Around DB October 2022

PHILIP

RACHEL

CONTRIBUTORS

ACTION ASIA EVENTS NEEDS YOU!

Action Asia Events is looking for sponsors in the hopes of bringing back its full roster of races in 2023, including the ever-popular Sprints and DB’s own Kayak ‘n’ Run. Meanwhile, runners across Hong Kong are in training for the Lantau 50 – 16/27/54km, which is scheduled for December 10. To find out more and sign up to race, visit www.actionasiaevents.com.

[PHOTO COURTESY OF Action Asia Events.]

PHOTOGRAPHERS

PRINTING

BAY MEDIA GROUP

DISCLAIMER

The

expressed in

publisher and editor cannot be held responsible for differences of opinion

Happenings STUFF TO

HALLOWEEN NIGHT MARKET

Wannabe witches, vampires and goblins can head to Handmade Hong Kong’s Halloween Night Market on October 30 to stock up on scary costumes, Jack-o-lanterns and more. The market is open from 2.30pm to 9.30pm in DB Plaza, so you can get ready to trick or treat! To test your knowledge about the traditions surrounding Halloween, turn to this month’s trivia quiz on page 32.

HALLOWEEN AT EPICLAND

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.

statements published in good

When it comes to celebrating Halloween, EpicLand in DB North Plaza never settles for less. This whole month, the 14,000 square-feet, indoor playground is specially decked out for the occasion, and visitors are welcome to wear Halloween costumes. Spooktacular weekend activities include The Haunted House, Lights Out and Face Mask Painting. For a chance to win a monthly pass for one child accompanied by one adult, turn to page 18. To find out more, visit www.epiclandhk.com.

[PHOTO COURTESY OF EpicLand.]

DRAGON BOAT RACE DAY

October 9 sees the long-awaited return of the DB Dragon Boat Races. Paddlers are competing in five different categories – men’s, ladies’, mixed, open and youth – off Tai Pak Wan from 8.30am to 3.30pm. There is no carnival this year due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions but the event neatly coincides with the monthly Discovery Bay Sunday Market in DB Plaza.

[PHOTO COURTESY OF DB Pirates.]

DB BAKING COMPETITION

The results are in! The finalists of the DB Baking Competition 2022 have been chosen by an online community vote on Facebook @Around DB running September 1 to 18. The three finalists have won cash coupons to spend at Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong: 1st-prize winners, Evie and Chris Lord, HK$ 3,500; 1st runners-up, Selene and Alex, HK$2,500; and 2nd runners-up Cristal and Matthew Mills, HK$1,500. You can turn to page 28 to try out the prize-winning recipes.

[PHOTOS BY Beatrix Malan - www.atscollective.com.]

& Events! KNOW IN OCTOBER!

STYROFOAM RECYCLING AT CHIANTI

Did you know your expanded polystyrene is recycled right here in DB at the compression machine in Chianti? Any polystyrene you place in the communal plastics recycling bins is collected by Wilson Cleaning Corporation, DBSML’s cleaning contractor, and then brought to Chianti for compression. The compressed material is then sent to O-PARK1, Hong Kong’s first organic resources recovery centre. To book a tour of the North Lantau plant, visit booking.opark.hk/en/ booking/individual.

PAELLA WEDNESDAY’S AT SOLERA

Solera Spanish Restaurant, in DB Plaza, is offering a new promotion: Paella Wednesday. For HK$299, you can enjoy one of four home-made paellas with either two pints of Stella or a bottle of house wine (white or red). Choose from Paella Negra (squid and garlic aoli), Paella Con Pollo Y Chorizo (chicken, chorizo and green beans), Paella Con Setas (wild mushroom) and Paella Marinara (prawns, mussels and baby squid).

To book a table, call 2555 0772. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Solera.]

BAY MEDIA REWARDS CLUB

Bay Media, the publisher of Around DB , is proud to announce that it will soon be launching Bay Media Rewards Club. Connecting readers with business operators, the scheme offers exciting benefits to its members. “Open to all, the club will be actively promoted on our platforms and create an excellent addition to our existing community outreach,” says Philip Jay, Publisher and Owner of Bay Media. To register, visit www.baymediarewards.com. If you would like to promote your business, email info@baymedia.com.hk.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

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

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

OCTOBER 9 | SHOP THE DISCOVERY BAY SUNDAY MARKET in DB Plaza from 11am to 6pm. Visit www.handmadehongkong.com.

HLG KART RACE: NEW DATE

The HLG Kart Race returns to DB on October 15 with a 16-foot-long ramp set up on Discovery Bay Road cycle lane. While standard karts are provided, kids (and adults) also have the opportunity to compete in their own kitmade karts. There’s no enrolment fee for participants (aged seven and up) in the freestyle category. For those competing in HLG karts, the entrance fee is HK$250 per person with all proceeds going to charity. Register to race by October 7 at www.hlgkartrace.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Harvey Law Group.]

RED VELVET DESIGNS: FAREWELL

In mid-September, Red Velvet Designs’ owner Kavita Mahtur made the difficult decision to shut up shop, after seven years serving the local community. Born and bred in DB, Red Velvet Designs was the go-to place for exceptional homeware and accessories. Kavita and her team always went the extra mile by providing customers tailored advice on how to best decorate their living space. We wish Kavita all the best in her new journey and look forward to hearing all about her future projects. To find out more, visit Facebook @Redvelvetdesignshk. [PHOTO BY Richard Gordon – www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Every October, Hong Kong Cancer Fund joins organisations around the world to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of breast awareness, education and care services. With over 4,000 newly diagnosed breast cancer cases a year, there are more women than ever requiring the charity’s support.

As part of this month-long campaign, you are asked to wear pink on October 21 to raise vital awareness and support for the charity’s free breast cancer services. Another way to do your bit? Create your own personalised fundraising page for a special event or activity through which you can invite friends, family or colleagues to donate directly to Hong Kong Cancer Fund.

Hong Kong Cancer Fund’s services are free. Its work encompasses counselling, nursing consultations and home care, plus public education and funding of hospital equipment and cancer research. The charity has actively developed wellness programmes since 2011, aiming at helping people touched by cancer to develop a positive and healthy attitude towards life and promote self-healing. To get involved this month, visit www.cancer-fund.org.

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FREESPACE JAZZ FEST

Been missing outdoor music events? Make your way to West Kowloon Cultural District to enjoy the fourth Freespace Jazz Fest, running from October 26 to 30. You can expect a mix of ticketed and free live music stages, with over 50 performances encompassing classical and modern jazz, world music, choir, big bands, funk and more. Guaranteeing a fun-filled weekend for families, there’s also a handicrafts market on the Great Lawn with over 40 booths, cultural workshops and screenings of world-music short films by director Vincent Moon. To purchase tickets, visit www.westkowloon.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF West Kowloon Cultural District Authority.]

THE CHOPIN SOCIETY’S JOY OF MUSIC FESTIVAL

WMA EXHIBITION ON ISLANDS

Island(ed) features the lens-based works of four Hong Kong artists Simon Wan, Chan Long Hei, Lo Yin Shan and Wong Wei-Him, as they focus on the geographical features of islands – and their duality of isolation and connection. Simon Wan’s broadcast is based on footage he took during a 24-hour stay on Wu Ying Pai, an uninhabited island located just across from Hong Kong Disneyland. You can catch Island(ed) at WMA Space in Central through October 16. To find out more, visit www.wma.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF WMA Space.]

The Hong Kong Joy of Music Festival/ 6th Hong Kong International Piano Competition is being streamed live from Austria this month for local audiences to enjoy at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall. Organised by the Chopin Society of Hong Kong and University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, the finals and semi-finals are being played out at Esterhazy Palace, Eisenstadt, Austria from October 10 to 27, and will be streamed live and at point to point at City Hall. For tickets, visit www.urbtix.hk.

Founded by Annabella and Andrew Freris in 1995, the Chopin Society of Hong Kong gives local concert-goers a chance to listen to some of the world’s most talented classical musicians, through master-classes, competitions, recitals and concerts. The society is known for its Winners Series, which brings the first-prize winners of major international music competitions to Hong Kong, and its Masters Series, which brings master teachers to Hong Kong to run workshops for local music students. The success of these series hinges on the notion that Hong Kong audiences deserve nothing but the highest quality that the international music scene can offer.

The society also has its own recording label, the Alpha Omega Sound, which is releasing a varied and unusual series of archival CDs, re-mastered at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, as well as recordings made specifically for its label. To find out more, visit www.chopinsocietyhk.org.

Out & About!WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO!

LATIN DANCE AT THE MARKET

Shoppers at the Discovery Bay Sunday Market on September 11 were treated to a Latin dance show by young dancers from DanceHype by Henry & Yanise. Free Latin dance trial sessions were also provided by the Kwun Tong-based dance school. [PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon -www.richardgordonphotography.com & Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com.]

FUN UNDER THE MOON

As residents headed outdoors with their lanterns to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, two talented buskers, Ice and Aufei, wowed the crowd at DB North Amphitheatre. The free music event was organised by Hong Kong Resort.

Under 12 Finalists

[PHOTOS BY Richard Gordonwww.richardgordonphotography.com.]

DBIS STUDENTS’ AMAZING RACE

Discovery Bay International School Year 12 students kicked off the new school year with an action-packed Amazing Race around Discovery Bay on September 2. Students were tasked with tracking down their teachers and Head Prefects at different locations around DB to take part in challenges that focused on teamwork, leadership skills and developing the DBIS Learner Attributes. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF DBIS.]

EPICLAND IS OFFERING TWO READERS A MONTHLY PASS (WORTH HK$1,200 EACH)

EpicLand’s monthly pass for one child (under nine years) accompanied by an adult opens up endless possibilities. Whether your child is into slides, trampolines, ball pits, rock climbing, zip-lining or mini golf, EpicLand in DB North Plaza is quite simply the place to be. Billed as Hong Kong’s tallest indoor entertainment centre, EpicLand is home to Hong Kong’s first ‘air-trek,’ complete with eight sky-high obstacles.

For special occasions, EpicLand offers party and group packages designed to keep kids of all ages – and adults – active and entertained. EpicLand is also the go-to place for team building activities and school trips. All adventurers are required to use the vaccine pass and show a photo of a negative rapid antigen test before admission. To learn more about the 14,000 square-feet venue and the different packages available, visit www.epiclandhk.com.

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST ISSUE’S WINNERS

Zoe Heggie and Rachel Mellado for four tickets to see and Karen Boag for two Alice tea towels from 852 Fabric.

HOW TO WIN!

Around DB prizes are incredibly easy to

scan

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- CHRIS DAVIS

There are trails that go absolutely everywhere. The more you see, the more you want to see. And it’s a great antidote to being stuck in the city

Kindred Spirits!RUNNING UP THAT HILL

Maggie Cvetkovic and Chris Davis found their running groove in Hong Kong and a reason to live in Discovery Bay. Now the Action Asia vets are taking aim at Spartan. Elizabeth Kerr reports

PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com

Magdalena – Maggie – Cvetkovic and Chris Davis are a well-matched pair. Slight and sinewy, the Discovery Bay bankers (she’s with Société Générale, he’s at UBS) look remarkably cool, sitting sipping decaf on a Tuesday afternoon in the height of the year’s last heatwave.

“I like it warm. This is my dream. I love the heat. I like going for a run at lunchtime when it’s 34 degrees,” Maggie says, without a hint of irony. “I love stepping out of the flat and sweating without even doing anything. That’s how it needs to be,” she finishes with a chuckle.

Chris sits quietly, not quite throwing a side-eye, but close. He’s not as into the swelter as Maggie is, but if that’s the way it is in DB, he’s OK with it. For the Devon native, DB’s small town vibe is ideal. “This suits me,” he says, entirely low-key.

Both avid trail runners, the pair have just come off a 14-kilometre Action Asia Events Sprint on September 14, where he placed fifth and she placed third, and are currently training for a series of races in Hong Kong and around the region. They’ve come a long way in the 15 (for Maggie) and 11 (for Chris) years they’ve lived in Hong Kong, where they both picked up trail running in their thirties.

AT HOME ON THE TRAILS

Maggie and Chris have been living in DB for under a year, though Maggie did a stint here in 2008.

She arrived first, fresh from her native Zurich after accepting a hedge fund job in Hong Kong. “I had two job offers, one in New York and one in Hong Kong. I always wanted to try living in Asia and, really, what’s the worst that can happen? I don’t like it and I go home,” she recalls.

The duo relocated from Sai Ying Pun and credit DB’s wide open spaces, water views and trails for keeping them sane during the last 30 months. After taking up running and then getting used to flying all over the world to compete, the last couple of years have been practically sedentary.

“Last year in December we wanted to go to Mui Wo and we took the wrong ferry,” begins Maggie, describing the move. “We ended up in DB and thought no problem, we’ll just go over Tiger’s Head and do whatever we were planning to do. And just going up the stairs we looked around and thought, it’s time to move back here.”

“We were quite happy with our two dogs in Sai Ying Pun,” adds Chris. “But lockdown was starting again and we came here and it was just so relaxing. We have a bigger flat, a view of the sea, and it’s really not that far away. The dogs love it. The trails all have water along the way and they’re so happy to just go and go and go. That’s the beauty of living here. And I do not miss the constant noise, the constant hum of the city. It’s so peaceful here.”

“Every morning I wake up and I see the sea and hear the birds,” Maggie interjects. “It’s so beautiful. There’s no reason to leave.”

“She loves the sound of seagulls,” Chris shoots back. “For me, that’s the worst.” Spoken like a true West Country man.

A WAY INTO HONG KONG

Still. Peace is important for a couple that’s usually up at around 5am for a morning run. In their words, when they’re not working, they’re training. Next up is Action Asia’s Lantau 2 Peaks on October 3, and the Lantau 50 in January. Lantau 50 (Maggie and Chris have opted for the toughest 54km course) takes runners up and over both Lantau and Sunset peaks, with an elevation gain of 3,130m and a 12-hour cut-off… No easy feat. All this begs the question: How did they get into this?

