Around DB April Issue 2018

Discovery Bay’s original community magazine

APRIL 2018

Time to learn the local language – it’s a lot

easier than you think

Why DB is the perfect LAUNCHPAD for small businesses Harness the healing power of gemstones by getting your rocks read

OCEANIC LOVE Gary Stokes opens up about veganism, piracy and much more besides

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

FREE

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RENTALS/SALES

APRIL 2018

T

EN

G EA

L

SO

Gross: 865’ Saleable: 744’

頤峰 GREENVALE 3 2

24.5K/6.8M

L

SO

Gross: 1037’ Saleable: 962’

碧濤 BEACH 3

Bright and nicely decorated. Modern well fitted kitchen. Ready to move into.

2

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EN

G EA

$42K

Exquisitely renovated, all modern interior with a great open kitchen. Perfect home for a small family.

Gross: 1213’ Saleable: 1138’

寶峰 PARKVALE 3

45K

Beautifully renovated lowrise apartment. Modern open kitchen and in a tranquil location.

2

N

IO AT LU A V T NK EN BA D AG W A LO LE

BE

海蜂徑 5 3

SEABEE

Gross: 1642’ Saleable: 1406’

75K 逸澄閣 PEACEFUL

Lovely townhouse offering generous living space.

Ready to move into.

4 3

Gross: 2276’ Saleable: 1723’

80K/28M 朝暉徑 HEADLAND

Company sale. Fantastic renovation, very bright and amazing views. Great for entertaining. Excellent Investment opportunity.

4

Gross: 2585’ Saleable: 2566’

200K

Gorgeous garden house with private pool. Stunning modern interior perfect for a large family.

4

N

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EN

IO AT LU VA T NK EN BA AG ND OLE U S O

AD

AG

LE

AR

康慧台 HILLGROVE 0 1

Gross: 472’ Saleable: 398’

4.7M

Renovated apartment with balcony. Great for investment or self use.

頤峰 GREENVALE 4 2

Gross: 1088’ Saleable: 947’

8.95M

Stunning apartment located in a convenient location to all bus routes, stunning views to Central.

海澄湖畔一段 SIENA ONE 3 2

N

2

Lovely renovation lowrise apartment.

Close to schools. Must see!

IO AT LU VA NT NK E BA D AG W A LO LE

BE

4

12M

N

IO AT LU VA NT NK E BA E AG W L LO SO

頤峰 GREENVALE

Gross: 1235’ Saleable: 962’

BE

Gross: 1644’ Saleable: 1406’

Successfully jointed unit, spacious living and close to schools. Ideal for family.

12.2M 津堤 AMALFI 4 2

Gross: 1985’ Saleable: 1462’

60K/22M

Lovely renovated family home. 24hr concierge service. Spacious throughout.

海蜂徑 SEABEE 4 3

www.headlandhomes.hk

Gross: 3100’ Saleable: 2403’

115K/36M

Company sale. Fabulous waterfront house with garden and terrace. Modern kitchen and great for entertaining.

2987 2088

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CONTENTS April 2018

PROFILE

IN FOCUS

Gary Stokes of Hemingway’s

The trick to learning Chinese

24

28

TALKING POINTS

FAMILY MATTERS

Why DB is an entrepreneurial hotbed

A returning student’s impressions of home

35 ESCAPES Top 10 things to do in Bali

38 For the latest Around DB updates, find us on:

REGULARS 22

GIVEAWAYS Win big prizes

42

WELLNESS Gemstones

50

RECIPES Classic veggies

57

DB FACES Community snaps

64

OUT THERE Island life

AGENDA 08

DB EVENTS

54

HK HAPPENINGS

58

CLASSIFIEDS

60

PROPERTY

61

LOCAL NUMBERS

ON THE COVER Southeast Asia director for Sea Shepherd, Gary Stokes is at home on a boat To read the cover story, turn to page 24

Discovery Bay’s original community magazine

APRIL 2018

Time to learn the local language – It's a lot

easier than you think

46

Why DB is the perfect LAUNCHPAD for small businesses

www.arounddb.com Publishers in Lantau since 2002

Harness the healing power of gemstones by getting your rocks read

OCEANIC LOVE Gary Stokes opens up about veganism, piracy and much more besides

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

FREE

Photo by Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com

We also publish…

April/ May 2018

a HK$500 Curry Lounge dining voucher and tickets to Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic World Tour

If you have a story idea, email rachel@baymedia.com.hk To publicise a local event, email katrina@baymedia.com.hk For general enquiries, email info@baymedia.com.hk To advertise, email connie@baymedia.com.hk Call 2987 0577/ 2787 0886 Fax 2987 0533

Join your community online

TAI O: THE VILLAGE THAT TIME FORGOT

LOCAL SHOOTERS SHARE THEIR FAVOURITE SNAPS

WHY YOU NEED TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN SWIMMING

G -COMIN UP-AND STAR ACTION SERTO Y CA TOMM NEWS & EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

Publishers in Lantau since 2002

2017 / 2018

DINING • LIVING • PETS • SPORTS • PASTIMES • EDUCATION • HEALTH • BEAUTY • SERVICES • TRAVEL • EXCURSIONS • COMMUNITY

PUBLISHER Corinne Jedwood corinne@baymedia.com.hk MANAGING EDITOR Rachel Ainsley rachel@baymedia.com.hk SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS & ONLINE EDITOR Claire Severn claire@baymedia.com.hk DIGITAL & SALES ASSISTANT Patricia Jover patricia@baymedia.com.hk DIGITAL & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Katrina Mercado katrina@baymedia.com.hk SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Andrew Spires andrew@baymedia.com.hk ASSISTANT GRAPHIC DESIGNER Duey Tam duey@baymedia.com.hk ADVERTISING & SALES MANAGER Connie Cottam connie@baymedia.com.hk SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER Monika Carruthers monika@baymedia.com.hk OFFICE MANAGER Maxine Parry accountant@baymedia.com.hk PHOTOGRAPHER Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com CONTRIBUTORS Kate Farr Elizabeth Kerr Ray Robertson Peter Sherwood Dorothy Veitch Becky Zhang PRINTING Champion Design & Production Company Ltd. Flat D, 18/F, Sing Teck Factory Building, 44 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong.

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

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

© BAY MEDIA GROUP LTD

www.evoqueportraits.com

TENNIS NATIONS CUP

DBers dressed up in whacky national costumes and battled it out on the Discovery Bay Recreation Club tennis courts over the weekend of March 3. Congratulations to Team Germany for a well-deserved victory!

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

THE HOTTEST

IN DISCOVERY BAY

www.arounddb.com April 2018

9

DB EVENTS

ISLAND DANCERS AT THE CNY PARADE

Thirty Island Dancers performed alongside the Ocean Park float at the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade on February 16. The dancers had an unforgettable experience dancing through the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui to welcome the Year of the Dog.

Photos by David Feehan

DB PIRATES CNY DRINKS

The DB Pirates hosted a Chinese New Year celebration at McSorley’s with drinks and a raffle, on February 27.

Photos by Marion Udall

10

April 2018 www.arounddb.com

HARVEY’S KART RACE

The fifth edition of the Harvey Law Group Kart Race on March 17 (Bay Media was once again one of the sponsors) saw kids and adults racing down Discovery Bay Road. There were 76 participants in the standard category and eight in the freestyle category, who designed, built and raced their own karts.

www.evoqueportraits.com

INTERNATIONAL FOOD FAIR

Discovery Bay International School held its annual International Food Fair on March 10, with guests enjoying culinary delights from all corners of the globe.

Photos courtesy of Elina Makilammi

www.arounddb.com April 2018

11

DB EVENTS

HOLI DAY CELEBRATION

DBers celebrated Holi with food, games, laughter and coloured powder at the DB North Plaza beach on March 18.

www.evoqueportraits.com

DISCOVERY MIND SPORTS DAY

Discovery Mind International Play Centre and Kindergarten held its sports day on March 2 at the Discovery Bay Community Hall. The Discovery Mind Primary School Sports Day was on March 23 at Tsing Yi Sports Ground. Families took part in the sack race, island hop and other games that encouraged cooperation and teamwork.

Photos by Maxine Parry and courtesy of Discovery Mind

12

April 2018 www.arounddb.com

SPONSORED CONTENT

Green living in

Discovery Bay Environmental issues have been firmly on the agenda of late in Discovery Bay, with local students taking part in the Green.Icon@DB Graffiti Design Competition. Aimed at raising awareness of all things eco, the competition saw children from schools across DB put paint brush to paper to design eyecatching images to adorn the exterior of the new Green.Icon@DB environmental centre located near Parkridge Village.

Thousands of residents voted for their favourite designs via the Around DB Facebook page, where each school's shortlisted entries were displayed. The standard of artwork was exceptional, and competition was tough, but in the end, first place went to Eric Wang from Hong Kong International Learning Academy in the primary category, and Rishima Mathur from Discovery College in the secondary category.

Eric explains what inspired his design: "I come from Melbourne, Australia, where there are lots of trees and parks. When I first came to Hong Kong and stayed in Causeway Bay, there were no trees at all. When dad brought us to Discovery Bay, I saw trees again and I was happy.

My design tells people how to make the environment better and how to help our home stay green.”

"I am very excited and honoured to have my design painted on the eco centre," adds Rishima.

"My inspiration for the painting was Mother Nature. My painting signifies a happy Mother Nature with greenery all around, clean air, and free and happy inhabitants. This is the essence of DB as I see it."

Eric Wang (HKILA)

The eco centre is in fact just one of a number of initiatives underway in DB to encourage green thinking, and the town has won awards for its environmental work. Other efforts include the regular beach clean-ups organised by DB Green and Plastic Free Seas, and the DB Family Farm in Central Park, where green-fingered residents can enjoy growing their own produce.

According to Kevin Chu, DB resident and eco-design pioneer, there are many ways DB residents can make a difference in their day-to-day lives.

"Try to use less and reuse more," he says. "If you wrap food with cling film or aluminium foil, don’t throw it away – use it again. Use the water from cleaning your veggies to feed your plants – try to think creatively."

Dana Winograd of DB Green and Plastic Free Seas continues: "Always carry your own reusable water bottles and take-away containers; bring your own coffee cup; if you forget your own cup, ask for no lid; refuse straws; support restaurants that make environmentally conscious choices. They're all easy switches, and they can make a big difference."

Rishima Mathur (DC)

"The competition has been a great way for the participants to understand and think more about green living," comments Francis Chiu, chairman of the steering committee of Love.Together@DB. "When the winning design is put on the gate, everyone will get a reminder of the importance of living green."

And the need to make a difference is something the kids understand well. "The quality of our life depends on the quality of our environment," says Rishima. "There’s only one Earth, and in order to survive, we must protect our surroundings."

Congratulations, Eric and Rishima – DB's residents are very proud of you and can't wait to see your artwork in all its glory, providing a daily reminder of the importance of going green.

New Zealand’s Premier Co-educational, 7-day Boarding and Day School

• Only one-hour flight time from Auckland • A genuine seven-day boarding school offering outstanding pastoral care • A very competitive fee within the global marketplace

Come and meet our new Headmaster, Mr Wayne Brown to hear what Wanganui Collegiate can offer your son or daughter.

On: At:

• Excellent academic results • A small and safe provincial city with a vibrant sporting and cultural scene

Sometimes the grass really is greener! www.collegiate.school.nz

From: RSVP:

Wednesday 9 May 2018 The New Zealand Consulate, Room 6501, 18 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai 6pm to 8pm rosie.austin@collegiate.school.nz

DB EVENTS

YOUR GUIDE

L A I T N E S S E E T O T H UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS Throughout April

Throughout April

TO ADOPT A PET through Protection of Animals Lantau South (PALS), call Jacqui Green on 9197 4371, for Hong Kong Paws Foundation (PAWS), call Kat Cheung on 9485 5188

FREE ASSESSMENT WITH Throughout April GALIT NAGAR IMI, DB North Plaza

IMI is offering a free 20-minute assessment with Galit Cohen Nagar, a Japanese acupuncturist and reflexologist. You get a diagnosis by pulse, and Galit assesses your inner organs by finding structural and abdominal imbalances. Clients receive individualised treatment recommendations. To make a booking, call 2537 1087.

www.imi.com.hk

Artwork by Martin Lever

ARTVPLASTIC CAMPAIGN Plastic Free Seas is working with renowned local artists in an innovative campaign to help fight Hong Kong’s growing plastic tide. Together they are raising funds to create Hong Kong’s first in-depth online information and learning platform on marine pollution, which will include lesson planning tools designed to help encourage behavioural change. Bespoke artworks by Martin Lever and William Furniss feature in the campaign. To find out more, visit plasticfreeseas.org or email dana.winograd@plasticfreeseas.org or mglever73@gmail.com.

EASTER BUFFET

EASTER SERVICE

Cafe bord de mer & Lounge, Auberge

Across DB

March 30-April 2

April 1

www.aubergediscoverybay.com religionnewswilmington.wordpress.com

Start Easter Sunday with members of the Discovery Bay International Community Church and DB Anglican Church at their combined sunrise service at 6.30am on Tai Pak Wan. The churches are also holding an Easter service at 10am at Discovery College.

Celebrate Easter at Auberge with a lunch buffet, HK$428 for adults and HK$298 for kids, or a dinner buffet, HK$488 for adults and HK$298 for kids. The buffet starts on March 30, with the first evening seating from 5.30 to 8pm and the second from 8.30 to 10.30pm. To make a reservation, call 2295 8299. www.arounddb.com April 2018

15

DB EVENTS

EASTER KIDS CARNIVAL

April 1 March 30-April 2

Auberge Paddock

At the Easter Carnival, open from 11am to 5.30pm, kids can enjoy Easter egg painting, a pool hunt, game booths and more. They can also collect stamps to win prizes. For more information, visit www.aubergediscoverybay.com.

HAVE A DIP! The outdoor pools at Discovery Bay Recreation Club (DBRC) and Club Siena are open. Call DBRC on 2987 7381 and Club Siena on 2987 7382.

April 2-13 www.aubergediscoverybay.com

April 4, 11, 18, 25

HAVE YOUR PRE-LOVED FURNITURE, clothes, books and more collected at your home every Wednesday from 2 to 4pm, or bring them to the Environmental Toy House collection bins at Brilliance Court, Costa Court and Midvale bus stop. WhatsApp Nikki Boot at 9677 6676.

SIGN THE KIDS UP FOR EASTER TENNIS CAMP at the Discovery Bay Recreation Club.

To book a slot, for players aged four and up, call 2987 7381.

UNSUNG HEROES AT THE SEVENS Across Hong Kong April 5 & 8

April 6-8

CATCH THE HONG KONG SEVENS LIVE at D’Cafe at 10am on April 6 and

7, and at 9am on April 8. To make a reservation, call 2500 1942.

April 7

STOCK UP AT THE PLANT MARKET across from Haven Court,

2 to 4.45pm. For more information, call 2238 3617.

www.evoqueportraits.com

The Unsung Heroes, a choir composed of domestic helpers, founded by DBer Jane Engelmann, is performing at this year’s Hong Kong Sevens. Catch the group’s signature tune I wish I could kiss you goodnight at the HSBC Community Festival at the Rugby Sevens Village, Causeway Bay on April 5 at 3.40pm. The choir is also performing on April 8 at the Hong Kong Stadium Upper Concourse at 1pm. To find out more, visit the Unsung Heroes HK Facebook page or email jane@unsungheroeshk.com.

April 12 April 8

SHOP THE DISCOVERY BAY SUNDAY MARKET in DB Plaza from 11 to 6pm.

16

April 2018 www.arounddb.com

DB ENTREPRENEURS NETWORKING BREAKFAST at Zak’s, DB, kicks off at 8am. For more information and registration, visit www.t8events.com.

April 13

If you would like to see an event listed in this section, email katrina@baymedia.com.hk www.thoughtco.com

GOLF SOCIETY EVENT

LANTAU BUFFALOS RUN Siena Park

Discovery Bay Golf Club

With the help and support of its committee, the Discovery Bay Residents Golf Society holds a monthly event for members and guests. Golfers of all levels are invited to join the society, with members enjoying numerous benefits, plus events on and off the golf course. For more information, visit www.dbrgs.com or email dbrgsevents@gmail.com.

April 21

AUSKICK TRIAL SESSION DB North Pitch

DB-based Australian Rules Football (AFL) club the Lantau Lizards is holding a trial Auskick session to introduce kids, aged five to 14, to the basic skills of AFL. The event starts at 8.45am.

For details and registration, visit www.auskickhk.com or contact Rebecca Williams at 6846 1200 or lantaulizardsfc@gmail.com.

April 21

www.lantaubuffalos.org

The Lantau Buffalos Run offers categories for kids aged six and seven (2 kilometres), eight to 14 (5 kilometres), and parent and child teams (5 kilometres). Registration is from 7.30 to 7.50am, with the run starting at 8am.

Race proceeds are being donated to Plastic Free Seas.

For more information, visit www.lantaubuffalos.org.

April 28 www.auskickhk.com

STAND-UP COMEDY NIGHT Black Box Theatre, Discovery College April 21

JOIN A BEACH CLEANUP organised by Plastic Free

Seas and DB Green, at Nim Shue Wan, from 2 to 4pm. Visit www.dbgreen.org.

ANDREW THE BRILLIANT BALLOON MAN Black Box Theatre, Discovery College

www.discovery.edu.hk

The Stand-Up Comedy Night, hosted by the Discovery College Parent Teacher Association (DCPTA), sees Anthony Solimini, Garron Chi, Ryan Hynek and Mahesh Mansigani of the TakeOut Comedy Club in SoHo performing. The adults-only show starts at 8pm. For tickets, priced at HK$200, head to the DCPTA shop or www.ticketingover.com.

Andrew the Brilliant Balloon Man is returning to Discovery College (DC) with his mesmorising balloon show! The first performance starts at 10am and the second at 2pm. For tickets, priced at HK$150, head to the DC Parent Teacher Association shop or www.ticketingover.com.

April 28

www.discovery.edu.hk

www.arounddb.com April 2018

17

DB EVENTS

CONGRATULATIONS CINDY REID

ISLAND DANCE

NIKKI BOOT

www.islanddance.com.hk Photo courtesy of Cindy Reid

Cindy Reid of The HIT Room was the only female selected as a Les Mills Bodypump presenter (someone who trains instructors) to lead a training session at the quarterly Les Mills workshop at Pure Fitness IFC on March 3. Cindy was 16 when she first started the Les Mills programme, and she says she never thought she would one day be an instructor and presenter.

Congratulations, Cindy, way to amp up girl power!

Island Dance was launched in 1993 with just a few students at the dance studio of the Discovery Bay Recreation Club.The school now teaches jazz, disco freestyle, hip hop, ballet and tap to students of all ages out of 17 territory-wide locations, including DB. Island Dance is celebrating 25 years with a highly anticipated end-of-year showcase at the Y-Theatre in Chai Wan in June, and it is now accepting spring enrolments. For more details, visit www.islanddance.com.hk.

Photo courtesy of Nikki Boot

DBer Nikki Boot has partnered with a container operator to receive and ship donations of preloved furniture, appliances, toys, books and household items to Burkina Faso, Africa. The first 40-feet container arrived last month.

Over 1,000 books donated from DB and all over Hong Kong were also redistributed to schools. Nikki arranges for door-to-door collection of DBers’ unwanted items every Wednesday from 2 to 4pm. To find out more, turn to page 16 or WhatsApp Nikki at 9677 6676.

#THATSCOOLHK (#THATSNOTCOOLHK) COMPETITION WINNERS Congratulations to Dana Winograd, Ferdinand Rocher, Maurizio Mastrioanni, Sarah Sutherland and Neve Resco, the winners of the #thatscoolhk (#thatsnotcoolhk) competition. DBers Jonny Haines and Tim Tait, who completed the Lantau Island Paddle Challenge in February, encouraged readers to send in photos of something ecologically cool (#thatscoolHK) or uncool (#thatsnotcoolHK) spotted at home or in DB. The five winners each receive two reusable metal straws and a pair of eco-friendly Eureka Socks (www.eurekasocks.com).

DANA WINOGRAD

FERDINAND ROCHER

#THATSCOOLHK 18

April 2018 www.arounddb.com

MAURIZIO MASTRIOANNI

SARAH SUTHERLAND

NEVE RESCO

#THATSNOTCOOLH K

OOR D O T OOR D.B. & U FREE D A LANT O T Y ER DELIV

LANTAU'S ONLINE WINE SHOP WWW.VIGILANTFORVALUE.COM

DB EVENTS

LANTAU HIGHLIGHTS HOKA STAIRMASTER LANTAU

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

Discovery Bay Golf Club

Mui Wo ferry pier

April 7

April 21

A TAVOLA NOW OPEN! Tung Chung

April 21

www.atavola.hk Photo courtesy of Claus Rolff - Rainwater Photo www.lantaubasecamp.com

The 20-kilometre Hoka Stairmaster Lantau sees runners climb both Sunset and Lantau peaks and race through Pak Kung Au to the Big Buddha at Ngong Ping. Categories include runners aged 18 to 35, 36 to 50 and 50 up. To register, visit events.lantaubasecamp.com.

Country of Origin sees teams of three come together to compete for their home country. The 30-kilometre race is open to everyone and offers a great day out on the trails, for spectators and competitors alike. Team members (all of the same nationality) start, run and finish the race together. For more details, visit www.countryoforigin.asia.

Open just two months, A Tavola in Tung Chung is already proving a hit with locals. Its extensive multi-cuisine menu has something for the whole family, from salads and pastas to burgers and mains from the grill. There’s the option for in or outdoor dining, plus a live band every weekend and soul sessions every Saturday night from 9pm. To make a booking, call 2321 5500 or visit www.atavola.hk.

SAVE the DATE THE CRAYON RUN Discovery Bay Golf Club

YOGA AND MEDITATION RETREATS

Pavana Chiang Mai Resort, Thailand May 5

May 18-21 & May 21-25

www.evoqueportraits.com

Support kids in need by joining the annual DB Crayon Run. The family fun run offers three family categories: adult and child (up to five years, six to eight years, and nine years and up) and races for helpers. Proceeds from the event go to charity, with a presentation at the Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital at Sandy Bay happening at the end of May. For more details and registration, visit www.thecrayonrun.com.

20

April 2018 www.arounddb.com

traumareleaseexercises.brucehildebrand.com

Join DBer Shitu Saini as she leads a yoga and meditation retreat in Thailand with classes suitable for all. Unwind, relax and rejuvenate your body, mind and soul in the tranquil mountains of Chiang Mai. Find out more at the Yoga with Shitu Facebook page. To reserve a slot, contact Shitu at yogawithshitu@ymail.com or on 9469 0050.

SPONSORED CONTENT

DB is full of many talented people from all walks of life. In this new bi-monhtly feature, some shining stars of the local community give us an insight into their world

[

[Centre Stage: Deacon Manu

This month, with the Hong Kong Sevens coming up, DB Pirates' head of rugby Deacon Manu shares his thoughts on the role of the sport in the DB community. Ex-captain of Fiji Rugby and a former Maori All Blacks player, New Zealand-born Deacon joined the Pirates in March 2017, bringing with him a wealth of experience You've been an instrumental figure in Hong Kong and international rugby for a number of years – why did you decide to move to the DB Pirates? In my experience, what makes a club is both passion and people. This is especially true of the Pirates, which has both in abundance. It is a communitybased club that has punched above its weight for many years, and taking the club to the next level is something that attracted me. The close association with Fiji and the enormous amount of effort they put in to fundraise for the late Seru Rabeni’s village school was also a major factor.

Photo courtesy of the DB Pirates

What makes the DB Pirates so special for you? The people are amazing; the amount of energy and passion is something to truly be proud of. I’ve introduced a number of initiatives over the last year, all of which have been made easier by the Pirates’ incredible coaches and volunteers.

How does the club foster a sense of community within DB? The club is very active in the community, from helping out at school fairs to picking up rubbish at the beach. It’s something we pride ourselves on, being a community-based club.

How will the new structure for youth rugby help DB's young players?

The changes

we are making are intended to strengthen our youth focus and support those who want to improve their game. The aim is to make sure we continue to feed a disproportionate number of players through to national level.

Rugby World Cup has inspired a lot of young girls to aim high. With opportunities to become full-time professionals, it’s important for these players to understand that if you set your mind to it you can achieve anything.

The All Girls Beach Festival at Tai Pak Wan was a huge success – how does the club encourage so many girls to take part in a traditionally male-dominated sport? The recent success of the Hong Kong women’s team in the

You're a world rugby coach educator – how do you incorporate this into your role with the Pirates? I run specific world rugby courses in DB, which is huge for a relatively small club and has meant we’ve had a lot of coaches qualify this year. We’re running a level 2 world rugby course soon, which will be the first ever in DB. The Hong Kong Sevens 2018 tournament is coming up – what does this mean for the club?

The Hong Kong Sevens is a huge global event and is important for both Hong Kong and DB. We are very excited that DB will be hosting the Classic Wallabies again, as well as a number of other international teams.

What's next for the DB Pirates? There are certainly exciting times ahead for the Pirates. The next 12 to 18 months will be about developing skills in both players and coaches, as well as growing our numbers through effective programme structures and the ongoing support of our coaches and local volunteers.

GIVEAWAYS

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Congratulations to last month’s winners Jennie Mak, Hiroko Nakao, Vincent Chan, Katja Zeller and Kwan Ho Mak for tickets to the Asia Contemporary Art Show; and Maria Khrapova for a child’s place at Faust’s Easter Theatre Programme.

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PROFILE

Food for thought Hemingway’s founder and managing director Gary Stokes marries vegan dining with marine and eco activism. Elizabeth Kerr reports

Kevin Chu with his wife Maria at home in DB

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April 2018 www.arounddb.com

ď‚„

G

ary Stokes doesn’t pick up guests in a garden-variety car or a common golf cart.

No, when Gary wants to pick up guests he comes racing across the bay in the Amberjack, a quick, well-worn vessel that serves his many purposes. He treats the Amberjack like a sports car, almost screeching to a halt before accepting passengers at the private pier across from the Discovery Bay ferry terminal.

This form of transport is actually apropos for the restaurateur and activist – brash yet somehow lowkey; grounded, but working in two businesses that are, in many ways, all about the show.

The founder and managing director of DB Plaza’s stalwart Hemingway’s, Gary is a classic multi-hyphenate: architect, dive instructor, photographer, restaurateur, ecoactivist, pirate. “Confused,” he calls it, before adding with a chuckle, “Variety is the spice of life.”

Indeed it is. On this oddly balmy day, Gary is also getting ready for a couple of weeks’ skiing in British Columbia. His wife of 15 years, Margie, and their two kids, Jack, 10, and Amber, six, have yet to experience snow. The Alps is too pricey, South Korea’s been caught up in the Olympics and Japan’s long been out of the question. Of the latter, he says,“I’ve been told it would likely be a one-way trip!”

Gary’s not a wanted criminal by any stretch, but his work with Sea Shepherd, among others, has made him a ‘person of interest’ in Japan, not that that’s likely to stop him from his commitment to conservation.

Getting started Now 46, the Bournemouth native grew up around the Mediterranean, and so the water is practically in his blood. “I wanted to be an archaeologist in school, so I joined the Royal Navy. As you do.”

He was counselled into architecture, wound up a navy draughtsman, and found a calling in F&B working at a nightclub in the UK one summer. As soon as he left the navy, he made his way to Hong Kong and started an F&B career at the notorious Joe Bananas in Wanchai.

it. I was single; it was before the tunnel. It just didn’t work. But when I got married I knew I wanted to get out of the city, do my job, start a family. That was the idea. That’s when I saw the renovation in DB Plaza and thought, ‘That would be a great place for a bar.”

So in 1990, Gary’s wandering days were over? On the contrary. “I left many times actually,” he says.

“Hong Kong’s like that. It’s a bit of a love-hate relationship. I worked in Australia for a bit, then came back. I went to the Caribbean, Antigua. Then wound up coming back. Hong Kong’s almost like the mafia! It sucks you back in. It’s always one more year. After about 15 years I decided to face reality, bought some property and that was that.”

Going vegan

Gary’s not a wanted criminal by any stretch, but his work with Sea Shepherd has made him a ‘person of interest’ in Japan Gary met Margie who was also working in hospitality, and the stars seemed to align. By this time, he was working at Staunton’s in SoHo, and also focused on marine photography. He and his brother founded Oceanic Love and some of Gary’s photos (the notorious blue fin tuna shot is still on the site) caught the attention of Sea Shepherd, kicking off his dual-track career.

“I wasn’t doing restaurants when I moved to DB in 2006, I was working as a professional photographer. I lived here for a year back in 1996 [while at China Jump] and I hated

Though the restaurant business is a nightmare of skyrocketing rent and fickle consumer trends, Gary was confident his years working for others set him up to succeed.

A Caribbean-style bistro for about a year, Hemingway’s soon made the switch to bar and grill and established itself as part of Hong Kong’s dining firmament. Now it’s vegetarian, well on its way to vegan, right in line with Gary’s personal beliefs.

A potential Hemingway’s sale last year pulled him back into the business he was distancing himself from; he couldn’t stand the idea of another, less committed owner serving more barbeque and putting staff he considered family out of work.

On top of that, he wanted to get his hands on the menu: “As my role grew within Sea Shepherd, I was resenting having a restaurant that served meat because it was very hypocritical,” he explains.

At first it was going to be a slow transition, giving the restaurant time to get the message across that there’s more to vegan dining than lentils and bean sprouts, which Gary admits was his first impression too. But the confusion for staff and diners compelled him to pick up the pace, and jettison lingering non-vegan options quicker. “Giving a vegan something with real cheese was kind of like giving a Muslim pork.

That’s just not going to go down well,” he notes.

It’s still early days, but so far DB’s newest dining option is a hit. “We’ve

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PROFILE

had so many new faces coming in, and in 20 years I’ve never had this kind of positive reaction to a menu change,” he says.

Taking direct action Gary doesn’t preach at Hemingway’s; it’s still an eatery after all. But if asked, he will share what he knows, which grows day by day thanks to his job as Sea Shepherd’s Southeast Asian point man for research, investigations and government liaison.

“It’s supposed to be Southeast Asia, but if something comes up in India or Sri Lanka I might be called on to handle it,” he says. “I never

imagined I’d be doing this a few years ago.”

Gary’s activism began with exposing the shark fin industry, tuna conservation and anti-whaling campaigns with Sea Shepherd, and some action by shaming at a seafood expo in Hong Kong in front of an endangered Japanese blue fin tuna exhibit. Describing himself as a “pirate of compassion,” he’s chased his fair share of illegal poachers and whalers across the high seas, and he admires Indonesian Minister of Fisheries, Susi Pudjiastuti, whose hard-line conservation policies to combat IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) fishing includes blowing up fishing boats.

While he admits that we can’t all be quite so extreme in our activism, Gary likes to gently remind people that they can take action in their own way, whether that’s by cutting out single use plastic (he’s been lobbying against plastic marine pollution since the massive plastic pellet spill of 2012), or by avoiding one of the many things (like cosmetics and pharmaceuticals) that are affecting wildlife and driving many species towards extinction.

“We need to stop blaming and pulling the culture or race card on these issues,” Gary finishes.

“Nobody is innocent.” Maybe start with your diet.

Find more local heroes @ www.arounddb.com

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IN FOCUS

CHINA

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s far as Asian countries go, Hong Kong is probably one of the easiest for foreigners to adapt to and settle down in. As a former British colony, English remains one of the territory’s official languages and can be found everywhere – on road signs, menus, even government publications. It’s perfectly possible to live here for years without learning a word of Chinese, and in the past that’s what many expats did – but not anymore.

Whether it’s for business purposes or as a hobby, more and more foreigners are choosing to learn Chinese, and oftentimes they’re

Debbie Tai, founder of Zhizhi Chinese Education

in your hand With more and more ‘foreign devils’ making the decision to learn Chinese, Claire Severn looks at the benefits and practicalities of taking on the local language

finding it much they anticipated.

easier

than

Mandarin or Cantonese?

The question a lot of wouldbe Chinese speakers ponder is whether they should learn Cantonese or Mandarin. Well let’s see… There are nearly 1.1 billion Mandarin speakers around the world; that’s nearly 15% of the total global population. Cantonese on the other hand is spoken by around 70 million people – a significant difference. That said, Cantonese shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand.

“It really depends on your objective,” explains Kate Zhou,

April 2018 www.arounddb.com

founder and director of Yifan Mandarin, who offers Mandarin and Cantonese classes for both children and adults in DB North Plaza. “If you want to be able to get around in Hong Kong, to be able to talk to taxi drivers, to communicate in local shops, then start with Cantonese. If you want to speak Chinese at work but your job has no links with China, again, Cantonese is probably a good choice for you.”

Most people, however, see a bigger need for Mandarin than Cantonese, and if the current trend continues, Mandarin will play an ever-increasing role in day-to-day life in Hong Kong.

“When I moved here eight years ago and spoke Mandarin, people didn’t know how to respond to me,” says Debbie Tai, founder of Zhizhi Chinese Education, who offers Mandarin classes to both kids and adults in DB Plaza.

“Nowadays, things are different.

I encourage my students to practise Mandarin in their everyday lives because they can and will be understood. The local Cantonese-speaking community is adapting to Mandarin speakers, even here in DB.” The learning curve The good news is that, contrary to popular belief, you can pick up Chinese, whether Cantonese or Mandarin, quite quickly. “After just one or two lessons, you can actually start to communicate,” explains Kate, who has been teaching in DB for nine years. “My students tell me they are surprised at how quickly they can begin to understand things and also make themselves understood.”

According to Kate’s students, Chinese grammar is a plus point too. “Many people tell me that the grammar is easy compared to their own language,” says Kate.

“However, they also say that it is very important to accept things for what they are. If you are always trying to figure out why things need to be in a certain order, you will struggle – stop analysing, accept the differences, and you will find things much easier.”

That mindset can be difficult for adults to adopt though, and there is a common perception that children learn languages more easily – that adults can’t absorb the information as effectively. “Kids are a blank piece of paper,” says Debbie, who has lived in DB for eight years.

“You can print on them. But adults have the advantage when it comes

to processing information. They figure out patterns more easily and learn faster.

“Adults are usually more motivated too,” Debbie adds. “They have chosen to learn the language, therefore they are committed and organise their own learning much more successfully than younger students.

The challenge is remembering it all, so it’s important to revisit what you’ve learnt regularly to help with retention.”

There are nearly 1.1 billion Mandarin speakers around the world; that’s nearly 15% of the total global population Psychological factors can come into play as well. “Adults are very often nervous to speak,” explains Debbie. “They are afraid to make mistakes, but that’s where a good instructor comes in.”

Kate agrees. “Finding the right teacher for you is very important,” she says. “A good teacher makes complicated things simple. This encourages you to learn. We always offer new students a trial class so that they can see if our teaching style suits them. But it’s important to go in with the right mindset. If you go in thinking it will be too difficult, you’ll end up quitting before you have given yourself the chance to succeed.”

“The biggest barrier for adults deciding to learn Chinese is not believing that they can do it,” affirms Debbie. “The key is to give it a chance.”

