OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015
CHI MA WAN TREK
DISCOVER THE TURQUOISE LAKE
MAN ABOUT MUI WO
TRAIL RACE ORGANISER SHANE EARLY
ACCELERATED CHANGE
ISLAND DEVELOPMENT IN OVERDRIVE Join your community online
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An all new ESF International Kindergarten is coming to Tung Chung
Check out our website for enrolment information
Where Inquiry Begins Start your child’s learning journey with ESF International Kindergarten, Tung Chung Our purpose-built, spacious kindergarten will provide the perfect environment for young learners. As the largest of the ESF Kindergartens, our space is being carefully planned to provide places of beauty that will support learning, stimulate imaginations, nurture children, families and staff, and truly inspire the wonderful memories of childhood.
New! Tung Chung at The Visionary Tel: 3572 8533 Email: kinder@tc.esf.org.hk
With well-resourced classrooms, great access to current learning technologies and indoor and outdoor play areas, young children will be presented with multiple opportunities to learn, socialise and develop their skills. Through inquiry-based learning and play, we encourage children’s natural curiosity and creativity, develop their personal and social skills, inspire them with a life-long love of learning and the confidence to fulfil their potential.
Our other Kindergartens: Abacus at Clearwater Bay
To enrol and find out more about ESF International Kindergarten, Tung Chung please send an email to kinder@tc.esf.org.hk.
opening for the 2016/2017 School Year
an IB World School
Tel: 2719 5712 Hillside on Stubbs Road an IB World School
Tel: 2540 0066 Tsing Yi
an IB World School
Tel: 2436 3355 Wu Kai Sha
an IB World School
Tel: 2435 5291
www.esfkindergartens.org.hk
OCT/ NOV 2015 FEATURES 16 COVER STORY While North Lantau
is developing rapidly, South Lantau is at breaking point
26 HEALTH & FITNESS Eat super
16
veggies to give your body the nutrients it needs
30 PERSONA Meet Shane Early, the trail runner behind Lantau Base Camp
34
HIT THE TRAILS Discover Chi Ma Wan and the turquoise lake
REGULARS 15
GIVEAWAYS Fabulous prizes up for grabs!
29 LADA UPDATE News from Lantau
26
Development Alliance
38 ASK THE EXPERT Preventing and treating heatstroke in pets
39 BUSINESS MATTERS Paul Fortune: AquaBlu Marine
40 44
30
LANTAU FACES Community snaps STEPPIN’ OUT Hong Kong’s top traditional pastimes
AGENDA 04 HOT OFF THE PRESS Up-to-theminute island news
06 LANTAU FOCUS What’s happening in the community
22 PULL-OUT GUIDE Health and
wellness providers: everything you need to know
41 CLASSIFIEDS Great deals,
employment, businesses and more
42 LOCAL NUMBERS Your ultimate guide in DB and Lantau
34
39
OCTO BER/
NOVE MBER
2015
ON THE
COVER
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TRE CHI MA WAN THE DISCOVER
K
TURQUOIS
The good and the bad of Lantau infrastructure
E LAKE
UT MUI WO EARLY MAN ABO ORGANISER SHANE TRAIL RACE
GE TED CHAN RDRIVE ACCELERA NT IN OVE VELOPME ISLAND DE
online community Join your
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and www.lifeonlantau.com
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LANTAU NEWS By Sam Agars
PUBLISHER Corinne Jedwood corinne@baymedia.com.hk MANAGING EDITOR Rachel Ainsley rachel@baymedia.com.hk
HIGH COURT HEARING FOR BUFFALO
ADVERTISING & SALES MANAGER Lissa Morris lissa@baymedia.com.hk ART DIRECTION Terry Chow terry@baymedia.com.hk PROJECT MANAGER Danielle Higgins danielle@baymedia.com.hk OFFICE MANAGER Beatrice De Magistris accountant@baymedia.com.hk PHOTOGRAPHY Leah Ahmad CONTRIBUTORS Sam Agars Elizabeth Kerr Martin Lerigo Jamie McGregor PRINTING Fantasy Printing Limited 7/F Tin Fung Industrial Mansion 63 Wong Chuk Hang Road Aberdeen, 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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As reported in previous editions of Life On Lantau, there has been considerable landfilling taking place on the Pui O wetlands since last November. Four plots of private land have been filled with building rubble, right in the middle of pristine wetland environment, home to rare and semi-rare species of bird, frog, butterfly and plant life. This near unique habitat, home to the last herd of wild water buffalo in Hong Kong, is at serious risk. Readers may recall that concerned Lantau residents raised the alarm with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), thinking that the landfilling must be illegal. Amazingly they were told that the EPD could do nothing, even though, by any application of common sense, it just didn’t seem right. Further study of the law revealed that the EPD was sticking by an outdated, unjustified interpretation of the law, likely driven by vested interests rather than the public interest. A judicial review was submitted and a preliminary hearing will be heard in the High Court during November. To get involved, contact the Living Islands Movement, www.livingislands.org.hk, or Lantau Buffalo Association, lantaubovine@gmail.com.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
RIDE SHARING ON SOUTH LANTAU ROADS
TAKE YOUR LITTER HOME
www.wikimedia.org Photo by Terry Chow
Mui Wo resident Ali Bullock has come up with a creative way to help alleviate the well-publicised lack of taxis and other forms of public transport in South Lantau, launching the Facebook group Mui Wo to Tai O Taxi & Car Service. Ali describes the group as: “A community driven site to help with South Lantau’s traffic issues, where ride sharing is encouraged.” The idea is to make life easier for South Lantau residents by encouraging them to share taxis and also their own cars. Since its inception in August, the group has seen regular posts, predominantly with residents telegraphing their planned journeys and offering people a ride.
Bins have been removed from Section Three of the Lantau Trail as part of a government push to stop littering. A government campaign, Take your litter home, is encouraging hikers to take their waste away with them, and thereby play a part in protecting the natural environment of the country parks. The removal of the bins is part of a one-year trial, with bins also removed at Ma On Shan Country Trail, the Tai Lam Chung Country Trail and the Dragon’s Back (Shek O Country Park). In addition to an Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department promotional campaign, nature ambassadors will be deployed to remind hikers to dispose of waste outside the country parks, while country park rangers will step up patrols and enforcement.
INTERNET SPEEDS BEYOND A JOKE The poor quality of the broadband internet connection in South Lantau has long been a point of discussion, but the push to rectify the situation seems to be gathering momentum. The Islands Broadband Concern Group (IBCG), set up by Lantau resident Robert Clark, has requested a meeting with PCCW/ HKT and hopes to get an indication of just how the group plans to improve the service. In his Lantau Confidential blog, Robert says that PCCW is currently failing to deliver the services it committed to in its 2010 licence contract. The current service is so poor that it is unable to stand up to basic use. A recent survey by the IBCG shows that the average broadband downlink on the islands is just 4.59mbps – less than one-twentieth of the Hong Kong average of 92.6mbps – and that 82% of residents are not happy with their internet service. Local residents are being encouraged to make their feelings heard via the government hotline and by signing petitions. To find out more, read Robert’s blog www.lantauconfidential.com.
www.wikimedia.org OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015 LIFE ON LANTAU 5
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS LANTAU
LANTAU FOCUS
Find more photos of community events @ www.lifeonlantau.com
Photos courtesy of Imagine Peace
IMAGINE PEACE Pui O Beach Marking the International Day of Peace on September 21, the Imagine Peace Festival on the weekend of September 19 offered up music, yoga, healing and plenty of good vibes. Founded by Lantau resident Kay Sugisaki, the festival is run entirely by volunteers and this year funds raised went to the Nepal relief effort. Visit www.facebook.com/ImaginePeaceHK.
LANTAU WALK FOR NEPAL Lantau Island
Photos courtesy of Linoy Kidd
6 LIFE ON LANTAU
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015
A group of HSBC employees walked a 100-kilometre loop around Lantau over the weekend of September 19 to raise money to build a school in Nepal. Cheung Sha resident Linoy Kidd led the 50 walkers, and on September 26, a group of them flew to Kheda, a small village in Nepal, with the money raised. Next year the group plans to walk in Brazil and build a school in Nicaragua. To donate, go to https://act.buildon.org/fundraise/team?ftid=47380; to take part, contact Linoy at linoykidd@hotmail.com.
LANTAU FOCUS
DOLPHIN QUEST Lantau waters
On September 12, 98 paddlers from across Hong Kong, and 16 guests, including two young supporters from Discovery College, set off around Lantau to shine a light on the region’s endangered Chinese White Dolphins. On the 72-kilometre journey, organised by Lantau Boat Club (LBC), 18 dolphins were spotted, and a total of HK$20,000 was raised to support the work of Lantau eco charity Plastic Free Seas. For more information, contact Lindsey Price, The Naked Islands Project, nakedislandsproject@gmail.com, or Adie Leung, LBC, adie.mk.leung@gmail.com.
Photos courtesy of The Naked Islands Project
CRICKET ON THE BEACH Pui O Beach
Photo courtesy of Mavericks
The Pui O cricket team (made up of players from Mavericks and Tap Tap) took on their Mui Wo challengers (made up of players from Café Isara and China Bear) for a beach cricket game on September 11. Pui O emerged triumphant with a score of 46 to 16. Expect a followup test match on Mui Wo Beach in the near future, call Mavericks on 5662 8552 to get involved.
