MAY!

TENNIS NATIONS CUP FINAL

Head to the 27th Tennis Nations Cup final on May 6 at the Discovery Bay Recreation Club (DBRC) for what is sure to be an action-packed day. The club’s top tennis players are set to showcase their skills, as they battle it out on court in whacky national costumes. To know more, call the DBRC on 2987 7381 or visit www.dbrc.hk. [PHOTO BY Richard Gordonwww.richardgordon.com.]

TOWA BIRD’S FIRST SINGLE

Towa Bird, former Discovery College student and YRock kid, has released her first single, Wild Heart , on the Interscope label. Since taking up electric guitar at the age of 12, the singer-songwriter has become known for her wildly explosive guitar solos and sensitive lyrics. “I grew up listening to so many male-gazey love songs, and it was important to put something out into the world that felt like the music I wanted for myself when I was a kid,” Towa says of her April release which you can catch on Spotify.

[PHOTO COURTESY OF Les Bird.]

EAT KOREAN IN DB NORTH

Got an obsession with Korean food? Then head to newly opened JOO Korean Grill & Bar in DB North for the real deal. The menu is extensive, packed with authentic stews, dumplings and noodle dishes; pork belly and beef short ribs, hot off the grill, are signature dishes. There are small plates and plates for sharing, as well as a dedicated, well-priced lunch menu. Be sure to try the crispy kimchi pancake and yellowtail ceviche. JOO is open seven days a week from 12 noon to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm. To make a booking or order takeout, call 6706 7520.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

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

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

MAY 14 | SHOP THE DISCOVERY BAY MARKET in DB Plaza from 11am to 6pm. Visit www.handmadehongkong.com.

MAY 21 | JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP! Meet at the gate to DB/ Nim Shue Wan at 2.10pm. Email dana@plasticfreeseas.org to RSVP.

FOSTER HENDERSON’S BIG WIN

Congratulations to Foster Henderson, who was awarded Grand Champion of the Gasca International Music Competition in Tokyo in April. One of only two competitors to play two instruments in the competition, the nine-year-old DB resident placed first in violin and runner-up in piano. Foster would like to express his thanks to his piano teacher (and mum) concert pianist Stephanie Fung, and his violin teacher Nina Wong. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF Tim Henderson.]

THE BABY HUB HK

Long-time DB resident Marcella King has set up The Baby Hub HK, a home-visiting service for all things baby. Various personalised packages are on offer to support new mums and dads on their parenting journey. In addition to regular health check-ups, a home visit typically includes developmental assessment, postnatal support and advice on bonding with your child. Marcella can offer support on feeding, including weight monitoring, breast feeding, bottle feeding, weaning onto solid foods and pumping schedules. She can also provide hands-on help with everything from sleep routines to allergies. She offers home safety assessments, helper training and group workshops.

Marcella has over 25 years of paediatric experience, and runs the Central Health Family Practice Baby Clinic in DB. To find out more and get some support, visit www.thebabyhubhk.com.

IDEAS FOR MOTHER’S DAY

We’ve got plenty in the magazine this issue to get you in the mood for May 14. Sharon Lesley

Le Roux’s article in the parenting section, page 38, focuses on what Mother’s Day means to children as well as mums, and why it’s one of only a handful of celebrations observed by families all around the world. You’ll be wanting to treat mum on her special day, so we show you how to make a healthy and delicious blueberry mousse cake on page 48. And you can turn to our Mother’s Day wish list, on page 36, for inspiration on gifts – everything from flowers to bubbly, and most for under HK$500.

HAPPY HELPER APPRECIATION MONTH

This May, DB families are being asked to recognise the work of their helpers, whether with a grand gesture or a simple thank you. As concept co-creator Steve Chitty says, “Our aunties and uncles make a lot of sacrifices and are essential to many of our lives. This is our opportunity to honour and celebrate them.”

Launched back in 2015, Helper Appreciation Month enables all of us in the community – individuals, schools and businesses – to give of our time to ensure that DB helpers feel the love and have some well-deserved fun. A series of informative and empowering free events are being planned. To register and get involved, visit Facebook @ MayisHelperAppreciationMonth and www.dbis.hk/karaoke.

A few of the activities on offer this month:

• May 6, 13, 20, 27 Yoga with Embody

• May 7 Medical and Health Talk by Dr Winnie Siu

• May 7, 14, 21, 28 Yoga with Anri and Jonathan

• May 7 Aunties’ Karaoke Event by DBIS PTSA

• May 21 Physiotherapy Talk with Gita Go

• May 28 Beach Tennis at Tai Pak Wan

Helper Appreciation Month is the time to prioritise our helpers and their wellbeing, while thanking them for always being there for us. It is all too easy to start taking the extra help many of us enjoy for granted. As Steve says, “The ultimate hope is that Helper Appreciation Month will encourage us all to have another look at the people who help in our lives.”

This year’s event serves as a reminder to all of us to be thankful. Feeling appreciated boosts self-esteem. It motivates people to improve themselves and encourages a positive work ethic. After all, who doesn’t want to be appreciated for the work they do and the love they give?

Mark Your Calendars!

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT GALLERY JEEUM

AFFORDABLE ART FAIR

The focus at Gallery Jeeum this month is the Affordable Art Fair, which is back in town from May 18 to 21 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Hailey Shin, the founder of Gallery Jeeum Hong Kong and her sister Jihye Shin, who heads up Gallery Jeeum Seoul, are preparing to represent six artists at the fair: Hongkongers Yihong Hsu and Corn Shuk Mei Ho, and South Koreans Sangmi Moon, Ham Do Ha, Sung Nak Jin and Yea Ji Lee.

“The organisers of big international art shows like these evaluate galleries beforehand, which means that our gallery has reached a certain level. It is an honour to attend,” Hailey opens with well-deserved pride. “Jeeum’s reputation will be improved by our participation and it’s a great opportunity to spread our name worldwide.”

So how do Hailey and Jihye choose the artists they represent? “One of our aims is to connect Korean artists with new international collectors,” Jihye explains. “We have two directors, which is a big advantage because we can cater to different tastes. Hailey and I are sisters but there are differences in terms of preference. We don’t focus on one style; we focus on promoting different artists and introducing them to a new market.”

At the Affordable Arts Fair this month, Hailey and Jihye are partnering with emerging artists all with very different styles but there are common denominators. “We are attracted to paintings that are dynamic, vibrant, rhythmic, and exhibit scalability,” Jihye says, adding, “Every painting has its own story, and we look for paintings that deliver messages to the viewer, that connect emotionally with the viewer without us having to explain them verbally.”

[PHOTO BY Richard Gordonwww.richardgordonphotography.com.]

YIHONG HSU: SOLO EXHIBITION

Coming off the back of the Affordable Art Fair, Hailey and Jihye are looking forward to presenting Happenings , a solo exhibition by abstract artist Yihong Hsu, at the DB gallery from June 3 to July 2. Of the six artists being represented by Jeeum at the fair, Yihong is the only one who is based in Hong Kong.

