Wi p r o n t r ai n c ak g r a m m i n g e c la s - m ak e s , s s h o e s a ing wt i ck nd et s !
INDEPENDENT
FIERCE
STREAK
DESIGN
WHY BOARDING SCHOOL APPEALS TO DB FAMILIES
SEPT 2014
Fo
l l a b ot
WHAT MINIMALISM CAN DO FOR YOUR HOME
focus!
The beautiful game in DB: key players and clubs Join your community online @ www.arounddb.com
Publishers in DB since 2002
SEPTEMBER 2014
海愉閣 VISTA COURT
$15K
頤峰 GREENVALE
$24K
海堤居 LA COSTA
$33K/10M
T
EN
G EA
L
SO
Gross: 556’ Saleable: 438’ 1
Gross: 865’ Saleable: 744’
Well maintained & in a good condition. Good sized balcony. Walking distance to DB plaza & pier.
1
蘅欣徑 CAPERIDGE
$48K/14.5M
2
Gross: 1037’ Saleable: 927’
Lovely renovation apt, fully furnished, upgraded bathroom and balcony with stunning sea views.
1
海澄湖畔二段 SIENA TwO
$60K
3 2
Minutes to Plaza and pier. Generous living space. Bright and airy with open views.
海澄湖畔二段 SIENA TwO
$75K
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EN
G EA
L
SO
Gross: 1600’ Saleable: 1361’ 3
Nicely renovated duplex, modern open kitchen and terrace with amazing sea views.
2
庭安閣 ChERISh
$4.6M
Gross: 1388’ Saleable: 1110’ 3 2
Rare on the market. Beautiful large lawn & patio area. Best location for all transport & schools.
明蔚徑 PARKLAND
$12.15M
Gross: 1732’ Saleable: 1384’ 3 3
Tastefully renovated duplex with modern open kitchen and spacious living. A must see!
蘅欣徑 CAPERIDGE
$13.8M/45K
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G EA
L
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Gross: 629’ Saleable: 546’ 2
One of a kind renovation! Open plan kitchen. A must see!
1
倚濤軒 CRESTMONT VILLA
$16.5M
Gross: 1356’ Saleable: 1270’ 4 2
Beautifully renovated lowrise, balcony with full sea views, spacious living & good layout. A must see!
海藍居 LA SERENE
$19.3M/58K
Gross: 1594’ Saleable: 1381’ 3 2
Charming family lowrise with good renovation throughout. Good sized lawn and patio.
海蜂徑 SEABEE
$23M
T
EN
G EA
L
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Gross: 1707’ Saleable: 1436’ 3 2
Fully renovated duplex with terraces and a huge roof terrace. Great sea views. Good rental yield.
Gross: 1395’ Saleable: 1193’ 3 2
Rare lowrise, beautifully maintained garden and in a tranquil area but close to all amenities.
Gross: 1642’ Saleable: 1406’ 4 3
Prestigious townhouse, modern kitchen, terrace with amazing sea views & in a tranquil location.
September’s hot picks
Mamas & Papas Sienna Cot/Cot Bed
$3,900 (mattress sold separately) Mamas & Papas Armadillo
$2,500
(black liquorice, blue or pink)
Maxi-Cosi RodiFix
$2,790
Philips Avent Baby Monitor SCD505
$999
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SEPTEMBER 2014 FEATURES 32 PROFILE Meet Tai O gallery owner, Irene Flanhardt 38 IN FOCUS Beating time-zone tiredness 42 FAMILY MATTERS Why boarding school is an option 52 IN TOUCH Dion Chen, the principal of YHKCC in Tung Chung opens up
32
57 MONEY MATTERS Smart budgeting tips for 2014/ 2015 62 ESCAPES Out and about in Istanbul 66 ACTION DB football’s key clubs and players 73 LIFESTYLE Minimalism A to Z
REGULARS 42
27 COMPETITIONS Win big prizes at www.arounddb.com 48 TALKING POINTS Behind the scenes at Discoveryland 60 MOMENTS How DB rapper Will Phillips is causing a commotion 78 DB FACES Candid community snaps 92 OUT THERE Thoughts on island life
AGENDA 10 IN&AROUND DB Catch up with the latest community news
60
22 ACROSS LANTAU See what’s happening island wide
48
77 HK HAPPENINGS Hot stuff from across the harbour 80 CLASSIFIEDS Great deals, employment, businesses and more 86 PROPERTY Choice local and overseas homes to buy or rent 88 LOCAL NUMBERS Your ultimate guide in DB and Lantau
66
66
Win train ing prog rammes cake , -ma classes king and show ticke ts!
ON THE COVER
FIERCE
Readers with a feature story idea, please email editor@arounddb.com If you would like to publicise a local event, email hannah@arounddb.com For general enquiries, email info@arounddb.com To advertise, email lissa@arounddb.com AROUND DB, Bay Media Ltd, 7E Glamour Court, Discovery Bay Call 2987 0577 | Fax 2987 0533
For the latest AROUND DB updates, find us on
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DESIGN
ENT INDEPEND
AK OOL STRERDI NG SCH
2014
F
tiful The beau Join your
focus! l
al ootb
S WHY BOA FAMILIE S TO DB APPEAL
SEP T
CAN
IMALISM WHAT MIN R HOME YOU DO FOR
game in
ww online @ community
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players an
d clubs
Publishers
in DB since
2002
Dirk Haddow, Robin Armstrong and Gary Rollinson of the DBFC Photo by Baljit Gidwani
Twitter and www.arounddb.com
YOUR GUIDE TO UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
Publisher Corinne Jedwood corinne@arounddb.com Editor Rachel Ainsley editor@arounddb.com Editorial coordinator Hannah Ball hannah@arounddb.com Digital media coordinator Carol Ojasoo-Muñoz carol@arounddb.com Advertising Lissa Morris lissa@arounddb.com Accounts Beatrice De Magistris accountant@arounddb.com
www.livingwell.ky.gov
, 4, 10,
ber 1 Septem
11
Free health talks AT IMI!
Learn how to support your child’s total health through integrated and natural medicine at the Integrated Medicine Institute (IMI) Back-To-School: Free Health Talk Series 2014. The talks, at IMI in DB North Plaza, from 7pm to 8pm, cover subjects such as immunity boosting, physical developmental milestones, allergies and food intolerances. For a full list of scheduled talks, also taking place at IMI in Central, visit www.imi.com.hk/back-to-school.html.
It’s all happening Friend us on Facebook this for event month in reminders DB!
White-collar
BOXING
Art direction Terry Chow cckterrychow@gmail.com
6
Photography Baljit Gidwani
r Septembe
Illustration Fred Boot Rift Leschinsky
Photo courtesy of Cindy Reid
Contributors this month Beverly Au Talla Buffery (intern) Jane Clyde Richard Cowley Joe Dobbs Elizabeth Kerr Nina Rossiter (intern) Peter Sherwood Gary Thompson Cecilia Yee Disclaimer The views expressed in Around DB are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or contributors. The publisher and editor cannot be held responsible for differences of opinion or statements published in good faith. The publisher, contributors, their employees and partners are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors or omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication and expressly disclaim all and any liability for any such action of any person. The mention of specific companies or products in articles or advertisements does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by this magazine or its publisher in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without permission.
ber 4
Photo courtesy of Sue Meldrum
m Septe
Feel AT HOME IN DB!
If you are new to Discovery Bay or a resident looking to establish new friendships, why not attend At Home in DB’s Community Coffee Morning, 10am to 12 noon, at OpenSpaceDB, DB North Plaza. Run by six-year DB resident, Sue Meldrum, this informal, family-friendly event provides the perfect opportunity to chat with other newcomers, meet long-term residents and learn about life in DB. Register at www.athomeindb.com; or for further information, email Sue at info@athomeindb.com.
6 September
STOCK UP AT THE PLANT MARKET
across from Haven Court, 2pm to 4.45pm. For more information, call 2238 3617.
Cindy Reid, co-owner of fitness studio The HIT Room in DB North Plaza, is one of 14 boxers taking part in a charity fight night at the InterContinental Hong Kong hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui. White Collar Boxing, Hong Kong, starting at 6.30pm, sees amateur boxers fighting it out to raise funds for the Children’s Surgical Centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. To sponsor Cindy, email her at cindy.reid@thehitroom.com.hk.
PET ADOPTION You can adopt a pet through Hong Kong Paws Foundation (PAWS) in DB Plaza every Saturday, 2.30pm to 6pm, starting September 6; or with Protection of Animals Lantau South (PALS) in DB Plaza on September 14 and 28, 2pm to 6pm. For more information about PAWS, call Kat Cheung on 9485 5188; for PALS, call Jacqui Green on 9197 4371.
, 13, ber 6 8 m e t 2 p Se , 27 & 0 2 , 4 1
IN&AROUND DB
Mid-Autumn Festival FUN!
DB Beach Market ZORBING!
At the brand-new market, running every Saturday through September and October, from 11am to 6pm, at Tai Pak Wan, you can purchase fresh, locally grown, organic produce and handcrafted goods made by local artisans. You can also try zorbing (rolling along at top speed inside a transparent plastic orb). A 20-minute zorb costs HK$500! To find out more, visit www.dbbeachmarket.org.
6 mber Septe equent s & sub rdays Satu
As well as celebrating MidAutumn Festival with the rest of DB on Tai Pak Wan, club members and their guests can also have fun at Club Siena’s Mid-Autumn Full Moon Party, 8pm to 10pm. Expect live Chinese music, riddles, prizes, a lantern-design workshop and paper-cutting art corner. And you can wash your Chiu Chow mooncakes down with Chinese tea! For more information, call Club Siena on 2987 7382.
ber 8
Septem
Photo courtesy of DBRC
After-party CLEAN UP!
www.zorb.com
DBIS OPEN DAY Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) is holding an Open Day for prospective parents on September 8, from 9am to 3pm. This is your chance to meet some students, talk to the senior leadership team and tour the school. To confirm your interest, call Alison Wyatt on 2907 7331, or email awyatt@dbis.edu.hk.
8 September
Photo courtesy of DBIS
Join DB Green and Plastic Free Seas, from 9am to 11am, to help clean up after the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations on Tai Pak Wan. “This child-friendly event is to educate and raise awareness of the waste created (and left behind),” says Dana Winograd, one of DB Green’s organisers and a 17-year DB resident. “Thousands of glow sticks are left behind on the beach, and we find many ‘disposable’ lanterns in perfect condition, with working batteries still inside!” To get involved, visit www.dbgreen.org, or the DB Green Facebook page.
r Septembe
9
Photo courtesy of DB Green
September 2014
11
IN&AROUND DB
DOULA IN DB! Gain support throughout your pregnancy, birth experience and early parenthood from DB-friendly doula, Jeanne Hauguel. Through her company, Birth Story, Jeanne offers antenatal classes; labour, birth and breastfeeding support; placenta encapsulation services; and pre/ postnatal Yoga classes in DB and Tung Chung. “I am fascinated by the process of birth and inspired by the capabilities of women’s Photo courtesy of Jeanne Hauguel bodies,” she says. “I strongly believe that, given the right support, everyone is able to have a positive childbirth experience.” For more information, call Jeanne on 6496 4318, or visit www.doulabirthstory.com.
A decade of COMPLETE DEELITE! r 24
mbe Septe
Photo courtesy of Jacinta Yu
14 September
Congratulations to 22-year DB resident Agnes Chin Zeller and her daughter, Jacinta, on the 10th anniversary of Complete Deelite! The family-run business started out in a corner of the Solid Rock Cafe and Country Store in DB in 1998, before launching in its own right in Central in 2004. The cakedecorating learning centre now also provides decorating and party supplies and customised cakes. To read more about Complete Deelite and for your chance to win a class, turn to page 28.
SHOP THE HANDMADE HONG KONG bazaar in DB
Plaza from 11am to 6pm. (You can book your stall at the DB Christmas Bazaar on December 14, from September 12 to 26, at www.handmadehongkong.com.)
UNIVERSITY FAIR
0
2 September
HELP CLEAN UP NIM SHUE WAN, from 9am to 12pm,
5
ber 2
m Septe
with DB Green and Plastic Free Seas. This month’s clean-up is part of the annual Hong Kong Cleanup Challenge. Visit www.dbgreen.org, or www.hkcleanup.org.
BART’S BASH! Jointly supported by Lantau Boat Club and Discovery Bay Yacht Club, there’s still time to sign up for Bart’s Bash, the largest sailing race in the world, organised annually in memory of America’s Cup sailor Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson. With individual events taking place worldwide, the 21-mile DB race starts at 11am near DB Marina Club. To take part, visit www.bartsbash. co.uk/club/lantau-boat-club.
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September 2014
r 21
mbe Septe
Photo courtesy of Michelle Mouton
Photo by Paul Christmas
If you’re a DB or Lantau student planning to head to university next year, don’t miss the chance to meet with representatives from more than 60 colleges and universities from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Europe and Hong Kong at Discovery College from 10.30am to 12.30pm. No registration is required and entry (for everyone in the community) is free. For more information, visit www.discovery.edu.hk, or call 3969 1000.
Don’t wish for it, work for it! • CROSSFIT • 9DFIT • ZUMBA • KIDS PROGRAM • PILATES • YOGA • AERIAL SILK
Join us now! Seaview Plaza, 8 Tung Chung Waterfront, Lantau, H.K.
www.9dragonsfitness.com Tel: 2786 9699, 9494 7178 Email: train@9dragonsfitness.com
IN&AROUND DB
Register for TEAM FEAR! Kids age eight to 18 can pre-register online now for the Team FEAR Junior Challenge, taking place on November 16. This doesn’t guarantee their spot in the race but it gives the organisers an idea of numbers. The plan is to give more junior triathletes a chance to compete this year. We will announce the date for formal registration, which will be in late September, on the Around DB Facebook page. Two teams will also be able to win their place in the challenge in our October issue. For more information, visit www.team-fear.com.
Photos by Vincent Ypersiel
SAVE THE DATE October 4
October 12
November 29 - December 6
CHARITY TENNIS!
DB PINK WALK
Cycle to STOP THE TRAFFIK
Photo courtesy of DBRC
Mark the date on your calendar for Discovery Bay Recreation Club’s (DBRC) 11th Charity Tennis Cup. At this hugely popular annual event, there’s as much fun to be had off court as on! To find out more, email DBRC head tennis coach Paul Summerside at paul.summerside@hkri.com, or call 2987 7381.
14
September 2014
Photo by Nancy Paddison
Local DB fitness studio, Movement Improvement is looking for volunteers to help with the registration, administration and marshalling of its fifth annual DB Pink Walk, in support of Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation. If you want to lend a hand, contact Claire Dickson at admin@movementimprovement.com.hk.
Photo courtesy of Alison Price
Sign up now to join the Cycling to Stop the Traffik team, led by six-year DB resident Alison Price. The 390-kilometre cycle ride around Cambodia raises awareness and funds for Haven Cambodia and AFESIP Cambodia’s work to help put an end to human trafficking and sexual slavery. To find out more, visit www.facebook.com/cyclingtostopthetraffik.
BUSINESS OF THE MONTH
school Yifan Mandarin (and Kate Zhou, owner of the language , talks shop DB-based Mandarin for Munchkins)
Email hannah@arounddb.com if you’d like to see a DB or Lantau business included in this section
Tell us a little about your business.
I opened Yifan Mandarin in Central in 2004, in Sheung Wan in 2010, and in DB North Plaza in May 2011. We teach Mandarin as a second language to children (12 months up) and adults, using an interactive teaching approach in a small group setting.
What’s the secret of your success?
Loving the language and being passionate about teaching it. As Richard Branson once said, “Entrepreneurship is about turning what excites you in life into capital, so that you can do more of it and move forward with it.”
Do you have a funny, on-the-job moment to share?
One of my favourites concerns a half Thai, half German, Year 6 student. Simon [not his real name] was always picked up after class by his mum or helper but on this particular day, a man arrived to collect him, 20 minutes late. Simon refused to move and said to his teacher, in Mandarin, “I do not know him, I cannot go with him.” The teacher then asked the man who he was, and he said he was the boy’s father! Simon’s mother confirmed this over the phone, and Simon burst out laughing and ran out. As dad followed he said, “It looks like I’ll have to learn Mandarin too!”
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in business?
Three or four years ago, Mandarin was an after-school programme for children, now it is an everyday subject in most kindergartens and schools in Hong Kong. Adapting to change in order to remain relevant can be tricky.
