Around DB November Issue 2018

Discovery Bay’s original community magazine

NOVEMBER 2018

Expert advice for Team FEAR competitors Overseas property investment guide Time to book that trip to Tokyo

Kids

‘N’

FASHION

Bryonie Guthrie with her mini-me daughter Nieve

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

FREE

TO UR TO DA Y! BO OK A

STAMFORD NURTURES CREATIVITY READY FOR LIFE BEYOND THE IBDP*

Limited spaces for 2018/19 entry – Contact us now!

Applications open for 2019/20 – Pre-primary to Grade 9 For more info: www.sais.edu.hk SCHOOL CAMPUS

25 Man Fuk Road, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong +852 3467 4500

ADMISSIONS OFFICE

Suites 4005-4007, Level 40, Two Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong +852 2500 8688

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*Stamford American School has applied for International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme candidacy and will seek authorization for the school’s first graduating cohort.

Scan to view more exciting properties

www.headlandhomes.hk

Local knowledge with expat service

We are no ordinary property agents. After 29 years in Discovery Bay, we believe we are the king of designer deals.

To read more about these and other properties, and what makes us DB’s most respected agents, visit our website or call the team on:

2987 2088

Katie 91507319

Charles 61407971

E290103

S278320

EAA LIC C-033418

Baby Basics T: +852 2311 1048 E: info@babybasicshk.com

NOW OPEN!

The same knowledgeable staff as bumps to babes but under NEW MANAGEMENT

All the brands you love - Childs Farm - Mamas & Papas - Water Wipes - Ella’s Kitchen

BREAST FEEDING AND BABY CHANGING

www.babybasicshk.com FB: @babybasicsHK Insta: @BabyBasicsHongKong Unit 1-3, 7th Floor, Lansing House, 41-47 Queen’s Road, Central (Just down Li Yuen Street East)

CONTENTS November 2018

PROFILE Crystal Lee of Kapuhala Train-in-Space

27

IN FOCUS

32

FAMILY MATTERS

TALKING POINTS

Are your little people big on style?

Uncle Russ Coffee Adventure Challenge

38 ESCAPES Best in Tokyo

REGULARS

Investing in property overseas

42

22

IN BRIEF Tony Kwong

24

GIVEAWAYS Win big prizes

36

WISH LIST November must-haves

57

RECIPES Say cheese

72

OUT THERE Telling it like it is

AGENDA 08

DB EVENTS

51

ISLAND LIFE

61

HK HAPPENINGS

65

CLASSIFIEDS

67

PROPERTY

69

LOCAL NUMBERS

For the latest Around DB updates, find us on:

ON THE COVER Bryonie Guthrie with her mini-fashionista Nieve

To read the cover story, turn to page 38

Discovery Bay’s original community magazine

NOVEMBER 2018

Expert advice for Team FEAR competitors

48

www.arounddb.com Publishers in Lantau since 2002

Overseas property investment guide Time to book that trip to Tokyo

Kids

‘N’

FASHION

Bryonie Guthrie with her mini-me daughter Nieve

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

FREE

Photo by Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com

We also publish…

FREE October/ November 2018

2018 / 2019 WIN!

A group SUP session and beach lunch for four at Treasure Island, and a barbecue for two at Le Jardin de Sophie

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

Join your community online

HOW REFORESTATION IS BRINGING BACK THE ISLAND’S BIODIVERSITY

WHY PET OWNERSHIP IS BETTER THAN PROZAC WHAT PADDLE SPORTS CAN DO FOR YOUR HEALTH AND FITNESS GOALS

Zein Williams

FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF

MUI WO-BASED ACTIVIST, TEACHER, MOTHER AND RUNNER NEWS & EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

Publishers in Lantau since 2002

FOOD & DRINK • LIVING • PETS • SPORTS • PASTIMES • EDUCATION • HEALTH • BEAUTY • SERVICES • TRAVEL & EXCURSIONS • COMMUNITY

PUBLISHER Corinne Jedwood corinne@baymedia.com.hk MANAGING EDITOR Rachel Ainsley rachel@baymedia.com.hk SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS & ONLINE EDITOR Claire Severn claire@baymedia.com.hk DIGITAL & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Katrina Mercado katrina@baymedia.com.hk SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Andrew Spires andrew@baymedia.com.hk ASSISTANT GRAPHIC DESIGNER Duey Tam duey@baymedia.com.hk SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER Monika Carruthers monika@baymedia.com.hk OFFICE MANAGER Maxine Parry accountant@baymedia.com.hk PHOTOGRAPHER Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com CONTRIBUTORS Alexander Grasic (intern) Elizabeth Kerr Suveera Sharma Peter Sherwood Jason Tse Samantha Wong PRINTING Champion Design & Production Company Ltd. Flat D, 18/F, Sing Teck Factory Building, 44 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong.

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

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

© BAY MEDIA GROUP LTD

www.evoqueportraits.com

DBRC CHARITY TENNIS CUP

Members of the Discovery Bay Recreation Club battled it out on court as they raised funds to support The Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association and Watch Dog Early Education Centre on October 6.

DB EVENTS

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

THE HOTTEST

IN DISCOVERY BAY

www.arounddb.com November 2018

9

DB EVENTS

DBIS SUSTAINABILITY WEEK

Discovery Bay International School students enjoyed a fun-filled and informative Sustainability Week from October 8 to 12. The annual event kicked off with a Green Walk.

Photos by Elina Makilammi

GRAND TOURNOI DE PÉTANQUE DBers flocked to Tai Pak Wan on October 20 to play France’s beloved summer sport pétanque. Profits from the event were donated to the French charity Telethon.

www.evoqueportraits.com

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November 2018 www.arounddb.com

SPONSORED CONTENT

Photos courtesy of Nikki Boot and Jonny Haines, and by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

Helping to rebuild villagers’ homes and clean up our beaches

12

D

B residents came together in the aftermath of Typhoon Mangkhut to help neighbours in Nim Shue Wan who were badly affected by the storm.

The tropical cyclone triggered the T10 warning – the highest possible signal – as hurricane-strength winds swept across the territory on September 16.

Many properties in Nim Shue Wan suffered severe damage, as well as loss of electricity and access to clean water. Some less mobile residents were unable to leave the village due to the path being blocked, while others had to take shelter with neighbours.

The relief work began on September 17, the day after the storm, with DBers quickly providing villagers

with food and clean drinking water. Essential supplies, like food, toiletries, detergents, crockery, glasses, clothes, shoes, bed linen and light bulbs, gradually amassed at the Nim Shue Wan gate.

“DB is a generous and supportive community. We are very thankful for the generous donations of food, water and other essentials during [the villagers’] time of need,” says Meeta Nayar, one of the donation drive coordinators.

People looking to donate larger items, such as household appliances, turned to Nikki Boot of DB Mothers & Friends. The DB-based social enterprise provides a regular collection service through which ‘preloved’ items from homes and offices are redistributed to charities, schools,

November 2018 www.arounddb.com

churches and those in need and as such, it was well placed to help the distressed villagers.

Nikki and her team got to work immediately, and the donation drive continued into October. Thanks to the people of DB and across Hong Kong, DB Mothers & Friends was able to deliver truck-loads of mattresses, foldable beds and every kind of furniture item and appliance to the Nim Shue Wan villagers.

“The road to deliver the pre-loved furniture and appliances was challenging – the typhoon had just about destroyed it – but we made it!” Nikki says. “Millions of thanks go to everyone who helped rebuild homes in this beautiful village.

A special shout out has to go to community group The White House

Gang, who helped the villagers for a month,” Nikki adds. “They’ve purchased more than 20 fridges and washing machines, and delivered them to Nim Shue Wan.” In addition to making donations and getting furniture into the village, DBers also did their bit posttyphoon by joining the emergency beach clean-ups (over 15 to date) organised by DB Green and Plastic Free Seas (PFS). Nim Shue Wan, Sam Pak Wan and Cheung Sha Lan were all badly affected, and there is still plenty of work to do, particularly at Sam Pak Wan. “Typhoon Mangkhut was far more destructive than any I have seen in the past, damaging the cement sidewalk along the back of Nim Shue Wan, as well as the natural path to Sam Pak Wan near DB North Plaza,” opens Dana Winograd of DB Green. “The government has done a great job repairing the walkway to Nim Shue Wan.” At least 200 people have helped out at the DB Green and PFS beach clean-ups, with volunteers harking not just from DB but from wider Hong Kong. Of the waste collected Dana says, “There was a huge amount of polystyrene broken down into microplastics and piled up on the beaches, as

well as bigger pieces, both on the beaches and blown into the foliage behind. There were more plastic drink bottles than usual – a few deep in the bushes were up to 40-years old.”

Saying how fantastic it was to see DBers taking the initiative and driving activities within the community, Dana is quick to praise Johnny Haines of Lantau Island Paddle. The Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) teacher arranged a post-typhoon beach clean-up at Nim Shue Wan on September 20 for DBIS students, parents and teachers.

Next on Jonny’s agenda is The Big DB Community Clean-up, organised alongside PFS. The event had to be postponed in October due to bad weather and is now scheduled for early 2019.

A student-led litter collection at beaches, parks and paths across

the resort, it’s going to be a great way for anyone looking to do volunteer work to get involved.

“It’s a really great community event, not just cleaning beaches but the pathways throughout DB, driving a sense of community ownership, pride and responsibility for our environment,” says Dana.

USEFUL CONTACTS • • • •

DB Green Facebook page DB Mothers & Friends Facebook page Lantau Island Paddle, lantaupaddle.wixsite.com/lantaupaddle Plastic Free Seas, plasticfreeseas.org

www.arounddb.com November 2018

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DB EVENTS

L A I T N E S S E TO TH E UPCOMING

YOUR GUIDE

COMMUNITY EVENTS

November 1

Through January 9

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

KYLE VINCENT CONCERT Hemingway’s Photo courtesy of Agnes Pang

YOU & ME ART EXHIBITION Pop Corn Mall, Tseung Kwan O In her latest exhibition, Tung Chung resident Agnes Pang celebrates the ‘work hard play hard’ motto so many Hong Kongers live by. The paintings show local people – street cleaners, scaffolders, waiters, chefs, storekeepers and shoe shiners – going about their business.

Admission is free. To know more, visit www.agnesrecycles.com.

THE BIG PICNIC

DB Plaza & Tai Pak Wan November 3

www.thebigpicnichk.com

Running from 10am to 10pm, The BIG Picnic is being performed across four stages this year. (Don’t miss YRock at 1.15pm and The Taken at 9pm.) As well as the performances, you can expect a Handmade HK market, Kids Zone and food stalls. Find the event programme within these pages or pick up a copy at the event.

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November 2018 www.arounddb.com

International pop sensation, entertainer and songwriter Kyle Vincent is performing for one night only here in DB. The show starts at 8pm. Tickets are priced at HK$200 and include two drinks.

Call 2987 8855 to find out more.

November 2

Photo courtesy of Rick Phares

WIN PRIZES FROM UNCLE RUSS COFFEE AND THE PIER BAR! Share your best photo of DB by tagging #arounddb on Instagram for a chance to win a complimentary drink from Uncle Russ or The Pier Bar every day for a week. You have until the 10th of this month to enter, and we will contact the winner via Instagram.

Congratulations to last month’s winner Michael Chase @miko.iko.unday (@miko.iko.unday).

November 3

November 3, 10, 17 & 24

TO ADOPT A PET through Hong Kong Paws Foundation (PAWS), call Kat Cheung on 9485 5188 or head to an Adoption Day in DB Plaza.

STOCK UP AT THE PLANT MARKET across from Haven Court, 2pm to 4.45pm. For more information, call 2238 3617.

DBEES ICE HOCKEY CLUB Elements Mall, West Kowloon Discovery Bay ice hockey club Dbees offers programmes for kids, aged five years and up. Under 10 classes start at 7.15am; classes for older players and beginners start at 8am.