So when did Yihong’s involvement with Jeeum begin? “Hailey found me on Instagram by chance, four years ago.” Yihong opens. Ask Hailey what draws her to Yihong’s canvases and she references the bold colours and use of pattern, also their ability to tell a story. “Yihong paints everyday human life – her own experiences, feelings and encounters – using nature’s elements, primarily flowers and floral motifs. She reveals that everything that happens in human life also happens in nature. It’s all about survival, life and vitality.”

“I’ve always loved nature, walking in nature, and I also like watching people,” Yihong explains. “I decided I wanted to draw/ depict different kinds of people, and instead of using actual people I use elements of nature.

“Things that happen in nature are similar to the things that happen in the human world,” Yihong adds. “People, like plants, have different characteristics, different patterns: some grow tall because they get more sunlight and have long roots, some may be hiding seeds inside, some have self-protective spikes. I like talking about different personalities and characters.

“Bigger picture: I want my work to express brightness and happiness. It’s about different species coming together and living in harmony, which is something I see happening in nature.” [PHOTO COURTESY OF Gallery Jeeum.]

Out & About!

WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO!

WATCHING CEET FOUAD WORK

World-renowned, Shenzhen-based graffiti artist Ceet Fouad was seen painting a mural in DB on April 16 right by the Discovery Bay Recreation Centre. The mural features Fouad’s stylised and compelling trademark chickens or ‘Chicanos,’ which he started drawing when he first moved to China to show waiters what he wanted to eat! Fouad’s vibrant murals can be found in cities across the globe from Atlanta to Toulouse, and it’s so good to see them in DB! [PHOTOS BY Danielle Booyse Photographywww.daniellebooysephotography.myportfolio.com.]

MAKING SEED BON BONS

On April 16 at Community Green Square residents had fun learning how to make seed bon bons from scraps of recycled paper imbedded with seeds. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF CM.]

SHINING A LIGHT FOR MISS MELISSA

The community came together on May 22 to celebrate the life of long-time DB resident Melissa Thornton, who passed away on April 7, aged just 54. Melissa, Miss Melissa as she was known to her pupils at Future Stars Dance Academy, was loved by so many in the community: she was a brilliant teacher, supportive mentor and trusted friend. Everyone who attended the memorial at Three Sheets Marquee Bar was asked to wear something bright to honour the way Melissa shone her love and light on all those around her. She is greatly missed. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF Sue Basquin & by Richard Gordonwww.richardgordonphotography.com.]

Under 12 Finalists

SPRINTING WITH ACTION ASIA

Over 250 runners entered Action Asia Events’ DBay Action Sprint Trail Race on April 6. The 12-kilometre course involved a sprint up 465-metre Tiger’s Head, a narrow technical descent to the reservoir, a contour trail around the golf course, coasteering at Nim Shu Wan and a final sprint to DB Plaza. While Australia-based Vlad Ixel placed first for the men, lowering his own course record, Mui Wo-based Zein Williams placed first for the ladies with DBer Ainoa Mombiela close on her heels. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF Action Asia Events.]

CELEBRATING EASTER IN DB SOUTH

DB was mobbed on the weekend of April 7 with families enjoying an Easter Egg Hunt on Tai Pak Wan, an Ohpama Kids Fiesta in DB Plaza and an Easter FunLand in DB North. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF HKRCL.]

aja Candiza, Divine Dela Rosa and Rhoda Manzano are gathered around a couple of tables at Pacific Coffee. All three are domestic workers as well as dragon boat team administrators and paddlers, so it’s no surprise each has a giant coffee cup in front of them. The big ‘Alto’. You’d need a few shots of caffeine too if you had half on your plate of what they do on theirs.

The point of the meet-up is to talk about Tado’s Dragon, the all-Filipino, all-domestic worker, all-female dragon boat team that’s been training and racing out of Discovery Bay since 2020. That’s right. When the pandemic hit and you were making sourdough and spending consumption vouchers they’re not entitled to, Maja, Divine and Rhoda were putting together a competitive dragon boat squad.

HITTING THE WATER

“The first race we did as Tado’s Dragon was in October, 2021 in DB. We didn’t have enough paddlers; we’d only been training a year. We expected nothing,” recalls Divine. “We made it into the final round. We came in last but when we got to shore the cheering was just out of control. We felt like champions."

Suffice to say, putting together a 40-person team during a public health crisis was challenging. Before actually coming around to Tado’s Dragon, the trio sounds off on illegal logging at home in the Philippines, climate change, the stress and frustration of the COVID pandemic (Maja and Rhoda only got home in December after four years), taboos and tattoos, and how important it is to budget properly and manage your money – but also to spend on yourself every so often. With a combined 56 years in Hong Kong between them, 39 of those in DB, they knew how to get the word out about the budding team. The short version? Word of mouth and social media – but mostly word of mouth.

That’s how Maja, 46, Divine, 45, and Rhoda, 49, met: through mutual friends. Maja and Rhoda were roommates when she was between jobs years ago, and met Divine on a kids’ playdate. They have the easy banter of old friends that includes gentle ribbing, and a lot in common, but couldn’t be more distinct.

Maja, originally from a small town just outside Manila, is a youthful grandmother (!) who refers to herself as a sporty type. “I’ve been paddling since 2003. I played beach volleyball with friends in DB and was happy to finally get a job here,” she says. “I like it. It’s quiet and I like to train on the beach.”

The same goes for Divine, possibly the most obviously maternal and practical of the three. She was running, and playing basketball and softball at home in the northern Philippines long before she hit college in Manila. Water was quite another story, however. Once in DB, “I used to hike because I’m afraid of the water. I

used to hate it,” she says with a laugh. “When I started dragon boating, I used to freak out looking at the waves. But I’ve gotten over it because I’ve really found a passion for it.”

Rhoda is a no-guff taking single (“I had a great life with my last employers and I forgot to find a husband”), who arrived in Hong Kong from her Sabella (now Cavite) home in 1994 and started paddling with the Mighty Dragoneers. “I didn’t think I’d be able to do [dragon boating] because I have lower back pain,” she rasps. It’s April 3. “I was screaming my head off at the Sevens,” she adds apologetically. “A friend suggested I give it a try because you never know if the exercise might help. And I get seasick easily. But I had no problems, and I loved it so I joined the Sea Cucumbers,” she finishes.

MORE THAN PADDLING

It was the international, mixed Sea Cucumbers that gave circuitous rise to Tado’s Dragon. Tado’s captain and steersman, Rodel Contado (who the team took its name from), works for The Cukes’ captains, and the three of them encouraged Maja, Divine and Rhoda to go for it and start their own crew, putting their money where their mouth was by lending the emergent team

TADO’S DRAGON TEAMMATES TRAINING AT DB NORTH

"WE DON’T WANT TADO’S TO BE JUST ABOUT TRAINING. WE WANT TO GET OUT INTO REAL RACES - Divine Dela Rosa

its boat for training. Tado’s Dragon added gymnastics teacher Cecilio Cabueñas (or Doods) as a coach and it was off to the races (no pun intended).

