T
Family | Food | Home | sport |hLiving e
is blue su e sky
Take it outside
Trips to float your boat
October 2014
How to Halloween Get your spook on
Stanley’s iconic cafe
Cyberport
The train is coming
Pok Fu Lam
Smell the roses
221
things to do
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The really useful magazine October 2014
Cover by Mark Lehmkuhler
PEOPLE
local
2 Snapped! Southside’s social life. THE PLANNER 4 Happening in October What’s on in your neighbourhood. FIVE MINUTES WITH... 8 Blossoming buds Meet Southside’s flower shop owner. COUNTRY PARKS 10 Tai Ho occupied Happenings in the country parks. news 12 What’s going on? In your backyard.
16 True Wong Chuk Hanger Southside Ovolo’s owner - Girish Jhunjhnuwala. FEATURE 18 Grannie season Where to take your beloved gram grams. EATING 26 Rawlicious Totally raw-some food. Plus Nibbles from the dining scene. 30 Fergus on food Trends in Hong Kong and Southside. EDUCATION 34 Painting Pixels 21st-century learning.
FAMILY 38 Boo! Your Halloween guide. outdoors 40 All pumped up With triathlon coach Andrew Wright. BIG DAY OUT 42 Deep sea fishing Get hooked out there. travel 46 A weekend away Pearl of the Orient. Home 50 Alternative living Thinking outside the box.
HEALTH & BEAUTY 54 Fall in love Autumn’s latest trends. PETS 56 Sally Andersen hears back Letting go of the ego. CREATURE FEATURE 57 The Eurasian Tree Sparrow One near you. MARKETPLACE 58 Your guide to shops and services Cool stuff to buy and do. BUSINESS DIRECTORY 62 All you need to know Numbers that make life easier. PHOTO PAGE 64 Reader snaps Your photos here!
“The simplest toy, one which even the youngest child can operate, is called a grandparent.” Sam Levenson
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people Snaps from Southside
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say cheese Southside Market Long Lunch
Cyberport mid-autumn
Share your event photos with us at photo@fastmedia.com.hk. Get snapping!
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planner
happening in october Oct 2-31 Disney’s Haunted Halloween 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 3-Jan 4 Hong Kong Harbin Ice Festival Expect ice sculptures, snowman building, games and even a 13m ice slide on a tyre. Tai Tong, Yuen Long, 2337 9366, $60-$240 from www.ueticketing.com.
OCT 4 Annual HK International English Comedy Competition Laugh till you cry at the finals of the Annual Comedy Competition, hosted by Tom Cotter. The post-festival party at the Grand Central Bar & Grill at Elements, Kowloon, is free to all ticket holders. 8pm, Kitec, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $250 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.
OCT 1
National Day Fireworks
Ooh and aah at this spectacular fireworks display held in honour of National Day. It’s a cracker. 8pm, Victoria Harbour.
UNTIL OCT 29 Move and Play!
OCT 2 Chung Yeung Festival
An exciting mix of interactive exhibitions to test your coordination skills and teach you to use all your senses. Open daily 10am-7pm (9pm at weekends); tickets $15-$30. Hong Kong Science Museum, 3 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, 2732 3232, www.hk.science.museum.
Public holiday. Don’t forget to worship your ancestors too.
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 2-31 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 Main Entrance, branches of 7-Eleven or www.oceanpark.com.hk.
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OCT 5 Southside Market Long Lunch Unlimited food, drink, music and entertainment from noon to 5pm. Tickets $550 (free for under-eights) from www. butchersclub.com.hk. The Butchers Club Deli Rooftop, 16/F, 18 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, 2884 0768.
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 5, 12, 19, 26 Island East Market Sunday market for organic produce, arts and crafts, live music, kids activities and more. 11am-5:30pm. Tong Chong Street, TaiKoo Place, Quarry Bay, www.hkmarkets.org.
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planner OCT 9-10 Charity Christmas Fair
OCT 18 East Aquathon 16.3
OCT 26 Hong Kong MTR Race Walking
Yes, it’s that time again. Stock up on Christmas food, gifts and decorations - all proceeds will go to the 20-plus charities participating. 10am-5pm, Li Hall, St John’s Cathedral, Central.
Race from Chung Hom Kok to Quarry Bay via sea, mountains and jungle. Over 16s only. Reigstration $400-$464 at www.revolutionasia.com, 2891 1505.
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 18-19 Secret Island Party Stay for the day or sleepover at this weekend of art, music and performance. Tickets $500$670 from www.hushup.hk.
Halloween fun at Wise-kids. 11am-12.30pm, Wise-kids, Cyberport. Tickets $300 (one child and two adults) from www.cyberport.hk.
Hong Kong’s finest Indie food and beverage artisans pop up in PMQ. 11am-6pm, PMQ Central Courtyard, www.greenqueen.com.hk.
Delicacies, drinks, festive games and live shows. Check out this year’s special “Spanish Street” and a “Toys R Us Kids’ Street”. 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. Details at www.hkclassiccar.com. 11am10pm, Central Harbourfront Event Space, www.cvm.com.hk.
OCT 17-NOV 8 Marco Polo Oktoberfest Fill your tankards at Hong Kong’s 23rd traditional German beer festival. Prost! 6pm11pm (11.30pm on Friday and Saturday), Marco Polo Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tickets $110$240, from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.
OCT 30- NOV 30 Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival Oct 25 The Great American BBQ Grill is on all day long, live music, games, craft beer, wine and lots of food. Free shuttle bus services. 11am-10pm. Tickets start at $125 per kid and $300 per adult. The Podium, Cyberport, www.greatamericanbbq.com.hk, 2544 4401.
Fancy yourself a bit of a wine connoisseur? Head down to the harbour for great wine, food and amazing views. New Central Harbourfront, Central. Tickets $15-$30 from www.discoverhongkong.com.
OCT 31 Halloween The spook is on!
OCT 25-DEC 7 Events at The Pulse The Pulse’s rooftop is where it’s at. Drink, eat and party in a hot tub while enjoying a movie at the Hot Tub Time Travel Cinema ($260 per person, $1,800 for a six-person tub); or take in a classic film at the Headphone Lawn Cinema ($160 per person), www.hushup.hk. Rooftop, 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. The Hong Kong Island race starts from the Peak Galleria and finishes at Wong Nai Chung Gap. Register at www. actionasiaevents.com.
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.
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Game booths, a baby-crawling competition, kids’ talent show, and performances. Free of charge. 2pm-5pm. Online registration will be available soon; check www.arcade.cyberport. hk for details. Ocean View Court, The Arcade, Cyberport, Pok Fu Lam.
OCT 27 Family Halloween Party
OCT 11 Green Queen Made in Hong Kong
OCT 11-12 Lan Kwai Fong Carnival
OCT 26 Halloween Family Carnival
OCT 31 A Halloween Steak Rebellion This Halloween-centric steak event channels Gangs of New York and Sweeny Todd. Tickets $1,250 including a five-course meal and a bottle of red wine from www. butchersclub.com.hk. The Butchers Club Deli Rooftop, 16/F, 18 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, 2884 0768.
OCT 31-NOV 9 Hong Kong International Literary Festival More than 40 events including think workshops, prize-winning local and international novelists and journalists, and more. Book at www.eventbee.com or www. festival.org.hk, 2877 9770.
planner
Book now OCT 31-NOV 2 Charlie & Lola’s Extremely New Play
NOV 22 The Steelcase Dragon Run
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.
Take up this challenge of paddling 24km starting at Clearwater Bay’s Second Beach and finishing in Stanley. The course will take paddlers to the Ninepins Islands and Cape D’Aguilar. Visit www.victoriarecreationclub. com.hk to reserve your spot.
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.
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, with many music stages plus art, film, cabaret and a silent disco on grass at West Kowloon Cultural District. 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.
Got an event? We can publish the details for free. Email editor@southside.hk.
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five minutes with...
flower power
Floral tribute Yuen Bing-cheung tells Karen Wong how his Pok Fu Lam flower shop has blossomed.
Lily Flowers opened 48 years ago. I started as one of the members of staff in the 1980s after coming from mainland China, and then took over the business when my boss passed away. I was totally illiterate back then but I had the motivation to learn.
People come here because of our good service. We plan and decide what is right for our customers and do our best to satisfy them. We will first get a quote for them and discuss the cost. I am now working for a few international schools like ESF.
Westerners have more sense of “going green” than the Chinese, so I mostly deal with expat customers. We currently have six members of staff and we mostly get involved with gardening design projects to promote nature in this bustling city.
Everything runs smoothly. My customers and my colleagues are easy to get along with. Getting familiar with the mechanism of running the business makes things easier.
Our best-selling products are our Americanimported Christmas trees, the prices range from $300 up to $1m, depending on the size. We usually sell 300 to 400 trees during the festive season.
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We’re not planning on expanding but we have a branch in Macau, run by my son. This location (in Pok Fu Lam) is the best one we’ve been offered. Land is scarce nowadays and we have to treasure what we’ve got. Lily Flowers, Pok Fu Lam Road (near Wah Fu Estate), 2551 3307, www.lilyflowers.com.hk
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Headline save our
country parks
news from the green front
Village people Paul Zimmerman reports on the latest developments in Tai Ho.
Tai Ho is a large country park enclave between Disneyland and Tung Chung, along the north coast of Lantau. Other than a few small houses, it comprises largely abandoned wetland and intertidal mangroves that are fed by mountainand salt water. Most villagers sold their land to developers a long time ago, with payments staggered subject to the completion of proposed developments. The unique ecological values of Tai Ho have
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been recognised by the Hong Kong government and most of the area has been earmarked for conservation uses by the Town Planning Board earlier this year. The freshwater streams have been protected as a “Site of Special Scientific Interest” by the ACFD since 1999. Landowners who had hoped for large-scale development of their land and many riches flowing their way started to display their disappointment with the now common theme of closing off established public access with gates where the paths cross over private land. As few people took notice, they decided to up the ante by destroying the mangroves en masse in front of the media. Armed with farming tools and diggers, the troops were cheered on by senior members of the Heung Yee Kuk who provided the banners. Alerted by the resulting media reports, green groups have asked government departments to study the televised evidence to determine enforcement, prosecution and hopefully reinstatement. I’m happy when the
KUK goes overboard as we need all the help we can get to gather political support against them and their wanton destruction. The concept that private land ownership rights are not absolute, but are subject to obligations and limitations to protect the public good appears alien to them. Or is it that they smell an opportunity for even greater compensation? Hong Kong deserves better protection of its ecological values and biodiversity from the small house policy and the destructive abuses of the agricultural land. The government has taken a hard line on democracy and stood down the threat of Occupy Central. Let’s see whether it will stand down the naked threats expressed by the KUK in equal measure. Paul Zimmerman is the CEO of Designing Hong Kong, a Southern District Councillor and the co-convenor of Save Our Country Parks alliance.
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news
in your backyard
More MTR for Southside
New opening Following years of drama, failed planning applications and anticipation, Repulse Bay’s newest mall, The Pulse, is finally open. The latest retailer to take up occupancy is supermarket chain Marketplace. More shop openings are expected later this month. Marketplace, Shop 116, Level 1, The Pulse, 28 The Beach Road, Repulse Bay.
Construction on a second MTR line for Southside is set to begin by 2021. The South Island Line (West) will link the West Island Line with the South Island Line (East), both of which are currently under construction. The line will operate in the western and southern parts of the Island, with stops at Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, Tin Wan, Wah Fu, Cyberport, Queen Mary Hospital and HKU. The project is expected to be completed by 2026.
Southern district councillor Paul Zimmerman said the new route was needed to cater for the area’s increasing population, particularly with the planned redevelopment of Wah Fu Estate. “Now that it is confirmed that the South Island Line (West) will go ahead, residents want to have confirmation that it will be entirely underground,” he said. “They also want to make sure that any increase in development is limited, and that the green character of Pok Fu Lam will be preserved.”
It’s all for charity
New for yogis
Box of Hope is seeking donations for its 2014 charity drive. Now in its seventh year, the organisation asks Hong Kong school children to fill an old shoebox with new gifts for the less fortunate. Last year the charity sent an impressive 19,500 boxes to underprivileged children across Asia. Their goal for this year is to reach 20,000 boxes. The boxes - which are distributed to children in need across Hong Kong, Macau, China, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia before Christmas - can be dropped off during collection week from 3-7 November. Collection points include Southside Kindergarten, Kellett School, Singapore International School and International Montessori School. For more information, visit www.boxofhope.org.
Starting from 16 October, SOL Wellness will be kicking off regular Thursday morning yoga classes at Aberdeen Boat Club (ABC). Open to non-ABC members and aimed at all levels, the classes will cover Kundalini Yoga, a yoga of awareness that uses asanas, breathing, meditation and sounds to strengthen the nervous system. Classes start at $220/class, or $1,800 for 10 classes, valid for three months. Sign up at info@sol-wellness.com. For details, visit www.sol-wellness.com. Harbour Room, 2F Aberdeen Boat Club, 20 Sham Wan Road, Wong Chuk Hang.
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Little chefs Calling all mini masterchefs, Le Meridien in Cyberport will be holding cooking classes every Sunday and public holiday in its Prompt restaurant until mid-October. The sessions kick off on October 2 with Jade Green Carrots; Chocolate Banana Buttercake on October 5; healthy salads and dressings on October 12; and rice cake dumplings with custard on October 19. Each class is $220 per child, and wannabe chefs must be four years and older. To register, contact prompt.LMC@lemeridien. com or call 2980 7417. Le Meridien Cyberport, 100 Cyberport Road, Pok Fu Lam.
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news
in your backyard
Coming up roses Looking for a bit of ‘me’ time? Sense of Touch has introduced the Rose Infinity massage and facial. Focusing on working at a cellular level to repair ageing DNA, this facial is all about stimulating collagen production for smoother and younger looking skin. The treatment begins
This facial is all about stimulating collagen production with a rose face wash cleansing, followed by a face peel and finally a cold stone neck and head massage. It is priced at $1,380 for 90 minutes. After the facial, stock up on the same sweet-smelling rose-based products in the spa shop. Sense of Touch, G211, 1/F, The Repulse Bay Arcade, 109 Repulse Bay Road, 2592 9668.
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interview Editorial Jane Steer jane@fastmedia.com.hk Hannah Grogan hannah@fastmedia.com.hk Adele Brunner adele@fastmedia.com.hk 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 Rica Bartlett rica@fastmedia.com.hk Marketing & Communications Manager Sharon Wong sharon@fastmedia.com.hk Business Development Manager Tristan Watkins tristan@fastmedia.com.hk Accounts Manager Connie Lam connie@fastmedia.com.hk Publisher Tom Hilditch tom@fastmedia.com.hk Contributors Carolynne Dear Sally Andersen Stephen Vines Paul Zimmerman Evie Burrows-Taylor Eve Roth Lindsay Fergus Fung Steffi Yuen Kristen Tadrous Karen Wong Vanessa Gunn Joanna Tuft Printer Gear Printing Room 3B, 49 Wong Chuk Hang Road, (Derrick Industrial Building), Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong Published by Fast Media Floor LG1, 222 Queens Road Central Hong Kong
Give us a call! Admin: 3568 3722 Editorial: 2776 2773 Advertising: 2776 2772 Southside Magazine is published by Fast Media Ltd. 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. Southside Magazine 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 pubishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.
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Girish Jhunjhnuwala The founder and CEO of Ovolo Hotels comes home.
Tell us about your relationship with Southside? I’ve been based in Pok Fu Lam since 1982. Before the hotel business, I worked in the watch industry. My father, was a watchmaker. He emigrated here from Burma in 1953. He steadily grew his business from a oneguy operation to a brand. The first factory we had was in Wong Chuk Hang, so with the new hotel opening, it’s like coming home. How has the area changed since then? Wong Chuk Hang was the watch capital of Hong Kong. It was pretty much just industrial buildings and
Wong Chuk Hang is Hong Kong’s New York. the Aberdeen Marina Club... we used to go there a lot. Why do you choose to live in Pok Fu Lam? It’s the best place in Hong Kong. You are so close to the city and you are so close to the nature. I love driving home. Once you pass HKU, you turn a corner and suddenly the whole landscape changes. Goodbye city. Hello great, open ocean views, green mountains
and fresh sea air. The air quality matters a lot when you have children. I believe Southside has the best air in Hong Kong. What do you like to do with the family in the area? In late October when the cooler weather starts blowing in, I enjoy hiking with my daughter. The trails are so close, it’s great. We often start at the Pok Fu Lam riding stables first thing in the morning and hike up to the Peak. I can be home by 8.30am. In the summer when it’s hotter, I have a loop around Cyberport that I walk. It’s a beautiful walk, down to Le Meridien and up past the Stanley Ho sports
hotel centre. A section of it runs along a beautiful treelined pathway by the water. I also enjoy using the (Stanley Ho) sports centre. It’s really great value to join and it has great facilities - a pool, gym, track and tennis courts. I can never understand why more people don’t sign up. How do you think Southside is going to change? I see Wong Chuk Hang as Hong Kong’s New York. It’s a really cool and happy place, and still being discovered by a lot of people. Once the MTR starts running, it will be just a couple of stops to Central. So big changes are coming. We will see more restaurants, art galleries, shops, and street life. It’s really going to open up.
On the up in Wong Chuk Hang.
Tell us about Ovolo Southside? It’s the first industrial space in the area to be converted into a hotel. It’s our biggest hotel to date and it’s gorgeous. Southside residents will want to visit CIRQLE, our destination restaurant. Our chef does a wonderful Mediterranean menu with Asian influences. Our rooftop bar, Above,
has a fabulous terrace with fantastic open views, looking over the ocean and all the ships on one side and Ocean Park and the mountains on the other. What are you most excited about this new hotel personally? I think the design is great, it isn’t something Hong Kong has ever seen before. The architect - KplusK - has done a fantastic job. We have put in some elements of Wong Chuk Hang, such as including our own art gallery. We are encouraging a lot of art in the hotel. The corridors have been decorated by local Hong Kong graffitti artists. There are also a lot of industrial features in the rooms, like exposed piping, which mirrors the gritty vibe of the area. Funnily enough, these sort of details were really costly to get right. But we have created an iconic hotel. It is something we are really proud of. Is this going to be the last hotel for you guys? We are off to Australia after this, with four more hotels in the pipeline.
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feature
Photo by Mark Lehmkuhler
From gentle walks and lazy lunches to day trips and shopping trips, Carolynne Dear suggests a packed itinerary of tried-and-true Hong Kong activities to keep guests happy.
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feature
Finally, the humidity and summer heat have dropped, the typhoons have blown away and it’s blue skies all the way to Christmas (we hope). Along with cooler temperatures, autumn usually heralds the arrival of overseas visitors. But if you’re stuck for activities, or even have no idea how you’re going to accommodate them, we’ve got you covered. Easy walks If you’re juggling jet-lag and different age ranges, your regular hill-run over The Twins is probably out. Adopt a more leisurely pace and try these hikes instead. The Peak You can’t beat The Peak on a clear, crisp autumn day, and a stroll along The Peak Circle Walk starting at Lugard Road is great for taking in the views from every angle. This walk is paved, flat, stroller-friendly and around 4km in length. It starts and ends near The Peak Lookout, so finish off with lunch or afternoon tea on the terrace, taking in the fantastic views towards Aberdeen and the outlying islands. The Peak Lookout, 121 Peak Road, The Peak, 2849 1000. Tai Tam The Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail is a comfortable 5km walk along the Tai Tam group of reservoirs. The reservoirs were constructed at the beginning of the 20th century to meet the needs of Hong Kong’s growing population and the trail has been established to help the public appreciate the history of water supply and waterworks structures. Start at Wong Nai Chung Gap near Hong Taking in the view of Repulse Bay.
If you’re juggling jet-lagged guests, running over The Twins is probably out Kong Parkview and finish at the junction of Tai Tam Road and Tai Tam Reservoir Road. From here, it’s easy to jump on a minibus down to Stanley for a bite to eat. (Don’t forget Octopus cards.) There is limited parking outside Parkview and non-member parking at the nearby Hong Kong Cricket Club. Follow the paved trail and take in the glorious water views. The Bays If it’s ocean views they’re craving, take visitors along the Mills & Chung Path. Start outside the Hong Kong Country Club and walk a short distance along the pavement until you reach a flight of steps leading to the seafront promenade. Stop for a bite to eat at the beachside restaurants in Deepwater Bay, or continue along the beach and pick up the trail again to Repulse Bay. This section of the walk affords great views across to Middle Island, with lots of photogenic boats bobbing in the foreground. If you’re feeling super fit, continue along Beach Road up to South Bay Road and along the footpath to Middle Bay Beach and South Bay. All paths are paved and, apart from the initial steps down to the Mills & Chung Path, this is a reasonably stroller-friendly walk. Away days Stock up on Octopus cards, and the Island is thier oyster.
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Tai Tam’s heritage trail offers a comfortable walk.
Relax on Chung Hom Kok Beach.
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Most guests need a little serenity after the hustle and bustle of the city
Recharge batteries with coffee and cake, lunch, or a refreshing cup of tea at Café 8, which is located on the museum’s upper level. Open Mon-Fri, 9:30am-5:30pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-7pm; $30/adult, $15/child, Central Ferry Pier 8, Man Kwong Street, Central, 3713 2500.
Hong Kong Maritime Museum Veteran visitors may remember this childfriendly museum in its original location in Stanley. It’s now nearing its second year at its new home on Pier 8 of the Central Ferry Piers. The revamped museum is five times larger with loads of great pictures, models and interactive displays exploring the territory’s fascinating seafaring history. There are canons, a lighthouse, ships’ bells and even a replica ship’s bridge to play on. Deck B of the gallery boasts fantastic views over Victoria Harbour and shows just how much of this famous waterway has been reclaimed over the years.
The beach Most grandparents need a little serenity after the hustle and bustle of the city. Chung Hom Kok Beach is a winner for little people and adults alike. Although there is a climb down several steps from Chung Hom Kok Road, it’s worth the effort for the shady kids’ playground and fabulously secluded beach. If they can manage it, bring coal and sausages and take advantage of the BBQ pits; snacks, drinks and ice creams are available from the kiosk on the beach. Build castles in the sand, paddle in the shallows, race the bigger kids out to the dive platform, or simply sit back and watch the occasional fishing boat drift into view.
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Take a load off at Shek O Main Beach.
Shek O Grab a taxi or jump on the number 9 minibus from Shau Kei Wan MTR and enjoy a scenic ride down to Shek O, or “Rocky Bay”. Often referred to as Hong Kong’s “last real village”, this laid-back 200 year old fishing settlement is as picturesque as they come. Explore the narrow laneways, taking in the Tin Hau temple (built in 1891). And if you’re there at the right time, watch the elderly resicents
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opposite the temple’s entrance hand-making dim sum for the local restaurants. Head back to the Main Beach and enjoy a laid-back lunch at Mediterranean-inspired beachside restaurant Cococabana. Then it’s siesta time on the beach, or work off the extra calories with a dip in the ocean. There are market-stalls and shops a-plenty, selling or hiring beach gear, surf-boards and paddle boards.
Cococabana, G/F, Shek O Beach Building, Shek O Beach, 2812 2226. Shopping For days when they want to go it alone. Ladder Street and Sheung Wan Have them pull out their comfiest shoes for a wander down Ladder Street in Sheung Wan. So-called ladder streets are Hong Kong’s oldest
feature Where to stay No room at the inn? Try these local hostelries… Le Meridien, Cyberport Conveniently located in the heart of Cyberport, Le Meridien boasts an outdoor pool, gym, Japanese, Cantonese and Western restaurants and the fabulously located PSI bar with sunset views over the Lamma Channel. See deals.lemeridien.com for the latest offers and long-stay packages. Le Meridien, 100 Cyberport Road, 2980 7788. Ovolo, Aberdeen New kid on the Southside block is Ovolo, Hong Kong’s first “warehouse conversion
hotel”. Hip freebies with all rooms include Superspeed Wi-Fi, daily breakfast and freeflow drinks between 6pm and 8pm. Cirqle bistro offers “Mediterranean-style, East-Asian cuisine”, while Above roof bar is great for sipping cocktails while taking in the views. There’s even an art gallery downstairs. Ovolo, 64 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, www.ovolohotels.com. The Stanley Oriental Hotel This recently opened waterfront hotel enjoys sweeping views across Stanley Bay and is just minutes from Stanley Market. With beautifully decorated rooms, sea-view balconies and a roof terrace with BBQ and Jacuzzi, this is sure to win hearts – and possibly a return visit. The Stanley Oriental Hotel, 2/F, 90B, Stanley Main St, Stanley, 2899 1688, www. stanleyorientalhotel.com.hk. Clockwise from left: Le Meridien Cyberport, looking out over Aberdeen from Ovolo Southside, inside Ovolo’s CIRQLE restaurant.
roads and, in an era before escalators, were built entirely of granite steps to link roads at different elevations. Browse antique and curios shops, and stop for a coffee in one of the cafés on either side of the street. Don’t forget to take a peek at Man Mo Temple (on the corner of Hollywood Road and Ladder Street) and Tung Wah Hospital, the oldest western hospital in the Territory. Also worth taking in is nearby Cat Street with its antique shops and galleries, and the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, an elegant Edwardian building built in 1905 to combat Hong Kong’s worst outbreak of bubonic plague. It is now the only museum in the world to compare traditional and western medicines. Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences,
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The attractions of rummaging for a bargain at beachside Stanley are not inconsiderable open Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm; Sun, 1-5pm, $20/adult, $10/child. 2 Caine Lane, Mid-levels, 2549 5123. Stanley Market Don’t fight it, a trip to Stanley Market is inevitable. The attractions of rummaging for a bargain in the shaded, historic markets of
beachside Stanley are not inconsiderable. Make a day of it by heading into Central Ferry Pier 9 and catching the stunning Aqua Luna red-sail Chinese junk. On weekends, this stunning vessel sets sail to Stanley, taking in the dramatic vistas of Southside along the 90 minute journey. Once you’ve safely disembarked at Blake Pier, catch up with the gossip “back home” over a beer on the seafront before heading to the markets. And when you’re all spent up and can’t face one more Jimmy Choo knock-off, finish off the day with dinner at lovely Lucy’s, which is almost as iconic to the locals as Main Street. Aqua Luna, $350 return, $230 one-way; call 2116 8821 or see aqua.com.hk.
feature
Set sail on the Aqua Luna.
Lucy’s, G/F 64 Main Street (up the stairs next to Delifrance), 2813 9055. Ap Lei Chau The Horizon Plaza outlets rarely fail to disappoint. Start at the top in Tree and work your way down. From discounted top-end
fashion to stylish homewares and furniture with an Asian twist, the warehouse-style shops will keep retail hounds happy. If you need a break from bargain-hunting, head to Tree Café on level 28, Sift for cupcakes on level 22, Coffee Plus on level 10, Shambala’s coffee shop on level two or Classified in Tequila Kola on level one.
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eating
a healthy appetite recipes to deal with attention issues and mood swings, and having incorporated raw food into the daily diets of her own three children, she reports improvements in concentration and temper as a result of fewer blood-sugar spikes. “Children’s breakfasts are always difficult, especially if you want to avoid sugar because cereals are loaded with it,” Joynson says. “After the overnight fast, kids need nutrients to kick-start their brains and systems and to be sent out of the
The raw food gurus are so healthy and vibrant that you can’t stop looking at them
Totally rawsome
Raw food can help improve health and behaviour, finds Adele Brunner. Remember when we thought vegetarians were hippies or a bit weird? Fast-forward a couple of decades and nobody bats an eyelid when a friend, colleague or family member announces they don’t eat meat. Now raw-food diets, once considered extreme, look set to go mainstream. The raw rules are simple: food should be almost entirely plant-based (fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds) and not heated above 40 degrees Celsius. Cooking at higher temperatures destroys a significant amount of an ingredient’s nutritional value and natural enzymes, raw foodists believe, and could even be harmful to the body. In short, when you cook it, you kill it. Chef Britt Joynson stumbled across the raw movement in Shanghai after being bitten by a stray dog and suffering an adverse reaction to rabies’ shots. Conventional doctors could do little, so she started researching ways to heal herself and came across a report about American Matt Goodman who claimed his
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multiple sclerosis symptoms had been reversed by a raw-food diet. Goodman has since become a champion for the raw way of life and walked the entire 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail. “The raw philosophy resonated with me,” Joynson says. “It sounded a little bit wacky but it made perfect sense. When you start looking into what food is, you realise most stuff we eat is not food; it has been manufactured.” She went totally raw overnight, giving up wheat, dairy, obvious sugars and all processed foods and substituting nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables and sprouts. Within five days she came off the steroids she had been taking for long-term asthma. Her tremors eased, although they have never stopped, and the fatigue subsided. But her passion for raw food didn’t. Joynson has taken residential courses in the United States and Britain, run by some of the top names in the raw revolution, becoming a fount of knowledge about raw food and nutrition. She is also working on kid-friendly raw
door full of life. Smoothies are real powerhouses so are ideal first thing in the morning.” As for what to add, she recommends spinach, which doesn’t have a strong flavour, and plant-based protein powders. “Put a mango or banana, spinach, shopbought oat or almond milk and a scoop of protein powder into a blender and you’ve given kids a breakfast with up to four servings of fruit and vege that won’t spike their blood sugar.” Raw snacks can be deliciously familiar, from chocolate brownies to raw ice cream (a blend of coconut milk and fruit placed in an ice-cream maker). As for Joynson’s energy bars – chia seeds, flax, hemp, dates and raw chocolate – they taste so good and are so effective, you’ll be hiding them from the children to eat yourself. Joynson’s diet is now about 80 per cent raw: she lost too much weight on a totally raw diet and wanted to continue exercising. “If you’re trying to heal something, give yourself one to three months on a 100 per cent raw-food diet – the results are profound,” she says. “Most people are half-well and halfunwell, even if they aren’t aware of it. When you meet somebody who is thriving, they have this glow that is absolutely mesmeric. The raw gurus I train with are so healthy and vibrant that you can’t stop looking at them. “However, I’ve searched unsuccessfully for four years to find a totally raw diet that works with my lifestyle, so I balance it out by eating healthy cooked food. I call it ‘raw till four’. I eat raw fruit for breakfast, lunch is veggies or salad, nuts and seeds, and I eat cooked vegetables for tea. You don’t have to go the whole way and give up cooking but try it. I bet you’ll be quite surprised.” Contact Britt Joynson for more information at rawgalore@gmail.com.
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eating
Nibbles
News from the dining scene. Bottoms up With Oktoberfest around the corner, Berliner has lined up an enticing array of traditional German yummies and bottomless taps. Available till the end of October are speciality beers shipped in just for the occasion, including fruity Erdinger Weissbier ($125/1L), bitter Holsten Pilsener ($120/1L) and the classic Beer Flight ($249). Line your stomachs with a range of beer-incorporated food prepared by the German head chef, like the crispy roasted suckling pig in a dark beer sauce with potato dumplings and a bacon and caraway seed cabbage salad ($220). Berliner is found in Wan Chai, Olympian City 3, Metroplaza, and Discovery Bay. For more details, visit www.cafedecogroup.com. Oishii Le Meridien Cyberport has introduced a new set dinner at Bar Unami. This Japanese restaurant, which offers indoor and outdoor seating areas, features a wide selection of specialities on its new menu. Opt for the
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sashimi plate, Teppanyaki king prawns, inaniwa udon and more. $300 per set. G/F, Le Meridien Cyberport, 100 Cyberport Road, Pok Fu Lam, 2980 7406. Reserve a spot The anticipation is over. Masterchef Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen and Bar opened
From left: Le Meridien, CafĂŠ Deco.
eating
dinners include Vampire’s Melba, Sea Creature Wrap and Jack O’Lantern (a trio of foie gras de canard, soft shell crab and unagi) as well as Devils on Horseback and Skeleton Ribs (bacon-wrapped shrimp and BBQ back ribs). Top it all off with the Black Widow’s Lair dessert with Love Potion no.9 and Eye Scream (aka chocolate lava cake with red fruit coulis and ice cream). Priced at $488 per person. Level 1 and 2, The Peak Galleria, The Peak, 118 Peak Road, 2849 5111, www.cafedecogroup.com. Celebrate Oktoberfest at Berliner.
last month. Located in the Lan Kwai Fong Hotel, this warehouse-style venue blends vintage and modern décor with a relaxed atmosphere. The extensive menu offers reinvented British European favourites, including roasted veal carpaccio with truffle crème fraiche and artichoke and slow-roasted Dingley Dell pork belly. Book a table on 2980 7406 or at
reservations.bsk@diningconcepts.com. Level M, LKF Hotel, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, www.diningconcepts.com. Spooky treats Head to the Peak and enjoy the delicious Bloodcurdling Delights dinner menu throughout October at Café Deco. Devilish
1/F Beach Building, Deep Water Bay Beach, Island Road
Tel: 2164 8007
Lucy turns 20 Congratulations to Lucy’s restaurant who turns 20 this month. To celebrate, Lucy’s will be publishing a full-color 2015 desk diary and unveiling a completely new renovated website with features including online booking. From November to January, feast on a special limited edition menu. For full details, visit www.lucys.hk. G/F, 64 Stanley Main Street, