Expat Parent October 2014 by Hong Kong Living Ltd

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OCTOBER 2014 FAMILY • EDUCATION • HOME • MONEY www.expat-parent.com FREE 6

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October 2014

TRICK or treat? The Halloween guide

Granny alert South Island School

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contents OCT 2014 ISSUE 006

What’s on? 6 Editor’s Letter Adele Brunner is spurred into October action. 8 Calendar Happening this month. 14 Zeitgeist The spirit of the moment. 16 News Need to know. 20 Must haves Halloween dress up time. 23 The monthly quiz Are you ready for October?

Family 26 Meet the parents Living as the only child in the family. 30 Feature Grandparent season.

Education 34 Open day Inside South Island School. 40 Principal’s office With South Island School’s head of school Graham Silverthorne.

Activities 44 After school Tennis time for all ages.

44 2

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contents OCT 2014 ISSUE 006

Food

50 The sweet life Sugar rush: where to stock up on Halloween goodies. 52 Table of four Alfresco season is back!

Home 56 The home front Alternative accommodation.

Adventures

60 Big day out Ocean Park: the all day experience. 64 Travel Get spooked.

Resources 70 Money & Me Steve Terry, founder of 97 Group, opens his wallet. 72 Marketplace Your guide to shops and services. 76 Business directory Numbers that make life easier. 80 The bald truth about fatherhood My children are robots.

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Cover by: Hannah Grogan and Cherrie Yu Models: Kira and Anya Ball Special thanks to Partyland for their help. Find everything you need here, from an array of costumes,

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accessories and decorations to choose from. Shop 8, Basement 51 Wellington Street, Central, HK. Mon-Sat 10am-7pm, www.partylandcentral.com.

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editor’s letter

Editor Adele Brunner adele@fastmedia.com.hk Senior Consultant Editor Jane Steer jane@fastmedia.com.hk Managing Editor Hannah Grogan hannah@fastmedia.com.hk Editorial Assistant Cherrie Yu cherrie@fastmedia.com.hk Art Director Kelvin Lau kelvin@fastmedia.com.hk Graphic Design Evy Cheung evy@fastmedia.com.hk Setareh Parvin setareh@fastmedia.com.hk Sales & Marketing Manager Karman So karman@fastmedia.com.hk Sales & Marketing Executive Andrea Balboa andrea@fastmedia.com.hk

nother month, another school holiday. This time, it’s half-term week – a pleasant little breather before the inevitable dash towards Christmas. Think it’s too premature to even mention the festive season? Mark my words: the minute Halloween is dead and buried for another year, Pottinger Street will be awash with Santa hats and reindeer antlers. Talking of Halloween, the 31st is getting scarily close so get ready to dust down those costumes and dig out the face paint. If you’re stuck for inspiration, our list of Must haves (p.20) might get you in a fiendish frame of mind. One celebration I recently overlooked was Grandparents’ Day in September. Not a particularly commercial or even wellknown day but one I think should be given more status. Most of us have warm, fuzzy memories of our own grandparents – of being spoilt rotten, of relaxed rules and

Rica Bartlett rica@fastmedia.com.hk

silly games, of forbidden treats before bedtime and of their unconditional love. And October with its drop in humidity and stunning weather spells granny season in Hong Kong – a popular time of year for grandparents to visit and strengthen their relationship with our own children. I might occasionally regress to a sulky teenager if I spend too long in my mother’s company but my children (and, incidentally, all my friends) think she’s great. We explore the ties that bind the three generations of a family particularly when they don’t live in the same country and offer all sorts of suggestions for granny- and grandadfriendly outings. As the weather becomes cooler so outdoor activities are much more do-able. Get your kids to try their hand at tennis and treat the whole family to an alfresco meal. Even Ocean Park is infinitely more palatable when the weather isn’t so hot and sticky. Adele Brunner

Business Development Manager Tristan Watkins tristan@fastmedia.com.hk Marketing & Communications Manager Sharon Wong sharon@fastmedia.com.hk Accounting Manager Connie Lam accounts@fastmedia.com.hk Publisher Tom Hilditch tom@fastmedia.com.hk Contributors Carolynne Dear Simon Parry Evie Burrows-Taylor Kristen Tadrous Eve Roth Lindsay Karen Wong Vanessa Gunn Joanna Tuft Printer Gear Printing, 49 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong Published by Fast Media Ltd LG1 Kai Wong Commercial Building, 222 Queens Road Central, Hong Kong Contact us Admin: 3568 3722 Editorial: 2776 2773 Advertising: 2776 2772 Expat Parent is published by Fast Media Limited. This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Expat Parent cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

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What’s on happening in october

OCT 2-31 Halloween Fest at Ocean Park Have a spook-tacular time at Ocean Park. Seven haunted attractions offer fang-tastic fun for all the family. Tickets $131-$320 from Ocean Park's main entrance, branches of 7-Eleven or www.oceanpark.com.hk.

UNTIL OCT 29 Move and Play!

OCT 2 Run For Your Lives Hong Kong

Oct 2-31 Disney’s Haunted Halloween

An exciting mix of interactive exhibitions to test your coordination skills and teach you to use all your senses. Open daily 10am7pm (9pm at weekends); tickets $15-$30. Hong Kong Science Museum, 3 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, 2732 3232, www.hk.science.museum.

Run for your lives or join the walking dead at this zombie race on the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade. Tickets $369-$659 from www.runforyourlives.asia/hk.

Celebrate Halloween with Mickey and Co. Haunted Halloween will be taking place on Oct 2, and Fridays to Sundays from Oct 3-31. Tickets $320-$450 from www.park. hongkongdisneyland.com.

OCT 1 National Day Fireworks Public holiday. Ooh and aah at the fireworks display held in honour of National Day. It’s a cracker. 8pm, Victoria Harbour.

OCT 1 National Day Racing You don’t have to be a horse-racing aficionado to enjoy the National Day Cup and other races. 12pm-6pm, Sha Tin Racecourse. Entry from $10; www.hkjc.com.

OCT 2 Chung Yeung Festival Public holiday. Don’t forget to worship your ancestors too.

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OCT 2-5 Asia Contemporary Art Show Photography, paintings and sculptures from 80 galleries from 18 countries, displayed around the Conrad hotel. Tickets $180-$260 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288. One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong, www.asiacontemporaryart.com.

OCT 4 Convoy Totem Run This new 16km charity trail-race starts from the Shing Mun Reservoir, finishes at Tai Mo Shan and aims to raise $7 million for the Christian Zheng Sheng Association. Tickets $800 (solo) -$3,000 (team of four) from www.totemrun.runourcity.org.

OCT 4 HK Comedy Competition Laugh till you cry at the finals of the Annual International English Comedy Competition. Free post-festival party. 8pm, Kitec, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $250 from www. hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

OCT 4-7 Fine Art Asia Fine antiques and contemporary art. Tickets $50-$200 from www.fineartasia.com. 11am7pm, Hall 5BC, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, 3107 0681.

OCT 9-10 Charity Christmas Fair Stock up on Christmas gifts and decorations. All proceeds will go to the 20plus charities participating. 10am-5pm, Li Hall, St John’s Cathedral, Central.

OCT 9-12 The Cotai Jazz & Blues Festival Sweet, smooth and sultry sounds at the third annual festival and competition at The Venetian Macau, www. bluesasianetwork.com.

Green Queen Made in Hong Kong

OCT 9-12 Dr Bunhead’s (Don’t) Try This At Home Wacky experiments with the Blue Peter and Brainiac science guy. Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $195-$435 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

OCT 11 Green Queen Made in Hong Kong Hong Kong’s finest Indie food and beverage artisans pop up in PMQ. 11am6pm, PMQ Central Courtyard, www. greenqueen.com.hk.

OCT 11-12 Lan Kwai Fong Carnival Delicacies, drinks, festive games and live shows. 1pm till late, www.lankwaifong.com.

OCT 11-12 Debut Hong Kong Classic Car and Vintage Festival Over 100 rare cars and motorcycles on show, a vintage market, food, drinks and more. 11am-10pm, Central Harbourfront Event Space, www.cvm.com.hk or www. hkclassiccar.com.

OCT 12 Open Air Crafts Market Original hand-crafted items and workshop activities for kids. D’Deck, Discovery Bay, 2238 1188, www.ddeck.com.hk.

OCT 12 Pink Walk Support the HK Breast Cancer Foundation at this 5km pushchair- and dog-friendly walk for the whole family. 10am-12pm, DB North Plaza Promenade, Discovery Bay. Register at www.movementimprovement. com.hk, 2987 5852.

OCT 12 New World Harbour Race Cheer on the brave athletes who are swimming across Victoria Harbour. 8.30am, Lei Yue Mun Sam Ka Tsuen Public Pier. www.hkharbourrace.com.

Asia Art Contemporary Show

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What’s on happening in october OCT 17-19 Stick Man The favourite children’s book live on stage. Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $195-$435 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

OCT 17-NOV 8 Marco Polo Oktoberfest Hong Kong’s 23rd traditional German beer festival. Prost! 6pm-11pm (11.30pm on Friday and Saturday), Marco Polo Hotel, Tsim Sh Tsui. Tickets $110-$240, from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

OCT 18 East Aquathon 16.3 Race from Chung Hom Kok to Quarry Bay via sea, mountains and jungle. Over 16s only. Reigstration $400-$464 at www. revolution-asia.com, 2891 1505.

obstacle race in aid of Mindset. Register at www.centralratrace.com.

OCT 18-19 Secret Island Party

OCT 20 Southern Beach Games

Stay for the day or sleepover at this weekend of art, music and performance. Tickets $500-$670 from www.hushup.hk.

Watch the final of the first International Beach Water Polo Tournament, and enjoy beach games, a muay thai performance and sand-sculpture competitions. 9am-6pm, Repulse Bay. www.travelsouth.hk.

OCT 19 Rat Race Central Suits go cuckoo for this fancy-dress

Rat Race Central

OCT 25-DEC 7 Headphone Lawn Cinema Enjoy classic movies on The Pulse’s rooftop. Kids’ entertainment available on opening night. 7.30pm-9.30pm. Tickets $160 from www.hushup.hk. Roof Top, The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay, 6043 3702.

OCT 26, DEC 5, 7 MSIG Hong Kong 50 race series Annual races are back on Hong Kong Island, Lantau and Sai Kung. Register at www.actionasiaevents.com.

OCT 26 Hot Tub Family Halloween Carnival

Marco Polo Oktoberfest

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Movie time with a difference. Relax in a hot tub and catch a classic movie at the Pulse’s new venue. Fun for all the family. Expect bouncy castles, clowns, music, food and

drinks too. 3:30-5:30pm, tickets $250 per person by emailing info@milesinternational. com.hk. Rooftop, The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay.