Characters and tones Of course, one of the things that puts a lot of people, particularly Westerners, off learning Chinese, is the challenge of getting to grips with a whole new way of reading and writing. The trick, according to Kate, is to begin with speaking and then move on when you are ready.

“We begin with Pinyin,” she explains, “the phonetic system, which uses the Roman alphabet. Reading and writing characters comes later. It’s a natural development.”

According to Debbie, once you do reach the stage of learning to read and write, it’s not as complicated as you would expect. “Characters might appear complex,” she says, “however if you understand the structure, things become a lot simpler. In Chinese, we have what we call radicals – the roots of the words. From there, you build the character. So, for example, the root of the word ‘bright’ is the character for ‘sun.’ For ‘eating,’ it is ‘mouth.’

Once you know the radicals, you can predict the meanings of more complex words.”

The other aspect that students worry about is the concept of tones.

“The tone used can completely change the meaning of a word,” says Debbie. “Say you want to ask for soup in a restaurant but get the tone wrong, you may end up with the waiter bringing you sugar!

You need to pronounce things properly, but give yourself time – don't expect to get it right within two weeks. Be patient, practice, and it will come.”

Feedback from students So who exactly is it that’s signing up for Chinese lessons, and why do they want to learn the language?

“We have two types of adult student,” says Kate, “those learning 

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IN FOCUS

for business and those learning for social reasons, like travelling or helping their kids with homework.”

“More and more corporations want their staff to learn the language,” Debbie offers. “They are happy to support one-to-one programmes because they see the business benefits that result.”

Others learn for more personal reasons, whether it’s for travel, socialising or purely because they want to develop a new, practical skill. “We have one student, a pilot,” Kate says with a smile, “who wanted to be able to make passenger announcements in Cantonese, and now he can!

He told me he sometimes hears some surprised laughter, but it’s fantastic that he can do this, that he can communicate in this way.”

Another of Kate’s clients particularly likes the ‘wow factor’ that he gets from friends, family and colleagues when he tells them he can speak some Chinese. Other people typically enjoy the fact that learning Chinese allows them to see things in a different way. One of Debbie’s students feels that the challenges are outweighed by the joy of learning something new, and looking at the world through different eyes.

And perhaps this is why expat DBers should be making the effort to learn the local language – to understand the culture around them better, to understand the people that they interact with on a daily basis, and to embrace what makes Hong Kong such a special place to live.

Kate Zhou, founder and director of Yifan Mandarin

FIND IT

• Yifan Mandarin, www.yifan-mandarin.com.hk • Zhizhi Chinese Education, www.zhizhichinese.com

Find more topical local topics @ www.arounddb.com

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April 2018 www.arounddb.com

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SPONSORED CONTENT

A new HUMAN-ENGINED power to society After nearly five years of challenging DBers to achieve their health and fitness goals, The HIT Room is embarking on a fresh journey, and it's set to take things to a whole new level. Founders Cindy and Wesley Reid, charity pioneer Crystal Lee, and accountant and runner Stefano Passarello explain more You have some exciting news to share – what's the story?

Wesley: The big news is that The HIT Room facility has been rebranded to become Kapuhala Train-in-Space. We’ve joined forces with Kapuhala to offer more to our customers and to embrace a fresher, greener way of achieving fitness.

Going forward, Kapuhala will take over the HIT and spin elements, and The HIT Room will concentrate on the personal training side of things. There’s going to be a lot

more variety, including outdoor training, animal flow, running, flexibility and also a strong degree of mindfulness.

lot with The HIT Room, but we need to strike the balance of growing the business while at the same time focusing on our home life.

Cindy: Our team’s going to be growing too; the existing instructors will stay, but we will bring in more people to enable us to widen our offering. It’s great news for our customers.

Cindy: Crystal and Stefano are the perfect people for us to collaborate with. Not only are they great as individuals, but they have the same drive when it comes to fitness, as well as giving back to the community.

Why have you decided to change things up?

Wesley: For us personally it was the right time. We’ve achieved a

Stefano: Us meeting was a very happy coincidence. I went to a HIT Room class and was instantly hooked. We got to know

each other, and things took off from there.

in extra time slots, but also through new programmes.

What does the Kapuhala brand represent and how does that fit with The HIT Room?

We’ve also streamlined a lot of our packages, which means some of the classes are now even cheaper than before and the package deals are even better, so our existing clients will benefit from that.

Stefano: It comes down to three words – burn, build and fix – the three circles of Kapuhala. Burn the excess; build muscle, build a foundation, build a community; fix your body, fix your mind.

Crystal: Kapuhala Train-in-Space is the urban version of our farm retreats in Sicily and Koh Samui – the Kapuhala Train-in-Farms, where guests can get closer to nature while developing their athletic skills.

It’s all about building warriors; creating athletes who possess consciousness not only of body, but also of spirit and intellect. The HIT Room began the journey by focusing on strength, now we are extending the menu.

It’s a fitness revolution. Athletes are machines that generate power, and we're aiming to turn every bead of sweat, every watt produced in our studio into something good for society. Our customers will have the chance to create a new kind of human energy as we channel their efforts into charity and community work.

What do the changes mean in practice for customers?

Wesley: Everything that has been before will stay; we’re simply adding on. We’ve already added more capacity to the schedules and there’s more to come, not just

It’s all about building warriors; creating athletes who possess consciousness not only of body, but also of spirit and intellect Stefano: In terms of new classes, we are now offering a much wider choice, including pre- and postnatal fitness and kids’ programmes, which will run side by side with adult lessons, teaching children not only about fitness, but also nutrition.

Crystal will be the pumping heart of the business – she has put so much effort into this. I work full time, as managing partner of accountancy firm People and Projects, so I won’t be around in the week, but I hope to get involved in training at weekends, when I can.

The new name is rather unusual.

Where does it come from?

Stefano: I came up with the idea while I was training for the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.

The Hawaiian word kapu means ‘sacred’ or ‘hidden,’ so that gave us our beginning. Then, at the heart of each of our Train-in-Farms, we have a tree. Hala is the Hawaiian name for the Pandan tree, so we have the ‘hidden tree.’

I was also inspired by the manual of the Japanese warrior, Hagakure, which means ‘hidden in the leaves.’

It fitted perfectly with our ethos as well as the fact that our DB facility is so much more than just a gym.

Community is very important to you – how will you incorporate this into your DB venture?

Crystal: We’ve always enjoyed giving back, and this year we are sponsoring two races in Hong Kong – the Kapuhala Green 18km on March 31, in conjunction with The Green Race, and the HNAOrbis Run for Vision on April 14.

Here in DB, we will be introducing a different type of community offering by bringing a bit of a farmer’s market concept to the studio. Three times a week, we will have a delivery of fresh, organic food, all sourced locally in Hong Kong, which we will sell at very competitive prices, along with organic chocolate, nuts and other natural products.

How can people get involved?

Stefano: Come along and see the space for yourself. Enjoy your first class for free, and see what happens. This is the start of something amazing.

To find out more, call or WhatsApp 9480 7464, email tribe@kapuhala.com, or visit kapuhalaspace.com.

To enquire about personal training, visit www.thehitroom.com.hk.

TALKING POINTS

The Business Bay What makes DB the perfect launchpad for small businesses?

Kate Farr sits down with three local entrepreneurs to find out

At the DB Entrepreneurs Networking Breakfast in Zak’s

Photos courtesy of T8 Consulting and Kate Farr

C

hatting to Discovery Bay resident Sharon McEneff of business management consultancy T8 Consulting, it’s immediately clear that she is passionate about supporting the local community in their business ventures. T8 began organising the monthly DB Entrepreneurs Networking Breakfast in 2016, taking over from a similar group managed by a former resident.

Sharon explains, “When the previous organiser relocated, we thought it was important to continue supporting the local entrepreneurial community, of which T8 is a part. This coincided with our move to an office in DB North Plaza, and expanding our client services. Organising the networking breakfasts helped T8

spread the word of our growth, and it continues to help other small local businesses establish themselves.”

When asked why she thinks DB is such an entrepreneurial hub, Sharon replies, “Discovery Bay is different from many Hong Kong neighbourhoods in its villagelike atmosphere and close-knit community. Many people choose to live in DB because it is better for their families, and this family-first perspective also influences their professional lives and endeavours, in that they actively prioritise their work-life balance.

“Being an entrepreneur and small business owner gives people the creativity and flexibility they need to succeed both at work in their professional lives and also at home in their family lives.”

Ability to launch One such small business that has benefited greatly from Discovery Bay’s close-knit community is AvoninDB, run by nine-year DB resident, Renu Malani. Born and bred in Hong Kong, Renu signed up with Avon during a stint in the UK and brought her remaining stock with her on her return to DB. “A few DB friends wanted to see what I had, and fell in love with the products,” she says.

It was one product in particular that acted as a surprising springboard for Renu’s business, turning it from a hobby into a fully-fledged career.

“One day someone asked me if I knew that Avon Skin So Soft Dry Oil spray keeps away mosquitoes and sandflies. I tried it and it worked…  that was the day everything

www.arounddb.com April 2018

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TALKING POINTS

If you are a DB-based entrepreneur and would like to see your business promoted in Around DB , email connie@baymedia.com.hk

Although the label is still in its start-up phase, feedback so far has been positive – something

Renu Malani, AvoninDB

that Lisa attributes in no small part to the DB community and most importantly, returns to buy again – it’s whether they have a good experience with you.”

Lisa von Ortenberg, LvO Boutique

changed. This is no longer a side job; it is my only job.”

When asked for advice for anyone launching their business, Renu stresses the importance of good mentors, as well as a laser focus on your customers’ needs. “Do your research, and take advice from people whose business models you want to emulate. I was so lucky to be able to align myself with some really hard-working business owners here who taught me so much and broadened my horizons.

A brand-new DB business that is equally focused on customer experience is bespoke fashion brand, LvO Boutique. A passion project of German-born journalist Lisa von Ortenberg, the label aims to offer busy Hong Kongers an affordable alternative to highstreet styles. Lisa explains, “LvO Boutique definitely started with my mummy friends in Discovery Bay – one said she would love my wardrobe, to which I replied I would be happy to help her!”

Lisa began by sourcing made-tomeasure items – both for herself

“Great customer service elevates your business and its reputation.

In a place like Hong Kong, it’s not the price point that determines whether a client buys from you –

FIND IT

and her growing list of clients – before hitting upon the idea of launching her own fashion label.

Although the label is still in its startup phase, feedback so far has been positive – something that Lisa attributes in no small part to the DB community. “People here are generally very stylish, and they love to support local small business owners. I launched this business to provide a custom-made alternative to the ubiquitous high-street chains, so that women of every shape and size can look great.”

Future plans include partnering with a Cambodian charity to create a ready-to-wear collection, and creating an e-commerce shop that Lisa hopes will expand the brand’s reach beyond Hong Kong.

So where should wannabe entrepreneurs start on their journey to launch? Sharon believes that the secret lies in networking.

“At the networking breakfasts, we finish with an open question-andanswer session for people to raise issues or ask questions. The group then brainstorms solutions, solves problems or provides a contact for someone who can help.

“It is incredibly rewarding to step back and watch the entrepreneurial community growing and working right before your eyes.”

• AvoninDB Facebook page • LvO Boutique, www.lvo-boutique.com • T8 Consulting, www.t8events.com

Find more topical local topics @ www.arounddb.com

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April 2018 www.arounddb.com

Playgroups in Discovery Bay EPICLAND

FUNFIT

info@epiclandhk.com, www.epiclandhk.com, fb.me/epiclandhk, 2441 0098 EpicLand’s Epic Explorers, held every Tuesday and Thursday from 9.45am to 10.45am, is suitable for kids crawling to three years. Come join their Epic class as they combine music and movement, singing and obstacle play. Children learn through play; having fun with bubbles and balls fires up their imaginations and helps them develop gross motor skills in an Epic space.

funfitdb@gmail.com, fb.me/FunfitHongKong, 6302 6327

EPICLAND

Epic Explorers is included in EpicLand’s Happy Hour price of HK$80, with playtime until 11.30am.