For more information, visit www.dbeeshockey.com.

November 3, 10, 17 & 24

November 4, 11, 18 & 25

www.dbeeshockey.com

November 3, 11 & 25

SHOP THE HANDMADE HK MARKET in DB Plaza at The BIG Picnic on November 3 and on November 11 and 25. To know more, visit www.handmadehongkong.com

ISLAND DANCERS AT ARTS IN THE PARK Victoria Park, Causeway Bay November 4

ENJOY FREE YOGA FOR HELPERS classes at Yoga Bay, DB North Plaza from 7am to 8am. To register, visit yogabay.hk.

BOX OF HOPE Throughout DB November 5-9

www.islanddance.com.hk

Watch Island Dancers perform at the annual Arts in the Park Mardi Gras. They are also performing at The BIG Picnic on November 3 at 1.15pm and 2.30pm. To know more, visit www.islanddance.com.hk.

MELBOURNE CUP CHARITY LUNCH Aberdeen Marina Club, Aberdeen

DB-driven charity Angels November 6 for Children, in collaboration with Venture Studios and Farmer’s Market, is hosting its third Melbourne Cup Luncheon.

Enjoy free flowing drinks, canapes www.dbis.edu.hk and a three-course lunch, www.angels-for-children.org as well as an auction, raffle Box of Hope is back for its 11th year pledging to collect a massive and over HK$100,000 worth 33,000 shoeboxes. To do their bit, kids need to find a box, decorate of prizes. Proceeds go to Sunrise Cambodia and Bali Kids. it and then fill it with goodies and essentials for children in need. Single tickets are available at HK$1,250, tables for 10 to 12 Collection week is November 5 to 9. Visit www.boxofhope.org. start at HK$11,500. Visit www.angels-for-children.org. www.arounddb.com November 2018

15

DB EVENTS

DMR DANCERS AT DISNEYLAND

November 7, 14, 21 & 28

Hong Kong Disneyland

HAVE YOUR PRELOVED ITEMS COLLECTED at your

Catch dancers from DMR School of ballet at this year’s Disney Youth/ Performing Arts Parade. They are also performing at The BIG Picnic on November 3 at 11am and 1.30pm. Visit www.dmr-hk.com.

home from 2pm to 4pm, or bring them to the Environmental Toy House collection bins at Brilliance Court, Costa Court and Midvale bus stop. WhatsApp Nikki Boot at 9677 6676.

November 10

www.dmr-hk.com

THE ART OF WAR

St John’s Cathedral, Central

November 18

November 12

CLEAN NIM SHUE WAN with DB Green and Plastic Free Seas from 9am to 11am. Visit the DB Green Facebook page.

OPERATION SANTA CLAUS WALK Start: Tai Pak Wan

highjumpphotography.com

November 17

Directed and produced by DB residents Bethan Clark and Sara Shaw, The Art of War: A Choral Response to a Century of Conflict features a chamber choir, youth choir, soloists, actors and a live band. Proceeds from the event, which opens at 7.45pm, go to Médecins Sans Frontières.

For tickets, at HK$200, visit www.ticketflap.com.

TEAM FEAR RACE Throughout DB November 25

Photo by Maxine Parry

At the 13th annual Discovery Mind Operation Santa Claus Sponsored Walk, DBers are encouraged to dress in their festive best as they walk from Tai Pak Wan to Central Park. To know more, call 2987 8088.

November 23

www.team-fear.com

COMPETE IN A QUIZ NIGHT FOR PARKINSON’S UK at McSorley’s. For tickets, at HK$100 per person, call 2987 8280.

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November 2018 www.arounddb.com

Kids aged eight to 18 have been training hard for this year’s Uncle Russ Coffee Adventure Challenge, run by Team FEAR, in which they adventure race across DB in support of local charity Youth Outreach. Marshal registration is still open for youngsters aged 16 and up. To find out more, turn to page 42 or visit www.team-fear.com.

DB EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE

CONGRATULATIONS

DB 10KM RUN FOR CHARITY

EDY NG

SHARON HUBBER

Central Park, Siena One

December 1

September 23

www.evoqueportraits.com

Register now to lock in your slot for the 14th annual DB 10km and support local charity Impact HK’s work with the homeless. Registration is priced at HK$350 until November 15 and at HK$400 from November 16 to 29. Turn to page 27 or visit www.dbrunforcharity.com to find out more.

Photo courtesy of Edy Ng

Stemming from the idea that everything deserves a second chance, Tung Chung resident Edy Ng’s Wood Soul, a book on home design, is big on recycling. Edy shares his story, his love of nature and 101 inspiring ideas for renovations and revamps.

To purchase a copy, at HK$280, visit www.ver-ed.com.

Pui O Beach

DB resident Sharon Hubber’s first children’s picture book Rumble Grumble Gurgle Grump follows the story of a young mouse who awakes after a long winter sleep, encounters an underground monster and meets old friends who are trying to tell him something. To grab a copy, visit www.rumblegrumblebooks.com.

NEW in DB

LANTAU HIGHLIGHT

PICADA AT THE BEACH

Illustration by Matthew Boobyer

DR AARON ANDERSON

EPIC FOODS

November 17-18

fb.me/epicfoodshk

Photo courtesy of Dr Aaron Anderson

niorecords.com

Enjoy Hong Kong’s first Latin Beach Festival! Treasure Island is collaborating with Picada (the restaurant in Central) to provide a weekend of entertainment including performances by Chris Polanco and Azucar Latina. For tickets, starting HK$150, visit pelago.events.

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Osteopath Dr Aaron Anderson, a fiveyear DB resident, is now working at Quality Health Medical Centre in DB Plaza. To make a booking, WhatsApp 9375 5108 or visit www.movementsquared.com.

November 2018 www.arounddb.com

New neighbourhood butcher/ deli/ fb.me/epicfoodshk diner Epic Foods offers delectable dinein dishes as well as prime cut steaks, and fresh, smoked and marinated meats and seafood, all at great prices. Epic Foods is committed to sourcing only the best global products with an environmental focus, and customers are assured top quality items and service. Visit the shop at G26A DB North Plaza or the Epic Foods HK Facebook page.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Epic Foods where quality , value and service come together

W Photos courtesy of Epic Foods

hen it comes to sourcing topquality food for the whole family, Epic Foods at DB North Plaza is hard to beat. From prime cuts of meat to deli specialties, quality wines and delicious desserts, whatever dish you’re planning to whip up, it’s the perfect place to source those allimportant ingredients.

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Open since July 2018, Epic Foods has taken over the mantel as DB’s leading butcher from Chef’s Choice, which occupied the same prime DB North spot for four years prior. But while Chef’s Choice owner Sami Verho has moved on to a new venture on Hong Kong Island – staying true to his roots

with a Nordic delicatessen – the core team has stayed on board, with some original staff returning to the fold, too.

“Customer service is extremely important to us at Epic Foods,” says operations manager Anita Ko, “so it’s great for the community to see familiar faces when they come into the store. Many of our products are familiar as well – we’ve retained a large portion of the most popular items and have enhanced our offering with extras such as highquality Italian artisan deli meats, cheeses, pasta and wines, with more yet to come.

“At Epic Foods, we understand just how important it is to know

November 2018 www.arounddb.com

where your food has come from, and we pride ourselves on sourcing top-quality products from reliable sources with a focus on sustainability and respect for the environment.

“We know that DB residents place a strong emphasis on health and wellbeing, but we also know that it can be stressful trying to find the right products at the right prices.

Our aim is to take that stress away by providing exceptional quality food while at the same time offering great value for money.”

Speaking of value for money, Epic Foods’ revamped dine-in menu is a great choice for customers wanting to sit back, relax and let

someone else do the cooking for them. And it’s proving to be a big hit.

“The new menu stays true to our product range,” says Anita. “We still serve the same signature sandwiches and cooked dishes, but we’ve added more options including our best-selling burrata, Rovagnati ham, Spanish coca, tasty flatbreads and a platter of award-winning sausages.

customers can enjoy a selection of German-themed treats from the special Oktoberfest menu, such as smoked salmon on pumpernickel, roasted beer-glazed pork knuckle, pork schnitzel and epic sausage platters, all washed down with a hearty bottle of German beer.

Even better, a 10% discount is on offer for all purchases over HK$500 until November 30, covering both retail products and à la carte dining.

delighted to hear that festive products will be in store soon, with customers able to pre-order turkeys and selected specialist foods in advance, as in previous years.

“We’re delighted to able to serve the DB community all year round,” says Anita. “We want to focus on what is important to DB families.

Good food is an essential part of healthy living, and Epic Foods has all the ingredients DBers need to enjoy a balanced diet without breaking the bank. It’s great to be part of the DB community.”

“We pride ourselves on the variety on offer as well as our commitment to maintaining the highest possible standards of hygiene and service.”

And with Christmas fast approaching, customers will be

Adding to the tempting offerings, from now until November 11,

• Shop G26A, DB North Plaza, 2172 6111, EPIC FOODS HK Facebook page

CONTACT EPIC FOODS

www.arounddb.com November 2018

21

IN BRIEF

Be inspired by Tony Kwong The Bike Hub, DB North Plaza

T

ell us about your passion for biking.

I’ve been into biking for around 20 years now, starting out on the trails in Toronto, where I grew up. I’m into mountain biking, which includes a lot of downhill paths. I go biking almost every day. I enjoy the fitness challenge and the company of other bikers. We encourage one another to do our best and improve our endurance.

Photo by Andrew Spires

What are your thoughts on the local biking scene? Hong Kong has some fantastic trails and biking opportunities that will grow as people of all ages take up biking as a sport or fun family activity. I find the Chi Ma Wan Trail the most challenging in Lantau, and there are a lot of trails for beginners. The Trappist and Tiger’s Head trails are good ones in DB, and I’ve been enjoying them since I moved here in 2012. A large segment of the Trappist Trail has been removed due to the recent developments but it’s still great if you’re looking for a quick ride that won’t take up your whole day.

also teaching the competitors about safety and efficiency. We’ll be doing bike checks on November 25 to help ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Is the biking community in DB growing? Yes, that’s one of the reasons I opened The Bike Hub in June. It’s a one-stop bike hub, where everything revolves around the bicycle. We offer equipment and repairs, and multi-level workshops and courses of eight or 12 weeks.

You can bring in a bike for service, rent a bike, build your dream bike, buy or service kids’ bikes... More than that, it’s a meeting place for the biking community – a friendly, welcoming space that encourages biking culture and an active lifestyle.

Does your whole family bike?

Yes! Biking is a good family activity because it’s quite easy to learn and everyone can go at their own pace.

My six-year-old son is just starting to explore the Lookout Point Trail now.

Have you been involved in the lead-up to Team FEAR? The Bike Hub’s played an active role, supplying bikes that are speedspecific and tailored for kids, and

FIND IT

• The Bike Hub, Unit 12, LG/F Office Block 2, DB North Plaza, 8191 0362, tony@bikehub.club, www.bikehub.club, The bike hub Facebook page Find more local heroes @ www.arounddb.com

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So, The Bike Hub is much more than just a shop? It’s a hub created by bikers for bikers.

I want to offer various activities, including guided tours of the area.

I’m talking to Tony Pringle at DB’s Bike Energy Lab; he’s part of the road biking community. Road and trail bikers usually stick to their own since the gear and trails are different, but I want to create a shared space where everyone can hang out and have a coffee or beer, and share their passion for biking. With this, we can expand the cycling community, not just in DB but across Hong Kong. I hope that DB can set the scene to promote Hong Kong as a great biking destination for both endurance and easy riders.