“Rodel and her employers – and our own employers – encouraged us to start an all-domestic helper crew to enhance their lives. I volunteer at the YMCA on Sundays, and I see the need for this kind of thing,” says Rhoda. “You see helpers on the Hong Kong side on weekends doing nothing or, worse, gambling. Dragon boating keeps people from bad habits and takes their minds off whatever stress they’re feeling. Because depression is real, I’ve been there, and if this provides relief that’s good.”

Running Tado’s Dragon team is a group effort; all three (two other volunteers complete the executive committee) help with coaching and take on extra duties like Maja’s warm-up training and Divine’s sponsorship and fundraising, and women of all shapes, sizes, and abilities are welcome to join.

“We’re always looking for new members for the team,” begins Maja. “I just ask if [someone] can swim and then suggest they come along and try it. If you don’t like it, you’re free to leave.” Rhoda is more direct. “Don’t ever say ‘No’ to something you haven’t tried,” she emphasises, a credo she herself lives by.

LOOKING FOR SPONSORS

About those sponsors. Right now, Tado’s Dragon is limited to local races – in DB, South Lantau and Lamma – but Maja and Rhoda have had a taste of dragon boating in June, in Stanley and Shatin. “We don’t want Tado’s to be just about training,” states Divine. “We want to get out into real races.”

That’s easier said than done. A team of DB domestic workers is the point, of course, but it’s also more logistically manageable for 6am training sessions –

and it keeps expenses down. Tado’s Dragon gets no support to cover basics like entry fees; no one will even waive them.

“Maja and I have been racing for many years, so the dream is to get a sponsor so that the other members can have that experience too,” says Rhoda. “Hopefully we’ll find someone to support us. As much as we want to enter more races, we just don’t have the financial ability just yet.”

But the threesome is confident they’ll get there. It’s only been a few years, two of those in near-lockdown. And in the meantime, there’s more to the team than just racing. Training and meetings have turned into social events, birthday parties, celebrations of other landmarks, and they’ve provided a much-needed space for sharing, support and sometimes just venting to someone who “gets it”.

“When my father was in the hospital last year, dragon boating helped me a lot, to refocus and manage that stress,” notes Divine. It explains why these ladies are making time in already busy weeks and giving up their single day off. Rhoda speaks for all three when she declares, “I make time because I love doing what I do.”

THE 40-STRONG TEAM IS LOOKING FOR NEW RECRUITS

MAJA CANDIZA, DIVINE DELA ROSA AND RHODA MANZANO

Gettin' Shiggy Wit It! WELCOME TO THE TINWORTH TRAIL

In honour of Hong Kong’s great trail running evangelist, Will Hayward and a few friends have brought the city’s total to an unofficial five with The Tinworth. Elizabeth Kerr suggests you start with the four Lantau sections

Professor William Hayward, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Lingnan University, looks precisely the way you’d expect an avid trail runner to look. The tall, wiry, Christchurch native is well over six feet and it’s easy to believe he’d almost glide over the so-called Big Four. He’s done them all, twice, but not in any kind of time that would be considered “within” an acceptable window. One day.

Right now, Will’s busy stumping for the fifth Beatle of Hong Kong’s trails: the Tinworth Trail, named for fellow Kiwi Nic Tinworth, who singlehandedly raised the profile of trail running (or hiking) in the SAR. Nic sadly succumbed to a brain tumour in 2020 at just 44 – proving that year could be worse – so Will and the runners to whom he meant so much wondered what the best way to memorialise him would be.

The right answer is sometimes the most obvious, and so by exploiting Hong Kong’s elite ultra-marathon location status Will & Co decided to create a fifth trail. The Tinworth is now that fifth, second only to the 100km Maclehose in length, at 90km, followed by the Wilson (78km), the Lantau (70km) and the Hong Kong (50km) trails. Describing the Tinworth Trail (www.tinworthtrail.com) as “by the community for the community,” Will extols its virtues as the slightly weird brother that Nic would have approved of.

OFF-TRAIL TERRAIN

So if you’re on the Tinworth Trail, where are you going? The route starts in the northeast corner of the territory at Sha Tau Kok, runs southwest through the New Territories, hops the bay and picks up in Lantau. “You can cross the water at Shum Tseng. There’s a famous roast goose restaurant there. Take a minibus to Tsing Ying, do one stop to Sunny Bay then start running again. We are not making people swim across the bay,” Will says with a chuckle.

The Tinworth then continues southwest to Tai O, and boasts a 5,000-metre positive elevation change over its 90 kilometres. Will claims it can be done in roughly 17 hours. “You can do it in one go or over a year. We don’t care.” Notably, only four of the 90 kilometres treads the same ground as the Big Four.

“The Tinworth’s not a government trail. Sometimes they gussy things up and make it kind of nice and install concrete steps,” Will says. “There are a million trails out in the woods if you know where to look, and Nic loved the muddy, scrambly, howdo-I-get-up-there trails, so we have a few of those “shiggy” sections. It’s a bit more challenging, but not impossible. People seem to really like those.”

Like the other four trails, the Tinworth is a collection of existing trails strung together, but unlike those it

PHOTOS BY Will Hayward & Jono Woodhouse

LANTAU HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE TIGER’S HEAD, LO FU TAU, A 700-METRE CLIMB OUT OF PAK MONG AND THE TUNG

ANCIENT TRAIL

SECTION 9: PAK MONG TO YU TUNG ROAD

SECTION 7: SUNNY BAY TO DISCOVERY BAY

hasn’t been given a bureaucratic seal of approval. Will doesn’t pretend it’s anything more than a website built by a group of runners, hikers, race organisers and [fitness tracking app] Strava users putting their collective experience to work to build something new. There’s a little bit of “you should be able to get from here to there,” involved too, as Will describes it.

“When I was musing about it, the first thing I had to do was convince a few others this might be a good idea. So there was a group of us who explored different trails. Then it was a matter of sure you can design a trail, but how do people follow it?”

The Tinworth has only been “open” since November, but so far, so good. Early feedback suggests those who’ve tried it (most have heard about it by word of mouth) have enjoyed it, and they’re enjoying its hidden gem cache. Of course, its unofficial status

means there are no brightly coloured ribbons or signposts or arrows guiding walkers and runners along the way.

“We used technology to solve that problem,” says Will. “The website has a map and a GPX link. That’s a spatial topographic file that you load onto your phone or your smartwatch, and it will tell you where you are on the trail, and help you navigate. And it works with satellite, so anyone with a smartwatch will be fine if there’s no cell reception, which is rare. Coverage here is terrific.”

SUNNY BAY TO TAI O

The Lantau portion of the Tinworth comprises four of its 10 sections: Sunny Bay to Discovery Bay Neo Trail (6km, 524m up); Discovery Bay Neo Trail to Pak Mong (7.4km, 321m); Pak Mong to Yu Tung Road (10.2km, 783m); and Yu Tung Road to Tai O (13.7km, 288m). Highlights include Tiger’s Head, Lo Fu Tau just off the path, a 700-metre climb out of Pak Mong, and the Tung O Ancient Trail.

