Kellett tell it summer 2014

Tell It The Best Time of the Year!

by Tabitha Grandolfo

It’s the best time of the year once again: blue skies, warm temperatures and best of all...summer holidays!

While many Kellett families will travel all over the world, there will be plenty who will spend some time here in Hong Kong, or maybe even stay here all holidays. Now you might think that sounds a bit dull but we are here to tell you, Hong Kong is full of fantastic things to do and places to go over the holidays - you are lucky if you get to stay!

The Kellett Tell It team are in fact your summer tour guides for Hong Kong and we have been working hard to put t o g e t h e r a p a p e r fi l l e d w i t h information that will help make your holidays the best ever!

So what exactly will you find inside? The ideal summer places to go and things to see in our amazing city. Read on to discover delicious restaurants to eat at, the perfect places to beat the heat and still get out and be active, the best beaches to go to and how to have some fun in, on and under the water and much, much more!

We are sure you will find some old favourites inside but we think you will also discover some new places to visit and experiences to have.

Enjoy and have a great

summer!

Inside this edition....

EXTREME SPORTS Find out where to get your thrills this summer in Hong Kong: go surfing, drive a Formula One or go to a skate park!

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MARVELLOUS MARKETS Shop like a local with our guide to the best Hong Kong markets.

HONG KONG’S BEST BEACHES Family friendly beaches - swim, camp, surf and play!

Take a look at what’s inside A Taste of Hong Kong

By Christopher O’Sullivan

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Have you ever wondered on a Sunday morning, ‘Where should we go to eat today? Well, here is your answer: Kellett Tell It’s Complete Guide to Dining in Hong Kong. There are over 11,000 restaurants in our gastronomic city and many you probably won’t know about, whether they are underground, on the side of a tiny alleyway or hidden on the 5th floor of a building - there are literally hundreds of delicious meals out there just waiting to be sampled.

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One of our favourite restaurants is the Stanley Cave and as the name suggests, it is hidden away in a cave! Ricky, the manager of this unique restaurant got the inspiration to build from the many caves around Europe-particularly the south of France. He explained, “A cave adds some spirit or theme to a restaurant, and makes it more interesting and special.” When you visit Stanley Cave it certainly is special: large display cabinets are filled with mouthwatering pastries from croissants and danishes to macarons and freshly baked bread - Yum! There are even french crepes, made just like the ones you get in Paris, and if you’re looking for something to cool you down they also have frozen yoghurt. Ricky said most of their customers are people living in the south side of Hong Kong, but more and more people are coming from all over the place to eat the delicious food.

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Delicious Hong Kong

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Water Sports

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Hong Kong Hikes

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Unusual Hong Kong

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Kellett Staff love HK

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Staying Cool for Summer

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Extreme HK

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Shopping local Markets

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Beautiful Beaches

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HK Views

THANKS TO THE TEAM

Cristina, Sabrina, Sophia, Viren, Lizzie, Christopher, Kala, Petra, Tabitha, Samuel and Olivia.

Thank you to Mr Dawes and Mrs Bull for their help and to Zzzoom photography for they fabulous images this issue!

Kellett Tell It

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Summer Term Edition !

June 2014

A Taste of Hong Kong cntd….

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The Cave serves many dishes, from all-day breakfasts to cakes. What they think makes people like the restaurant is all the love from the staff. “Good food is one thing. Love and service from staff is another,” says Ricky with a smile.

“You can feel it from the food, but the service more. Everyone who works here is like a family.”

If you think you might want to visit Ricky at the Stanley Cave then you will have to keep your eyes open for the entrance...when you see an old fashioned bicycle with bread in the front basket

prawns and plenty of vegetables, it’s delicious. The salt and pepper squid is also very good, along with their steamed garoupa served with shallots and soy sauce. Once you have finished your scrumptious meal there are quite a few nice hiking trails that you can try, or instead go to one of the small beaches and have a swim.

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Ranked one of the world’s top 10 restaurants by the New York Times several years ago, Din Tai Fung does some of the best xiao long bao in all of Hong Kong. That means dumplings - imagine light dough wrapped around pork, shrimp, mushrooms

and you hear French tunes playing, you know you’re in the right place - just walk down the stairs. You don’t have to go all the way to France for this delicious food. It’s all here.

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A little further afield in a peaceful and idyllic setting is another restaurant we think is wonderful to visit over the summer months: the Stoep, on Cheung Sha Wan, Lantau Island. Cheung Sha Wan is of course a beach and when we say the restaurant is ‘on’ the beach we mean it literally, some of the tables are on the sand, so you can run and play in the waves while your Mum and Dad sit and eat or sip on a drink. Mr. Ali lives on Lantau and is a local - he’s been going to the Stoep for years! “I really enjoy going to the Stoep these days because it has its old manager back; the food has improved by a mile”. What sort of food do they serve? Well there is a bit of everything from meat and seafood to potatoes and salad. Mr Ali says the best dish there, in his opinion, is the Bobotie Curry, a Malaysian dish.

Their grilled salmon will also make your mouth water, but watch out for the bones-they’re sharp.

On the weekends, most people come on junks to the beach, but make sure yours has some way of getting to the beach or be prepared to swim as

and chicken - all are handmade right in front of

there is not jetty or anything like that.

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you because the kitchens have glass windows.