How do you keep your customers interested?
We try to keep our classes fun, engaging the children in games and activities while they learn the language. Every six months we organise an open class/ mini show for the parents. We also tailor-make the curriculum to suit the teaching needs of students.
How do you see your business looking in five years’ time?
I aim to open three more centres in the next five years – one in Sai Kung, one in Stanley and one somewhere in Kowloon.
Call Mandarin for Munchkins on 2480 3909, email kate.zhou@yifan-mandarin.com.hk, or visit www.mandarinformunchkins.com.
Playgroups
in
DB
BRIGHTSPARKS PLAYGROUP, PARKRIDGE VILLAGE
18 months to 3.5 years 9632 4287, brightsparksdb@gmail.com
A fun, safe and interactive environment that nurtures children’s creativity and self-discovery. Afternoon phonics, cooking and art classes for kids 3 years + are also offered.
DUMPER TRUCKS & DAISIES PLAYGROUP, DB PLAZA
16 months to 4.5 years 9667 6921, mandy@dumpertrucksanddaisies.com
Using Montessori methods, the focus is on the growth and development of the whole child in a caring and nurturing environment. Mandarin and Yoga are included in the programme.
EARLY ADVENTURES PLAYGROUP, GREENS
FUNFIT, CLUB SIENA
6 months to 3 years 9380 5771, info@funfit.hk, www.funfit.hk An active learning programme which helps develop children’s balance, coordination, fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination and much more! Caring for your children’s future health and fitness!
LITTLE EXPLORERS, PHASE 1
18 months and up 9327 0507, littleexplorers@team-fear.com An established playgroup, providing a caring and stimulating learning environment with an emphasis on learning through play and having loads of fun!
MIDGET GEMS KIDS’ CLUB, DB PLAZA
2 to 4 years 6341 5764, dbmidgetgems@gmail.com A long-established and dedicated playgroup, that’s big on the fun factor! Encouraging friendships and independence through creative play, in a well-equipped and nurturing environment.
PLAYTIME KIDS, CHERISH COURT
6 months to 4 years 9054 0565, playtimekidsdb@yahoo.com A well-established playgroup, run by a Montessori-trained teacher with lots of experience. A great, supporting, stimulating and loving environment for little ones to learn from.
20 months to 4 years 9511 2107, 2987 9644, info@earlyadventures.net, www.earlyadventures.net
WOODENTOTS, DB PLAZA
A long-running playgroup with bright and spacious facilities. A warm and caring environment where children are offered exciting and interesting activities, so they can achieve their full potential.
A caring and nurturing environment, run by a qualified Montessori teacher, in which children grow and learn through self-discipline and self-discovery.
2.5 years to 5 years 6108 9131, woodentotsdb@gmail.com
ericlocw@netvigator.com contact number: 94129691
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FREE DELIVERIES HASSLE FREE RETURNS USE CODE AROUNDDB15 FOR 15% OFF VALID FOR SEPT 2014
Just Arrived in
Discovery Bay? Meet & Greet Coffee Morning Meet new friends.. Greet other DB residents‌ Learn about life in DB
Thursday 4th September, 2014 10am – 12pm at OpenSpaceDB, Unit 6, G/F, Block Two, North Plaza
HK$100/person Register online now at www.athomeindb.com. Fantastic Lucky Door Prizes For further information, please contact Sue Meldrum at info@athomeindb.com details + register online at www.athomeindb.com
Space provided by:
follow us on facebook: www.facebook.com/athomeindb www.openspacedb.com
Interdisciplinary Children's Therapy Centre Speech & Language Therapy slots available Monday - Saturday in English and Cantonese. Supporting Children and their families with school readiness, classroom skills, social skills and special needs. t: (852) 2807 2992 contact@spot.com.hk www.spot.com.hk Location: Central & Wong Chuk Hang
Train with KIPMOVIN for DB 10km Charity Run 8 week training program begins September 17th For beginners or experienced runners
After-school activities List your club or activity at
www.arounddb.com
for free!
ART AND MUSIC British Studio of Art, DB 9132 5249, www.bsoahk.com Catering to all ages, this studio teaches a full spectrum of artistic techniques, such as painting, photography, collage, clay work and knitting.
DB Glee, DB jetshk@rocketmail.com, www.dbglee.com Within this fun, community singing troupe, the junior groups are for kids, age five to ten.
Discovery Bay Youth Orchestra, DB info@piano-violin.com, www.piano-violin.com The Discovery Bay Youth Orchestra is a non-profit aiming to introduce orchestral music to young musicians, age six and up.
DANCE DanceforJoy HK, Tung Chung 9264 8597, www.danceforjoyhk.com DanceforJoy offers a variety of different types of dance sessions, such as Zumba and Hip-Hop, for children age seven to 14.
DMR School of Ballet, DB 2987 4338, www.dmr-hk.com Children (age three and up) learn a wide variety of styles from Ballet and Tap to Modern and Jazz.
Future Stars Dance Academy, DB 2987 6867, www.futurestarsdanceschool.com ‘Miss Melissa’ offers children of beginner, intermediate and advanced levels dance training in many styles, through practice and performance.
Island Dance, DB 2987 1571, www.islanddance.com.hk Island Dance offers a variety of fun and energetic dance classes for students, age 18 months to adult (pre-professional dancers).
DRAMA
Calling all kids! Here are 36 fun things for your children to do in their free time in and around DB! EDUCATION Eye Level, DB 9366 0000, www.hicentre.biz Eye Level provides a fun way for children, age three and up, to improve their Mathematics and English.
Wiseowl, DB 9522 3297, www.wiseowl.com.hk Kids, age four and up, can complete their homework in a supervised environment. Individual and small-group tutoring is also offered.
Yifan Mandarin, DB 2480 3909, www.yifan-mandarin.com.hk Group or individual Mandarin classes are offered to children, age one year and up.
FITNESS 9 Dragons Fitness, Tung Chung 2786 9699, www.9dragonsfitness.com 9 Dragons Fitness offers a Komodo Kids programme, featuring CrossFit, gymnastics and circus classes, for children age four to 11.
AEROkids, DB 9154 6841, www.AEROkids.hk AEROKids is a sport-aerobics and dance-fitness programme for children, age nine to 12, who love to perform. It meets on Thursday and Saturday.
Daruma Judo Club, DB 6244 6093, Daruma Sports Facebook page A Judo club for kids, age four and up. Training takes place every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Embody, DB 6624 8712, www.embody.hk Embody offers children, age three to 11, a place to relax and explore either Pilates or Yoga. The goal is to improve flexibility and body awareness.
Hong Kong School of Capoeira, DB and Tung Chung 6846 0789, www.capoeirahk.com The art of Capoeira, a Brazilian dance/ martial art is open to children, age three to 17. The focus is on balance, flexibility, strength and coordination.
Acting Antics, DB 6842 8092, www.actingantics.com
iGym Gymnastics, DB 6077 2758, igymhk@icloud.com
Acting Antics is a performance-based theatre company, offering a variety of classes for children age four to 12.
At iGym Gymnastics children, age three to 13, have fun learning gymnastics. Classes run every Thursday and Friday.
After-school activities RugBees, DB 2117 3055, www.rugbees.hk RugBees offers children, walking age to four, a rugby-play programme where they are taught key motor skills, coordination and teamwork.
Kipmovin, DB and Tung Chung 6180 3256, www.kipmovin.com KIPKidz Fit is designed to make exercising fun for kids, age five and up. Classes include running, as well as core and flexibility training.
Sportsmanship Gymnastics, DB 9705 2608, sportsmanshiphk@gmail.com This fun programme for gymnasts, age four and up, allows for step-bystep progression. Children gain confidence and basic body control.
TEAM SPORTS Auskick, DB 6840 0075, www.auskick-hk.com The Auskick programme caters for kids (five to 13 and 14 to 16) of all skill levels, from any football code.
DB Angels Football Club, DB 6740 2947, www.dbangelsfc.hk This community-run club is open to girls between the ages of six and 14. Training sessions are on Sunday mornings.
DB Pirates Rugby Football Club, DB and Tung Chung 2517 8248, www.dbpirates.com This non-profit rugby club welcomes boys and girls age five upwards. It has a Minis section (U6 to U12) and Colts/ youth section (U14 to U18).
DB Tigers, DB info@dbtigers.com, www.dbtigers.com Open to kids, age five to 13, DB Tigers runs a baseball programme for eight to 13 year-olds, and a T-Ball programme for younger players.
DBees Ice Hockey, DB 9743 6384, www.dbeeshockey.com The DBees takes kids, age five and up, for ice-hockey training in TST by bus from DB on Saturday mornings.
South Lantau Buffaloes Rugby Club, Tai O slbrugby@fastmail.fm Volunteer Lantau-based coaches teach rugby to boys and girls, age four to 14, on Sunday mornings.
Sport4kids, DB and Mui Wo 2773 1650, www.sport4kids.hk Sport4kids offers children, 18 months and up, a wide range of sport classes, plus specific team-sport training.
Tinytots Soccer, DB 3488 7724, www.tinytots.com.hk This professional sports-play programme is designed to help children, age 16 months to five years, develop social skills and physical fitness.
WATER SPORTS Aqua Gym, Tung Chung 2914 0658, www.aquagym.com.hk Aqua Gym is a triathlon school that combines swimming with running and cycling. It holds swimming classes for babies to kids, age eight plus.
Discovery Amateur Swim Club, DB www.dbswimclub.com This swim club is open to kids, age six and up, who can swim 15 metres (in any stroke).
Harry Wright International, DB 2575 6279, www.harrywright.com.hk Harry Wright International has an infant aquatics programme for children age four months to four years.
Treasure Island Group, Pui O 2546 3543, www.treasureislandhk.com Treasure Island offers a wide range of kids’ activities from surf camps to aquatic-adventure school camps.
OTHER
HK Dragons, DB, Tung Chung and Mui Wo 2987 4274, www.dragons.hk
Caissa Chess Club, DB 9681 2896, www.caissahk.com
A football club for children, age three to 15, HK Dragons tailors its coaching sessions to suit the students’ level of ability.
Caissa Chess Club, for kids under 12, meets on Thursday and Saturday. Children improve their game through puzzles and tournaments.
Pure Tennis Academies, DB and Tung Chung 9079 2987, puretennisacademies@gmail.com
RDB – Rock Da Boat, DB 2987 7061, youth@dbicc.org
Giving kids, age seven and up, the opportunity to improve their game, the programme focuses on individual progression.
A free, Friday-night youth group (for secondary and up) run by Pastor James of the Discovery Bay International Community Church (DBICC).
ACROSS LANTAU
ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS FOR YOU TO ENJOY!
It’s all happening Friend us on Facebook this for event month in reminders Lantau! Photo courtesy of Michael Hazen
Imagine PEACE!
S ep
te
21 20r e mb
Join the South Lantau-based non-profit community group, Imagine Peace to observe the International Day of Peace on September 21. You can expect music, Yoga, dance and educational discussions from 6pm on September 20 to 6pm on September 22, at the annual event being held on Pui O Beach. To find out more, visit www.facebook.com/ImaginePeaceHK.
The art of RECYCLING
NEW ESF KINDERGARTEN
in Tung Chung
Photo rendering courtesy of ESF International Kindergarten, Tung Chung Photo courtesy of Agnes Pang
Kids, age three to 11, can get creative with recycled materials at eight-year Tung Chung resident Agnes Pang’s Draw 2 Art and Language studio in Wanchai. In her Creative Art and Craft classes, Agnes teaches children how to turn seemingly useless items, like used straws, toilet-paper rolls and bottle caps, into fun, art pieces. To find out more (and how to make an eco-friendly Mid-Autumn Festival lantern), visit www.draw-2.com/mid-autumn-festival.
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September 2014
Admissions are now open for students entering the 2015/ 2016 school year at ESF International Kindergarten, Tung Chung, which opens in August 2015. Located at The Visionary, near Caribbean Coast, the kindergarten will have well-resourced classrooms and direct access to current learning technologies, plus indoor and outdoor play areas. Enrolment opens for K2 students on September 1, and for K1 students on October 1. To find out more, call 3762 2411, or visit www.esfkindergartens.org.hk.
OFFICE 3483 5003
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Sharon Riley Kelly Merrick Angie Lindsay
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13.88M GOLDEN COAST VILLA - CHEUNG SHA 1119’ NET + Large Garden
Beautiful property recently featured in ‘Home Journal’ & ‘Elle Decor’. 4 Beds & 3.5 Bath inc 2 ensuites. Open plan kitchen/living area. Separate annex room. Rooftop with built in pizza oven. Private parking. Desirable complex with swimming pool.
3.5M/14.8K G/F PUI O VILLAGE HOUSE 700’ + Private patio
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Kipmovin training giveaway!
COMPETITIONS
Here’s your chance to win great prizes!
Around DB competitions are incredibly easy to enter (you’ll even find the answers to our questions right here). You have until September 10 to submit your answers. To enter, email info@arounddb.com, click on the competitions link at www.arounddb.com, or scan the QR Code below. Don’t forget to give us your name and telephone number!
Set up by Thomas Kiprotich, an elite athlete and DB resident of six years, Kipmovin helps people of all fitness levels achieve their goals. If you’re entering the Discovery Bay 10km Run for Charity on November 8, you’ll want to join Kipmovin’s eight-week training programme, starting September 15. To find out more, visit www.kipmovin.com.
What sport is played in Potted Potter? Photo courtesy of ABA Productions and Lunchbox Theatrical Productions
Win tickets to see Potted Potter!
How long has Thomas lived in DB? Photo by Tracey Van Geest
Kipmovin is offering two readers the chance to take part in its eight-week, HK$2,100, Discovery Bay 10km Run for Charity training programme.
Condensing all seven of J. K. Rowling’s celebrated books into one hilarious, 70-minute stage show, Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience hits the Drama Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), Wanchai, September 23 to 28. Created by British comedians Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, the show features a fire-breathing dragon and a game of quidditch. For tickets, starting at HK$395, visit www.hkticketing.com; for more information, visit www.pottedpotter.com.au. ABA Productions and Lunchbox Theatrical Productions are offering two readers a pair of A-Reserve tickets (worth HK$550 per ticket) to see the play on September 23 at 7.30pm.
Charlie and Lola ticket giveaway! Join CBeebies’ best-loved siblings as they take to the stage in Charlie and Lola’s Extremely New Play at the Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wanchai, October 30 to November 2. Based on the books by Lauren Child, the show uses a magical mix of puppetry, live action and music to bring the adventures of Charlie and Lola to life. For Who wrote tickets, starting at HK$225, the Charlie and visit www.hkticketing.com; Lola books? for more information, visit www.charlieandlola.com. MEI Live is offering two readers three B-Reserve tickets (worth HK$385 per ticket) to see the show on October 31 at 4.30pm.
Photo courtesy of MEI Live
September 2014
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COMPETITIONS
Win classes at Complete Deelite! Celebrating its 10th anniversary this month, Complete Deelite promotes the art of celebration through its academy, cakes and products. It also hosts corporate and private activities through its popular bake-decorateand-celebrate programmes. For more information, visit www.completedeelite.com.
Where are Daruma Judo Club classes held?
Which anniversary is Complete Deelite celebrating this month?
Photos by Terry Chow
Take a course at Daruma Judo Club!
Photo courtesy of Complete Deelite
Complete Deelite is offering one reader the chance to attend a HK$950 We Luv Cupcakes! workshop, and one reader the chance to attend a HK$950 Chocolate Series Part I or II workshop, any time within the next six months.
Check out Daruma Judo Club, run by Peng Chau residents, third Dan and second Dan Judokas, Cedric Sum and Emily Lau. The couple took over DB Cobras Judo Club in January, and re-launched as Daruma Judo Club on August 13. Open to anyone age four and up, classes are held at Discovery College and BMSE, DB North Plaza. For more information, or a free trial, call Emily on 6244 6093, or email darumasports@gmail.com. Daruma Judo Club is offering three adults and three children a 10-week, HK$1,600 Judo course, running October 13 to December 20, plus a Daruma T-shirt (worth HK$180).
Visit Asia Contemporary Art Show! View more than 2,500 artworks at the fifth Asia Contemporary Art Show, October 2 to 6 at the Conrad Hong Kong, Admiralty. Featuring 80 galleries from 18 countries in Asia, Europe, North America and Australia, the show focuses on original works, limited editions, sculpture and photography. You can also view 2,000 artworks online at www.asiacontemporaryart.com. For tickets, starting at HK$180, visit www.hkticketing.com.