BART’S BASH East Lantau waters On September 20, Lantau Boat Club and the Discovery Bay Yacht Club took to the waters to take part in Bart’s Bash, officially the biggest sailing race in the world. According to Steve Devlin of Lantau Boat Club, the day was a raging success, with all participants having a great deal of fun throughout the tactically challenging course. To find out more, visit www.lantauboatclub.com, or www.dbyc.net.
www.lantauboatclub.com
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015 LIFE ON LANTAU 7
Diestel and Partners is a prestigious, well established expat dental group comprising of four clinics, two in Central, one in Discovery Bay and one in Tung Chung. We are looking to fill the following positions:
Admin/Marketing Officer We are offering an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to join our dynamic team in the role of Admin/Marketing Officer. The right candidate will work with the Practice Manager and Company Director to develop and implement the groups internal and external marketing strategy. The right candidate will have the following skills: • Marketing - managing and implementing practice promotions and marketing including website, social networking, testimonials, literature, visual image, promotional materials. • Excellent computer skills. • The ability to use computer programs such as Photoshop to produce high quality promotional brochures, pamphlets and other documents. This position will be based in our central office.
Part-time Receptionist We are looking for a friendly, dynamic person to join our team. The person will have great communication skills and be confident using a computer system. A dental background is an advantage but not necessary. This position will be based in our Discovery Bay and Tung Chung clinics. Please send your resume to bernadette@diestelandpartners.com and indicate which position you wish to apply for.
LANTAU FOCUS
ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS FOR YOU TO ENJOY! Find more information and events @ www.lifeonlantau.com
Photo by Anya Belcher (The North Face)
LANTAU TEEN’S WINNING PHOTO Congratulations to Anya Belcher, a 14-year-old Tung Chung resident, whose photo of ultra-runner Vlad Ixel has been selected by The North Face to feature in an upcoming promotional campaign. Anya captured the image on a Fujifilm X100T on August 10, when working with her photographer/ filmmaker father Lloyd on a shoot. For more on the Belchers, visit www.lloydbelchervisuals.com.
FOLLOWING TRAMS EXHIBITION Tai O
Following Trams and Two Depots brings together 150 photographs by 10 photographers, whose aim is to capture the essence of this well-loved form of public transport. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, at Flanhardt Galerie und Atelier, 1/F, Block B Tai O Garden, Shek Tsai Po Street, Tai O. Find out more at www.fguahk@gmail.com.
Through 6 er Decemb
Photo courtesy of www.wikimedia.org
FIGHT FOR THE WETLANDS Pui O
A group of Lantau residents is fighting to preserve the Pui O wetlands and the beautiful buffalo that live upon it. To force the Environmental Protection Department to act, the group has submitted a judicial review. A preliminary hearing will be heard in the High Court in November. To find out more, turn to page 4.
PRESTIGE CHRISTMAS FAIRS Conrad Hong Kong, Admiralty
Keen holiday shoppers will want to head to the Prestige Christmas Fairs for a one-stop shopping experience like no other. Everything from homeware, clothes, jewellery and lifestyle products are on offer, plus toys, Christmas decorations, chocolate, wine and gourmet food. For more information, visit www.prestigefairs.hk.
Photo by Irene Flanhardt
er ecemb
hD Throug
www.prestigefairs.hk
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015 LIFE ON LANTAU 9
LANTAU FOCUS
October
LANTAU 2 PEAKS
2-11
Start: Tung Chung In this hardcore 23-kilometre trail run, men and women over the age of 18 compete either individually or in teams of two or four. Lantau 2 Peaks is the fourth Skyrunning race of the 2015 Skyrunner® World Series and the only Skyrunner® World Series event in Asia. Visit www.actionasiaevents.com for more information.
October
www.regalhotel.com
4
OKTOBERFEST!
Regal Airport Hotel, Chek Lap Kok The annual Oktoberfest celebrations at The China Coast Bar + Grill showcase over 50 beers, including German favourites like Erdinger Weissbier, Allgauer Okobier and Maisel’s Weisse. You can enjoy a two-forone offer on selected beer and cocktails from 5pm to 8pm daily, plus live music. Call 2286 6898 to make a reservation.
www.actionasiaevents.com
SALOMON LT 70 October
17
www.barclaysmoontrekker.com
BARCLAYS MOONTREKKER Start: Mui Wo
Teams set off from Mui Wo overnight in what is one of Hong Kong’s more unique endurance races. Both the 43-kilometre Sunrise trek, starting at 8.45pm, and the 30-kilometre Moonlit trek, beginning at 11.20pm, end on Pui O Beach. Trail runners and walkers are required to collect a minimum sponsorship amount of HK$650 each, which this year will benefit The Nature Conservancy. To find out more, visit www.barclaysmoontrekker.com.
Start: Mui Wo Be sure to secure your spot now for the ever-popular Salomon LT 70, a 70-kilometre race for individuals and teams of four along the Lantau Trail. Up until October 9 registration includes a race shirt, so head to www.lantaubasecamp.com and sign up.
October
31
www.lantaubasecamp.com
PRINCE OF THE HILLS Discovery Bay
er 7 Novemb
BOX OF HOPE COLLECTION Throughout Lantau
November 2-6
Lantau kids can look forward to Box of Hope, the annual charity project aimed at providing useful/ educational gifts to underprivileged children in Hong Kong and Asia. Kids simply fill old shoe boxes with new, interesting and educational gifts, and drop them off at participating schools, or a local collection point. To get involved, email dana. www.boxofhope.org winograd@gmail.com, or visit www.boxofhope.org. 10 LIFE ON LANTAU
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015
Photo courtesy of Lantau Buffalos
The Lantau Buffalos’ Prince of the Hills sees kids aged six to 14 take to the trails around DB Lookout in a multi-faceted adventure race. All proceeds from the race will be donated to Lantau eco charity Plastic Free Seas. Enrolment, which costs HK$170, is limited to 100 participants, so head to www.lantaubuffalos.org to secure your spot.
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LANTAU FOCUS
NEW IN LANTAU THE BEACH HOUSE Lower Cheung Sha Beach
The Beach House, newly opened in the Stoep’s old location on Lower Cheung Sha Beach, aims to be South Lantau’s goto beachside dining destination. Its menu makes use of the freshest local and organic produce, with an emphasis on sustainability. Open Wednesday to Sunday, and on public holidays, between 11.30am and 9.30pm (breakfast starts sometime in October); there’s also a takeaway counter. Call 2504 4788 to make a booking.
Photo courtesy of The Beach House
CAFÉ ISARA Mui Wo
Photo by Terry Chow
Café Isara opened in Mui Wo over the summer with the aim of offering a relaxed atmosphere for Asian, Western and fusion eats. A Thai theme lends the space a chilled tropical vibe that’s enhanced by a long bar, rustic furnishings and a professional-grade billiards table. Sporting events are televised live. Call 3101 9876 to make a booking.
TUNG CHUNG ANIMAL CLINIC 東涌動物診所 T: 2988 1534 F: 2988 1586 In case of emergency: ARK VETERINARY HOSPITAL (SISTER CLINIC) 2549 2330
OUR SERVICES In-house lab work Vaccinations 24hr hospitalisation services Ultrasound
Shop No.7, Ma Wan Villiage, Tung Chung, Lantau
Radiology
東涌馬灣新村7號地下
Dermatology
www.tc-vets.com
Acupuncture
Surgery
CATCH THE KOJI TAMAKI PREMIUM SYMPHONIC CONCERT YOUR PRIZE: AsiaWorld-Expo is offering one reader, three A-reserve tickets (valued at HK$1,280 per ticket) to see the Koji Tamaki Premium Symphonic Concert at 8.15pm on November 13.
GIVEAWAYS
Here’s your chance to win great prizes! Life on Lantau competitions are incredibly easy to enter (you’ll even find the answers to our questions right here). You have until October 10 to submit your answers. To enter, email info@baymedia.com.hk, click on the competitions link at www.arounddb.com, or scan the QR Code below. Don’t forget to give us your name and telephone number!
FIND THE ANSWER: The Koji Tamaki Premium Symphonic Concert is being performed on November 13 at AsiaWorld-Expo. Hot from Japan, Koji Tamaki joins forces with the Hong Kong City Pops Orchestra and conductor Chiu Tsang Hei. For tickets, visit www.urbtix.hk; for more information, visit www.asiaworld-expo.com.
Name two annual events Island Dance performs at. Photo courtesy of Island Dance
WIN ISLAND DANCE LESSONS YOUR PRIZE: Island Dance is offering one reader, four dance lessons (valued at HK$650 in total) to use at its Monday and Thursday classes at Mui Wo Sports Centre. Please note that this offer is only available to newcomers to the studio, from October through December. FIND THE ANSWER: Established in 1993, Island Dance teaches Disco Freestyle, Jazz Funk, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, tap and Zumba to over 1,000 students from the age of 18 months to adult across DB, Lantau and Hong Kong Island. Island dancers are invited to perform at multiple annual events, including the Hong Kong Chinese New Year Parade and Arts in the Park. For more information, call 29871571 or visit www.islanddance.com.hk.
Where is Koji Tamaki based? www.wikimedia.org
TAKE HOME BUTTERFLY DREAMS BEDDING YOUR PRIZE: Butterfly Dreams is offering one reader a two-piece pillowcase set, in ash with a black iron trim, from the new Tyler Wisler Home collection, valued at HK$1,148. FIND THE ANSWER: The Tyler Wisler Home collection marks an evolutionary step for what started as a home-based small business in Discovery Bay in 2007. Working with the New York-based designer, Butterfly Dreams has produced a luxury line of bedding that’s smart and sexy, and designed to make everyone feel like a rock star. The collection is available online at www.butterflydreams.com.hk.