One of my favourite restaurants is the Rainbow

don’t let you make reservations so go early and be

Seafood Restaurant on Lamma but don’t try

prepared to queue, but even if you do, it’s

taking the ferry from Pier Four in Central,

certainly worth the wait. They do serve other

because the restaurant runs their own ferry

dishes such as shanghai green beans, spicy sliced

service directly to the restaurant from Public Pier

beef and diced tofu to name a few but most people

nine. The Rainbow Restaurant is also the biggest

go for their amazing dumplings. So this summer

seafood restaurant in that section of Lamma. One

explore our restaurants and try some new and

of their best dishes is fried rice, cooked with egg,

delicious food.

This is dim sum heaven! If you want to go, they

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Water Ways

by Kala Davies One of the best ways to enjoy a Hong Kong summer is out on the water. Although it can sometimes be a little polluted, the water is a brilliant way to cool down!

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One of the most popular activities has to be sailing and two of the best places to learn your mainsail from your jib are the RHKYC (Royal Hong Kong Ya c h t C l u b ) a n d t h e A B C (Aberdeen Boat Club). Both have bases at Middle Island and RHKYC offers courses to members and outsiders, in fact, Kellett kids in Years 4, 5 and 6 have been having lessons as an ECA this year. The RHKYC has sailing courses from Step 1- Step

4 for Oppies (Optimists-Beginner Boats) and includes Silver and Gold Squad. If you stay sailing long enough for you to get more advanced the RHKYC offers Q’ba and Feva courses and the only downfall on this is that you have to be 12 to do these. The Club offers more than just sailing - you can also try rowing or kayaking.

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Windsurfing may not seem as ‘cool’ as surfing but it’s just as much fun and really exhilarating! You can nearly a l w ay s s e e w i n d s u r fe r s i n Stanley doing their stuff and, although it might look boring,

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windsurfing is full of excitement.

My Dad works at Neil Pryde, a big watersport company and he is a keen windsurfer, “I actually prefer windsurfing to sailing because it’s really fast and there is a sense of individual freedom.”

Dad has also started to teach me and my two sisters - and apart from keeping the sail up (which is the most important part), windsurfing is quite easy!

If you want to have a go at wakeboarding or waterskiing or perhaps just a ride on a banana boat or inflatable donut, then you can do that too. There are lots of small companies that rent out speedboats and equipment by the hour and they offer lessons too.

All you need to do is visit one of the rental companies dotted all over Hong Kong, try the Deep Water Bay Speed Boat Company, or wakeboard.com.hk which has Surfing, on the other hand, has schools in Tai Tam, and even on the need for big waves, that Lantau Island. aren’t too dangerous, and they can be hard to come by. Not to Scuba diving is becoming more crush any world surfing dreams popular in HK thanks to beach but even standing up on a clean ups and fishing bans, which surfboard in calm waves is no means clear water. One small mean feat. So make sure you find problem with diving is that you the right teachers and the right need to be certified before you beach - to find our more you can can go on a solo dive. But there read Viren’s story on extreme are some places around Hong sport - where he met the owner Kong, like ‘Splash Hong Kong’ of Surf Hong Kong.

Now for and ‘Diving Express’ who have PADI courses you can take as

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kitesurfing,this is an advanced water sport for sure - basically you stand on a small surf board and hang onto a large kite (like a small parachute) that pulls you through the water. You need to understand how to control the kite and have good balance - to see how it’s done just look out over Tai Tam on a windy day, the waters are filled with kite surfers.

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well as offering gear hire and dive trips.

So hit the water, there are plenty of ways to stay active but my Dad recommends sailing for Kellett families because you can learn together as equals which is fun.

“As a family you can work as a team. Even the youngest can have a chance to be in charge and it’s also a great way to see Hong Kong from a new and wonderful perspective.”

Take to the Hills!

By Tabitha Grandolfo Hong Kong is an exciting, bustling city but when you dig a little deeper you might be surprised to find lots of hiking trails in our city’s beautiful country parks. Amazingly, Hong Kong is 40% country park and there are many walks you can take from easy, flat paths to ones with thousands of stairs straight up into the clouds! Kellett Tell It has been out on the trails to find the best family walks.

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We started by meeting Jamie Lynn Olson a really experienced walker and journalist who has written and blogged about hikes around Hong Kong. “I have been hiking since I arrived in Hong Kong in 2012. I started because I thought it was so cool that in a big and busy city there were also woods, greenery and hills. When I hike I feel I leave the city behind. I love trails that give a sense of accomplishment and there are plenty to choose from!”

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First is the Dragon's Back, this popular hike is on Hong Kong Island and runs down to Shek O and Big Wave Bay. “This is a great hike and really easy to complete” says Olson. There are about 400 stairs to start but once you get onto the top of the mountain, you then walk along the top of the hills so it’s not too hard! The views are definitely worth the effort, on your left you look towards Red Hill and Stanley and to your right the South China Sea, Big Wave Bay and Shek O. The Dragon's Back hike is very popular and is one of the most travelled hikes in hong Kong. “However, it is not easy to locate,” says Olson so make sure you have planned how to get there before you leave home and take a map with you.

need to follow the signs to Lugard Road behind the Tram terminus at the top of the Peak.

