Editor’s Letter

STAYING PUT EDITOR’S LETTER

This time last year, I was packing my bags to head to Thailand. My friends were getting married in Koh Samui and they’d asked me to officiate, which was the honour of a lifetime. I spent two weeks island-hopping, scuba diving, and celebrating the love of two dear friends surrounded by wonderful people I love in a tropical paradise.

My point is: this June is going to blow compared to last year’s. A global pandemic is still making it highly risky, if not downright impossible, to go abroad, and the idea of being surrounded by anyone who recently travelled, even human beings I personally think are great, makes me break out in a cold sweat.

Such is the new norm of how we define “leisure” in a world still contending with COVID-19. But just because it’s not what I expected isn’t to say that it’s all bad. Faced with the reality of a summer spent at home in Hong Kong, we decided to do some digging and see what we could find to make those long, hot, and so very humid summer days pass any quicker. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there’s ample attractions and activities, from learning a new watersport (freediving, anyone?) to epic adventures in the subtropical wilderness. Read more about how to have an amazing summer vacation without leaving Hong Kong on p.20.

Speaking of watersports, have you ever tried stand-up paddleboarding? Solitary and simple to learn, it’s a great activity to embrace in these pandemic-stricken times, and buying your own inflatable SUP takes the guesswork out of renting. Find out more about them on p.26.

If you’re wondering about the future of international travel (and who isn’t, really), our resident expert Kate Springer makes a few informed predictions about how and where we’ll be allowed to travel on p.34. It doesn’t hurt to dream!

So this June won’t be the same as last year’s, but I’ve accepted that. Rather than mourning the summer that never was, I’m instead grateful for the natural beauty that I have at my disposal here in Hong Kong. We’re pretty lucky to live in a place that has it all, and I won’t be too sad about the (admittedly forced) opportunity to explore it more over the next few months.

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Zoe Belhomme

explains why baby sleep sacks are vital for a good night’s rest on p.36.

Kate Springer

describes how a global pandemic will change travel protocols for months and years to come on p.34.

Sarah Fung gets on board with inflatable SUPs and where to find in HK on p.26.

CARLA THOMAS EDITOR

ON THE COVER

Photographer: Mireille Mali

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PUBLISHER SARAH FUNG DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS JO ROBINSON SENIOR SALES MANAGER ANSHU RIJHWANI EDITOR CARLA THOMAS WRITER ZOE BELHOMME SOCIAL MEDIA STACEY MARCELO ADMINISTRATOR JASMIN BLUNCK GRAPHIC DESIGN TAMMY TAN CONTRIBUTORS KATE SPRINGER, JO ROBINSON PRINTED BY GEAR PRINTING LIMITED, ROOM B, 3/F, DERRICK INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, 49-51 WONG CHUK HANG ROAD, ABERDEEN