The short answer is by getting a look at Hong Kong. For Maggie, the longer version comes down to a hike she went on around Sunset Peak shortly after arriving all those years ago. “It was mind-blowing,” she recalls.

“I just remember people running up the stairs, and I was super-unfit at the time, and I asked them what they were doing. They told me they were not hikers, that they were trail runners, training for an Action Asia race.

That was it.”

The combination of the view from the top and watching these runners flit up the hill was enough to get her started. The story is similar for Chris, involving just a bit more curiosity. He’d never been to Hong Kong before getting transferred for work, and knew next to nothing about it. The trails were his way in.

“I wanted to explore,” he says simply. “Once you start looking at trail maps it becomes, ‘I want to see Repulse Bay but I don’t want to just get in a taxi. How do I run there?’ So I started doing that, and there are trails that go absolutely everywhere. The more you see, the more you want to see. And it’s a great antidote to being stuck in the city.”

A splash-n-dash race soon followed, and after placing fairly well on his first try, Chris started looking for more events. One thing led to another and by the time they met – on the UBS Dragon Boating squad – they were ready to be kindred running spirits.

ON THE BUCKET LIST

With quarantine restrictions lifted, Maggie and Chris will be off to Spartan Asia Pacific Championship Weekend in Thailand this November, and the World Championship in December in Abu Dhabi. Spartan, for those not in the know, is an obstacle coursebased race series, akin to Iron Man (which Maggie has done).

The couple ran their first Spartan race in 2016 and it’s since become their niche, with both eventually earning spots on the pro tour. Maggie still ranks. “I

got dropped last year,” Chris says sheepishly. For the record, Maggie currently ranks 7,853 on Spartan’s 186,000-strong global leader board.

Maggie and Chris hope to start tackling their personal trail running bucket lists sooner rather than later, which include running up Kota Kinabalu (again), perhaps Kilimanjaro, the London Marathon, Spartan Hawaii – it’s held where Jurassic Park was shot, over a long weekend – and hitting the bottom of the Grand Canyon. But until then they plan to keep in fighting form with Action Asia’s events, and even casual local races.

“There’s always a race somewhere,” says Chris. “And we just do as much as possible. We came to trail running relatively late in our lives. I’m 41. Maggie’s… younger,” he trails off. “Forty!” she jumps in, loud and proud. “Finding a sport we’re excelling at makes us just want to maximise the time we have left. We’re still quite keen,” he finishes. Now if only they could remember how to pack.

THE COUPLE ON THE DB TRAILS WITH THEIR DOGS

I

SPORTING EXCELLENCE

Just Do t!

Whether your child wants to be the next Minjee Lee or Novak Djokovic, DB’s after-school sports programmes have you covered

REPORTING BY Raphael Blet PHOTOS COURTESY OF HKR & by Raphael Blet

abits formed in childhood often last a lifetime, which is one of the reasons we encourage our kids to get into sport at an early age. A passion for sport (any sport) can set children up for a bright future as it helps with both physical and social development, while encouraging the individual to learn essential life skills.

H

Whatever sports your kids are into, you can find a top-notch coaching programme for them right here in DB. There are plenty of classes available both after school and at weekends. This issue we’re focusing on two very different sports – golf and tennis – and the tuition provided at Discovery Bay Golf Club (DBGC) and Discovery Bay Residents Club (DBRC).

WHERE GOLF LEGENDS ARE MADE

For the past 12 years, Discovery Bay Golf Club (www.dbgc.hk) has been making golf available to DB kids through its Junior Nurturing Programme. “Our club has long been dedicated to nurturing young and talented golfers,” opens General Manager Eddie Chan. “In 2010, we adjusted the minimum age for on-course playing from 10 years to six, to promote golf to the next generation.”

DBGC’s Junior Nurturing Programme gives young players an opportunity to make it to the next level through weekly practices and golf clinics. Lessons for children aged six years and above are led by PGA professional Michael Stewart Long, who is currently celebrating 15 years at the club. 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 tournaments, thereby growing their skills by practical experience,” Eddie says. “Through these initiatives, DBGC has nurtured a talented junior team, and the team members have obtained outstanding results in local tournaments organised by the Hong Kong Golf Association.”

Exemplifying the success of DBGC’s Junior Nurturing Programme are award-winning, homegrown golfers Taichi Kho and Shinichi Mizuno, both of whom got their first taste of golf at the club.

DBGC has witnessed the professional development of Taichi and Shinichi from junior golfers to elite national team players. Indeed, Taichi is now the highest ranked amateur golfer in Hong Kong. As the runner-up in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship 2021, Taichi earned a berth in the qualifying series of The Open in July this year; he was the first Hong Kong golfer to do so.

“What I have accomplished is truly a whole team effort; I am grateful because I got the privileges and facilities and the support from everyone at DBGC,” says Taichi, whose first memory of golf is playing

of belonging. It is such an honour to be representing Hong Kong and I look forward to more tournaments in the future.”

“When I first started playing golf in DB, we were the only two juniors: Taichi and me,” Shinichi adds. “Nowadays, you see so many young talents at the club. I feel like DBGC helps young talents develop their game – the coaches are great; the facilities are great. It motivates me to see these kids look up to us. As one of the seniors, it’s now my duty to help them succeed.”

HOME OF TENNIS ACES

Discovery Bay Residents Club (www.dbrc.hk) is well-known for its Junior Tennis Programme, which provides kids aged age three to 11+ with toplevel coaching and access to 11 courts (eight hard courts and three artificial glass courts). Morning and afternoon sessions are on offer Monday to Friday, with additional Saturday morning classes. The smallgroup lessons last from 30 minutes to one hour, and kids are taught by the same coach each week.

When teaching young children, DBRC coaches use a ‘Learn to Play, Play to Learn’ philosophy. The priority

is that children have fun playing tennis, as they are more likely to succeed and commit to the sport if they enjoy it.

Following the International Tennis Federation minitennis guidelines, DBRC coaches use modified tennis equipment, such as decompressed balls, smaller rackets and smaller courts for youngsters in order to make tennis more ‘playable’ for them. As they develop and grow, kids move through the junior coaching pathway from red ball to orange, green and finally yellow-ball tennis. This ensures that players develop a good foundation, both technically and emotionally, to allow them to thrive and enjoy the sport for life.

The Junior Tennis Programme is an important conduit for kids who aspire to play for DBRC in the Hong Kong Tennis Association (HKTA) Junior Leagues. Entry is based on ability so there is no lower age limit – the youngest player currently playing for DBRC in the HKTA Autumn Junior League is just 10 years old.

DBRC habitually fields three teams in both the HKTA Spring and Autumn Junior Leagues: Division A (18 and Under), Division B (14 and Under) and Division C (12 and Under). In recent years, DBRC has won both the Autumn 2020 Junior League (Division C) and Spring 2021 Junior League (Division C).