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The Pok Fu Lam reservoir is right next door to school - but don’t worry you don’t have to come in because it’s summer holidays! You can walk the trails either up the Peak from the western side of the mountain or you can take a flatter walk all the way around to Wong Nai Chung Gap and the Cricket Club. This is actually part of the Greenpower hike that is run each year. If you do walk up to the Peak it’s quite a steep climb so take lots of water, you will also need a hat to keep the sun off your face but there are lots of leafy trees too along the walk, to help keep you cool. Olson says lots of people enjoy this popular hike because it is good exercise and once you get to the top you can either have a nice treat at one of the cafes or take a taxi or the Peak tram back down.

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So if you are looking for some adventure these holidays why not try a hike but Olson says to make sure you are properly prepared with hats, sunscreen, lots of water and a phone. So next time you see trees it might just be a trail where nature and fun begins with hundreds of happy hikers discovering plants, animals, waterfalls and more.

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For families, Olson says some of the best and easiest hikes are on the Peak Circle Walk, which winds around the highest point on Hong Kong Island.

The Peak Circle hike is a great walk for everyone and children can take a scooter to make the trip faster, it even has some playgrounds on the way so you can stop and take a break. Even better it has some great views which are perfect for photos or for showing to visitors. Olson says she really enjoys this hike because it is well signposted and there are information boards letting you know about the local animals and plants that grow and live on the Peak. So not only are you getting views and exercise but you are also learning something too! To find this track you

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Things you never knew …Hong Kong

by Cristina Fisher

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Long summer days are here - imagine spending your time walking through a strawberry patch and stopping to pick the fruit, or perhaps feeding fish in large ponds and picking vegetables to go along with your berries. Maybe you might want to go on a hike through the bush to discover an old fort, complete with guns! You might imagine we would have to be in Europe to do all these exciting and unusual things but actually, it really is possible to try them all right here in Hong Kong! Welcome to ‘Things you never knew you could do in Hong Kong’ - If you feel like spending an unusual day these summer holidays, you’ve come to the right place.

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You can enjoy being out in the summer sunshine and even pick some seasonal fruit at the Tai Tong Organic Ecopark. Located at 11 Tai Tong Shan Road in Yuen Long, you can spend a whole day enjoying the local countryside: ride horses, or visit the petting zoo and feed baby goats and rabbits, you can also ride in an ox cart and even pick strawberries (between December and April) and other fruit. The eco park is over one million square feet and was previously an abandoned piece of property and it was resurrected by the Tai Tong villagers. The best thing is the Ecopark is an organic farm, so everything you pick is grown by hand and you can learn all about organic farming - they also have a BBQ area so you can take a picnic along.

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If you want to spend time these holidays discovering more about our local history and perhaps even stumble across an old fort, then on the top of your list should be a day with Walk Hong Kong who offer guided walking and hiking tours all over the city. The Walk Hong Kong team can take you on exciting guided hikes and tours from a wander through the markets to bird watching or to Hong Kong’s beautiful and pristine country parks. Ms Gabi Baumgartner, who runs Walk Hong Kong, told me that she particularly enjoys the country parks- she said they play a part in keeping her in Hong Kong! “Even though Hong Kong is very densely populated, 40% is made up of country parks.” she explained.

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at 307 metres high, which is unusual for military installations of this type. It was constructed between 1898 and 1905 to provide defence of the western approaches to Hong Kong harbour, and the norm at the time was to build such defences close to sea level.” It holds two guns and the whole battery is in remarkably good condition and hasn’t changed much from its wartime appearance. “This is helped in no small part by its location within what is now the Lung Fu Shan Country Park, which affords it protection from developers,” said Ms Baumgartner.

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When she first arrived, Ms Baumgartner says she was incredibly surprised by the greenness of Hong Kong and by the local farms, fish farms and even lots of local villages! As Ms. Baumgartner was incredibly surprised about the fish farms, it makes sense to talk about them as they are also a fun and unusual day out! Well, Tai Mei Tuk fish farm near Tai Po is a huge fish farm for freshwater fish. It stocks over 20-30 tons of fish at all times and they have had fish weighing over 8kg - that’s the same size as a small dog! The farm has been operating for many years, and has specific ponds for novice anglers and for children too. When you have had enough fishing spend some time at Tai Mei Tuk village you can go b i k e riding, there are lots of r e n t a l shops, or hire a boat and go for a row or eat at the l o c a l

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restaurants.

If you want to take something a bit sweeter home, why not visit the Wing Wo Bee Farm in Pai Tau Village in Sha Tin? It has been run

by Yip Ki Hok and his family for decades and he says the bees are so tame he doesn’t even need to wear protective clothing when he is getting the honey from the hives! Mr Yip and his wife live on a small farm and they have over 50 beehives and Mr Yip even goes into the hills to collect wild bees. The bees that live with him take pollen from trees in the garden like lychee, so the honey is extra sweet.

Yum!

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I asked Ms Baumgartner what her favourite sites Well, I hope we have helped you to find something are and she said that one definitely is the Pinewood exciting to do over the summer holidays- and I hope Battery located in Lung Fu Shan country park, right you get out and do something new! on Hong Kong Island. “It’s a unique site as it stands

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Teaching us all about Hong Kong

by Petra Deacon This issue of Kellett Tell It is all about the best of Hong Kong: places to go, sites to visit and great things to do over the summer break. We decided it would be interesting to find out what some of our very own Kellett teachers like to do in summertime here in Hong Kong. From Mr Harrington, to Mr Ali, Mr Sylvester and Mr Hulbert too - find out where they like to escape to and what they enjoy best about Hong Kong!