November 2018 www.arounddb.com

ISL

EXOTICS

ISLAND

We’re the only veterinary clinic on Hong Kong island dedicated exclusively to care for your exotic pets ISL

www.taiwaiexotic.com Tel: 2858 9388

Open 9am -7pm, 7 days a week

2/F Hing Tai Building, 139-140 Connaught Road West, Sai Ying Pun A few minutes taxi ride from Central Ferry Pier

Website : www.papyrusedu.com Email : info@papyrusedu.com Tel / WhatsApp : 63601715

Inspire future engineers with…..

3D Modelling & Printing

Unfold Children Full Potential

Having Fun

Located At DB North Plaza

Imagination

Creative Thinking

Cooperative Skills

Problem Solving

GIVEAWAYS

HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES! Win a Bubble, Maxi or Smart Sparkling Win a Grazing Platter from Water Machine from SodaMagic The Green Platters The Green Platters is offering one reader a grazing platter containing fresh fruits, artisan cheeses, nuts, dips, crackers, chocolates and more (worth HK$749). The prize will be delivered to your doorstep. www.sodamagic.hk

SodaMagic is offering three readers a Bubble, Maxi or Smart Sparkling Water Machine (worth HK$980, HK$1,280 and HK$1,480 respectively).

SodaMagic offers carbonation systems that transform tap water into sparkling water in the comfort of your home and office. Aiming to help customers save 80% of costs and reduce plastic waste, CO2 refills are available across Hong Kong. Enjoy free delivery services for orders over HK$600. For more information, visit www.sodamagic.hk.

Providing luxury gourmet catering that’s 100% stress free, The Green Platters creates delicious, gorgeous looking vegetarian and www.thegreenplatters.com vegan-friendly grazing platters using premium ingredients and organic produce.

The company also supplies earth-friendly disposables, flower arrangements and additional props on request. To place an order, call 9494 8653 or visit www.thegreenplatters.com.

Win a place at Faust’s Winter Theatre or Creative Writing Programme Faust International Youth Theatre is offering two readers a place at either its Winter Theatre or Creative Writing Programme (worth HK$2,980 each).

www.faustworld.com

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November 2018 www.arounddb.com

Faust’s Winter Theatre Programme, for children aged four to 12, sees kids practice drama skills using different themed stories and present what they have learned in an open session. The Creative Writing Programme, for children aged six to 13, encourages kids to express their ideas through stories, while teaching them specific writing techniques. Each programme runs from December 17 to 21, December 27 to 29 and January 2 to 4 at the Faust studio in Sheung Wan. For more information, visit www.faustworld.com.

Around DB prizes are incredibly easy to get your hands on, and you have until the 10th of the month to apply.

Scan the QR code, or go to www.arounddb.com/giveaways, select the giveaway you want, and enter your details into the online form.

Win tickets to MAMMA MIA!

Photo by Brinkhoff/ Mögenburg

Lunchbox Theatrical Productions is offering three readers a pair of tickets to see MAMMA MIA! (worth HK$795 each) at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wanchai on January 17 at 7.45pm.

Described as the sunniest of all musicals, MAMMA MIA! follows an enchanting tale of family and friendship that unfolds on a paradisiacal Greek island. Sing along to ABBA’s greatest hits including Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes It All and, of course, Mamma Mia. The show runs from January 16 to 27.

For tickets, starting at HK$395, visit premier.hkticketing.com.

Win a place at HK Dragons’ Christmas or New Year Football Camp

Photo by Ander Martinez

HK Dragons Football Club is offering one child a place at either its Christmas or New Year Football Camp (worth HK$1,200 each). The camps run from December 17 to 21 and December 31 to January 4 at DB North Plaza Community Centre Pitch.

HK Dragons offers football coaching for girls and boys of all abilities aged three to 18. Its Christmas and New Year camps are suitable for Little Dragons (U4 to U5), Junior Dragons (U6 to U8) and Senior Dragons (U9 and up). Kids develop technique, improve skills and play matches in a fun and safe environment. Each participant receives a certificate at the end. For more information, visit www.dragons.hk.

Congratulations to last month’s winners Bryan Lunt for a place at HK Dragons’ half-term football camp; and Cecile Thomas for tickets to Geronimo Stilton, Live in the Kingdom of Fantasy.

PROFILE

Louder than Words “O

Photo by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

h, that’s good luck!” declares Crystal Lee by way of trying to put a positive spin on a pigeon relieving itself directly on my face. It should be said her self-control vis-à-vis not laughing out loud is admirable. That could be expected.

It’s mid-afternoon in DB Plaza, and Crystal is sitting in the shade, looking bizarrely relaxed considering the schedule she’s about to reveal.

Referring to herself a couple of times as “difficult” (generally a word used to describe women who are confident and capable), it’s clear she hates politicking and has little patience for stupidity; she’s assured in her beliefs and secure in her identity. She doesn’t mince words.

It’s remarkably refreshing.

Helping people that need it A Hong Kong native, Crystal attended secondary school in Boston, and after a change in financial status at home, studied economics, French and Spanish at the University of New Brunswick.

Crystal Lee takes the reins of the annual DB 10km Run for Charity and brings new meaning to multi-tasking.

Elizabeth Kerr reports

“The language part is what I really liked. The economics is what my mother liked,” she cracks. “But it’s been very useful.”

Understatement. Upon returning to Hong Kong in 2003, Crystal found work as a translator, and eventually met up with the Latin Dragons dragon boat team, where her Spanish came in handy. The group of friends founded The Crayon Society, which recycles crayons by melting them down and remoulding them to sell for charity.

Now 38, Crystal credits her penchant for charitable work to her social worker aunt in Boston, and she’s carried it on here.

Money from the twice-loved Crayolas goes to The Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital, and the venture has spawned The Crayon Run, held for the second time this May. Parent/ child teams circle Tai Pak Wan for a good cause – normally just the hospital but this year also a local student, JP Castillo, who required pricey surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital  in Baltimore. www.arounddb.com November 2018

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PROFILE

Crystal doubled the donations from the year before, and did it fairly. Kids and parents have to cross the finish line together.

“It was a big educational event because DB children got to understand that they are fortunate to have good health, and learnt to be compassionate to people around them,” says Crystal. “They also learnt that anyone can start something to help people, as long as they put their heart to it.”

Crystal chose The Duchess of Kent because it is a local cause – it’s Hong Kong’s only children’s hospital right now, and the hospital happily gives tours to donors who’d like to see their cash in action.

That’s important: Crystal is all about action.

“I’ve worked with a lot of charities in the past and [husband] Stefano does a lot of races. And they’re so expensive. How can a race cost HK$600?” she asks with a disbelieving shake of the head. “Are you really giving all this money to who you say you are? I understand that in order to scale you need money for full-time office staff, but it feels like a little too much. I’m a strong believer in getting stuff done and helping people that need it.

The [money raised by] The Crayon Society has always gone to people you can see. I hang on to that.”

Creating train-in spaces The Stefano that Crystal is talking about is her Italian-born husband of seven years, prior Around DB profile Stefano Passarello. The couple met in that stalwart Wanchai institution, Mes Amis. After living in Kennedy Town, they soon started looking for a a home that would work for a family, which now counts a six-year-old son and infant daughter. The green, the space and the pace of DB appealed to them, but it took a while.

“We came here to check it out and the first impression was not so hot.

It was a little too constructed, and we thought we’d never consider it.

But then we came a second time, a third time, and it started to feel comfortable,” Crystal recalls. The couple finally relocated to Discovery Bay ahead of their wedding. “So when his family came over they could stay over,” Crystal says with a laugh. “An Italian family is not staying at a hotel.”

Next up for Crystal is the one-two punch of opening the ambitious Kapuhala eco-resorts in Koh Samui and Sicily, born from the combination of what she and Stefano agreed was a rising travel trend of people looking for healthy vacation options, and The HIT Room’s Cindy and Wesley Reid selling their gym.

“Technically, they are resorts. It’s glamping, and you eat the food that grows there, you can work out every day – the way we’d like to on holiday.

And that’s become our mission, our baby. We had an opportunity in DB with The HIT Room because Cindy and Wesley were ready to move on.

So we took over the gym, and now it’s Kapuhala too.

“We have turned it into a ‘social gym’ where people are encouraged to hang out and burn calories together, and when we make a profit, part of it will go to charity too,” Crystal adds. “Our members are the human engine to society.”

DB 10km Run for Charity So, to add it all up, Crystal administers The Crayon Society and The Crayon Run and runs

FIND IT

• • • •

Kapuhala Train-in-Space (in DB), while raising two children. Oh, and she helps out at Stefano’s accounting firm as marketing manager. If that sounds like a full dance card, Crystal’s also the new organiser of the annual DB 10km, this year on December 1.

As with The HIT Room, Crystal took over the race when the previous organisers decided to bow out.

Given her work with The Crayon Run, Crystal seemed the logical choice to take the reins. “I had to squeeze time out for this,” she admits. “I have The Crayon Run, I run my gym, I help out my husband at his business… but I couldn’t say no to HK$100,000 or HK$200,000 for people in need.

I have faith in the community to come out and support it.” This year’s benefactor is Impact Hong Kong, a non-profit that helps the homeless with everything from finding employment and housing to a dignified meal.

“They do a great job helping local people, and that is the legacy of the DB10K – supporting local organisations, women's charities sometimes. I didn’t have any women to nominate this year, but Impact Hong Kong is reliable, straightforward and helps a mass of homeless local people, the ones who sleep in the street just a few MTR stations away from our comfortable homes.”

The sun’s gone down and Crystal jumps up to run a few errands before hopping on the ferry to her salsa class; sadly, she didn’t make it to donate blood today. Thank heaven for difficult women.

DB 10km, dbrunforcharity.weebly.com Impact Hong Kong, www.impacthk.org Kapuhala, www.kapuhalaspace.com The Crayon Society, www.meetup.com

Find more local heroes @ www.arounddb.com

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November 2018 www.arounddb.com

INVOLVED

e m o H A

TURN YOUR HOUSE INTO

HomeSolutions property agent Kelly Merrick advises Katrina Mercado on doing up a Lantau village house

A

rranged across three floo r s , e a c h o f 7 0 0 square feet, plus a 700-square-foot roof, one of the big draws of a village house is the living space it provides.

“People can lease or buy a whole village house or simply choose one or two floors,” HomeSolutions property agent Kelly Merrick opens. “More than one family can live in the same house with separate entrances to their homes. Of course, more space allows for the inclusion of more features and appliances, and larger rooms.”

www.homesolutions.hk

Built to home extended families, village-house interiors were originally broken into multiple small rooms but there is the option to open them up by removing interior walls and, according to Kelly, many village houses have already been updated in this way.

30

“There is no procedure to apply to the government in order to be able to make changes to a village house’s internal living spaces,” she says. This means that families have the luxury to personalise their space to suit their needs.

Removing non-structural walls will make a house feel more spacious and maximise floor-plan potential.

create more space and improve the flow of light, Kelly advises that kitchens and bathrooms are what really make a village house – this is where you should focus your renovating dollars. Kelly also suggests that homeowners install split-type air conditioners that both heat and cool rooms. “This

is a huge selling/ leasing point, especially during winter and the cost difference is negligible.”

Internal renovations and replacement of existing windows and doors are quite common but Kelly warns that the government no longer allows residents to create additional living spaces on the roof or in the garden.

“At this time, no new rooftop structures are being approved

CONTACT

While an open-plan layout will November 2018 www.arounddb.com

•

by the government,” she says.

“Non-declared structures are officially illegal.

“Previously, the government allowed residents to declare extra spaces and have them inspected by structural engineers every five years to qualify for a grey area of legality,” Kelly adds. “If you rent or buy a house with structures that have been properly declared, you may keep the spaces as long as they meet the inspection requirements. Properties are inspected for safety reasons – to prevent dangerous materials like metal sunshades from flying off during typhoon season.”

Residents also need to be mindful about safety when creating living spaces in intitle areas [like gardens].

It’s important, for instance, that no public accessways are blocked.