OCT 26 Sedan Chair Race and Bazaar Charity fun day out for all the family with game stalls, arts and crafts, and the big race itself. 10am-4pm, Matilda International Hospital, 41 Mount Kellett Road, The Peak, www.sedanchairace.org.

OCT 26 HK MTR Race Walking Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this race attracts elite race walkers from all over the world as well as novices wanting to give it a try. Turn up in costume and show your support. 7.20am-2.45pm, www.hkaaa.com.

OCT 30- NOV 2 HK Wine and Dine Festival Head down to the harbour for great wine, food and amazing views. Tickets $15-$30 from www.discoverhongkong.com.

OCT 31 Halloween The spook is on!

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BOOK NOW OCT 31-NOV 2 Charlie & Lola’s Extremely New Play See the BBC’s favourite brother and sister live on stage. Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $225-$435 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

NOV 8-9 Walk for Nature Enrolment is open for the annual fundraising conservation walk at Mai Po Nature Reserve. Details at www.wwf.org.hk.

NOV 8-9 International Water Polo Tournament and Beach Games Fun day featuring men’s open and junior water polo, and after-parties. Repulse Bay. Details at www.openwaterasia.com.

NOV 25-30 Avenue Q This comedy phenomenon is strictly for adults only (for full puppet nudity - and worse). Lyric Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $395$795 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

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International Water Polo Tournament and Beach Games

NOV 28-30 Seussical the Musical The Cat in the Hat and Horton and the Whos lead the charge through Dr Seuss’ favourite tales. Lyric Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $265-$595 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

NOV 28-30 Clockenflap Tenacious D and The Vaccines headline

Hong Kong’s funkiest festival, plus art, film, cabaret and a silent disco on grass. Tickets $580-$1,480 from www.clockenflap.com.

DEC 21-JAN 4 Phantom of the Opera Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s renowned musical returns. AsiaWorld-Arena, Lantau. Tickets available from Sep 1, $292-$1,195 from www.lunchbox-productions.com, 8203 0299.

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zeitgeist Ready to shop for Autumn 2014?

Check out this season’s trends with fashion expert Eve Roth Lindsay. Autumn has arrived. Cooler days are on the horizon – a fresh change after a long, hot and humid summer. It might be hard to think about heavy clothes but the latest jackets and sweaters are in the shops even though it's not quite cold enough to wear them. Before you go out to buy your autumn essentials, develop a fashionable plan of attack to ensure you buy something you'll love. Here are some of our favourite trends for fall:

Grey is the new black That’s right, you read it here. Grey is the neutral you will want to invest in – much more flattering than black. Add a pop of a colour to make it work for you.

Jewel tones Ruby, sapphire, emerald and amethyst are all colours to be coveted this season. These jewel tones are not the light and flirty shades of spring but typically a bit darker. Sumptuous fabrics such as satin, silk, and velvet all suit the deep pigmentation; combine them in the perfect statement piece like a clutch, blouse or a chic party dress.

Oversized clutch Big is back! No, not the hobo or satchel bag… we mean the oversized clutch. Clutches this season are not your average handbag – they are massive. They come in some seriously eye-catching fabrics and designs too. Look for a clutch that will dress up a simple outfit by finding something with embellishments, an unusual fabric or in a rich jewel tone.

Blanket coat The blanket coat is a simple design that can be worn loose and ultra-comfortable – and is absolutely divine. As it’s a very stylish piece, you can pair it with jeans for instant, effortless chic. We have seen these coats in light, plush and more weighty fabrics, in muted colours or with extensive embroidery for a statement piece. If you want to be on trend this season, cinch your blanket coat with a belt at your waist.

Quilting Quilted embellishments are the easiest trend to follow this season. We've seen quilting on pants, bags (classic Chanel), coats, skirts, dresses and even sweaters, and on a whole range of fabrics from leather to cotton and even patchwork. This style is easy to love: it's not glitzy but definitely feels special. One of our favourite ways to wear it is on a midi-length pencil skirt, a subtle pattern on a classic silhouette.

If you love following the latest fashion trends but aren’t sure how to get them to work for you, check out Colour Me Beautiful's seasonal update. You'll learn about the latest fashion trends and how to wear them from a professional stylist. For a personal style consultation, call 2522 2592 or email info@colourmebeautiful.hk.

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Awesome Autumn

Face time Already stressed out about making a Halloween makeup mess? Round up your little ones and head to Airplay. This spacious salon offers Halloween makeup and facepainting for kids ($250) and adults ($580). Choose from classic Halloween images like spiderwebs, skeletons, pumpkins and witches or opt for something pretty; princess looks were a popular Halloween choice last year. You can also come up with your own makeup ideas and share pictures with the Airplay artists. Parents can sit back and enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks while waiting for their children to get all made up. Booking is recommended. 7/F, W Place, 52 Wyndham Street, Central, 2641 9888, www.airplaybar.com.

Ferris facts Dwarfed though it might be by the height of IFC 2 and other skyscrapers, Hong Kong just got its very own answer to the London Eye. Here are five facts about it: 1. The Hong Kong Ferris wheel is 60-metres high – less than half the size of the London Eye at 135-metres tall. 2. It features 42 gondolas, each of which holds eight to 10 people. 3. The ride will last 15-20 minutes and it’s anticipated that a million visitors a year will want to go for a spin – a rate of 2,740 people a day. 4. Tickets will cost $100 per ride for adults and $70 for children. 5. Opening hours? Opening day? We’re still guessing. The project is said to be a month behind schedule due to bad weather and had been slated to begin rotating in September. Watch that Pier 9 space.

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news

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Battle of the bakers

Fashion forward

Calling all amateur bakers. It’s time to roll up your sleeves, roll out your pastry and show off your baking skills. Organised jointly by The Rose Petal Cakery and Umami Concepts, friendly competition Battle of the Bakers will follow a similar format to reality cooking shows. Over a seven-week period, participants will get the chance to train with some of Hong Kong’s best kitchens, learning new techniques and perfecting existing skills. At the end of each week, they have to come up with their own creation to share with the group. How that is received decides whether or not they

Finding clothes that fit properly, feel comfortable and look fabulous can be exasperating but Isabella Wren ticks all those boxes and more. Whatever your shape and size, the fledgling fashion house in Central offers a capsule collection of bespoke women’s suits, dresses and separates that will make you stand out from the crowd. Fabrics are all meticulously sourced and chosen so they feel as though you are wearing a second skin. Isabella Wren is also the first tailor in Hong Kong to use a state-of-the-art 3D body scanner to record your vital statistics (195 millimetreexact measurements in one minute to be precise), which ensures a fit that is as perfect as possible. What’s more you also get to play designer, adapting hem and sleeve lengths, and mixing and matching necklines, fabrics and detailing until you’ve got the exact look you’re after. You will receive an actual mock-up several weeks after your initial consultation, which owner Sarah Chessis will tweak if necessary, and your final clothes a week after that. Appointments are required as Chessis is all about one-on-one personal service, which makes shopping at Isabella Wren even more of a joy. Call 2310 2333 or email info@isabellawren.com.

stay in the contest. A grand finale will take place close to Christmas. Be quick though: competent cooks should register their interest in the competition by October 1 at www.battleofthebakers.com.hk.

Picture perfect How many times have you been asked for a family photo only to realise you have endless snaps of the kids but not one of you all together? Photographer Sophie Rouillon takes relaxed family photos at the venue of your choice and can also bring indoor equipment for studio-style portraits. A 75- to 90-minute shoot costs $2,500 and she will send you a dropbox of her selection of the top 40-plus shots taken in

black and white or colour. Rouillon can then help you to print and mount your choices or make them into a Christmas card that friends and relatives will love. Rouillon also has a selection of mounted photos taken around Hong Kong – remember the large rubber duck? – which make great gifts. View her work at www.sophierouillon.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ sophierouillonphotos. expat-parent.com

news

Top of the pops

Get Keen With cooler weather and winter holidays on the horizon, check out Keen’s new ranges of hiking shoes and snow boots for kids. Ranging from cosy, quilted boots for the littlest members of the family to serious stomping boots for older adventure hounds, this footwear ticks all the boxes. Able to withstand the biggest puddles and toughest hikes, the products are lightweight, waterproof and breathable with durable rubber soles providing an excellent grip for stability and comfort. Colours will appeal to boys and girls while prices, starting from $320, won’t break the bank. Available from Patagonia, 25 Ashley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 3622 2373.

If you’ve never got particularly excited about popcorn in the past, prepare to sell your soul for a tub of this stuff. Garrett Popcorn, which is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, is still handmade daily on-site in copper kettles, using seven quality ingredients and no preservatives. Signature flavours include CaramelCrisp, Chicago Mix (a blend of the brand’s savoury CheeseCorn and CaramelCrisp) and Nut Caramel Crisp but seasonal sweet and savoury varieties pop up from time to time. Definitely one for the grownups. Bags from $35 each; quart cans, from $99. Shop 1050, IFC Mall, Central, 2234 7494.

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Pamper hamper

FLEX TIME This popular Southside boutique fitness studio recently opened its second branch in Central. Comprehensive teen and kids' programs include Teen Yoga, Flying Pilates and Tween Zumba. Little ones (as young as two) can choose from yoga, pilates and dance classes. The new location has a snack corner, water machine, lockers and fully equipped shower rooms with towels. 3/F, Man Cheung Building, 15-17 Wyndham Street, Central, 2813 2212, info@flxhk. com. 15-17 Wyndham Street, Central, www.flexhk.com.

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a novel baby shower idea that the environmentally conscious will love. The Pamper Hamper is a gift box, stocked with all sorts of baby essentials but not a packaging material in sight. Made out of baby clothes, blankets and towels, and fashioned into different shapes, the practical hampers also contain soft toys, rattles,onesies and nappies as well as deluxe bath products for mums. pamperhamperhk@gmail.com.

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must have

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES & ACCESSORIES

Happy Halloween party bag $110 from Eezy Peezy Parties, www.eezypeezyparties.com.

SES Explore camouflage face paints $99 from Bumps to Babes, www.bumpstobabes.hk.

Frankenstein Costume $590 from www.matteoparty. com.

Pumpkin orange nail varnish 20

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$98 from Piggy Paint, www.piggypaint.com.hk.

Galt Make a Face (with glitter gel and face stickers) $75 from Bumps to Babes.

Happy Halloween hanging heads decoration $85 from Eezy Peezy Parties.

Devilina costume $640 from www.matteoparty.com.

Pirate cap $34 at www.baobae.com.

Design your own mask from $209 from Seedling, www.seedling.com.hk.

No time to make a costume? Rent one instead. Halloween party supplies: cups ($45), square plates ($40), cupcake kit ($48), all from Eezy Peezy Parties.