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Mr Elliot Sylvester talks about HK beaches Q: What is your favourite place to go in Hong Kong?

“My favourite place to go is Stanley, because it reminds me of being on holiday!”

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Q: What have you enjoyed the most about HK so far?

“I love escaping on the weekends and going to restaurants.”

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Q: If you had to choose one beach in Hong Kong, which beach would it be and why?

“I would have to choose Shek O beach because of the clean water and the restaurants nearby.”

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Q: Have you ever gone on a hike that ends at a beach?

“Yes I have. I went from Discovery Bay, to Silver Beach near the ferry terminal, it’s worth the walk!”

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Q: Where did you move from?

“I moved from Hague, in the Netherlands. That’s in Holland.”

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Q:What are the differences between HK and Holland?

“Hong Kong is more polluted, hot and it rains a lot and there are a lot more hills!”

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Mr Ciaran Harrington talks about diving in HK Q: Where are your favourite places to scuba dive in HK? “There are a few places in HK, that are good for d i f f e r e n t reasons. The main dam is one of them, it is next to the high i s l a n d s reservoir. The dam sits right beside the sea and is separated by large concrete blocks.

These blocks act as a filter, the water runs through and over the rocks depending on the tide, so it takes away the dirt and rubbish from the sea. You often find clear water and lots of sea life down there. In fact, I saw the biggest sea creature I have ever seen right at this spot; it was a Blue Bull Ray, sleeping on a rock - tip to tip it was two meters long! So Sai Kung is definitely a great place. Another great place is Nine Pines. It is a boat ride away from Sai Kung, around an hour and a half’s trip. I once saw a sea turtle here that had come all the way from up north near Korea, then passed through Hong Kong to go to Malaysia.”

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Q: Do you dive from boats or beaches or both?

“Both actually, during the winter when the boats aren't running we dive from the beaches. We use Lung Ha Wan beach which is also called Lobster bay - near Clearwater Bay. If you’ve ever been horse riding you may have been to the stables at Lobster Bay, it’s a beautiful and secluded spot. There also used to be a remains of an old car that had sunk there. This is a good place to show people around if they are novice divers.If we were going on a boat we would go on big boats sometimes trawlers or junks. On the boats we go to different beaches, bays and islands around Hong Kong. It really depends on where you want to go or what season it is when you go out on a boat.”

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Q: Why do I sometimes see people diving in a swimming pool?

“In swimming pools we teach people how to dive. Before you learn to dive properly you must have five lessons, these are called the confined water dives. In addition to this you have to learn some specific techniques, for example taking off your mask in the water and swimming around with it off.”

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Mr Lorne Ali talks about hiking

Mr Mark Hulbert talks about extreme fun

Q: What do you like the most about the Dragon’s Back hike?

“I love the views. I think the views over south-eastern HK are absolutely amazing. In fact, I once went on a hike with Ms. McDonald on the Dragon’s Back, that was around 13 years ago with some other Kellett teachers too - so it has good memories for me. Another thing that is great about the Dragon’s Back is the Vietnamese restaurant at the end of it (you can find out more about these great restaurants in Samuel’s story about Shek O beach!). It is a great reward and treat for all the hard work.”

Q:What is your favourite place in Hong Kong?

“My favourite place in Hong Kong is Shek O beach because I love the big waves.”

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Q: If you had to choose one person to go on a hike with who would it be and why?

“Mrs Anderson, because I love her company.”

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Q: Going on a h i ke , w h a t do you like the most? The view, hiking or the peace and quiet, why?

“I like the views. You see, I like to go on hikes with other people, I don’t like going on my own, I like to share an experience!”

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Q: Where is your favourite place in HK and why?

“Home, I live in a beautiful place, Mui Wo on Lantau.

That’s where my home is, I love the countryside, for example one night I came home, I was eating dinner and there was a buffalo outside!”

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Q: Where is your favourite place to go on a hike?

“Anywhere on Lantau really, I like to go up Sunset Peak because the views are spectacular, I love the fresh air up there too. I love to look down onto the beautiful islands in the distance. It really is an escape - you can even hear the birds singing.”

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And to end off, of course, we know you will all be wondering what Mr Ali’s top tip of the day is…...Mr Ali’s tip for new teachers and new families who are coming to Hong Kong is that they should actually get up and out and to go hiking, to learn about and really see HK!

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Q: What is your favourite HK outing? ”My favourite trip ever was when I went on a junk that came with a speedboat. When we found a quiet spot to anchor the boat we went wakeboarding - it was great fun! So I guess I am saying my choice would be a day on the sea. I wasn’t very good at wakeboarding though!”

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Q: What would you say is extreme fun?

“I love snowboarding and mountain biking. But I don’t do all the things I used to, because I am too old now!

When you are young and you go on a bike, and do jumps, or ride down a hill really fast it is just - wow! - I just ride now, I don’t go as fast as I used to and I always wear a helmet!”

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Q: Is there anywhere in Hong Kong that you would like to go for extreme fun?

“There’s a great bike track, my friend told me about in the New Territories near Fo Tan. It’s a banked track like the ones they have at the Olympic Games. You get strapped into the bike, so when you go round a corner, you can overtake up the wall. (If you want to find out more about extreme sports in HK and where to find them - just read Viren’s story on page 10!)

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Q: How long have you lived in Hong Kong?