“As a tenant, be sure to always ask permission from your landlord prior to making any changes. If you’re a homeowner in doubt, it’s a good idea to chat with the village chief to ensure his approval and support,” Kelly concludes. “Always review current building and government policy for each home before making renovations.”

HomeSolutions, www.homesolutions.hk

IN FOCUS

Buyer

Beware Hongkongers are mad for property investment, and with skyrocketing local prices investors are increasingly looking overseas. Elizabeth Kerr reports

R

Illustrations courtesy of www.freevector.com

eal estate has been referred to as the single greatest asset an investor could buy.

Stocks, bonds, commodities and currencies are subject to volatility, and lifestyle investments like wine, art, vintage cars, stamps and coins – ‘investments of passion’ as global property agency Knight Frank refers to them – are hit and miss.

You might get lucky or you might get vinegar. But real estate as an asset class never goes out of style, and over the long term it never loses value. Or so the thinking goes.

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Nonetheless, research by Hong Kong advisory IP Global suggests the appetite for investment property doubled in the SAR between 2016 and 2017. Reasons for this include a desire for a second home, sending kids to school, and post-97 wealth preservation. Smart investment is also ingrained in Cantonese culture.

“Hong Kong is very sophisticated and cosmopolitan, blending the cultures of Asia and Europe. [It’s] 98% Cantonese… [and] Cantonese

Recently, property markets worldwide have found themselves subject to stiff cooling measures in the form of taxes (Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Canada), peaking (London), closing (Switzerland), mass exodus (London again) or restrictive shortterm rental regulation (Japan). As a side effect, Argentina’s currency crisis will have a negative impact on property owners, particularly investors, as it drastically increases interest rates, and Thailand’s last coup d’etat has yet to result in elections. Property has become a thorny issue.

November 2018 www.arounddb.com

habits and customs are dominant,” theorises Peter Chu, overseas advisor for the Plover Cove project in Chiang Mai, of Hongkongers’ thirst for investment property.

Andrew Sprowell, BuyAssociation Asia managing director, agrees.

“Relatively cheaper overseas property often provides the only opportunity for a large demographic of Hong Kong investors to access this popular investment asset class,” he says, adding that for those who can stomach Hong Kong’s prices, overseas property is also a strong way to diversify a portfolio.

Oz and the Great White North However, according to analysis

by Colliers International, property bubbles are in danger of blowing up in two of Hong Kong’s most preferred investment locations, Australia and Canada (and Hong Kong), stemming from elevated valuations and high debt rates. Despite those fears, investors continue to pour into those locations. Both Toronto and Vancouver saw transaction volumes drop after each implemented 15% foreign buyer duties, but not significantly.

Why? Australia and Canada are transparent lifestyle locations, with good schools, stable,

progressive governments favourable currencies.

and

“Mainland Chinese investors [invest] to move capital,” notes Jennifer Kay Chan at Forest Hill Real Estate in Toronto. Demographics also play a part in locations like Toronto and Sydney, where high immigration rates mean viable tenant pools.

Which raises the most important questions about the purpose and stability of an investment for those considering foreign assets.

Apart from market fundamentals, security and goals are where to begin. Security includes factors such as tax laws, ease of exit and, increasingly, transparency; goals simply refer to what the investment should accomplish.

As a rule, Andrew recommends medium to long-term investments in locations with strong resale markets and limited supply.

“In addition, restricted supply generally translates to higher tenancy occupancy rates, so your investment property is tenanted and contributing an

operating income consistently.”

So where does anyone considering stepping into the investment arena go? The same recommendations come up time and again for good reason: Tokyo, Berlin and Birmingham are noted for their favourable demographics, strong rental yields, robust tourist arrivals and, above all, affordability.

Resort investments are always a consideration. Thailand, Indonesia (specifically Bali) and Vietnam are among the most popular destinations for investors seeking soft white sand and crystalline waters. Properties in those spots pull triple duty: revenue generators, vacation homes for owners, and potential retirement locations.

The Land of Smiles Even with rising land costs, Thailand remains a popular choice among Hongkongers.

Geographical proximity helps, as does a similar culture, and relatively strong transparency and property rights. Southeast Asia is a rising property policy star – ownership laws and transparency are improving every day – and Thailand has been the vanguard for years.

Stable development and transparency are “key essential and sustainable attributes attractive for both Western expatriates and Hongkongers, almost nullifying the 2014 coup,” says Peter. “Relatively it was inconsequential compared with the nationwide unrest frequent in regional countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia.”

Additionally, the cost of living remains reasonable when compared to other major locations, the lifestyle is nearly ideal for retirees, and there’s a choice between urban centres and more relaxed, less frantic emerging city locations such as Chiang Mai and Phuket. Added to which, Thailand

www.arounddb.com November 2018

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IN FOCUS

has no annual property tax. Buyers pay everything up front, once, at transfer.

“Moreover, the standard of medical care across Thailand is very high and costs are extremely reasonable.

This has helped to make the country a popular destination for medical tourists and retirement. Together with its reputation for international schools and [as] a haven for IT nomads, Thailand ranks top for comprehensive value and an all-in-one starter and retirement investment,” finishes Peter.

Dear old Blighty But sun, sand and surf aren’t for everyone. Notably, even with Brexit set to have an enormous impact on London next year (despite the official word from The City of London), the UK capital remains the world’s single most popular investment location.

according to Knight Frank data) the door has swung wide open for alternative locations in the so-called Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine. Major infrastructure (high speed rail links, new airports) and business development commitments have put Manchester (home of the new BBC studio), Birmingham (HSBC, Deutsche Bank and PWC headquarters), Liverpool and Leeds on investor radar for their stellar capital appreciation and up to 5% rental yields. Second tier UK is attracting Londoners too, and graduates are remaining both for growth potential and for a higher, affordable standard of living.

either volatile or underperforming – and so “for mere mortals such as us, it represents serious risk,” says Andrew. “Property in comparison is a stable asset class within strong markets and provides a stable income… Working with an expert in the market allows you to build a portfolio that meets your investment goals, whether that is a leaning towards capital growth, income or a mixture of both.”

Traditional investments like bonds and equity markets are currently

“A lot of investors see Brexit as an opportunity. They don’t necessarily see the politics as anything negative,” says Mei Wong, Knight Frank’s executive director, head of international residential sales.

“They just want to make sure they’ll continually get tenants, a reasonable rent, a good price and so on.”

Consistent undersupply, widespread public-private regeneration that boosts surrounding area prices and a mature and transparent legal infrastructure have set the bar for all investment markets, and on a cultural front, what Andrew refers to as “Generation Rent” has become a key rental sector driver, creating a viable tenant pool for owners.

FIND IT

The UK ticks all the boxes, and with London having peaked (prices dropped 0.4% last quarter

• • • • •

BuyAssociation, www.buyassociation.co.uk Colliers International, www.colliers.com Forest Hill Real Estate, foresthill.com Knight Frank. www.knightfrank.com Plover Cove, www.plovercove.com

Find more topical local topics @ www.arounddb.com

34

November 2018 www.arounddb.com

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November 2018 www.arounddb.com

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37

FAMILY MATTERS

Photos by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

Sharp-dressed kids

38

Ainara Ipinazar with her children Nerea and Inaki

November 2018 www.arounddb.com

Style-conscious millennial parents see their children as extensions of themselves and pay top dollar to have them look that way. Suveera Sharma reports

O

ur own childhood memories are made of sun-kissed noses and dust-stained cheeks, of trousers torn at the knees and mismatched socks. Of looking like a joke, while laughing at one. Back then, we couldn’t care less about our appearances but, of course, times have changed. Kids today are increasingly particular about how they look, and parents want their little people to be big on style.

We live in a world where fashionforward parents are willing to pay top dollar for the perfect outfit for their young ones, and ‘grandma bait’ is a retail industry term for wildly expensive children’s clothing. Most millennial parents dress their kids in the best that they can afford, and purchasing power is increasing with many couples choosing to have kids later in life. As a result, kidswear is big business, overtaking both womenswear and menswear to become the fastest growing segment in the industry.

Asia is the largest growing market for kids’ fashion, and the industry has been smartly adapting to demands with numerous kids-only brands cropping up both online and on the high street. Many of the big established brands, meanwhile, from Gucci and Stella McCartney to the more affordable Zara and Uniqlo, now operate hugely successful children’s labels.

Bryonie Guthrie with her daughter Nieve

versions of themselves is going from strength to strength, and the hippest kids now dress down in street or gymwear, again mirroring their parents. Unisex clothing is another popular trend which promotes casual comfort, and gets away from the ‘pink for girls, blue for boys’ gender stereotype.

DB resident Ainara Ipinazar is a kidswear designer and manufacturer, who has worked in the garment industry for 15 years.

She is also a mother, to Nerea, 7, and Inaki, 3. Ainara sells her effortlessly chic Boometi designs, for kids aged 0 to 12, through her website and in select stores from Spain to Singapore. Asked what most parents want from kids clothing, Ainara says they like pieces that are both stylish and comfortable. “Natural, good quality fabrics are preferred.

“We as a company do not believe in trends,” Ainara adds. “We believe in comfort, in quality and in designs that give the kids freedom to play and run around. So, we follow trends to a limit; more in terms of colour and season rather than design. Fabric choices and trimmings, and fit and ease play a big role.”

Form versus function

So what are Ainara’s bestsellers?

“For girls, dresses sell the most.

Parents want to dress their little girls up in cute frocks that are practical and comfortable. Boys often go for colour-coordinated pieces that are fashionable yet rational.”

Nowadays, the trends doing the rounds in the adultswear section often translate into kidswear. The ‘mini-me’ craze where mums and dads dress their kids as miniature

Proving Ainara’s point, Bryonie Guthrie, DB mother of Nieve, 3, says, “My daughter prefers dresses.

I make sure they are sensible and wearable, considering her age. I 

www.arounddb.com November 2018

39

FAMILY MATTERS

go for shorter dresses that are easy to move around in, easy to take off and wear. Instead of monotones, I prefer to buy bright, cheerful colours for her, and that keeps us both happy.”

Like many mums, Bryonie finds that her daughter is very opinionated about her clothes even at this age.

“Nieve went from not caring about what she wore to ‘princess mode’ suddenly over a couple of weeks.

Given a chance, she would dress like a princess every day, in different shades of pink and rainbow.”

Mini fashionistas While few of us dress our kids based on what celebrity parents are choosing, the Burberry- and Dolce & Gabbana-clad kids, with their pictures splashed all over Instagram, commanding millions of likes, are hard to ignore. When every social event gets reduced to ‘who wore what,’ it is not long before kids, celebrity or not, get dragged into the circus, and clothes become a status and social statement.

to dress kids up and make them look super cute, and it’s good to encourage them to take pride in their appearance from an early age.

Regardless of dollars spent, parents love to see their children in outfits that reflect their own personal sense of style, though many balk at turning them into tiny fashionistas.

“It is perhaps not right to adopt ‘the latest trend’ or the new celebrity fad. Every child is different and has different habits and needs,” Bryonie says.

“We do not want to create mini adults, and go against the nature of childhood,” Ainara adds. “Fashion and trends should be followed, but not blindly.” This is true. Our children grow up too fast anyway, why give them a push from our side to fast-forward their journey into adulthood?

Fashion Trends

for Kids

1 Denim From skinny jeans to cropped styles, jeans are versatile and easy to pair with anything.

Look out for designs with applique – embroidery or patchwork 2 Camouflage Camo is a great print for active boys and girls this autumn/ winter. The look works especially well when it’s worn from top to toe

3 Country chic Florals in pastel colours, Liberty-style prints and smocked or collared dresses are bang on trend.

As are tweed or tartan trousers with chunky jumpers

It’s worth looking briefly at the ‘insane’ amounts celebrities spend on their kids’ clothing.