How many artworks are featured at the show?
www.asiacontemporaryart.com
Asia Contemporary Art Show is offering six readers a pair of VIP tickets (worth HK$260 per ticket) to see the show on October 3, 4 or 5.
Congratulations to last month’s winners Lucas Torresi and Clair Swemmer for tickets to see MAMMA
MIA!; Patrick Smidts, Sarah Muirhead and Connie Cottam for the Brazilian dinner buffet at the Regal Airport Hotel; Karen Hartcher and Nicolas Guyard for classes at The HIT Room; and Abiy Gizaw for a flight with Heliservices.
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September 2014
PROFILE
PERSONAL RENAISSANCE Artist and curator Irene Flanhardt, a Tung Chung resident, reveals why she is dedicated to bringing Tai O to vivid life. Elizabeth Kerr reports
O Photos by Irene Flanhardt and Terry Chow
n a partly rainy, muggy Sunday afternoon in Tai O, Irene Flanhardt looks relaxed and cool, sitting quietly by the balcony of her studio and gallery overlooking stilt houses and an estuary at low tide. The installation artist, painter, photographer, paper cutter and curator opened Flanhardt Galerie und Atelier (FGUA) on Shek Tsai Po Street in December 2011, and she’s living proof that you’re never too old to learn and never too set in your ways for a career change.
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Softly spoken and naturally diplomatic, Irene came by her drive and understated fearlessness the hard way: she worked for it. After 14 years with the Hong Kong Police Force, she went on to work for the Hong Kong Jockey Club investigating illegal betting activities on racing premises. A four-year stint in the Enforcement Department at the Securities and Futures Commission followed, then six years as the head of compliance for Nomura bank, a law degree and an MBA. Then came the proverbial 180. September 2014
A work in progress Irene ‘discovered’ art in her mid-forties when she retired to Australia’s Gold Coast with her husband Willi in 2003. “I took the opportunity to do a threeyear art course at the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University,” she says, tipping her hand at her seemingly endless capacity for learning. Irene’s own body of work now spans the spectrum. While she is probably best known as a photographer, she enjoys working in pastel, pencil and acrylic. Oil is her favourite medium. “I have made a point of learning the basic techniques, and now I make art as I like it,” she says simply. “I don’t consider myself ‘artistic’; hard work has paid off in my case. It gives me so much pleasure. I know I can grow old with art – a great companion alongside my husband.” Yuen Long born Irene found she ‘missed Hong Kong terribly’ while living in Australia, and she and Willi returned in 2008, putting down roots
in Tung Chung. “We love the peaceful, green environment, and there’s still a real sense of space,” she says. Looking for somewhere to showcase her work, Irene opted for Tai O. “I’ve loved the village since I was a child and of course it’s close to where I live,” she says. “I asked myself whether I could make art there and run a gallery by the seaside. The view of the stilt houses is spectacular, and I never tire of watching the tides in different light and weather conditions. It’s an ideal place to paint.” The converted flat is a modest but welcoming, light-filled space. Irene is around to greet browsers on weekends and public holidays, and if you’re nice you’ll probably get a cup of coffee out of her.
Showcasing Tai O A Tai O devotee, Irene admits it took her a while to gain the locals’ acceptance. “When I first got here I was pushing my art equipment around in a trolley, and I almost crashed into
PROFILE
Irene at Flanhardt Galerie und Atelier (FGUA), Tai O
September 2014
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PROFILE
The Icebreaker, which she painted in Tai O, is one of Irene’s personal favourites
Irene considers this untitled piece, photographed in New York, her most provocative
a duck-egg stall run by two ladies,” she recalls with a laugh. “One day it started raining and I asked one of the women if I could borrow an umbrella and she refused. So I waited for a while until she reluctantly capitulated. I realised I needed to do something to narrow the gap. So I painted duck-egg yolks, and when I showed the woman my painting she was all smiles.” The resulting piece is fittingly titled The Icebreaker, and it’s one of Irene’s personal favourites. It led to other Tai O shop owners allowing her access to kitchens and back rooms to take photos. It’s also a painting she considers truly indicative of her work: observational, vivid and with a strong sense of place. Of course the burning question for any artist is ‘What are you saying?’, and with Irene every picture tells a story. This is clearly expressed in The Charm of Tai O: a collection of images that Irene is particularly fond of, which came out in April. It’s the first photography and travel book 100% dedicated to Tai O; and the photos depict the villagers’ way of life – their iconic stilt houses, charming fishing boats, ancient temples and culinary treasures, plus of course the glorious local landscape.
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September 2014
Husband Willi with Teddy
Irene has dedicated the book to the Tai O villagers, and what she describes as their ‘indomitable spirit’. “They survived two highly destructive fires in 2000 and 2013,” she explains, “and in June 2008, severe floods and landslides in Tai O isolated it from the rest of Hong Kong. Telecommunications lines were down and the fresh water supply was interrupted for several days. Most houses were flooded and residents’ personal belongings (including their precious family photos) were destroyed.” The thought of losing Tai O’s distinct character to development or
The Charm of Tai O depicts village life
calamity underpins much of Irene’s work. But on the whole she says she is unbothered by subtext in her art, and simply revels in her status as an observer of the world around her. “The most provocative piece I’ve done is probably the two men in New York,” she says, pointing to a photograph of a pair of cyclists who may or may not be on the verge of a smooch. “What are they doing? It leaves room for the imagination,” she adds with a sly grin.
A not so still life Unlike many artists, Irene didn’t start small. One of her early projects saw her painting 37 Nepalese portraits, all in
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PROFILE
different mediums, in order to master as many artistic techniques as possible. By 2011 she was putting on solo exhibitions at the Consulate General of Nepal in Hong Kong, the Landmark Atrium and the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre. Irene continues to show her work around town and curate exhibitions and collective photography projects. “That’s exciting because I work with10 local photographers,” she explains. “I give them a topic and they come back with their own interpretations.” As a curator, Irene does what she can to help out young, local artists. And this is clearly appreciated. Halfway through our chat Michelle Chan, a 30-something photographer featured
in Irene’s latest Landmark Atrium group show, The Beauty in Objects and Patterns, drops into FGUA. Just because. Not surprisingly, Irene has a library of over 10,000 photographs from which she’ll continue to draw inspiration for her oil painting, and next up, from October 24 to November 30, she’s showing a selection of her Tai O photographs in the Hong Kong International Airport departure hall (Cabin A, Aisle A). “The Board of Airport Authority, Hong Kong approved my application to exhibit, which was a real compliment,” she says. “Normally they only deal with government departments, NGOs and green groups but they made an exception for me.”
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Aside from her art, Irene enjoys reading and travelling, but it’s clear that FGUA, where she holes up with Willi and Teddy (their beloved boxer), and her palette and easel, is her main focus. If there is a message here it’s to drop by, take a look and enjoy. “Everybody has different tastes and enjoys talking to the artist,” Irene concludes philosophically. “I do this for my own interest and the exhibitions make people happy.”
it Find Flanhardt Galerie und Atelier, 2882 3390, www.fgua.com.hk
at www.arounddb.com
Stretch It Out!
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Six minutes walk from the Mui Wo ferry to the direction of the Silvermine Beach Hotel.
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IN FOCUS
FREQUENT
FLYERS
Photos courtesy of www.resortimetravelers.com
Jet lag, the main killer of productivity and enjoyment when travelling across time zones, is not preventable but it can be controlled. Gary Thompson reports
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Due to the dry atmosphere on board, staying well hydrated is essential
September 2014
IN FOCUS
S
it bolt upright in a narrow, hard chair; breathe recycled, dry air; deprive yourself of sleep; hurtle your body through the troposphere at 500 miles an hour in a cylindrical tin; and hey presto… you’re ready to do business or enjoy your holiday. Not likely. Some one-billion people travel each year by air, so most of us have experienced jet lag and are familiar with the symptoms: fatigue, disorientation, irrationality, dehydration and aches, followed by sleepless nights, short-term memory loss, lack of concentration and reduced motivation. But why do we suffer from it, and how can we minimise the fallout?
Circadian rhythms Everyone has a body clock that controls their optimum time for sleeping, waking, exercising, eating and being mentally active. If we ignore our body clock, or mess it up by taking a long-haul flight, our so-called circadian rhythms are disrupted, and we end up feeling stressed, anxious and fatigued. Usually, jet lag is worse going east than going west, so if you’re heading to Europe you won’t be as hard hit as you’d be arriving in the US. This is because flying westward, the normal cycle is temporarily lengthened and our circadian rhythms can extend in line with their natural freewheeling period of about 24 hours, and thus catch up. NASA estimates that we need one day for every time zone crossed to reset our body clocks and regain normal energy levels. So for a five-hour time difference, you need five days to recover. But surely there are tried-andtested ways to minimise jet lag? According to Dr James Oliver of Island Health, DB, it’s best to switch to the new time zone as soon as possible. “As you get on the plane, adjust your watch
and two-year DB resident. “When I get back to Hong Kong, however, I try to push through until the evening, so that I am able to wake up at a normal time the next day. There’s nothing worse than feeling physically unable to get up in the morning, and then being unable to sleep at night, all because you gave in to your body’s desire for a midday nap.”
Inflight manoeuvers
Kit yourself out to get some rest
to the destination time, and try to sleep at the appropriate time for your destination,” he says. An eye mask, earplugs and blow-up neck pillow are obviously travelling essentials. Dr Oliver adds that short duration sleeping pills can be useful.
Travelling for business There are times, however, when it’s inadvisable to re-synchronise your circadian rhythms. For instance, if you’re a business traveller and your intention is to be away from home for 72 hours or less, it is much better to stay on Hong Kong time as far as possible. If you keep your circadian rhythms in mind when planning your day’s meetings, you’ll be more likely to perform when it counts. An example would be when visiting the UK, try and hold important business meetings in the morning when you feel at your best. Avoid meetings in the late afternoon (night time in Hong Kong). How, one wonders, do pilots cope with what must be almost constant jet lag? “My situation is not the same as that of the typical business traveller – I need to keep awake during the flight there and back, so I allow my body the sleep it needs when I reach my destination,” explains Roger Ball, a commercial pilot for Cathay Pacific
Of course it’s not just the time changes that affect our post-flight condition. Often we have a mountain of things to check off before we travel, which may leave us feeling over-tired or stressed and therefore more liable to pick up germs on board (where the air is far from fresh) or on arrival. Here, Graeme Bradshaw, naturopath and homeopath at Integrated Medicine Institute, DB, endorses Vitamin C. “While Vitamin C does not reduce frequency of regular colds all that much (just 20%), stress-related colds (when you’re tired and run down from lack of sleep etc.) are halved by high doses of the supplement,” he says. “So take it from the day of your flight for the full week after.” Once on board, the dry atmosphere can be a problem, especially if you’re used to the humidity of Hong Kong. Cabin humidity usually ranges from 5% to 15%, and this dry air can cause headaches and dry airway passages. It’s the perfect environment to catch a cold, cough, sore throat or the flu. With this in mind, make sure you drink plenty of water before and during your flight. Staying hydrated is essential. Avoid all diuretics (alcohol, tea and coffee) as they cause the body to lose water. This can lead to dehydration, which makes the effects of jetlag that much worse. Note too that the effect of alcohol on the body is two to three times more potent when you are flying. Exercise helps blood flow, so on long flights be aware of the need to get up and stretch. Get up several times September 2014
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IN FOCUS throughout your flight, walk to the bathroom and stretch your legs and arms as much as possible. You can do several effective exercises in your seat, such as moving your ankles in a circular motion to decrease swelling, stretching your arms above your head, and pulling your shoulders back. Long-haul travel (over four hours) brings with it a risk of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). Smokers, the immobile, pregnant women, those taking oral contraceptives and people who have inherited an abnormally active clotting mechanism are most at risk. “DVT occurs because of dehydration, immobility (possibly made worse by sedation) and the pooling of blood in our feet that happens at reduced pressure,” Dr Oliver explains. “The best ways to prevent it are by keeping mobile, walking regularly, and staying hydrated. Anti-embolism stockings to the calf or above can also be useful. Those who have had recent operations or suffer from a chronic disease are often advised to take an anticoagulant injection prior to a flight.”
What to do on arrival The inability to sleep at the appropriate time, after crossing several time zones, can turn a holiday or business trip into a living hell. But there are remedies. “Daylight, which helps to realign our circadian rhythms, is probably the
Synchronise your body clock to local time
single most useful tool you can use to ease your jet lag,” suggests Dr Oliver. “Drag yourself out of bed, even if you don’t want to, and try to enjoy the day.” If sleep really is eluding you, Graeme suggests you take Melatonin. “It’s the body’s own sleep hormone, and it’s safe for short-term use at any age,” he says. “Melatonin shortens the period you experience jet lag – by half; and it halves sleep latency (that time from going to bed to falling asleep). This usually means the tossing and turning stage before sleep is cut from 45 minutes to 20 minutes.” Graeme recommends sublingual Melatonin as it is quick acting and bypasses the stomach. “Melatonin works, but it’s not a sleeping pill and
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it won’t ‘knock you out’,” he adds. “It helps you fall asleep, but it’s not effective for keeping you asleep.” Finally then, from the pilot: “If it helps, try to open the curtain a little and set an alarm so you’ll slowly wake up at a normal time in the morning,” Roger says. “Keep yourself busy during the day; and of course, you can’t go wrong with some regular exercise and plenty of water to beat the headaches and other side effects associated with jet lag.”
Find it • IMI, www.imi.com.hk • Island Health, www.islandhealth.com.hk
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FAMILY MATTERS
HOME AWAY
FROM HOME Photos courtesy of Gary Reynish, Parmila Christensen, John Horwood, Denise Robertshaw and Trish Tracey
What sort of a parent sends a child to boarding school? Hannah Ball consults five DB families (and their kids’ educationalists) to find out
T
alking to Clare Donovan, head of boarding at the British International School, Phuket (BIS), Thailand, some of the benefits of boarding school immediately become clear. “Boarding provides a structured approach to both academic studies and extracurricular activities, with 24/7 access to sports and recreation facilities,” she says. “There’s also
immersion for non, first-language English speakers, social interaction with friends and peers of all ages, the opportunity to learn personal and social responsibility, zero travel time to school… safety and supervision.” Anne Murphy, director of tuition and schooling advisory firm ITS Education Asia and a two-year DB resident, adds that boarding schools often offer more
DB kids at The Anglican Church Grammar School in Australia: Daniel Tracey (front row, far left), Cameron Tracey (back row, second from right) and Joseph Crisini (front row, right)
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September 2014
academic support than day schools. “With small classes averaging 12 to 15 students, and some even offering oneon-one teaching, study-hall hours, and access to teachers that live on campus, a child can excel inside the classroom and out.” But of course, all of this comes at a price. There’s the division of the family to consider, and specifically that painful
FAMILY MATTERS
Natasha Christensen, pictured at her DBIS graduation with secondary deputy principal Matt Corbett, attends Hurtwood House in the UK
period of adjustment while everyone first learns to live apart. And then there are the fees. While a year’s tuition at Discovery Bay International School costs from HK$88,600 to HK$127,600 depending on the child’s age, a typical year’s boarding in the UK costs from HK$130,000 to HK$390,000 per year. A year’s boarding in Australia ranges from HK$193,000 to HK$273,000, and in the US from HK$174,000 to HK$264,000.
Roots and wings Here in DB, many parents settle on boarding school for their ‘thirdculture’ kids, as it offers them the chance to experience their countries of origin at first hand. For Aussie-born, 11-year DB resident Trish Tracey, boarding school is allowing her children to experience life in Australia and reconnect with family living there. Her three kids have boarded in Brisbane since 2012: 14-year-old twins, Cameron and Daniel at Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) and 15-yearold Jessica at Somerville House Girls School. “We decided that once our children
Teurikan Horwood, pictured with her parents, attends the British International School in Thailand
became teenagers it would be a great time for them to return to their country of origin to set them up for university,” Trish says. “We have family in Australia, so we felt happy knowing they would have a support network nearby.”
the school with him and seeing his mouth drop wide open, when he was informed that the huge field in front of him was the ‘small’ cricket pitch!” For Amber, who feels she has outgrown DB, Blundell’s offers the chance for a new and exciting adventure abroad.
Also at Churchie is 14-year-old Joseph Crisini, whose father, Sonnie, a DB resident of 11 years, boarded in Australia as a child. “We chose boarding school for Joseph when he was 12 because we wanted him to learn and absorb Aussie culture,” he says.
Likewise, limited opportunities in Hong Kong have led 16-year-old Natasha Christensen to choose to board at Hurtwood House in Surrey, England, as of this month. “Natasha has wanted to go to boarding school since she was a little girl and all she has ever wanted to do is pursue her dream of studying the Performing Arts – something Hurtwood House has a strong reputation for,” says Natasha’s Nepali mother, nine-year DB resident Parmila.
Pastures new Austin Robertshaw, 17, has been boarding at Blundell’s School in Devon, England for three years, and sister, Amber, 13, is due to join him this September. Mum (US-born, 20year DB resident) Denise is quick to point out, however, that this was the kids’, rather than UK-born dad Roger’s choice. “The decision came entirely from them,” Denise says. “For Austin, who is outgoing and energetic and loves sport, a school in Devon, with its big, green, open spaces, offered more advantages. I remember visiting
Of course, a change of schools (and surroundings) also provides children with the opportunity to start afresh; something New Zealand-born John Horwood, a DB resident of over 20 years, wanted to achieve for his 17-yearold daughter Teurikan, who has been boarding at BIS in Phuket since 2012. “She needed a change of scene and a chance to refocus if she was to make a go of school,” says John. “Of course, September 2014
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FAMILY MATTERS
Austin and Amber Robertshaw, pictured in Texas, attend Blundell’s School in the UK
she found it difficult at first, but it has helped her so much and she has really grown as a person.”
Choosing a school Once you have selected a school to your liking, it’s a good idea to get on a plane and go see. “Spend time with the houseparents of the house that they are likely to join”, says Andrew Berrow, senior master and ex-head of boarding at Blundell’s. “Their attitude, values and personalities will have a major impact on your son or daughter’s development. They are the centre around which house life revolves and the constant in their lives. “As you go round, look for the things the school can’t control,” Andrew continues. “How do the children behave with each other? Do they seem happy? How do they react to their teachers? How do they behave in the corridors? A sense of naturally ordered and purposeful calm is always a good sign.” Before signing on the dotted line, most schools offer a ‘taster stay’, allowing children to try out the boarding experience. “Staying overnight in the boarding house gives them a great
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September 2014
Jessica Tracey, pictured in the Sunshine Coast, attends Somerville House Girls School in Australia
feeling for what boarding at the school will be like,” Denise points out.
him!’ I didn’t call for the first few days. Now of course we text all the time.”
“Talk with other parents and get networking,” Trish advises. “It’s amazing how knowing even one person before going can help your child to settle.”
Andrew advises worried parents to keep a sense of humour and proportion, in order to put issues (usually short-lived) in perspective. “Be aware that [your child] will often unload his, or her frustration on to you, leaving you feeling guilty and worried several thousand miles away, while he’s skipping on with his day perfectly happily.”
Getting settled Of course when children actually head off to boarding school, the whole family has to adjust. “I cried and cried when Austin left,” admits Denise. “I just had to keep reminding myself, ‘It’s not about you, Denise. It’s all about
Ensure that they know and understand that you love them and that you care about their difficulties while
Halfway house Of course, boarding schools come in all shapes and sizes. Coomera Anglican College in Queensland, Australia, offers a homestay programme for international students rather than a classic boarding house set up. “Students who attend our college from abroad go in to homestay, which we feel is the most beneficial environment for them,” says the college’s registrar, Rachel Castles. “It is their home away from home, residing with families who live locally to the school [who will] make sure their education, health and wellbeing is looked after and maintained.”
I ndependent C o -e duCatIonal S Chool
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High academic standards with many students going to Oxbridge and other Russell Group universities •
•
•
Thriving boarding community with extensive weekend activity programme
Great sporting facilities with current and former pupils playing at county, club and international level
Excellent transport links from London and regional airports
For more information, please see www.blundells.org
Coomera Anglican College is a forward thinking, progressive Preparatory - Year 12 co-educational day school on the Gold Coast, Australia. Our students are supported to achieve their highest potential while excellence is inspired in everything we do. We offer high quality education, in a caring environment, at an affordable price. When relocating to Australia Think Excellence Think Inspiration Think Personal Best Think COOMERA ANGLICAN COLLEGE Visit our website www.cac.qld.edu.au for further information or give us a call on + 61 7 5585 9916. “The staff at Coomera Anglican College have been welcoming and understanding of our situation, which has made our transition to Australia from Hong Kong worry free.” - A. Niven
FAMILY MATTERS
not encouraging them to wallow,” Andrew continues. “Turn the conversation to more positive things. Get them to talk about something that has happened to them or to one of their friends. Persuade them off the phone and into something active.” Here Gary Reynish, director of boarding at Churchie, concurs, saying, “Being involved in school activities and staying busy is critical to settling in as it gives boarders new and positive things on which to focus, while also providing avenues for building friendships and support networks.” While Clare admits that boarding is not for every child, she says: “It is important to allow sufficient time
for the child to adjust; initial home sickness does not necessarily require abandoning boarding on day one. Most children adapt to routine and appreciate the structure. And when they do return home for the holidays, they really appreciate their parents and siblings.” “As with most things in life, it is the
relationships that matter most,” says BIS’ principal Neil Richards, who has spent over 13 years teaching in four different boarding schools. “Good schools will have outstanding support structures, and designated and experienced boarding parents. They do not expect their teachers to deliver well in the classroom and then pick up hours of boarding duties.”
Find it
• Anglican Church Grammar School, www.churchie.com.au • Blundell’s School, www.blundells.org • British International School, Phuket, www.bisphuket.ac.th • Coomera Anglican College, www.cac.qld.edu.au • Hurtwood House, www.hurtwoodhouse.com • ITS Education Asia, www.itseducation.asia • Somerville House, www.somerville.qld.edu.au
Find more child-centric stories
at www.arounddb.com
TALKING POINTS
Photos courtesy of Discoveryland and by Beverly Au
PLAY AWAY! 48
In a land not so far away (DB North Plaza to be exact), you’ll find Hong Kong’s largest indoor adventure playground. Discoveryland is delighting young and old alike, says Beverly Au
P
arents rejoice. You no longer have to worry about how to occupy your kids. That’s because the city’s largest indoor playground – Discoveryland – is now open in DB North Plaza. As many of us have already discovered, Discoveryland covers a full 14,000 square-feet, and its fun September 2014
comes in many guises. There are all manner of things to climb, slide down, jump on or shoot, including the largest indoor slides in the city, Hong Kong’s only air-trek obstacle course, four climbing walls, laser tag, trampolining, a multi-purpose sports court, mini golf, and a ballistics area where one shoots foam balls at targets.
Million-dollar activities In selecting the activities on offer, Discoveryland co-founder, Koren Thomas, a 20-year DB resident, and her business partner, Karina Aswani were determined to provide fun for the whole family. “It’s important that the parents have a good time, as well as kids of all ages,” says Koren, whose
TALKING POINTS
The ballistics area
Laser tag in the dark
The Egyptian climbing wall
The 30-foot Rainbow slide
What DBers have The 30-foot Black Hole slide
daughter Jade, 10, is in Year 7 at Discovery College. “Teen attractions were a real priority.” All the equipment was supplied by a US dealer, who specially engineered the two, 30-foot slides. The set-up, including selecting the activities and designing the space, took a year and five months; the installation period took just three-and-a-half months. “The suppliers stayed at the Auberge DB during the fit out, and it all went very smoothly,” says Koren. Given the scale of this 500-people capacity pleasure palace, and the attention to detail involved, it’s surprising to learn that Koren and Karina first met just 18 or so months before the June opening of Discoveryland. “We were in Uncle Russ in DB North Plaza, and we
to say
“I think Discoveryland is fun because I like the rock climbing and trampoline. However, I wish it was bigger and that they had real animals, like rabbits, that you could feed.” Skye Schallenberger, age eight, has lived in DB her whole life. “It’s really interactive, really just fun. I come once or twice a week. It is the first time there is a playroom such as this in DB.” Anton Alekseev, 10, a five-year DB resident. “Discoveryland is so cool. I hope I can come back here because I enjoyed all the things I did here today.” Tso Chi-lok, 10, has lived in DB his whole life. “There are lots of activities for kids and adults.” Pallavi Bharwani, 12, a seven-year DB resident. “Discoveryland is a real blast. I really had fun on the climbing wall. I’ve come about three times since it opened and really look forward to all the things one can do.” Josh George, 16, a two-year DB resident. “I think Discoveryland is the best thing that has ever come to DB. We love it here. It is a great place to bring the kids after school. I also think that it is really well organised.” Sabine Borgia, 40, a 15-year DB resident.
Anton Alekseev, age 10
September 2014
49
TALKING POINTS started chatting about the need for this type of adventure centre in DB,” says Koren. “We wanted somewhere young kids could learn through play, and teens and adults could indulge their adventurous side.” When asked how she and Karina got Discoveryland up and running so quickly, Koren says simply: “When Karina and I met we immediately felt like we had known each other for years.”
Practical matters Discoveryland is first-and-foremost an adventure centre, and it’s not for the fainthearted. “Children will get bruises, they might even leave with slight friction burns and muscle fatigue,” Koren warns. “We want to challenge kids to face their fears, but we won’t push anybody to do what
they don’t want to do. It’s all part of the fun!” Parents can rest assured that Discoveryland takes safety very seriously. At any one time there are 12 supervisors on the floor, all FirstAid trained, and there’s even a fulltime, registered nurse on the team. Playground manufacturers’ instructions are followed to the letter, and children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. While Karina previously ran a soft-play centre in Kowloon, all staff members have relevant experience working in soft-play halls, leisure centres, or on cruise ships. Karina and Koren, both mums, seem to have everything taken care of. There are three party rooms available for hire, and Discoveryland also has
Find more clubs and activities
a restaurant. On the advice of local pediatrician, Dr Alfred Lam, only Ecolab cleaning products are used. They are non-toxic, non-allergenic, mould-free and made from natural ingredients. Oh, and if you forget your socks (Discoveryland is a shoefree zone), you can buy them in a wide selection of sizes and colours at reception. Discoveryland is ticking all the boxes, Koren argues, primarily because it’s a ‘retro playground’. “People really enjoy getting away from the tech that seems to pervade all of our lives these days,” she explains. “They enjoy the act of physically playing and getting sweaty.”
Find it Discoveryland, www.discoverylandhk.com
at www.arounddb.com
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IN TOUCH
MAKING THE GRADE Photos by Baljit Gidwani
Dion Chen, the principal of YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College, Tung Chung, opens up to Jane Clyde
52
Dion Chen, the warm-hearted principal of YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College (YHKCC)
September 2014
IN TOUCH
D
ion Chen has a wide, engaging smile and a friendly demeanour. As he proudly points out all the student-won trophies on display in his office, I note that he has cuddly toys (school mascots) on his desk. It’s immediately clear that the principal of YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College (YHKCC) loves his job, and the 950 students in his charge. Dion is all about nurturing the wellbeing of the whole person. And he sets a good example. Married with a one-year-old daughter, this Tung Chung resident isn’t solely defined by his job. Dion’s extracurricular pursuits include charity work. He is an active member of Lions Club Diamond Hong Kong, and especially values its work with the elderly. “You have to pay to join,” he explains, “but the money you put in is used to give back to the community.” Dion, who joined the scouts age 11, is also a District Commissioner for the Scout Association of Hong Kong. And he’s into canoe polo, coaching and refereeing for the International Canoe Federation – Hong Kong Canoe Union, in the sport he took up as a teenager. “A combination of kayaking and basketball, it requires a lot of skill and teamwork,” he says. “I am very committed to its development.”
Chosen path About his own school days, Dion says his favourite subjects were Business and Accounting, though he valued the opportunity to broaden his horizons in many different areas. “We were given so much positive encouragement,” he says. “I still follow the school motto, ‘Do your best and strive for the best’.” Having decided not to specialise too early, Dion studied Business and Accounting as an undergraduate, and then went on to take a Diploma in Education and a Professional Diploma in Extracurricular Activities
Dion nurtures an international perspective in his 950 students
Management. He says he knew from age 16 that he wanted to teach.
course, the British education system is similar to Hong Kong’s.
“My Year 12 teacher, Amy Tse had a big influence on me,” he says. “She challenged me and helped me understand life, the educational field and how to fulfil career goals. I learned from her that students need to be supported in both their academic and extracurricular studies. She put a big emphasis on behaviour and attitude, on always being polite.”
“To enrich my life experience, I took on a handful of part-time jobs,” Dion continues frankly. “I worked at an accounting firm, as a plumber and as a waiter in Chinatown. I also set up my own company with friends, helping recent graduates send their stuff back to Hong Kong.”
Global citizen One of Dion’s main aims is to enable his students to become confident and happy global citizens. While classes are taught in English, YHKCC now numbers over 70% international students from over 40 countries. Dion’s tenure has seen the introduction of an international curriculum (UK IGCSE and GCE ‘A’ Level syllabuses), which has made YHKCC one of the most sought-after secondary schools in Hong Kong. Having studied at Newcastle University in the UK from 1998 to 2002, Dion is well placed to foster an international perspective in his students. “Once I got used to the Geordie accent, I experienced very little culture shock living in Newcastle upon Tyne,” he recalls with a smile. “The other students were friendly, and they were just as interested in my lifestyle as I was in theirs. Also of
Find more local heroes
Island dweller While Dion still enjoys spending time in the UK, his favourite holiday destination is Taiwan, where he finds the culture interesting, and the food amazing. “Dissimilarly, Hong Kong is entirely focused on business, and I feel like we are losing our culture,” he says. “Small businesses are being pushed out by high rental costs, and all the development means a lot of unique buildings are being lost.” By the same token, Dion loves living out of town, in Tung Chung. “Lantau is more international and culturally rich than Hong Kong,” he suggests. “Despite its size, only a few areas are developed. Here, people from all over the world come together. This makes living in Lantau enriching and unique.”
Find it YHKCC, www.ymcacc.edu.hk
at www.arounddb.com
September 2014
53
MONEY MATTERS
SMART BUDGETING Spend your money wisely and you’ll get more bang for your buck. Joe Dobbs offers a step-by-step strategy for managing personal finances
S Photo courtesy of www.sketchoholic.com
ummer’s up, and my daughter Amy, 13, and I have been talking a lot about resolutions for the new school year ahead. We’ve discussed academic aims, household chores and a pocket money increase, and our little chats have got me thinking about my own ongoing plans and responsibilities for 2014/ 2015. Importantly, I’m determined to spend smarter, starting now. As a full-time, online trader, you’d think I’d have family budgeting sussed, and in many ways you’d be right. But as I’ve gotten older, I realise I’ve let things slip. I no longer keep a tangible record of my monthly incomings and outgoings; I don’t actively balance my books. It’s time to go back to a monthly budget plan, and stick to it. Planning a budget is easy, and there are so many great ways to make it smart.
My wife does her personal accounts each month, as a matter of course. This comes as naturally to her as breathing, or, as she says, watching her weight (and my gout problems) by keeping a food diary.
Balance your books In creating your budget plan, you’re obviously going to write down your mortgage or rent, insurance, utilities, cell phone, cable and credit-card payments, plus food and ferry/ taxi costs and school fees, but that’s not all. You also need to account for your ‘discretionary’ expenses, like meals out, cinema tickets and gym membership – absolutely everything. Look at your bank book and note any recurring expenses that you had forgotten about, or underestimated. Writing down all your outgoings will help you assess whether they are all
entirely necessary. For me, actually seeing (in black and white) how much I spend on golf each month has encouraged me to hit the links a little less. When making a budget plan, be sure to overestimate a little on your expenses. For example, if your rent is HK$28,000 a month, round it up to HK$30,000. This way you buy yourself a little wriggle room, and make the math easier. If you overestimate all your known expenses, then you’ll have a built-in cushion in case an unexpected expense arises (say, a sale at Toys “R” Us). While you’re at it, underestimate your income a little bit, too. If you typically bring home HK$58,000 a month round it down – log it into your planner as HK$55,000. Again, this will give you a small but handy buffer in case you need it. If you end up with September 2014
57
MONEY MATTERS
extra cash at the end of the month, you have the chance to treat your family to something special.