Who is Tyler Wisler? www.butterflydreams.com.hk Photo courtesy of MEI Live
Congratulations to last issue’s winners
Natalie Mirchandani and Nigel Belfield for tickets to see Hamlet ; Eric Ching and Suki Yu for tickets to see Don’t Let Daddy Know ; and Rakesh Vazirani and Caroline Hood for tickets to see Hi-5 House of Dreams .
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015 LIFE ON LANTAU 15
COVER STORY
CAN LANTAU
GO BOTH WAYS? Photos by Terry Chow
By Sam Agars
Prime land to provide essential housing for Hong Kong’s growing population, or a bucolic idyll to be preserved and saved in its existing state? Ongoing and proposed developmental plans for North and South Lantau are coming down on the side of accelerated change. 16 LIFE ON LANTAU
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015
COVER STORY
L
antau is undergoing huge changes, some for better and some for worse. South Lantau looms as the area likely to be affected the most, with its rural lifestyle under threat. Locals are worried that the government is approving development and implementing measures without a proper strategy and without fully researching their possible impact on the area. On the other hand, North Lantau is growing exponentially and developing into a crucial contributor to Hong Kong’s economy, something that can only be considered a positive. The burning question is whether North Lantau can continue its massive transformation into the gateway to Hong Kong while, at the same time, South Lantau can find a way to retain its bucolic identity.
South Lantau development
More tour buses may soon be granted Lantau Closed Road Permits – Tai O
As it stands, South Lantau’s roads are at capacity, there is a severe lack of parking space, taxis are near impossible to get and the public transport system is struggling to cope, especially on weekends. Another issue is the ever increasing internal demand for Lantau Closed Road Permits, driven by continued development, particularly in Mui Wo. “Lantau’s transport system is imploding,” South Lantau resident Robert Clark says in his blog, Lantau Confidential. “Buses, ferries, taxis, roads and car parks are at breaking point on most days and overwhelmed on public holidays.” Nevertheless, the Hong Kong Transport Department (HKTD) has proposed allowing 50 private cars and 20 more tour coaches on South Lantau’s roads on weekdays, something it will make a decision on later in the year. In her letter to the South China Morning Post on August 17, Irene Ho, assistant commissioner for transport (New Territories), says the “mild relaxations” will help to promote tourism and other developments in the area, while not having an “unacceptable adverse impact on the environment, road safety and the general livelihood of the residents”. Try telling that to South Lantau residents, who are worried an initial relaxation of the rules will lead to greater allowances in the future. “The concept of, Monday to Friday, letting a whole bunch of strangers in, it’s absurd,” resident Jacqui Green says. “On top of the congestion issues, if you knew these roads like I do, you wouldn’t want strangers coming in and using them because they don’t know them. It’s going to be dangerous.” There is also the issue of people abusing the closed road permit system and the fact that resources are stretched to a point where restricted roads cannot be policed adequately. Even when they are, few regard the current fine as a deterrent. “Basically there are day trippers and if they are only going to be fined HK$300 for being able to drive to South Lantau, it’s like going to Hong Kong Disneyland for a day with a family pass, or even less,” Living Islands Movement’s Merrin Pearse says.
Car parks are already at capacity – Tai O
Finding a solution On a positive note, newly appointed head of Lantau South Police, chief inspector David Neil Bennett, has identified that there is an issue of road safety/ congestion and he is doing everything in his power to address it. Measures include speed management and monitoring parking. “We are trying to meet the challenges of development, but at the same time make it safe,” David says. A number of different ideas have been suggested by South Lantau residents to alleviate the current situation. These range from more buses, to buses specially designated to go just to the tourist areas at Ngong Ping and Tai O. An increased ferry service to include places such as Cheung Sha and Tong Fuk has been floated, as has increasing the regularity of the Tung Chung to Tai O ferry. An obvious way to halt closed road permit abusers is to monitor the Tung Chung end of the Tung Chung Road, while the Development Bureau has suggested extending the Ngong Ping cable car to Tai O, which will get people off the roads, but could see Tai O becoming over run. Furthermore, the widening of roads has been touted as a way to at least make the roads safer, if not less populated. OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015 LIFE ON LANTAU 17
COVER STORY
Some good news for South Lantau residents is that, according to Merrin, the HKTD is currently looking at possible solutions. “The HKTD is in a bit of a squash from the development side and hasn’t really been able to get in to it with enough studies, detailing what could really solve the problem,” Merrin, a South Lantau resident, says. “But I think there is pressure to go to the community and find out what the real needs are.” With more and more cars coming into South Lantau, and car parks already at capacity, illegal and dangerous parking has become an issue. Looking forward, the Mui Wo Home Ownership Scheme, due to be completed within the next two to three years, will add between 2,000 and 2,500 people to the existing population of Mui Wo, and any number of cars. To address the problem of parking, Islands District Council is exploring the viability of building a multistorey car park in Mui Wo.
Latest proposal A proposal first slated by CY Leung in his Annual Policy Address last year and officially released by the Planning Department on September 10, albeit only in Chinese, features a possible rail corridor connecting Tung Chung with Mui Wo and Hong Kong Island. Gordon Andreassend, a long-time Hong Kong resident who worked as a land surveyor on Lantau as early as 1966, thinks an MTR line is a logical way to remove stress from the roads and other forms of public transport. 18 LIFE ON LANTAU
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015
Logical maybe, but still shocking for some. What’s more, the proposed MTR line would connect with the East Lantau Metropolis (ELM), a business district requiring a large amount of land reclamation that could take shape in the coming decades. Many residents are wary of the effect that the development could have. “The focus they are putting in the discussion at the moment is that it [the ELM] is going to be offshore between the Peng Chau and Hei Ling Chau area, but there is the little area in what we would call West Mui Wo near the home ownership development,” Merrin says. “If it is going to have an MTR station, you can imagine the scale of it could require taking back quite a few village areas and take what some of us were thinking was a small area that is currently open space into most of Mui Wo.”
North Lantau development While a lot of South Lantau’s development proposals are in their infant stages, North Lantau is a hub of activity, with the construction of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge (HKZM), the reclaimed land for the bridge’s border crossing facilities and the Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok link all in progress. While the completion date of the bridge and the border-crossing facility, which looks set to feature an extensive commercial district, is still up in the air and the Tuen Mun link is not expected to be completed until late 2018, the Lantau Development Alliance (LaDA) is anticipating the positive effect these developments will have on Lantau. “The development of new infrastructures will shorten the
COVER STORY
Congested roads and illegal parking – Pui O
travelling time between Hong Kong and major Pearl River Delta cities and facilitate the flow of people, cargo and services, which will result in a vibrant and affluent market with unprecedented opportunities for business growth,” Enid Low, chief strategy officer of AsiaWorld-Expo Management, says. “Lantau will become an essential connecting point for journeys to and from Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau.” A 2008 paper by the Legislative Council Panel on Transport estimates a daily flow on the HKZM of 50,000 vehicles and 240,000 passengers by 2035. Naturally, South Lantau residents are concerned about the flow-on effect that this may have. At this stage, Gordon says it is difficult to predict what impact the extra traffic will have, but he is hopeful that it won’t be too drastic. When considering all the ongoing and proposed developments, the underlying issue is that the people of Lantau feel that they are unable to have a say about what is happening in their backyard. According to Robert, there has been no chance of engaging with the government on any of the issues facing South Lantau, and Merrin echoes his thoughts. “With Living Islands Movement, we are not anti-development, we’re not stop all development, we’re just looking for sustainable, sensible development ideas,” Merrin says. “But it’s really hard to get involved as a member of the community. We tried to have a discussion with the town planning board when they did the new home ownership scheme but got nowhere. It’s the consultation process which is the most frustrating part in Hong Kong.”
Taxis are struggling to cope with demand – Tung Chung
FIND IT • AsiaWorld-Expo, www.asiaworld-expo.com.hk • Hong Kong Transport Department, www.td.gov.hk • LaDa, www.lantau-da.com.hk • Lantau Confidential, www.lantauconfidential.com • Living Islands Movement, www.livingislands.org.hk For more on the proposed MTR line, go to www.arounddb.com/articles/life-on-lantau-articles/coverstory/34503-future-proposals-for-lantau.
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015 LIFE ON LANTAU 19
SUMMER CAMP 2015
Dates Week 1: 29, 30 June; 1, 2, 3 July Week 2: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 July Week 3: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Aug Week 4: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 Aug
Venues:
CCP – DB North Plaza Community Centre DBIS – Discovery Bay International School TC – Tung Chung North Park / Man Tung Road Mui Wo Football pitch Boys and Girls of all abilities are welcome!
Term: Football and Dance Lessons
As well as Camps, HK Dragons run Term Sessions for FOOTBALL and DANCE in DB, TC and Mui Wo (You can do 1 class per week or 2 classes per week based on your needs).
All abilities are welcome!
Term 1: Aug to Dec 2015
17th Aug to 11th Dec
What we offer!
Professional Coaching, HKJFL, Henderson & HKFC Soccer 7’s Tournaments and League matches, Elite Football, International Tournaments, Parties, 1v1 coaching, Fitness, Pilates, Dance & Zumba Lessons and much, much more.. For full details please check our website.
Join our weekly “Belly Meet-Ups” or “Mummy Meet-Ups”
Join our Team to: • Take care of your body with our Pre and Post Natal Yoga instructor • Learn how to feed yourself and your baby with our Nutritionist and Dietician • Prepare for the birth and the arrival of Baby with our Doula • Learn how to release stress and worry & get a strong bond with baby during and after delivery
Contact: 6256 0406
www.centreforpregnancyandnewborn.com
PULL-OUT GUIDE
www.wikimedia.org
FIT FOR LIFE!
