Life on Lantau June/July 2019

June / July 2019

WIN! A place on a

Twinkle Dance summer camp, tickets to Hong Kong

Disneyland, a place on a Treasure Island summer camp and an A Tavola dinner voucher

NEW FESTIVAL ALL SET TO BOOST THE LOCAL LIVE MUSIC SCENE

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DRAGON BOATING

HIKING THE LANTAU TRAIL (SECTIONS 7 TO 9)

Love our ocean M E E T E C O M A R I N E AC T I V I S T K E I L E M N G

NEWS & EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

Publishers in Lantau since 2002

Mui Wo OWLS School T: +852 2984 0006 | E: office@muiwoowlsschool.edu.hk | www.mwos.edu.hk 1st Floor, Unit A, Silver Centre Building, 10 Mui Wo Ferry Pier Road, Mui Wo, Lantau Facebook: @muiwoowls EDB Reg No: 579009

A Lantau Private School for International Students Primary

Guaranteed Maximum Class Size of 16

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Curriculum: Based on the English National Curriculum with an added International Dimension. Literacy, Mathematics & Global Perspectives based on the Cambridge Primary Curriculum

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STEM: Inquiry based scientific experiments, computer coding - MIT Scratch3 & MIT Appinventor2, Robotics (Mbot) & loT (Micro:bits)

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Chinese: Mandarin taught daily. We aim for GCSE Standard by Grade 6

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Music: OWLS School Choir & Weekly Music Lessons

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P.E./P.S.H.E.: Twice weekly seasonal sports & Monthly Family Sports Days (Touch Rugby, Rounders, Football, Athletics)

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Assembly: Daily Morning Assembly covering Neuroscience, Growth Mindset & Character Strength Development

Kindergarten • • • •

Curriculum based on the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Mandarin taught daily Emphasis on learning through play and hands-on experience Half day and full day classes available

For admissions, call: 2984 0006

ee Guaranatce! your pl pen Day:

arten O am Kinderg d 10-12 June 22n : ns Night Admissio 7-8pm h June 25t

June / July 2019

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FEATURES

REGULARS

AGENDA

14 PERSONA

27 FENG SHUI

04 LANTAU NEWS

The basics

Meet Keilem Ng of Eco Marine

18 DISPATCH

34 LANTAU FACES

Lantau’s buzzing live-music scene

28 WALKABOUT

Out and about

40 NEED 2 KNOW

Sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Lantau Trail

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June / July 2019

WIN! A term’s dance classes with Twinkle Dance Company, tickets to Hong Kong Disneyland, a place on a Treasure Island summer camp and an A Tavola dinner voucher

NEW FESTIVAL ALL SET TO BOOST THE LOCAL LIVE MUSIC SCENE

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DRAGON BOATING

HIKING THE LANTAU TRAIL (SECTIONS 7 TO 9)

Love our ocean M E E T E C O M A R I N E AC T I V I S T K E I L E M N G

NEWS & EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

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Dragon Boat Festival 32

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ON THE

COVER Eco Marine activist Keilem Ng To read the cover story, turn to page 14 Photo by Duey Tam

Headteacher of Mui Wo OWLS School Will Tong reveals how to make maths fun!

37 CLASSIFIEDS 38 LOCAL NUMBERS 33

Dragon Fire and Safety promotes the use of smoke detectors

If you have a story idea, email rachel@baymedia.com.hk For general enquiries, email info@baymedia.com.hk To advertise, email corinne@baymedia.com.hk For graphic design, email andrew@baymedia.com.hk

We also publish Discovery Bay’s original community magazine

Summer Camps Guide

JUNE 2019

Call 2987 0577/ 2787 0886 | Fax 2987 0533

For the latest Life on Lantau updates, find us on

Publishers in Lantau since 2002

4 LIFE ON LANTAU June / July 2019

12 GIVEAWAYS

www.lifeonlantau.com

and www.lifeonlantau.com

First businesses in DB

(and the women behind them)

Grilling tips for barbecue enthusiasts

Where to eat, shop and play in North Point Why writing stories comes naturally to kids

Paddlers

Making a splash on Dragon Boat Day ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

FREE

Is your family financially fit?

You may believe that you have a sound financial plan and feel confident about the future but if you became seriously ill or died would your family know what to do?

Do you have assets in multiple jurisdictions (bank accounts, property, investments)?

James Ramsey Chief Strategy Officer

If you died, would your spouse know where all your assets are?

Would your spouse be able to access your assets should you lose mental capacity?

How confident are you that your insurances would serve their purpose?

TONE

Who would look after your children if you and your spouse died?

Advising British Passport Holders since 2002 & Lantau residents since 2012

M +852 9543 0700 D +852 3975 2878 E jramsey@bmpwealth.com W www.bmpwealth.com A BMP Wealth Limited, 1075 Central Building, 1-3 Pedder St, Central, Hong Kong

Talk to James Ramsey, wealth management professional, to get your financial affairs in order.

D +852 3975 2878 | E jramsey@bmpwealth.com James Ramsey is licensed by the Securities & Futures Commission of Hong Kong BMN687 & The Hong Kong Confederation of Insurance Brokers 011595. BMP Wealth Limited is authorised and regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong CE No. BIO512 and a Member of the Hong Kong Confederation of Insurance Brokers CIB Reg. No. 0542

PUBLISHER Corinne Jedwood corinne@baymedia.com.hk

CULTURAL HERITAGE FIELD TRIPS IN TAI O

MANAGING EDITOR Rachel Ainsley rachel@baymedia.com.hk PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Elizabeth Jerabek elizabeth@baymedia.com.hk SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Andrew Spires andrew@baymedia.com.hk ASSISTANT GRAPHIC DESIGNER Duey Tam duey@baymedia.com.hk DIGITAL AND EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Alexander Grasic alexander@baymedia.com.hk SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER Monika Carruthers monika@baymedia.com.hk OFFICE MANAGER Nikki-Ann Yee nikki@baymedia.com.hk PHOTOGRAPHERS Andrew Spires andrew@baymedia.com.hk Duey Tam duey@baymedia.com.hk INTERN Lea Mahoudeau-Campoyer production@baymedia.com.hk CONTRIBUTORS Beverly Au Elizabeth Kerr Claire Severn 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 Life on Lantau 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.

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www.wikimedia.org

he Dragon Boat Water Parade of Tai O (or the Tai O Deities Parade) is an annual highlight of the Tuen Ng Festival organised by three local fishermen associations, namely Pa Teng Hong, Sin Yu Hong and Hap Sim Tong. Registered on China’s third national List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in 2011, the parade is a centuryold religious ritual aimed at pacifying the water ghosts and making Tai O a safe place in which to live.

To enhance secondary students’ understanding of the event, the Joint Association of Traditional Dragon Boats in Tai O and the South China Research Center (SCRC) now jointly organise Tai O Society and Dragon Boat Parade heritage field trips, with funding support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

SCRC instructors alongside representatives from the Tai O fishing community lead the students to explore Tai O’s geographical and ecological setting, and to understand the history and organisation of the parade and its importance to village life. These heritage field trips aim to connect students more fully to concepts that they are learning in the classroom, with experiential learning increasing their interest, knowledge and motivation.

The Dragon Boat Water Parade of Tai O takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month – June 7 this year. On the morning before the festival, the participating fishermen row out their dragon boats to visit four temples – Yeung Hau (Marquis Prince), San Tsuen Tin Hau (Empress of Heaven), Kwan Tai (God of War) and Hung Shing (God of the South Sea). They then carry the deity statues from these temples to their associations’ halls for worship.

On June 7, the deity statues are put on sacred sampans and towed by the dragon boaters in a parade through the waters of Tai O. Villagers burn paper offerings as the dragon boats pass by.

If you would like your students to participate in a Tai O Society and Dragon Boat Parade heritage field trip, email schina@ust.hk. School-based applications are welcome on a firstcome-first-serve basis.