“We wanted to stay off the Lantau Trail as much as possible,” Will says. “We’ve done that reasonably well. The Lantau Trail is basically the southwest. There’s nothing in Discovery Bay and nothing in Tung Chung, so we stayed on the north side. It starts at Sunny Bay, passes Disneyland and then you start climbing the hill between Sunny Bay and Discovery Bay. It’s a little more overgrown, and has great views – over Penny’s Bay. Then it climbs Tiger’s Head and comes down to Pak Mong, up towards Sunset Peak and joins the Lantau Trail for about 800 metres. But that’s it.”

The last part of the Tinworth, section 10, is pretty famous. It takes you past the Tung O Ancient Trail, which would have been the main trail for villagers for centuries. “It’s mostly concrete now but it’s a lovely walk along the coast where you can see the airport and the bridge,” Will enthuses. Yes, he knows the Tinworth brain trust could have simply extended the last leg to Fan Lau and clocked a nice round 100 kilometres, but the idea was to make it accessible and welcoming. Each leg ensures hikers and runners pass public toilets, shops, food vendors, and always offers a way home via public transport if for any reason a run needs to be cut short.

“Fan Lau is the middle of nowhere. There’s no way out. Every stage has a start and an end point and we thought it was important to finish somewhere you can get out. If you want to go on to Fan Lau more power to you,” finishes Will. “One thing that came out of COVID was people got into the outdoors and found they enjoyed new challenges. They’ve tried the Four Trails. I’m pretty confident they haven’t done all of the Tinworth.”

TINWORTH TRAIL FOUNDERS AT SECTION 8

THE 90KM TRAIL ENDS IN TAI

Entrepreneur of the Month!

STEFANO PASSARELLO

Fifteen-year DB resident Stefano Passarello arrived in Hong Kong from Italy in 2004 as an unpaid intern and quickly made his mark. You may know him as the founder of leading Hong Kong accountancy firm People & Projects (PNP), or the co-founder of ground-breaking wellness resort chain Kapuhala. Maybe you’ve heard of him as three-time local champion of the Hong Kong Marathon and marathon record holder of the AG Ironman World Championship. To celebrate the DB opening of his latest venture – fintech accounting and tax firm, Monx – Stefano provides some inspirational advice for budding entrepreneurs.

PHOTO BY Beatrix Malan - www.atscollective.com

Ask Stefano Passarello about entrepreneurship and he opens with something unexpected: “Top performing entrepreneurs prioritise the optimisation of their physical and mental wellbeing. Mental health, physical health and financial health are deeply interconnected. Throughout my experience in business, I have observed that individuals who consistently achieve success in their ventures are those who devote time to training and enhancing their mind, body and spirit.”

Is this why you opened the DB branch of Monx right by Kapuhala in DB North? “Yes, this way I can combine the elements of physical, mental and financial health in one space. I like my employees to work out and also it allows those living and working around DB to commute less and focus more on wellbeing. We support people who are looking to re-establish balance in the brain and body. Effective entrepreneurship involves actively supporting others. The most powerful force in the universe is to help others. If I see somebody who really needs help, I make myself available 24/7 – not only on the financial side but also on the cognitive side, showing them how to be a better business person.”

Can you elaborate on that? What advice do you give someone who wants to become a better business person? Is it about drive, about passion? “Our motto at Monx is ‘Devoted to Business’ – we call ourselves Monx because we are as devoted to business as monks are devoted to religion. It’s not about passion, it’s about obsession. Successful entrepreneurs are crazy, they are obsessed; they have a hunch and they go for it. You can have a passion for golf or football but to be successful in business, you need to be a crusader, you need to have a plan and a purpose.

“If you want to start a business my advice is break it into parts: one aspirational, and the other technical. If you have a dream, go and chase it. The crusade is what drives you in the morning, what inspires you. But it’s not all about vision – you need to measure everything. If you don’t have a good accountant next to you supporting you with your numbers, you are done. Accounting is not just compliance; accounting is the compass that drives your ship.”

How important is it to have a Unique Selling Point?

“The most important thing is to deliver top quality. Always deliver the best and create a perception of value between your firm and whoever else. My

inspiration with Monx was to establish an accounting firm that would reinvent the industry. High efficiency, extreme customer service, no ties, no protocols. In our industry, accountants are usually slow and they tend to make lots of mistakes because of tight deadlines. We solved this problem with technology. I like to believe that I’m a bit of a revolutionary challenging the status-quo. Monx is fast, committed and also perfect. Fintech is the bad boy of finance and I like it.”

Is there one thing a business needs to succeed?

“Success in business is a moving target but what I can tell you is that it’s about company culture, not the money. You need sustainability in your financial models, happy customers and a happy team. Money comes and goes and it will come if you have these three elements in place.”

How do you go about creating a strong company culture? “I do not see my team as employees; they are my extended family, period. This is the culture we have. What distinguishes us from anyone else is that our team has free access to physical and cognitive enhancement facilities. Whoever works at Monx can leave early, work remotely and use Kapuhala’s workout space. They get to meet futuristic entrepreneurs and all sorts of interesting people.”

What do you look for when hiring staff? “I look for adaptable people who will embrace our company culture. And I look for people who have a serious hobby – runners, pianists, ballerinas. This shows consistency and obsession. We like those people; we like those people showing off.”

Monx was founded in 2021 and already has a global presence with 50 people in nine offices. How do you make time for family? “The day is very long but those who say they have no time for family don’t know how to prioritise. I have time to compete in sports at the highest level. I run an organisation of amazing people and we are very successful. I have a side business, Kapuhala, with my wife and I’m very happy with that. I also spend at least two-and-a-half hours each day with my kids, more at the weekends.

“There are many times I bring my kids to business meetings, they sit there, who cares? I’m not ashamed of it. I’m very proud. I show them how my business works. I’m sure that they will soon start helping with the business because they grew up with it. There is no separation for us between business and family. We run a business like a family.” For more on Monx and to schedule a consultation with Stefano, call 5286 0155, email hello@monx.team or visit hongkong.monx.team.