“I came in to Hong Kong 2005. I still love it. I love the beaches, I love the walks, I love how it can be noisy but you can escape say on a boat and then it can be really quiet. There’s also so much jungle around us which is not what you expect. Someone told me that you can walk in HK for 24 hours and not see a building!”

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Q: Which Kellett camps are extreme fun?

“Year 4 camp. We didn’t stop for a minute: orienteering, rope courses, wall climbs and eating. That was a lot of fun! However, Year 6 camp was even more daring. My favourite thing on Year 6 camp was jumping of the jetty into the sea below. They are both very different camps but equally as fun.”

!! !Beat the Summer Heat ! !by Olivia Lloyd !! !

track, where you can race against your friends in special simulators.

Summer: humidity, heat and mosquitoes. We all long for the coolness of aircon but no one wants to be stuck inside all day - we still want to be active, to get outdoors and have some fun. Well read on because the intrepid reporters at Kellett Tell It have been out hunting down the very coolest ways for you to expend your energy this summer!

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Why not start with a trip to PLAY Hong Kong. This thrilling indoor activity centre is just about the coolest place you can be - for a start is has a fun and exciting indoor ski slope where you can take lessons or even join a summer camp, whether you want to ski or snowboard, there is room for both.

“PLAY’s founder was Dr Robert Ho,” explains Manager Elaine Yeh, “You will see a recurring theme across all of PLAY sport outlets, where we promote the idea of ‘Love Life, Love Sports’. We want kids to spend less time in front of the screen and more time playing sports!” It all sounds very ‘cool’ but just how does the ski slope work? “The machine is like a giant treadmill,” says Yeh, “you can change the incline and the speed. It’s great for beginners and intermediate skiers because you have to use proper technique all the time!”. But there is much more at PLAY than just skiing. Are you a keen baseballer or softball player? Then this is the spot for you this summer. At PLAY you can have fun at the fully automated indoor batting centre. There is a machine that pitches the ball to you, so you can practice your batting and it can go up to 140km/hr, that’s as fast as a speeding car! If you do like race car driving then you can have a go at this too. PLAY has just opened a virtual race car

Once you have had your fill at PLAY why not try another winter sport that will help you stay active and cool - ice-skating. We all love the idea of iceskating, gliding through the air, jumping and twirling around….and then falling - well maybe we don’t like the last one so much! But you don’t have to worry, there are actually a lot of ice-rinks in Hong Kong and all offer lessons whether you are a beginner or an expert. I take lessons once a week at the Aberdeen Marina Club - my teacher Susanna Ng told me a little bit more this thrilling sport. “Ice skating has become very popular in Hong Kong and you can take part all year round. I really love teaching children because I can motivate them and help them to enjoy this great sport.” Ng says that ice skating is actually good for you too! It makes you fit and is actually quite hard exercise but it also stretches your muscles and can be very relaxing as you whiz around the rink.

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So just where can you find rinks in Hong Kong?

Right near Kellett School Kowloon Bay is Mega Ice at MegaBox, and you will find a big rink here, it is actually Olympic sized and on the weekends it is used for ice hockey matches. If you want a rink on Hong Kong Island then try Ice Palace at City Plaza in Tai Koo Shing. Up in Kowloon Tong at Festival Walk shopping mall is the Glacier rink, it’s one of the biggest in Hong Kong. But for some real fun head out to the Sky Rink in Sham Shui Po - it’s in the Dragon Centre building which also has the only indoor roller coaster in Hong Kong. The roller coaster looks down on the ice-rink and if that isn’t enough to keep you entertained they also make simulated snow fall during the day right on the skaters! One of the newest rinks is at the bottom of the ICC, so you can skate and then when you are all tired out you can go and see a movie or grab a delicious meal in the huge mall above.

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After all that activity you might just want to sit and take it easy, well the Kellett Tell It team have a suggestion for that too - frozen yoghurt - a great way to cool down. I would personally recommend Yoppi which has eight stores all over Hong Kong, from Stanley street in Central to Hollywood Plaza in Kowloon. The best thing about Yoppi is it’s all self serve, so you can put as much yoghurt and toppings in your tub as you like!

Other Kellett Tell It journalists recommend Yomama - there are several stores to choose from including Festival Walk and Tai Koo Shing, right near two of the skating rinks perfect. And of course, you can always have a scoop or two at The Cave in Stanley - to find out more read Christopher’s story on page two. Stay cool this summer and have fun.

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Extreme Hong Kong

by Viren Hirani

After a long school year, staying in Hong Kong for summer holidays might seem a bit dull - the same old things, the same buildings and sights what about something new, a bit of excitement, some hidden secrets that will thrill one and all?

You might be surprised to know Hong Kong has dozens of activities to make your adrenaline flow - from driving a formula one race-car to climbing rock walls, skateboarding and even surfing - you can find it all right here!

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Let’s start with one of the most exciting water sports you can find: surfing.

This sport is enjoyed by people all over the globe, from Hawaii and Morocco to Boracay and Australia, and Hong Kong is home to keen surfers too.

Kevin Coniam who runs Surf Hong Kong was born and bred in Hong Kong. “Surfing is one of the most exciting and addictive activities out there,” says Mr. Coniam. “Once you’ve tried it there’s no going back - you’ll be hooked mind, body and soul.” That’s exactly what happened to Kevin, he found an old surfboard dumped in Pokfulam. After fixing the board with his friends, he headed for the surf and taught himself how to ride the waves from scratch. He continued his surfing journey while at university where he was studying to become a lawyer. Once qualified and on his way to Australia to work as a lawyer, he stopped in HK and never left.