LANTAU NEWS

WHAT’S HAPPENING In a single day – May 11 – the Serve-a-thon volunteers were able to plant 77 trees. “We are so grateful for their contribution to present Lantau as a natural environmental wonder as we fight to preserve its rich biodiversity,” says Phoebe.

Serve-a-thon volunteers engage in direct service in support of causes such as feeding the poor and homeless, caring for the elderly and children from low-income families, empowering people with disabilities, and supporting animal welfare and environmental conservation.

SERVE-A-THON VOLUNTEERS HELPING OUT AT ARK EDEN

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erve-a-thon, which ran this year from May 4 to 12, was launched in 2017 to give HongKongers the opportunity to take part in meaningful and constructive volunteering work.

Since then Serve-a-thon volunteers– corporates, schools and, civic organisations – have given over 8,000 hours to support more than 30,000 people in need during nine annual days of service. This year, the organisers HandsOn Hong Kong lined up 150 volunteer activities to support over 50 local non-profits, including Ark Eden in Mui Wo. “We took a group of 38 enthusiastic and very active Hands-On volunteers to plant trees on beautiful land nestled in the hills above Mui Wo,” says Ark Eden’s Phoebe Farley. “Unfortunately, our valley has been ravaged for years by forest fires and soil erosion, which we have been fighting against in order to restore the hills to their former green glory.”

DO YOU SHARE THE LANTAU TOMORROW VISION?

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or the latest on the Lantau Tomorrow Vision, aka the East Lantau Metropolis (ELM), readers are advised to listen online to a dedicated episode of Backchat which aired on RTHK Radio 3 on May 1.

“Hong Kong’s vibrant NGO sector works every day to support those in greatest need but they can’t do it alone,” says Serve-a-thon spokesperson Amy Shea. “Many depend on the support of volunteers to make their programmes possible.”

Pointing to the way volunteering benefits everyone involved, Amy adds: “Recent findings from a city-wide study show that 83% of volunteers believe that community service has a positive effect on their mental health and self-esteem.”

To find out more with an eye to volunteering next year, visit www.serveathonhk.org.hk.

www.arkedenonlantau.org

challenge made by myself or Professor Mee Kan Ng, they never once challenged us.”

Its critics say the Lantau Tomorrow Vision is overpriced and unnecessary. The government says it will improve livelihoods by generating approximately HK$141 billion in yearly revenues, providing 200,000 job opportunities and housing for up to 700,000 people. Decide for yourself by listening to the broadcast at www.youtube.com/watch?v=3umcc3lgqKo.

Hugh Chiverton and Danny Gittings moderated the discussion between a panel of experts, including government officials; Michael Fong, Head of the Sustainable Lantau Office; Professor Mee Kam Ng, a land urban planning expert at the Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Tom Yam, a member of the Citizens Task Force on Land Supply. Members of the studio audience also participated in the live debate, as did listeners who called in to ask questions and share their views.

The debate is heated. “The two government officials made a valiant effort to justify the unjustifiable HK$1 trillion, 1,700-hectare reclamation project,” says Tom Yam. “It was very revealing. They were entirely on the defensive, and while they were unable to rebut any

www.bloomberg.com www.lifeonlantau.com

June / July 2019

LIFE ON LANTAU 7

LANTAU NEWS

WHAT’S HOT

MARVEL-SUPERHERO ACTION

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here’s a lot more to Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL) these days than Mickey Mouse. While a Frozen-themed area is in the works and the resort’s Fantasy Road Outdoor Venue is attracting more and more big-name artists, HKDL is bent on becoming the ultimate hub for Marvel-superhero action in the region.

Photo courtesy of www.hongkongdisneyland.com

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle, HKDL’s latest Marvel attraction, follows the successful launch of Iron Man Experience at the resort in 2017. Iron Man Experience has been rated as the top attraction at HKDL since its opening.

A high-tech, high-energy interactive adventure, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle is the world’s first Ant-Man and The Wasp attraction, as well as the first Marvel-themed attraction featuring a female superhero as a lead character. Theme park-goers ride in S.H.I.E.L.D.’s state-of-the-art vehicle and engage in a heroic battle, helping Ant-Man and The Wasp beat Zola and his army of Hydra swarm-bots.

Highly welcomed by fans, more Marvel experiences will be introduced as part of HKDL’s multi-year expansion running until 2023.

Meanwhile, the resort’s MICE (Meetings Incentives Conventions and Exhibitions) team organises an average of 600 events a year and is placing an emphasis on big-name concert experiences.

“We hope to provide one-stop hotel-park-concert resort experiences for our guests,” says Karen Kwan, HKDL’s MICE & event business

SURFING FOR KIDS

I

f your child aspires to be the next Laird Hamilton or Caroline Marks, it’s time to get him or her over to Pui O Beach and enrolled in a five-day Treasure Island Group (TIG) surf camp.

Kids, aged five to nine years, can get a taste of riding the waves at TIG’s Grommet Surf Camp, and the Intermediate Surf Camp is ideal for both beginner and more experienced surfers, aged nine to 12 years. Both camps run all summer long, with an overnight camping experience thrown in for the older kids.

All TIG surfers enjoy three hours of surfing each day, plus an hour of land-based safety instruction and ocean education. The instructor to surfer ratio in the water is 1:3 for grommets and 1:8

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle

director. “The Fantasy Road Outdoor Venue could attract more international and regional event organisers and artists to stage concerts in Hong Kong, which would reinforce the city’s position as an event capital of Asia and provide a new engine of growth for the local tourism industry.”

Grammy Award winner Ed Sheeran’s sell-out concert at HKDL’s Fantasy Road Outdoor Venue in April was followed by six performances

by Taiwanese rockers Mayday in May. “Our unique open-air venue is ideal for staging large-scale concerts and sports events,” Karen says. “It gives event organisers another valid Hong Kong venue for their shows and it helps to develop concertresort experiences for music lovers.”

for intermediates. Dry-land activities see groups of no more than 15 kids taught by one instructor.

From June 17 to August 16, TIG is also hosting a series of fiveday Summer Adventure Camps. Kids, aged seven to 16 years, can try their hand at a wide range of exciting outdoor pursuits, like kayaking, gorging, raft building and hiking. TIG’s Summer Adventure Camps are also designed to develop kid’s outdoor leadership skills, with a focus on trip preparation, group organisation, and equipment and material checks. There are different activities each day, in various locations on Lantau, with overnight camping on a Thursday.

Adventure campers must be capable and confident swimmers with good overall fitness and stamina.

Photos courtesy of Treasure Island Group

To win a place on a TIG summer camp, turn to page 12. To make a booking, call 2546 3543 or email inquiries@treasureislandhk.com.

Treasure Island Group summer camps

8 LIFE ON LANTAU June / July 2019

www.lifeonlantau.com

CAREY, SUEN WILL SERVICES

tel: +852 9160 7855 email: annette@careysuen.com website: www.careysuen.com

STILL PROCRASTINATING ABOUT WRITING YOUR WILL? BE SURE TO READ THIS PRECAUTIONARY TALE If you die without making a will, your assets will be distributed according to the law and not necessarily according to your wishes. There are many things to consider, but with a little preparation the process can be less painful and expensive than you might think – and certainly preferable to the chaos and confusion that can happen if there is not a will in place.

In my capacity as Managing Director of Carey, Suen Will Services, I’d like you to consider the below example of what can go wrong without a will. … This real-life example concerns two German men, one living in Germany, the other in Hong Kong, who were partners in a Hong Kong-based business. They didn’t have a written business agreement as the partner residing in Germany was concerned about German taxes. The partners trusted each other as they had been best friends for years.

I went to see them about drawing up a will for Hong Kong, and any other place they held assets – including Germany. I also advised them to draft some form of business protection as the company was worth around US$25 million, of which they split 50%. If either one of them died, how were they supposed to pay out the value to the deceased partner’s loved ones without affecting the business?

A few months later the business partner living in Germany was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I wrote his will and rushed it to the Adventist Hospital, suggesting that he sign it immediately, with the doctor and myself as witnesses. He declined and took the will back to Germany with him. I asked him to send me copies of the signed and witnessed documents.

He died before he validated his wills. His family – wife and daughter in Germany, one son in Spain and the other in Hong Kong – had to apply to the courts to claim his assets. His business partner denied the family access to the 50% value of the company.

There is no official partnership agreement, so the family is looking at a huge legal battle to prove ownership and to claim equity. As most of the family members live in high tax jurisdictions (Germany and Spain), they will also incur needless taxes on the estate as it is not being distributed through request but by the law.

All of this could have been much simpler and much easier for the family had there been a signed and validated will with a Deed of Trust to ensure that Dad’s half of the business would have passed on correctly.

Email Annette M. Houlihan at annette@careysuen.com for a free consultation Carey, Suen Will Services 8B Wing Yee Commercial Building, 5 Wing Kut Street, Central

tel: +852 9160 7855 email: annette@careysuen.com website: www.careysuen.com

LANTAU NEWS

WHAT’S NEW

THE ALMOST TRUE STORY OF SANDY PRIMARY SCHOOL

“V

ery silly and daft,” is how 18-year Lantau resident James Lambert describes his children’s book, The Almost True Story of Sandy Primary School, which was published by Austin Macauley (UK) on April 30. It’s a hilarious yarn about a school located right on a beach, and its slightly bonkers teachers, students and parents.

When the school is flattened by Hurricane Soft and Fluffy, the children of Mr Bell’s class are asked to redesign it, and hilarity ensues.

The book is aimed at kids aged eight to 12 years, an age group that James, as vice-principal of Lantau International School (LIS) is very familiar with. “I have taught upper primary for a long time now,” he says. “I’ve been at LIS for 18 years, so it made sense to write about what I know!

“I make notes when funny things happen at school, then try to sit down and expand the ideas in short stories,” James says, adding that the book took him over two years to write.

The big question, of course, is how closely Sandy Primary School is based on LIS. Are the calamitous school fairs, perilous bus journeys and parent warfare that we read about based on fact? “There is a small nugget of truth in all my chapters,” James says with a grin. “But, to protect the innocent (and guilty) and avoid legal action, I can’t say too much. Sports Day has been eventful for sure, usually during the parents’ race!

“I love our school as we are so close to nature and the beach, that was a big influence in how the book turned out,” he adds.

Photos courtesy of James Lambert

Gluey guinea-pigs, a local artist’s big plastic windy bottom and daft doctors are all part of the usual ebb and flow of Sandy Primary School. And it’s clear that James knows exactly what makes kids laugh. But what’s also great about the book, is that it’s an entertaining read for parents. “I try to write things that make me laugh,” James says. “There’s lots of silly stuff for kids in my book but also plenty of jokes aimed at adults.”

10 LIFE ON LANTAU June / July 2019

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James Lambert

Speaking of gluey guinea pigs, James shares his home with a longhaired guinea pig called George… and his wife, Suzy; daughter, Eleanor; and son, Joe. And he is not the only writer in the family. Eleanor Lambert was a finalist in the Around DB and Life on Lantau Young Writers Competition last year. “I obviously taught her everything she knows,” James quips.

James launched The Almost True Story of Sandy Primary School at LIS in April and not surprisingly it went down well. “A friendly audience, but they loved it,” he says. “I may have mentioned this already but it’s really funny!” James has also read the book “to a great bunch of kids” at Hong Kong International Learning Academy in Discovery Bay North Plaza and at Vibe bookstore in Mui Wo. He hopes to go to other schools after the summer.

Ask him about his favourite children’s authors now and when he was growing up, and James says, “I wasn’t a big reader when I was young, but Roald Dahl just caught my imagination. Today, David Walliams is superb, his books are great for adults to read to kids. But my favourite kids’ book is Wayside School by Louis Sacher. It’s funny, slightly surreal and I love reading it to my class. If you want to buy a child a book, buy that one. Actually, don’t… buy mine instead, then go to the library and get Wayside School. I need the money!”

The Almost True Story of Sandy Primary School, published by Austin Macauley UK, is available on Amazon, at Vibe in Mui Wo and also at Bookazine in Discovery Bay.

Ladies Night

Li V E B anD

Great drinks, great food and great company.

Tel: 2321 5500 www.atavola.hk Follow us on Facebook for upcoming events

atavolahk

Shop E&F G/F, Seaview Crescent Plaza Tung Chung, Lantau Island

SPONSORED CONTENT

The freedom to flourish through whole-person education

St David’s College Est. 1965

Why the St David’s College ‘Three Peak’ education model is so effective

“S

tudents don’t just receive an academic education at St David’s College in North Wales,” the school’s headmaster Andrew Russell opens. “Established in 1965, St David’s College pioneered a ‘three-dimension’ vision for education, creating a living and learning environment where our young boarders can reach their academic potential, develop tailored physical fitness and conditioning, and explore a personal spiritual and moral framework.”

St David’s is set close to the mountains of Snowdonia, and three of its School Houses are named after the range’s three highest peaks, Snowdon, Cader Idris and Tryfan. The ‘Three Peak’ model is uniquely placed to prepare young people for their adult lives and to make a significant contribution to society.

St David’s boasts highly experienced qualified teachers with specialists in a variety of subjects. At its outstanding Cadogan Learning Centre, one-on-one and small group support is provided, plus Speech, Language and Occupational Therapy.

“The school’s students gain the skills and strategies needed to access mainstream qualifications to go onto further their education

12 LIFE ON LANTAU June / July 2019

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at university level,” says Andrew. “The ability of St David’s to integrate innovative and personally tailored learning with exceptional outdoor education with a spiritual and moral focus, makes the school a leader in its sphere.”

What’s more, the award-winning range of extra-curricular activities offered allows each pupil to grow in self-confidence, ensuring endless possibilities for all. Each year sees overseas expeditions developing personal resilience and life skills in students, while Link International Innovation – the school’s charity – provides them with the opportunity to reach out to others.

While St David’s is set in a serene and secluded location, the school is under three hours by train from London. It’s well located to access Manchester International Airport, with direct flights from Hong Kong.

St David’s is popular among Hong Kong residents, drawing particularly rave reviews from one Discovery Bay family: “We relocated to Hong Kong 13 years ago, when our son was two. Orin spent his early years struggling through the educational system with dyslexia. We tried various schools but constantly failed to get the proper support and educational tools required to fit his learning needs. We finally discovered St David’s in 2016.”

Orin, now 15, has embraced being a boarder. As his mum says, “St David’s is so much more than a school, it’s a life’s education.”

St David’s is so proud of so many such success stories.

Giulietta’s story Attending an elite boarding school in the South of France may sound idyllic for some, but for Giulietta it was a miserable experience.

The Croatian 18-year-old said she lost all her confidence because despite being convinced she was dyslexic, three different French experts who tested her for dyslexia told her parents it was a linguistic problem.

“I was made to feel stupid, and I felt humiliated in the classroom as I found it so hard to keep up with the other students,” says Giulietta, who is fluent in Croatian, French and English. “The education system in France is very rigid and if you fall behind, there isn’t much help.”

In desperation to help her increasingly unhappy daughter, Giulietta’s mother Googled schools in the UK that could offer support in dyslexia, and St David’s College was the first one on the list. An interview was arranged and Giulietta said she fell in love with the school as soon as she saw the list of activities on offer (especially the 4X4 driving) and that pupils weren’t expected to get up at 6am and study until 8pm, as in her former school.

“In France they don’t really offer anything like BTECs, it’s all about sitting a big exam at the end, which is no good for someone like me who prefers continual assessment,” she says.

“When I first saw the school’s website I was interested to read Rachna’s story, and I thought I wanted to study business too, it was good to see a girl doing so well as I always thought business was a man’s world.”

After being tested by a British dyslexic expert, it was discovered that Giulietta was indeed dyslexic.