KIDZNJOY

info@kidznjoy.com, www.kidznjoy.com, fb.me/kidznjoy.hk, 6273 7347 Kidznjoy specialises in English-language playgroups for children aged nine months to three years. Kidznjoy’s unique Play and Learn methodology, rich content and stimulating classes target the social development needs of young children. Through a variety of fun activities, children learn all the basics.

Classes include singing and dancing, arts and crafts, circle-time, 3D storytelling, sensory trays and more.

The one-and-a-half hour classes in Discovery Bay are held at EpicLand, with an hour of free play at EpicLand thrown in. Free trials are offered to new applicants!

Funfit’s Wiggle Worms (from six months), Busy Bees (from walking) and Tumble Tots (from 18 months) classes provide 45 minutes of non-stop action! Children have fun creeping and crawling through tunnels, bopping and bouncing on the bouncy castle, moving and grooving to musical activities and much more.

Funfit guarantees to shake those sillies out and train children to be confident and capable movers! Parachute games and messy play provide lots of extra fun!

Funfit’s Little Steps (one to two-year-olds) and Big Steps (two to four-year-olds) classes aim to prepare children for ‘drop-off style’ playgroups. Funfit retains the structure of a playgroup, but a parent or guardian remains in the class with the child. This allows children to become more independent at their own pace, while benefiting from a stimulating social and educational playgroup environment. In every class, activities include circle time, free time, snack and story time, a craft activity, sensory play and fitness fun. From time to time, Funfit also introduces a learning theme to enhance children’s development throughout the term.

NFIT

FU

KIDZNJOY

FAMILY MATTERS

A Sense of Place Photos by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com, and courtesy of Becky Zhang

Home for the Easter holidays, Becky Zhang, 18, reveals what it’s like to return to an ever-changing DB, and recalls an idyllic childhood of seemingly endless summers

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I

t’s a sunny spring day.

Toddlers in bright sweaters amble about as I sit on the plaza steps. Some of them play hide and seek by the trees, while others sip hot drinks that they hold with two hands. There’s a feeling of renewal in the air. Next to me, a toddler dressed in a bright blue uniform and navy tights takes her mother by the arm and stumbles down the steps. I smile at her.

The structure of the plaza hasn’t changed much since my family

moved to Hong Kong 20 years ago. From above it remains a circle, a small peninsula outlined by low buildings and sparse trees along the South China Sea. Instead of the old brick fountain, a swirl mosaic now lies in its centre, surrounded by the same squat steps. The space is still frequented by children and young parents, with their scooters and strollers.

My phone beeps. There’s only an hour until my bus comes, three until the plane departs, and 20 until

April 2018 www.arounddb.com

I’m back at high school in the US. My parents have a business lunch to attend, and so I’ve already said goodbye to them. It’s time for me to bid farewell to the plaza.

At home and yet distanced There is salt in the air. The sea’s damp breeze wafts across the bus terminus. The sun is beating down today, warming the people, heating the concrete, and feeding the leaves. Though the trees are small, their leaves are broad and

Families and teenagers unfamiliar to me lounge at the tables ahead, discussing everything but religion and politics. Next to them is the grocery store, which my family has used for 17 years. Through the glass walls I can see parents, helpers and businessmen hastily placing items on the conveyor belt in hope of catching the next bus home, or the ferry into the city.

To my left I pass the hair salon before entering the juice store, opened by Sam the Juice Man before I was even born. At its centre is a white counter covered by a small fish tank and every tropical fruit you could imagine. Sam used to greet every customer with a grin and a bellow. “Hello, Becky!

What would you like today?” he’d say to me in a Cantonese accent.

Sam always double-checked my order before he shuffled back to the blender. Now the store is run by his wife, who greets me with a silent smile.

A sense of nostalgia

Becky Zhang, home for the holidays in 2018

bright among the peach buildings and beige floors.

I pull on my backpack and stand up. As I stroll from one point of the plaza to the other, I am a giant from a different time. The surrounding children, in their helmets and on their scooters, remind me of my toddler self – feisty, loving and carefree.

Walking among them, I feel home and distance all at once.

My suitcase rattles against the uneven tiles on the ground.

With my strawberry banana smoothie in hand, I head to the clubhouse, where my family eats dim sum on Sundays and where I learned to dance and swim. I sit alone on the balcony overlooking the outdoor pool; three people are swimming slow laps under the sun.

My neighbours, sister and I used to head down to the pool every day in the summer, our swimsuits still damp from the night before.

We’d forget to put on sunscreen and dive straight into the deep end, plunging into the warm water until our toes hit the bottom and splashing an unlucky swimmer in the next lap lane. A whiff of chlorine and sweat was always something to look forward to. Today, the air smells bare.

When the last swimmer leaves the pool, I exit the clubhouse and take

As I stroll from one point of the plaza to the other, I am a giant from a different time a left toward the beach, a prime spot for birthday celebrations.

Through primary school, the same group of friends and I would play games in the plaza after school.

We’d always celebrate our birthdays together, one after the other, all by the beach.

I remember piñatas hanging from lampposts. I remember cakes and big bottles of soda resting upon sandy, sticky stone. Our bellies full, we’d jump off the concrete and dash to our beloved swing set, our feet making dips in the sand. Though the rubber seat was warm, its cool metal chains sent a rush through my fingers. The rest of the beach, empty, stretched out before me. To my left was the ocean and to my right were our parents, waving at us and laughing with one another. Behind me, an array of kayaks and small sailboats sat in the sand, awaiting their next adventure.

At the end of the party we would hose our feet off on the concrete.

We could never really get all the sand out, and so we’d trek along the beach to the clubhouse, where hot showers awaited us. Before entering the shower, I’d stop to face the mirror and grin wildly at my reflection: barefoot and sporting a damp bathing suit, my hair a tousled mess.

Today, my hair stays dry, albeit a little frizzy, as I stand barefoot on the sand and let the salty breeze  tickle my ears. I take a deep

www.arounddb.com April 2018

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FAMILY MATTERS FAMILY MATTERS

Becky, her sister Alisia and friends in DB Plaza, 2002

Becky and Alisia in La Costa courtyard, 2001

Becky and Alisia in La Serene playground, 2002

breath and hear the faint voice of a singer performing in the Spanish restaurant behind me. The clock on the ferry pier rings once. Half an hour until the bus comes.

short weeks ago. It took two car rides, two flights and a bus to get me here from the Absaroka mountains of Wyoming. It was still dark when I stepped off the bus with my suitcases, and glancing behind me, I saw that the bus terminus by the plaza is now an expanse of concrete rubble.

Cranes were brooding over the remains like vultures. Footsteps on my left signalled the arrival of my parents, who greeted me with a tight hug. The sun was rising over the sea. Amidst a pungent smell of concrete, I caught a whiff of salt and felt glad to be home.

Frozen in time I return to the wooden tables.

Cigarettes or pens in hand, adults read under the quiet shade of trees and umbrellas. Dogs pant at the feet of their owners, scaring away the otherwise fearless sparrows that hop from bench to bench in search of crumbs and spilled drinks. The chatter of carpenters and construction workers fills the air as they file out from restaurants and return to work. The plaza has returned to its former calm, only to be interrupted hours later by waves of students, their young shoulders weighed down by hefty backpacks and thick uniforms under the blazing sun.

As I prepare to leave Discovery Bay, I recall my arrival just three

After dropping off my suitcases, I raced to the plaza to reunite with old friends. As was tradition, we met in the same place by the wooden tables, talked for hours on the beach and lounged on the plaza steps – comfortable and perhaps too much so.

This trip home, the plaza has felt undeniably smaller. The strip

Becky, Alisia and mum Dandan in Siena playground, 2003

of beach feels shorter, the pool shallower. The circle no longer offers ample space to play, even without the old fountain at its centre. Old businesses have closed and new ones have taken over. Each time I return home for vacation, tired and disoriented, a different building is under construction or the walls are a brand-new colour.

The beach is busier, and the swing set is gone. Sam the Juice Man has passed away.

The plaza changes fast when I’m not in it. I like to imagine that it’s mine; that without me around, my home will remain frozen in time. It’s a selfish thought, but one I can’t help thinking as I board the bus to the airport and leave it all behind.

Find more child-centric stories @ www.arounddb.com

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April 2018 www.arounddb.com

PROFESSIONAL PEST CONTROL

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

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

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

Health The different types of medical insurance available in Hong Kong are confusing, and the premiums vary tremendously. Here’s how to make sense of a four- tier medical system: 1. Government hospitals – you know how that works.

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

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

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

2893 1000

aemovers.com.hk

WELLNESS

Get your

rocks read I

f you are open to psychic readings, if you find them energising and empowering, the next step on your road to wellness might well be a gemstone reading with Kako Komatsu. Stepping into Kako’s elegant DB home is an immediate thrill because it’s lined with over 300 glorious energy-boosting crystals of all types, shapes and sizes. Except it’s not.

Photos by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

“Gemologists don’t talk about crystals or precious and semiprecious stones,” opens Kako, who has been working with gemstones for over 20 years and trained at the Gemological Institute of America.

“There are only diamonds and everything else (coloured stones).

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“These beautiful rock formations can take thousands of years to form,” Kako adds. “Some may be more expensive than others but they are all equally precious, and they are used for many different things, not just for decoration, not just for healing. The first radios ever invented used gemstones to transmit the radio waves; many watches are regulated by quartz.”

Of course, gemstones have been valued for centuries for their spiritually aligning properties, and they’re worn and placed in

Kako Komatsu

If you’re looking to harness the healing power of gemstones and enrich your life talk to Kako Komatsu.

You’ll walk away from a reading feeling empowered, and with a new understanding of which stones work best for you. Ray Robertson reports the home to improve quality of life or, to be more exact, to improve specific aspects of life.

With appreciation for ‘crystal healing’ now so mainstream, a quick Google search will get you up to speed with all this, helping you to cherry pick the stones that will bring you what you seek. For instance, pink quartz brings love

April 2018 www.arounddb.com

into your life, pyrite or citrinin money, and carnelian, courage.

It’s as simple as that. Except, of course, it’s not.

Stones to enrich your life A stone reading with Kako takes all the New Age ‘crystal-speak’ to another level. She combines her formal skills as a gemologist with

centuries-old traditions from Japan, like Shamanism, to advise you which stones are best for you right now, and which will benefit you throughout your life.

The process involves a natal reading and a current reading.

“The natal reading is done once only and aims to assess your life on a grander scale through incorporating astrological data,” Kako explains. “You can have a current reading every three years or even every nine months, when your position on the Shamanic Medicine Wheel shifts. This form of reading looks into your general state, mood and behaviour to determine a gemstone that best suits you, currently.”

For the natal reading, Kako considers your date and time of birth, and she consults Crystal Cards, rather like a Tarot reader.

You pick four cards, each of which will reveal a different aspect of your personality – your potential, what drives you, your receptivity/ sensitivity and your ability to give.

Each card represents a crystal, so by finding out which crystal relates to which part of your personality, and by focusing on that crystal’s energy and specific meaning, Kako is able to start the reading.

“I use the cards to ‘see’ people,” she says simply.

“Sitting together, our energies overlap and I can feel what people are, their emotions resonate. I know the energy they have and what they need.”

Trained at the Gemological Institute of America, Kako is also an expert metalsmith

In fact, it’s like Kako holds up a mirror that shows you who you are – the good bits that empower, as well as the areas that need work.

My natal spread includes topaz, Herkimer, fire agate and azurite, and from this, Kako told me specific things about my character that she could not possibly have simply intuited, and she also revealed some truths of which I was only half aware.

growth – Kako advises you which gemstones you should wear in order to reach your full potential.