Kim Kardashian and Beyonce champion the ‘designer clothes for kids’ trend, forking out as much as HK$20,000 on a Dolce & Gabbana dress... for their tiny tots. Blue Ivy – the daughter of Beyonce and Jay Z – is the most copied child celebrity in Hollywood, frequently photographed wearing clothes that even grown-ups covet.

Back in the real world, most of us wouldn’t hesitate to spend HK$150 on a kid’s dress from Zara, HK$450 at Boometi, or even HK$1,500 on a special occasion dress from a popular ‘mid-range’ UK designer like Rachel Riley. Afterall, it’s fun

Autumn/ Winter

4 Sporty Encourage kids to be active

and look good at the same time with a pair of cute joggers, trainers and sweaters – just like the big sports stars wear

5 Retro Classic patterned fabrics

are back in fashion. Go for boldly coloured pieces featuring stars, polka dots or stripes

FIND IT

•

Boometi, www.boometi.com

Find more family-oriented stories @ www.arounddb.com

40

November 2018 www.arounddb.com

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TALKING POINTS

FEARLESS As kids across DB count down to the Uncle Russ Coffee Adventure Challenge on November 25, Samantha Wong asks four local athletes just how fit the young competitors need to be to cross the finish line in one piece

Photos by Team FEAR’s official photographers for 2017, courtesy of James Branch

T

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he Uncle Russ Coffee Adventure Challenge, run by Team FEAR, started out as plain old Team FEAR back in 2001 and the original name has stuck. Held annually, the event sees kids, aged eight to 18, race around Discovery Bay’s trails and coastline. The name fits because Team FEAR is well… a team challenge, but also because what the kids are asked to do strikes fear into most parents and all but the very bravest competitors.

Team FEAR is an adventure race, designed by adventure racers. It’s not child’s play.

Team FEAR comprises three courses of varying length and difficulty – one each for the juniors (under 9, 10 and 11 categories), intermediates (under 12 and 13) and seniors (under 14, 16 and 19). Juniors compete in teams of three, intermediates and seniors in teams of two. Juniors are looking at completing a gruelling 10-kilometre course, while the senior course, at 15 kilometres, is the most demanding.

A multi-sport adventure Course design varies from year to year but in previous years all participants have had to mountain

bike, swim, trail/ road run, coasteer and clamber through an assault course. In addition, both intermediates and seniors have been asked to complete a kayak leg, with seniors also tasked with abseiling and, though this was not compulsory, jumping off a boat or pier into the sea.

As with all adventure races, participants are not allowed to see the course beforehand but the route is well marked, and there are over 300 marshals along the way to provide guidance and back-up.

The first competitors usually cross the finish line in two hours, and all competitors are expected to finish within four hours.

How many 18-year olds – never mind eight-year olds – have the skill set and stamina to mountain bike, swim, coasteer, run and complete an obstacle course in just two hours? How many would even want to enter such a challenging multi-sport event? The short answer, at least in our neck of the woods, is over 900. That’s the number of students competing in Team FEAR on November 25, with a great many more on standby, waiting in the wings to see if any of the registered teams drop out due to injury or… fear.

August 2018 www.arounddb.com

Open-water challenge Needless to say, competitors take the race very seriously, and they train extremely hard in the lead-up.

The kayak section of the course is one of the most gruelling, since it tends to be one of the last legs that weary competitors are asked to complete, added to which not all of the kids have kayaked before.

“The kayak section is a real test of patience and teamwork,” opens Anthony Said of the Lantau Boat Club (LBC) Paddle Section, who has been marshalling the kayak leg of Team FEAR for the past two years. “My advice is for teammates

The kayak leg

The assault course

The run

to try and get in any sort of kayak ahead of the event to practise but, if this isn’t possible, they should try to relax and listen to the tips that the LBC marshals will be offering from their positions on the beach and in the water.”

Rather surprisingly, endurance coach Olivier Baillet of Beyond the Line advises competitors not to train too much. “A big part of Team FEAR, as with any multisport race, is the surprise effect. Training too much would spoil the fun,” he says. That said, kids should have a few practice swims in the sea with their clothes on before race day. As Olivier says, “It’s a very

The swim

different feeling from swimming in a pool in your bathing suit.”

Olivier also advises competitors to get into the water (from the beach or from their kayaks) slowly – walk don’t run. “While both the air and the water will be warm, there might be some temperature difference, and the body might be in a bit of a shock for a few seconds if suddenly immersed in water,” he says. “To minimise that risk, kids need to spray their faces and bodies with water before swimming.”

Hitting the trails The bike leg of Tear FEAR is another

tough cookie to crack, particularly because of the hills. “Riding to and from school whenever possible will help young muscles adapt, as there are usually one or two hills on route,” says Daniel Mullin of the Lantau Buffalos, who has been training his son’s team since 2016. “The kids can also familiarise themselves with each other’s strengths and weaknesses through some fun, relaxed rides around DB. “The kids need to remember that the team is only as strong as the slowest person – they must finish together, so they have to find out who needs encouragement during

www.arounddb.com November 2018

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TALKING POINTS

TOP TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS CYCLE: “It’s not a team time

the race and keep them thinking positive,” Dan adds. “Leaving someone way behind on a hill can destroy confidence.”

Zoning in on the cyclists’ safety, Tony Pringle of Bike Energy Lab, who has been involved in the Team FEAR bike check (held the day prior to the race) and as a marshal since 2009, says: “It is absolutely critical that parents ensure that their kids’ bikes are in safe working order. It is vitally important that brakes work and can stop the bike, that the derailleurs (gearing, if installed) don’t make the chain jump off, and that there are no other safety shortcomings, for instance loose bottle cages or chain guards.

“The kids can bring their bikes to businesses like mine to be checked,” Tony adds. “Alternatively, checking a bike at home can be made into a fun and educational family activity.

There are plenty of YouTube videos that can be used as reference on how to do this.”

FIND IT

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• • • • • •

For Stefano Passarello of Kapuhala Train-in-Space, who regularly finishes first for Hong Kong in the Hong Kong Marathon, success in the running section of Team FEAR is almost totally dependent on regular training. “If you want to excel in sport, sport should be in your daily routine, just like brushing your teeth,” he says. Stefano also places an emphasis on diet, suggesting competitors look to nuts, healthy shakes, fruit and vegetables in order to fuel up on race day.

As for staying the course and keeping motivated, Stefano suggests kids focus on the way Team FEAR enables them to give to charity, specifically to Youth Outreach, which supports homeless and disadvantaged young people in Hong Kong.

“Athletes are machines that generate power,” he says. “They can turn every bead of sweat into something good for society.”

Beyond the line Facebook page Bike Energy Lab, www.bike-energy-lab.com Kapuhala Train-in-Space, www.kapuhalaspace.com Lantau Boat Club Paddle Section, LBC Facebook page Lantau Buffalos, www.lantaubuffalos.org Uncle Russ Coffee Adventure Challenge, www.team-fear.com

November 2018 www.arounddb.com

trial at the Tour de France, seconds rarely count, but it’s free speed downhill and this can help those at the back group up to the leader.

Riders can quickly close a gap of 5 to 10 metres, and maybe even pass the person in front of them, while using up less energy.” Daniel Mullin of the Lantau Buffalos.

RUN: “The race is run every day when you train. If the kids hit their groove every day they will just rock it.” Stefano Passarello of Kapuhala Train-in-Space.

SWIM: “Freestyle is the fastest, most efficient stroke. The only drawback is that the kids won’t really see where they’re going, unless they sight every 10 to 12 strokes and check that they’re going in the right direction.

It’s pointless to be a fast swimmer if you swim double the distance.” Olivier Baillet of Beyond the Line.

KAYAK: “The kayaks used in

Team FEAR are inflatable and they can be quite hard for the kids to manage. The key to going in a straight line is for teams to ensure that their paddles are entering the water at the same time, and they need to tap the water gently with the paddle. The tendency is to get frustrated and really dig the paddle in hard but all this does is make the boat turn.” Anthony Said of the Lantau Boat Club Paddle Section.

“Ah, Lovely October, as you usher in the season that awakens my soul, your awesome beauty compels my spirit to swoop like a butterfly” Peggy Horton

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29874338 info@dmr-hk.com www.dmr-hk.com

ESCAPES

What’s hot in Tokyo Mount Fuji

Where to eat, stay, shop and play: Jason Tse of Flight Centre Hong Kong reveals 10 top things to do in Japan’s wonderfully weird capital Be pop cultured

Photos courtesy of Flight Centre Hong Kong

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o mingle with the anime, manga and idol crowd, head to Harajuku Bridge, where the Gothic Lolitas and Cosplay kids bring the world-renowned heroes of popular Japanese animation to life. Yoyogi Park also draws all sorts of obessive otaku talent, from horn players to rockabilly gangs, complete with poodle skirts and Elvis-inspired pompadours.

Cosplay kids at Yoyogi Park

November 2018 www.arounddb.com

Bid at a tuna auction Tsukiji Fish Market sees the handling of over 2,000 tons of marine products per day, including 450 varieties of fish.

One of the largest wholesale fishmarkets in the world, it’s busiest right before dawn and starts to wind down by 9am. Book ahead to attend the famous 5am live tuna auctions – limited to 120 people, they’re held seven days a week.

Tsukiji Fish Market

Find your Zen Just 10 minutes away from one of Tokyo’s busiest hubs is the peaceful oasis of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Ask for a map in English so you can be sure to hit the three major gardens: English Landscape, French Formal and Japanese Traditional. This spacious imperial park also houses two teahouses where you can get your fill of matcha and wagashi.

Go temple hopping Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Dedicated to the Bodhisattva Kannon (goddess of mercy and pets), Sensoji Temple is the oldest and most visited in Tokyo. The incense that billows from the main entrance is said to bestow good luck on those who ‘bathe’ in it. The approach to Sensoji is lined with quality souvenir shops, and festivals and events are held on the temple grounds throughout the year.

Catch a kabuki show

Sensoji Temple

Kabuki-za is the go-to theatre in Tokyo for fans of the bizarre Japanese dance-drama that is kabuki. Known for its highly stylised drama and the elaborate makeup worn by performers, kabuki 

www.arounddb.com November 2018

47

ESCAPES

is as popular now as it was in the 17th century. Expect a series of innovative stage effects, which allow the actors to revolve on the spot, fly and even disapear.

Achieve sensory overload For the ultimate sensory overload head to Robot Restaurant. You aren’t there for the food – popcorn and bento boxes – you’re there to be transported to a world of fantasy.

Blaring pop music fills the room, warrior princesses fight 10-foot-tall transformer robots and sequined bikinis ricochet laser beams into every corner.

Kabuki-za

Mix with the avant-garde

Sleep in beauty

Newly opened Yayoi Kusama Museum features many of the zany Japanese artist’s major installations, sculptures and paintings. A graduate of Kyoto School of Arts and Crafts, Kusama was a big part of the avant-garde scene in 1960s New York, and is best known for a series of happenings in which she painted naked participants with brightly coloured polka dots.

Providing a modern take on the traditional Japanese tea room, Hotel Koé Tokyo is about as clean-lined and minimalist as it gets. Perfect for solo travellers or couples looking for hip boutique-style accommodation, Hotel Koé is also a lifestyle centre with a retail shop, event space, trendy restaurant and bakery.

Robot Restaurant

Eat sushi While you find great sushi in just about every restaurant in Tokyo, be sure to check out the acclaimed Sushi Saito. With three Michelin stars under its belt, it’s impressed just about every industry heavyhitter including the late Joel Robuchon.

Sushi Saito seats just seven diners, so you’ll want to book your table months in advance.

Glimpse Mount Fuji On a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji from Tokyo as it lies just 100 kilometres to the south-west. For a closer look, hop on a shinkansen headed to Osaka, where you’ll get a spectacular view of the volcano on the right-hand side of the train, about 40 minutes into the journey. If you have more time to spare, stay a night at Hakone hot spring resort at the foot of the mountain.