Given the standard of coaching available, it’s no

Shinichi Mizuno and Taichi Kho

WHATEVER SPORTS YOUR KIDS ARE INTO, YOU CAN FIND A TOP-NOTCH COACHING PROGRAMME FOR THEM HERE IN DB

surprise that many DBRC Junior Team players go on to play for the club in the big adult leagues organised by HKTA and Hong Kong Ladies Tennis League (HKLTL). Such players include Anderson Chan, and siblings Florian and Alexandra Hedreul, and Hubert and Adrian Leung.

That DBRC’s Junior Tennis Programme has spawned star club players is exemplified by the Loeffler family: Bruno Loeffler played on the DBRC Men’s A+ team and has been the DBRC Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles Champion. Carl Loeffler played on the DBRC Men’s A team and has been the DBRC Men’s Singles Champion and Men’s Doubles Runner Up. Emma Loeffler played on the DBRC Ladies Premier and A teams and has been the DBRC Ladies’ Singles Champion and Ladies’ Doubles Runner Up.

Further success stories include DBRC Junior Team players who have been selected to join the Hong Kong national programme and/ or play for the national team. Sisters Erica and Naomi Hagi are both in the

Hong Kong tennis team and Hong Kong National Programme. Parth Sane and Carl Loeffler are also currently in the Hong Kong National Programme. Meanwhile, former Junior Team players Sean Walter and Natalia Peyon have gone on to train at prestigious tennis schools overseas. Sean attends the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Natalia the Altitude Academies in Florida, where she trains with Coach Gabe Jaramillo, who has honed the talents of worldclass players like Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, Pete Sampras, Monica Seles and Anna Kournikova.

DBRC Junior Team training

Naomi and Erica Hagi

Curly Wurly Biscu s

300g plain flour

100g sugar

150g softened butter

1 egg + 1 egg yolk

1tsp vanilla extract

1tbsp cocoa powder

50g Nutella or 2tbsp cocoa powder + 2tbsp milk

Once chilled, roll the two sets of dough into equal sized rectangles about 1cm think. Place the chocolate rectangle on top of the vanilla rectangle and then roll tightly into a log. Wrap in cling film and chill. Once chilled, cut into 1cm discs and place on a baking tray. Bake for 15 minutes.

Thai Gr n Curry Chicken Pies

HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM, SELENE AND ALEX

Ma kes 12

400g soft flour

200g unsalted butter

1 egg + 2 egg yolks

½kg chicken thigh

100g Thai green curry paste

200g coconut milk

2 stalks lemongrass,

3 bird’s eye chillies,

20 leaves Thai basil,

Preheat the oven to 180˚C. Mix and knead the flour, butter, 2 egg yolks and 4 teaspoons cold water into a dough. Wrap the dough in cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Then cook the chicken with the Thai green curry paste, coconut milk, lemon grass, bird’s eye chillies and Thai basil leaves.

Roll out the dough, and cut/ shape it into individual pie moulds which have been greased with oil. Add the cooked chicken curry. Cover each with a dough lid, brushed with an egg yolk wash. Bake for 30 minutes.

Family Cupcakes

MOTHER AND SON TEAM, CRISTAL AND MATTHEW MILLS

12

200g butter

200g sugar 200g plain flour

Preheat the oven to 180˚C. Cream the butter, sugar and salt together until pale in colour. Add 1 egg and a third of the flour alternately until all the ingredients are combined. Divide the batter into three, colour as desired. Distribute the batter across 12 cupcake liners. Use a toothpick to create a ‘marbled’ effect.

Bake for 20 minutes rotating the tray once, halfway through. Leave to cool, then decorate with icing and sprinkles.

A Little Bit of Trivia! HALLOWEEN QUIZ

In the lead-up to October 31, test your knowledge of the scariest night of the year

1. Halloween has its origins in which ancient Celtic festival?

A. Samhain

B. Beltane

C. Fright Night

2. What did the Celts believe spirits could do on Halloween?

A. Grant wishes

B. Get reincarnated

C. Visit the land of the living

3. What were Jack-o-lanterns originally made from?

A. Gourds

B. Jackfruit

C. Turnips

4. Who were they named after?

A. Jack Black

B. A lost soul named Jack

C. Jack the Ripper

5. Every Halloween, Charlie Brown and Sally help Linus wait for what to appear?

A. The Great Pumpkin

B. Damien Thorn

C. Chucky

6. Which country celebrates the Day of the Dead starting at midnight on October 31?

A. Mexico

B. France

C. Haiti

7. Which of the following is not another word for ghost?

A. Shade

B. Spook

C. Spy

8. What horror movie features the quote, “They’re coming to get you, Barbara?”

A. The Conjuring

B. Night of the Living Dead

C. The Shining

9. What did witches originally do at Halloween?

A. Give prophecies

B. Provide exorcisms

C. Make poisoned apples

10. If you stare into a mirror at midnight on Halloween, what will you see?

A. Your grandmother

B. Your alter ego

C. Your future spouse

11. A person born on Halloween is believed to have what particular ability?

A. Astral projection

B. Claircognizance

C. Clairvoyance

12. What can Cole Sear do in The Sixth Sense?

A. Ride a broomstick

B. Walk on water

C. See dead people

13. What did Bram Stoker think the word Dracula meant?

A. King of the Vampires

B. Devil (in Romanian)

C. Vampire Hunter

14. What’s the body count for the movie Halloween?

A. Five people and a dog

B. Thirteen people and a cat

C. Thirteen people

15. In 2004, Hollywood banned the use of what party item on Halloween?

A. Candy cauldrons

B. Silly string

C. Piñatas

16. What Halloween costume does Lindsay Lohan’s character wear in the movie Mean Girls ?

A. Sexy kitten

B. Scary witch

C. Bride of Frankenstein

17. What’s the colour order of a piece of candy corn, from base to point?

A. Yellow, orange, white

B. Yellow, white, orange

C. Orange, white, yellow

18. What do you catch apples with when apple bobbing?

A. A fishing rod

B. Your teeth

C. Your hands

19. What’s the trick in trick or treating?

A. Playing a prank on homeowners

B. Pulling a rabbit from a hat

C. A bag of sweets

20. Where do DB kids typically trick or treat?

A. Tai Pak Wan

B. Headland Drive

C. On the ferry

You can check your score at www.arounddb.com/ across-hk/halloween-quiz.

HARVEY LAW GROUP REPORTS ON PILOTS SUCCESSFULLY APPLYING FOR NATIONAL INTEREST WAIVERS TO OBTAIN GREEN CARDS IN THE US

Last year, Jean-François Harvey, Global Managing Partner of leading business immigration law firm Harvey Law Group (HLG), reported on an historic opportunity for pilots to obtain US green cards through the EB2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) programme.

The EB2 NIW programme is one of immigration intent, resulting in the successful applicants receiving green card and permanent residence status in the US. Unlike employment-based visas, a green card allows the pilot to live and work in the US anywhere and for any airline of their choosing. We see this being an attractive option for experienced pilots who usually wish to safeguard their independence and do not wish to be tied to an employer simply to maintain their visa.