Hong Kong Repertory Theatre Email rental@hkrep.com. Academy of Performing Arts 2584 8500, www.apa.edu.

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quiz are you ready for October?

the monthly quiz

Question 6 Question 1 What’s happening on October 1? a. Please don’t tell me the kids have another day off from school. b. Fireworks, fireworks, fireworks. c. Nothing much. Why, what’s happening on the 1st?

Question 2 What’s happening on October 2? a. You’re visiting your ancestors and sweeping graves. b. Hiking with the family. c. Nothing much. Why, what’s happening on the 2nd?

Question 3 What are you going to do when trick or treaters come knocking? a. Turn the lights off and stay quiet. With any luck, they’ll think you’re not home. b. Welcome the little ghouls to your extravagantly decorated home with a vast array of sweets and other treats: you’re

prepared for this. c. P anic a little and search through your cupboards for something to give. They’re not going to look at the expiry date on that packet of biscuits, right?

What are you going to be listening to this month? a. Raucous laughter. b. Smooth jazz. c. ABBA. d. All of the above.

Question 4

Question 7

It’s half-term holiday and the kids are getting restless. How do you intend to keep them entertained? a. E ncourage them to take part in a "read-athon" contest. b. Buy an Xbox 360. c. Give up and let them run wild.

Your taxi driver doesn’t understand you - how do you get him to take you to your desired destination? a. A mixture of sign language and sound effects. b. Download a taxi translator app and take it from there. c. Commandeer the taxi and drive yourself.

Question 5 What can you do to help save the environment? a. Recycle. b. T ake part in the Green Summer Festival in Central. c. O nly turn on your aircon if you really need it. d. All of the above.

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quiz are you ready for October?

the answers

1. Answer: a or b Hong Kong’s National Day is celebrated every year on October 1, which means definitely no school or work. It marks the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 - although it didn’t figure in Hong Kong’s diary until after the Handover in 1997. Festivities include flag-raising ceremonies and parades but the show stealer has to be the fireworks display in Victoria Harbour. Go early to get a good spot and pray for clear skies.

2. Answer: a or b October 2 is Chung Yeung Festival and another day off. It’s the second gravesweeping holiday - the first being Ching Ming, which is in the spring. On this day, local families congregate at cemeteries across Hong Kong to tend to the graves of their ancestors and pay their respects. Traditionally, people also visit high ground, so it’s a good day to hit the trails and go on a hike.

3. Answer: b Halloween enthusiast? Good for you! Hong Kong is a great place to have monstrous amounts of fun during Halloween. This year, the devilish day falls on a Friday so no school the next day means a late night all round. Even if Halloween isn’t your favourite festival, that’s no reason to spoil the occasion for the little ones. See Must have (p.20) for our guide to decorations and What’s in season (p.50) for the best places to buy sweets.

4. Answer: a This month, schools around Hong Kong will be taking part in Booktober. Organised by Room to Read, a charity promoting education for all children and global literacy, Booktober is a month-long campaign to raise funds and awareness for global literacy. Encourage the kids to improve their reading skills and help students around the world to receive an education by taking part in the “read-athon” contests. You can even organise your own Booktober events such as book swaps.

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Grown-ups can get involved too: team up with your favourite bar or restaurant for a Booktoberfest evening, where $1 from every beverage sold can be used to buy a book for a school library. For more information, visit www.roomtoread.org/ booktober.

5. Answer: d The landfills are getting dangerously full; Hong Kong is facing a large problem with waste disposal. The government is introducing recycling programmes in schools to promote the culture of “Use less, waste less”. The Green Summer Festival promotes a better lifestyle for a greener Hong Kong through free events and workshops. Go before it ends on October 5. You can also learn about urban farming and visit the Green Market. www.cvm.com.hk.

6. Answer: d From music to musicals, Hong Kong has a great range of events on this month to suit all manner of mood. If you fancy a good laugh, head to the final of the Annual Comedy Competition on October

4; tickets are priced at $250 from www. hkticketing.com. For something a little more refined, try the three-day Cotai Jazz & Blues Festival at The Venetian Macao, from October 11. Tickets are free and you can visit www.bluesasianetwork.com for more information. Finally, here we go again: Mamma Mia! is back by popular demand. Extra performances have been added so the show now runs until November 2. Tickets are available at www.hkticketing. com. My my, how could you resist it?

7. Answer: b Arguably, the other two options listed might succeed in getting you where you want to go but you run the risk of looking a fool or getting yourself arrested. Download the Hong Kong Taxi Translator app ($8) from the iTunes or Android app store. It finds and translates addresses in Hong Kong into written Chinese and phonetic Cantonese so you can learn how to pronounce your destination while you’re getting to it. Another great aspect of the app is that it does not require internet connection. You’ll never have any problems with navigation again.

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meet the parents

More Fun With

One Adele Brunner discovers that an only child doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean a lonely child.

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The Richardson family at home in Clearwater Bay.

Sam and Ian Richardson live in Clearwater Bay with their daughter Izzy, 13. I was 36 when I had Izzy and it was very much a conscious decision on both our parts to have one child. It was partly age and partly a financial decision. Schooling in Hong Kong is very expensive and we often go back to the UK to see family. We wanted to be able to do all of that without having any financial stress. We have a close group of friends and were very lucky that they had children at the same time as we did. From when Izzy was very young, there has always been a big group of kids her age for her to play with. At one point, we even lived next door to friends so Izzy and their youngest son were constantly at each other’s houses, playing, having baths together – he was like her little brother. Our friends are like family and it is as if Izzy has a whole range of siblings… just ones that she doesn’t have to put up with the whole time. Sleepovers are a regular occurrence and we’ve always encouraged Izzy to have friends over. We sometimes go on holiday with groups of friends but a lot of the time, it’s just the three of us. Ian travels for work

and Izzy loves us all being together without anyone else. She also gets thoroughly spoilt by her cousins in England, who are quite a bit older. Izzy is extremely close to both Ian and me although I’m probably slightly closer to her at the moment. She loves having “Daddy time” – they enjoy cooking so I just leave them to it - as well as doing more girlie things like shopping and having her nails done with me. She also likes having time to herself. She has always been like that and I honestly don’t think she’s cut out to be in a frenetic household. My mum was a very gentle person and Izzy definitely takes after her. She has never complained of being bored or lonely and I don’t think she feels she’s missing out by not having siblings. She has asked for a horse more times than for a brother or sister. We got her a puppy about six years ago, mostly because she was terrified of dogs. It was the best thing we ever did as it cured her fear and became her buddy. Some people think that only children are shy and socially awkward but Izzy is the opposite. She is very outgoing, friendly and confident in the company of adults

or children. We used to worry that she might come across as being obnoxious but neither Ian or I are shy and retiring so it’s quite natural that Izzy would be talkative. Izzy isn’t very competitive and I often wonder whether that’s because she doesn’t have to compete for our attention with other siblings. If she doesn’t make the school sports team, it doesn’t bother her so we try to encourage her to be a bit more competitive. I don’t think we put more pressure on her to do well at school because she’s our only child but we do push her to do Mandarin because we think it will be such an advantage for her future. That’s expected of many Hong Kong kids regardless of whether they have siblings or not. Of course, we want her to do well at school but as long as she’s happy and trying her best, we’re happy. Do we worry what might happen when we get older because Izzy doesn’t have siblings to share the “burden” of looking after us? Not really. Maybe it’s a cultural thing but we didn’t come from an upbringing where we were expected to look after our parents and hopefully by then Izzy will have a supportive family of her own to help her out. expat-parent.com

feature

The Campbell family

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Family

feature

ix-year-old Oscar is sitting on the bus with his mum and little brother, Franklin, heading into Central. It’s quite hot and there’s not much going on out of the window. But when his mum clicks her phone onto FaceTime, suddenly he’s no longer rattling along Pok Fu Lam Road but in a backyard in suburban Sydney, having a chat with his granny. Such is modern technology. Only a generation ago, keeping in touch meant the odd, hideously expensive phone call and lots of tissue thin airmail letters. These days, Skype, FaceTime, email, WeChat et al are an intrinsic part of modern life, as expat parents try to hold together family links with those “back home”. Maintaining healthy connections with extended family is one of the biggest hurdles of expat life, according to family

councillor Justine Campbell. An expat herself, Campbell has three children, comes from Australia, and has been posted all over the world – from India to Japan and now Hong Kong. She knows exactly the kind of emotions expat parents are experiencing. “There tends to be an ebb and flow of parental guilt about living overseas,” she says. “When you move away, you lose that feeling of belonging, which can lead to anxiety and fear. Maintaining connections with family is crucial to orientating yourself in an unfamiliar environment. But it takes time and effort.” Campbell often recommends children read The Invisible String by Patrice Karst, a heart-warming tale about overcoming separation by plucking the invisible strings of love that connect us all. The overriding message is we don’t have to be physically close to be emotionally close to family.

ties

“It was hard at first,” agrees Oscar’s mum, graphic designer Claire Waring. “We moved up to Hong Kong from Sydney six months ago and the boys missed home dreadfully. They were three and six years when we moved and Granny featured strongly in their lives. She lived locally and popped in regularly.” Waring has found FaceTime a godsend and the boys can chat with their grandparents regularly. “Skype doesn’t work for us. The boys find it hard to sit still and concentrate on a screen. They can’t figure out the phone – they find it weird not being able to see the other person – but FaceTime works really well,” she says. Unfortunately, it’s not always plain sailing for all concerned, as mother-of-two Brooke Spiller has found. “I was brought up ‘on the move’ so I don’t think me leaving Australia 20 years

The bond between grandparents and grandchildren can be a magical one. Carolynne Dear explores how expat families can keep the relationship strong despite the physical distance.