A Little Bit of Trivia! WORLD LAUGHTER DAY QUIZ

It’s World Laughter Day on May 7 – get inspired by this humorous challenge

1. Where does World Laughter Day originate?

A. Helsinki, Finland

B. Mumbai, India

C. Barcelona, Spain

2. Why is laughter the best medicine?

A. It relieves stress and lowers blood pressure

B. It boosts the immune system and releases endorphins

C. Both A and B

3. What is laughter yoga also known as?

A. Hatha Yoga

B. Ashtanga Yoga

C. Hasya Yoga

4. Which movie popularised the use of humour as a way to cure illness?

A. Flatliners

B. Patch Adams

C. Groundhog Day

5. When do babies first start to laugh?

A. Soon after their first smile

B. At around two months of age

C. Both A and B

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Flikr

6. What is belly laughter?

A. A rumbling tummy

B. A deep, hearty guffaw

C. A quiet chuckle

7. Which of the Monty Python films is John Cleese’s favourite?

A. The Life of Brian

B. The Meaning of Life

C. All five

8. Which comic actor landed a plane by himself after the pilot fainted?

A. Rowan Atkinson

B. Vince Vaughn

C. Russell Brand

9. How does laughing gas make you feel?

A. Lightheaded and tingly

B. Less inhibited

C. Both A and B

10. What is Hong Kong comedian Ben Quinlan’s day job?

A. Lawyer

B. Doctor

C. Investment banker

11. Which president started out playing one in a satirical TV show?

A. Emmanuel Macron, President of France

B. Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine

C. Xiomara Castro, President of Honduras

12. Which animal species is not known for laughter-like vocalisation?

A. Cat

B. Hyena

C. Kookaburra

13. Which neurological disease is commonly known as laughing sickness?

A. Guillain-Barré syndrome

B. Agnosia

C. Kuru

14. Where does the Laughing Cow cheese brand originate?

A. Switzerland

B. France

C. Italy

15. Which philosopher recommends we laugh at ourselves?

A. Immanuel Kant

B. René Descartes

C. Friedrich Nietzsche

16. Which of these Hongkongers is a comedian?

A. Jeffrey Andrews

B. Chip Tsao

C. Vivek Mahbubani

17. What is the study of laughter called?

A. Gelotology

B. Genealogy

C. Rictusology

18. If you laugh for 15 minutes a day, how many calories can you burn?

A. Up to 25

B. Up to 40

C. More than 50

19. In which country do people use 555 instead of ‘haha’ when texting?

A. Malaysia

B. Thailand

C. Vietnam

20. Which character from The Simpsons is known for his blunt, two-syllable laugh?

A. Nelson Muntz

B. Kent Brockman

C. Krusty the Clown

You can check your score at www.arounddb.com>20questions>world-laughterday-quiz

TREASURE ISLAND

IS OFFERING ONE READER A PLACE ON ONE OF ITS SURF & ADVENTURE CAMPS (WORTH HK$4,880 AND UP)

At Treasure Island’s award-winning Surf and Adventure Camps, children and teens, aged 5 to 17, have the opportunity to learn surf skills and ocean safety at beautiful Pui O Beach, and join in other age-appropriate adventure-sport activities, such as mountain biking and abseiling. The week-long summer camps run from June 19 to August 25, with lunch and snacks included.

Treasure Island has been Hong Kong’s leading outdoor education provider since 1996, focused on holiday camps for children and youth, as well as team building programmes and corporate events solutions. Camping, cabana rooms, water sports rentals and lessons are also on offer, plus great food and vibes at the beachside restaurant and bar. To find out more, visit www.treasureislandhk.com. Around DB readers are eligible for a HK$500 early-bird discount on all Summer Surf and Adventure Camp registrations booked by May 14. Use the code tig2023mps when completing your booking. Terms and conditions apply.

Whether you’re into slides, trampolines, ball pits, rock climbing, air-trek, zip-lining or mini golf, EpicLand in DB North Plaza is quite simply the place to play. Session passes are valid for kids and adults, mornings and afternoons, weekdays and weekends. Adults accompanying children under nine years of age get in for free.

Billed as Hong Kong’s tallest indoor entertainment centre, EpicLand offers party and group packages designed to keep kids of all ages – and adults – active and entertained. It’s the go-to place for team building activities and school trips, and this month, on May 20, there a special Adult Play Night lined up, with the venue transforming into an 80s-themed nightclub. To learn more about the 14,000 square-metre venue and the different packages and events available, visit www.epiclandhk.com.

HOW TO WIN!

On Course!HOLE IN ONE

Fresh from the World City Championship, DB golfer Taichi Kho discusses his big win and his preparations for The Open in July

PHOTOS BY Beatrix Malan - www.atscollective.com & Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com

n Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise advises his students “don’t think just do,” and that’s exactly the state of mind Taichi Kho aims for when he plays golf. This approach is clearly working for the 22-year-old, DB-born golfer, who has just made history on two counts. On winning the World City Championship in March, Taichi became the first Hong Kong player to win an Asian Tour and the first Hongkonger to qualify for The Open.

“Winning in Hong Kong means so much to me; the World City Championship was a dream week, everything lined up great,” Taichi opens. “For me to achieve that in front of my parents, family and friends made my dreams come true. When I play, I don’t see any faces; I just focus on my game but I did see how many people came out to watch. This was really inspiring for me and definitely helped.

“I didn’t expect to win,” Taichi adds, explaining that the crazy weather conditions only added to the adrenaline rush. “I knew we were playing on Sunday regardless of the weather so I was hoping that it would get as tough as it could get. I thrive on challenging conditions and, as a professional golfer, all I really want is the toughest challenge possible.”

Taichi celebrated his record-breaking Asian Tour win with relatives and is now bracing for his next challenge: The Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in July. Founded in 1860, The Open is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the most prestigious. How does Taichi feel about qualifying to compete? “I feel like everything stays the same for me,” he says calmly. “I try to get 1% better every day. I feel like if I do that for the rest of my career, I will have a solid career.”

Taichi caught up with Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson at the World City Championship, and he’s looking forward to meeting Rory Mcllroy and his role model Tiger Woods at The Open. “These are the people I grew up watching on TV, so getting the chance to talk to them is really special,” Taichi says. “Now that I’m playing new tournaments, these chances will come up more and more.”

Another thing Taichi can expect more of moving forward is media attention, and he seems well able to take this in his stride. “Being exposed to the media is part of the job, the more you play the more attention you get so this is something I’m willing to embrace,” he says. “It’s a great opportunity for me to have these kinds of experiences and it’s important that I don’t shy away from it. I think I do a pretty good job separating that aspect of my career from the actual golfing part of it.”

The “actual golfing” sees Taichi spending almost every day playing the sport he loves. “Training for me is day dependent, I plan out my day based on my calendar,” he explains. “Today, at Discovery Bay Golf

Club (DBGC), I want to touch on every aspect of my game which is quite a rare situation because usually I play 18 holes with a specific target.”

Living in DB, Taichi has easy access to DBGC, the place where his golfing journey began. “DBGC has played a big part in building me. I was always supported by the community here. The club has such a great environment for young people to practice,” he says, adding that his first memory of golf is playing nine holes on Ruby with his father.

“I played with my father a couple of days ago. I give him more shots than I used to,” Taichi adds with a laugh. “It’s always nice to play with him. Growing up, he told me how to hit the ball and now I’m telling him how to hit it. What goes around comes around. Golf is definitely a big part of our lives.”

For the past 12 years, Discovery Bay Golf Club has been making golf available to DB kids through its one-of-a-kind junior nurturing programme. Lessons for children aged six years and above are led by a team of golf professionals. After-school classes run Monday through Friday on the DBGC’s covered range, bunker and practice putting greens. Similarly, DBGC’s annual summer golf camp is open to kids aged six to 16, with beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons provided. Kids start out by learning golf etiquette, safety and swing techniques, and get to play short games.