A year on and HLG can now count over 20+ pilots, who have successfully secured their National Interest Waivers, and will now go on to obtain green cards and permanent residence in the US for themselves and their families, without the need to obtain a job offer or labour certification. What some may have considered an impossible outcome has become reality.

Approved pilots have varied backgrounds (various nationalities; various ranks, such as captain and first officers; and various educational levels, some holding a high school degrees but not a university diploma). This indicates that the US authorities are conducting a case-by-case individualised and holistic review of each applicant, rather than taking a broad-brush approach.

This reinforces why these EB2 NIW applications require very careful and detailed consideration, which will certainly differ from one pilot to another. It also involves a combination of strong legal arguments with the specificities of the industry.

If

are an

As the pilot shortage in the US continues to grow, we expect to see many more pilots benefiting from the programme, particularly as the US administration is getting more used to processing pilot applications and therefore is being educated on the national impact of their presence in the US.

As a resident of Discovery Bay, Jean-François has made it a personal mission to broaden the opportunities of the pilots of our community and worldwide.

“We understand that some of our pilots are under tremendous pressure, but we still take the time needed to prepare submissions that are as strong as possible,” Jean-François explains. “The world of immigration is not all sunshine and roses. A few pilots’ applications have unfortunately been denied over the past year. Still, these few pilots had good profiles and we are not simply closing their files. We continue to work with them towards a better outcome. We need to be innovative, adaptable and patient to help our clients through the process and, where necessary, to educate the services receiving their petitions.”

Restaurant of the month!

THE RINK ALL DAY LOUNGE

REPORTING BY Raphael Blet PHOTOS BY Richard Gordonwww.richardgordonphotography.com

Opened in April 2022, The Rink All Day Lounge is the flagship and most recent restaurant addition from Il Bel Paese Group. Well located in DB Plaza extension with a capacity of up to 120 guests, the restaurant abuts the sea on one side and DB Ice Rink on the other. It specialises in international cuisine with a Mediterranean influence, offering diners a wellness-focused journey through Southern Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and Northern Africa.

Aiming to provide an elevated dining experience for guests, The Rink boasts a classic contemporary decor, complete with elegant chandeliers, rustic brick walls, a sleek ‘long’ bar and eye-catching wine wall. The design draws on the restaurant’s proximity to DB Ice Rink through a Swiss chaletinspired ceiling, artificial fireplace and faux cow-hide upholstery. Upon entering, diners are welcomed by an open kitchen, where they can watch the chefs at work before settling into the stylish main dining hall or spacious, pet-friendly outdoor area.

At the helm of the kitchen is Executive Chef Maged Makram, an Egyptian-born chef with 30 years of experience working for renowned hotel chains across the world including Sheraton, Le Méridien

and Fairmont. “Travelling helped me gain different skills and diversify my cooking skills,” opens Maged, adding that the use of spices gives his dishes a distinct character.

BESTSELLERS

The Rink’s menu focuses on natural and organic produce of the finest quality, with seasonal ingredients used as much as possible. There are currently five bestsellers: the Hokkaido Scallops, Plain Hummus, Fresh Garden Vegetable Salad, Braised Angus Beef

Short-Ribs and Signature Lamb Shank.

Pan-seared and juicy, the Hokkaido scallops come with a creamy parsnip mash with spinach. “Parsnip mash has an earthy flavour that goes well with the scallops,” says Maged, adding that the use of traceable seafood contributes to the restaurant’s sustainable practices.

The Rink’s homemade hummus comes in four different varieties – plain, avocado, truffle and Beiruti – all served with homemade pita bread. “People love the hummus as it’s known to be very healthy, packed with essential vitamins and minerals,” Maged explains proudly. “And our cuisine is all about freshness, so instead of re-heating the pita bread, we freshly bake it as we receive an order.”

The Rink All Day Lounge, in DB Plaza extension, is open six days a week, Tuesday to Sunday, for lunch and dinner.

To reserve a table, book the space for an event or order takeout, call 3709 6451.

Wellness-minded diners also love The Rink’s garden vegetable salad Naxos , which combines cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, mint and parsley. “We want our food to be authentic,” Maged says, drawing attention to the salad’s refreshing and tangy pomegranate dressing.

Interestingly the restaurant’s two bestselling meat dishes – the beef short-ribs and lamb shank – are both slow cooked. “Our chefs adopt a range of healthy cooking methods, for example, slow cooking,” says Maged. “Cooking at low temperatures allows the food to retain its nutrients, and at the same time flavours are evenly distributed which enhances the dish further.”

The Rink also makes sure that vegetarian diners are not left out; there is an extensive selection of non-meat dishes. Then of course, there are the desserts, including Kunafeh , a delicious filo-dough pastry that is ubiquitous across the Eastern Mediterranean.

SUSTAINABILITY

The Rink understands that restaurants and sustainability now go hand in hand. Green practices include the use of energy-efficient equipment, LED lights and eco-friendly cleaning products. Recycling of glass, plastic and cans is a given, and biodegradable food packaging is used for takeouts.

Furthermore, The Rink has implemented a zero-waste policy that staff must adhere to, which includes minimising food wastage through effective sales forecasting and using an efficient inventory system.

DRINKS

In addition to its worldclass food offerings, The Rink offers an extensive selection of wine – 11 sparkling, 16 white and 27 red. The beer selection is more limited – two draught and three bottled. Cocktails and signature drinks are a speciality.

Seeking a refreshing option? Try the homemade fruity Sangria, red or white. Or the classic Smoked Negroni, which is made inhouse and barrelled for up to three months to bring out the flavour.

SPECIAL OCCASIONS

Needless to say, The Rink has positioned itself as a place to celebrate. On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day this year, the restaurant provided complimentary specially designed cocktails and desserts for families. And there’s more to come, with plans for monthly food and wine pairing events, and special themed menus for festivals and holidays.

“We are currently preparing our Halloween festivities. We will decorate the venue and welcome kids to trick-or-treat at our door,” Maged concludes with a smile.

THE STYLISH MAIN DINING HALL

THE OPEN KITCHEN

A MEDITERRANEAN MEZZE

THE SMOKED NEGRONI

Find your brave!

To become brave, children need to experience fear and learn to tolerate it. Reading scary stories together can help them with that. Ray Robertson reports

Halloween is a strange sort of festival, one that cuts with a double-edged sword. Despite all the treats, sinister tricks lurk in the shadows. Children revel in the dressingup and love eating all the candy, but the supernatural element of things that go bump in the night is never far from their minds. And yet, or perhaps because of this, children love All Hallows' Eve.

As parents, we have a responsibility to know the limits of what our children can handle. We don’t want to force them to hear a scary story, if they’re not ready for it. On the other hand, we can’t protect them from their own developing emotions, emotions that are best explored and managed in the safety of

their homes and with the attention of their parents. It’s important that children learn to handle feeing afraid, and one of the best places for them to do that is in the pages of a book.