Read on to discoveR Lantau’s top heaLth and weLLness pRovideRs. OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015 LIFE ON LANTAU 21
PULL-OUT GUIDE
Bertie Counselling, Tung Chung
8198 2481, livemetta@gmail.com, www.mettahelps.blogspot.com Trained in the US and HK, Bertie is an English-Cantonese bilingual clinical psychologist with experience working with children, adults, couples and families.
6974 7707, dbefit@gmail.com, www.dbefit.com Improve your overall fitness and health with high energy, fun and motivational classes. Group training, personal training and outdoor classes – great for all fitness levels.
Body Awakening, Mui Wo
8192 7636, info@bodyawakening.net, www.bodyawakening.net Body Awakening makes high-quality food-based supplements and cleansing and detox kits, and offers nutrition consultations and programmes.
BodyTalk, DB
HEALTH
WELLNESS
d.Be Fit, DB
2523 7121, angie@bodytalksystem.com.hk, www.bodytalksystem.com.hk Angie Tourani, an Advanced Certified BodyTalk practitioner, uses holistic therapy to re-synchronise the body’s energy systems, at the IMI clinic in DB.
DB Pirates Rugby Football Club, DB 2517 8248, admin@dbpirates.com, www.dbpirates.com DB Pirates is a non-profit rugby club that welcomes boys and girls aged 5 and up for rugby and hockey. It has a Rugby Mini section (U6 to U12) and Colts section (U14 to U19), plus hockey (U6-U14). There’s also a senior ladies’ and men’s rugby team, and youth and adult netball team.
Cambridge, DB & Tung Chung 9757 8314/ 9522 3297/ 9576 2147, www.cambridgeweightplan.hk Lose weight the safe and healthy way with Cambridge Weight Plan! A variety of flexible weight loss and management plans are offered to suit any busy lifestyle. Certified consultants provide ongoing support along the way to help clients reach their goals. Contact a consultant near you: Theresa Silva, Tung Chung, theresa@cambridgeweightplan.hk. Merridy Smits and Carla Keating, DB, dbgirls@cambridgeweightplan.hk
DMR School of Ballet, DB 2987 4338, info@dmr-hk.com, www.dmr-hk.com Children aged 3 and up and teenagers have the opportunity to learn to dance in a professional and enjoyable environment. The full schedule covers a wide variety of styles from ballet and tap to modern and jazz.
www.canteranofc.com Canterano Football Club supports Islands District Football Teams! Viva Canterano! Viva Islands District! It provides professionalstyle football training, plus Eat Like a Pro and The Leader in Me educational initiatives. Ages U10 to U18.
Claire Mas Fitness, DB 9387 0735 Fitness professional Claire Mas specialises in the development and execution of customised personal fitness and nutrition programmes. Her functional fitness training aims to develop muscles to make it easier and safer to perform everyday activities more efficiently.
22 LIFE ON LANTAU
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015
WELLNESS
HEALTH
Canterano Football Club, Tung Chung
Elly Beauty of HSE, DB 52170102, https://goo.gl/d5PTqq Elly graduated from ITEC, London, UK, and has years of experience working as a therapist/ beautician in Hong Kong. Services include waxing and hot stone massage. Skin problems of all kinds, and acne, are treated with high frequency, microcurrents and lasers.
Find more on health and wellness @
www.arounddb.com
PULL-OUT GUIDE
Integrated Medicine Institute (IMI), DB
9708 0187, jill@jillmarshallpilates.com, www.jillmarshallpilates.com Pilates can assist with postural issues, injury repair, maternity fitness and weightloss. Private and small classes for all ages and abilities create long-term results for optimal physical health with a focus on nutrition.
KIPMOVIN, DB & Tung Chung 6180 3256, thomas@kipmovin.com, www.kipmovin.com Catering to adults and children of all ability levels, KIPMOVIN offers outdoor classes to help clients achieve their health and fitness goals.
9048 5425, angie@ingredientsofwellness.com The 8- to 10-week group mindfulness programme teaches kids, aged 8 to 15, skills to stop and calm down, to pay attention and concentrate more fully and to notice what’s going on in their minds and bodies.
MindScape, DB 6683 5755, www.bodytalksystem.com.hk Discover the power of your mind! MindScape is providing seminars for teens (October 31 to November 7) at DBIS, and for adults, November 14 to 15. Embrace Your Intuition and Creativity. Improve Memory and Mental Skills. Relax and Reduce Stress.
Movement Improvement, DB 2987 5852, admin@movementimprovement.com.hk, www.movementimprovement.com.hk Specialising in Pilates and yoga, injury prevention and rehabilitation; the studio also offers Spinning, TRX, circuit training, kettlebells and Myofascial release and personal training. Movement Improvement is a one-stop fitness solution.
MOW Grooming & Skincare, DB
Jill Marshall Pilates, Mui Wo
WELLNESS
HEALTH
2537 1087, www.imi.com.hk/dbclinic IMI offers integrated health solutions for adults, children and infants through natural medicine in homeopathy and naturopathy, osteopathy and cranial-sacral therapy, chiropractic and sports therapy, and psychotherapy and counselling. There’s also a huge homeopathic and herbal dispensary.
WELLNESS
6624 8712, susan@embody.hk, www.embody.hk Because children encounter emotional, social and physical challenges and conflicts, a yoga practice that includes breathing techniques, behavioural guidelines and physical postures can be incredibly valuable. Specialist classes are available at Embody.
HEALTH
Embody for kids, DB
2499 8826, mowhk@mowhk.com, www.mowhk.com Catering to the therapeutic requirements of men, women and teens, MOW offers customised massages, facials, waxing and a range of specialised treatments. It takes a different approach to the average spa by customising treatments according to clients’ needs.
M Spa Beauty Centre, DB 2987 0614 M Spa Beauty Centre offers body treatments, manicure and pedicure options, facials and more. Clients can opt to be treated in the comfort of their own homes.
Mariles, DB deguzman305.zumba.com, www.deguzman305.zumba.com Mariles is a certified yoga instructor who loves to teach Zumba classes. At her ZUMBA Fitness programme, every class feels like a party! You don’t even have to know how to dance. Just move your body and follow her lead.
HEALTH
WELLNESS
Mindfulness Matters, DB
My Health Coach Lulu 9154 1570, www.myhealthcoachlulu.com Certified Holistic Health Coach (The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, New York) recognised by The American Association of Drugless Practitioners, and a Certified CIDESCO Beauty Therapist, Raw Food Chef and Holistic Aromatherapist offers a bespoke programme.
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015 LIFE ON LANTAU 23
HEALTH
PULL-OUT GUIDE
6621 7410, info@thehitroom.com.hk, www.thehitroom.com.hk Linking indoor and outdoor training together, The HIT Room has two purpose-built studios for group exercise classes, spin classes and personal training. A huge variety of training equipment is available, and kids fitness classes are also offered.
Nailed It, DB
2987 2266 Nailed It offers professional artificial nail services in a relaxing environment.
WELLNESS
The HIT Room, DB
58044760, www.renaud.hk Renaud offers quality health and wellness products at competitive prices via its easy-to-use website. It provides a wide range of lifestyle products, including air purifiers, water filters, mosquito traps, aero beds, barbecues and outdoor equipment.
WELLNESS
Renaud
YD Taekwondo Korea, Tung Chung 2337 9992, inform1@ydtkdkorea.com, www.ydtkdkorea.com/wp YDTK aims to help students, aged 4 to adult, improve their self control and build confidence. Free trial lessons are offered for newcomers.
The Development Practice, DB
2914 2223, info@childdevelopment.com.hk, www.childdevelopment.com.hk The Development Practice aims to support, counsel or teach children and adults to develop skills that will help them achieve the highest standards through their life. A range of therapeutic options and programmes are focused on developing and building self-confidence and social skills.
Find more on health and wellness @
www.arounddb.com
www.nwinsight.com
24  LIFE ON LANTAU
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015
HEALTH & FITNESS
NATURAL SELECTION By Jamie McGregor
Vegetables have enjoyed a renaissance in the last couple of years with people packing their plates with them, and switching on to the benefits of green juicing, supplementing and so on. ‘If it is green it is good’ is the usual mantra. But are all vegetables created equal? The answer is no. Time to check out the super veggies (and how best to eat them)
Photos courtesy of www.wikimedia.org
I
f you’re looking for an eating strategy that packs power, nutritional value and a host of benefits into every bite, you’ll want to get into the super veggies. What makes them super? They’re low in fat, sugar and salt and provide lots of soluble fibre, nutrients, vitamins and health-boosting phytochemicals. Even better – not a drop of guilt should you over-indulge.
eating a minimum of 400 grams of vegetables and fruit a day to lower the risk of serious health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and obesity. The 5 A DAY message highlights the health benefits of getting five 80-gram portions of fruit and vegetables daily. (That’s five portions of fruit and vegetables in total, not five portions of each.)
Consider that calorie for calorie, leafy greens deliver more nutrients than just about any other food on the planet. Loaded with fibre, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, leafy greens stock your body with the artillery needed to fight off potential killers like heart disease and cancer. Simply put: leafs benefit virtually every cell you’ve got.