While young players benefit from DBGC’s tailored coaching programme and world-class facilities (there are three, nine-hole golf courses, Diamond, Jade and Ruby), they also benefit from the club’s strong ties to the local golfing community. DBGC collaborates with various golf professional bodies to offer opportunities for the juniors to participate in local tournaments organised by the Hong Kong Golf Association. To find out more, visit www.dbgc.hk.

DBGC: WHERE GOLF LEGENDS ARE MADE

ON THE PODIUM AT THE WORLD CITY CHAMPIONSHIP

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BANANA BRIGHT + VITAMIN CC STICKS, OLE HENRIKSEN, HK$290, WWW.SEPHORA.HK

GLOAM EAU DE PARFUM, AESOP, HK$1,500, WWW.AESOP.COM

S.W.A.L.K!

TOKENS OF APPRECIATION

This Mother’s Day, show your mum (and auntie) some love with a thoughtful gift

90-MINUTE SWEDISH MASSAGE, NEST CARE, HK$590, WWW.FACEBOOK.COM / NESTCAREHK

MOTHER’S DAY BOUQUET, BOXED OR HAND-TIED, THE FLOWER CLUB, HK$250 & UP, WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ THEFLOWERCLUB

REVERSIBLE TRAIL CAP, THE NORTH FACE, HK$390, WWW.THENORTHFACE.COM.HK

CHAMPAGNE DELAHAIE BRUT PREMIER FRANCE, WINERACK, HK$280, WWW.WINERACK.COM.HK

HELLA THICC VOLUMIZING MASCARA, FENTY BEAUTY, HK$190, WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM

MOTHER’S DAY COOKIE BOX, I LOVE BABYCAKES, HK$350, WWW.ILOVEBABYCAKES.IN

I Love My Mum! MAY BOUQUET

Ahead of May 14, Sharon Lesley Le Roux reflects on the reasons we celebrate Mother’s Day, and why they are as relevant today as ever

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels & Adobe Stock

s a child growing up in the UK, Mother’s Day was all about a handful of daffodils (my mother’s favourite flower) picked from the garden, a handmade card containing a message of love, and a Mother’s Day breakfast that consisted of my mother’s favourite marmalade, with toast and coffee, all delivered on a tray to my mother in bed.

For my mother, I’m certain it wasn’t about any of these gifts at all. It was knowing the pleasure that bringing them all together had given me, her child. It was understanding the excitement I felt about being able to ‘surprise’ her on her special day. And, because she was my mother, she would have overlooked the soil I’d brought in on my shoes, not seen where I’d coloured outside the lines, not cared one jot about the burnt bits I hadn’t managed to scrape off.

THANKING YOUR MOTHER

Whoever, and wherever, we are in the world, we all observe Mother’s Day. The same day my mother and I were busy celebrating, so were mothers and their children in Ireland, Nigeria and Bangladesh. Mother’s Day is one of only a handful of celebrations observed by families all around the world; each nation setting aside a date once a year – the second Sunday of May in Hong Kong – to celebrate the relationship of mother and child.

In the 21st century, what is Mother’s Day about? Is it just another of those ‘Hallmark’ occasions which businesses cash in on? I don’t think so. Handmade cards made by small hands still beat shop-bought ones, just as they did when I was a child. Phone conversations with mothers and grandmothers abroad are priceless compared to flowers, chocolates or gifts ordered online.

Mother’s Day isn’t just one special day in the year when children get to show their awareness of, and appreciation for, the things their mothers do for them; of course this happens in households all over the world every day. For children, Mother’s Day acts as a reminder to stop and think what their relationships with their mothers mean.

This year (being an English mother, my family and I celebrated on March 19), I asked my two girls what Mother’s Day means to them. My 13-year-old believes Mother’s Day is “a way for women to feel good about themselves, especially those who’ve gone through the hard work of having kids and raising them. And, it’s for the children to appreciate what their mothers have done, and gone through, to make their lives as good as it can get for them.”

My five-year-old feels Mother’s Day is about “giving lots of love to your mum, and giving her a big love heart for loving us”.

THERE’S A FILIPINO SAYING THAT TRANSLATES AS:

WITH THE FOOD

APPRECIATING YOUR CHILD

For mothers, Mother’s Day is a time when we are reminded to pause a while in our busy lives, and reflect on just how absolutely awesome it is for us to be able to bring life into the world. It’s for us to remember there was a time when our little people didn’t exist, and to acknowledge how much richer, as a result, our lives are for having them.

It’s a time for us to look back and see how, as each year goes by, we are changed by the act of motherhood. We are changed by the sacrifices we make daily,

‘EVEN

ALL READY FOR HER TO EAT, THE MOTHER WILL ALWAYS FIND THE NEED TO GIVE EVERY LAST MORSEL TO HER CHILDREN

IT’S GOOD TO KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR WEIGHT BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE MAGIC WORDS

‘EVERYTHING IN

simply to put our children before ourselves. And we are changed by feelings of protection and empathy and joy and more, the depths of which we didn’t experience before we had children. In creating our children we, in turn, have evolved and grown. We appreciate the blessing and the privilege that comes with the role of motherhood. We send messages of love to our own mothers, understanding only now the sacrifices they made for us when we were children. And, we send our friends who are mothers Happy Mother’s Day messages, acknowledging our shared membership of one of the most rewarding clubs in the world.

MODERATION?'

HONOURING UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

Not so long ago, my mother sent me a Helen Exley collection of quotes and poems: In Praise and Celebration of Daughters . On one of the pages of the book I found this: ‘I even love her bones. We are so close. She is my very best friend.’

Mother’s Day isn’t just the time to celebrate the mother figures we are to our children, but also the friends we are to them – and they to us. Mother’s Day is the perfect time to leave our separate interests aside, and do something together we enjoy. My children have two mother figures here in Hong Kong – myself and Mama Ruth, our family’s domestic helper who my kids have known, and loved, all their lives. The day before Mother’s Day this year, my girls, Mama Ruth and I re-watched Beauty and the Beast . We enjoyed the movie – one of our favourites – and each other, as we laughed and cried together.

There’s a Filipino saying that translates as: ‘Even with the food all ready for her to eat, the mother will always find the need to give every last morsel to her children.’ This is true of all mothers, but here in Hong Kong especially, mothers like Ruth are a perfect example of just how far mothers will go for their children. A few years before she joined our family, Ruth had come from the Philippines to Hong Kong, leaving her two-year-old son in the care of her brother. She came because working here meant she would be able to put her son through school, and put food on his table.

Ruth is in no way unique. In Hong Kong thousands of women have given up that precious relationship with their children we western mothers take for granted, so they can give them a better life. Ruth’s boy will soon be 23, and will be graduating from nursing college. His mother is justifiably proud of him, as we are of her, knowing those sacrifices she has made to get him to where he is today.

Be it as children or as mothers, the meaning and traditions we each attach to Mother’s Day are rooted in love and honour and respect. Though it may well have become a commercialised event in recent years, still it remains a celebration – of motherhood and of the relationship between mother and child. Mother’s Day is the recognition of the protection, nurture, sacrifice and unconditional love that mothers give their children, and the happiness and love their children give in return.