My natal reading revealed that I’m not sufficiently grounded (“a balloon without a string”), so I should wear Picture Jasper or black tourmaline. I’ll also benefit from wearing Herkimer because it’s balancing and cleansing, and azurite because it’s the stone of writers and seekers.

“The stones offer messages and are tools to help people understand themselves better,” Kako says. “The idea is to help people gain clarity and insight into the questions and issues that are present in their life, and to provide them with the guidance to move forward. A reading can help you release energy blockages, and bring healing and balance back to your life.”

“The most important thing for everybody is balancing,” Kako says. “If you eat an unbalanced diet, you get sick; if you have too much stress, you get sick. I can see the balance of people with the cards. A suitable stone will balance every individual.”

As well as providing plenty of practical, insightful guidance – in my case on everything from nicotine addiction to spiritual

If you want to get your hands on a couple of quality gemstones, the twice-yearly Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair is, according to Kako, the world’s biggest.

But Kako is also a fully trained metalsmith so, should you wish it, and I’m pretty sure you will, she

www.arounddb.com April 2018



43

WELLNESS

will also create a unique piece of jewellery for you, incorporating the stones that empower you.

Stones to enrich your life now During a current reading with Kako, the one you can have regularly, you first pick a gemstone ‘blind’ from a bag of around 100 stones, as you would with Runes. You then choose the gemstones that attract you from four trays, each lined with 18 stones.

“Look with your eyes, don’t think too much. Allow yourself to be drawn to the stones that shed light on your current situation,” Kako advises.

For Kako this is the big reveal. “I love seeing this part; it’s so funny,” she says. “The stones people choose explain where they are in their lives; it’s like looking at a road map.”

This kind of reading is a great way to get clarity on any issues you are experiencing, to identify what needs healing and balancing, and to celebrate your strengths. As with the natal reading, I found that what the stones revealed to Kako about my current state of mind/ state of being was right on point, and wonderfully specific. At the end of the session, she identifies the stones that you should wear or in

some way bring into your life now.

“People and stones, in a way, they’re the same,” Kako explains.

“Some friends are for when you feel like going out, some are there for you when you’re sad, some are there for a lifetime, some are just passing through. Gemstones are the same, you’ll be drawn to different ones at different times and at different stages of your development.”

That said, everyone needs what Kako calls a “BFF stone,” one that is going to be supportive for a lifetime. Mine’s Picture Jasper.

What’s your’s?

For a stone reading with Kako Komatsu email kako@kakoskosas.com, or visit www.kakoskosas.com.

Find more on wellness @ www.arounddb.com

Potent, Clinical-Grade Nutritional Supplements in DB When it comes to supplements, don’t settle for low quality, over-the-counter products!

IMI Clinic in North Plaza offers an extensive range of supplements made to higher clinical standards and undergo independent testing for purity. Based on over 20 years of clinical results, IMI’s naturopathic practitioners select only the safest and most effective products for you and your family. You will find: • Whole Food Vitamins and Minerals

• Herbs and Homeopathics

• Protein Shakes and Super Foods

• Probiotics and Omega Oils

• Natural Skin Care / Beauty Products

• Air and Water Filters

Buy with confidence: our products are free from contaminants and allergens such as artificial colourings, flavourings and chemical preservatives.

Visit us in North Plaza today or shop online: shop.imi.com.hk

Address: G-02 Office Block Two, North Plaza Tel: 2537 1087 Shop Online: shop.imi.com.hk

DISCOVER RUGBYTOTS TUNG CHUNG & DB - Aged 2-5

"Best sports class in all of Hong Kong, and we've tried a lot!"

- Jane, a rugbytots parent

Email ben@rugbytots.hk to book your your son or daughter in for a free trial this April!

Top10

ESCAPES

things to do

in Bali

Beautiful and mysterious, and known as the Island of the Gods, TripAdvisor crowned Bali the world’s favourite holiday destination in 2017. Dorothy Veitch finds out why

Sky Shuttle helicopter

Hop on a boat

W

hether you want to laze on a long-tail boat or take a lavish around-the-island catamaran cruise, Bali is a great place to test your sea legs. There’s dolphin-watching off the beach at Livonia, and if you take a boat from Jemeluk to the underwater temple, you’ll likely have a chance to snorkel with turtles.

Ubud Ubud Traditional Artmarket Market

Photos courtesy of www.wikimedia.org

Hunker down in Ubud

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One of Asia’s top spa destinations, Ubud is Bali’s new-agey, artsycrafty beating heart. The streets are lined with healing centres and yoga studios, and inviting shops selling locally made handicrafts. Ubud Traditional Art Market features in Eat Pray Love, and if you’re a fan of Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir, there are plenty of tours on offer that give you the chance to explore the island through her eyes.

Eat it up There are six dishes every visitor to Bali simply has to try – babi guling (suckling pig), bebek betutu (slowcooked duck), ikan bakar (grilled fish, Jimbaran-style), sate lembat (Balinese satay) and nasi campur (rice with dips). Cookery classes are available all over the island, and for a crash course in street food (meatball soup, anyone?), head to Gianyar Night Market.

April 2018 www.arounddb.com

Balinese food

Hit the water Known as a surfer’s paradise (catch the best waves on the south coast), Bali also has some world-class dive sites, the USS Liberty Wreck being the most famous. Torpedoed by the Japanese in 1942, the World War II cargo ship lies close to the shore at Tulamben and is covered in soft coral. Spot sunfish, great barracuda, Napoleon fish and peacock grouper.

If a waterpark is more your speed (and you have the kids in tow), be sure to visit Waterbom Bali in Kuta.

Waterbom Bali

Climb a rice terrace

Boat cruise

Visit an elephant cave Goa Gajah Elephant Cave is a mysterious archaeological site Sky Shuttle helicopter surrounded by ancient Hindu temples. While there are no elephants in Bali, a gigantic elephant-headed Ganesh is carved into the rock.

You enter the tiny cave through a demonic mouth, representing Rangda, the child-eating witch from Balinese mythology. Welcome to the underworld!

Bali’s beautiful rice terraces were all carved by hand and are irrigated using an impressive communal water system developed by Balinese farmers in the eighth century. Some 600 metres above sea level, Tagalong Rice Terrace is a must-visit due to its sublime views, and you can hike or even cycle through the rice paddies.

Tagalong Rice Terrace

Monkey around The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary homes some 600 greyhaired long-tailed macaques.

As you wander through the 12.5-hectare nature reserve, you can get as close as you like to the monkeys, but you are advised not to make eye contact with them, or smile at them (to a monkey showing your teeth is a sign of aggression).

And don’t steal their bananas!

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

Explore the interior

Goa Gajah Elephant Cave

If you tire of the beach, head inland for trekking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, quad biking… and waterfalls. One of the most magical and easy to get to is Tegenungan Waterfall, a 10-minute drive from Ubud. Here, you can enjoy epic views from the top, as the waters cascade over black-stone cliffs, and walk down 100 or so steps for a dip in the pool.  www.arounddb.com April 2018

Tegenungan Waterfall

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ESCAPES

Pura Ulu Watu

Go temple-hopping

View active volcanoes

Penelokan means ‘place to look’ in Balinese, and from this tiny aptly named village you can view both of Bali’s active volcanoes. Be stunned by the view across to Mount Batur and down to the lake at the bottom of the crater, and check out the lava flow on Mount Agung.

Penelokan

Bali is a devoutly Hindu society with Animist roots, and it’s said there are more temples than houses on the island. Make a point of visiting the venerated sea temples, which form a chain along Bali’s south-western coast. From the clifftop site of Pura Ulu Watu, you can see both Pura Tanah Lot and Pura Perancak.

Find more exciting holiday destinations @ www.arounddb.com

RECIPES

The main If you would like to see your favourite recipes featured in this section, email rachel@baymedia.com.hk

Cauliflower cheese Serves 6 • 300 g cauliflower florets • 50 g butter • 40 g tbsp plain flour, sifted • 570 ml milk • 300 g mature cheddar, grated

Photos courtesy of www.wikimedia.org

• 3 tbsp white breadcrumbs

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Boil the cauliflower for 5 minutes until tender. Preheat the oven to 200°C. To make the cheese sauce, melt the butter gently in a small saucepan. Take it off the heat and stir in the flour to form a smooth paste. Return the pan to a medium heat and start to add the milk, about 25 milligrams at a time. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon as you pour to incorporate each bit of liquid thoroughly before adding the next. When all the milk has been incorporated, turn the heat to its lowest possible setting and let the sauce cook for 6 minutes. Stir in half the cheese over a low heat until melted. Add the cauliflower, mix well, and transfer to a gratin dish.

Combine the remaining cheese with breadcrumbs, sprinkle over the top and bake for 20 minutes until golden and crisp.

April 2018 www.arounddb.com

attraction We often take side servings of vegetables for granted but done well they can’t be beat.

Rediscover the best way to prepare potatoes, cauliflower and even cabbage

Roast potatoes Serves 4

• 50 g lard or olive oil • 450 g potatoes Place a fat-filled roasting tin to preheat at 220°C. Peel and cut the potatoes into even sizes, pour boiling water over them, add some salt, and simmer for 10 minutes. Drain, then put the lid back on the saucepan and shake it vigorously up and down to roughen the edges of the potatoes.

Make sure the fat in the roasting tin is really hot and take it out of the oven, closing the door to keep the heat in.

Place the tin over direct medium heat to keep the fat sizzling. Spoon in the potatoes, tilting the pan to baste each one with a complete covering of hot fat. Transfer them to the highest shelf of the oven and roast for 45 to 55 minutes. Turn them over at half time. 

www.arounddb.com April 2018

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RECIPES

Boiled cabbage Serves 4

• 3 pounds cabbage, chopped • 225 g thick-cut bacon, chopped • 78 ml apple cider vinegar • 500 ml water • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour Bring the cabbage, bacon, vinegar and 475 milligrams of water to a boil over a medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and then simmer uncovered for about 3 hours until the cabbage is very tender. Add more water as needed. Whisk the flour and 25 milligrams of water together in a small bowl and gradually add it to the cabbage mixture. Continue to simmer for about 5 minutes until thickened.

Find more classic recipes @ www.arounddb.com

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April 2018 www.arounddb.com

HK HAPPENINGS

GFI HKFC 10S

Hong Kong Football Club, Happy Valley To kick off Hong Kong’s famous rugby week, the GFI HKFC 10s sees the game’s top athletes playing in iconic 10-a-side matches. 2017 champion, UBB Gavekal of Fiji, returns to battle it out with 15 other teams. For tickets, starting at HK$100, visit www.ticketflap.com.

April 4-5

rugbywrapup.com

WALLABIES SEVENS LUNCH

10 FUN THINGS TO DO IN HK THIS MONTH! Like the Around DB Facebook page for event reminders

Kerry Hotel, Hung Hom April 6

HONG KONG SEVENS

Hong Kong Stadium, Causeway Bay Being the seventh tournament on the World Series calendar, the Cathay Pacific/ HSBC Hong Kong Sevens attracts some of the world’s greatest rugby players and of fans urfc.hk thousands from all over the world.

To make the celebration even bigger, enjoy the Hong Kong Sevens Festival at Lee Gardens in Causeway Bay until April 8. For match tickets, starting at HK$330, visit www.viagogo.com.

April 6-8

fijione.tv

Get a chance to be seated with one of the Wallabies stars at the Classic Wallabies Sevens Long Lunch hosted by Master of Ceremony Will Hansen of the USRC Tigers. Enjoy mingling over lunch and drinks, and hearing some of the players speak.

Guests also get a complementary transfer to the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay after the event. For tickets, starting at HK$900, visit www.ticketflap.com.