ONCE UPON A TIME

The first scary books most kids read, or have read to them are fairy tales. Our children are weaned on versions of the Brothers Grimm’s medieval morality tales, in which beasts and innocents face off in dark forests or forbidding castles. The consequences of these clashes aren’t always pretty, and there’s a lot of fear to get through before the ‘happily ever after’.

Classic fairy stories from Sleeping Beauty to Snow White are big on dark supernatural forces – wicked witches cast cruel spells that mess with fair maiden. These stories have some really tough life lessons to impart (that have nothing to do with magic), and this is one of the reasons we continue to read them to our kids. But we also continue to read them to our kids simply because kids love them.

Of course, kids love all the good magic that’s expressed in fairy stories – fairy godmothers turn rags into ballgowns, animals talk and everything ends happily. So, is it that which makes them love fairy stories, that prevents them from simply being scared witless by them? In part. But it’s important to know that children learn to make the distinction between fantasy and reality very early on. By age seven, most kids know the difference between what is real and what is not and, once they are able to do this, most can cope with the scares they experience in the make-believe world of a book.

It’s true that scary stories can cause nightmares (none of us has ever really come to terms with the horror of Bambi’s mother’s death) but generally speaking, the fears children experience in made-up stories are manageable. Kids can handle the fears they face in Neverland because Neverland doesn’t actually exist.

Kids are instinctively drawn to scary things because they rely on the continuing safety of the real world. And in the real world, ghosts and witches and evil fairies don’t exist. Reading scary stories means visiting places where impossible things are suddenly, temporarily, possible.

In this way, scary stories play an important role in children’s emotional education, allowing them to identify and control their fears. They give them the chance to experience a really potent fantasy and almost live it, without any of the consequences. They get to experience fear in a controlled environment (in the fantastical world of the book) in the safety of their own homes.

The best children’s books are written in such a way as to help kids differentiate between what is real and

IT BECOMES EASIER TO STAND UP TO A BULLY AT SCHOOL ONCE YOU HAVE FOUGHT GHOSTS, MONSTERS OR ZOMBIES WITHIN THE PAGES OF A BOOK

and then stepping away is what makes them return for more. It’s exciting for them to discover that they can get through the fear, and that they can put the book down whenever they choose.

Children benefit from all this because they learn to grapple with the range of emotions – anxiety, sorrow, confusion, surprise, anger – that fear invites. They come away from a scary story with new tools for managing or controlling their reactions to fear. Call it a new confidence or self-awareness, but it becomes part of how they deal with trauma going forward. Essentially, what children learn is courage. It becomes easier to stand up to a bully at school once you have fought ghosts, monsters or zombies within the pages of a book.

There are multiple reasons why book series like Harry Potter and Twilight captivate young readers. Children connect to the vulnerability of the characters, they live vicariously through their potentially fatal challenges and, when the last page is turned, they return to their real lives having survived Voldemort or the Volturi.

Vampires are scary. Dementors are too. Kids love to be scared, but not too scared. A parent’s job is to understand this, to invite discussion and make a variety of stories available. And to leave the night light on.

what is not. A common device sees a book open in the real world, one with which young readers are familiar, that is populated by characters not unlike themselves. Then, after a page or two, something happens to these characters, which means they transition into a world of make-believe. The Pevensies walk through a wardrobe and find themselves in Narnia, Max goes to sleep before sailing through night and day to meet the Wild Things. Children know when the bridge between reality and fantasy has been crossed, and they adjust their fear threshold accordingly.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

The other side of it is that kids, like adults, actually like to suspend disbelief every now and then, and really feel the fear. It’s fun for them to get so caught up in a scary book that they scream when the flying monkeys swoop down on Dorothy, or when James attacks Bella in the dance studio. What they are enjoying is the thrill, the hyperarousal of the fightor-flight response within safe parameters.

Essentially then, kids are turned on by fear and their ability, through reading, to confront it and cast it aside. They find a way to control how scared they want to be. Scary stories help turn children into readers; the adrenaline rush of seeking out danger

HELPING KIDS MOVE PAST FEAR

1. Recognise that your child’s fear is real, even if you think it is irrational. By acknowledging the fear, you validate your child’s feelings. View fear as an important opportunity for teaching, not as a character flaw.

2. Don’t pretend you are not afraid of things you fear. Better to tell a child you have a silly fear and you are working on it.

3. Emphasise your child’s strengths. Reminding a child of fears they have already overcome, helps them deal with new fears.

4. Provide reassuring touch. When a small child’s fears are activated, calming words alone probably won’t solve the problem. Physical contact lets the child know that you are offering protection.

5. Don’t rush to reassure if you are sure that the child won’t be harmed. If you panic, the child will believe there is something to panic about.

FEARS ARE MANAGEABLE IN MAKE-BELIEVE

DEALING WITH BUSINESS INTERESTS IN DIVORCE SETTLEMENTS – HOW IT WORKS IN HONG KONG

Polly Chu and Jocelyn Tsao , Partners in the Corporate and Family Teams at Withers, outline what you need to know

Many couples in Hong Kong hold interests in companies that own landed properties or other investments. When the couples divorce, there are various ways in which corporate interests can be dealt with.

This article highlights some key considerations that divorcing couples should note if they desire to transfer their corporate interests in divorce proceedings.

value of the company in order to ascertain the size of the matrimonial pot for division. The divorcing couples should try to agree on a valuation of the spouse’s shareholding in the company, failing which they should appoint a single joint expert, usually an accountant or surveyor, to make a formal valuation.

METHODS OF DIVISION

Rearranging corporate interests for a divorcing couple is not as simple as transferring one spouse’s shares to another. There are many factors that need to be carefully considered before making such re-arrangement to prevent contentious issues from arising. The most effective way for such re-arrangement very often depends on the specific situation on a case-bycase basis. For example, if a company is jointly owned by a divorcing couple and each spouse wishes to keep a certain part of the business postdivorce, then it would be advisable to incorporate a new company, and transfer part of the business to the newly set-up company.

Alternatively, where a spouse does not wish to keep an interest in the company, then the spouse who elects to keep it should opt to pay the other spouse equality monies for there to be a fair division, either by making a lump sum payment or through periodic payment to the other from the company’s assets and/ or profits. If the paying spouse has liquidity issues, he or she could consider obtaining a director’s loan from the company or seek other forms of financing in order to pay the lump sum.

Lastly, if neither spouse wishes to keep the corporate interest, it can be sold. It can be stated in the divorce settlement that the sale proceeds will be held by the solicitors who are appointed in the sale process and will distribute the proceeds (in the desired proportion) to the parties directly in order to avoid argument. If no sale of business is possible, parties may dissolve the company and distribute the remaining assets.

However, there may be difficulties in evaluating a spouse’s shareholding if the spouse holding the shares is not concurrently a director of the company, or if other shareholders in the company do not wish to allow the company to be valued. As such, in order to inspect the books and accounts of the company for valuation purposes, it may be necessary to apply to the court for an inspection order.