Yayoi Kusama

Flight Centre Hong Kong specialises in tailor-made travel experiences; the widest choice of airfares, accommodation and tours; plus 24-hour emergency assistance. To book your getaway, call 2830 2776 or visit www.flightcentre.com.hk. For a local consultation, contact DB-based Flight Centre representative Jennifer Durbridge on jennifer.durbridge@flightcentre.com.hk.

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November 2018 www.arounddb.com

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ISLAND LIFE

READY TO UP YOUR GAME IN NOVEMBER?

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k n ow o t d e e n u o y t er e’ s wh a

RIGHT NOW

In this issue's ISLAND LIFE you will find

Entrepreneurial advice Alyona Zarnitsyna of The Beat Dance & Fitness Studio

Tips from local experts Greg Ewins of HK Dragons Pascal Laroumanie of Yoga Bay

Community snaps

by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com



www.arounddb.com November 2018

51

ISLAND LIFE

DB

Entrepreneur of the Month Alyona Zarnitsyna of The Beat Dance & Fitness Studio

M

Photo by Andrew Spires

y business is a dance and fitness studio offering a wide range of group classes for children and adults, as well as one-on-one training. We have different types of dance classes, like ballroom dancing, Irish dance, belly dance and Zumba. We can also prepare couples for their wedding dance or simply teach people how to do Latin dance. On the fitness side, we have Les Mills programmes like BODYPUMP, BODYSTEP, GRIT and BODYBALANCE, as well as yoga, Piloxing and Pilates. My business is a success because we have a great team of teachers. And we have found that the symbiosis and fusion of dance and fitness is a winning formula. What interests me most is that we change people’s lives. I really believe that. Some clients find a passion for dance, some overcome their health issues and others reach their goals through fitness. Our children’s classes are also great because they teach kids important values.

They learn about teamwork, discipline, self-esteem and having respect for others.

The greatest challenge I face is that I truly love what I do, and I have to be careful not to get too carried away! The last thing I want to do is upset the balance between my family life and my business life. To succeed in business, you need to dream big, take risks and believe in yourself. My advice for someone looking to start up a business is very simple. Have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, and then start doing just that. All you have to do is make a start, the rest will follow. Personally, I have also benefited from having the best business partner, my husband Ivailo.

He is a visionary and a bit of a perfectionist – that helps tremendously in business.

My greatest achievement is my family. I adore my two little girls and my husband.

My plan for the future is always to do my best and to appreciate the present. As Woody Allen once said, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.”

When hiring staff, I always ask why they have applied for the job, what was the driving factor. I also ask about their experience. But in the end, what I want to see is that they truly and wholeheartedly love what they do. The entrepreneur I most admire is Steve Jobs. He really proved that a single person can make a big difference in this world. My favourite social media platforms are Facebook and Instagram. The studio’s pages have proven to be a great tool, helping us stay connected with our client base. Personally, though, I’m not that active on social media. My personal motto is always be true to yourself.

52

CONTACT

•T he Beat Dance & Fitness Studio, DB Plaza, 5194 9630, info@thebeat.com.hk, www.thebeat.com.hk

November 2018 www.arounddb.com

ISLAND LIFE

GET YOURSELF

MATCH FIT

HK Dragons’ head coach Greg Ewins shares his top tips for footballers looking to up their game. Katrina Mercado reports

W

e all know that to improve in a sport, one must be prepared to put in the hard work, and for footballers that involves doing what they love best – getting on the pitch. HK Dragons’ head coach Greg Ewins advises players to train two to three times a week, for anywhere from one to one-and-a-half hours per session. He also stresses that taking a rest day, every third day, is ideal.

Photo courtesy of dragons.hk

“It’s important to remember that it is a team game and the only way to be successful is to work together,” Greg continues.

“While the game encourages individual skills and creativity,

without a strong team dynamic and philosophy, it will be close to impossible to win a match.”

Technique is perhaps the most visibly obvious element to success in football, and Greg recommends beginners start with individual ball work, particularly mastery and dribbling, then learn the four types of football touches: lace, inside, outside and sole. Once you get the hang of ball work, you can then start one-versus-one practice, with one attacker and one defender.

Good ball work calls for excellent balance and coordination, but players also need speed, strength and power to see them through an entire one-hour 30-minute game. “The game lasts for a long time and the pace is continually changing,” Greg explains. “There is a mix of sprints when chasing after the ball, and steady running while putting a play in place.”

A lot of players think that football prowess is all about leg work, and that upper-body and core strength are insignificant but this is definitely not the case. “Upperbody strength improves a player’s speed and power,” Greg says.

“Not only that, there is also a higher chance of injury prevention because it helps improve balance and coordination. Core strength is essential in the game because this helps players with agility, balance and coordination.”

4 CORE AREAS TO DEVELOP 1. Technique – body and ball control, passing accuracy 2. Game intelligence – spatial awareness, tactical knowledge, risk assessment 3. Physical fitness – endurance, balance and coordination, speed 4. Proper mindset – mental strength, coachability, self-motivation With regard to tactical knowledge, Greg says it’s important for players to develop quick and correct decision-making processes.

“Players need to know when and how to initiate an attack, how to gain possession and how to efficiently pressure the opponents.

Football is a mental game as much as it is a physical one.

“It takes years of practice to get a better understanding of the strategies. But that’s why it’s equally important to have good coaches,” Greg concludes.“Be positive, be prepared, be focused, be willing to learn and don’t forget to have fun.”

CONTACT • HK Dragons, dragons.hk

www.arounddb.com November 2018



Hannah Olsen

53

ISLAND LIFE

HOW TO FIND

BALANCE

ON YOUR YOGA PATH

Uncertain whether to focus on cooling Hatha or hot and sweaty Vinyasa, Katrina Mercado consults Yoga Bay owner Pascal Laroumanie

O

mmmm…The promise of increased flexibility and strength, more energy and better posture has just about everyone on the mat doing their daily sun salutes. But there’s more to it than that. Yoga is all about achieving balance in mind, body and spirit, so you benefit on three levels.

Photo courtesy of www.wikipedia.com

The physical poses combine to stretch and strengthen the body, the breathing techniques help you stay calm, get grounded and be mindful, and the combination of the two can deepen your spiritual practice.

54

Listen to your body. It does not need the same flow every day. You must figure out what it is asking for in order to give it the specific nourishment that it needs.”

Balance is something we are constantly trying to achieve. Some days we may feel completely centred, and other days we might struggle to find our footing.

Remember to go back to your breath and intention.

Ideally, Pascal recommends you do a relaxing slow-flow yoga class

If you are trying to work out which classes to take, it’s important to note that there are two main ways of practising yoga.

Classes such as Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Power Flow are fast and dynamic, focused on repetitive, flowing movements that heat up the body. Slower, more relaxing yoga practices, like Hatha and Yin, are about finding stillness and cooling the body through deep stretching. We need to include both the fast and slow flows in our yoga practice to come into balance and stay in optimum condition.

“One cannot exist without the other,” Yoga Bay owner Pascal Laroumanie confirms. “Some days you will need a fast, active practice. Other days, you might want a slow flow to release tension.

three times a week, and daily fastflow exercises.

Slow-paced yoga is calming, inward-looking and not too energetic but it will help build lean muscle over time and boost your metabolism. More physically demanding, fast-flow yoga really works the cardiovascular system and builds muscular strength.

“Anyone looking to lose weight should note that you can burn more calories in faster classes, but a fair amount through slowflow yoga as well,” Pascal says.

“Yoga in any form relieves stress, promotes peace of mind and is a good complement to all kinds of sports. It also helps your body recover from muscle fatigue and helps prevent injuries.

“Yoga is a whole experience; it does not limit itself to physical practice,” Pascal adds.

“Try increasing your intake of sattvic foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts – anything natural and vegetarian friendly. Cut down on tamasic products that decrease your energy, like alcohol, fermented foods and tobacco. Balance is the key to everything.”

CONTACT

November 2018 www.arounddb.com

•

Yoga Bay, yogabay.hk

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RECIPES

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Whether you’re hooked on haloumi or simply crazy about cheddar, we’ve got delicious recipes to satisfy your cravings

Fried Halloumi • 1 lime, juice and zest • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar • 1 tbsp capers, drained • 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped • 1 tsp grain mustard • 2 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped • 4 tbsp olive oil • 1 haloumi cheese • 2 tbsp seasoned flour

Photo courtesy of www.wikimedia.org

Serves 2

To prepare the dressing, whisk all the ingredients together, apart from 2 tablespoons of olive oil, the cheese and flour. Then, pat the cheese dry with kitchen paper and cut it into 8 slices. Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan. When the oil is really hot, press each slice of cheese into the flour, coating it on both sides. Add the cheese to the hot pan – the slices take 1 minute on each side to cook and turn golden brown. Serve them straight away with crusty bread, wedges of lemon, a couple of sprigs of rosemary and the dressing.

www.arounddb.com November 2018

57

RECIPES

Cheddar Fondue • ½ small onion • 250 ml dry cider • 1 tsp lemon juice • 375 g cheddar, grated • ½ tsp dry mustard • 3 tsp corn flour • 3 tbsp apple juice Serves 4

Rub the inside of a fondue pot with the cut side of an onion. Pour in the cider and lemon juice, and heat gently until bubbly. Reduce the heat to low and gradually stir in the grated cheese. Continue to heat until the cheese melts, stirring frequently. In a small bowl, blend together the mustard, corn flour and apple juice. Stir into the cheese mixture and continue to cook for 3 minutes until the mixture is thick and creamy. Stir frequently. Season well. Serve with wedges of apple and cubes of crusty bread.

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November 2018 www.arounddb.com

HK HAPPENINGS

AWA CHARITY BAZAAR PMQ, Central

November 1

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

www.pmq.org.hk

The American Women’s Association (AWA) is holding its 31st annual charity bazaar, with over 70 vendors selling unique items including jewellery, kids’ and ladies’ clothing, toys, festive food and homeware. Proceeds from the event, running from 11.30am to 7.30pm, go to various charities across Hong Kong. For more information, visit www.awa.org.hk.

GALA OF STARS

Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui November 2

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL

Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts, Central November 2-11

www.festival.org.hk

Speakers at this year’s Hong Kong International Literary Festival are focusing on feminism and LGBTQ+, as well as crime fiction and poetry. Headliners include Amy Tan, Ian Rankin and Carol Ann Duffy. Expect workshops, live performances and lectures.

For more information, visit www.festival.org.hk. For tickets, starting at HK$100, visit www.ticketflap.com.

hkballet.com

The first Annual International Gala of Stars sees breathtaking star turns from Swan Lake, ALICE (in wonderland) and Le Corsaire. Ballet stars from all over the world are collaborating with Hong Kong Ballet to create a thrilling programme complete with amazing music, mesmerising choreography and glamorous sets. For tickets, starting at HK$140, visit ticket.urbtix.hk.

ARTS IN THE PARK

Victoria Park, Causeway Bay November 3-4

HERITAGE VOGUE

Hollywood Road, Central

November 4

www.indesignlive.hk

Take part in a vibrant street carnival comprising exhibitions, workshops, performances and guided tours that encapsulate the rich cultural history of Hollywood Road. Strolling from Wyndham Street to Aberdeen Street, you can explore Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts and PMQ at this free event, running from 12pm to 8pm. For more information, visit www.heritage.gov.hk.

www.hkyaf.com

The annual Arts in the Park Mardi Gras transforms Victoria Park into a spectacular outdoor gallery with floats of giant puppets, interactive stalls and hours of live performances highlighting this year’s theme The Wizard of Oz. Kids can showcase their creativity at the make-your-own-mask and face-painting stalls.