SPARTAN RACE

HOKA STAIRMASTER TWINS RACE Tai Tam Reservoir, Tai Tam Country Park

The Hoka Stairmaster April 7-8 Twins race follows the classic Trailwalker training route, starting at Parkview along Tai Tam Reservoir. Runners make their way to Violet Hill, climb the Twins to reach Stanley Gap www.lantaubasecamp.com Road, and then race back to the starting point. The route covers 10 kilometres with a 1,000-metre+ elevation. Categories include runners aged 18 to 35, 36 to 50, and 50 up. For more information, visit events.lantaubasecamp.com.

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April 2018 www.arounddb.com

Ha Pak Nai, Yuen Long The Spartan Race offers obstacles that are designed to challenge and take you out of your comfort zone. Go through mud, barbed wire and, occasionally, ‘Hell on Earth,’ as you run, climb and crawl your way to the finish line. There are five categories: Sprint Open gate20.com (morning or afternoon), Age Group and Men/ Women Elite Sprint. For registration, starting at HK$760, and spectator passes at HK$50, visit www.spartanrace.hk.

April 14

HONG KONG FILM AWARDS Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui The Hong Kong Film April 15 Awards grants recognition for achievements in filmmaking, such as acting, directing and screenwriting. Charlene Choi and Zhang Jicong are presenting awards to the winners in this year’s 19 categories. Sneak a peek of your favourite celebrities as they arrive www.emirates247.com on the red carpet. For more information and to see the nominations, visit www.hkfaa.com.

Get your events listed @ www.arounddb.com

KOOZA Central Harbourfront Event Space, Central April 19-June 3

MEGA ICE HOCKEY 5’S Mega Ice, Kowloon Bay

Catch some action on ice at the 12-day Mega Ice Hockey 5’s. The tournament consists of a youth division, open to kids aged five to 16, and an adult division for players aged 17 and up. All games are open to the public and admission is free. For more information, visit www.megaice.com.hk.

www.pinterest.com

April 23-May 5

www.megabox.com.hk

THE SCRIPT LIVE IN HONG KONG Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, Kowloon Bay

Kooza returns to the origins of Cirque du Soleil by combining acrobatic performance and the art of clowning.

Exploring themes of fear, identity, recognition and power, join The Innocent, a melancholy loner, as he journeys to find his place in the world. For tickets, starting at HK$488, visit www.asiaboxoffice.com.

PEPPA PIG LIVE

Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, Kowloon Bay April 28-29

April 24

www.pinterest.com

Mega popular Irish three-piece The Script returns to Hong Kong following the release of its latest album Freedom Child.

Formed in 2007, the band boasts three multi-platinum albums and four platinum singles. The Script has won three Meteor Ireland Music Awards and two World Music Awards, and has received two Brit Award nominations. For tickets, starting at HK$580, visit www.hkticketing.com.

fungyung.com

Kids are invited to celebrate treasured memories with Peppa Pig and friends at the brand-new live musical show. Enjoy watching a special day planned by Mummy Pig, filled with new songs, games, surprises, jumps in muddy puddles and snorts of laughter. For tickets, starting at HK$280, visit www.hkticketing.com. www.arounddb.com April 2018

55

WORSHIP SERVICE Discovery College Sundays @ 10am CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP PRACTICAL BIBLE TEACHING KIDS CHURCH & TEENS

Alcoholics Anonymous •Counselling for individuals, couples, families & adolescents • Sliding fee scale; affordable options for all clients • English, Putonghua, Cantonese, Russian, Hindi, Marathi and Marwadi speaking counsellors

Pastor James Buckner Tel: 2987 7061 www.dbicc.org

www.resourcecounselling.org Serving the community over 40 years A Member Agency of the Community Chest

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

If you want to stop, we can help.

Alcoholics No dues or fees.

Anonymous

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

DB FACES

COMMUNITY SNAPS! Who do you know? Find more familiar faces @ www.arounddb.com

Photos by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

Win prizes from Uncle Russ Coffee and The Pier Bar! Congratulations to last month’s winner: Colin Sim (@colsimphotography)

T

he best snap wins! Your mission this month is to share a photo taken in DB or Lantau on our @around_db Instagram page and hashtag it #arounddb. You have until the 10th of this month to enter – so get tagging.

This is your chance to win a complimentary coffee from Uncle Russ, or a beer from The Pier Bar every day for a week.

We will contact the winner via Instagram. Good luck!

www.arounddb.com January 2017

View local business directories @ www.arounddb.com EMPLOYMENT

TUITION & COURSES

HEALTH & WELLBEING

HOME SERVICES

THERAPY FROM GROWING UP GREAT

• Local & international moves • Long/ short-term storage • Handyman services • World-class service – competitive rates Operating on DB & Lantau.

FTC RELOCATIONS

DELIVERY PERSON/ MESSENGER

Michael, a HK resident, is available to deliver documents & small parcels around HK. Available full- or part-time.

Call 9145 6731 to leave a message

• Professional therapy & counselling for children, adolescents & adults • Based in Discovery Bay • Office, online & home visits available contact@growingupgreathongkong.com, or call Lorraine Cook at 6182 0959, Liz Hemmings at 9387 5305

HEALTH & WELLBEING

VR, HYPNOSIS: INDIVIDUAL &/ OR COUPLES THERAPY Virtual reality programmes for PTSD, addictions, phobias (fear of flying/ public speaking/ bridges/ enclosed spaces/ storms). * Couples’ conflicts * Overeating * Career/relationship stress * Anger management * Nail biting * Exam jitters Divorce/ post-divorce/ career coaching.

Quit smoking quickly.

Dr Melanie Bryan, Psy.D. Clinical psychologist, hypnotherapist 2575 7707, www.mindmatters.hk

HOME SERVICES

AKASH MOVING & HANDYMAN SERVICES

• Packing, moving & storage service • Interior painting & patch-up work • Appliance installation • Hanging pictures & mirrors • Blinds, curtains & shelves installation • Lights & ceiling fan installation • LCD TV mounting & switch replacement Contact 2421 8088, info@akash.hk, www.akash.hk

Contact 2814 1658, sales@ftc.hk, www.ftc.hk

FLAT PAINTING & HANDYMAN WORKS

• Painting & handyman works, interior & exterior • PU waterproof injection for external walls • Astro-turfing, tiling & electrics

ENGLISH TUTOR/TEACHER

• BA degree in English from a US university • Over 10 years’ teaching & tutoring experience, with children, teens & adults at all levels of fluency • DB-based, flexible schedule & reasonable rates • Learn to understand, speak & write English well • Build confidence & increase your vocabulary • Write better essays & improve schoolwork Call, text or What’s App Charles at 9406 8342

Contact Roger at 9156 0360, drscompanyhk@gmail.com

TUITION & COURSES

MANDARIN CHINESE CLASSROOM

Lessons for adults & children, individually & in small groups.

Any level/ time/ purpose.

In the Greens.

LEARN SPANISH

• Native speaker • DELE examiner & experienced teacher • IB, IGCSE, A Level & HKDSE Business Spanish • Courses for adults • Flexible schedule & locations • Special offers for DB & Tung Chung students Contact Erik at 9666 9511, rerikm@hotmail.com

Call 6071 9643, or visit www.dbmandarin.com

NATIVE ENGLISH TUTOR

CELTA qualified with 10 years+ experience, including ESF. Improve your or your child’s written or spoken English through home tuition.

• Interview techniques • Exam preparation • Social & business conversation • Support of class lessons Lessons tailored to suit individual needs for all ages.

Call Anne on 5972 6969

Read

online

All the latest community news. www.arounddb.com

View local business directories @ www.arounddb.com

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

SINCE 1997

OUR SERVICES DOG & CAT GROOMING ( BY APPOINTMENT ) PET FOOD & ACCESSORIES SUPPLIES CAT SITTING SERVICE FREE DAILY DELIVERY Ground floor 11B, Discovery Bay Plaza, Discovery Bay (next to Island Vet) Tel: 2987 0428 / Fax : 2914 1313 / E-mail : petsgallerydb@yahoo.com.hk Open from 9:00 am till 7:30 pm (Mon - Sun)

Find short-term rentals @ www.arounddb.com DB PROPERTY

LUXURY APARTMENTS IN SIENA 2, DB

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

2-BED IN CHERISH COURT, DB

Fully furnished, 2-bedroom flat with wi-fi & Now TV. Full sea view & Disneyland-firework view. Photos available.

Contact Jacqueline on 9811 0718, jacquelinedb@gmail.com

LUXURY DB 2-BED

Newly renovated, 2-bed flat with balcony.

Luxuriously furnished, with TV, cable & broadband. Panoramic harbour views & short walk to pier. Contact Charles on 6140 7971, charles@headlandhomes.hk. Contact Katie on 9150 7319, katie@headlandhomes.hk

FULLY FURNISHED DB 1-BED

Smart apartment on a high floor with sea view.

Close to pier & DB Plaza. Available fully furnished.

Call Tiareti on 9732 8985

BUSINESSES SERVING LANTAU ALC's unique plans provide international private medical insurance cover designed specifically for your needs.

• Large corporate or small groups • Individual or with dependants • Expatriate or local Find out more about what ALC can offer at www.alchealth.com or call 3478 3751 for a tailored quote.

Flight Centre has its flagship stores in Central, Wanchai & Happy Valley. Natalie Flyazhenkova is acting as a mobile consultant in DB, providing residents with face-to-face consultations. For an appointment with Natalie, contact 2829 2006 or natalie.f@flightcentre.com.hk

Underwritten by Lloyd’s and regulated in Hong Kong and the UK.

RELOCATION ANNOUNCEMENT We are pleased to announce the relocation of our Central practice.

We will be moving two floors up and merging with Smith & Jain Dental & Implant Practice into bigger premises with expanded facilities.

701 - 703, Century Square, 1 D’Aguilar Street, Central Tel: 2526 2383 & 2117 4180 www.drrichardtinlin.com A PART OF

CLOT HING & ACCESSORIES

FTC Apparel

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

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

2321 5500 2286 6668 3602 8828 2286 6238 6504 4208 2286 6898 2960 1977 3520 0848 3602 8808 2626 0181 2886 3646 2109 1927 2338 2338 2988 8129 2907 6918 3602 8818 2297 3588 2330 0000 2286 6618 2886 3156 2286 6868 3969 2500 2466 1010 2802 8000

HE A LT H & W EL L BEING

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

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

HOME & REPA IRS

Akash Removals Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths Shun Yu Engineering

2421 8088 2109 2330 2988 1488

HOT EL S

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

3969 1888 3602 8888 2286 8888

L E A RNING CEN T RES

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

9021 1502 2987 8070 2162 5538 6273 7347 6674 6194 2611 9193 2164 7210 2420 1068 2109 3873 6341 3989 2121 0884 2988 8123

SOCI A L , SP OR T S & EQUIPMEN T

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

2421 8088 2385 9677 2109 9277 2179 6678 9264 8597 6688 2167 9662 1747 6443 6597 3473 8700 5400 4109 2403 6770

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

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

2988 8282 2988 1898 3661 1999

SOUTH LANTAU

TUNG CHUNG

LANTAU NUMBERS FOOD, RES TAUR A N T S & BA RS

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

2984 0222 2504 4788 2984 0498 2470 1966 2984 9720 3484 3095 6429 3507 2984 8933 5465 5511 2320 2001 5662 8552 6422 5009 9193 2937 2980 2699 2983 8931 2980 2582 5991 6292 2109 3331

HE A LT H & W EL L BEING

Kremer Method/ Bowen Therapy Pause Lantau South Lantau Paddle Club Thai Palin Massage Thai Sa Baai Tony’s Salon Treasure Island

9827 9911 9708 0187 9688 9112 9062 0148 5228 6552 2984 0990 2546 3543

HOME & REPA IRS

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

2984 8334 2984 8487 2984 1802 2984 9833 9783 5840

HOT EL S

Mui Wo Inn Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel

2984 7225 6810 0111 2985 8383 L E A RNING CEN T RES

Kind Hing Trinity International Kindergarten & Nursery Lantau International Kindergarten Lantau International School Lao Shi Lantau Mandarin lessons Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten Mui Wo Owls School & Kindergarten

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

PROPER T Y AGENCIES

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

2984 8334 3483 5003 2984 1666 RE TA IL

Friendly Bike Shop Greenstyle Organic & Healthcare INSIDE Island Wines Lantau Base Camp Lantau Grocer Quay House Red Hall Chinese Antiques Value Vigilantes ZenvarA

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

SERV ICES & OT HERS

Jumping Castles SPCA Miriam Safadi Photography Parteezi Phoenix Wills

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

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

2984 2268 2984 8494 2984 8255 2984 9848

DB NUMBERS

Bayside Dental Practice, North Plaza BMSE, North Plaza Catholic Church (Trinity Chapel) DB Alliance Church Community Centre DB International Community Church Discovery Bay Medical Centre Health & Care Dental Clinic Herbal Health Care IMI (Natural Medicine Clinic), North Plaza Island Health Island Veterinary Services OT&P Healthcare The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council, North Plaza

2987 2259 2987 2987 2987 2987 2666 2834 2537 2987 2987 2468 2259

0855 3422 9909 8136 7061 5633 6183 7276 1087 7575 9003 3577 3422

Tree of Joy provides children with a fun, engaging and supportive environment to play and learn. Programs include: Dropoff Nursery Class, Parent-Toddler Class, Afternoon Camp and a Cooking Class.