CONTINUED CO-OPERATION In some instances, divorcing spouses may wish to continue co-owning or running their company together despite their divorce. We would recommend that these couples enter into a shareholders’ agreement to clearly delineate each of their shareholders’ rights and responsibilities in relation to the company. Doing so would help facilitate future co-operation and avoid arguments or deadlock situations regarding the management of the company.

Withers’ teams of matrimonial and real estate lawyers have extensive experience in dealing with Hong Kong family and property law. For enquiries, contact Polly Chu at

Determining a company’s value is often an important aspect when negotiating settlement in divorce proceedings. It is important to know the

VALUATION

or Jocelyn Tsao at jocelyn.tsao@withersworldwide.com. Withers,

United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty,

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Withers

Top Tips!ALCOHOL USE

While low to moderate alcohol use may offer some health benefits, heavy drinking – including binge drinking – upends a wellness-focused lifestyle. Samantha Wong takes a look

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels

We all love to unwind at the end of the day… sometimes through a great yoga session or trail run, and sometimes in the plaza with the help of a few glasses of wine. Everything in moderation, right?

Or not? Do we know what alcohol actually does to our bodies? Do we know how drinking impacts our health? And just how much alcohol is too much alcohol?

IMPACT ON HEALTH

First, the bad news. Moderate to heavy drinking brings a long list of potential health problems with it, such as cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes), liver and kidney dysfunction, diabetes, pancreatitis and osteoporosis. It is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, including breast, oesophageal and liver.

Furthermore, even moderate drinking messes with our hormones. It lowers testosterone, increases oestrogen and elevates cortisol (through poor sleeping patterns). Both sexes are affected in terms of fertility. And perhaps most profoundly, heavy drinkers and their families tend to have decreased quality of life.

Now, the good news. Medically speaking, it’s fairly wellaccepted that low to moderate drinkers may actually be healthier as a group than people who don’t drink at all. Studies show that low to moderate alcohol consumption (particularly red wine) may improve immunity, reduce cardiovascular disease and stave off Alzheimer’s.

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

So how much alcohol is too much? As with most health issues, the answer is different for each individual. It also depends on our age and gender. Men can drink more because they have higher levels of alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme in the stomach that digests alcohol, meaning less alcohol actually enters their blood stream when they have a drink.

Low to moderate alcohol consumption is typically defined as five to eight drinks per week for men, two to six drinks per week for women. Moderate to high alcohol consumption is defined as 10 or more drinks per week for men, seven or more for women. Binge drinking is defined as five or more drinks at one sitting for men, and four or more drinks at one sitting for women.

Now consider that a ‘standard drink’ contains around 0.6fl oz pure alcohol. That’s about 12fl oz beer, 9fl oz malt liquor, 5fl oz wine and 1.5fl oz 80-proof distilled spirits.

BETTER TO STAY ALCOHOL-FREE

FOR THREE TO FOUR DAYS EACH WEEK, AND AVOID DRINKING IN EXCESS ALL TOGETHER...

WHAT’S YOUR POISON?

If we’ve got a handle on our drinking and we’re drinking in moderation, which type of alcohol should we choose? Are some drinks ‘better’ for us than others?

When it comes to spirits, the ‘cleanest,’ least inflammatory choices are low on sugar. Vodka and tequila are ‘good’ picks. And always drink your spirits without sugary mixers, which add extra calories. Try carbonated or soda water, with a splash of fresh lemon or lime juice.

And what of tonic? It doesn’t taste especially sweet (thanks to the bitter quinine), but it’s there on the label – 8g sugar per 100ml. This means that when you settle down to drink two modest gin and tonics, you consume at least four teaspoons of sugar. One

DRINK YOUR SPIRITS WITH NATURAL LOW-SUGAR MIXERS

alternative is to play around with soda and natural sweeteners – muddle some berries in the bottom of your glass or slip in an orange peel. But if you can’t imagine G or V without T, here’s a hot tip. Pay that little bit extra for Fever-Tree Naturally Light Tonic Water – it contains just 2.9g sugar per 100ml and has no nasty, artificially sweetened end flavour.

And so, to wine. Red is your best choice because it’s lower in sugar than white or sparkling. If you have gut issues, avoid beer and whisky as they often contain gluten and wheat.

THE DAY AFTER

So does a big night out cancel out all the progress we’ve been making at the gym and with our diets? What’s the story behind alcohol consumption and fitness?

The first thing to consider is the way alcohol dysregulates hormones. These changes will increase fat mass, decrease muscle mass, increase muscle soreness and decrease your energy levels.

Alcohol metabolism also inhibits nutrient absorption, so that what you are eating doesn’t necessarily make it to the tissues and organs that need to recover. If you are an exercise enthusiast (three or more sessions weekly) and a moderate alcohol consumer, you are well advised to bolster your body’s post-fitness recovery with a couple of supplements. Take a quality multivitamin, fish oil and branched-chain amino acid on the days that you choose to have a drink.

And what of alcohol and weight gain? After you drink alcohol, your body diverts all of its resources to getting it out of your system, so it stops processing other forms of energy, storing them for later. A recent study suggests that it’s not alcohol itself that makes the waistline grow, but the food eaten after drinking that ends up on your love handles. Next time you have a drink, consider that everything you eat for the following hour will likely end up being stored, not burned.

As well as packing on the calories, alcohol can get in the way of our wellness goals, simply because of the way it makes us feel the day after. We’re grumpy and lethargic, and in the mood for nothing that can’t be achieved from the couch. Simply put, drinking is a demotivator. Why work hard on your diet and fitness goals all week, only to blow it all with a heavy drinking session on Friday night?

Many of us are programmed to think of drinking as a reward, something we get to do after a tough day. But we need to rethink this. Better to stay alcohol-free for three to four days each week, and avoid drinking in excess all together. When we do drink, we need to be mindful about how much alcohol is going into our drinks and alternate them with a glass of water to stay hydrated. See you Friday in the plaza!

ESSENTIAL CHASERS

Take Liver Support – a potent clinicalgrade formula containing milk thistle and other effective herbs – before you go out drinking. Our livers need additional nutrients to detoxify the alcohol and boost our immune systems.

Boost your intake of vitamin C (it restores cellular health damaged by alcohol consumption) and B-vitamins, which are highly depleted by alcohol and necessary for energy, a good mood and cognition. Take magnesium (it supports relaxation, sleep and nervous system functioning) and zinc, which restores hormonal balance and the immune system after drinking.

Ola Loa provides active vitamin B, vitamin D, magnesium and zinc, along with electrolytes and 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C. It’s an easy-to-take rehydrating drink, and provides a stronger detox than the popular Berocca or Emergen C.

Nux Vomica 30 is another popular homeopathic remedy. It helps relieve the digestive stress and acidity caused by too much alcohol. You can also take a probiotic to restore the gut’s microbial balance after drinking.