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feature

You don’t have to be in the same country to feel close to somebody

ago to live in Hong Kong was a big surprise for my parents, who moved around often throughout my childhood. However, my mother-in-law was quite upset and I don’t think she has ever really accepted our decision to live overseas,” she says. “It helps that my husband is a pilot so visits home are frequent. My mother comes up about three or four times a year and really enjoys it. She’s quite independent. My mother-in-law visits maybe once every two years or so. Consequently, the children’s relationship is much stronger with my mother.” According to Campbell, guilt about being overseas is not helpful. “It is what it is,” she says. “It’s OK to be different, to be leading a life that was not perhaps what was expected of you. If grandparents are upset, be up front. Discuss with them the best ways

of staying in touch. Technology can be difficult to grasp. Maybe they would be more comfortable writing a letter, or putting together a book of photographs or drawings for the children. Don’t be afraid to bend the rules a bit.” Meanwhile, mother-of-three Nikola Andersson has her work cut out staying in touch with family, who are spread across four continents. “My parents live in Sydney, my motherin-law lives in Cape Town, my brother is in Los Angeles with his wife and children, and my sister and her family have moved to England,” she explains. “It’s a bit of a juggle, but between technology and regular visits, it seems to be working. We spend every Christmas in Australia, every summer with my parents in the Hamptons (which is where we consider ‘home’), and every three years we host a big family reunion, again

at our Hamptons house, and everyone flies in. The grandparents also fly over to Hong Kong when they can.” Andersson has been an expat for 25 years and says they have managed to remain very close as a family. “I have no guilt about being away,” she says. “I was brought up to be independent. I don’t think you necessarily have to be in the same country to feel close to somebody. There have been challenging moments trying to keep everything hanging together. My mother-in-law found it difficult with all the tech so we waited for her to visit, bought her an iPad and showed her how FaceTime works. There were also worries about the expense of calling, so I bought everyone a Vonage internet phone so calls are now free.” Her children, who attend Hong Kong International School, keep up with their

An easy outing

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Take time to bond

Three generations of Spillers.

cousins using FaceTime, recording videos and leaving messages for them. “We look forward to the long summers,” says Andersson. “The grandparents like to hang out with the children. In Hong Kong, they enjoy helping with homework and so forth - simply being there and being with them.” Campbell also stresses the importance of just “being” rather than running around and entertaining. “Keep visits simple,” she says. “Try not to make a big deal of them with big ticket events. Term-time visits are also great rather than waiting until the holidays. Going to school for assembly or having a chat at home will mean far more to all concerned

than a ritzy afternoon tea at the Peninsula. The same goes for when you travel back home. Don’t go rushing around.” Hong Kong schools are also doing their bit for family life. Business consultant Kristine Nudds has three children, who attend Hong Kong Academy in Sai Kung. “The school has a brilliant blog, which encourages overseas family members to log onto. Pictures of the school day are regularly posted, as well as descriptions of what the kids have been up to,” she explains. Nudds moved to Hong Kong four years ago from London with her then 10-, six- and four-year-old daughters. “We used to visit Granny Larri (my mum) about once a month, so I would say,

ironically, we get better quality time with her here. She comes out twice a year for a few weeks, plus we go back to the UK each summer. The children enjoy staying in touch with her on WhatsApp and Instagram. It was a bit of a learning curve for her.” Nudds says they don’t do a huge amount when her mum comes to visit, just the odd junk, hikes around Sai Kung, beach trips and hanging around at home with the kids. “She likes to help with school activities and she just enjoys being with the children,” says Nudds. If you are concerned about any of the issues raised in this article, Justine Campbell can be contacted at justine@ mindquestgroup.com.

Favourite granny outings in Hong Kong... “Stanley Market; meandering the streets of Sai Kung in search of a bargain; and school assembly.” Sandra, Grandma to Saskia, Liam and Neve, Sai Kung. “Shopping in Sham Shui Po; exploring the Lanes in Central; enjoying fried rice lunches at dai pai dongs and chatting with the owners; dropping the girls at school.” Dorothy, Nana to Bridie and Hope, Lantau.

“Night races at Happy Valley; Lamma Island for lunch; taking the grandchildren to Ocean Park and Disneyland; and watching our dance-crazy granddaughter perform on stage.” Margaret, Nanny to Soph and Will, Pok Fu Lam. “Walking Bowen Road; taking the ferry to Mui Wo and having lunch at The Stoep; shopping on Ladder Street and exploring

Sheung Wan; drinking tea on the sofa with our granddaughters.” Eileen, Nan to Ellie, Natalie and Margie, Mid-levels. “A Jaspas junk; visiting the Science Museum with the grandchildren; helping with Lego and homework; school sports carnival.” Christine, Granny to Tilly, India, Scarlet and Harry, Clearwater Bay.

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education open day

All-Round

excellence A sense of calm industry is apparent..

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At South Island School, creativity and focusing on the person as a whole goes beyond already remarkable academic results. By Evie Burrows-Taylor.

outh Island School is an institution that focuses on more than just maintaining its impressive track record of results. Throughout their time here, students are expected to follow the school motto, “Making a Difference”, to make a difference to their own lives and those of others in addition to reaching their academic potential. Established in 1977, South Island School started life as an annex of Island School. It moved to Causeway Bay before finding its current home – an impressive campus on Southside’s Nam Fung Road, halfway between Wong Nai Chung Gap and Wong Chuk Hang – in 1983. Each student belongs to one of six houses, creating a sense of belonging as well as responsibility, and every house is linked to a Hong Kong-based charity. However, the school has plans go even further to make a positive impact on the city’s community. It recently launched a project to work with Li Sing Primary, a local school for non-Chinese speakers whose students come from all over the world, including the Philippines and Pakistan. “We think we can do all sorts of really good collaborative work,” says principal Graham Silverthorne. “The principal [of Li Sing Primary] was here last week and we were brainstorming things we could do together. Some of their teachers are coming over to train with our maths staff, and we’ll do some media and literacy projects with them too.” Having announced the scheme on the first day of the school year, Silverthorne has since been overwhelmed by requests from people volunteering to help, teachers and students alike. “It makes me happy that I can throw an idea out there and people just pick it up and run with it,” he says. In addition to the philanthropic drive behind helping Hong Kong’s less fortunate communities, Silverthorne points out the advantage it will give students when it comes to competing for places at some of expat-parent.com

education open day

the world’s top universities. “There are a lot of kids with the same qualifications targeting the same positions, so the other things are important,” Silverthorne says. As an ESF school, admissions are granted according to the child’s area of residence in Hong Kong, and the majority of South Island School students travel in by school bus from Taikoo Shing. Around 70% of students are also Hong Kong permanent residents. Silverthorne, who has just begun his fifth year in the role of principal, has started it on a high. The school achieved its best set of GCSE results in its history with nearly

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Students approach school life with enthusiasm.

32% of students receiving As and A*s. This was the first time the school succeeded in crossing the 30% mark. Students taking their IB exams in summer 2014 did similarly well, achieving an average point score of 35 – the school’s second-best set of results ever. The school also runs a very successful qualification based on the British BTEC exam. Once students graduate from South Island School, most still choose the UK as their destination for higher education. However, this trend seems to be decreasing year on year. Currently, around 35-37% head to the UK, with significant numbers now staying on in Hong Kong, which is

vying for second place against the US. The school’s dedication to sending well-rounded individuals out into the world is evident in its comprehensive extracurricular activities programme, which Silverthorne says is a “big draw” for the kids. Each teacher runs two activities a term, giving pupils around 250 to choose from, including debating, tennis, swimming and chess. “We tell the children early on that if they work hard, they’ll leave here with the qualifications they need but they need to have more,” Silverthorne says. “If you want to get into university, or a certain kind of job later on, you’ve got to be able

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education open day to tell your own story, which is partly your academic record, partly your commitment to school activities, and partly how you made a difference. That’s the package we provide.” With the calibre of facilities on offer at South Island School, you can see why the after-school activities prove so popular. Students who have a passion for swimming can spend their time in the school’s 25m indoor pool and, likewise, if pupils have got the acting bug there are two drama studios and a theatre at their disposal. One area in the school’s immaculate campus is particularly striking. Designed by teachers and students, The Space is a multipurpose area that can be used as a theatre or general work room. Moveable walls double up as seating, making it possible to create smaller spaces within The Space for different sized groups. The table tops are white boards and projector screens

The school recently achieved its best set of GCSE results in its history

Top-class facilities mean after-school activities are very popular. 36

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are attached to the ceiling – essentially, anything goes. Wandering around the area, you find an atmosphere of calm industry, helped, at least in part, by the view of the lush green hillside next to the school, which fills the floor-to-ceiling windows. The school’s motto does seem to have an effect on the way students approach their school life, with enthusiastic grins greeting the principal as he walks around the campus. “I feel very strongly that we’re not a good school because we have good results, we have good results because we’re a good school,” Silverthorne says. “The older I get, the more I realise good schools are about values and hard work. There’s not a lot else to it.”

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principal’s office What did you want to be when you were a child? A footballer or a journalist. A football journalist would have been a good compromise. Why did you become a teacher? I’d had three or four careers before teaching and didn’t enjoy any of them. Something was always missing. When I began teaching, I realised it was a sense of purpose. How long have you been a teacher? I started in 1988, so 26 years.

Graham Silverthorne Principal, South Island School

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What are some of the challenges of being a principal? I think the hardest thing is to balance driving the success of the organisation with the need to look after people. If you can harmonise those two aspirations, then you’ve got a successful school. Some schools put so much pressure on their people. I invest a lot of time into trying to make everyone feel happy about what they do. Happy doesn’t mean soft; you can be happy and hardworking.

What do you enjoy most about your current position? I love seeing people come through, whether it’s kids or teachers. A member of my tutor group stood up last term and addressed the whole school (over 1,000 students). I really did get a lump in my throat. I also love seeing teachers, who weren’t very confident, taking on responsibility, doing well and leaving to become a vice principal.

come out through an instrument. I can’t play anything but I’ve tried to play all sorts of things. I just got a trumpet but it has turned out to be harder than I’d thought.

What has been the most memorable event of your career? When I left my last school, they ambushed me with a surprise assembly. The staff band played Take It Easy, with the whole school standing up and singing the chorus. I couldn’t speak at all. It was the most amazing thing; I had no idea it was coming.

Did you have a favourite teacher ? My favourite teacher was called Phil Gregory. He was my English teacher and the one who told me to believe in myself. It was because of him that I became the best English student at school. A few years ago, I was chatting to a colleague from the ESF about the people in educational roles who had made us feel special, and told him about Gregory. He said, for him, it was the man who had trained him as a teacher. After talking some more, we realised we were talking about the same person. If we were both talking about him, imagine how many other people he affected positively? What a great legacy.

What do you like most about Hong Kong? I love all of it. I wish I’d come here earlier. I particularly love the energy of the place. What talent would you like to have? I’d like my innate talent as a musician to

What quality do you value in people? Professionally, it would be integrity. Doing the right thing while no one’s looking is something we teach students. Personally, it would be compassion.

What’s the best advice you were given as a child by a teacher? To believe in myself, which I didn’t at the time. That teacher made me start thinking about who I was and what I wanted to do.

South Island School Address: 50 Nam Fung Road, Aberdeen Phone: 2555 9313 Website: www.sis.edu.hk

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its

Sponsored column

Selecting a Secondary School

ITS Educational Services helps you to make your mind up. Do your research and visit schools well before you need to apply for a place. Open days are the solution for many parents and children wanting an insight into a school. It is a great opportunity to speak to the staff and existing students, and ask about the academic programme, subject electives and extra-curricular activities. Most open days are organised on specific dates with talks from the principal and immaculate, hand-picked students taking you round. Other schools can only be visited after you’ve made an appointment, which allows for better communication between all involved. If you have time, a follow-up visit is often recommended once you’ve narrowed down your choice. You could also attend something like a school fair, usually held at weekends, to get a feel for the school and glean information. You and your child may have set your hearts

on a particular institution, but parents have been known to withdraw their application after seeing the school for themselves. Look out for the following: a positive ambience, openness, courteousness and an upbeat “feel”; responsive, lively and enthusiastic teachers; harmonious relations between children and staff. Have questions ready. These might include asking about the range of subjects, foreign languages and extra-curricular activities available, the destinations of graduated students, external exam scores, the art, drama, music and sports facilities. How does the school cater for slow/fast learners and learning difficulties? Think long term too. What support is given from career and university counsellors? Are university seminars held at the school or are students taken to exhibitions to meet admin teams from various universities? Take notes for effective comparing and contrasting of different schools.

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Observe the attitude of current students. Is there quiet, purposeful order? Students should be bubbly but with self-control. Watch for signs of good discipline without them being too obvious or oppressive. Find out the school’s policies on discipline and bullying and how it deals with such issues. Don’t base your decision on past glories. Schools are living and dynamic organisations, subject to change. Find out if the school has a five-year plan, and what improvements are planned. Above all, make your own judgment. What is right for another family may not be right for your child. ITS Educational Services offers numerous services to families who are looking for entrance to international schools. These range from school advice, school assessment preparation, intensive English courses for entry into mainstream schools and consultancy support for entrance to universities. For details, email anne.m@itseducation.asia.

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activities after school

Anyone for

tennis Karen Wong serves up some ace kid’s classes.

Modern Tennis Academy

Advanced Tennis Performance (ATP) ATP runs junior training programmes for children aged two to 10, 11-18 and elite juniors. Players receive professional training from experienced and highly qualified coaches, either in groups (from $200 per session per child) or privately upon request. Parents have to book their children’s places 10 days prior to the start of each month by enrolling online and selecting their available week(s). ATP’s “10 and Under Tennis” classes use smaller courts and larger, slower balls to get little ones into the swing of things. Its Play Like The Pros events teach 14-year-olds upwards how to incorporate the techniques and tactics used by professional players correctly into a game ($500 for each two-hour session). Hitting sessions and adult lessons are also available. Locations include Sai Kung, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. www. advancedtennisperformance.com.

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ESF Services The Australasia Tennis Aces (ATA) are the tennis programme providers for the ESF and classes run the gamut from the fundamentals of play for beginners to advanced techniques for competition-level kids. While children can learn to play at any age, the ATA has a progressional pathway that takes those as young as four (Little Hitters) through various developmental levels and court sizes up to the Academy Squad (10 years +), which focuses on honing ability, techniques and tactical awareness for those ready to play in full-court tournaments. Particularly to be commended is the Specialised Training programme, which gets children with physical or mental special needs on court for an hour of tennis-related, fun-filled exercise. Parents are required to book for the whole term ($3,300), which comprises about 15 once-a-week sessions that are

one-hour or 90-minutes long. Venues are Hong Kong-wide at ESF schools including Clearwater Bay, Quarry Bay, King George V, Beacon Hill and Kennedy. All participants are asked to wear white or light-coloured sports shorts, an ESF T-shirt and to bring water and tennis racquets to class. 2711 1280, www.esf.org.hk. HK Football Club Tennis Society Renowned for its fun and energetic approach to the game, the Australasia Tennis Aces (ATA) team offers training programmes for adults and children at the HK Football Club. Junior programmes range from weekly Tiny Tots to Elite Squad sessions and there are tennis camps during all major school holidays, accommodating up to 40 children per camp. Budding Wimbledon players are introduced to singles and doubles matches on the 10-week, Junior Davis Cup Matchplay

programme; Pro Aces and Elite Squad are for those with advanced tennis skills who are ready for competitive tournaments. All classes run for one hour from 3pm7pm, Monday to Friday, and Saturday mornings. Prices start from $190 per class for Tiny Tots and any class comprising five or more students; $220 per class for a group of four. Private and group lessons are available upon request. Although the HK Football Club is usually members only, non members are able to participate. They must be accompanied by a member during all coaching sessions and pay an additional $40 per lesson. Contact Kristin Godridge on 9104 7839 or Toby Clark on 9646 3760 for enquiries; www.hkfctennis.com. HK International Tennis Academy (HKITA) The HKITA offers development programmes for beginners as well as high performance and elite courses for top players with proven skills. Its programmes for children aged between two and 18 range from Tiny Tots and Monster Tennis (see over) to Elite Prep. As well as teaching drills and skills, coaches allocate time for friendly matches at the end of each training session for intermediate and advanced players. Tiny Tots is designated for learners aged between three and six. Classes are available seven days a week, each lasting one hour ($190). Venues include tennis courts in Sai Kung, Morse Park, King’s Park, Hin Tin, Causeway Bay and Ma On Shan. Private lessons are available (booking needs to be made 30 days in advance) as are private tennis-themed birthday parties and summer camps. HKITA also helps with US college placements for student athletes. 9662 8888, www.hkita.com. HK Tennis Academy The HK Tennis Academy provides programmes for all ages from junior training for eight to 19 year olds as well as lessons for adults and ladies only. All skill levels are welcome and sessions include performance assessments, drills, supervised match play and monthly in-house tournaments. Anyone getting serious about their game can move on to intensive training with accomplished coaches. There are classes available seven days a week at venues around Hong Kong but lesson prices depend on the number of students and how many sessions per week each child attends. Private classes are available on request (private@ hongkongtennisacademy.com). 2851 3220, www.hongkongtennisacademy.com.

Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club

Courses improve hand-eye coordination and concentration HK Tennis Association The HK Tennis Association offers training courses for children and adults of all skills right up to the Junior National Squad and the Hong Kong team. The general Tennis-for-All scheme targets players aged between seven and 17, and is divided into three levels based on players’ skills and experience. Other programmes include mini tennis for ages three to five with parental participation, Stars of the Future for more advanced strokes and game improvement, and one-onone focus training. The Young Athletes Training Scheme is for students under 10, who have basic skills and experience and aren’t beginners. The scheme is divided into two stages – from October to March and from April to September. Each stage costs $2,500 and consists of 48 sessions, each lasting three hours. Players can only progress to the subsequent stage after passing an assessment. Junior Squad (for which players also need to pass an assessment) is for children aged between

six and 18. Training is divided into foundation and development classes with two sessions a week on weekdays and at weekends, each lasting two hours. Termly fees start from $1,260 for the foundation course and $1,630 for development. An administration fee of $50 will be charged for every application. Various locations include Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. 2794 1793, www.tennishk.org. The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club Although it is a members-only club, The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club makes tennis facilities available to the general public. Two of its tennis courts can be booked in advance and are open for play from 12pm to 4pm on weekdays. They are closed to non members at weekends. Children of non members can also take part in group tennis lessons but must be signed in and accompanied by a member at all times. 2719 1595, www.cwbgolf.org. Modern Tennis Academy Modern Tennis Academy offers training courses for six to 20 year olds based on player skill and ability. Classes are conducted in groups of four to six by qualified, professional coaches, in English or Cantonese, and are open to the public. Regular classes are available from 5pm7pm, Monday to Friday, and 10.30am1.30pm, Saturday; elite classes are held from 4pm-7pm, Tuesday and Thursday, and from 8am-11am, Saturday. Prices range from $280 per two-hour session to $360 per three-hour session. Parents have to pay expat-parent.com

activities

Modern Tennis Academy

by cheque on the first class of every month. Students also get the opportunity to join annual summer camp college showcase tours in the US. Shek Kip Mei Park Tennis Courts, Cornwall Street, Kowloon Tong near Festival Walk), www.moderntennis. com.hk. Monster Tennis Part of the Hong Kong International Tennis Academy, Monster Tennis has been designed to bring little ones aged two to six to the game. Coaches use low-compression balls, smaller racquets, colourful teaching aids and shorter court dimensions, tailored to the children’s age and size, to make the game fun and easy to pick up. As well as teaching stroke fundamentals and ball-tracking skills, the courses help to develop hand-eye coordination and improve concentration and focus. Monster Tennis is run throughout the week at locations across Hong Kong from Happy Valley to Sha Tin. Prices start from $800 for four 45-minute sessions to $1,520 for eight sessions. A 45-minute private lesson costs $500; semiprivate (two children), $300 per person.

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Smaller courts and large, slow balls help to get little ones in the swing Siblings get a 5% discount. Tennis-themed birthday parties ($1,000 an hour) are also offered at weekends at your preferred location; full payment has to be one week in advance. 9662 8888, www.hkita.com. Multi-Sport Multi-Sport aims to provide fledgling tennis players with a fun introduction to the game. As well as tennis basics, the professional coaches endeavour to teach essential game and life skills such as teamwork and sportsmanship. Mini tennis is divided into three age groups: stage one (three to four years), stage two (five to six years) and

stage three (six and above). Classes, held indoors at the French International School and outside at Hong Kong Academy in Sai Kung, are coached in groups of up to eight with private lessons also available. Matches and tournaments are held occasionally, based on players’ progress and skill levels. Private birthday parties are subject to coaches’ availability. 2540 1257, www.multisport.com.hk. On The Rise Tennis OTR Tennis offers training programmes for all different levels. Qualified coaches supervise groups of up to six players, who start with hand-eye coordination and simple ball skills and ideally progress through the ranks to being able to play in tournaments. Classes are 90 minutes each on weekdays and cost $3,500-$7,350 for 14 sessions or $5,700-$7,650 for 15 sessions according to level. Venues include the Hong Kong Tennis Centre, Bowen Tennis Court and the Aberdeen Tennis & Squash Centre. www.otr-tennis.com. South China Athletics Association (SCAA) The SCAA Tennis Centre offers a range of

training courses. Lessons are available in groups or taught privately by head tennis professional, Carter Morris. Under the umbrella of junior tennis is the Mini Tennis programme (five to seven years), Junior Tennis for beginners and intermediate players (eight to 12 years), and Junior Advanced Tennis (eight to 16 years, by coach recommendation only). Players can enrol to participate in matches and tournaments scheduled by the association. Private lessons cost $550 an hour; junior group lessons are $640 for four one-hour sessions and junior advanced classes are $1,300 for four two-hour sessions. Tennis court rental is available seven days a week; $30 per person for under 18s and $50 per adult from 7am-6pm; $80 per person from 6pm. 6 Wylie Path, Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Park, Kowloon, 2388 8154, www.scaatenniscentre.com.