For more information, visit www.hkyaf.com. www.arounddb.com November 2018

61

HK HAPPENINGS

BABY BASICS

Get your events listed @ www.arounddb.com

Central

Aiming to provide its expertise and personalised services to mums and dads, Baby Basics offers bestselling international products www.babybasicshk.com at affordable prices. All the staff (including the founders) are former employees of Bumps to Babes (B2B) – when B2B closed down, they decided to get together and open their own store and continue the legacy. Shop all the essentials for bedtime, bath time, feeding and more. Visit www.babybasicshk.com.

NOW OPEN!

CLOCKENFLAP

Victoria Park, Causeway Bay November 9-11

PRESTIGE FAIRS

Conrad Hong Kong, Admiralty November 12, 21 & 26

www.prestigefairs.hk

discovery.cathaypacific.com

Treat yourself to an exciting one-stop shopping experience at the Prestige Gift and Lifestyle, PreChristmas and Christmas Gift fairs. Find delightful treasures, fashion pieces, gourmet food, homewares and toys. For more information, visit www.prestigefairs.hk.

OXFAM TRAILWALKER

Presenting an amazing line-up of local and international artists including Interpol, Khalid and The Vaccines, Clockenflap is a weekend-long musical experience with an alternative vibe.

For more information, visit www.clockenflap.com. For tickets, starting at HK$890, visit www.ticketflap.com.

HONG KONG GOLF OPEN Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling

November 22-25

Start: Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung November 16-18

asiatrailmag.com

Oxfam Trailwalker sees participants, in groups of four, complete the 100-kilometre MacLehose Trail within 48 hours. Since 1986, more than 98,000 participants have raised over HK$536 million to support Oxfam’s various poverty alleviation and emergency relief projects in Africa and Asia, including Hong Kong and mainland China.

For more information and to make a donation, visit www.oxfamtrailwalker.org.hk.

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November 2018 www.arounddb.com

thegolffamily.com

The Hong Kong Golf Open hosts a variety of internationally recognised players, including Matthew Fitzpatrick, Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed. Hoping to make a comeback is three-time European Tour winner Cabrera Bello, who is eager to claim the title after back-to-back runner-up finishes in the last two years. Weekday admissions are free of charge. For tickets, at HK$400, visit www.ticketflap.com.

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VILLA IN CHEUNG SHA 961’ Net + Rooftop

Beautifully constructed villa in a sought after area. 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Open plan kitchen/dining, living room opens onto decked garden. Additional outside area on rooftop with stunning sea views.

Private parking for one car. Beach and restaurants a short walk away!

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MUI WO FLAT 412’ Net + Terrace

Renovated flat in the heart of Mui Wo. 1 bed, 1 bath. Galley style kitchen with storage space. Modern style bathroom, built in wardrobe and private terrace. Restaurants, and shops at your doorstep, Silvermine beach and hiking trails are just minutes away.

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MUI WO VILLAGE HOUSE 3000’ + Garden + Rooftop

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Bright and airy duplex. 3 beds, 2 baths. Spacious open plan kitchen/ living area. Gorgeous sea views from the 1/F balcony and rooftop.

Enormous garden for your enjoyment with parking at your doorstep.

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Bright open plan flat in popular Ham Tin. 1 Bed, 1 Bath. Combined kitchenette/ dining and living area. Balcony and semi covered rooftop with beautiful sea and mountain views. Enjoy Ham Tin village life with only a small walk to public transport. Conveniently located close to Pui O beach and hiking trails.

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FOOD AND DRINK • LIVING • PETS • SPORTS • PASTIMES • EDUCATION • HEALTH • BEAUTY • SERVICES • TRAVEL • EXCURSIONS • COMMUNITY

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

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

Church Office: 2987 7061 www.dbicc.org

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

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

If you want to stop, we can help.

Alcoholics No dues or fees.

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

View local business directories @ www.arounddb.com EMPLOYMENT

HOME SERVICES

DELIVERY PERSON/ MESSENGER

AKASH MOVING & HANDYMAN SERVICES

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

Call 9145 6731 to leave a message

KINDERGARTEN TEACHER Seeking a native Tagalog-speaking, qualified kindergarten teacher with musical knowledge, singing experience & at least five years of teaching experience. Full-time position. Send your CV & covering letter to tagalogdb@gmail.com

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

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• Painting & handyman work, interior & exterior • PU waterproof injection for external walls • Astro-turfing, tiling & electrics Contact Roger at 9156 0360, drscompanyhk@gmail.com

TRIMCO HONG KONG • Painting • Decorating • Renovation

• BA degree in English from a US university • Over 10 years’ teaching & tutoring experience • Flexible schedule & reasonable rates • Based in DB Children, teens & adults at all levels of fluency

• Learn to understand, speak & write English well • Gain confidence & a wider vocabulary • Write better essays & improve schoolwork

Call, text or WhatsApp Charles on 9406 8342

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

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

Quit smoking quickly.

Steve Donovan

FTC RELOCATIONS

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

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

Professional beauty services provided in DB by a qualified, internationally certified beauty therapist with over 20 years' experience. Treatments include facials, CACI (non-surgical facelifts), glycolic (peals & pigmentation treatments), energy healing & more.

Contact Gillian on 6022 4190

SPORTS PRIVATE SQUASH COACH

The Squash Pulse is an authentic squash coaching brand founded by a former HK Squash representative.

Professional, tailor-made training programmes are provided. Players of all levels are welcome.

Dr Melanie Bryan, Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist, Hypnotherapist.

Contact 2575 7707, www.mindmatters.hk

THE SKIN THERAPY CENTRE

Contact 6149 0894, trimcohk@gmail.com

Call or WhatsApp 6688 8994, or visit www.thesquashpulse.com

DEADLINE FOR DECEMBER ISSUE CLASSIFIEDS NOVEMBER 15

PRIVATE MARTIAL ARTS COACHING

Well known in the Hong Kong MMA community, Marc Guyon guides you through your journey to become a martial artist. As a former whitecollar-turned-professional fighter, Marc’s understanding of looking for peak performance in all your occupations & activities is like nothing in Hong Kong.

Contact 9303 2996, marcguyonkungfu@gmail.com. www.marcguyon.com

LEARN SPANISH Native speake • Experienced teacher & DELE examiner • IB, IGCSE, A-levels & HKDSE • Business Spanish & courses for adults • Flexible schedule & locations • Special offers for students who live in DB & Tung Chung Contact Erik at 9666 9511, rerikm@hotmail.com

MATHEMAGIC IS AT DB PLAZA

Support classes in mathematics and sciences now available for: • Year 7 to Year 13 • IGCSE • IB (SL or HL) • A level (Standard & Further Modules) • SATs/ PSATs/ LSATs • UKCEE Home tuition available as well as online classes.

Call/ WhatsApp Karim Arditi on 91354724. Contact MathemagicMD@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/HLmathemagic, www.hlmathemagic.com

Gillian ~ The Skin Therapy Centre Holistic Beauty & Wellness in Discovery Bay UK trained and International Spa Trainer/ Therapist

• FACIALS - Guinot { France } and Dr Organics.

• CACI - Non Surgical Face lift- Firming,lifting&Collagen boosting.

• AROMATHERAPY - To Soothe,Relax and Revive the 5 Senses.

• GLYCOLIC - Peels and pigmentation treatments.

• ENERGY HEALING - Both PRANIC HEALING and REIKI [to restore the balance & De- stress].

• NLP - Neuro Linguistic programming and Coaching available.

www.theskintherapycentrehk.com Please contact:60224190

View local business directories @ www.arounddb.com Yoga Therapy Class for Senior Citizens

Tuesday mornings 11:30am at DB North Plaza.

Slow and gentle yoga, taught by a qualified yoga instructor.

English-speaking and easily accessible from Sunny Bay MTR station.

9685 8366 www.g reenwi ch- v i nyas a.com.hk

THE WATCH BUTLER Jan Hofstede m«tc.K £.r«taft4t

I :S,

• Antique watch and clock restoration • Auction & Appreciation service • 2nd hand watch broker

Tel: 9464 7107 jan@thewatchbutler.com Xmas Promo: up to 35% off PEUGEOT OPEN EUROPE

Read

HOLIDAYS BY CAR

Best duty-free Car Rental in Europe!

- for short & long durations info@eurocardrives.com www.eurocardrives.com

online All the latest community news. www.arounddb.com

Greenland Pest Control Tailored Pest Control Solutions for Rodent, Cockroaches, Fleas, Mosquitoes, Termites, Ants, Ticks etc…

For info please call Thomas 9871 0771 or Baguio 6776 8400 Email: baguiowong@hotmail.com

Ark Eden’s nature camps bring out the adventurous, curious and compassionate side of children and provide outdoor fun for children, aged 5-11years.

Camps are held deep in the forests of Lantau, with different activities each day. Activities include tree-house building, campfire cooking, swimming in waterfalls and Nature play.

Visit www.arkedenonlantau.org, email info@arkedenonlantau.org, or call 2988 5355

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

LUXURY APARTMENTS IN SIENA 2, DB

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

FULLY FURNISHED DB 1-BED

Smart apartment on a high floor with sea view. Close to pier & DB Plaza. Available fully furnished. Call Tiareti on 9732 8985

2-BED IN CHERISH COURT, DB

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

Contact Jacqueline on 9811 0718, jacquelinedb@gmail.com

If you are looking to rent or sell a property and would like to see it listed on this page or at www.facebook.com/arounddb, email alexander@baymedia.com.hk

AWESOME BAMBOO SOCKS ANKLE

NO SHOW ATHLETIC Eureka (bamboo) Socks aren’t just regular socks, but healthy ones thanks to the natural bamboo fibres which make them gorgeous, soft and comfortable and ready for every step they’ll take!

What’s more, we’re 100% committed to the community

ONE PURCHASE = ONE PAIR DONATED Let’s reach our 2018 target together: 100,000 pairs of socks will be donated to children in need.

Available from Baby Basics on Queen’s Road, Central

+852 2311 1048

Order online at

www.eurekasocks.com

CLOT HING & ACCESSORIES

FTC Apparel

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

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

2321 5500 2286 6668 3602 8828 2286 6238 2286 6898 2960 1977 3520 0848 3602 8808 2626 0181 2886 3646 2109 1927 2338 2338 2988 8129 3602 8838 2907 6918 3602 8818 2297 3588 2330 0000 2286 6618 2886 3156 2286 6868 3969 2500 2466 1010 2802 8000

HE A LT H & W EL L BEING

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

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

SOUTH LANTAU

TUNG CHUNG

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

Bahce - Turkish Restaurant Café Bar Bathers Caffe Paradiso (Tom’s Café) Cafe Isara China Bear Deer Horn Restaurant & Bar Kebab Korner La Pizzeria Lantana Italian Bistro Le Jardin de Sophie Long Island Mucho Gusto Robert’s Market Stoep @ High Tide Restaurant The China Beach Club The Gallery The Kitchen The Water Buffalo HE A LT H, FI T NESS A ND W EL L BEING

Pause by the Banyan - health ∙ wellness South Lantau Paddle Club Thai Palin Massage Thai Sa Baai Tony’s Salon Treasure Island Findley Leung Group Koon Wah Hardware Lee Wo Construction Engineering Man Shun Construction & Engineering New Look Design

3969 1888 3602 8888 2286 8888

L E A RNING CEN T RES

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

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

SOCI A L , SP OR T S & EQUIPMEN T

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

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

HOT EL S

Mui Wo Inn Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel

2984 7225 6810 0111 2985 8383

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

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

PROPER T Y AGENCIES

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

2984 8334 3483 5003 2984 1666 RE TA IL

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

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

SERV ICES & OT HERS

Jumping Castles SPCA Miriam Safadi Photography Parteezi Phoenix Wills

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

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

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

2984 8334 2984 8487 2984 1802 2984 9833 9783 5840

L E A RNING CEN T RES

2421 8088 2109 2330 2988 1488

HOT EL S

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

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

HOME & REPA IRS

HOME & REPA IRS

Akash Removals Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths Shun Yu Engineering

2984 0222 2504 4788 2984 0498 2470 1966 2984 9720 3484 3095 6429 3507 2984 8933 5465 5511 2997 9070 2320 2001 6422 5009 9193 2937 2980 2699 2983 8931 2980 2582 5991 6292 2109 3331

2988 8282 2988 1898 3661 1999

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

2984 2268 2984 8494 2984 8255 2984 9848

DB NUMBERS

Bayside Dental Practice, North Plaza BMSE, North Plaza DB Alliance Church Community Centre DB Anglican Church DB International Community Church Discovery Bay Medical Centre Health & Care Dental Clinic Herbal Health Care Island Health Island Veterinary Services The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council, North Plaza Trinity Chapel

2987 2259 2987 2987 2987 2987 2666 2834 2987 2987 2259 2987

0855 3422 8136 4210 7061 5633 6183 7276 7575 9003 3422 9909

Future Stars Dance Academy Dance classes based on the ISTD requirements conducted in a fun, disciplined & safe environment. Contact 2987 6867, melissa@futurestars danceacademy.com, Futurestars Dance Academy Hong Kong Facebook page, Instagram: FuturestarsHk

Island Dance ISTD Freestyle, ISTD Hip Hop, RAD Ballet, tap & Bollywood classes at DBRC, Club Siena & DB Plaza. Five professional instructors, teaching six days a week.