Since joining St David’s College last September, Giulietta has thrown herself into school life, including bagging herself the lead

role as Cinderella in her house play. She lives in Augusta House with the other female boarders and describes it as “one happy family;” she especially enjoys the soup and roll night on Sundays, brownie nights and movie nights.

“I love the British way of education, because in France as soon as you reach the sixth form you can’t study music, or drama or art unless you go to schools that specialise in these subjects – here you have a choice.

“The teachers at St David’s give up so much of their free time to help me, they are here to make sure I will succeed, and I believe that I will. I now have belief in myself.”

FIND IT

•

St David’s College, www.stdavidscollege.co.uk

Registration is open for September 2020 and beyond.

Limited places are available for September 2019.

www.lifeonlantau.com

June / July 2019

LIFE ON LANTAU 13

GIVEAWAYS

Here’s your chance to win great prizes!

WIN A PLACE ON A

Life on Lantau prizes are incredibly easy to TREASURE ISLAND get your hands on, and you have until June 10 to apply.

SUMMER CAMP Simply scan the barcode, or go to www.lifeonlantau.com/giveaways, Treasure Island Group (TIG) is offering one select the giveaway you want, reader a place on one of its week-long summer and enter your details camps (worth HK$4,480). The winner can choose into the online form. www.twinkledance.com

WIN A PLACE ON A TWINKLE DANCE COMPANY SUMMER CAMP Twinkle Dance Company is offering two readers, aged 18 months to four years, a place on its Dance Magic Lamp Summer Weekly Camp (worth HK$1,320). Subject to availability, the winner can choose to attend camp at the Twinkle studios in either Discovery Bay, Central, Causeway Bay or Wong Chuk Hang.

to attend Grommet Surf Camp (five to nine years), Intermediate Surf Camp (nine to 12 years) or Summer Adventure Camp (seven to 16 years).

All TIG surfers enjoy three hours of surfing each day, plus an hour of land-based safety instruction and ocean education.

Kids enrolled on a Summer Adventure Camp are introduced to a wide range of exciting outdoor pursuits, like kayaking, gorging, raft building and hiking. To register, call 2546 3543 or email inquiries@treasureislandhk.com; to find out more, visit www.treasureislandhk.com.

Twinkle Dance provides a variety of classes including ballet, jazz and contemporary for children and adults, from 18 months and up. Twinkle Dance aims to provide a safe and fun environment for children to explore, enjoy and discover how to express themselves through dance. Call 6608 6689 or visit www.twinkledance.com. www.treasureislandhk.com

WIN A HK$500 VOUCHER TO DINE AT A TAVOLA BAR & GRILL www.hongkongdisneyland.com

WIN DAY PASSES TO HONG KONG DISNEYLAND Tell us about your favourite dining and beauty spots on Lantau to win four day passes to Hong Kong Disneyland.

Visit the Around DB Facebook page or www.arounddb.com to participate in the Readers’ Choice Survey for Best of Lantau 2019. Submit your name and contact information when you complete the survey, and you’ll be entered into a lucky draw. Five survey participants will each win four day passes to Hong Kong Disneyland. The winners in each of the survey’s dining and beauty categories will be featured in the Best of Lantau 2019. For more information, visit www.arounddb.com.

A Tavola Bar & Grill in Tung Chung is offering two readers one HK$500 voucher each for food and drinks.

Furnished with both in and outdoor dining areas, A Tavola prides itself on fresh salad, www.atavola.hk handmade pizzas, well-crafted burgers and al dente pasta. On weekends, there’s live music from Rita and the Oracles and every Thursday night is Salsa Night, which begins at 8pm with a free lesson from Dance with Style. To make a reservation, call 2321 5500; for more information, visit www.atavola.hk.

Congratulations to last issue’s winners Brian Harrison for a 60-minute treatment for two at Om Spa; Nina Gupta for a place on a Treasure Island Group Spring Adventure Camp; and Kitty Au for HK$1,000 to spend on ‘felix and mina’ kids clothing 14 LIFE ON LANTAU June / July 2019

www.lifeonlantau.com

Resizing Rings (14KT & up) Recycling Old Jewelry Replacement of Missing Diamonds Re-design Jewelry Jewelry Engraving Services Testing on Gemstones Diamond, Gemstones & Jewelry Consultations Handling Diamonds with GIA/IGI certificates from 0.08 ct size & up

By Appointment Only in Discovery Bay Rahila Refaaq WhatsApp: +852 9656 0414 info@zahaetcetera.com Email:

zahaetcetera.com

S A L E

PERSONA

Photos by Duey Tam

Practising what she preaches Personal activism is the catch for South Lantau resident Keilem Ng, Hong Kong’s lowest-key environmentalist and feminist. Elizabeth Kerr reports

16 LIFE ON LANTAU June / July 2019

www.lifeonlantau.com

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hundred, hundred-fifty years ago Hong Kong was this little, tropical paradise… and Lantau is one of the last remaining green lungs,” begins Keilem Ng, simultaneously taking up all the space and none of it at a table in a Tung Chung pizza joint one sunny afternoon a month or so ago.

Keilem is one of those disarmingly gentle types – soft-spoken, polite, obviously listening when others talk. But that first impression envelops a steely dedication to telling you what she thinks if you ask her opinion – say, of the Hong Kong Government’s unshakeable determination to reclaim land around Lantau.

“I understand the political agenda… but I don’t think we need to keep growing to compete with Shanghai or Shenzhen,” she says.

“We’re never going to be 20 or 30 million… There’s this thing about ‘competing,’ that we need the biggest airport and the biggest port.

I don’t think we need to compete like that, and that’s the model we have right now. But that’s just me.”

Making change ‘Just Keilem’ is a native Hongkonger and Yale graduate who studied physics and maths in university before switching to architecture.

She started working in architecture and development but later gravitated to investment banking, and finally to her current career – still investment, but focused on areas that interest her, like social issues, the environment, green finance and senior housing.

Sometimes she regrets dropping out of the science department because that could be our ticket out of our current environmental mess, but through the combination of green organisation Eco Marine and her corporate day job, she’s doing her little bit to make Lantau, and Hong Kong, a better, greener place.

“It’s difficult to find that middle ground, so I find myself working from both ends. I think that suits me quite well,” she says.

Keilem drifted towards Tong Fuk in South Lantau four years ago after giving in to her preference for living in the “country.” While born in the city, she spent time as a kid in Singapore and Taiwan, returning to live in Tai Po at around nine years old. After coming home a second time (after university), she eventually settled in Lantau for good. “If I didn’t have these options it would be very hard to live in Hong Kong,” she says.

And yeah, you read that right. Keilem is a Yale grad, something she admits she downplays unless asked point blank, as most people still boggle at the idea of anyone actually attending such a prestige school. “It’s isolating, and I’m trying to reach everyday people,” she laments of the unfounded intimidation or bitter dismissal talk of her alma mater too often engenders.

Even more irritating for Keilem is that niggling gender divide.

“But you know, being a woman and being successful is always challenging,” she says. “I shouldn’t be downplaying my achievements or my hard work.”

“There are different ways for everyone to help and make change – from mums to politicians to artists to single consumers” No, she shouldn’t, particularly the work she’s put into Eco Marine and Exchange and Empower (E&E), co-founded with Nepali trail runner Mira Rai. The newly formed (2018) E&E was created in Mira Rai’s native Nepal to sponsor disadvantaged women in sport, language training and professional development. E&E is already sourcing new candidates for 2019, so plenty of chances to help with fundraising will pop up.

The idea is to help women define their own destinies – women like champion ultra-runner Mira Rai (“not good marriage material”) and participants like last year’s Chhechi Sherpa Rai, a wife, mother and stellar athlete who got zero respect for her natural ability, and Rashila Tamang, who started backbreaking labour as a pre-teen.

“Unlike Eco Marine we actually need dollars for this,” Keilem states.