Top seven picks
Want to lower your cancer risk? Put the cruciferous greens, like kale, broccoli and bok choy, on your shopping list. Research suggests cruciferous vegetables have the ability to inhibit the growth of some types of cancer cells and even stop others by reducing the production of free radicals. Green veggies are always a good bet but don’t forget about the orange and red veggies too. Follow the 5 A DAY rule, based on advice from the World Health Organisation, which recommends 26 LIFE ON LANTAU
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The most important thing about the super vegetables is that they have significantly higher nutrient levels than the others. I’ve listed my top seven picks below, and you can check the sidebar overleaf to see exactly how the nutrients and vitamins they provide will benefit you. As the table shows, different nutrients and vitamins perform different functions and will boost different body systems, so be sure to balance your daily intake accordingly. Kale has a huge presence of vitamins A, C, K, B1 and B12. It also has good levels of calcium, copper and protein. Wheatgrass has high levels of protein and potassium, and is a good source of dietary fibre, iron, zinc and copper. It is packed with vitamins A, C, K, B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6.
HEALTH & FITNESS
Super green salad, with spinach
Spinach is nutrient-rich with good levels of protein, zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and copper. It boosts your body with the exact same vitamins as wheatgrass. Edamame beans are a good source of dietary fibre, protein, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and copper. These beans are also packed with vitamins K, B1 and B9. Broccoli is a very good source of dietary fibre, vitamins A, C, K, B6 and B9 and potassium. It also has good levels of protein, vitamins B1, B2 and B5, calcium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. Pumpkin is a very good source of dietary fibre, vitamins A, C and B2, potassium and copper. It has good levels of vitamins B1, B3, B6 and B9, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. Kidney beans are a very good source of dietary fibre, protein, vitamin B9, iron, phosphorus, copper and manganese.
Getting your five a day As interesting as it is to find out how content-rich the super veggies are, it’s essential to remember that these nutritional values will change with any type of processing. Be aware that nutrients are at their most present and functional when vegetables are in their natural state.
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015 LIFE ON LANTAU 27
HEALTH & FITNESS Health boosters provided by the super vegetables
Kale is often rated the best of the super vegetables
With this in mind, choose fresh not frozen or processed, and find out the best way to prepare your vegetables. For example, steaming or wilting is the way to go – if you boil a vegetable for even just a few minutes, the nutrients will be burned away. Eat raw when you can, and buy a juicer that operates at a slow RPM (revolutions per minute), otherwise a lot of the vegetable nutrients will be left in the pulp. It is always important to check the quality of the handling of the vegetables you buy. For example, whether they are sprayed with pesticides and what the shelf life is. With the abundance of selection, low cost and accessibility of at least reasonable quality vegetables in Hong Kong, getting our recommended quota of veggies is easy and can actually be a lot of fun. You can toss them into virtually any meal to boost nutrition, so don’t wait until dinner – start your day with them. While a vegetable hash makes for a wonderfully healthy breakfast, many of you will find a vegetable shake or juice easier to stomach. Vegetable shakes can be absolutely delicious, especially when you get some fruit in there. And for an easy added boost, try mixing in a green powder supplement. Research suggests that a two-teaspoon serving of green powder offers up to 81 of the vital ingredients our body needs every day. You get all the vitamins and minerals of a multivitamin pill but with added nutrients, such as probiotics, prebiotics, detoxification nutrients and antioxidants. The more vegetables you eat and the better you learn to prepare/ cook them, the more you’ll enjoy them. But if veggies are really not your thing (and in my opinion there is still no way to make Brussels sprouts taste good), cheat. Take a green powder supplement – it’s a super vegetable on steroids. 28 LIFE ON LANTAU
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Nutrients
Good for
Calcium
Bone strength, muscle and nerve cell function
Copper
Iron production and transportation within the body
Iodine
Hair, nails, skin and teeth
Iron
Red blood cell production, oxygen transportation
Magnesium
Cell production, blood clotting
Phosphorous
Bones and teeth
Potassium
Heart function, water balance, general body function
Sodium
Blood pressure regulation, muscle and nerve function
Zinc
Vision and growth, metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins
Vitamins
Good for
A
Hair, skin and bones
B1 (thiamine)
Heart, muscle and nerve function, converting carbohydrates into energy
B2 (riboflavin)
Heart, muscle and nerve function, converting various fuel sources into energy
B3 (niacin)
Digestive system function, converting various fuel sources into energy
B5 (pantothenic acid)
Converting various fuel sources into energy
B6 (pyridoxine)
Immune system, synthesis of protein
B9 (folic acid)
Liver, skin and eyes, red blood cell production, converting various fuel sources into energy
B12
Nerve cells, red blood cell production
C
Teeth, gums and eyes, immune system maintenance, wound healing, protecting cells from oxidation damage
D
Calcium and magnesium absorption, muscle and immune system function
E
Red blood cell formation, protecting cells from oxidation damage
K
Blood clot formation, protein synthesis
Jamie McGregor is a personal trainer with Perun Fitness, which runs classes in Tung Chung and South Lantau. You can call him on 6443 6597, or visit www.perunfitness.com.
LADA UPDATE
AWE CELEBRATES AWESOME STAFF Contributed by www.lantau-da.com.hk
Ayesha Oriental Carpets
H
Photo courtesy of LaDA
aving racked up numerous fabulous events over the years, including The Longines Hong Kong Masters, the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair and The Phantom of the Opera, AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) is celebrating its 10th anniversary. In so doing, AWE wishes to recognise its dedicated staff members – even with rich heritage and resources, a dedicated team is the cornerstone of a company’s success.
Carpet Washing, Repairs and Sales
Hand made Pakistani, Persian, Afghani carpets for sale. View our carpets and rugs in the comfort of your own home.
We also provide:
Carpet washing Repair services for fringes and bindings Carpet restoration services We have an expert team providing professional services and the best prices in town
Most of AWE’s frontline staff, working in the food and beverage, security and customer service departments, are Tung Chung residents. By listening to staff, who receive first-hand feedback from guests, AWE recognises that it can improve service quality.
Contact Mr Sultan Mehmood 2623 0499 or 6341 0346
This August, AWE held a celebratory Staff Appreciation Dinner. Vice-chairman of Islands District Council Chau Chuen-heung and Legislative Council member Tang Ka-piu were invited to share the joy, as were representatives from various local charitable organisations. Interestingly, in its early years, not enough people were visiting AWE. This changed in 2010, when a national treasure exhibition, River of Wisdom – Animated Version of the Riverside Scene at Qing Ming Festival, attracted nearly one million visitors, a record-breaking figure for Hong Kong. People spoke highly of the exhibition, crowd control and venue facilities, and an important milestone was reached.
Sponsored Content
Looking forward, a number of major infrastructure projects, including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, the airport’s North Commercial District and the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link, will soon be completed in Lantau. AWE will therefore be relying on its staff to boost the development of its MICE EXPOtainment industry. Hoping to promote the development of Lantau for many more decades to come, AWE looks forward to creating new job opportunities, and helping make Lantau an ideal place for people to live and work. The Lantau Development Alliance (LaDA) is a group of local organisations and enterprises on Lantau that have come together to promote the social and economic development of the island. Visit www.lantau-da.com.hk. OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015 LIFE ON LANTAU 29 RS_GERMANCOMMUNITYAD.indd 1
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Photos by Terry Chow and courtesy of LBC
PERSONA
RUNNING MAN By Elizabeth Kerr
Ohio native and lifelong runner Shane Early gets his fill of small town living in Mui Wo, and hopes it will continue far into the future 30  LIFE ON LANTAU
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015
PERSONA
Heading out on a LBC Sunday Beginners Run
F
rom his, er, base camp at Lantau Base Camp (LBC) in Mui Wo, Shane Early takes every opportunity he can to evangelise on the glories of trail running on South Lantau – and on Lantau in general. Hong Kong’s first shop dedicated to trail and ultra-running opened in 2012, the proprietors at the time being Canadians Jeremy and Valerie Ritcey, former teachers. Before the Ritceys moved home in April 2014, they scouted around for the right buyer and found Shane. “When I moved to Lantau I just fell in love with it. I don’t want to live anywhere else,” says Shane of his move four years ago after eight in other parts of Hong Kong before that. “I’m from a small town and Mui Wo feels like a small town.” Shane, also a teacher (formerly at St Margaret’s Girls’ College in Mid-Levels) arrived in the SAR over a decade ago from tiny Van Wert, Ohio newly wed to a local woman. Unfortunately, the marriage didn’t work out, with Shane ruefully citing his obsession with running as a major contributor. “Honestly, with my lifestyle? There’s not a lot of time. I’d have to find someone that does the same thing I do and who would understand,” he says. “You have to have a very understanding spouse.” Shane stayed in Hong Kong anyway, continuing to teach and explore his childhood passion for running. Making regular treks out to Lantau to put a few hundred kilometres under his shoes became a way of life. The combination of that, Lantau’s natural charms and the fact that he “didn’t want to retire a teacher”, prompted Shane, now 45, to listen when Jeremy offered him LBC. “Why not do something you’re passionate about? Take a pay cut, but if you’re really happy and you enjoy [what you do], you’ll do better in the long run,” he says.