Monster HKITA

TennisLessons.com This online resource features daily posts from individual tennis coaches and clubs offering their services. Click on the highlighted China banner forHong Kongbased pros, who are willing and able to give you a hit. www.tennislessons.com.

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food Hey, Sugar

The Sweet Life Cherrie Yu has a candy crush.

American Grocery What: stock up on classic favourites in this one-stop shop. Think Nerds, Hershey's, lollipop rings and Fruit Roll Ups plus funky finds like mini popcorn machines. Price: individually packed goodies start at $6 each. Where: G/F, 6A Playing Field Road, Prince Edward, 2749 9966.

Americome What: bulk buys are a good idea when it comes to Halloween. Americome packs a large assortment of products including Charleston Chews, Mint Double-Stuf Oreos and Blow-Pops by the 100-pack. Price: from $10. Where: 65A Sing Woo Road, Happy Valley.

Bookazine What: stuff your goodie bags full of oldschool sweets including Wine Gums, Fizz Wiz popping candy, Curly Wurlies, Haribo gummies, Airheads and more. Price: great finds starting at $11. Where: shop 309, Prince's Building, 10 Chater Road, Central.

Q Club What: this two-storey shop sells Reeseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pieces, Willy Wonka Candy, Nerds and other American ranges. New shipments every two months. Price: a range of prices. Where: Sun On Village, Po Lo Che Road, Hiramâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Highway, Sai Kung, 2791 0822.

Aji Ichiban What: for crunchy and chewy Japanese snacks, Aji Ichiban is the best place to fill those bags with individually packed yummies. Find cocoa cookie crunch, chestnut marshmallows, Time Out chocolate and more. Price: from $50/lb. Where: Hong Kong-wide.

V>ngo What: pick-your-own local gummies in any quantity. Find Coke-flavoured gummies, egg-shaped gummies, liquorice, sweet-andsour chews, marshmallows and more. Price: think cheap and cheerful. Where: a convenient corner near you.

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Candy Land Picture by Cherrie Yu and Evy Cheung. Originating in Barcelona, Spain, Hong Kong has been crunching on Papabubbles' delicious handmade candy for almost four years. The shop is situated in Causeway Bay and shoppers are invited to watch the candy production process through a transparent glass window. Snap photos and wow as the sweet chefs prepare colourful hard-boiled “rocks” and lollipops right in front of you. With Halloween coming soon, Papabubbles is currently stocking hard candies printed with pumpkins, spiders and ghosts, to name a few. Prices start at $15 for a 12g packet; lollipops range from $40 for a XXS one to $400 for an XXL. Each one comes individually wrapped and makes a colourful and special Halloween treat. Can’t find a design you like? Opt for customised rock candies and lollipops. Papabubble’s staff are always happy to hear your ideas but place your order well in advance because it takes two to four weeks to make. 34 Tung Lo Wan Road, Causeway Bay, 2367 4807, www.papabubble.com.hk.

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food table for four

Out with it Go family alfresco-style.

Zaks

Peak Lookout A hike up the Peak isn’t complete without a visit to old favourite the Peak Lookout. Once a resting place for sedan-chair carriers, the Grade II historic building has served as a restaurant since 1947 and continues to delight diners young and old. The indoor restaurant has a rustic feel with its exposed brick and nostalgic blackand-white photos on the walls but it is its sizeable outdoor terrace with views over Pok Fu Lam Country Park and Aberdeen that makes a meal here so special. There really is something for everyone – from seafood platters to nasi goreng, delicious tandoori dishes and barbecued meats, as well as a pretty good kid’s menu and bowls of water for thirsty pooches. For a complete day out, take the Peak Tram from

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Garden Road up to the restaurant and once you’ve eaten your fill, head to Mount Austin Playground to run it all off. Peak Lookout, 121 Peak Road, The Peak, 2849 1000, www.peaklookout.com.hk.

Café Bord de Mer Overlooking the waters of Sam Pak Wan, Café Bord de Mer offers an escape from the city while being easily accessible. It is part of the relatively new hotel Auberge Discovery Bay and aims to provide a suitably stylish environment for grownups coupled with a family friendly appeal. To this end, there’s an outdoor bar, tables along the waterfront and grass you can actually play on. There are crayons and colouring-in sheets, and there is a kid’s

playroom – albeit on the second floor. The International Buffet (with an Asian twist) is available at weekends and on public holidays and features a special Kid’s Corner. A hit with the sweet toothed, the dessert table is piled with cupcakes, sweets and ice cream there for the taking ($328 for adults and $164 for kids). Buffet guests are also eligible for the Short & Sweet Horse Carriage Ride ($250 per ride for four people) around Discovery Bay. If the buffet doesn’t appeal to young diners, a comprehensive kid’s a la carte menu featuring fish and chips, pasta and mini burgers is bound to come up trumps. High chairs are available. G/F, Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong, 88 Siena Avenue, Discovery Bay, 2295 8288, www.aubergediscoverybay.com.

Zak’s Steps away from the Discovery Bay ferry pier is this chilled waterfront restaurant. Offering year-round alfresco dining, Zak’s has a resort-like feel and families can have a run-around on the nearby beach or enjoy the 5,000-square-foot outdoor terrace while waiting for their food to arrive. The menu features eastern and western fusion dishes with everything from sizzling beef fajitas, pizzas and seafood to tried-and-true kid’s favourites such as Captain Scupps fish bites, Zak’s chicken fingers, nachos and pasta. Go when it gets dark for a complimentary display of Disneyland’s fireworks. A free return ferry ticket to Central is given to every diner spending more than $120. Shop 4, G/F, D Deck, Discovery Bay Bay Plaza, Discovery Bay, 2987 6232, www.casteloconcepts.com.

Dinner for Four

TICK GIVEAWEAT Y

Expat Parent is giving away a dinner at Zak’s for a family of four via our Facebook page. The winning family will enjoy a choice of starters, mains and dessert plus a bottle of wine while enjoying the spectacular view of the beach, the waterfront and the Disneyland fireworks. For a chance to win, tag three friends in our Facebook page’s giveaway event comment box (www.facebook. com/expatparenthk) and send us a message with your name, telephone number and the answer to the following question: what is the name of the Discovery Bay restaurant with a 5,000-square-foot, alfresco terrace?

Kelly & Moss Kowloon Bay’s industrial hub isn’t the most obvious place for alfresco dining but, amazingly, it’s home to an outdoor carbon-free dining space that is perfect for O Thai

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food table for four

all the family. Situated in Hong Kong’s only Zero Carbon Park, the Kelly & Moss ecocafe generates its own electricity via solar panels and bio-fuel generators, allowing it to cook up a sustainable storm. The outdoor verandah and terrace, complete with sunshades, overlooks a stretch of lawn, so kids can play while parents tuck into locally sourced organic food. Menu options include egg mayo and roasted vegetable sandwiches, organic iced chocolate and an array of fresh desserts and savoury snacks. Kelly & Moss’s signature house blend of organic roast coffee is one for connoisseurs; the iced drip coffee is just the ticket for a hot day. Eco toys are on hand for little ones and high chairs are available. Catering services include kid’s birthday parties, complete with bouncy castles. Zero Carbon Park, 8 Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay, Mon-Sun 11am-7pm, 2529 9001, www.kellyandmoss.com.

The carefree vibe means nobody will complain about sandy feet The Stoep

Top: view from The Stoep, Café Bord de Mer

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The Stoep’s (pronounced “stoop”) relaxed vibe makes a perfect beachfront dining experience if you have all the family in tow. Located on Cheung Sha Beach on Lantau Island, it is great if you have little ones. They can play in the sand right up until food is served and you can watch them while you sit back and relax with a glass of wine. The menu is predominantly South African with Mediterranean elements. The warm seed bread is a must especially when dipped into homemade hummus, babaganoush or tzatziki but make sure you save room for main courses. Meatlovers big and small will enjoy the barbecued meat platters, which include succulent steak, chicken, lamb and ostrich. (Adventurous young eaters will love the bragging rights that a taste of this flightless bird will give them.) And if the Dauphinoise potatoes are on the menu, snap them up. Gloriously creamy and garlicky, this dish is worth skipping pudding for. Take the ferry to Mui Wo and then take

a bus, or come by private speedboat or junk and moor off Cheung Sha beach. The Stoep, 32 Lower Cheung Sha Village, Lantau Island, 2980 2699, www.thestoep.com.

O Thai Alfresco dining joint, O Thai, is slap bang on Deepwater Bay Beach, offering panoramic sea views and fun for all the family. Popular items include vegetarian spring rolls, a Thai appetiser platter and barbecued squid, all of which can be washed down with scrummy banana and coconut milkshakes. If you have fussy little eaters in tow, who don’t like anything on the menu, O Thai’s beach bar is a hop, skip and a jump away (aka one minute). Kid-friendly items like pizza, fresh fruit smoothies and sandwiches will doubtless appeal to hungry little tummies. Go for a paddle, build a few sandcastles – the carefree vibe at O Thai means nobody will complain about dripping hair and sandy feet. 1/F, Beach Building, Deep Water Bay Beach, Island Road, 2164 8007. Kelly & Moss

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the home front

Alternative accommodation Rebecca Simpson thinks outside the 1,200-square-foot box.

All decked out: a stylish terrace on a liveaboard boat.

ong Kong is renowned for its entrepreneurial spirit. Thinking outside the box is what many of us do best, and when faced with the current housing squeeze, that's exactly what many families are doing. Here comes the understatement of the year: Hong Kong apartments are small. Even with a generous housing allowance, many expats aren’t exactly living large when it comes to personal space. Restrictive living areas can be a major challenge, especially if you’ve got three or four children who are used to a quarter-acre block and a twostorey, four-bedroom home. Beyond Hong Kong, communities across the globe are sprouting solid alternative housing solutions. Some are

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driven by price, others lifestyle, and environmentally conscious families are living in incredible eco-friendly spaces. In London, the young and hip have taken to renovating the city’s canal boats, packing up and moving their transient lives to a new address every fortnight to comply with mooring regulations. What was only a few years ago a crazy idea is now a serious investment option thanks to an 85% increase in continuous cruisers in areas like East London. In other corners of the globe, container houses have become a real option for designers looking to repurpose industrial materials. Don’t believe me? Just Google “designer container homes” and you’ll be pleasantly surprised and potentially inspired. Designers are performing alchemy

on ugly, industrial shipping containers and the results are open homes that are green, sustainable and entirely liveable. So, what are the options in Hong Kong? From the rise of über-cool warehouse conversions in Aberdeen to the spacious interiors of liveaboard boats in Hebe Haven, ingenious Hong Kong families are finding alternative spaces to call their own. These brilliant spaces are equal measures of creativity and clever design, and they're hitting the spot for families who enjoy something different. "I’d always wanted to live in a loft conversion and was inspired after visiting a private kitchen in Aberdeen,” says motherof-two Daisy Lawes, who gave loft living a go. “We were on a shoestring budget and after trawling on foot from warehouse

Warehouse conversions are a designer’s dream.