Everyday choices and efforts Eco Marine is familiar to anyone who cares about the SAR’s beaches and the overabundance of plastic on them and in the water. The non-profit community organisation has had a hand in more than a few beach clean-ups since its foundation in 2012, and for Keilem it’s the perfect way to preach without preaching. She’s not much of a lobbyist, and leaves the major advocacy work to bigger organisations with bigger voices.

“There are different ways for everyone to help and make change – from mums to politicians to artists to single consumers,” she says.

“I enjoy working with people on a more personal level.”

Over the course of an average Eco Marine event, Keilem prefers to stand back and let the environment do the talking. If a picture speaks a thousand words, then plastic detritus washing up on the beaches speaks millions.

Ask her, and Keilem will point out Hong Kong’s continuing reliance on fossil fuels (approximately 70%) and anaemic attempts at renewable energy production or consumption. She’ll give props to the very public Starbucks (among others) initiative to stop offering customers plastic straws – which became a mainstream menace when videos of a sea turtle having a straw pulled from its guts went viral last year – as a great tool for change. And she stresses that we need to be aware of how much plastic is behind the scenes: single serving foods, commercial kitchens, standard shipping, luggage wrapping, the way supermarkets wrap single lemons…

The list goes on. www.lifeonlantau.com

June / July 2019

LIFE ON LANTAU 17

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PERSONA “Eliminating plastic straws is just one small step. But it’s a start. One thing’s for sure, now that I’ve tried to reduce my plastic, I eat a lot less potato chips,” Keilem cracks.

Keeping it real Eco Marine is hands-on activism, and it’s become a stalwart on Hong Kong’s ecological landscape because Keilem’s realistic approach simply asks that we consider what we truly value – be that clean water, reducing waste or general wellness. She wants her coffee that probably comes from a plastic bag, flown in on a pallet from halfway across the globe too.

“We need to live in the world,” she says. “Go ahead and live on a commune in an undeveloped area, but plenty of good has come from progress and technology… I know people who’ve come close to nervous breakdowns because they’ve gone to extremes and have had to say ‘No’ to every single activity. It’s about making change in your own way.”

So ahead of the next Eco Marine clean-up, what three things would Keilem recommend anyone interested do to get greener?

Keilem Ng on Tong Fuk Wan

She suggests starting by going outside and experiencing nature on some level to get a grip on what we’re losing. Then pick something you can personally change with little effort. Maybe that means cutting back on meat or actively avoiding plastic bags. Finally, spread the word, which is why Keilem’s three steps came so fast.

“That’s an easy question for me,” she finishes. “It’s what I tell people every day.”

FIND IT

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Eco Marine, www.ecomarinehongkong.org Exchange and Empower, miraraiexchange.org

DISPATCH

r u o y t e G Photos courtesy of Anastasia Lebedeva, Ari Clan, Debbie Mannas, Jason Pagliari and Andrew Spires

Case Sensitive

Glen Alfred

Sleepy, laid-back Lantau is not known for its banging nightlife but be that as it may, its live music scene is buzzing thanks to welcoming venues and a brand-new festival. Beverly Au reports

“O

h the music! Lantau’s likely the only place in Hong Kong with such a concentration of world-class musicians,” said local songstress Debbie Mannas when she was interviewed in this magazine back in 2018. Questioned further, Debbie, who is known for her work with Syzygy and The Soul Sessions, and is releasing her second solo album Magician this month, reels off a list of fellow Lantau-based musicians without pause for thought.

20 LIFE ON LANTAU June / July 2019

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“Most of the bands I work with live in Lantau, including my music director, Agnes Q, who also directs the Vienna Boys’ Choir, and Sandra Leung Waters, my Syzygy partner,” she says. “But when I start to think of it, the list is endless! There’s Daphne Villaneuva and Matt Collingwood; there’s Satur Tiamson, who tours regularly with Lea Salonga; and Aaliyah Capili, who’s performed at Carnegie Hall.

And of course, there are a ton of wonderful musicians who work for Disney living here.”

n o n o e v o o o r gro The Sleeves

The Taken

Ari Clan

Powerful Moss

Bands headlining at Rotten Head Craft Beer & Music Festival on October 26

That’s quite a list already, and off the top of her head, this writer can add singer-song writer Glen Alfred, conductor-composer Colin Touchin, film composer Robert Ellis-Geiger, and Sam Ferrer of Hong Kong Philharmonic spin-off Shaolin Fez. Widen the net a little bit to include DB-based musicians and saxophonist Blaine Whittaker, Helium3 frontman Nick Flavell and guitarist Jay Apungan all spring immediately to mind.

The jazz bars are good and I know a few fabulous artists doing their own thing, but all in all, Hong Kong has a fair bit of space to grow musically. I love venues that treat musicians well and respect the study, time, hard work and heartbreak that goes into being an artist.”

Clearly Lantau is a place that appeals to creatives; it’s quieter and less corporate than other parts of Hong Kong, there’s room to ‘breathe’ and get in touch with the muse, and of course, for struggling musicians, the housing’s cheaper.

An alternative bunch (at least by Hong Kong standards), Lantauers are the sort of people who enjoy live music and, as it turns out, there are a good number of small, welcoming local venues that host new and/ or upcoming bands. More intimate and low key than the popular Hong Kong music spots, like The Wanch, The Fringe Club, 1563 At The East and Orange Tree, local bars and restaurants are finding they can boost business by offering live music as a side.

“Artists go from gig to gig working with each other doing covers, just to survive,” says Debbie. “There’s not much space for originality.

Local live music venues

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June / July 2019

LIFE ON LANTAU 21

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DISPATCH

Local bars and restaurants are finding they can boost business by offering live music as a side A Tavola Bar & Grill has taken over from Zentro Garden as the place to enjoy live music in Tung Chung. On Friday and Saturday nights, there’s almost always a band to watch, likely Rita and the Oracles, and every Thursday it’s salsa night.

Over in Mui Wo, Bahce Turkish Restaurant headlines live music every other Friday, with several bands, like Greyhound and the folksy Mary Jane, playing on a rotational basis. Cafe Isara is also in on the act, hosting a number of bands, notably the 11-piece ska-mod act Red Stripes. The China Beach Club arranges live music for private events.

While you can occasionally enjoy live music at Treasure Island, Water Buffalo and JK Club in Pui O, Tap Tap Bar & Restaurant, in the heart of the village, is known for rockin’ weekend jam sessions held in its corrugated outhouse. Depending who’s playing on any particular night, you could get a loose improvisational jam, or songs from across the spectrum of modern music. The official home of local musicians’ collective The Swamp (previously The Ad Hocs), Tap Tap also regularly hosts Pui O rockers The Banded Kraits.

If you’re in DB and looking to catch a gig, Hemingway’s on D’Deck is well set up for live music. Owner Gary Stokes brings in a real variety of bands, including those that perform each year at The BIG Picnic (TBP).

The brand-new music festival Speaking of TBP, ‘Hong Kong’s biggest community music and dance festival’ is now performed on Tai Pak Wan and in DB Plaza, across three stages. Funding issues almost led to TBP being cancelled last year but Nick Flavell and his team of organisers saved the day with some well-timed crowdfunding, and they are already looking for sponsors for this year’s event, scheduled for November 9.

Musicians’ collective The Swamp

Closer to home, South Lantau music lovers have also been known to rock out at community-based local festivals, like the Silvermine Bay Music Festival, Mother Earth Groove and Imagine Peace. Difficult to organise – and to fund – these events, though hugely popular, come and go, but this is something Alan Chung and Andrew Spires the organisers of the all-new Rotten Head Craft Beer & Music Festival are hoping to change.

The idea for Rotten Head came to the Tung Chung-based dads when they were hanging out one afternoon with their kids – with nothing to do. Lantau, they concluded, was lacking in fun, culture and entertainment, and it needed its own… Green Man. “Rotten Head is set to become the most exciting thing to happen to Lantau since the Mongol invasion of 1276,” opens Andrew with a grin.

The Banded Kraits

22 LIFE ON LANTAU June / July 2019

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Debbie Mannas

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DISPATCH

A Rotten Head quiz night in Tung Chung

“With over 10 Lantau and Hong Kong craft breweries representing, delicious food stalls, pop-up shows, the Handmade Hong Kong market, dance performances from Lantau’s premier studios, a baby disco, a totally awesome kids’ area and some of the best music Hong Kong has to offer, it’s going to be an event to remember.”

Restaurant in Tung Chung, they’ve organised regular quiz nights at the Seaview Cafe on Tung Chung pier with live performances from local musicians Glen Alfred and Case Sensitive. These ongoing events are intended to engage the Tung Chung community, provide a space to showcase local musicians, and create a buzz ahead of the party on October 26.

Rotten Head is making its debut at Tat Tung Road Park, Tung Chung on October 26, and tickets go on sale on June 23. Popular local artists already on the line-up include Glen Alfred, Jack Rabbit Slim, The Sleeves, Powerful Moss, Rockstars Anonymous, The Rivals, Case Sensitive, The Pistons and The Taken, plus ‘the Voice of Macau,’ Ari Clan.

“It’s been easy enough to get the artists on board because they really liked the idea,” says Andrew. “And what’s inspired us is how helpful other festival organisers have been with advice. We spoke to the guys at Clockenflap and TBP about the inner workings of festival organising and their help has been invaluable. Seems like everyone is excited about our bringing a new festival to Hong Kong.”

Andrew and Alan would love to make Rotten Head a free event but as Alan says, “music festivals are very expensive things to run! We want to keep the price as low as possible to allow everyone to attend, so we’re charging HK$250 for early-bird tickets, HK$300 for advanced admission and HK$350 on the door to cover costs. Kids under 12 get in for free, and 12 to 18 year olds pay HK$100.” The pair are looking for sponsors, and hope their green credentials go some way to support this.

Since Rotten Head is first and foremost a family festival, the idea is to make it low-impact, with zero single-use plastic. “We’re working with Plastic Free Seas to create the best eco-festival possible,” Andrew says. “It’s costly but we’ll persevere. The aim is for Rotten Head to give to the community, without taking from the environment.”

In the months leading up to the festival, Andrew and Alan have already been ‘giving back’ to local music lovers through a series of rockin’ warm-up events. In addition to a silent disco at Resto 24 LIFE ON LANTAU June / July 2019

www.lifeonlantau.com

Rotten Head organisers Andrew Spires and Alan Chung

FIND IT

• • • • • • • • • • •

A Tavola Bar & Grill, 2321 5500 Bahce Turkish Restaurant, 2984 0222 Cafe Isara, 2470 1966 JK Club, 2984 0220 Resto Restaurant, 2886 3156 Rotten Head Craft Beer & Music Festival, www.rottenheadfest.com Seaview Cafe, 6972 2338 Tap Tap Bar & Restaurant, 2984 9091 The China Beach Club, 2983 8931 Treasure Island, 2546 3543 Water Buffalo, 2109 3331

Art, Sport or the Great Outdoors?

Time to enrol your kids in a summer camp!

ARK EDEN

BAYVIEW HOUSE OF CHILDREN

Ark Eden’s multi-day Summer Forest Camps bring out the adventurous, curious and compassionate side of children and provide outdoor fun for kids, aged five to 11 years. The camps are held from June 17 to August 16 on a hillside in Mui Wo, with different activities, like treehouse building, campfire cooking, swimming in waterfalls and fun water fights, on offer each day.

Bayview House of Children is providing six weeks of summer fun from July 2 to August 9 for children aged three to six years in DB. The creative programme, held in the morning, includes arts and crafts, musical movement, gardening, science and cookery. At the afternoon multi-sport programme, kids learn various sports and play fun, physical games. Children grow in confidence, while learning about leadership and working as a team.

2988 5355 info@arkedenonlantau.org www.arkedenonlantau.org

DISCOVERY MONTESSORI SCHOOL & ACADEMY Discovery Montessori School & Academy’s summer camp in DB is tailor-made to be fun, educational and social. It is designed to develop each child’s personality and skills using the creative Montessori learning method in a mixed-aged environment.

A variety of exciting theme-based activities are on offer for children aged 12 months to 10 years, with a primary focus on Montessori Cultural Studies.

2812 9668 enquiry@discoverymontessori.info www.discoverymontessori.info

6114 2436 ramesha@bayview.hk www.bayview.hk

HK DRAGONS FOOTBALL CLUB HK Dragons Football Club offers summer camps (and year-round coaching) for girls and boys of all abilities, aged three to 18 years. The camps run from July 2 to 5, July 8 to 12, August 5 to 9 and August 12 to 16 in Discovery Bay, Pui O and Stanley. Coaches aim to motivate players to try new things, develop their game skills and realise their full potential, both on and off the pitch.

5322 5556 theoffice@dragons.hk www.dragons.hk

From the publishers of Around DB and Life on Lantau magazines

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B right Lights, Big City: Twinkle Dance Project HK

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s a dancer, teacher and the owner of Twinkle Dance Company, Twinkle Lam spends a lot of time in dance studios. So it’s no surprise that when she came across New York City-based photographer Dane Shitagi’s Ballerina Project – in which he photographs ballerinas not in their ‘natural habitat’ but on location – the images caught her eye.

In 2018, Twinkle realised that the growth of Twinkle Dance Company, now with a studio in DB North Plaza, had set her up with a unique opportunity to showcase dance using Hong Kong’s vibrant cityscape.

“We have all the resources – many talented students and spectacular costumes from performances,” she says. “So, it motivated me to get started on my own version of Shitagi’s Ballerina Project – Twinkle Dance Project HK. It is so refreshing to see dance pictures outside of a studio setting.”

Twelve locations are featured in Project HK to date: Montane Mansion in Quarry Bay; Central MTR Station, Graham Street Market, Pottinger Street and Pedder Street in Central; the Ladies Market and Sai Yeung Choi Street in Mongkok; Western District cargo working area; Choi Hung Estate in Wong Tai Sin; Lingnan Garden in Lai Chi Kok; Lok Wah South Estate in Ngau Tau Kok; and the Bamboo Theatre in Tsing Yi.

Photo by Manuel Wong

“In the photos, you’ll find familiar everyday city scenes, ranging from something local, such as the Graham Street Market to something like Montane Mansion, which has become a tourist hotspot since being featured in the Hollywood blockbuster Transformers: Age of Extinction,” Twinkle explains.

“While displaying the talent of our students, we also wanted to present Hong Kong – its beauty, dynamism and spirit – to audiences across the globe.”

Project HK ingeniously combines performance art and visual art, with each shot cleverly connecting the dancers with their location, but the logistics of each shoot presented unique challenges. “Shooting at busy locations is very different from a stage or studio setting. It often draws a crowd, causing a small commotion. Thus, our dancers

At Montane Mansion in Quarry Bay

needed to be very focused, with the photographer capturing just the right moment,” says Twinkle.

The costumes – created by Twinkle’s dance clothing company Tutulamb – are also all-important and inspired by each location’s theme. As an example, the theme for the Pedder Street location is ‘Busy transit,’ so we see three dancers in the middle of the street, in costumes designed to represent a taxi, a tram and a mini bus.

With Project HK, the Twinkle Dance Company dancers were entrusted with creating the right mood – and complementing the location – through their poses. “For the Tsing Yi Bamboo Theatre shoot, our student wore a costume inspired by traditional Chinese Opera, so she struck a strong Chinese dancer-like pose,” says Twinkle. “It was just perfect.”

FIND IT

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Twinkle Dance Company, 1/F, Unit 6 , Block 2, DB North Plaza, info@twinkledance.com, www.twinkledance.com Twinkle Dance Project HK, www.instagram.com/twinkledanceprojecthk

Twinkle Dance Company has partnered with Yoga Up for its new Discovery Bay studio location in DB North Plaza.

www.lifeonlantau.com

June / July 2019

LIFE ON LANTAU 27

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FENG SHUI

FENG SHUI: The living room

By Samantha Wong

O

ne of the reasons minimalist design schemes appeal to so many of us is that they radiate sheng chi (beneficial energy). A pared-back, clutter-free room is harmonious and well-balanced, it’s calming without being dull and it has a sense of flow – all essentials for good feng shui.