For those of you who are celebrating this year on May 14, I wish you a Happy Mother’s Day – and a Happy Helper Appreciation Month to boot.

A TIME TO CELEBRATE THE FRIENDS WE ARE TO OUR KIDS

DMR School of Ballet

Congratulations to the DMR dancers who participated in our annual performance

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Top Tips! ACHIEVE GLOBAL STYLE

As you ransack far-flung flea markets and souks this summer, consider bringing back a few treasures to reinvent your home decor. Imogen Clyde reports

A mood board is a tried-and-tested way to collect inspiration, explore ideas and set the tone for your design project

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels & Flickr

The homes I’ve visited in Lantau (and across Hong Kong) have one thing in common. Regardless of their size, shape or design savvy, they all exhibit a strong global awareness. Or to put it another way, we Hongkongers love to travel, and shop while travelling, and this is reflected in our homes.

Travellers have always had a taste for the exotic and there is nothing new about decorating with objects from other cultures. As far back as the 2nd century BC, the Silk Road ferried luxury items, such as silk, porcelain and jade, from China to Rome. During the Renaissance, the world opened up to exploration and connoisseurs everywhere began to collect exotica, and use it on an everyday basis.

When you substitute ordinary objects with a multicultural blend of furnishings chosen for their unique shape, pattern or craftsmanship, you are well on the way to designing a chic, travel-led interior. Creating an exotic atmosphere starts by adding a few unexpected surprises to a room: replacing that boring glass coffee table with an ornately carved drum picked up in Chiang Rai or exchanging a pretty museum-bought poster for a dazzling beaded Nigerian George fabric. Travel-led style is about making ‘everyday items’ stand out by selecting unusual, globally sourced treasures in lieu of machine-made, massproduced goods.

As French architect Le Corbusier said back in the 1920s: “The home should be the treasure chest of living.”

START WITH A MOOD BOARD

The idea is to combine the familiar and the foreign without falling into farce. The Victorians loved a themed room, in particular Turkish rooms, in which low divans were piled high with cushions and lavishly draped with Persian rugs, but today this kind of themed approach is definitely out – too studied at best, too kitsch at worst. What you are aiming for instead, is an imaginatively furnished interior that incorporates a host of different cultural objects and influences. The trendiest travel-led schemes combine furnishings, fabrics and accessories from all over the globe.

In choosing key pieces, you are not confined to any one country, and neither are you tied to one period of time – modern pieces can combine well with curios and antiques. It’s about mixing things up to achieve a global perspective.

One word of warning: making a success of a travelled scheme relies heavily on your own sense of style and decorating ability. You are creating a design scheme that reflects your appreciation for the beauty of other cultures, so a strong sense of

THE HOME SHOULD BE THE TREASURE CHEST OF LIVING

- Le Corbusier

purpose and aesthetic vision is required. It’s the way you put the look together that counts.

When designing any complicated living space, the first step is to visualise how it will look, so it’s worth spending some time working up an interiordesign mood board. A mood board is a tried-andtested way to collect inspiration, explore ideas and set the tone for your design project. Start by setting up a canvas on which to arrange photos of new and existing furnishings and accessories that you’d like to include in your scheme. Add in paint and fabric samples that interest you, and see what works together and what doesn’t.

You’re looking to create a cohesive scheme in which the contrasting shapes, colours and styles work together. So be ruthless. If the treasured wedding cabinet you bought in Beijing years ago doesn’t fit with the other items on your mood board, give it to a friend or put it into storage.

KEEP IT MINIMAL

Creating a harmonious living environment from pieces from far-flung places isn’t the easiest of options. And as a general rule, a minimal layout works best, starting with the backdrop. Unusual textures and bold hues are part and parcel of a travel-led scheme – lacquer, pewter and porcelain, as well as animal skin, fake fur and beaded or ethnic fabrics can all feature in the furnishings and accessories. So you’re well advised to provide a bit of breathing space, some visual relief by keeping the surrounding walls and floors fuss-free.

Simple wood or tiled flooring, perhaps punctuated by a couple of rugs, helps tone things down, as does monochromatic paintwork. While stark white walls are too cold for an exotic-looking room, you can play around with shades of off-white and cream, perhaps even a sexy combination of grey and taupe. If your heart is set on bold paintwork, limit yourself to just one colourful statement wall.

A minimalist approach will also help when you’re filling in the details. Minimal doesn’t have to mean empty or utilitarian but it does mean clutterfree. A ‘less is more’ approach to accessories and furnishings will bring each piece into focus and show off your discerning eye. Overstuff a room with too many items, no matter how beautiful, and it will end up looking more like a flea market than an inviting place to hang out.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

From fusion cuisine to travel-led decorating, the exciting thing about blending influences from around the world is in creating something original. The romantic curves of a wicker daybed crafted in Java, the festive hues of a Moroccan throw… every element you select for a room changes the overall dynamic and reveals something about your personality.

Above all, you are given the option to think out of the box, combining pieces from disparate times and places that mean something to you personally and, when arranged together, express your personal style. Know too that you are free to use furnishings in new and imaginative ways for purposes entirely different from their original intent. That tiny, cutglass Moroccan vase, you picked up in a souk last month, might, for instance, provide the finishing touch to your bathroom – as a toothbrush holder. Approach decorating in this way and every item in your home becomes a potential talking point, and something to spark fond memories.

A travel-led scheme can take a lifetime to perfect, and therein lies much of its charm. It’s something that you build on year after year, as you add in interesting, new pieces. Finding yourself in a London flea market, you might finally happen upon the slightly rickety but beautifully formed Regency dining table you’ve coveted for what seems like forever; one morning in Cape Town, you might spot a couple of Shona statues on the roadside that will fill a long-standing gap on your bedside table.

Above all, global style champions the unique, the interesting and the erudite. It’s not about filling your home with high-priced, big-brand items, supplemented by sneaky trips to Ikea. It’s about gradually creating your own personal ‘treasure chest of living,’ as you travel and shop the globe.

A TRAVEL-LED DESIGN SCHEME GIVES YOU AN EXCUSE TO SHOP

Because You Can! HOLE UP IN

TAHITI

Your entrée to French Polynesia

ALL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

to French Polynesia land at Faa’a International Airport (PPT) in Papeete on the main island of Tahiti. There are five archipelagos in the French overseas territory, and over 100 islands to visit but it’s well worth spending some time in Tahiti, the heart of the islands, before heading out to other dream destinations like Bora Bora and Moorea.

YOU’RE IN THE CENTRE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, 6,000 kilometres from the nearest major landmass (Australia), so you can expect big waves. Head to Teahupoo on the southwest coast to glimpse or catch (if you dare) six- to 25-foot waves. The tiny village hosts the Billabong Pro Teahupoo, reputably one of the world’s ‘heaviest’ surfing competitions.