Aim to save Certainly savings need to figure in any serious budget plan. In this uncertain economy, everyone needs a nest egg, so aim to set aside 10% of your yearly income. While you may not notice the sum deducted from your current account each month, you’ll appreciate the sizeable extra saved by the end of the year. Your only good excuse for not saving is if you’re using all of your ‘extra’ money to pay off credit-card debt. Priority number one in creating your budget has to be eliminating debt. It’s essential to recognise that borrowing from your bank is like taking out a loan. It really is a fool’s game. If you don’t pay your bill in full every month, you’ll be charged interest and owe more than you originally spent. If you’ve ever written a cheque knowing you didn’t have the money in your current account to cover it, but that you would by the time the cheque cleared, you’ve kited. Kiting may seem harmless, but it’s never a good idea, because if you misjudge the timing, you could bounce a cheque, which in turn could cause another payment to bounce. Letting this happen is not only embarrassing,
it’s expensive, as most banks charge outrageous fees for overdrafts. Of course we are not only accountable to our bank managers. I always try to remember that Amy is watching my spending and budgeting habits. If we spend more than we should, or live beyond our means, our children will likely follow our lead. But if we’re financially responsible and thrifty, they’ll learn these good habits, and use them to be more successful and less stressed in their own adult lives.
Don’t punish yourself The aforesaid notwithstanding, don’t plan a budget you know you will never be able to keep. Your budget plan should be just as reasonable and achievable as your diet regime or exercise programme. If you’ve never been able to save well, or are a compulsive spender, don’t expect this to change overnight. Instead, make small changes and take small steps towards your overall budget goals. You’re looking at a long-term strategy, so don’t be punitive. Any sensible budget plan should include an expense entry of at least HK$800 per month for unexpected costs. This will cover anything you’ve forgotten, like flowers for Mother’s Day, or anniversary
Find more monetary advice
58
September 2014
drinks. If you figure unexpected expenses into your budget, you’ll never be short of cash. Once you’ve completed your budget, have a copy of it handy. Keep it in your bankbook, or diary. When you’re looking to spend a large sum of money, pull out your plan to see if you can afford to do so. See where you can make small cuts to cover your additional costs, or work out how they can be absorbed into your budget over the coming months. In my case, it’s always possible to reduce money spent teeing off. Every few months, review your budget and make updates or changes according to how you’ve actually been spending. For example, if you change mobile phone plans, and are now paying a lot more or less, update your budget to reflect that. If you notice you’re spending more on utilities or taxi fares, increase that part of your budget, but be sure to take the required funds from somewhere else, like meals out or date nights. Think of your budget as a scale, where the two sides ought to be equal. If you take something away from ‘income’, you need to take something away from ‘spending’. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be able to come up with an effective and fully personalised monthly budget. You should even be able to save a little.
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MOMENTS
TOP BILLIN' Hannah Ball catches up with 16-year-old Will Phillips, whose rap music, recorded in his bedroom in Chianti, DB, this summer, has already earned him studio time in the UK
W
ill Phillips, 16, has been into hip-hop since he was seven, and he’s been rapping since he was 12. A big fan of Dilated Peoples, Big Sean, Lil Wayne, Kid Cudi, Drake, Kanye West, Eminem and Jay-Z, he wears the sneakers and shades his idols wear and speaks exactly like they speak. Will doesn’t write music he ‘spits’ it, and he talks about ‘bumping’ (rather than listening to) music on his headphones. He says he knew he had a good thing going musically in 2013, when his friends described a song he’d written as ‘dope’ (the business).
Ain't No Half Steppin'
studio,” he quips. “My microphone's taped to the wall in the corner of my room, and it gets up like 30 degrees in there ‘cause you know the aircon’s too loud when I'm recording.” On July 5, Will worked on his first verse from 9am to 10pm. Posted on the online audio platform SoundCloud that evening, it had had over 200 plays by the next morning, and the nine verses he posted over the next month, got over 6,000 plays. Will was almost immediately offered free studio time in the UK (Birmingham), and he is meeting with an Australian record producer
Photo courtesy of Will Phillips
Will (aka Squarehead) shares the bigname hip-hop artists’ ambition, as well as their linguistic and clothing style. “My ultimate goal is to have the people I make my music for listen to and enjoy it,” says the UK-born, Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) graduate. “I wanna know I’m doing my best, because at school my parents kept telling me to do my best. Now I’m doing my absolute best at something, because it’s what I really wanna do.”
60
What Will wants to do is rap, professionally. Deciding to get serious about his music this summer, Will committed to releasing a verse every day from July 5 to July 17, from his bedroom in Chianti, DB. “It’s not exactly a world-class Find more local heroes September 2014
as this issue goes to print. “I took a beat every day and spit a verse over it. I’d freestyle two to four bars and listen back to see how it sounded,” Will explains. "The beat’s what decides what kind of song it’s gonna be. If the beat sounds angry, you rap angry; if it's a happy beat, it’s gonna be lighthearted, it’s gonna be happy rhymes. It’s kinda like acting, how you deliver your lines, because only half of the emotion you put in the mic comes out on the track. Especially if your mic isn’t very good.” Over the next few weeks, Will plans to work on lengthier, two- or three-verse songs, and he is looking forward to “pumping out some verses in a proper studio to hear back”. It’s clear that Will has a lot to prove to himself, and to his parents, who are simply astounded by their teen’s mercurial rise to fame. “What’s surprised me most is the number of people I’ve never met who seem to have heard Will’s music and been impressed with it,” says dad Nigel. “We’re very proud of what he’s done so far and I’ve got a good feeling he’ll go a long way with it.”
Find it To check out Will’s music, visit www.soundcloud.com/squareheadhk
at www.arounddb.com
ESCAPES
TURKISHLY
DELIGHTED Photos courtesy of Flight Centre Hong Kong
Enraptured by the Byzantine and the Ottoman, the Bosphorus and the bazaars, Cecilia Yee shares 48 hours in Istanbul
62
W
hat with all the political demonstrations in Turkey and conflict in neighbouring countries, I decided to join a tour instead of travelling solo to Istanbul. And I’m very glad I did. Not because I felt in danger at any time during my recent trip but because this way, I was able to check out the major sights in just a few hours. This is what I knew on arrival. Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, Istanbul is the only city in the world September 2014
which is situated on two continents; it bridges Asia and Europe both physically and culturally. The city was the Byzantine capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, (blessed by Constantine the Great, hence its former name: Constantinople), until the Ottomans captured it in 1453 and renamed it Istanbul.
Orientation day Arriving in Istanbul with a whole day to myself, I discussed my sightseeing options with the hotel staff. On their say so, I hopped on a
Bosphorus boat cruise. Here I got my first glimpse of Sultanahmet (the old city) and its awesome Byzantium and Ottoman landmarks, and also a big surprise. I’d thought of Istanbul as an ancient city, but seeing it from the water I was blown away by its contemporary glamour. Istanbul’s population is estimated at 14 million, making it one of the largest cities in the world. And time has not stood still here. Cruising down the Bosphorus, we passed under the magnificent 1973-built suspension bridge, and I spied several
ESCAPES
Sultanahmet (the old city) on Istanbul’s European side, viewed from the Bosphorus
impressive modern buildings, and a lot of ongoing construction. I was told that Beyoglu (the new city) overflows with hip art galleries, boutiques, restaurants and even pubs. Cosmopolitan is the best word to describe Istanbul. East meets west, new meets old, and I was determined to experience it all.
A morning in Sultanahmet Square Since this was a whistle-stop city tour, we headed out early. With its long history at the centre of empires, Istanbul
offers a wealth of sights to take in. The bulk of these ancient monuments are located around Sultanahmet Square on the city’s European side. We started at the Hippodrome, the centre of Byzantine life for 1,000 years and of Ottoman life for another 400 years after that. The Roman emperors loved nothing more than an afternoon at the chariot races, and this rectangular arena was their venue of choice. The Hippodrome has recently been re-landscaped, and it remains one of the city’s most popular meeting places and promenades.
From here we entered the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) complex. Built from 1609 to 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I, the courtyard is the biggest of all of the Ottoman mosques and there are six minarets. The interior has a similarly grand scale: the blue tiles that give the building its unofficial name number in the tens of thousands, there are 260 windows and the central prayer space is huge. Topkapi Palace, a short walk from the Blue Mosque, was the highlight of my morning. It showcases the untold September 2014
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ESCAPES wealth of the Ottoman rulers who lived here between 1453 and 1839. Pushed for time, we stopped by the six-level Harem and the Treasury (home to the 86-carat Spoonmaker’s Diamond). The palace’s interiors dazzle with their hand-painted Iznik tiles, mother-ofpearl and tortoise-shell inlays and stained-glass windows; the terraces, gardens and pools are a delight.
Afternoon (Turkish) delights After lunch, we took in one of Istanbul’s best-known Byzantine landmarks, Hagia Sophia. Built in A.D. 537 by Emperor Justinian to showcase the might of the Roman Empire, it reigned supreme as the greatest church in Christendom until 1453, when Sultan Mehmed II converted it into a mosque. It has been a museum since 1935. The Grand Bazaar has 5,000 shops
Next up, Basilica Cistern, the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city, proved a great (and deliciously cool) place to while away half an hour. Built by Emperor Justinian in A.D. 532, it once held 80,000 cubic metres of water, pumped and delivered through a 20-kilometre web of aqueducts.
A night on the tiles
Reina, Istanbul’s glitziest nightclub
While exploring all these ancient sites, I bonded with three other female travellers and before nightfall, we decided to explore the bazaars. Constructed in 1461, the Grand Bazaar in Sultanahmet boasts 5,000 shops, and is one of the largest covered markets in the world. Beckoning sellers peddle exquisite textiles, pottery, rugs, jewellery, lanterns and other souvenirs. A short walk from the Grand Bazaar, the 1664-built Spice Bazaar is a bustling gastronomic paradise. This is the place to pick up dried fruits and nuts, olives, oils and essences. I was amazed by all the different types of spice, and Turkish delight.
Medusa heads in the Basilica Cistern
(we were the only foreigners in the café), we followed our guide’s advice and headed to a charming Greek rooftop restaurant, with a balcony overlooking the Bosphorus.
Sultan Ahmed Mosque
We went on to Reina in Beyoglu, probably the city’s glitziest nightclub. Not to be outdone by the well-heeled locals (and to avoid the traffic jams), we arrived by boat.
Flight Centre Hong Kong specialises in first-class yet affordable flights and holiday packages. To book your Turkish getaway, give the expat travel consultants a call on 2830 2776, visit www.flightcentre.com.hk, or drop by the retail stores in Central or Happy Valley.
After a quick shisha at a local tea shop Find more exciting travel destinations
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September 2014
at www.arounddb.com
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ACTION
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DBFC key players Dirk Haddow, Robin Armstrong and Gary Rollinson
September 2014
ACTION
THE BEAUTIFUL
GAME
In the aftermath of a magical FIFA World Cup, it’s time to focus on DB football. Richard Cowley reports
F
ootball is the world’s most popular sport, and here in DB we can boast a fair few talented club players, as well as avid fans. The newly formed Discovery Bay Football Club (DBFC), which incidentally has a 23year history, is open to male players age 16 and up. The 2000-formed HK Dragons coaches boys (and girls) from three to 18 years. So let’s take a look at the history of these clubs and some of the key players.
Discovery Bay Football Club Football really kicked off in DB back in 1991, when DB residents like ex-Liverpool player Tim Bredbury began competing in mainly friendly, 11-a-side veterans’ games at the Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC). DB also numbered head coach of the Hong Kong national team Dejan Antonić among its resident players at that time. Andy Brooks was at the helm initially, then Mike Collier, and in 2008 Robin Armstrong took over organising regular games at various local clubs. Prior to the 2013 to 2014 season, with so many DB residents playing in the Hong Kong Legal League for Studz
United, the players decided to change the club’s name to DBFC. “DB had a very active football community, but it was fragmented with various teams, consisting of DB-based players playing in different leagues and tournaments,” explains Dirk Haddow, DBFC club secretary and assistant manager. “So Robin, myself and a number of other key players thought it would make sense to consolidate DB football under one brand, and use the Hong Kong Legal League team to raise the profile of the club.” The aim to unify DB football and bring it under one umbrella paid off. Having finished a close second in the First Division in the 2012 to 2013 season, the newly formed DBFC managed to avoid relegation in the 2013 to 2014 season. Last season also saw the emergence of a more structured DBFC veterans’ team playing regular fixtures throughout the season. As well as entering a team in this season’s Hong Kong Legal League, DBFC is fielding a team in the new over 35 Hong Kong Legends’ League. Dirk credits veterans’ team manager Robin and Hong Kong Legal League team manager Gary Rollinson for the
club’s strong showing. For 2014 to 2015, the DBFC also plans to focus on young players. “We are always keen to have 16 to 18 year olds join our club,” Robin says. “They have the chance to play in the Hong Kong Legal League representing DB. It’s an aggressive league with a decent standard of football being played.” DBFC prides itself on being a social but competitive club with around 60 players. “Most of us are from DB,” says Dirk, “so after matches, we usually head back to DB, stopping off at The Pier Bar, which is one of the club’s sponsors, to sink a few beers and talk about the game. The social side is just as important as the football side.” Games and training sessions are held at the Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) and DB North Plaza pitches.
International sevens’ tournaments On unofficially forming the DBFC back in November 2008, one of Robin’s aims was to widen players’ international experience. To this end, he formed a seven-a-side veterans’ touring team, which quickly proved a force to be reckoned with. The socalled Discovery Bay Rowdies won September 2014
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ACTION
the Manila International Soccer 7s tournament in February 2009, beating Team Bondi (a team of exprofessionals from Australia) in the final 1-0. The DBFC veterans’ team has played annually in the HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens since 2011, when Robin was assisted by DB resident Neil Jensen. The team came closest to winning the Masters Cup in 2012 when it reached the semis, losing 2-1 to the eventual winners, the Aegon Ajax All Stars.
DBFC Hong Kong Legal League team
“We had played well all tournament and obviously had help from some great pros, along with a good coaching set up,” DBer Adam O’Connor, a member of the 2012 team, recalls. “Pre-match David Howells and Teddy Sheringham told us to relax, play and enjoy the moment," Adam continues. “We ended up losing, though narrowly, to a team that has gone on to show that it is far and away the strongest side to compete in the event over the past two years. DBFC gave them the closest run of any team yet and even in defeat we all shared a feeling of pride that we had stood up and matched our illustrious opposition right to the end.”
DBFC veteran Stefan Fuchs
Separately, in 2008, Dirk and fellow DBer Stefan Fuchs set up a sevens veterans’ team to participate in the annual Phuket International Soccer 7s tournament. Having won the Masters Cup twice, they are heading to Phuket for the sixth year in a row this November, and will enter two veterans’ teams.
HK Dragons HK Dragons is a stalwart of DB football having coached a few thousand children since 2000. Players, from walking age to 18 years plus, train at DB’s Community Hall Pitch and the DBIS Pitch. The club also trains in Tung Chung and Mui Wo.
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The HK Dragons’ senior team
The HK Dragons’ U13 team competes in the Hong Kong Junior Football League, and its ‘senior’ team (U15 to U19) competes against adult players in the A League. Says James Dean, one of the coaches for the seniors, “Our club finds these players very talented, enthusiastic
and hardworking. They have reached such a high standard of play that we don’t think twice about putting them on a pitch against adults. We know that they will be more than capable of competing on equal terms, and we can then coach them in real-match situations, and help them develop their true potential as players.”
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DBer Jean-Pierre Nixon, 18, has played for the HK Dragons since he was five years old, and he’s now the U15 to U19 team captain. “I love that having gone through the Dragons’ system, I am still playing at my age,” he says. “It’s all about a great group of lads having fun together. We have great coaches; the only problem is not having a full-sized pitch.” While the U13 team came second in the Hong Kong Junior Football League last season, the U15 to U19 boys topped the A League, and are now at the quarter-final stage of the Cup. Quite a feat when you consider that the team is rebuilt each year as older players move on. “Coaches Ben Beaumont, Matt Zoeller and Jamie Bone, who all live on Lantau,
play for our team on a regular basis,” James adds. “They have been a massive help on and off the pitch, providing
Girls' football in
valuable playing experience, taking training sessions and creating a positive environment for our team.”
DB
While there are no football clubs in DB for women, girls can learn to bend it like Beckham with both the HK Dragons and the Discovery Bay Angels Football Club (DBAFC). The HK Dragons coaches girls age three to 18, the DBAFC is open to girls age six to 14.
Find it
• DBAFC, www.dbangelsfc.hk • DBFC, www.facebook.com/discoverybayfc • HKFC, www.hkfc.com.hk • HK Dragons, www.dragons.hk
Find more clubs and activities
at www.arounddb.com
DBAFC at DBIS
LIFESTYLE
T
hat minimalist schemes work well in spaceconstrained, local homes goes without saying, but the pared-back look is more than merely practical. This ‘ohso contemporary’ trend has been informed by decades of ‘cuttingedge’ design. For more than 90 years, the hippest young designers of their generation have been bringing us the best in ‘modern minimalist’ style. The seed was sown by a German school of design, The Bauhaus (1919 to 1933). In breaking with the sumptuous extravagance of 1920s Art Deco, they were into simply shaped, functional furniture, and minimal ornamentation. Paul Klee, Marcel Breuer, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and the like, also championed the use of new industrial materials, like glass, plastic, laminated wood and steel, in the home. They introduced open planning – integral to creating the right feeling of uncluttered spaciousness and calm.
Photos courtesy of Jane Clyde
In the 1920s French architect Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris (who adopted the name Le Corbusier in 1923) took up minimalism and ran with it. His schemes, like the minimalist homes we inhabit today, were directly informed by their use. Furniture was not just clean-lined and ergonomic, it was multi-functional and often moveable or stackable. Both lighting and cabinetry were built-in, leaving spaces free for items essential to sitting, eating and sleeping. Equally influential, are furniture designs by key players in the Scandinavian Modern Movement (1930 to 1960): Alvar Aalto, Hans J. Wegner and Arne Jacobsen. We relate to the industrial edge (steel frames), and pieces are cosy as well as elegant, centred on plywood, rattan, canvas, leather and rope. Though massproduced and supremely functional, they retain a pleasingly handcrafted quality that is bang on trend. Post-Second World War Americanbased designers, Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen are also perennially
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LESS BUT BETTER If you are turned on by words like ‘uncluttered’ and ‘open-plan’, by rooms that have been stripped of the inessentials to achieve a studied sense of simplicity, you’re a minimalist. And you are not alone. Jane Clyde reports
popular. Pieces and schemes are first-and-foremost liveable and accessible; the aim was to humanise hyper-industrial, often prefabricated Bauhaus chic. Eames’ Chaise of 1968, in laminated rosewood and leather, is considered the most comfortable of minimalist-designed chairs. Eschewing practicalities and sometimes even comfort, 1960s minimalist designers were into witty, disposable, inexpensive furnishings, in cutting-edge, new materials like plexiglass, vinyl and acrylic. But despite the barrage of new textures,
hot colours and sculptural shapes, schemes stayed sparse and clean-lined, with maximum-impact pieces defining living areas within the open plan. No look at minimalist design is complete without reference to the Philippe Starck phenomenon, and France’s enfant terrible of design is still going strong. While he continues to transform our ideas about the way everyday household objects should look, his use of recycled plastic, aluminium and glass, is totally 21st century. Here we have less but better, and with a social conscience. September 2014
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LIFESTYLE
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For more than 90 years, the hippest young designers of their generation have been bringing us the best in modern minimalist style
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LIFESTYLE
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Get the lo
1 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is famous for his dictum ‘less is more’; he
is also credited with dreaming up the open plan. One of the big names of The Bauhaus, he is best known for the Barcelona chair, 1929, pictured. Austerely geometric, with a tubular steel frame, its padded leather seat maximises comfort. Here, in true minimalist style, a builtin wall takes care of everything that needs to be stored or displayed.
2 This Bauhaus-informed kitchen takes its cue from the 1920 and 30s,
when cubist-inspired design first became hot. Designers popularised the use of the smallest range of materials and colours possible, and only simple shapes. Plain-walled interiors were dominated by sparse, clean-cut, functional furnishings. The Bauhaus were for massproduction and new technology.
3 Le Corbusier’s ‘machines for living’, like the LC4 Chaise Lounge,
LC5 Three-Seat Sofa and LC3 Armchair pictured, are as popular now as they were in the 1930s. His spare and elegant pieces, in tubular steel, glass, leather and pony skin, are ergonomically created with an architect’s aesthetic.
4 Alvar Aalto’s Model No. 31 (cantilevered, laminated wood chair),
1932, pictured, speaks volumes about the Scandinavian Modern Movement (1930-1960). Pieces are sleek, streamlined, rational and above all accessible. Here, the cool, monochromatic, minimalist aesthetic is warmed up through an emphasis on beautifully crafted timber.
5 Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen pioneered the use of organically
moulded plastic, plywood and steel for furnishings. It was Saarinen who eradicated the need for stick-like furniture legs, producing instead the first, all-in-one pedestal tables and chairs in the late 1950s. Eames’ Molded Plastic Armchair, 1971, pictured, famously put ‘function before form’, yet it remains a thing of beauty.
6 Eero Aarnio’s Hanging Bubble Pod Chair, 1965, pictured in moulded fibreglass with built-in speakers, is pure 1960s. The international influence of Pop Art, and the ever-increasing flexibility of man-made materials, led 60s’ designers to come up with new ‘versions’ of everything, including sofas shaped like baseball gloves, circular beds, inflatable chairs and beanbags.
7 Philippe Starck erupted on to the scene in the early 80s. Like his
forebears, he specialises in reducing objects to their purest form. His product line consists of a series of archetypes: the Louis Ghost Chair, 2002, pictured, is every minimalist’s must have, quite simply because it is the ultimate ‘throne’, the one all children draw when they first pick up a pencil. Starck favours mass-production and habitually employs light and easy to clean, inexpensive materials. Like all the best minimalists he is designing for Everyman.
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Find more on stylish living
at www.arounddb.com
September 2014
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FINANCIAL PLANNING ASK THE EXPERT 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. What’s more in recent years, after so many bank scandals and product scandals (think mini-bonds), many investment-linked insurance products have become over regulated, and unappealing. So what coverage do you really need in order to protect yourself and your family? What products are viable and essential when times are tough? My advice? Go back to the safe, traditional products, such whole-life, term-life and education plans.
Life insurance What you are looking for is guaranteed whole-life insurance, which equates to life insurance + dividends + savings with a fixed cash out. Note that with whole-life insurance you can also set payment/ contract terms. Payments can be made monthly or annually. And in addition, you can opt to pay a fixed amount over 10, 15 or 20 years and then never have to make a payment again. For people with kids and/ or mortgages, top-quality term-life insurance is particularly essential. When researching a product, look out for high death benefits and low premiums. With term-life you can cancel anytime upon annual renewal. Of course whole life-insurance products include: • Underwriting considerations • Medical exams • Suicide clauses • Waivers of premiums • Periods of contestability So, in addition to examining your needs and budget, be sure to do your homework and read the small print.
My offer: 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.
Valuable cargo It’s important to choose someone who’ll take extra care of the most precious things. Relocating is a big change for most people. It can be difficult and stressful, but it should be exciting and rewarding for everyone. Our experience and knowledge, built up from nearly fifty years as a worldwide relocations company, is shared by all our people in more than 200 locations. We’ll always be there to help you get the most from your relocation.
Tel: +852 2636 8388 hongkong@crownrelo.com
Go knowing
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4/17/2014 9:48:47 AM
HK HAPPENINGS
10 FUN THINGS TO DO IN HK THIS MONTH!
Photo courtesy of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions
MAMMA MIA!
ick!
r’s p Edito
Sing along to the timeless songs of ABBA in the hit stage musical, MAMMA MIA!, returning to Hong Kong from September 24 at the Lyric Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wanchai. Featuring a stellar cast from the UK, the show’s leading roles Donna Sheridan and Sam Carmichael are played by real-life husband and wife Sara Poyzer and Richard Standing. For tickets, starting at HK$395, visit www.hkticketing.com.
Mid-Autumn MOONCAKES In the lead-up to September 8, look to Kee Wah Bakery for your Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes. Family-operated Kee Wah is preserving the long tradition of Chinese pastries, and it has a beautifully packaged mooncake gift box for everyone! Take your pick from a wide assortment of pastes, including lotus seed, red bean and date, and note that you can now buy low-sugar and high-fibre mooncakes. Drop by one of Kee Wah’s 56 outlets, or make an order online at www.keewah.com. Photo courtesy of www.dreamstime.com
Donate to kids in need by buying a drink, or join the Hong Kong Cleanup Challenge. Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival by giving scrumptious moon cakes. Take part in a brandnew Action Asia Challenge. Hear top stories at StoryWorthyWeek and view contemporary miniature art. Catch Shane Like us Filan live and on Facebook bring out your for event dancing queen reminders at MAMMA MIA!
DID YOU KNOW? 1 The Chinese have been celebrating MidAutumn Festival since the early Tang dynasty (A.D. 618 – 907). 2 The holiday is also known as the Moon Festival, as it falls when the brilliant harvest moon is full. The ancient Chinese made offerings to the moon, to celebrate crop production and the change of seasons. 3 Many associate the full, harvest moon with pregnancy and the gift of children. The sharing of round mooncakes among family members signifies the completeness and unity of families.
Telling STORIES StoryWorthyWeek, the Hong Kong-based arts festival organised by Hong Kong Stories and SPEAK, is back for the second year running, at The Fringe Club from September 12 to 20. Headlined by New York Times’ bestselling author David Sedaris, the festival sees local and overseas performers sharing personal anecdotes and excerpts from their books. To tell your story in front of an audience, visit www.meetup.com/ HongKongStoryTellers. Or visit www.storyworthyweek.com.
ART IN MINIATURE
www.arthongkong.net
View a series of 10 miniature paintings by 10 local artists on display at PubArt Gallery, Central, September 12 to 19. In Closer, the first ever contemporary miniature art exhibition in Hong Kong, each artist takes a personal look at the show’s theme, inviting us to break down our defences and get closer in order to build more honest relationships. For more information, visit www.arthongkong.net. September 2014
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Email hannah@arounddb.com if you’d like to be included in this section
www.oceanpark.com.hk
Hong Kong CLEAN-UP!
Be
eco
!
are aw
Join the 14th annual Hong Kong Cleanup Challenge, September 20 to November 1. Gather as many team members as you like, and choose from three clean-up challenges: City, Country or Coastal. Once you’re signed up, you’ll attend a free education seminar where you’ll get the information and tools you need. Last year’s challenge saw 45,680 people collect 1,282,477 kilograms of rubbish from 1,833 kilometres of shorelines, country park trails and city streets! To enrol, visit www.hkcleanup.org.
Do you volunteer with your local green groups, and pick up rubbish when you see it? Do you support your local farmers’ market, purchase only cruelty-free cosmetics and personal products, and prepare vegetarian meals once or twice a week? www.actionasiaevents.com
Action Asia
Get set for the first Action Asia Double Cove Sai Kung 2 Ridges race on September 21. You can choose from the family-friendly, 8-kilometre Fun Walk/ Run, the 17-kilometre Explorer, or the 18-kilometre Challenge, which is limited to just 100 experienced runners. All races start from Wu Kai Sha MTR station, Sai Kung. Course entry starts from HK$160. Visit www.actionasiaevents.com.
Drink for GOOD!
www.hungryhk.blogspot.com
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Drink with a purpose as some 50 local bars in Central, SoHo, Lan Kwai Fong, Wanchai and Quarry Bay team up with HandsOn Hong Kong for its Drink For Good campaign. On September 17, HK$5 from every drink sold goes towards providing 100 disabled children with a day out at Ocean Park. For more information, visit www.drinkforgood.org.
September 2014
Do you speak up about environmental concerns, and recycle and reuse?
Do you buy recycled computer paper for your printer?
CHALLENGE!
www.todayonline.com
HELP THE PLANET Do you carry a reusable shopping bag, and keep your kitchen free of plastic?
Westlife’s SHANE FILAN! Catch Shane Filan, former lead vocalist of the world-renowned Irish pop band Westlife, performing solo at AsiaWorld-Expo, Chek Lap Kok on September 29. Shane sold over 40-million records worldwide with Westlife before the group split in 2012. He released his first solo album You And Me in November 2013. For tickets, starting at HK$480, visit www.hkticketing.com.
How to:
Do you buy only what you need, not what you think you want? Check out environmentalist websites, such as www.dbgreen.org and www.plasticfreeseas.org, for more ideas about how to take action. Each of us can do simple things every day that eventually add up to big changes.
RS_GERMANCOMMUNITYAD.indd 1
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DB FACES
COMMUNITY SNAPS!
Photos by Baljit Gidwani
COMPETITION
Email your photos for DB Faces to info@arounddb.com. Around DB accepts no liability for the photos sent
Who do you know? Find more familiar faces @ www.arounddb.com.
Great prizes from Uncle Russ Coffee!
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B
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Congratulations to last month’s winner Reine Bucoy! Please contact our office on 2987 0577 to collect your prize.
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our challenge, this month, is to identify which of the three photos above is the exact copy of a photograph featured elsewhere in this issue of Around DB. You need to list the page number the photo appears on, as well as which of the three pictures is the exact copy. Contact us online via the competitions link at www.arounddb.com or email us at info@arounddb.com before September 10. This is your chance to win a complimentary coffee from Uncle Russ every day for a week. Don’t forget to include your name and telephone number with your answer. Good luck!
The world’s leading shopping cart now available in Hong Kong y nt rra on ls a r w d de ea vide Mo y 3 ro ing p ld fo all Exclusively available from our online store FREE delivery to Discovery Bay and Lantau Shop online at www.onthemove.asia for our wide range of Models
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View DB property listings @ www.arounddb.com
WORSHIP SERVICE Discovery College Sundays @ 10 am
CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP PRACTICAL BIBLE TEACHING KIDS CHURCH XTREME & RDB TEENS
Pastor James Buckner Tel: 2987 7061 wwww.dbicc.org
Alcoholics Anonymous
NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO? Counselling for individuals, couples, families & adolescents
If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, we can help. No dues or fees. 24 hour hotline: 9073 6922 Lantau hotline: 5668 2667 www.aa-hk.org
Sliding fee scale; affordable options for all clients English, Putonghua, Cantonese, Hindi, Marathi and Marwadi speaking counselors Call 2523 8979 Now for Appointment http://www.resourcecounselling.org Serving the community over 35 years A Member Agency of the Community Chest
View local BUSINESS DIRECTORIES @ www.arounddb.com ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A mESSENGER? Michael, an Indian HK resident living on Lantau, seeks post of delivery person for mail/ documents/ small packages. Full- or part-time. Call 9145 6731 LOOKING FOR AN EmPLOYER Peggie Gannaban, 35, looking for work as a full-time helper. Currently working in DB, contract finishes on September 5. Hardworking, dependable & cheerful, she has worked in HK for 5 years. Call 6437 2767 LOOKING FOR EmPLOYmENT Kumudu, looking for work as a full-time helper. Good at cooking, looking after new-borns, children & pets, Kumudu’s contract finishes at the end of October. From Sri Lanka, she has worked in HK for 15 years. Call 9733 4600
DB-BASED REALTOR SEEKS EAA-LICENSED AGENTS Must have a good command of spoken & written English & Cantonese, an extra language is an advantage. Strong communication & interpersonal skills, mature outgoing personality, proactive, hardworking & detail oriented. Attractive remuneration package for the right candidates. Email your full CV to info@lifestylehomes.com.hk
FINANCE & INSURANCE
HOME & REPAIRS
PETS
AUSTRALIAN TAX RETURNS
EXPERT MOVER
GOOD NEWS FROM PETCODB
Need to lodge your Australian tax return? If you are an expat or collect rental from Australian property, you must lodge an annual return. Let us do it for you here in HK. Contact Dwight Stuchbery, Australasian Taxation Services on 3571 8700, dwight@smats.net, or visit www.smats.net
HEALTH & WELLBEING
HYPNOSIS &/ OR SHORT-TERM THERAPY
Quit smoking quickly. Divorce/ Post-Divorce Coaching. Resolve: • Fear of Flying/ Public Speaking • Overeating • Couples’ Conflicts • Career & Command-Training Stress • Anger Management • Phobias • Nail biting • Insomnia • Exam Strategies Call Dr Melanie Bryan, Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist & Hypnotherapist on 2575 7707, or visit www.mindmatters.hk
HOME & REPAIRS NEED SPACE/ STORAGE?
Humidity controlled, small/ large storage space, short or long term. Competitive rates. Call 2566 4799 or visit www.expertmover.hk
• Packing & moving • Cargo collection • Disposal service • Handyman services • Packing material supplies • Storage, with humidity control Professional quality service at a low rate. Contact 2566 4799, sales@expertmover.hk, or visit www.expertmover.hk
Micro Bubble Bath using Nano technology for pets is now available at PetcoDB. This penetrating clean powers deep into the pores, restoring fur condition, regaining moisture & providing relaxation. No shampoo is used. Recommended for pets with skin allergies, dermatitis & body odour. Call 2914 0382
RETAIL
GOLDING DECORATION UK
House painter, very experienced in maintenance work, & hanging wallpaper & artwork. 100% customer satisfaction guaranteed. Fast, clean & tidy, providing down-to-earth prices. Call Colin on 9074 5231
ABBELIO WINES
Great value! High scoring! Wines from around the world! Free delivery & special offer for Discovery Bay residents. For details, visit http://abw.hk/db, or call 3170 8458
KIDS
DB MARINA CLUB DEBENTURES
EARLY ADVENTURES PLAYGROUP
Do you have a C Class or B Class Debenture you are not using? Or one that is expiring or coming up for extension? Lifestyle Homes has interested buyers. To find out more, contact Jacques at info@lifestylehomes.com.hk
A dedicated playgroup with the emphasis on learning through play. Activities to stimulate all areas of development. Come & look at our facilities. Classes for kids from 20 months to 4 years. Morning & afternoon sessions. Call 9511 2107, or visit www.earlyadventures.net
Birth & Postnatal Support Antenatal Classes Breastfeeding support Placenta remedies
Jeanne Hauguel
DOULA
Trust in yourself when it matters...
© Cyril Almeras
EMPLOYMENT
6496 4318 | jeanne@doulabirthstory.com | www.doulabirthstory.com
September 2014
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View local BUSINESS DIRECTORIES @ www.arounddb.com
- Japan qualified – skilled piano technician in DB We can offer professional advice and services on all piano matters; Creating a good sound to make harmony with your heart!
One of the keys to piano maintenance is - How to keep your piano in good condition with a subtropical climate www.88keys.com.hk E-mail: info@88keys.com.hk Tel : 9687 0726
Come and say hi to the gang at Mypetshop in the North Plaza. Shop G09-92 Sienna Ave. In The North Plaza 2987-8873. Open Daily 10am – 7:30pm
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View local BUSINESS DIRECTORIES @ www.arounddb.com SERVICES NOTARY SERVICES
Now available in DB at affordable rates. For enquiries, 9143 0799, notary@hpi.com.hk
TRAVEL CONCORdE TRAVEL
Leisure Travel and Cruise specialists since 1978. Call 2526 3391 or visit www.concorde-travel.com Licence No 350343
TUITION & COURSES GUITAR TUITION
One of Hong Kong’s foremost players offers home tuition in Classical, Blues, Ragtime & Rock. Special rates for morning classes. Contact Graeme on 9627 3043, graememorris1000@gmail.com
CLARINET/ SAXOPHONE/ FLUTE TUITION
Available in DB from professional musician with 25 years’ teaching experience & graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK. Contact 9413 0498, janetwilliams.clarinet@gmail.com
CHINESE (MANdARIN & CANTONESE), MATHEMATICS & ENGLISH
Personal Professional Tutoring Service. • Curriculum: HSK, IB, GCSE, SAT • ESF & all international schools, Year 1 to 13 • For students & adults (homework/ exams/ business) • Mother-tongue Chinese tutors from the PRC (Levels: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced) • Mathematics tutors (UK B SC) • Native English tutors. (MA in Education, specialising in Early Childhood Stage) Contact 9107 5655, graciasx@hotmail.com, or visit www.chinesemandarinsite.com
LEARN SPANISH
Native speaker. DELE examiner. Experienced teacher. IB, IGCSE, A-Levels & HKDSE. Business Spanish, & courses for adults. Flexible schedule & locations. (Special offers to students who live in DB & Tung Chung). Contact Erik R on 9666 9511, rerikm@hotmail.com
MANdARIN CHINESE CLASSROOM
In the Greens. Lessons for adults & children, individually & in small groups. Any level/ time/ purpose. Call 6071 9643, or visit http://tclearning.sinacool.com
TUITION & COURSES
JAPANESE PRIVATE TUITION
Native speaker, 10 years’ teaching experience in HK. Any level/ Any purpose/ JLPT. Contact 6050 1731, (WhatsApp, LINE, Viber) micado66@netvigator.com
“The Clean 9 is an aloe-vera based program that will leave you slimmer, cleaner and healthier in 9 days. Personalized support and a tailor-made menu plan will be provided.”
SCIENCE TUTOR
British-educated teacher with Honours Bachelor Degree, qualified teacher Status & over 10 years’ experience offering tutoring in KS3 & IGCSE (all Sciences), A’ Level & IB (Physics). To reserve a place for September, email mr_m_walker@yahoo.co.uk
Deadline for October issue classifieds
September 10
Such a great birthday party !
Tel: Monica 9211 3322 Email: monica.pswong@gmail.com Website: foreverlivinghk.weebly.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 May 9774 3554 Email: greenlandpest@outlook.com GMT Foods is a DB based Importer of award winning, handmade and all natural fine foods from small British producers.
Products include: • York Preserves (chutneys & double fruit preserves) Available at Oliver’s, Market Place by Jasons’, Loi Chan Frozen Meat Co. in Mui Wo.
Call 6710 0391 info@ecole-discovery.com
Many new products arriving in September will be available at the Hand Made Hong Kong Market on September 14th
• The Mercer’s of Yorkshire (chutneys, conserves and dessert sauces) Available at Oliver’s, DB North Plaza Wellcome Store and Market Place by Jasons’. Loi Chan Frozen Meat Co. in Mui Wo. • Godminster (organic vintage cheddar) Available at the next HMHK Market on 14th September in Main Plaza.
For further details contact: Gillian Thompson, Gillian@ yorkpreserves.com, www.facebook.com/gmtfoods, twitter @Gillian_GMT.
FRENCH TUITION
Learn or improve your French with a HKUSpace adjunct lecturer. Tailormade lessons to suit your needs. Contact Karine on 9338 1961, or email 88karina@live.fr
September 2014
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Find short-term RENTALS @ www.arounddb.com PROPERTY DB
PROPERTY DB
MODERN 1-BEDROOM FLAT
DELUXE SERVICED APARMENTS
Spacious open layout. Quiet, high floor. Fully equipped kitchen. Shower. Washer/ dryer. English movies & news, & wi-fi. Just unpack! Competitively priced. Contact 6680 2007, greenmountain123@gmail.com
For lease. Fully furnished 1-2-bed apartments with beautiful decor, wi-fi & broadband. Well-equipped kitchen, luxurious bedding, weekly cleaning service. Contact Cherry on 2987 2626, annie@appletravel.com
STUDIO CLOSE TO PIER 2-BED APARTMENT At Greenmont Court, nice & fully furnished. Contact 9108 5525
Comfortable, nicely decorated studio, close to DB Plaza & pier, with fully equipped kitchen. TV, DVD, wi-fi, linens & towels provided. Contact 9190 7348, niceroom_db@yahoo.com.hk
GREENDALE COURT 2-BED NEW 1-BED APARTMENT Brand-new, fully furnished, 533’ 1-bed apartment in Greendale Court. Deluxe renovation, on a high floor, with mountain view. Call 9108 5525
800’ 2-bed flat with balcony & nice sea view. Fully furnished, with wi-fi internet access. Contact Sonya on 5241 9806, syeung72@hotmail.com
CHERISH COURT TO LET SERVICED APARTMENTS SIENA 2 Quiet with sea views, near Club Siena & tunnel. Fully furnished, with bed linen & kitchenware. 55’ TVs, wi-fi, Blu-ray home theatre, washer/ drier. Short or long lease. Contact 9317 0624, nialady2011@gmail.com
Fully furnished, 2-bedroom flat with wi-fi & Now TV. Full sea view & Disneyland-firework view. Photos available. Contact Jacqueline 9811 0718, jacquelinedb@gmail.com
NEW 1-BEDROOM
FULLY FURNISHED 1-BED Smart apartment on a high floor with sea view. Close to pier & DB Plaza. Available fully furnished. Call Tiareti on 9732 8985
Cosy & brand-new 1-bedroom flat with sea view, convenient location, fully furnished with bed linen, kitchenware, washer/drier & English & Chinese TV channels. Free cleaning once every 3 days upon request. Available from September 1, minimum stay 3 nights. Contact Mary on 9726 6219, marydbay@gmail.com
PROPERTY OVERSEAS
LUXURY 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
SLEEPS 4 Bright, fully furnished flat, sleeps 4. Fully equipped kitchen, plus wi-fi & broadband. Towels & linens provided. Minimum stay 1 month. Email dbstay4@yahoo.com
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AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY Everything you need to know about buying a property in Australia. Information on property markets, taxation, finance, migration & legal. Free online at www.aussieproperty.com
PHUKET VILLA Deluxe, spacious 4-bedroom villa, with ensuite bathrooms & private pool. Wireless internet access, sala, bar & BBQ area. Kitchen is fully equipped with laundry area. Contact Roenel on 9050 4772, atsea@netvigator.com
Looking for investment opportunity? 4/F., Lee Fund Centre, No. 31 Wong Chuk Hang Road, HK E-mail: grea@grea.com.hk C-049044
South lsland Industrial & Office Sales / Lease Kwai Bo Ind. Building 1,820’ 11.9M
• Walking Distance To Future MTR • With Balcony Sungib Ind. Centre 6,009’ 40M
Grand Marine Centre 3,815’ 30M
• Remodeled into Open Plan Space • Stunning Waterfront Views Derrick Ind. Bldg. 1,979’ @5,980
Yally Ind. Bldg. 2,350’ 16.2M / 30K
• Next to Future MTR Exit • High Investment Tin Fung Ind. Mansion 1,182’~17,587’ @5,150 & up
le So
• Rare Whole Floor • Extraordinary Investment Opportunity in Wong Chuk Hang Global Trade Square 997’~9,820’ @9,500 up
• Grade A Office Space • 13.5ft High Ceiling with Raised Floor System Shui Ki Ind. Building 3,927’ 25.9M / 39K
• Mutli-Purpose Usage • Ready for Immediate Use Workshops on Ground 1,600’~4,000’ Sale by offer
• High Ceiling • Rare in Market
• Flexible Warehouse Space • Very Busy & Convenient Location in Wong Chuk Hang Southmark 5,402’ 39.8M
• Swimming Pool Facility • Greenery View Office • Mountain View Yan’s Tower 690’~6,300’ 4.2M & Up
• Central Air-Condition • Marble Lobby Design Sing Teck Ind. Bldg. 3,396’ 17M / 40K
• Minutes Walk to Public Transports • Price Reduced
Harbour Ind. Ctr. (Corner Side) 742’~2,315’ 4.0M & up / @9.8
• Ceiling Approx. 12ft High • Windows on 2 Sides of Space One Island South 2,327’ 31M
t
en
Ag
• Flexible Warehouse Space • Very Busy & Convenient Location in Wong Chuk Hang Kin Teck Ind. Building 3,750’~5,710’ @6,200
• Full Multi-functional Terrace • Fully Equipped Modern Kitchen with The Appliances Heung Wah Ind. Building 7,226’ 43.4M / @10
• High Ceiling & Rare Whole Floor • New Development Projects around the Site Hing Wai Ctr. 1,008’~28,000’ @4,000 & Up
• Unobstructed Seaview • Ample Loading Bay
• Opposite to MTR Station • Frontage to Enjoy Inspiring of Ocean Park Aberdeen Ind. Building 3,150’ 15.8M / @10
• Located Inside a Residential Shopping Arcade • Public Transport at The Door Step Fullagar Ind. Building 1,320’ 5.2M
• Internal Toilet • Town Centre at The Door Step Land Acquisition Projects Site Lot Area 6,000’~9,000’
• Revitalizing Industrial Building • Considering Re-zoning the Wong Chuk Hang Area
0911 9326 3293 / 6401 8889 / 9701 6622 3527 24 hours hotline Jeff
(S-130432)
Jacqueline (S-398189)
Dave (S-447427)
LANTAU NUMBERS
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TUNG CHUNG
SOUTH LANTAU
CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
AQ Prettiness Jumping Castles Shoesee Foldable
FOOD, RESTAURANTS & BARS
9527 6202 9662 1747 5502 6128 FOOD, RESTAURANTS & BARS
360° Sports Bar & Restaurant Airport Izakaya Andante Asian Taste Chef’s Express Deli Viet Bistro Delifrance Café Aficionado China Coast Bar & Grill Dragon Inn Erawan Essence Federal Palace Restaurant McDonald’s Delivery Moccato Olea Pizza Hut Regala Café & Dessert Bar Rouge Skycity Bistro Spaghetti House Starz Wine Bar Zentro Garden
2109 4360 2286 6668 3602 8828 2109 4360 6504 4208 2109 0036 2109 4187 2286 6238 2286 6898 2286 6878 3760 6633 3602 8808 2626 0181 2338 2338 3602 8838 3602 8818 3180 0000 2286 6618 2286 6868 3969 1888 2109 1297 2109 0612 2802 8000
HEALTH & WELLBEING
9 Dragons Fitness Asian Hairdressers Bayside Dental Essential Health Family Clinic Human Health Medical Centre Island Veterinary Services Ltd Tung Chung Vet Centre Tung Chung Maternal & Child Health Centre Quality Health Dental Quality Health Medical Raffles Medical
2786 9699 3147 4088 2185 6550 2109 9396 2109 2288 2988 1534 2328 7282 2109 6800 2403 6613 2403 6623 2261 2626
HOME & REPAIRS
Akash Removals Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths Shun Yu Engineering
2421 8088 2109 2330 2988 1488 HOTELS
Novotel Citygate Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott
3602 8888 2286 8888 3969 1888
9021 1502 2987 8070 2162 5538 6273 7347 6976 8867 3520 3500 2611 9193 2164 7210 2420 1068 2109 3873 2109 4962 3194 5120 2988 8123
SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT
Caribbean Coast Club House Coastal Skyline Club House Impact Fitness Seaview Crescent Club House Smash Cricket Socatots Stepz Studio Tung Chung Crescent Club House
2109 9277 2179 6678 6902 2250 3473 8700 5400 4109 2385 9677 3152 7535 2403 6770
UTILITY, SERVICES & EMERGENCY HOTLINES
Tung Chung Ambulance Depot Tung Chung Fire Station Tung Chung Police Station
2984 0222 2984 1847 2984 0498 2984 9720 2984 0009 3484 3095 2980 3002 2984 8708 2984 8933 5465 5511 3489 1282 5402 4154 2984 7982 2984 0418 2984 1265 9022 5737 2983 8931 2980 2582 5991 6292 2980 2699
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Dalcroze Impact Fitness Jill Marshall Pilates South Lantau Paddle Club Tony’s Salon
6627 4806 6385 0304 9708 0187 6770 1462 2984 0990 HOME & REPAIRS
Findley Leung Group Koon Wah Hardware Lee Wo Construction Engineering Man Shun Construction & Engineering Mantech Electrical Wah Sing AV Company
2984 8334 2984 8487 2984 1802 2984 9833 2819 6823 2984 0587 HOTELS
Mui Wo Inn Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel
2984 7225 6810 0111 2985 8383 LEARNING CENTRES
Buddhist Fat Ho College Lantau International Kindergarten Lantau International School Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten Mui Wo Owls School & Kindergarten
2985 5150 2984 0302 2980 3676 3689 6709 2984 0006
PROPERTY AGENCIES
LEARNING CENTRES
Clement Art School Discovery Mind International Play Centre Greenfield International Kindergarten Kidznjoy Kindermusik Little Academy Salala Kids House Soundwaves English Education Centre Sun Island Education Foundation Sunshine House International Preschool Tung Chung Catholic School (Yat Tung) Tung Yan Day Nursery YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College
Bahce - Turkish Restaurant Café Bar Bombay Café Caffe Paradiso (Tom’s Café) China Bear Como Lake Deer Horn Restaurant & Bar High Tide Restaurant K’s British Restaurant La Pizzeria Lantana Italian Bistro Lantau Taste Restaurant Maverick’s Restaurant, Pui O Rome Restaurant Sun Fat Restaurant Tak Chai Kee Seafood Taco Loco The China Beach Club The Gallery The Kitchen The Stoep
2988 8282 2988 1809 3661 1694
Home Solutions Real Estate Proper Trip Real Estate
3483 5003 2984 1666 RETAIL
Bikes Mui Wo BMX Shop Friendly Bike Shop Lantau Base Camp Red Hall Chinese Antiques Renge House (clothes & accessories) The Red Lantern ZenvarA