So if you are reworking your living room to improve the feng shui, start by decluttering it. Throw out what you can (that pile of old magazines on the coffee table) and find storage solutions for things you use on a regular basis. It’s worth investing in a few simple pieces that will free up space – perhaps you need a bookcase or a couple of side tables with in-built storage.

You’re aiming to fill your room with only the (attractive) necessities, and this goes for larger pieces too – get rid of the chair you never sit in and the painting you no longer look at.

stylish but if it’s reflecting a neglected corner, that feeling is likely being doubled in your life.

Mirrors are also linked to self-esteem, so stick to full-length ones in which you can see yourself completely. If your body is ‘cut’ in your reflection, your energy is cut, and you’re telling yourself that you don’t measure up.

Lastly, it’s time to throw caution to the wind and play with fire.

You can brighten any space with a splash of red and in so doing you introduce the fire element of joy, warmth, love and excitement.

Good feng shui is all about balance, so you’ll want a good mix of colours in your living room, but pick up a rug or a throw in a warm and nurturing shade of red and you’ll feel the benefit.

Paring down will immediately up the feel of any living room, as will giving some thought to furniture placement. Group chairs to promote conversation and togetherness, and put the TV in a cabinet so that you can really switch off from it every now and then.

Work with scale and proportion to create harmony between pieces of furniture, and make sure the chi can flow.

Playing with fire

Photo by Raj Jariwala - www.unsplash.com

Chi can’t flow in a room with stagnant air, so be mindful about opening your windows. You can also freshen a room by burning incense sticks or, better, using an aromatherapy diffuser. The healing power of essential oils works on many levels, making a living room smell good, while purifying its energy.

Good lighting is another must. Don’t limit your living room to a single ceiling lamp because si chi (bad energy) breeds in spaces that are harshly or dimly lit. Layered lighting works best, meaning you have a number of fixtures – ceiling, standing and table – placed liberally around the room. Fire up some candles too.

Mirrors are a great way to bounce light around, while also making a space look bigger. They introduce a calm, fresh energy but they possess a lot of magic, so you need to be a little bit cautious with them.

Mirrors literally and metaphorically double what they reflect, which means they need to reflect something positive, like a beautiful view or favourite piece of furniture. A mirror above the sofa might look

Declutter to improve the energy in any room www.lifeonlantau.com

June / July 2019

LIFE ON LANTAU 29

Photos by Andrew Spires

WALKABOUT SPOTLIGHT

30  LIFE ON LANTAU June / July 2019

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Shore thing Continuing their 70-kilometre challenge,Claire Severn and her hiking buddy discover the incredible beauty of the South Lantau coast

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t had been over a month since our last hike and our traumatic descent towards Tai O through the spider-infested ‘Tunnel of Doom.’ It was time to get moving again. This time around, our arrival at Lantau’s famed fishing village was rather more serene (if you can describe a ride along South Lantau Road in a blue taxi as such), and we set off along the coast, ready for another day of adventure.

We were about to walk sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Lantau Trail, starting out in Tai O and making our way along the coast to Shui Hau Wan, a designated marine reserve with the biggest mudflat on Lantau.

Tai O to Kau Ling Chung Section 7 of the Lantau Trail skirts the coastline from Tai O to Kau Ling Chung. It starts off as a gentle walk, passing by a number of village houses before heading into the shade of the trees.

Anyone wishing to walk this section should be aware that part of it is currently closed to the public due to farmland rehabilitation, and the government advises hikers to follow an alternative route from distance post L059.

In reality, that’s easier said than done. Despite keeping an eye out for the marker, we completely missed it, and a lack of mobile data coverage meant that assistance from good old Google was out of the question.

Luckily, the landowners didn’t seem too perturbed by our presence, and we navigated through their beautiful farmland without issue.

Beautiful views open up shortly after leaving Tai O

As we went on and quickly regained the coastal path, the hike became more challenging, with some steep climbs and descents along the way. But it was worth it. The beaches on this part of Lantau are literally stunning, with white, powdery sand stretching for miles. Tsin Yue Wan took my breath away, as did the beach at Yi O Kau Tsuen. www.lifeonlantau.com

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WALKABOUT Fan Lau Fort and Shek Pik Reservoir Another bonus of accidentally following the ‘old’ trail was that we got to take a detour to check out Fan Lau Fort, which is located on the south-western tip of Lantau. To get there, we turned right at a T-junction and followed the signs to the fort from the next beach (after a little directional assistance from a friendly villager and his dog).

Believed to have been built in the first half of the 18th century, it is said that the strategic stronghold, now a ruin, was once armed with eight cannons and manned by a lieutenant and 48 soldiers. From there, they defended the coast, helped to control the increasing trade with the West and kept a look out for roaming pirates.

While not much remains of the original structure except the outer wall, it provided us with a good place to stop for a snack before heading back downhill and through Fan Lau Tsuen to rejoin the Lantau Trail.

From here the path rises again, offering panoramic views back over Fan Lau Wan, and we headed off trail briefly to Fan Lau lighthouse.

Here in the far south west, the waters from the South China Sea and the Pearl River famously meet and mingle.

Following the signs to Shek Pik Tsuen, we continued our climb up to the catchwater, where we joined section 8 of the trail. While this section isn’t necessarily the most interesting part of the Lantau Trail, it’s an easy walk offering some welcome respite for the legs.

On arriving in Shek Pik Tsuen, we crossed the glorious triangularshaped reservoir, lingering a while to soak up the impressive views.

Built between 1957 and 1963, the reservoir has a storage capacity of 24-million cubic metres and is the third largest in Hong Kong after High Island and Plover Cove. While it is surrounded by hills, it seems to flow into the sea like an infinity pool. We took a moment to sit back in wonder.

Shui Hau Wan

On we soldiered, eventually reaching a beautiful, secluded beach with a few tents pitched at the rear. We took a moment to take in the view before tackling our final challenge for the day – yes, you’ve guessed it – another steep coastal ascent.

As we headed downhill towards Shui Hau Wan – our end point for the day – we chatted excitedly about the highlight of our hike so far.

We had finally seen a snake.

We’d been keeping our eyes peeled since we started out and nothing. But this time, we’d struck gold, in fact we’d nearly stepped on it, it was that well camouflaged. A quick post to the Hong Kong Snakes Facebook group confirmed that we had spotted a copperhead racer. We were delighted – it was wonderful to see one of Lantau’s slithery friends up close in the wild.

It had been a great day – the best so far. Quite simply, South Lantau’s coast is stunning, and spending a day admiring it was worth every ache and pain we’d gained along the way. As we rested up on Shui Hau Wan, we agreed that our destination was a highpoint in itself, and somewhere well worth revisiting with our families.

More beautiful beaches and a snake encounter

A 30-minute taxi ride from Ngong Ping, Shui Hau Wan is a clamdigger’s haven but its vast mudflat has more to offer than that.

When the tide goes out, the waves leave ripple-like marks, creating a mesmerising vista, which villagers call a ‘mirror of the sky.’

Located in Lantau South Country Park, Shek Pik Reservoir marks the starting point of section 9 of the Lantau Trail. As we turned right after the prison, the hard work resumed, with the path soon turning into a sharp climb.

Sitting back, admiring yet another glorious stretch of coastline, we knew we still had three more sections of the Lantau Trail to conquer, but we’d think about that another day. For now, it was time to take it easy.

Tsin Yue Wan Shek Pik Reservoir

32 LIFE ON LANTAU June / July 2019

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INSIDER

What you ow kn o t d e e n

Headteacher of Mui Wo OWLS School Will Tong reveals how to make maths fun!

“I hate maths.”

“Maths is hard.”

“Maths is boring.”