Contact 2987 1571, 9159 0663, info@islanddance.com.hk, www.islanddance.com.hk

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES Action X, North Plaza Nomadic

PapyrusEDU

3102 2977 2987 8460

A family friendly center. Children’s programmes: 3D Modeling & Printing, LEGO Education Afterschool, Junior Food Art.Lifestyle morning programmes: Decoupage, Porcelart, Food Artist.

Contact 6360 1715, info@papyrusedu.com, www.papyrusedu.com.

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

2987 2987 2448 2987 2947 2366

4401 7486 1180 4089 9092 6534

The Beat Dance & Fitness Studio BODYPUMP, BODYBALANCE, GRIT, BODYSTEP & Zumba (fitness, toning & kids). Piloxing, yoga & Pilates, plus Latin, Irish, belly & wedding dance. Classes for adults & children, & personal training.

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

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Parsons White Wealth Management

Tree of Joy

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

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

The Stephen Putnam Practice Private Client Wealth Management.

Contact 2914 0388, www.sjpp.asia/tspp

Bank of China HSBC

2160 8585 2233 3000

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

70

MULTIMEDIA

LEARNING CENTRES

COMMUNITY & HEALTH

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

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

A fun, engaging & supportive environment in which children play & learn. Programmes include drop-off nursery class, parent-toddler class, afternoon camp & a cooking class Contact 9787 2755, info@treeofjoydb.com, www.treeofjoydb.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 Academy, North Plaza Discovery Montessori School, North Plaza DMR School of Ballet Dr. Bear Education Centre Early Adventures Playgroup Epic Adventurers Eye Level Education Learning Centre Funfit HK International Learning Academy, North Plaza Kumon, North Plaza L’Ecole Française de Discovery, North Plaza Links Parenting, North Plaza Little Explorers English For Kids Mandarin for Munchkins, North Plaza Mathemagic – home tutoring Mathnasium SKH Wei Lun Primary School Treasure House Zhi Zhi Chinese

November 2018 www.arounddb.com

6114 2914 2987 3969 2987 2987 2914 2812 2987 2987 6762 2987 2441 9366 6302 2416 2459 8191 6114 9327 2480 9135 2628 2987 2987 9648

2436 2142 7331 1000 8088 8088 2202 9206 1201 4338 6264 9644 0098 0000 6327 3198 8808 0813 2436 0507 3909 4724 3362 8608 4217 2966

Bookazine Fotomax (F.E.) Ltd

2987 1373 2914 2378

OTHER SERVICES

Harvey Law Group International law firm offering a wide range of commercial & personal legal services. Meeting facilities available in DB. Contact 2416 8618, dboffice@harveylawcorporation.com, www.harveylawcorporation.com DB Party Time Gillian florist, North Plaza P-Solution Pen’n Paper The Optical House Well Supreme Laundry Services

9502 2529 2987 2987 2987 2987

2381 8256 1777 8898 1368 5151

6201 2987 2987 5721

7749 8873 0428 6181

PETS Kristy’s Paradise - Cat Sitter in Discovery Bay Mypetshop, North Plaza Pets Gallery Ready, Pet, Go!

PROPERTY LISTINGS & BOATS Centaline Property Agency EPS Property Consultants Headland Homes Kingsland DB Land Master Property

2987 2987 2987 2987 2987

8484 2023 2088 2987 6238

FOOD & BEVERAGE, HOTELS 22º North Auberge Discovery Bay (Hotel), North Plaza Café Bord de Mer & Lounge Café Duvet Caffe Pascucci Cali-Mex Coyote Mexican Cantina Ebeneezer’s Epic Foods Figos Seaside Café First Korean Restaurant Gilmore’s by the Golden Pig Hemingway’s il Bel Paese Island Café Koh Tomyums La Creation & Châteraisé McSorley’s Ale House Mirch Masala, North Plaza Moofish, North Plaza Pacific Coffee Paisano’s, North Plaza Peony Chinese Restaurant PizzaExpress Solera Subway The Pier Bar TigerLily Uncle Russ, North Plaza Zak’s

2987 2298 2295 8288 2295 8299 2987 0966 2591 1426 2904 7698 2987 2848 2987 0036 2172 6111 2987 2915 2987 9123 2662 9168 2987 8855 2987 0202 2987 9311 2987 0767 2987 1829 2987 8280 2987 1337 2987 6318 2987 1662 2673 4445 2500 1950 2465 2426 2555 0772 2914 0005 2520 2166 2997 8688 2840 1188 2987 6232

DB NUMBERS SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

UTILITIES, SERVICES & EMERGENCY HOTLINES

HK Dragons Football Club Football for girls & boys aged 2.5 years to 14 years. Contact 2987 4274, dragons.hk

Action X, North Plaza Club Siena DBees Ice Hockey DB Pirates Rugby Football Club Discovery Bay Marina Club Discovery Bay Golf Club Discovery Bay Recreation Club Embody EpicLand FIT 852 Greenwich Kapuhala Train-in-Space MAS FIT MGK Fight Club Nutrition and Fitness with Emilie YogaBay YogaUp

2911 2987 6473 2517 2987 2987 2987 6624 2441 9680 9685 6101 9387 9303 6385 6704 8197

4833 7382 4277 8248 9591 7273 7381 8712 0098 7665 8366 8434 0735 2996 5425 9851 5591

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

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

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

WELLBEING

ay Spa

VIEW THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY @ www.arounddb.com

Massage, facial & nail Contact 9837 0969 (Tel/ whatsapp) Block A, DB Plaza

TOYS & KIDS’ PARTIES Bo Bo House Toysland

2987 4230 2987 7859

TRANSPORT SERVICES DB Golf Cart Services DB Transportation Services Limousine Rental Passenger Telephone Hotline Wiselink Golf Cart Services

2914 2987 5303 2987 2987

2727 7351 3489 0208 9368

DB Pure Spa Beauty begins within. Open 9am to 9pm at DB Plaza, for ladies only.

Body massages available for HK$198 and up. Contact 9794 0918, DB Pure Spa Facebook page

Elly House of Beauty Highly skilled skincare specialist committed to providing the most effective skincare services to the DB community. Contact 6131 9039, Elly House of Beauty Facebook Page, www.ellyhouseofbeauty.com

Ingredients of Wellness

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

Mindfulness training. Teaching young people skills to direct attention, be calmer & concentrate better. Contact 9048 5425, angie@ingredientsofwellness.com, www.ingredientsofwellness.com

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

2987 2987 2987 2499 2987

0283 4555 2060 8826 4112

www.arounddb.com

www.arounddb.com November 2018

71

OUT THERE

Annoyan

ce

My vain hope is that by giving frustration a vivid airing, relief will be mine, along with a modicum of weirdly imagined vengeance against all those who make me want to set fire to their tongues.

I have no idea why my dropping out of school wasn’t instantly rewarded with a PhD in linguistics and a Pulitzer Prize, but I do have an uncanny ear for the absurd – both a burden and a gift that has paid some bills these past decades.

Often, I’ve wished that this talent of mine would be magically returned from whence it came and be replaced with a sixth sense for the stock market. But we play the hand we’re dealt, even when all the cards are jokers.

It’s like a no-brainer, actually

Illustration by Andrew Spires

Rather than droning on without ever getting to the point (another of my pet hates), I should get to the point.

But before I do, let me say that there are Americanisms blitzing the English language that are equally asinine. One in particular

72

An

Gua

T

hose of the British persuasion might reasonably demand that an Australian (me) who’s defending the English language from gross and tedious abuse

by Brits, should be set upon by a parliament of rabid owls. But I will press on. It is important that I express the brain-busting irritation that possesses me whenever a certain four words are spoken in every second sentence in every British TV interview. If it didn’t drive me crazy I wouldn’t mention it, but I have cringed and squirmed long enough.

ran

teed

English Lesson With a clear disregard for the bashing he’s about to get in the plaza, resident Australian columnist Peter Sherwood points out just how badly the Brits abuse their native tongue makes me wince – the gratuitously annoying insertion of ‘like’ after every few words, so much so that compulsive ‘likers’ often end up with half a dozen of the damn things in a single vacuous sentence.

Those who say ‘like’ relentlessly should be clamped in cast iron Ugg boots and dropped into the sewer.

Their contribution to communication and a more coherent society is up there with the mixed metaphorical mishmash and bird-brained paroxysms of geopolitical lunacy espoused by Alaska’s gift to the Democratic Party, Sarah Palin.

Deaf to their own dreary tones, ‘like’ is clearly conversationally contagious, as I’ve never heard only one participant use it. Like.

Finally, to those four repetitively offensive words that have taken possession of the British vernacular – ‘you know,’ ‘actually’

and ‘obviously.’

Linguistically unnecessary, together they combine to make each other redundant.

With more than one million words in the English language to choose from, their constant use takes the art of superfluous semantics to a cosmically ratbag level.

Take a typical football manager interview: Twelve nil is quite a thrashing. What happened? “Well obviously it’s, you know, a bit embarrassing. We actually had chances but obviously we didn’t take them. A few decisions went against us and, you know, we should have actually been given a few penalties. Obviously, the score doesn’t actually reflect the entire game but, you know, obviously our fans won’t be happy.”

Obviously. British tennis star Andy Murray begins every sentence with ‘obviously.’ Andy, stop it.

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

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

Price SALAD (4lb) Guest name Contact number E-mail Self-collection date and time Or Delivery date Delivery time

11am — 1pm

1pm — 3pm

3pm — 6pm

HK$308

Roast Chicken with Pumpkin, Capsicum and Feta Salad

HK$388

Cranberry and Quinoa Salad with Candied Walnuts

HK$328

Assorted Cold Cuts and Cheese Platter

HK$598

FROM THE OVEN

Delivery address

Total amount HK$ Card type VISA Master Credit card number Card holder’s name Expiry date MM/YY __ __ / __ __ Card Issuing Bank Signature

Roasted Vegetable Salad with Caper Dressing

Roast Whole Turkey with Giblet Jus and Cranberry Sauce (14-16lb)

HK$798

Honey Glazed Boneless Gammon with Honey Pineapple Sauce and Dijon Mustard (4.5lb)

HK$528

Roast U.S. Beef Strip Loin with Herb Jus (6.5lb)

HK$1,788

Roast Pork Spare Rib with BBQ Sauce (4.5lb)

HK$598

DESSERT Signature must correspond to the specimen signature of the above credit card account.

Christmas Cinnamon Cheese Cake (2lb)

HK$588

Buche de Noel (2lb)

HK$568

Quantity