A community of trail runners Shane is now fully entrenched as a small business owner and community fixture, who can’t say enough about life in Mui Wo. During our chat, his early retiring seriousness gives way to a sneaky sense of humour and a penchant for finding the amusing details in any given situation. Shane regularly mentions how the locals have each other’s backs, how people have got used to his morning greetings and how easy Lantau living is. He recalls a time he left some used books on LBC’s doorstep for anyone to browse, went off to the post office – and left them outside. “A guy called me and said, ‘I just want to let you know I put HK$20 under your door’. That’s the way Mui Wo is. I remember laughing and thinking, ‘What an awesome place to live’.” Also awesome? The increasing respect the island’s natural environment and the trail running the shop caters to are getting from locals and visitors alike. “The sport has grown exponentially around the world and in Hong Kong too. Hong Kong really is the Asian leader of trail running,” enthuses Shane. “We get people flying in from Singapore, the Philippines, China, Malaysia, you name it.” Compared to road running, trail running is faster and lighter, with a bit of hiking up hills thrown in for good measure and making it more of a challenge. Citing the lack of switchbacks on some of the SAR’s more challenging trails – where courses can literally go straight up – Shane points out how many visiting runners have commented on how technically complicated our routes can be, while remaining accessible. “You can be on a trail in five minutes from an urban area,” he says. “It’s amazing.” OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015 LIFE ON LANTAU 31
PERSONA
That the broader community is really getting into the sport is also a bit of a dream come true. “That’s what I’m passionate about,” explains Shane. “I really like it when people come into the store and they want to know and they want to get involved.” And if it raises awareness of the natural world around us, all the better as far as Shane is concerned. He points to local educators like the Facebook group Hong Kong Snakes, headed up by long-term South Lantau resident William Sargent, as an example of island residents embracing their home’s wonders. “Now I go on trail runs and keep an eye out for snakes,” he says with a grin. “I’ve also seen rare birds, and there are barking deer. They’re a protected species but you can hear them at night. They’re very reclusive and it’s cool when you’re out on the trails and you can hear them in the distance. It makes it more enjoyable and you really feel alive. A lot of people in Hong Kong don’t know what’s out there.”
Speaking out for the environment Like many Lantau residents, Shane worries about the looming plans for rapid development at the cost to the environment that makes the island what it is. “I’m concerned and not just because of the shop. I moved here for a specific reason, and it’s the same for a lot of people out here. We wanted this lifestyle and enjoy it
the way it is,” he reasons. “I lived in Yuen Long in 2003 when there were fish farms and cows wandering around and it’s all gone now. “My biggest concern is the roads,” Shane continues. “There’s no realistic plan for parking, cyclists have a really hard time now, there’s a lot of construction vehicles… I’m concerned that it’s going to be uncontrolled.” Were Mui Wo to turn into Yuen Long, Shane would be done. Worries aside, Shane still shepherds the four annual LBC races, including this month’s Salomon LT 70 and the Raidlight Twins, sister races on Lantau and Hong Kong in May. He also organises more casual beginner runs in the evenings and at weekends when he has the time. No surprise then that when he’s not at the store, Shane spends his leisure time – wait for it – running. Does he ever hit the beach and just relax with a cheesy novel? “If I go to the beach, I’m going to sit in the water and play around like a little kid,” he says. Not so serious at all.
FIND IT • Lantau Base Camp, www.lantaubasecamp.com
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HIT THE TRAILS
CHI MA WAN TO THE TURQUOISE LAKE By Martin Lerigo Majestic Tiger’s Head
This walk takes you from Pui O, around the Chi Ma Wan Peninsula, to a mysterious and eerie turquoise lake known to only the more adventurous of Hong Kong’s hikers. Allow four hours and take plenty of water; sections of the trail are about as remote as you get in Hong Kong, so a mobile phone is also recommended
A Photos by Martin Lerigo
t your starting point in Pui O, adjacent to Tap Tap restaurant, look for the path marked for Ham Tin and Mong Tung Wan. This meanders pleasantly across the buffalo fields before reaching the bijoux hamlet of Ham Tin. Follow the concrete road to the left and stay on it as it waltzes alongside the river. Watch out for egrets, heron and, if you are lucky, the very rare brown fish owl. The road bends sharply to the left, followed 100 yards later by a sharp right. You see a small grotto to your right, dating back several hundred years, before emerging to an amazing reveal of the estuary and beach. On your left, a Tin Hau temple dates back to 1798. Take the coastline path marked for Mong Tung Wan, and 34 LIFE ON LANTAU
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enjoy the wonderful views afforded from its vantage point 100 metres or so above the sea. On a clear day you can see Lantau and Sunset peaks, standing like the Praetorian Guard above the South Lantau coastline. The Soko Islands in the foreground give way to China-owned Wei Ling Ding Island in the mists beyond. The path hugs the coast for a mile or so and is an access-way for several gravesites and small columbaria. Many ornamental trees have been planted, including unusual varieties of pine, whose needles scent the air, giving an almost Mediterranean feel to this section of the trail. Mong Tung Wan is a curio from the 1970s, when it was developed
HIT THE TRAILS
to provide holiday apartments for wealthy Hong Kongers. A small boutique of a beach gives way to three large apartment blocks, now lying empty bar three caretakers, who have the place to themselves. Eerie it most certainly is, a reminder that Lantau has seen surges of development in the past, which have subsequently waned due to economics and demographics.
Mong Tung Wan to Chi Ma Wan Follow the path through Mong Tung Wan on its steep ascent up 100 metres of hillside. Once you make it to the top, take a right and continue along the coast. The path leads you through dense jungle and because it is not widely used, you have a good chance of seeing some of Hong Kong’s most retiring wildlife. There are many spiders – hundreds in fact – their webs brushing your head as if playing some parlour game at Halloween. The spiders take many hours spinning and casting their sticky secretions across the path, which provide them with a natural trap in which to ensnare their prey.
The turquoise lake
Along this section of trail, gentle and shy barking deer, with their distinctive cry like that of a jackal or dingo, forage nervously on the upper slopes. You might be lucky and glimpse one as you turn a corner, most likely drinking from one of the many streams that tumble to the sea. It will be off as soon as it hears or sees you. Snakes are prevalent on this trail. They often bask on the open path or on the rocky outcrops that skirt the flanks. Burmese pythons, Chinese cobra and red-necked keelbacks are common local inhabitants.
Kingdom of the Turquoise Lake The path now turns west along the coast. There is an option to descend to the right to Tai Long Wan (translates as Big Wave Bay, one of five in Hong Kong) and the near-deserted Sea Ranch development. But keep straight on, enjoying views across the sea to Cheung Chau Island, replete with its harbour teaming with fishing boats and rows of silver fish drying in the sun.
Chi Ma Wan Prison
In the distance, you glimpse Lamma Island and Central through the thick jungle foliage, which is interspersed with outcrops of natural bamboo and the occasional grove of planted pine. This part of the island is strewn with large boulders placed thousands of years ago by Goliathan forces of nature. The path continues for another 3.2 kilometres before arriving at a four-way junction marked with a yellow concrete lotus leaf. Take the path marked Chi Ma Wan Country Park Management Centre. Now the path starts to descend into a lush and mysterious valley; streams flow on either side and rows of Camphor trees beckon you on. Wending your way downwards, you find yourself in a swampy, misty, humid place: the Kingdom of the Turquoise Lake. Soon you spot its brilliant-blue shores on your left, the sun glistening atop its deep and mesmeric interior. Continue and its expanse opens
Lotus leaf marker near Chi Ma Wan OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015 LIFE ON LANTAU 35
HIT THE TRAILS
up – a small yet gracefully formed reservoir, built to service the two prisons that sit nearby. The path emerges after another five minutes at the reservoir wall and from here you can cross to the aforementioned management centre, which sits in the deep and sheltered shadow of the watery expanse above.
The homeward stretch A jungle track, part-concrete, leads you to the entrance of Chi Ma Wan Prison, now devoid of inmates. Dating from 1956, the original prison was the first ‘open’ facility in Hong Kong, later upgraded to house more serious offenders, with high double fences added to the original exterior. Take the road past the now defunct prison officers’ club, where the karaoke stage and backgammon tables lie dormant, waiting for the next twist in their history. The road takes you along the outer fence, continuing along the coast. An old incinerator on your left, now overgrown with creeper vine, once burned the rubbish of small local villages, many of which are long-since abandoned. The second of Chi Ma Wan’s prisons emerges in front of you, this one a former Vietnamese refugee
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camp, later converted to a youth offenders’ institution. The path rises above it, affording views of the cell blocks and workshops now gathering moss and dust. Follow the road to Shap Long, a charming series of three hamlets, astride an estuarial inlet and flood plain, home to water buffalo and migratory birds. You may also see a colony of fiddler crabs, large claws to the fore, during food gathering stints at low tide. Such is their number that if you stand still and allow them to emerge from the protection of their carefully formed mud burrows, they create a blanket of moving oranges and reds – a kaleidoscope of nature that all Hong Kongers should want to preserve. From Shap Long you can take the well-marked coastal path back to Mui Wo, another two hours of hiking, or head back up the hill to Ham Tin and your original route from Pui O. This information is provided for reference only. Hiking trails vary in levels of difficulty. It is essential to bring suitable equipment, food and water, and ensure you are in adequate physical condition to undertake any hike.