M

ost children innately like numbers. In fact, you’ll seldom hear kids speaking negatively about maths until they start going to school. Here are some practical suggestions to help young students change their mindset.

Encourage kids to memorise a few key maths facts.

This will provide the building blocks for them to fall in love with maths.

For instance, memorising the times tables is a good investment. It saves time later when kids begin to learn addition, subtraction, multi-digit multiplication, division, fractions and decimals.

Knowing key maths facts allows more room for higher order thinking, like processing maths inquiries and word problems.

Find the missing building blocks of children’s maths learning – this is not easy, but it’s worth doing.

If your child is struggling with fraction subtraction, the problem may stem from simple subtraction, subtraction of the same denominator, or subtraction of a different denominator. Breaking down a question into small units and helping kids to master that unit is key. Having a clear framework helps children to understand what particular practice they need.

Photo courtesy of www.wikimedia.org

Introduce personalised deliberate practice. Psychologist K. Anders Ericsson writes that it is the method of practice that is essential, not the number of hours spent practising. With this in mind, the goal of daily maths practice should not be subject knowledge, but the learning method.

Say children are working on the seven times table… We can provide different tools and methods for them to choose from, for instance songs, worksheets, computer games, cards, or tiles. We can ask the kids which method they feel more comfortable with. Which is more fun? Which would help them learn better? This method may also be applicable to other subjects. With the right habits of mind, children will turn into reflective thinkers who will continuously improve their learning methods.

Help children to feel connected to what they are learning through STEM education. Example 1: Many students don’t know why they have to 34 LIFE ON LANTAU June / July 2019

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learn the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division). By creating a simple equation, making use of the four operations in coding with robotics, they can apply their learning in a practical way. They can, for instance, create a simulation of the parking system of a car.

Example 2: Many students don’t know why they need to learn geometry. By creating a simple shooting game with coding, students will understand how to make use of coordinates and angles to make an interesting game.

In the past three years, I have created over a hundred S.T.E.M. projects with my students. The most amazing result has been students starting to understand why they need to learn maths. They understand the meaning. Thus, they become more motivated to learn maths.

You’ll know that you’re on the right track if you start hearing the following statements more often: “I love maths.”

“Maths is so fun.”

“I like maths challenges.”

FIND IT

•

Mui Wo OWLS School, 1A Silver Centre Building, 10 Mui Wo Ferry Pier Road, Mui Wo, 2984 0006, office@muiwoowlsschool.edu.hk, www.mwos.edu.hk

What you ow n k o t d e ne

Founding director of Dragon Fire and Safety David Scott reveals that smoke detectors save lives across the world – but not so much in Hong Kong

I

n November last year, Hong Kong Fire Services Department (HKFSD) adopted a faceless, blue-suited, new mascot called ‘Anyone’ to introduce the public to basic fire-safety skills, including cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of a fire extinguisher. The idea being that ‘anyone’ can save a life and ‘anyone’ can use a fire extinguisher.

Showing the people of Hong Kong how to save someone else’s life is laudable – and the HKFSD’s online Anyone campaign in fact went viral – but HongKongers also need to know how to save their own lives. What’s needed is an HKFSD campaign informing people how important it is that they have at least one smoke detector in their home.

Despite Hong Kong being one of the most densely populated cities in the world, there is still no legal requirement to have smoke detection in the majority of homes. You may be surprised to hear that it’s not a requirement in new-build housing, in private housing, in social housing, in rented housing, in renovated housing or in subdivided flats.

Photo courtesy of www.facebook.com/hkfsd.gov.hk

The only exception is in new-build apartments with kitchens that open directly into the living room. In such homes, the developer must provide a smoke detector connected to the building’s main fire-alarm system and a single sprinkler head.

This lack of legislation in Hong Kong seems strange when compared to requirements across the world, especially when you consider that residential smoke-detector ownership is over 90% in some countries.

Around the world, fire-safety professionals recommend having at least one working smoke detector in your home. This simple and straightforward fire-safety message is vital to saving lives and it is at the forefront of almost every national and regional fire service in the world.

Fire-safety professionals worldwide recommend the installation of smoke alarms in people’s homes due to the historical correlation between increased levels of smoke-detector ownership and the corresponding reduction in deaths resulting from fires in the home.

The HKFSD’s online Anyone campaign

A smoke detector in the home increases your chance of survival since it notifies you of a possible fire risk. Of course, this is particularly important at night when occupants are asleep.

There is no disputing the professionalism and bravery of the HKFSD firefighters who have some of the fastest response times to 999 calls in the world. But in a day and age where even homes made with tin roofs in shanty towns in South Africa have smoke detectors installed, perhaps it’s time to educate the people of Hong Kong on how to save their own lives.

FIND IT

•

Dragon Fire and Safety, 5286 1812, enquiries@dragonfireandsafety.com, dragonfireandsafety.com

Dragon Fire and Safety carries out fire-safety training, fire-safety management and fire-risk assessment services for corporate clients throughout Hong Kong. The company also retails its own smoke detector for the home under the trademarked Dragon FireEye brand at www.dragonfireeye.com.

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June / July 2019

LIFE ON LANTAU 35

LANTAU FACES

e ould lik If you w tured os fea t o h p your to see email page, is h t on .hk ia.com d e m y ba duey@

COMMUNITY SNAPS On March 24, participants in the 10-kilometre Green Sense Charity hike followed the Lo Fu Tau and Olympic trails (up and over Tiger’s Head) before making their way to the finish at Silvermine Waterfall Park. Find more familiar faces @ www.lifeonlantau.com

greensense.org.hk

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The Tung Chung World Cup Tennis Tournament on March 30 attracted 72 players representing nine national teams. Congratulations go to the winners: Cup Group – Hong Kong Unique; Plate Group – Team Canada; Bowl Group – Hong Kong Passion.

Find more familiar faces @ www.lifeonlantau.com

Photos courtesy of Tom Wu www.lifeonlantau.com

June / July 2019

LIFE ON LANTAU 37

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LOCAL NUMBERS COMMUNITY SERVICES Tung Chung Man Tung Road Sports Centre Tung Chung Public Library Tung Chung Public Swimming Pool

2109 2421 2109 3011 2109 9107

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June / July 2019

LIFE ON LANTAU 41

NEED 2 KNOW

PADDLES UP!

Photo by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

We’re celebrating Dragon Boat Festival on June 7 this year.

Here are 10 things you need to know about the sport

1 2 3 4 5

Dragon boating is the fastest growing team sport in the world, and there are dragon-boat clubs in over 60 countries. The International Dragon Boat Federation has governed the sport internationally since 1991.

The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation is leading the charge to get dragon-boat racing included in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Dragon boating emerged as an international sport in Hong Kong in 1976, and this year, thousands of the world’s top dragon boaters are battling it out at the CCB (Asia) Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races in Victoria Harbour.

Taking place every four years, the International Breast Cancer Paddler’s Commission Dragon Boat Festival sees breast cancer survivors, who have taken to dragon boating for their post-operative rehabilitation, racing non-competitively.

In China, the festival honouring the dragon is held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month when the sun is at its maximum strength. Dragon boats were first used in southern China 2,500 years ago to transport warriors into battle.

42 LIFE ON LANTAU June / July 2019

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6 7 8 9 10

The first London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival was organised 10 years ago by the London Chinatown Lions Club to raise funds for Chinese schools in Greater London.

This year, dragon-boaters across Hong Kong have pledged to ‘paddle without plastic.’ The initiative, kickstarted by Green Dragons HK, sees local teams working together to make a difference to Hong Kong’s beaches and seas by eliminating single-use plastic during training and festival events.

All competition boats are made of double-skinned fibreglass. A 12-metre men’s boat, with a paddling team of 20, can weigh almost 2,000 kilogrammes.

Crews who compete internationally can paddle their boats at 20 kilometres per hour. Race lanes are 500-metres long.

China’s Dragon Boat Festival, which has its roots in ancient folklore, has been marked by a threeday public holiday since 2008. It’s also a public holiday in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.