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Surf Hong Kong was born! Kevin decided instead to set up the first professional surf and sea kayak school in Sai Kung Hong Kong, that was10 years ago. Coniam says surfing is fun for all ages and all abilities and is a great sport for the summer in Hong Kong “To become a surfer takes very little equipment and requires a lot of practice. Practice means having to go to the beach and spend time having fun in the water. How hard is that?! The best part about learning to surf is anyone can do it – my dad started when he was 60 and my friend Aimee when she was six.

“Learning to surf is easy, we can have a kid standing on a board in only 20 minutes!”

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Over the summer Surf Hong Kong offers fantastic three and five day camps where children can surf, kayak, snorkel and abseil down a mountain - that’s extreme!

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Other than surfing Coniam personally loves other exciting sports like cliff jumping from 10 meters high, skateboarding, kayaking and bungee jumping. You can enjoy some of these activities like kayaking at the Surf Hong Kong camps - but only the really safe ones! Coniam is keen for all kids to try surfing, he says it’s one of the best experiences out there. “Surfing brings nature closer. Everyday is different, every wave is different.

The great thing about surfing is its simplicity –as long as there is some kind of wave there is something to learn for almost all skill levels. At Tai Long Sai Wan we have consistent waves all year, although they are smaller and much more suitable for beginners in summer”.

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For the car-crazy out there a must do for you this holidays is a visit to Sideways. Many of you might have already experienced the adrenaline of going to Sideways to spend fun time with friends and family. This incredible venue has simulated formula one race cars you get to sit in a model of a car and race against your friends. One of the best things about Sideways is it is fun for adults and children too, everyone can play together!

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“For 10 years, Sideways has been Hong Kong’s premier virtual racing centre with all the thrills of a high speed race track, but in a safe, clean environment,” says Sideways Manager, Tod Palmer. “Sideways is for anyone who loves to experience ‘the real thing’ – for those who want more than what their Playstation or Xbox can offer. We are several levels above the Playstation / XBox / general arcade market, and we are able to provide an experience that is very close to driving the real thing – be that a BMW, Audi R8, V8 Supercar, AMG SLS, F3 or Formula One car.

This is as real as it gets; we use the same software that F1 teams Red Bull, Force India and Ferrari use for driver training with heavy duty gear shifters, realistic steering system and brake pedal, this is just like being in a real race car. Race against the clock, your friends or just for fun! Slipstream, race and overtake just like on a real circuit, the safest place to drive in Hong Kong”. So as you can see these aren’t any ordinary simulators, what you do is jump into a car, (the car isn’t real), and adjust your feet to where you want them to be. If you are too small for the car then, you can use a cushion to help you reach the pedals. When you’ve done this you are ready to race and you can play against up to 14 friends. Watch out for your pals though, they can clip you as they race past and send you crashing. It’s a wild ride!

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Rock-climbing is another awesome extreme sport and there are some great places where you can give it a try right here in Hong Kong.

Let’s start with Just Climb which is in San Po Kong which is near Diamond Hill and not too far from Kellett School Kowloon Bay! This is a huge rock climbing school and there are over 10 different climbs you can do from really easy to terrifyingly hard. But don’t worry, there are professional coaches there who can help you learn how to scale up the walls and the best news is the walls aren’t too high and they have really soft, padded floors! There are also rock climbing walls at many of the Clubs

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around Hong Kong like the AMC or the American Club and even at the Stanley Ho Sports Centre.

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If there are any skateboard fanatics out there, then don’t think there is nowhere to go in Hong Kong when the weather gets steamy.

You don’t have to try and find steep hills and roads to use, instead visit Sk85ive2, an awesome indoor skate park right here in HK. The park is really big and it’s air conditioned, so you can visit and ride even on the hottest summer days. There are rails, wedge ramps and flat banks, so if you are a skating star you can jump and flip your board any way you want! To find the park you have to go out to Kwun Tong at the Hang Seng Industrial Building. You can definitely get your thrills this summer right here in Hong Kong!

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Marvellous Markets

by Lizzie Nye & Sabrina Footitt

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Hong Kong is a vast city that is well known for its shopping and in particular its lively market places. In HK, you can get just about anything at the local markets from birds and fish, to clothes, jewellery, and even toilets and computers! At Kellett Tell It, we are looking to make your visits to our local markets a lot more interesting so read on to find out more!

If you find you have some spare time these summer holidays, why not get out and explore some of the amazing markets scattered across the city. If you ask most people “which markets would you recommend going to over the summer?” they will probably respond with this: “go and see Stanley market!” Well, Sabrina and I are here as your official tour guides of the markets in the streets of HK and let us tell you, Stanley markets is great but there are plenty more markets to discover.

Here are just a few you might want to think about visiting and each offers something unique and fun: Apluiu Street Flea Markets for electronics, Jade Markets for jewellery, Bird Markets for of course, birds, Cat street markets for antiques, The Goldfish Market for live tropical fish and tanks and more, Fa Yuen Street Markets for fashion and the Ladies Market for just about everything!

Well...how many of these markets did you know about? We bet there were some surprises!

In today’s story we will be looking at a couple of markets in detail and we want you to keep these markets in mind when planning a day out, they are some of the most fun to visit: the Jade Market on Jade Street in Yau Ma Tei, and the bustling Bird Market in Mong Kok - the flower market is next door too!