ASK THE EXPERT
OFFICE 3483 5003
www.homesolutions.hk
Sharon Riley Misako Takato Anne Gnadig
9664 4749 9757 0927 9261 2761
(S-415475) (S-287062) (E-225483)
NOW SERVING SOUTH LANTAU AND TUNG CHUNG
PREVENTING AND TREATING HEATSTROKE IN PETS By Ivy Cheung
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20M VILLA IN CHUENG SHA 1472 Net 3500 Gross inc/ Roof & Garden
Photo courtesy of Ivy Cheung
e all know from experience that the sun can cause dehydration and heatstroke in humans, and the same goes for our pets. The biggest difference is that unlike us, dogs and cats sweat minimally (through their pads). They lose most of their heat through panting. Pets with a core body temperature higher than 40°C are suffering from heatstroke. This typically occurs on warm, humid days, and not only in high summer. We take our pets out to enjoy the weather, they run around enjoying themselves, and then suddenly get overheated. The initial signs of heatstroke are excessive panting, bright red gums or tongue, sticky saliva, vomiting, diarrhoea, disorientation and weakness. In severe cases, you will see respiratory distress, cyanosis, blood in the vomit or diarrhoea, collapse, seizure and coma. Should you notice any of these signs, act quickly to cool your pet down. Ice cold water can cause the blood vessels to constrict and prevent heat loss, so douse your pet with cool tap water instead. Take him off hot road surfaces and into a shaded area. Once recovered, bring your pet to the nearest veterinary clinic for further work-up and treatment. So how do you keep your pets safe from heatstroke, while enjoying the outdoors? • Do not take your pets out during the hottest part of the day, or if the temperature is very hot • Make sure they always have access to fresh water to prevent dehydration • Try and keep them off concrete and asphalt – they are so close to the ground they absorb a lot of heat • Give them a Lion Cut – the shorter their coat the less heat they will trap None of these steps are 100% guaranteed but by following them you are one step closer to protecting your pet. Just remember that heatstroke is life threatening and it comes on quickly, so you need to be very aware. Always keep your pets safe from heatstroke – their bodies stop working properly when the internal temperature is too high. You can contact Ivy Cheung of Tung Chung Animal Clinic on 2988 1534, and at DB’s Island Veterinary Services on 2987 9003.
38 LIFE ON LANTAU
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Stunning Villa in desirable area. 3 large beds, 2.5 baths inc ensuite. Open plan kitchen adjoins entrance/dining/sitting room. Sweeping views of sea and mountains. Private car park. Quiet cul de sac. 2 mins to Palm beach.
39.8K HAM TIN VILLAGE HOUSE 2100’ + 700’ Roof + Large Garden
Unique property in heart of Ham Tin. 4 beds, 2 baths inc 2 ensuites. Maids quarters. Fully equipped open plan kitchen and dining room on GF. Extra living on 1/F. Rooftop with extra room for laundry & entertainment. Large private fenced garden with astro turf.
12.8M TONG FUK VILLAGE HOUSE 2100’ + 700’ Rooftop
No expense spared designer home! 2 large beds, 2 ensuite baths. Maids quarters. Open kitchen/dining area with folding doors leading to patio area. Further living area on 1F. Concealed air con and media area. Nr beach and easy parking.
35K VILLA IN CHEUNG SHA 1091’ Net + Large garden + Car park
Located in fashionable Cheung Sha. 3 beds, 2.5 bath inc 1 ensuite. Multi levelled home ensures great use of space. Partially furnished. Green garden perfect for entertaining and great rooftop with sea views. Mins from Palm Beach.
28K G/F & 1/F TONG FUK VILLAGE HOUSE 1400’ + Private garden
Making you feel at home is our business
Lovely renovated duplex in quiet area. 3 beds, 3 bath inc 1 ensuite. Fully equipped kitchen. Fully furnished garden perfect for entertaining. Separate maids quarters.
Call us any time at 3483 5003 or Email PROPERTY@HOMESOLUTIONS.HK
C-044849
BUSINESS MATTERS
PAUL FORTUNE: AQUABLU MARINE
Photo by Josh Clery
B
orn and bred in Hong Kong, I’ve lived in Discovery Bay for the past three years. I opened marine brokerage and boat/ yacht sales consultancy AquaBlu Marine in May 2014. As well as having been raised on friends’ mega and super yachts, I’ve 30 years of experience in marine law and marine insurance. I want to raise the bar: I strongly believe clients can and should expect higher standards from the professionals they rely on. To me the secret of making a success of a business is having a 100% understanding of your product, and getting to know your clients’ needs and expectations. This leads to recommendations from satisfied clients, and nothing beats that. The contact network I’ve built up throughout the shipping/ boating world, together with government departments, is also invaluable. We are already being asked by companies in the Far East if we would like to form associations, which I find very gratifying. In business, I am inspired by Richard Branson. He’s a gifted and unconventional maverick, who is not afraid to go with his gut feeling and follow whatever interests him. He is prepared to take calculated risks. I’ve been a fan since he started Virgin Records out of a tiny shop in Cardiff, Wales. As for myself, I’m very easy-going in my private life but extremely competitive in my business life. The latter comes from my training as a lawyer in London and Hong Kong. The day I joined my London firm, there were 200 associate solicitors; seven years later when I made partner, there were only two of us left. So I guess I have good survival skills! I am passionate about my family, my flat-coated retriever, Formula One racing, Blues music, gardening and decorating. Interestingly enough, it’s my boat keeper who keeps me in my place. When I first bought a boat and she was at her fixed berth, I kept complaining that she was moving too much, even in light winds. After a few weeks, my boat keeper finally found the courage to tell me: “It’s because you’re on a boat, sir!” That set me straight! For more information on AquaBlu Marine, call 6017 7802 or email oceanblu@netvigator.com. OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015 LIFE ON LANTAU 39
Email your photos for Lantau Faces to info@baymedia.com.hk. Life on Lantau accepts no liability for the photos sent
LANTAU FACES
COMMUNITY SNAPS
40  LIFE ON LANTAU
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015
Photos by Leah Ahmad
LIFE ON LANTAU CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT
SERVICES
SERVICES
SERVICES
Piano Lesson in
Qualifications & Experiences Bachelor & Master Degree in Music Teacher training in IB MYP & DP Taught students from age 4 to 64
PROPERTY APARTMENT IN TUNG CHUNG FOR SHORT/LONG-TERM LEASE Fully furnished apartment for shortterm lease, excellent condition. Min. rental period: 1 month. From 2-bedroom to 3-bedroom apartments. Interested parties, please contact Miss Man on 9806 9175 / 9872 7395, tanford787@gmail.com
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Deadline for December/ January issue CLASSIFIEDS
Alcoholics Anonymous
If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, WE CAN HELP! No dues or fees.
November 10
24hour hotline: 9073 6922 Lantau hotline: 5668 2667 www.aa-hk.org
KIDS ARROW ACCOUNTING SERVICES LTD
International & Domestic Moves Air Conditioned Storage Pet Relocations Vehicle Handling
+852 2561 3030 info@relosmart.asia
www.relosmart.asia
Do you need someone who can record accounting transactions and also give you an idea of how to maximise your company’s profit? We are an accounting firm offering corporate services to small & medium-sized enterprises at a reasonable rate. For details of services, please visit us at www.arrowservicesltd.com. Contact Ms. Raji on 6201 9710 or email arrowservices@netvigator.com
LOCAL NUMBERS
Add your business for FREE @ www.arounddb.com
TUNG CHUNG EMERGENCY – FIRE/POLICE/AMBULANCE – 999 North Lantau Hospital 3467 7000 Tung Chung Fire Station 2988 8733 Tung Chung Police Station 3661 1694 Tung Chung Ambulance Depot 2988 8282 COMMUNITY SERVICES Public Library 2109 3011 Public Swimming Pool 2109 9107 COMPUTER REPAIRS Bobby Mirchandani 9425 3812 EDUCATION Christian & Missionary Alliance Church Education Centre 3141 7319 Discovery Mind Play Centre & Kindergarten 2987 8070 Discovery Mind Primary School 2915 0666 Greenfield International Kindergarten 2162 5538 Han Xuan Language Education Centre 2666 5905 Salala Kids’ House 2611 9193 Soundwaves English Education Centre 9045 2914 Sun Island Education Foundation 2420 1068 Sunshine House International Preschool 2109 3873 Tung Chung Catholic School 2121 0884 YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College 2988 8123 FOOD & RESTAURANTS Essence Restaurant - Novotel Citygate 3602 8808 Handi Indian Restaurant 2988 8674 McDonald’s Delivery 2338 2338 Melody Thai 2988 8129 Moccato Coffee Shop 3602 8838 Olea Restaurant - NovotelCitygate 3602 8818 Pizza Hut 2330 0000 Resto Restaurant 2886 3156 Velocity Bar and Grill - Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott 3969 2583 HEALTH & BEAUTY Hairdresser - Ricky 9882 9741 Max Beauty 2162 5752 MTM Spa 2923 6060 Om Spa 2286 6266 Quan Spa 3969 2188 Radha’s Place 5374 7133 Tung Chung Facial & Nails 9669 9433 HOME REPAIRS & DESIGN Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths 2109 2330 O-Live Decor 8105 2588 Shun Yu Engineering 2988 1488 Tung Chung Handyman - Peter 9161 0348 Towner Interior Design 3113 4968 Wing Shing Interior Design 5403 0363 HOTELS Novotel Citygate 3602 8888 Regal Airport Hotel 2890 6060 Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel 3969 1888 KIDS 4 Dimensions+ (Dance, Gym, Drama, Art) 9446 6013 Clement Art School 9021 1502 Jumping Castles 9662 1747 Kidznjoy 6273 7347 Little Stars Playgroup 6479 0390 Sakura Kids 6674 6194 The Story Studio 6341 3989