These spaces are equal measures of creativity and clever design to warehouse to find a place, we ended up in Ap Lei Chau. It's great for families because of the space available: you can get 3,000 to 4,000 square feet for the price of something under 1,000 square feet. If you want space for the kids to run around, it’s good value for money.” Warehouse conversions on Hong Kong’s Southside are the equivalent of domestic speakeasies – you know they exist but they’re almost impossible to find. They aren’t options major estate agents have on their books because living in commercial spaces isn’t exactly legal. Domestic helpers

aren’t allowed to work in commercial spaces either so such accommodation isn’t for everyone. "[The legal side of things] isn’t a huge issue,” says Lawes. “Hiring a helper is the problem for families who use [the industrial conversion] as their primary address. You have to use a secondary address for paperwork. If you get caught, however, your helper is likely to be deported and you'll be red flagged." Some of these spaces are ostensibly art galleries and design studios but are also lived in by their creative owners, who also work long hours there. Warehouse conversions are a blank canvas, a gift for those with design capabilities to let their imaginations run with the open space. But like other creative freedoms, this comes at a price. Many may baulk at coming home to a ghostly industrial area, or having to put up with noise that tends to be part and parcel of a zone that doesn’t adhere to noise pollution regulations. "There's no school bus or public transport so a car is a necessity. There are also restrictions on TV and the internet.

Sink or swim

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the home front

A spacious bedroom keeps cabin fever at bay.

Power can be shut off for hours, and that’s a deal breaker in the end. As we moved out, an Australian family with two young kids and a large dog moved in downstairs. It's a great experience, but it was short term for us.” For those who like a life above board, but yearn for space, there’s always marina life. Known as liveaboards, floating homes are nothing new in Hong Kong. Liveaboard communities have a well-established place in Hong Kong’s proud maritime history. In contrast to London’s canal boats, and true to Hong Kong’s style, the modern incarnation of liveaboards are ingenious designer spaces. You can find these communities in Discovery Bay, Sai Kung, Aberdeen and on the Gold Coast. Hong Kong boat brokers like Lifestyle Homes (www.lifestylehomes.com.hk) are a great starting place for those with nautical dreams. Families flock to places like Discovery Bay Marina on Lantau Island, a private

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We moved to the Marina with our kids and haven’t looked back marina club with the largest, sheltered liveaboard community in the territory. Here, families revel in the open space on threestorey boats, averaging 60 feet in length, with four-plus bedrooms, open kitchens and playrooms. “We moved here with our kids and haven’t looked back,” says one Discovery Bay boat owner. “Living at the Marina is great. The open space, the facilities, the

international community and the boating lifestyle are best aligned to the life I want my kids to embrace. I’d rather they be out messing about in kayaks after school than tucked up in an indoor playroom.” The club offers all the usual suspects to keep growing kids busy including tennis courts, a pool, gym, playroom and a great park in which the family dog can run free. Again, there’s a downside to this type of alternative lifestyle and this time it’s Hong Kong dollars. While renting or buying a liveaboard typically costs less than many apartments, you have to factor in marina berth rentals and debentures that start in the hundreds of thousands if you wish to access club facilities. Then, there’s a layer of exclusivity to perforate; places like Aberdeen Marina Club can only be joined by invitation. There’s also talk of restrictions on domestic help, despite an existing history of male and female helpers working legally on liveaboards for generations.

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big day out

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Ocean

Park

Expat Parent finds out what’s new and what’s hot this month at Hong Kong’s favourite park.

or those of us who have been visiting since last century, Ocean Park Hong Kong is hardly recognisable these days. Having opened in 1977, the awardwinning theme park has come a long way. Following a massive revamp that kicked off in 2005, it now has over 80 rides and attractions, and has since racked up an impressive number of international accolades for its popularity. And we can easily see why. For newcomers to Hong Kong, it’s a real treat to visit for the first time. It boasts what we consider to be the nicest views of the southside of Hong Kong Island and there’s nothing quite like being on a rollercoaster and seeing Repulse Bay flash past. But even as seasoned OP-goers ourselves, we still get a kick out of the place. And with a constant drive to improve itself, there’s always plenty happening and something new to see.

How to manage your time

Ocean Park offers all the fun of the fair.

Get there early. We can’t stress this enough. Avoid the queues and the hoards of tourists by getting to the park in the morning. Make sure you get a map, it’ll come in handy. Head straight for the Ocean Express train to make your way to the southern

section of the park. Since the closure of the park’s southern entrance, visitors can now only enter via the Wong Chuk Hang entrance. But don’t be fooled by the colours, cute pandas and bright attractions on this side, you’ll have plenty of time for them later. Because let’s be honest, it’s the rides over the hill at Thrill Mountain that you want to get to before everyone else does. For slightly older adventure seekers (or those over 140cm), start with the Hair Raiser. Just as the name suggests, it’s a real nailbiter and worth waiting that little bit longer to snatch the front four seats. There are a few other great rides in the vicinity, including the Flash, but it is a good idea to hit these ones early and to do so before you eat lunch. Be sure not to miss the Polar Adventure section. Not only does it provide a great reprieve from the outside heat and humidity (plenty of AC so lingering is recommended) but there are also dining options and a great, easygoing Arctic Blast rollercoaster, which is perfect for the smallies. We recommend saving yourselves the torture of being soggy all day and advise you to work the water rides in succession. Kick off with the new but tame Rapids in the Rainforest section and then head down the hill to the Raging River, an old-and-gold ride. It’s a good one for all expat-parent.com

big day out

x x x

Rides can be wet but luckily aren’t always too wild.

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the family – don’t forget to smile for the camera on this one. Do put your belongings in a storage locker or fork out a few extra dollars for a plastic poncho; nothing ruins a day at Ocean Park like waterlogged and wrecked electronics (trust us on this one). The Raging River is part of the ever popular Adventure Land section, which is also home to the Mine Train and Space Wheel rides. If you’re up for it, on your way back up to Marine World, take a quick spin up Ocean Park Tower for some stunning 360-degree views over the whole park and Southside. Other notable mentions in the area include the park’s latest animal attraction, Shark Mystique, the Abyss’ famous drop and if you get there at the right time, catch a dolphin show at the Ocean Theatre. Once you’ve had enough of that side, take yourselves along to the cable car and hitch a ride back to the Wong Chuk Hang side. A bit quieter after the morning rush, it’s a great time to now check out traditional flavours in Old Hong Kong and visit the pandas. If you’ve got little ones with you, a trip to Whiskers Harbour and the kid’s area is worth your while, but no big loss if skipped.

For one month only Each year, Ocean Park and its attractions celebrate Halloween big style and 2014 is no different. At various dates throughout October (check the website for information), visitors can enjoy spooky attractions day and night. Think trained actors in scary getups and haunted houses that’ll freak the pants off you and your kids. Things are tame in the daytime, but all bets are off in the evening when the ghosts come out. During October, all rides will be open till 11pm including the cable cars.

The award-winning theme park now has over 80 rides and attractions Don’t forget

Halloween fright nights.

Outside food isn’t allowed in the park so you’ll be hard pressed sneaking in those sandwiches you wanted to pack for the family. Luckily, there are plenty of food and beverage options available. Do yourselves a favour and skip McDonalds; their jacked up park prices aren’t worth it. Why not give yourselves a taste of Hong Kong? Like any big day out, sunscreen and plenty of water are always required. There aren’t too many water-filling stations, so when you see one around utilise it because you may not know where you’ll find another.

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Until the MTR’s South Island Line opens in 2017, you’ll have to make your way by bus or car. The Citybus 629 runs from Admiralty MTR and from Central Star Ferry regularly. Alternatively, you can travel to Ocean Park by private car (on-site parking $120 a day). Ocean Park, Aberdeen, 3923 2323, www. oceanpark.com.hk. Tickets from $160 for children aged three-11; annual passes are available for all ages. Open daily from 10am; check website for closing times.

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travel Haunting holidays

Spook-tacular

Destinations It’s hip to be scared: Halloween getaways for all the family. By Kristen Tadrous.

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Gunkanjima (Battleship Island), Hashima Island, Japan Off the coast of Nagasaki lies the ruins of a thriving coal mining city, once characterised as the most densely populated place on earth. With buildings occupying every piece of land, the island from afar resembled a massive battleship. After Japan’s switch to petroleum in 1974, the “battleship” became deserted nearly overnight. Popularised in the James Bond movie Skyfall, the island’s decaying legacy is now open to the public. Boat tours in English are available, allowing you to

Gunkanjima

Once the most densely populated place on earth, Gunkanjima became deserted nearly overnight

circle the island and learn all about its past. In three hours, you’ll see what life was like on this self-contained land. Walking tours are also available on goodweathered days, letting you absorb the post-apocalyptic setting. Getting there: venturing to this island may seem like mission impossible. Fly directly into Tokyo or Okinawa, two major cities with easy air and ground access to Nagasaki. From Nagasaki port, you’ll find multiple boat companies to take you to the island; each tour costs about 4,000 yen.

Pompeii, Italy The city that disappeared under the ashes of Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in 79AD, forever capturing a snapshot of life in the Roman Empire, remains a morbidly fascinating hotbed for the curious. When in Pompeii, do as the Romans do. Travel back in time by navigating this ancient commercial hub filled with ruins, baths, amphitheatres and the spectacular fresco, Villa of the Mysteries. Refill your water bottle in an ancient fountain, and marvel at the Latin graffiti and Dionysian paintings. Of all these sights, the most haunting are the petrified figures, a

reminder of the unlucky people buried under the ashes. Thanks to modern science, these figures are encapsulated in plaster final expressions, body movements and all. Getting there: fly to Naples or Rome and, from there, affordable public transport is the best bet. Opt for the scenic route with the Circumversuvian train from Naples, a pleasant journey with volcanic views. A Pompeii Pass (approximately 34€ ) will give you full entrance to all the ruins. EU citizens below age 18 and over 65 get in for free; reduced admission available for ages 18-25. expat-parent.com

travel haunting holidays Pyramids of Giza, Egypt Taking the title as the oldest of the Seven World Wonders, Egypt’s three iconic pyramids, along with the Sphinx, symbolise an ancient archetypal mystique. Like one giant unsolved mystery, it’s still widely debated how these 4,500-year-old necropolises originated and took shape.