The Yuen Po Street Bird Market is an exquisite place where small lanes are filled with bamboo cages of all sizes and all you hear is birdsong.

Store owners sell all likes and types of birds in beautiful colours. In fact, there is every type of bird imaginable from chickens and parrots to love birds canaries and finches - they have got it all! For anyone who doesn’t know what love

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! birds are, they are birds that will die if they are separated from their mate. They are a beautiful green and red and they ‘love’ to be together.

The bird market is a popular attraction for many tourists and for locals as well. The best time to go is early in the morning on account that you can see the store owners feeding their birds with chopsticks, yes that’s right with chopsticks! If you look close enough, then you will see that they feed them crickets! Also, traditionally it is said that the Chinese like to keep birds as pets in ornate cages that they hang on branches of nearby trees. Also, locals believe that the birds are the spirits of their ancestors. Of course, they also sound beautiful when they sing!

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Marvellous Markets

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The Jade Market is also sure to grab your attention and is definitely worth a visit! Two large halls are filled with dozens of small stands selling all kinds of goodies from jade, pearls and semi-precious stones in all forms, to carvings, little statues, belts, and antiques: anything that would make a good gift or a memento to take home. Jade is a precious type of stone that is considered sacred to the Chinese, as it symbolizes purity and morality and stands for beauty and grace. In fact, it can be compared to the gold and diamonds in the west. Of course, you can find jade at many of the stalls, in jewellery - bracelets, pendants, necklaces, rings and brooches - but you can also find statues and more. Other stalls sell strands of iridescent pearls in every colour and shop owners will make whatever you want: a necklace, bracelet or earrings. Stones and beads of every colour fill the hall and it is busy and noisy with the voices of owners and shoppers bargaining hard. This is a must at the jade market - make sure you bargain for a good price! No matter what, you will enjoy this Hong Kong market, and you are sure to find a treasure or two to take home.

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To get a real understanding of how Hong Kong markets work and where to go to find the best ones we decided to talk to a local expert. Gabi Baumgatner is founder of Walk Hong Kong a company that offers private walking tours of our great city.

One of their most popular w a l k s i s t o fa b u l o u s markets scattered all over Kowloon. Ms Barmgatner says she is passionate about Hong Kong’s markets! “Some of my favourite markets have to include the bird market, the electronic market and the ve ge t a b l e a n d f r u i t markets because they are all very special and

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unique; not at all your normal street markets.” We wanted to know what was the weirdest thing Ms Baumgetner has bought at a market? “It has to be the light bulbs you can screw into light bulb holders but then you get another light bulb that can screw those into the same light bulb holder, then you have two in a holder!” So take it from an expert and from the Kellett Tell It team, there are plenty of adventures to be had and exciting things to find at Hong Kong’s local markets. Happy summer shopping.

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Take a Dive this Summer by Samuel Schadt Most people think of Hong Kong as a crowded, hilly city that is full of busy buses, cars, taxis and trams. Well that is sometimes the truth but there is so much more to discover and places to just relax! In fact, there are plenty of areas you can go that will make you feel like you are actually on vacation right here in HK: our beautiful beaches! In fact, there are so many strips of white sand that it’s actually too many beaches for me to list, so instead Kellett Tell It have chosen some of our favourites to let you know about!

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Tai Long Wan beach is a glorious and pristine bay on the east coast of the Sai Kung Peninsula. It is quite remote and can take some time to get to but it’s worth it when you do as it is considered one of the most beautiful places in Hong Kong, and even better it is a popular surf destination. Over the Easter break one Kellett family, the Smiths - Kit is in P2 and Luke is in P1 - decided to go on an adventure and camp at Tai Long Wan. “Tai Long Wan takes a couple of hours to get to,” says Jenny Smith, Kit and Luke’s Mum. “We drove to the entrance of Sai Kung Country Park and parked there. We took a taxi to Wong Shek Pier and a speed boat to Chek Keng Hau. From there we had to walk for about an hour over a hill to the camp site. On the way we saw crabs and butterflies and passed through a noisy frog village!”

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Mrs Smith says when they arrived they were amazed how beautiful the beach was: “It is a stunning stretch of golden sand ringed by dramatic mountains. Waves crashed on the shore and there were no buildings, which is special for Hong Kong.” The Smiths carried a tent and sleeping bags and food too but Mrs Smith said there was a beach store that actually served food and even rented out tents, so you don’t have to take these with you if don’t want to. Mrs Smith says she would highly recommend a visit to Tai Long Wan beach, especially when the weather is warm and dry!

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Chung Hom Kok beach is near Stanley but most people don’t know about it because it is hidden away. It’s great spot for little kids because there is a large playground behind the beach with swings, slides and climbing frames. There are BBQ pits too so you can

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take your lunch to cook and there is also a small store that sells drinks and snacks and equipment for the beach like inflatables and buckets. Best of all the water is usually really clean at Chung Hom Kok beach. But one warning, there are loads of steps to get to the beach - hundreds - so make sure you haven’t got heavy bags and that you are feeling fit when you visit.

Cheung Sha Wan on Lantau Island and is Mr Ali’s favourite beach in Hong Kong. It is quite a drive from Hong Kong Island but once you arrive, there’s a chance you will never want to leave! It is a long beach with lots of things to do to keep all the family happy. One of the best attractions at the beach is the delicious restaurant called The Stoep, you can find out more about that in Christopher’s article on great places to eat in HK on page two. This beach is really popular because it’s away from the busy city and you feel like you are really on holiday.

The waves aren’t too big so children can play safely in the water, and if you do decide you want to stay there are even teepee tents you can rent overnight! Just contact Palm Beach, the company who rent out the tents and they can also help you to find other activities to do on the beach like kayaking, windsurfing and skimboarding. I hope you all have a great summer and take some time to visit one of the best bits of Hong Kong - its beaches.

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Hong Kong Vistas

by Sophia Grandolfo

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Whether it’s the lights of our incredible city skyline twinkling at night, the lush green hills of our national parks or the clear, turquoise waters of the South China Sea Hong Kong offers many wonderful views for visitors and locals alike! This summer, if you are staying in Hong Kong why not take in some of the panoramic views that are right on your doorstep? Today we are going to give you a tour of some of the best spots to see the sights in this amazing city we call home, we met with local photog rapher, Tara Jenkins from Zzzoom Photography, to find out where she likes to go to get the best city shots!

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Up High Hong Kong is famous for its mountains, skyscrapers and amazing architecture - an added benefit of these lofty places is you can get some wonderful sweeping views from up high. Ms Jenkins says a great place to see the stunning skyline and harbour is at the top of the Prince’s building. “From the top of the building you can see the whole city spread b e l o w, i t i s a b s o l u t e l y awesome. You can peek into t h e o f fi c e w i n d o w s o f neighbouring skyscrapers, see the highways below teeming with traffic and further out, the harbour filled with boats. It’s breathtaking.”

Victoria Peak, fondly known as ‘The Peak’ is not only another wonderful tourist attraction but a great place for a family hike with brilliant views over Hong Kong. To get some of the best vistas, just

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take the small road behind the tram station. “Lugard Road offers a dizzying view of the city below, with office blocks and apartment buildings clinging to the side of the mountain - you can then look out over the harbour and all the way up to Kowloon.” says Jenkins. On a clear day you can even see the Tsing Yi bridge linking HK Island and Lantau. If you are feeling really adventurous you can actually walk up The Peak, around Lugard Road and then stop at the tram terminus for ice-cream or even a meal!

If you want to a more relaxing way to see the skyline why not try dinner at the top of the ICC in Kowloon? There are several restaurants including Inakaya which is Japanese or Sky100 which is actually on the 100th floor of the building! So you can sit back, have great food and watch busy Hong Kong below!

filled with speeding cars and neon signs but if you take a closer look and peel away the layers they are filled with mystery and local life. “A part of Hong Kong I really enjoy is the mix of the old and the new,” says Jenkins. “By just wandering the streets you can see it everywhere, from the old rattling trams in Central, the lights of Wanchai or the old vendors in Cat Street in the Sheung Wan district.”

Sheung Wan is a favourite for Jenkins where small b o u t i qu e s , o l d b u i l d i n g s , graffiti and temples all live side by side, all you need to do is simply walk around!

If you don’t want to be too active in the steamy summer heat but still want a great street view, why not hop on one of the double-decker trams whizzing around the streets of Hong Kong? They go all over the city from Central to Sheung Wan, Happy Valley and beyond, giving you a rich Street Views flavour of Hong Kong from the It’s easy to think of Hong comfort of your seat!

Kong’s streets simply being

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Kellett Tell It Summer 2014 HK Vistas continued...

You can always hop off in Wanchai and visit the wet markets on Queens Rd East another great street view where you can experience true HK culture as you watch locals bargain over fish, meat and fresh green vegetables. A favourite for Jenkins is the Central markets on Peel s t r e e t o r t h e Wa n c h a i markets.

Another HK must-do experience is visiting one of the decorative, incense-filled t e mp l e s t h a t a r e d o t t e d around the city. “Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road is the oldest temple on the island and it sits in the middle of the busy city,” Jenkins says. It is a great place to take photos, with coils of incense burning in the ceilings, red and yellow banners, golden statues, lanterns and more all decorating the walls.

way to see the city. All you have to do is rent out a junk, find a friend with a boat or simply jump on the famous Star Ferry and sail into Hong Kong harbour, from there you will get an unobstructed view of the Hong Kong skyline, its iconic skyscrapers and bustling streets. If you decide to go at night then you are in for a treat, not only can you see the light show that is on each night in Central (at 8pm) but if you sail towards Lantau you can also see the Disneyland fireworks as well.

“A great place to take photos of the seaside is in Stanley,” says Jenkins who lives nearby. “I love Stanley pier and the walk around the seashore, a five minute stroll away you can find a tiny temple, perched out over the water. It’s one of the loveliest views on the South Side”.

Jenkins also loves Water Views to hike and We are so lucky in Hong Kong another of her to live on the water and top ten water taking a junk is a beautiful views is from

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the top of the Twins, the huge mountains that sit behind Stanley. “It’s quite a climb but f r o m t h e t o p y o u ge t a panoramic view towards over the Southern and Western sides of the Island. It is quite staggering to see just how many islands there are dotted on the horizon - some 260! and you can also see small s a mp a n s a l o n g s i d e h u ge shipping tankers making their way in and out of the city.”

If you want to take a dip while enjoying a gorgeous view and enjoying local culture, take a trip to Repulse Bay, where on the Southern end of the long, sandy beach there are local temples and icons to explore before you take a cooling dip in the South China Sea!

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