Tel: 9787 2755, info@treeofjoydb.com, www.treeofjoydb.com

4401 7486 1180 4089 9092

Parsons White Wealth Management Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management An expert financial service of distinct quality, integrity and excellence located at DB North Plaza.

2433 6981, 5664 7614 www.sjpp.asia/pwwm

The Stephen Putnam Practice Private Client Wealth Management Tel: 2914 0388 www.sjpp.asia/tspp 2160 8585 2233 3000

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

6323 9156 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987 2886 2987 2987 2987

1417 0360 1313 4488 5087 1041 0222 7082 0789 8555 0789 9268 4428

Harvey Law Group An International Law Firm in DB North Plaza providing a wide range of commercial and personal legal services.

2416 8618 dboffice@harveylawcorporation.com www.harveylawcorporation.com DB Party Time Gillian florist, North Plaza Mypetshop, North Plaza P-Solution Pen’n Paper Pets Gallery The Optical House Well Supreme Laundry Services

9502 2529 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987

2381 8256 8873 1777 8898 0428 1368 5151

PROPERTY LISTINGS & BOATS Woodentots is a Montessori playgroup providing a caring and nurturing environment in the Plaza. Run by a qualified Montessori teacher for children aged 2 1/2 - 5 years.

6108 9131 woodentotsdb@gmail.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Bank of China HSBC

Quality dry cleaning at affordable prices. Pick-up and delivery from DB every Wednesday and Friday.

2812 2400 drycleaning@goodwinsoflondon.com

Tree of Joy

DAILY NECESSITIES 2987 2987 2448 2987 2947

GOODWINS OF LONDON

Dance classes based on the ISTD requirements conducted in a fun, disciplined and safe environment.

2987 6867 melissa@futurestarsdanceacademy.com

Latin & Ballroom classes for adults and children, Zumba, Pilates, Piloxing, Yoga, Beat Cardio Fusion, Belly Dance and many more...

5194 9630 info@thebeat.com.hk www.thebeat.com.hk

3102 2977 5690 4960 2987 8460

7-Eleven Convenience Store Fusion by PARKnSHOP Just Green Watson’s Pharmacy Wellcome, North Plaza

Future Stars Dance Academy

The Beat

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES Action X, North Plaza Little Whale Nomadic

OTHER SERVICES

LEARNING CENTRES

COMMUNITY & HEALTH

7 + 1 Creative Club Bayview House of Children DB International School (Kindergarten) DB International School (Pri / Sec) Discovery College Discovery Mind International Play Centre Discovery Mind Kindergarten Discovery Mind Primary School, North Plaza Discovery Montessori School, North Plaza Discovery Montessori Academy, North Plaza DMR School of Ballet Early Adventures Playgroup Eye Level Education Learning Centre Funfit HK International Learning Academy, North Plaza Island Dance Kumon, North Plaza L’Ecole Française de Discovery, North Plaza Links Parenting, North Plaza Little Explorers English For Kids Mandarin for Munchkins, North Plaza Mathnasium SKH Wei Lun Primary School The Story Studio Treasure House Zhi Zhi Chinese

3709 6114 2914 2987 3969 2987 2987 2914 2987 2812 2987 2987 9366 6302 2416 2987 2459 8191 6114 9327 2480 2628 2987 6341 2987 9648

8466 2436 2142 7331 1000 8088 8088 2202 1201 9668 4338 9644 0000 6327 3088 1571 8808 0813 2436 0507 3909 3362 8608 3989 4217 2966

MULTIMEDIA Bookazine Fotomax (F.E.) Ltd

2987 1373 2914 2378

Aquablu Centaline Property Agency EPS Property Consultants Headland Homes Kingsland DB Land Master Property

6017 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987

7802 8484 2023 2088 2987 6238

FOOD & BEVERAGE, HOTELS 22º North Auberge Discovery Bay (Hotel), North Plaza Café Bord de Mer & Lounge Café Duvet Caffe Pascucci Cali-Mex Coyote Mexican Cantina Chef’s Choice, North Plaza Ebeneezer’s Figos Seaside Café First Korean Restaurant Fresh Fruit Juice Paradise Hemingway’s by the Bay il Bel Paese Island Café Jaspa’s, North Plaza Koh Tomyums La Creation & Châteraisé McSorley’s Ale House Mirch Masala, North Plaza Moofish, North Plaza

2987 2298 2295 8288 2295 8299 2987 0966 2591 1426 2904 7698 2987 2848 2172 6111 2987 0036 2987 2915 2987 9123 2987 4768 2987 8855 2987 0202 2987 9311 2997 8688 2987 0767 2987 1829 2987 8280 2987 1337 2987 6318

DB NUMBERS FOOD & BEVERAGE, HOTELS Pacific Coffee Paisano’s, North Plaza Peony Chinese Restaurant PizzaExpress Salt & Pepper Solera Subway The Pier Bar Uncle Russ, North Plaza Zak’s

TRANSPORT SERVICES

2987 1662 2673 4445 2500 1950 2465 2426 2336 8001 2555 0772 2914 0005 2520 2166 2840 1188 2987 6232

SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

Greenwich Greenwich specialises in Hatha Yoga and Muay Thai（ 泰拳 ） .

Gentle flow, step-by-step, safe and skillful 9685 8366 www.greenwich-vinyasa.com.hk.

HK Dragons Football Club Football for 2.5 - to 14 - year old girls and boys 2987 4274 www.dragons.hk

DB Golf Cart Services DB Transit Services DB Transportation Services Limousine Rental Passenger Telephone Hotline Wiselink Golf Cart Services

2914 2914 2987 5303 2987 2987

2727 0186 7351 3489 0208 9368

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

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

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

VIEW THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY @ www.arounddb.com

WELLBEING

Elly House of Beauty Vikings Football Club Professional Soccer Coaching From ages 18 months to 12 years Tel: 9533 2600 vikingshk@hotmail.com www.vikings.hk Action X, North Plaza Club Siena DBees Ice Hockey DB Pirates Rugby Football Club Discovery Bay Marina Club Discovery Bay Golf Club Discovery Bay Recreation Club Embody EpicLand Kapuhala Train-in-Space YogaUp

2911 2987 6473 2517 2987 2987 2987 6624 2441 6101 8197

4833 7382 4277 8248 9591 7273 7381 8712 0098 8434 5591

TOYS & KIDS’ PARTIES Bo Bo House Little Whale, North Plaza Toysland

As DB’s very own highly-skilled skincare specialist, Elly House of Beauty is committed to providing the most effective skincare services to the community. fb.me/ellyAvbeauty/ www.ellyhouseofbeauty.com 6131 9039

Ingredients of Wellness – Mindfulness Training Teaching young people skills to direct attention, to be calmer and concentrate better. angie@ingredientsofwellness.com 9048 5425 www.ingredientsofwellness.com

M Spa Provides door-to-door treatment service. Conveniently located in the Plaza. Reflexology, massage, pedicure/manicure.

2987 0614

2987 4230 3480 1348 2987 7859

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

Afflatus Hair Workshop, North Plaza Maximum Care Nest Care, North Plaza Salon De Coiffure

2987 2987 2499 2987

0283 2060 8826 4112

www.arounddb.com

www.arounddb.com April 2018

63

OUT THERE

N

ews that the government is taking over a chunk of prestigious Hong Kong Golf Club (Fanling) to build flats for 6,000 people has proved inspirational. Discussions are now underway for a world first (and probably last) in residential golf resorts; squeezing the dimensions of the Discovery Bay course to integrate 1,000 luxury apartments and townhouses – into the playing areas. And a proposed addition to the existing clubhouse; a 38-storey residential and shopping complex with a multi-level driving range. They say it’s a win-win. But apart from the developer, who is it that wins exactly?

“Let’s face it, golf is a waste of time and land, but a lot of big business types like to play,” a government spokesperson explains. “We’ll give planning approval to dramatically reduce the width of the fairways, and make it a painfully difficult course to play. The game is all about pointless hardship and irritation anyway, so the more exasperating the better.”

Imagine, luxury homes lining infuriatingly narrow fairways; greens the size of a Chinese banquet table surrounded by low-rise housing. But golfers are a weird and well-heeled breed. They will pay a fortune to try and overcome ridiculous hazards. They call it ‘the challenge renewed,’ which means they’ll return again and again, going crazy because it’s never possible to be adequately rewarded.

Illustration by Andrew Spires

No instant gratification, and your score is never good enough. Golf is a bit like playing fruit machines, but with tiresome walking and the

64

GOLF: MORE OR LESS Serious development is on the cards at Discovery Bay Golf Club. Peter Sherwood heads onto the fairway to find out more chance to flail hopelessly with a steel rod thrown in.

What the residents say Australian-born DB resident and psychotherapist Bruce Beer has this to say: “Hey, it makes sense.

Why not make a spectacularly peculiar game a lot sillier? Millions of weekend Don Quixotes and their Sancho Panza caddies tilting at metaphorical windmills in a vainglorious attempt to find their inner Tiger Woods. Only the uncommonly rich and hopeful would sign up for an expensive lifetime bashing a little white ball through the shrubbery, so as to end up terminally depressed and headed for the bar.

“If you ask me, extreme disappointment with drinks comes faster, and cheaper, in a pub,” Bruce adds. “No long, sweaty hikes, no barriers to progress, and no frustration.”

Visiting Scottish golf pro Jimmy McDivot is, however, appalled at the idea. “I’m appalled,” he says emphatically. “Removing natural hazards, such as sand bunkers and lakes, to replace them with houses is absurd. Playing out of bounds from some bloke’s backyard Jacuzzi is a crass and objectionable departure from the finest traditions of the royal and ancient game.”

But aren’t ponds and sand traps unnatural natural hazards? And why would using a pitching wedge to hit a ball over a townhouse be a problem? This remark led Jimmy to threaten me with a three-wood and an unseemly outburst in the Glaswegian vernacular. He remains firmly appalled.

However, one club member I approached says that the development could be a good thing, in that it couldn’t make his golfing much worse. “I joined Discovery Bay Golf Club 30 years ago and have played the course thousands of times. You’d think that after all that practice, I’d be getting better but no, I get worse.

Just an occasional win.” A bit like playing fruit machines?

Happy April Fool’s Day.

Peter Sherwood has lived in DB for 19 years. The former head of an international public relations firm, Peter is the author of 15 books and has written around 400 satirical columns for the South China Morning Post.

Find more from Peter @ www.arounddb.com April 2018 www.arounddb.com