BOLSTER YOUR BODY’S RECOVERY WITH A COUPLE OF

BecauseYouCan! CITY OF FUSION

AT THE SOUTHERN TIP OF THE MALAY Peninsula, Malacca is known for its rich history, UNESCO World Heritage status and inspiring colonial architecture. It’s also a great walking town. The riverside promenade is the place to start, where former spice warehouses, some covered with colourful graffiti, reflect in the calm water.

COLONISED BY THE PORTUGUESE,

the Dutch and then the Brits, Malacca is awash with ‘European’ landmarks. There’s Red Square, built by the Dutch, which houses Christ Church, the oldest Protestant church in the country; there’s the 500-year-old, Portuguese-built Santiago Gate; and there’s the ultra-British Queen Victoria’s Fountain.

THE NIGHT MARKET ON JONKER STREET is a great place to hang out on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. The centre of Chinatown, it used to be all about antique shops but now you find stalls selling everything from food and souvenirs to Studio Ghibli merchandise. Take a cute, ‘only in Malacca’ rickshaw back to your hotel.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels

MALACCA BOTANICAL

GARDEN is the city’s beautiful green lung, part jungle and part landscaped park. There are paved trails along which you can walk, cycle or ride an electric buggy. The garden is also the base for the thrilling Skytrex Adventure, where you can zip-line, sky-bike, tree climb and bungee swing.

EATING IS THE NATIONAL SPORT in Malacca. Look out for specialities like assam pedas (spicy, slightly sour fish curry) and satay celup (skewers of pretty much anything cooked in a boiling vat of soupy satay sauce). Of course, the authentic Indian curries are wonderful, and the rich and spicy laksa proves totally addictive.

AT 153M, THE SHORE SKY TOWER is Malacca’s highest viewpoint. From the 43rd floor, you can catch panoramic city views that stretch 50 kilometres in every direction. The perimeter wall is made out of glass so as not to impede the view and if you dare, you can walk out on to the vertigo-inducing glassfloored sky deck.

MALAY, CHINESE AND INDIAN cultures meet and mingle throughout the city. Jalan Tokong, aka Harmony Street, strings together the centres of worship of the three main faiths: Kampung Kling Mosque, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple and Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple.

BENEFIT FROM CLOUD ACCOUNTING

Sharon McEneff , director of DB-based T8 Corporate & Business Services, explains the value of banking on the go

If you want your business to work smarter and faster, cloud accounting software is a wise investment. The way we work is changing every year and cloud accounting systems are changing the way businesses operate and manage their financial information. If you haven’t looked into upgrading your processes to include cloud accounting systems, you might want to consider the following 10 benefits:

1. Access from anywhere: The biggest benefit of cloud accounting is that you can access your bank account from anywhere and at any time from any device.

2. Data flow from the bank: The data flow from the bank is directly connected to the software so you only need to reconcile the payments, you don’t have to enter them.

3. Automated backup: Data is backed up automatically so you don’t have to worry about physical damage.

4. Secure access: Cloud accounting is a secure way to do business because even if your laptop is stolen no one can access your records without a secure login which is protected by a multifactor authentication system.

5. Quick decision making: With your financial numbers at your fingertips, you can make certain decisions quickly. After all, time is money.

6. Automated reports: There are several reports that you can download, including the cash flow statement, balance sheet and profit and loss statement, which reduces your workload.

7. Paper-less records: Traditional accounting systems are supported by a lot of paperwork. Digitised records save a lot of paper, as well as time and space.

8. Centralised database: With the accounts on cloud, it is easy to share them with any colleagues and auditors to whom you have given online access, which makes it easy to work across a team.

9. Accuracy of records: The cloud accounting software enables you to make edits and changes in the records online. These changes go live instantly so the accuracy of your digital records is much higher.

10. Integration with other systems: Some of the popular accounting systems integrate with HR and Sales systems, which streamlines the processes and increases the efficiency of the business over time.

IS IT SUITABLE FOR ME?

Because of its many benefits, high security standards and accessibility, cloud accounting is suitable for virtually every business, from sole proprietorships to multinational enterprises.

Finance and accounting are at the root of every business. Without these, you can’t monitor the financial health of your business and you can’t make informed decisions. Therefore, an accounting solution that is efficient, reliable and up-to-date makes life easier.

Many new companies use a cloud accounting solution from the start, partly due to its low upfront costs. But even if you currently are on a traditional accounting system, you can switch to cloud accounting.

Partner

Baljit Gidwani

BY Baljit Gidwani

WIN PRIZES FROM UNCLE RUSS COFFEE AND THE PIER BAR!

The

Discovery Montessori School

DISCOVERY BAY

The Rink All Day Lounge

DB Lampoon!

Over the past 15 years, government printing presses have churned out trillions, cheered on by a generation for whom a serious downturn is Man U losing at home. According to Howard Marks, head of Oaktree Capital (US$158 billion under management), one trillion dollars is US$10 per second for… 3,000 years. Read that again. And Apple is worth three trillion dollars.

Those who have tried to rationalise multi trillions have had their frontal lobes, cerebellum and basal ganglia burst into flames. We try to process these numbing figures with detachment, unable and unwilling to envision a vast doom machine built of laughable valuations. The property company China Evergrande has debts of US$300 billion. So what? say the financial markets, it’s only a third of a trillion (whatever that is).

If masochism is your thing, then contemplate the world debt: US$250…trillion. The online debt clocks by country are racing around in a blur. Our logical next step is to sell everything and move to a well-stocked bunker to await the crash – and fend off starving Wall Street managers trying to sell their children. Compared to what’s going on in the world, China Evergrande is the place to stick your pension fund.

As we prepare for Farmageddon (Financial Armageddon), I have this for the ‘not many people know this’ crowd: One trillion in US pennies would weigh 3,125,000 tons. Vast debt doesn’t mean much until it’s your own. It seems, for example, that Americans sleep soundly in their beds knowing they are US$36 trillion in the hole. I’m betting they don’t know what a trillion is. And if they had that amount to spend at the rate of US$40 per second, it would take 792.5 years before they went broke.

n Philipp Dettmer’s book Immune, this jumped off the page: “There are about 10 million viruses in a single drop of seawater… for every grain of sand on Earth there are trillions of viruses.” Then there’s money. Not long ago a million dollars was a lot. Soon the world’s financial system went into billions, and before I could get my feeble mind around it, along came trillions, an incomprehensible number unless you’re talking Trump lies.

While I’m on to crazy comparisons, did you know that dollar notes end to end would reach the moon and back 3.76 times. Piled up you’re looking at 10,921 kilometres skyward. Billions or trillions, does it make much difference? Yes. A billion seconds is 32 years. A trillion seconds is 32,000 years. A trillion is an idiotic sum. In 2000, the word ‘trillion’ appeared in the New York Times 856 times. In the first three months of 2021, it had already appeared 723 times. And in terms of insane national debt, we still don’t know what it means. But I can rent you a room in my bunker.

Note: The odds of you being born are close to impossible, although some scientists put it at 700 trillion to one. Buddhists think it’s like throwing a lifebuoy into the ocean at random and a turtle sticking its head through it – first try.