PAPEETE MARKET IS THE PLACE

TO BE on a Sunday morning, when it’s packed with locals doing their weekly food shop. You’ll likely be more interested in the pareu (sarongs), tifaifai (quilts), shell necklaces and black-pearl jewellery. Make your way upstairs to find plenty of hawker stalls supplying freshly squeezed fruit juices and fish-heavy snacks.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

TAHITI’S LUXURY OVERWATER BUNGALOWS

exceed expectations. You’ll find them off any one of the beautiful, black-sand beaches that encircle the island; off white-sand Maui Beach on Tahiti Iti, the island’s south-eastern tip; and inland, stretching out over sheltered, emerald-green lagoons. Imagine yourself sitting back with a Mai Tai and a plate of Poisson Cru after a morning dive.

DRIVING AROUND THE ISLAND

on the coast road, stop off at Arahoho Blowhole where huge sprays of water shoot up when the ocean swell is big enough. A little further south, you can explore the lush gardens, overhung caverns and crystal-clear pools of Maraa Grotto – a fairy-tale spot favoured by painter Paul Gauguin, who lived in nearby Mataiea from 1891 to 1893.

PLAN TO VISIT IN JULY not only for the whale-watching (July to October) but for Heiva! The spectacular, dance-heavy festival, being held this year at Papeete’s Maison de la Culture from July 6 to 22, is a highpoint of every Polynesian’s calendar. The event kicks off with an umu tī (fire walking) ceremony and is big on traditional sports like coconut-tree climbing, stone lifting and canoe racing.

VENTURE INTO THE INTERIOR

BY 4WD to climb waterfall-laden mountains and see petroglyphic rock carvings, dating back 20,000 years. The third-highest peak on the island, 2,066-metre Mount Aorai, delivers one of the most breath-taking – and demanding –hikes in French Polynesia, and is rightly celebrated for its incredible views.

Treats for May 14

BLUEBERRY MOUSSE CAKE

Makes 4

100g butter

200g digestive biscuits, crushed

4 sheets leaf gelatine

142ml single cream

500g carton fromage frais

140g golden caster sugar

1 small orange

400g blueberries, lightly crushed

284ml double cream

To make the base, melt the butter in a medium pan, then stir in the biscuits. Tip this mixture into a 24cm round cake tin, about 5cm deep, and leave to chill. To make the mousse, soak the gelatine leaves in cold water for 5 minutes. Heat the single cream in a small pan until it just comes to the boil. Take off the heat. Stir the gelatine leaves into the hot cream one by one – they will dissolve immediately. Leave to cool.

Beat the fromage frais and caster sugar together, adding the zest and juice of the orange. Stir in the cooled cream mixture and the blueberries. Whip the double cream lightly to form soft peaks, then fold it into the blueberry mixture. Pour into the cake tin and leave to chill for at least 3 hours, or overnight, until set. Serve decorated with mum’s favourite flowers.

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, use them to add a healthy dose of colour and sweetness to mum’s special day

COMMUNITY SNAPS

AT THE DBRC TENNIS COURTS

PHOTOS BY Richard Gordonwww.richardgordonphotography.com

UNCLE RUSS INSTAGRAM COMPETITION

SHARE A PHOTO #AROUNDDB TO WIN PRIZES FROM UNCLE RUSS COFFEE AND THE PIER BAR!

Your mission this month is to share your favourite photo of DB on Instagram #arounddb. You have until the 15th of the month to enter. This is your chance to win four complimentary drinks from Uncle Russ and The Pier Bar. We will contact the winner on Instagram #arounddb. Good luck!

Packing, Moving & Storage Services. Fixed price quote upon onsite survey or choose from the rates below:

Hire a Truck: HK$220/hour. Minimum 3 hours.

Short Trips: HK$200 & up.

Hire Movers: HK$120/hour per mover. Minimum 3 hours.

Cartons and Packing Materials:

16x14x14" (Small): HK$12.

23x15x15" (Medium): HK$15.

24x18x16" (Large): HK$18.

36x23x11" (Flat Carton for Hanging Clothes): HK$30.

24x22x47" (Wardrobe Boxes): HK$90.

Plastic Wrap: HK$60/roll.

Packing Paper: HK$160/ream.

Bubble: HK$50/roll.

Packing Tape: HK$8/piece.

Plastic Boxes & Used Cartons can be provided free of charge. (Subject to availability.)

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

LOCAL NUMBERS

TUNG CHUNG

SOUTH LANTAU

Harvey Law Group

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

Discovery Montessori School

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

EpicLand

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

Tree of Joy

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

The Rink All Day Lounge

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

WE’RE YOUR BANK AND WE’RE HERE TO HELP

My bank in Australia is manned (and womanned, to be politically correct?) by primary school dropouts strapped to a vast computer using key programming jargon: ‘We are not responsible – for anything’. I call and after negotiating myriad numbers land a generic Bruce or Bob. Not real names of course: that could mean phoning the same bloke next time and holding him accountable. The entire system would crash.

“Good morning, Mr Sherwood, may I call you Peter?” For the fifth time in the past hour, I repeat my boring details and inside leg measurement, all the time picturing the bank’s imposing head office with its stunning Sydney Harbour backdrop. “Hold on for a few minutes, Peter…” Bruce disappears and I hear a loud and repetitive rat-a-tat along with a pop-pop-popping sound and glass shattering. He returns. “So Peter, is it OK if I call you Peter? What can I do for you today?”

What was all that noise, I inquire timidly. “Oh, that’s nothing. Now, about this problem of yours.” Interruption: ‘Your call is important to us and we will take just a few minutes for you to complete this survey. This conversation is being recorded and may be used for training purposes.’ Bruce returns. “Please key in your three-digit personal code so we can begin processing your inquiry.”

What’s going on? I ask. Where are you speaking from? “From under my desk at the moment; just a little extra security. Never mind, we’re here to help. Now about this lost international transfer to Hong Kong of yours. The computer tells me it could have gone to the British Virgin Islands or possibly some Armenian bank, but don’t worry I’m sure we’ll find it.”

BOOM BOOM!! Holy hell, what was that, is Sydney being attacked? Bruce, are you there? [Sound of falling masonry]. “All fine here, Peter. Is it OK if I call you Peter? We’re all a bit busy right now, what with all the broken glass.

“Anyway, we’re still connected and the line has reached into the cupboard, so let’s just get on with trying to trace your funds. Your business is important to us.” Armenia, you said? “The computer can’t be certain. Could be in Caracas or the Maldives, but we have powerful computers and they will track it down eventually. You need to be patient.”

And what were those rat-a-tat and pop-popping sounds? “Popping is typical of the AK-47, and the rata-tat would be your Czech-made ZB-26 light machine gun.” And the planes and explosions? “Someone missing their targets again.” Where exactly are you? “I’m in a cupboard… in a village house. Our head office had an unfortunate accident with a truck bomb, a VBIED, last week.” Come on, tell me where, and don’t say Sydney. “Well, I’m just north-north west of Sydney.” Darwin? I ventured. “A bit further northnorth west than that.” Honestly, now. “Err… Russian Border Call Centre, but don’t tell anyone.”

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.

PHOTO COURTESY OF Adobe Stock

An

explosive phone call to his bank in Australia reminds Peter Sherwood that you have

to be careful what you wish for