42 LIFE ON LANTAU
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TUNG CHUNG MEDICAL Bayside Dental 2185 6550 Essential Health Family Clinic 2109 9396 Human Health Medical Centre 2109 2288 Quality HealthCare Medical 2403 6623 Quality HealthCare Physiotherapy 2403 6328 Raffles Medical 2261 2626 Raffles Medical Emergency 2261 0999 PHOTOGRAPHY Chris Coelho Photography RedJacq Photography
9258 0971 9313 6887
REAL ESTATE Home Solutions
3483 5003
REMOVALS & RELOCATIONS Akash Removals 2421 8088 FTC Relocations 2814 1658 ReloSmart 2561 3030 SwiftRelo 2363 4008 RESIDENTIAL ESTATE CONTACTS Caribbean Coast Club House Caribbean Coast Management Office Coastal Skyline Club House Coastal Skyline Management Office Seaview Crescent Club House Seaview Crescent Management Office Tung Chung Crescent Club House Tung Chung Crescent Management Office
2109 9277 2109 9288 2179 6678 2179 6621 3473 8700 3473 8833 2403 6770 2109 1222
SPORT & RECREATION Aqua Gym 2914 0658 Asia Pacific Soccer Schools 2385 9677 Canterano Futbol Club 5611 2490 Dance for Joy 9264 8597 Edge ’n Pointe Dance Centre 6688 2167 Epic Tung Chung 2786 9699 HK Dragons 2987 4274 Kinder Kicks Soccer 2385 9677 KIPMOVIN 6180 3256 La Cantera 2557 8007 Perun Fitness 6443 6597 Pilates Plus 9838 3937 Tennis lessons 6025 7990 Ving Tsun 5264 3149 Vision Pilates 5132 3213 YD Taekwondo Korea 2337 9992 Zumba & Bollywood Dance 6497 8086 USEFUL NUMBERS Alcoholics Anonymous 9073 6922 Arrow Accounting Services 6201 9710 Carpet washing, repairs & sales 2623 0499 Clarinet, saxophone, flute lessons 9413 0498 Dyslexia/Dyscalculia - Patricia Hamlin 6775 9735 Expat Living Hong Kong 3480 7614 FTC Apparel 2428 2566 Piano lessons 9467 4633 Phoenix Wills 3100 0101 VETERINARY & PET SITTING SERVICES Royal Pets Ltd - Pet Sitting Tung Chung Animal Clinic Tung Chung Vet Centre
6314 9887 2988 1534 2328 7282
Add your business for FREE @ www.arounddb.com SOUTH LANTAU ART & CULTURE Flanhardt Galerie und Atelier (FGUA)
DISCOVERY BAY 2882 3390
EDUCATION Buddhist Fat Ho College 2985 5150 Dramatic English (DEI) Kindergarten 2109 9886 Lantau International Kindergarten 2984 0302 Lantau International School 2980 3676 Lao Shi Lantau Mandarin lessons 5197 4647 Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten 3689 6709 Mindfulness Matters 9048 5425 Mui Wo Owls School & Kindergarten 2984 0006 Peak Communication 9422 1347 The Story Studio 6341 3989 FOOD & RESTAURANTS Bahçe Turkish Restaurant 2984 0222 Caffe Paradiso 2984 0498 China Bear 2984 9720 Como Lake 2984 0009 Deer Horn Restaurant & Bar 3484 3095 High Tide 2980 3002 Lantana Italian Bistro 5465 5511 Loi Chan Frozen Meat Co. 2984 8346 Maverick’s 5662 8552 Natural Plus 2984 2233 T Party Cakes 9276 5734 Tai O Solo Café 9153 7453 The Gallery 2980 2582 The Kitchen 5991 6292 The Stoep 2980 2699 HEALTH & BEAUTY Dietitian - Patricia Castle 5690 0366 Spa Ambiance 2984 2488 Spa Puretouch 2984 0088 HOME REPAIRS & DESIGN New Look Design 9783 5840 Unitek 9156 0360 HOTELS Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Espace Elastique B&B Tai O Heritage Hotel
6810 0111 2985 7002 2985 8383
REAL ESTATE Home Solutions 3483 5003 Findley Leung 2984 8334 RETAIL Lantau Base Camp 5463 6060 Quay House 2882 8710 SPORT & RECREATION Treasure Island 2546 3543 Vision Pilates 5132 3213 Zumba Fitness 9861 6657 TRANSPORT New Lantau Bus Company
2984 9848
USEFUL NUMBERS Alcoholics Anonymous 9073 6922 Phoenix Wills 6108 8471 VETERINARY SERVICES SPCA Mui Wo
LOCAL NUMBERS
2984 0060
COMMUNITY Club Siena DB Recreation Club DB Fire & Ambulance DB Marina Club DB Management
2987 7382 2987 7381 2987 7502 2987 9591 2238 3601
EDUCATION DBIS Kindergarten DBIS Primary School Discovery College Discovery Mind Kindergarten Discovery Mind Primary School Mandarin for Munchkins SKH Wei Lun Primary School Sunshine House International Preschool
2914 2142 2987 7331 3969 1000 2987 8088 2914 2202 2480 3909 2987 8608 2987 8143
FOOD & RESTAURANTS 22˚ North Caramba Mexican Cantina Chef’s Choice Hemingway’s McSorley’s Ale House Uncle Russ - DB Plaza Uncle Russ - DB North Plaza
2987 2298 2987 2848 2172 6111 2987 8855 2987 8280 2682 0068 2682 8110
HEALTH & BEAUTY A Mother’s Touch 2851 9654 Afflatus Hair Workshop 2987 0283 MOW Grooming and Skin Care 2499 8826 M Spa 2987 0614 Nailed It! 2987 2266 Strand and Science HairSpa 2886 3820 The Centre for Pregnancy & Newborn 6256 0406 MEDICAL Bayside Dental Practice 2987 0855 DB Medical Centre 2987 5633 Health and Care Dental Clinic 2666 6183 IMI (Integrated Medicine Institute) 2537 1087 Island Health 2987 7575 Quality Health Physiotherapy 2473 6200 RETAIL Bookazine Dymocks P-Solution
2987 1373 2987 8494 2987 1777
SPORT & RECREATION Caissa Chess Club Daruma Sports DB Pirates DMR School of Ballet Embody HK Dragons Football Club Island Dance KIPMOVIN Movement Improvement Harry Wright International The HIT Room
9681 2896 6244 6093 2517 8248 2987 4338 6624 8712 2987 4274 2987 1571 6180 3256 2987 5852 2575 6279 6621 7410
TRANSPORT Hire Car Bookings Passenger Telephone Hotline
2987 6348 2987 0208
PROPERTY LISTINGS AND BOATS AquaBlu Lifestyle Homes & Boats Headland Homes Okay.com Savills Hong Kong
6017 7802 2914 0888 2987 2088 2102 0888 2987 1919
USEFUL NUMBERS Alcoholics Anonymous Auberge Discovery Bay Hotel Centre for Pregnancy and Newborn Island Veterinary Services
9073 6922 2295 8288 6256 0406 2987 9003
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015 LIFE ON LANTAU 43
STEPPIN’ OUT
YOUR ENTRY TO THE REAL HONG KONG Contributed by www.thehkhub.com
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hether you’re a local or an expat, you’ve probably done your fair share of sightseeing and playing tour guide to the myriad family members and friends who’ve popped over to experience the joys of the territory. You’ll have been up and down Victoria Peak a thousand times and taken more trips on the Star Ferry than you care to remember but take our word for it, the ‘real’ Hong Kong has a lot more to offer.
Visit a tailor
To be sure you’re not missing out, we’ve put together a list of traditional pastimes that you may not have experienced. Forget the obvious attractions, we’ve got some of Hong Kong’s oldest secrets to share with you.
The legacy of colonialism, plus thriving demand from the business sector, makes Hong Kong a very competitive place to purchase tailor-made garments of all types. Don’t miss your chance to get that perfect-fit designer copy dress, business suit or custom gown. There are made-to-measure options for a variety of budgets, just be sure to base your choice of tailor on a friend’s recommendation.
Play mahjong
Join a dragon boat team
The Chinese multiplayer tile game of mahjong has been around for thousands of years, so why not try your hand at the city’s official sport. Similar to the Western card game rummy, mahjong is a game of skill, strategy and calculation, with a healthy degree of chance thrown in. It’s commonly played by groups of four, with a set of 144 tiles emblazoned with Chinese characters and symbols. Ask your grandmother to teach you, or head to one of the many mahjong schools dotted around town.
Dragon boating is an age-old Chinese tradition that has transformed itself into a fiercely fun, modern-day watersport. Why not join in the festive revelry and get fit at the same time. Training for the major races in June starts as early as February, and there are dragon boat clubs are all over the city.
Eat snake soup Photo courtesy of www.wikimedia.org
day. The fluid movements are said to be healing for both the body and mind. Perhaps it’s time to exhale and learn how to balance your inner Yin and Yang.
Snake soup is served in specialist restaurants found primarily in Sham Shui Po and Kowloon City. It’s a traditional winter warmer, long lauded in Chinese culture for its alleged medicinal benefits and high nutritional value. While the soup tastes slightly sweet because of the addition of chrysanthemum leaves and spices, the snake meat resembles chicken in both texture and taste. Are you brave enough to try it?
Take a Tai Chi class The ancient and graceful art of Tai Chi is a timeless tradition you can see being practiced across Hong Kong, as the sun rises each 44 LIFE ON LANTAU
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2015
Meditate in a monastery There are many temples across Hong Kong worth visiting, but did you know you can attend meditation retreats at them too? At Po Lin Monastery on the Ngong Ping Plateau, you can brush up on your Buddhism before sitting with the monks, who will guide you on a journey to inner peace.
Need to buy something but not sure where to find it? Heading out for the day but not sure where to go? Looking for a great restaurant on Hong Kong Island? Life on Lantau has teamed up with The HK Hub, your one-stop guide to all things Hong Kong. Visit www.thehkhub.com.