2134 1234 2984 2278 5463 6060 2988 1368 2984 0080 2984 0099 9586 3459
SERVICES & OTHERS
Hop Sing Automobile Jumping Castles SPCA Suzanne Goodwin Photography Thai Palin Massage Twig (Design Studio)
2984 1410 9662 1747 2984 0060 9025 3949 3114 0030 6351 8923 TRANSPORTATION
Lee Hing Loong Hon Kee Transportation Company Lantau Tours New Lantau Bus Company Sun Rising Moving Company
2984 2268 2984 8494 2984 8255 2984 9848 2984 7918
Add your business for FREE @ www.arounddb.com
DB NUMBERS
LEARNING CENTRES
COMMUNITY & HEALTH 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 Discovery Speech Therapy, North Plaza Health & Care Dental Clinic Herbal Healthcare IMI (Natural Medicine Clinic) Island Health Island Veterinary Services The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council, North Plaza
2987 0855 2259 3422 2988 1515 2987 8136 2987 7061 2987 5633 8120 7835 2666 6183 2834 7276 2537 1087 2987 7575 2987 9003 2259 3422
CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES In Style Little Whale, North Plaza Nomadic Start-rite shoes
2987 8226 3480 1348 2987 8460 2987 2098
DAILY NECESSITIES 7-Eleven Convenience Store Fusion by PARKnSHOP Just Green Watson’s Pharmacy Wellcome
2987 4401 2987 7486 2448 1180 2987 4089 2947 9092
FINANCIAL SERVICES HSBC Travelex Money Exchange, North Plaza Luen Fat Securities Co. Ltd
2233 3000 2682 1210 2987 1851
HOME Good Luck Engineering Hoi Yu Transportation Home Services Engineering Hung Kee Co Interior 18 Japan Home Centre Next Furniture Rapee-living Rich Point Hardware Materials Tai Fat Hardware Store Wing On Department Store Yours Electrical Centre
LEARNING CENTRES
Future Stars Dance Academy
Dance classes based on the ISTD requirements conducted in a fun, disciplined and safe environment. 2987 6867 melissa@futurestarsdanceacademy.com
Highland Dance classes now available at MI Studio.Teacher qualified by the SDTA. All ages welcome 9123 0863 highlanddancehk@gmail.com
Tues & Wed classes at Discovery College 4 to 12 yrs - 2 fully costumed performances a year 8122 9475 admin@actingantics.com www.actingantics.com
Brightsparks Playgroup Fun, safe and interactive environment for your children. 9632 4287
British Studio of Art Hong Kong
New art studio in DB for 2 year-olds to adults www.bsoahk.com bsoahk@gmail.com 9132 5249
Dumper Trucks & Daisies
A dance school offering ISTD Freestyle, Hip Hop & Tap & RAD Ballet classes from Monday to Saturday at DBRC & Club Siena. All ages welcome. 2987 1571 www.islanddance.com.hk
A Montessori-based playgroup programme that focuses on the growth and development of the whole child. From 16 months to 4.5 years old 9667 6921 mandy@dumpertrucksanddaisies.com www.dumpertrucksanddaisies.com
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September 2014
2987 1373 2987 8494 2914 2378 3105 3588 2987 7111 2987 8898 2987 1777
Apple Travel The Best Travel Agency in DB 2987 2626 cas@appletravel.com
At Home in DB
French kindergarten open for registrations for school year 2014-2015 from K1 to P6. LG-05, DB North Plaza 6710 0391 info@ecole-discovery.com www.ecole-discovery.com
Information & Services for Residents of DB. Expat Relocation, Newcomer Orientation, Tours, Courses, Networking 9769 4701 sue@athomeindb.com www.athomeindb.com
A fun place for little ones to play and have loads of fun, fun, fun! 9327 0507 littleexplorers@team-fear.com
Midget Gems Kids Club Established playgroup for children 2-4 years in DB Plaza 6341 5764 dbmidgetgems@gmail.com www.midgetgemskidsclub.com
Playtime Kids DB Playgroup run by Montessori-trained teacher. From 18 months to 4 years. 2623 4099; 9054 0565 playtimekidsdb@yahoo.com, www.playtimekidsdb.com
Let us take the stress out of homework Homework Club and Private Tutoring, conveniently located. 9522 3297 info@wiseowl.com.hk www.wiseowl.com.hk
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 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 DMR School of Ballet
Bookazine, DB Ferry Dymocks & Gallery Fotomax (F.E.) Ltd Fun to Read, North Plaza Movieland Pen’n Paper P-Solution
OTHER SERVICES
Island Dance
LEARNING CENTRES
Musical Drama – Acting – Musical Theatre
9511 2107 9380 5771 2416 3088 8191 0813 2987 8608 2987 0813 2987 8143 2987 4217
MULTIMEDIA
HK School of Highland Dance
Little Explorers 2987 1313 2987 4488 2987 0061 2987 5087 2987 7803 2987 1041 2987 0222 2987 7082 2987 0789 2987 0789 2987 9268 2987 4428
Early Adventures Learning Centre Funfit HK International Learning Academy, North Plaza L’Ecole Française de Discovery, North Plaza SKH Wei Lun Primary School Sunshine House Int’l Pre-School Sunshine House Kindergarten, North Plaza Treasure House
6114 2436 2914 2142 2987 7331 3969 1000 2987 8028 2987 8088 2914 2202 2987 1201 2987 4338
Harvey Law Group International Canadian Law Firm in DB North Plaza offering you customised legal services on the many aspects of your personal and professional life 2116 1333 www.harveylawcorporation.com
PetcoDB Grooming & Pet Services With Trust, Love & Safe Care For the ones you love 2914 0382 info@petcoDB.com www.petcoDB.com Amity Shoes Care Mypetshop, North Plaza Pets Gallery The Optical House Well Supreme Laundry Services
5369 2329 2987 8873 2987 0428 2987 1368 2987 5151
REAL-ESTATE AGENCIES
Lifestyle Boats & Homes 2914 0888 info@lifestylehomes.com.hk www.lifestylehomes.com.hk Centaline Property Agency Ltd EPS Property Consultants Ltd Headland Homes Hong Kong Boats & Homes Kingsland DB Land Master Property Savills Hong Kong Ltd
2987 8484 2987 2023 2987 2088 6055 0146 2987 2987 2987 6238 2987 1919
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SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT
Movement Improvement Pilates, Yoga, Spinning, TRX, Zumba, Personal Training The complete solution on your doorstep at DB North Plaza 2987 5852 www.movementimprovement.com.hk
% Arabica Coffee Roaster & Farm DB North Plaza 2885 1312 info@arabica.hk www.arabica.hk 22º North Auberge Discovery Bay (Hotel), North Plaza Berliner Café Duvet Caramba Mexican Cantina Ebeneezer’s First Korean Restaurant Fresh Fruit Juice Paradise Hemingway’s by the Bay Figos Seaside Café il Bel Paese Island Café Jaspa’s, North Plaza Kiraku Tei Koh Tomyums La Création Bakery Life Cafe McSorley’s Ale House Mirch Masala, North Plaza Pacific Coffee Paisano’s, North Plaza Peony Chinese Restaurant Solera Subway Super Super The Venue Brazil Churrascaria & Bar Uncle Russ, DB Plaza Uncle Russ, North Plaza Zaks
2987 2298 2295 8288 2987 8203 2987 0966 2987 2848 2987 0036 2987 9123 2987 4768 2987 8855 2987 2915 2987 0202 2987 9311 2997 8688 2987 2886 2987 0767 2987 1829 2591 1422 2987 8280 2987 1337 2987 1662 2673 4445 2500 1950 2555 0772 2914 0005 2914 1308 2777 8411 2682 0068 2682 8110 2987 6232
Sportsmanship Gymnastics Programs, Health Consultancy, Weight Management & Nutritional Supplements 2870 3524 www.sportsmanship.usana.com
All your sporting needs right here in DB 2914 1323 info@sportsworld.hk
The HIT Room Bodypump, Grit Strength, Boxing, Core, TRX, High Intensity Training. Located at North Plaza 6621 7410 www.thehitroom.com.hk info@thehitroom.com.hk
“Everyone is a swimmer” 9725 3142 www.baysideaquatics.hk
A professional sports play program specially designed for children 16 months - 5 years of age. 34887724 info@tinytots.com.hk www.tinytots.com.hk 2987 7382 2987 9591 2987 7273 2987 7381
TOYS, ACCESSORIES & KIDS’ PARTIES
DB Party Lovers For all your party needs in DB 9132 5249 dbpartylovers@gmail.com www.dbpartylovers.com
CAISSA Chess Club HK The Club gets together at the DB North Plaza Community Center 9681 2896 contact@caissahk.com www.caissahk.com
Bo Bo House Toysland
2987 4230 2987 7859
TRANSPORT SERVICES
DARUMA SPORTS Offering Judo classes for adults & children at Discovery College & Community Hall 6244 6093 darumasports@gmail.com
Embody Classical Pilates, Yoga and more! 6624 8712 susan@embody.hk www.embody.hk
HK Dragons Football Club Football for 2.5- to 14- year old girls and boys 2987 4274 www.dragons.hk
Discovery Bay Medical Services Discovery Bay Office Centre Discovery Bay Police Discovery Bay Post Office Gas Leakage Emergency Hotline Lantau North Report Room San Hing Gas Co Typhoon Signal Enquiries Water Fault Reports Water Supplies Department
2525 6798 2238 3388 2987 4052 2987 6046 2435 4511 2988 2369 2987 6738 2835 1473 2811 0788 2824 5000
WELLBEING
Specialists in Pregnancy & Newborn Care Tel: 2851 9654 clientservices@amotherstouch.com.hk www.amotherstouch.com.hk
Body Talk Holistic therapy for illness, stress, sports injury & learning disorders 6683 5755 angie@bodytalksystem.com.hk www.bodytalksystem.com.hk
Child & Family Development Practice
Tinytots
SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT
Bayside Aquatics
UTILITIES, SERVICES & EMERGENCY HOTLINES
A Mother’s Touch
Sports World
Club Siena Discovery Bay Marina Club Discovery Bay Golf Club Discovery Bay Recreation Club
DB NUMBERS
Developing potential, exploring possibilities 2914 2223 www.childdevelopment.com.hk info@childdevelopement.com.hk
My Health Coach Lulu Improve your life balance through health and self awareness. I am able to offer a bespoke program just for you. 9154 1570 lulu@myhealthcoachlulu.com www.myhealthcoachlulu.com
M Spa Provides door-to-door treatment service. Conveniently located in the Plaza. Reflexology, massage, pedicure/manicure. 2987 0614
Nailed It Professional artificial nail services in DB 2987 2266
MOW | Grooming & Skin Care
Limousine Rental
Limo service in HK & China • pick up from / to DB Tunnel • direct transfer to SZ / GZ Airport 5303 3489 / 9654 0899 limo9689@gmail.com ACCESSDB Rehabus DB Golf Cart Services DB Transit Services DB Transportation Services Hire Car Bookings Passenger Telephone Hotline Wiselink Golf Cart Services
6283 9270 2914 2727 2914 0186 2987 7351 2987 6348 2987 0208 2987 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 Management
3651 2345 2728 8333 2678 2678 2987 4242 2987 7502 2238 3601
A unique retail & treatment space at DBN, that caters to your grooming, skin care & therapeutic requirements 2499 8826 / 6773 3103 www.mowhk.com mowhk@mowhk.com Afflatus Hair Workshop, North Plaza Maximum Care Salon De Coiffure Sense of Touch Spa Siena
2987 0283 2987 2060 2987 4112 2987 9198 2987 7382
Around DB's October 2014 issue coming out
October 1
September 2014
91
OUT THERE
OF CLICHÉS AND SEA COWS
I eliminated all the clichés from your mission statement, and I’m left with this blank sheet of paper!
After due consideration, for all intents and purposes, and as luck would have it, Peter Sherwood discusses a common pet hate
T
he first anniversary of my Around DB column is coming up, and to celebrate I’m going to take you on a wildly amusing, linguistical spree.
Illustration courtesy of www.thinkstockphotos.com
Look back, if you will, to March this year, when I was a mentor in Around DB’s Young Writers’ Competition. I learned a lot. Well, a new word anyway: ‘mentee’, used to describe the victim being mentored. Confusing it with ‘manatee’, I puzzled what a large, herbivorous marine mammal, sometimes known as a sea cow, might want with the English language, and particularly mine which originated from linguistically barren, suburban Australia.
92
Mentee sounds all wrong, like calling people without seats in buses ‘standees’, a word that also jars and sounds like it was made up by some pedantic, semiliterate transport official, yet according to the dictionary it is in common usage. I wondered if when you’ve been screwed on a deal there is the ‘screwer’ and the ‘screwee’. There isn’t. There is an ‘arrestee’, ‘enlistee’, ‘expellee’ and even (cringe) ‘kidnapee’. The only ‘ee’ word that bangs a loud and harmonious chord with me is ‘repartee’, along with a wish that mine were better.
Mark my words When I sat down with my mentee – I really do loathe the word; it grates on the finely honed literary sensibilities I pretend to have – we began with clichés. Beyond advice on avoiding great clusters of the things was my insight on how busking in Kabul pays more than writing. By now my mentee was looking dangerously depressed, but I soldiered on with a diatribe on clichés, which I figured would crush any further enthusiasm for survival via the written word, and not before spewing forth on plagiarism as a way to get ahead, although not for very long. I also suggested he might better turn his young hand to satire because it’s easy and anyone can do it. Writing sarcastic banter is the job of sticking your head out the window and reporting what you experience. It works for me. If you have nothing better to do and
Find more from Peter September 2014
are mildly interested, the word cliché is drawn from the French. In printing, a cliché was a printing plate cast from movable type. This is also called a stereotype. When letters were set one at a time, it made sense to cast a phrase used repeatedly, as a single slug of metal. ‘Cliché’ came to mean such a ready-made phrase. And here are a load of them, which I’ll use to impart some worldly wisdom. Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched, but in the here and now, you have a golden opportunity to grasp the nettle. It’s no skin off my nose, but it’s now or never. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. I’m not trying to teach granny to suck eggs, but take the bull by the horns and be thankful for small mercies because there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Believe me, you pays your money and takes your choice. Always remember, dear mentee, the world’s your oyster.
Peter Sherwood has lived in DB for 15 years. The former head of an international public relations firm, Peter is the author of 15 books and he has written around 400 satirical columns for the South China Morning Post.
at www.arounddb.com
An all new ESF International Kindergarten is coming to Tung Chung
Online Enrolment K2 - September 1 K1 - October 1
Where Inquiry Begins Start your child’s learning journey with ESF International Kindergarten, Tung Chung Our purpose-built, spacious kindergarten will provide the perfect environment for young learners. As the largest of the ESF Kindergartens, our space is being carefully planned to provide places of beauty that will support learning, stimulate imaginations, nurture children, families and staff, and truly inspire the wonderful memories of childhood. With well-resourced classrooms, great access to current learning technologies and indoor and outdoor play areas, young children will be presented with multiple opportunities to learn, socialise and develop their skills. Through inquiry-based learning and play, we encourage children’s natural curiosity and creativity, develop their personal and social skills, inspire them with a life-long love of learning and the confidence to fulfil their potential. To find out more about ESF International Kindergarten, Tung Chung please give us a call or send an email to kinder@tc.esf.org.hk. Enrolment opens October 1 for K1 Students entering the 2015/2016 school year and September 1 for K2 Tung Chung
New! Tung Chung at The Visionary Tel: 3762 2411 Email: kinder@tc.esf.org.hk opening for the 2015/2016 School Year Our other Kindergartens: Abacus at Clearwater Bay an IB World School
Tel: 2719 5712 Hillside on Stubbs Road an IB World School
Tel: 2540 0066 Tsing Yi
an IB World School
Tel: 2436 3355 Wu Kai Sha
an IB World School
Tel: 2435 5291
www.esfkindergartens.org.hk