Five storeys underground is an ornate display of bones For families, a taste of ancient Egypt comes with a private tour with an Egyptologist for a fascinating intro to the three pyramids: Cheops, Khafre and Menakaure. Be sure to buy a separate ticket to the inside tomb, where you can climb in (claustrophobics, beware) and explore the hieroglyphic-lined tunnels. The Egyptian Museum, a wonderful option for kids, has its very own mummy room. When the sun sets on the Sahara, stick around for the sound and light show, allowing you to view the pyramids illuminated against the night sky. For an hour, you’ll get a theatrical history lesson narrated by the Sphinx. Getting there: travelling to Cairo is no short journey from Hong Kong but once you’re in Egypt’s metropolis, a quick taxi

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travel haunting holidays

Bran Castle

ride is all you’ll need to get to Giza. Private tours offer hotel pick-up and drop-off.

Bran Castle, Brasov, Romania What better way to say trick-or-treat than to knock on Dracula’s door? This 12thcentury fortress was once the extravagant stomping ground of Vlad the Impaler, the royal figure who later became the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s famous Count Dracula. Let your imagination wander here, for you’ll find a labyrinth of chambers, confined corridors and spooky spaces. Getting there: fly to Bucharest, Romania’s majestic capital. A train ride to Brasov is three hours, followed by a cab or minibus ride to Bran. Car rentals are a great alternative if you’d rather take the muchpreferred scenic route with the freedom to stop and enjoy the pristine countryside. There’s accommodation aplenty in Brasov, a town with nightlife, restaurants and parks. Low season runs from October to March so a family visit during this time is ideal. Get there early before Dracula awakes; the last admission is at 4pm. 1.2€ for children; 6€ for adults, over 65s free.

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Catacombs of Paris, France Make no bones about it: beneath the City of Lights lies a ghoulish empire of tunnels and the remains of around six million Parisians. Macabre by nature, this ossuary was built in the late 18th century in the city’s quarry due to overcrowded cemeteries. Five storeys underground, you’ll find an ornate display of bones lining narrow corridors, sculptures and spine-tingling inscriptions in a deathly atmosphere. Don’t speak French? Pas de problème! Audio guides in English and various other languages are available as you navigate the chilly underground tunnels, absorbing the eerie atmosphere. Bring jackets, as the temperatures underground maintain a steady 13 degrees Celsius. Getting there: direct flights from Hong Kong to Paris are available. From there, you’re a Metro ride away to DenfertRochereau, near the Catacombs. With people dying to get in (pun very much intended), waiting times can be between three to four hours. 10am-8pm, except on public holidays. Under 13s get in free.

Local Spooks Wong Chuk Yeung Village High above Sai Kung in the Ma On Shan Country Park lie the ghosts of Hong Kong’s agricultural past. Established in 1660 by a family from Dongguan, Wong Chuk Yeung village once produced crops like beancurd sticks, rice and sugar. For many years it thrived, until the 1950s when the Ma On Shan mine opened, lowering the water table and depleting the land of its crops. Having no reason to stay, inhabitants left in search of greener pastures. Amid Hong Kong’s overpopulation, this remote, abandoned village remains immune to crowds. Today, one can find remnants of this once-bustling community through the overgrown vines and trees blanketing the houses, many of which still contain their original furniture. Located at the end of Chuk Yeung Road, this village is easily accessible in a taxi or car. Hikers can also explore this village through stage four of the Maclehose Trail.

Sea Ranch Built in the late 1970s as a five-star getaway resort, this now-abandoned island town resembles an ideal setting for a horror film. Once a luxury development with room service and lavish parties, it went bankrupt in the 1980s and finally closed its doors in 2002. Hair-raising as it may seem, what’s left now are decrepit pieces of furniture, books and relics of the liveliness it once harboured. With no shops or restaurants within the estate, the resort remains an isolated enclave on the South Lantau coast, only accessible by a 30-minute boat ride from Cheung Chau Island.

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money & me

Steve Terry Lawyer and founder of the 97 Group entertains his financial decisions. How much is in your wallet? HK$4,200 and 1,200 Baht. I’ve just come back from Thailand and always carry petty cash for countries I travel to regularly. What credit cards do you use? Amex and Visa. Between them, they cover nearly all countries and outlets. The Amex card also gives me access to business lounges at airports all over the world - whatever my class of travel. Are you a spender or a saver? Both. I guess you can spend what you earn or borrow, but you have a bit more leeway if you have saved something too. You were a founder of the 97 Group that revolutionised Hong Kong’s bar scene in the 1990s. How did you get involved? I originally got involved with the 97 Group because they needed help with legal issues in the early days. They asked me because they had seen me so often in the bar. This converted into a small equity interest and subsequently a bigger one which, in turn, spawned other things like the setup of China Jump in Hong Kong. Any tips for someone thinking of investing in a bar or restaurant? As an “investor”, I’ve been lucky to have very good executive partners. I would advise caution to anyone thinking of investing in bars or restaurants because the business is very fickle and can often tie up a lot of capital. Unless you own the real estate, you are always exposed to the whims of Hong Kong landlords. When were you poorest? I was poorest as a university student. I lived off a government grant and played guitar in pubs and clubs for beer money. I had some of the best days of my life, and learned to be self sufficient.

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What was your best investment? Buying off-plan in the rising Macau real-estate market and selling before the building was even out of the ground. I think that counts as a good property investment. I have to balance this with the loss of an entire down payment on a speculative investment elsewhere in Asia. (“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is”.) What was your worst investment? The various 100% write-offs, but they say that one lucky strike for five failures is a good hit rate. The worst stock I ever invested in was PCCW. It was my choice - not a broker’s recommendation. What was your best-paid work? Premium legal work pays pretty well but nothing beats good property investment. You have developed a number of luxury villas, how did you get started on that? I missed investment opportunities in the 1980s in Phuket because I didn’t want to see “paradise” spoiled, and because I had no real money to invest. I subsequently got involved in the similar surge [in property values] through the ‘90s in Koh Samui. This produced both money and fun, but it involved calculated risk on several levels, which obviously isn’t for everyone. Do you have any advice on teaching children about money? I’ve got lots of advice, but I’m not sure any of it is actually working with my own teenage kids. I guess I’ll find out when they hit college and compulsory independence. We have always tried to teach them to plan and save. In their early years, we opened bank accounts in their names and tried to encourage them to deposit birthday and pocket money. We wanted them to learn the process of saving up for that new game or other coveted possession. What has been your most extravagant purchase? My wife’s handbag. I think most of the extravagance was the two hours being pampered by four shop assistants while the bag was gift wrapped in the rarified atmosphere of the Central store… or maybe it was my Porsche 911. Do you own property? I rented for the first 20 years I lived in Hong Kong because I felt uneasy about the cost of entering the property market here. Looking back, this was poor judgment. I finally bought shortly after Sars when prices were low, and this decision has seen a five-fold return. Since then, I have invested more confidently into the Hong Kong property market. I have always invested in London property and generally like real estate almost anywhere for long-term hold. What steps are you taking to ensure a financially comfortable retirement? Boring, prudent management of the financial good fortune I have had thus far, a sensible spread of risk (geographical, currency and business sector), and creating an interesting and engaging spread of “compensated activities”. What would you change about the Hong Kong tax system? Not much: I think it is a very benign tax system which allows everybody to do well. It certainly has been kind to me. expat-parent.com

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the bald truth of fatherhood

My children are robots By Simon Parry.

e were naturally mortified when our eldest daughter got horribly sick on a bottle of white wine she drank with her friends when we went out one night. When she sobered up, we let her know exactly how badly we felt she’d let us and her family down. “You’re 16 years old, for heaven’s sake. What on earth took you so long?” I raged, before launching into misty-eyed recollections of boyhood summer evenings in the late 1970s spent plotting classroom mutinies on dank Worcestershire hillsides while slurping bottles of rough cider and puffing our way through packets of Lambert & Butler. “Why can’t you be more like your cousin Cheryl back home in Lancashire?” her mother chipped in helpfully. “She had a 20-a-day habit by the time she was 13, twins and a council flat all of her own by the time she was your age.” OK, so we didn’t really say those things (and Cheryl’s a delightful girl as long as you keep out of her way on the day she collects her benefits). But we did ponder quietly how the high watermark of teenage rebellion in 2014 seems to be a glass of Pinot Grigio too many. Admittedly, there may be a few messy little incidents we don’t know about, and we do have a second daughter aged 15 and two younger sons setting sail on the stormy seas of adolescence. By the time you read this, at least half my brood might be either in rehab or protective custody. Generally speaking, expat teenagers in Hong Kong are remarkably conservative, polite, well-behaved and lacking in rebellious instincts. It’s like being in some weird remake of the Stepford Wives with teenagers instead of housewives as robots in disguise. They do their homework. They phone you when they’re going to be home late. They don’t shout and throw things around too often. And they’re disconcertingly mature, for example. when I’m playing my old LPs and they say: “Dad, turn that racket down. I’m trying to work here.” (That last one happens quite a lot and I was too discombobulated to know how to respond at first. Now, I usually crank the volume up, pogo up and down on the spot, ball my fists in fury and yell: “You’re not the boss of me”.) It’s not only our children. It’s other people’s children too. When

school friends visit, or when you have a chance encounter with any expat youth, they say “please” and “thank you” and are even capable of multi-syllabic exchanges approaching real conversation. Try asking a 14-year-old in Worcestershire what they did over the weekend and they’ll grunt, fix you with a dazed stare, chunder up a pool of alcopop at your feet, and then stagger off with their knuckles scraping the floor. And the boys can be even ruder. Some expat brats go off the rails. But even the ones classed as riff-raff here, who experiment with drugs and stay out all night on beachfronts, do well enough academically to be labelled child prodigies by teachers at my old secondary modern. One anthropologist, who asked to remain anonymous, says it may be the influence of Hong Kong’s workaholic, non-confrontational society. Another expert I just made up says it’s because as expats they lack a culture of rebellion. No Johnny Rotten, no Margaret Thatcher and no poll tax for them; just Andy Lau, CY Leung and other people droning on endlessly about the 2017 election arrangements. What will become of our Stepford Kids? Are they programmed to stay good through their entire IB curriculums or will they suddenly go wrong and collapse in a fizz of malfunctioning microchips as our hitherto hidden-away human offspring swarm into view, swearing and covered from head to toe in snot and bad attitude? If that day comes, I’ll scoop my beloved robot kids into my arms and run for the hills. After all, if there’s one thing that being an expat in Hong Kong teaches you, it’s that you can always escape the unpleasant realities of the real world if you want to.

Will our Stepford Kids suddenly go wrong and collapse in a fizz of malfunctioning microchips?

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Formerly the owner of dreams and a full head of hair, Simon Parry is a jaded, middle-aged journalist and father of four. He lives in Sai Kung with his wife, his children and his sense of profound disappointment.

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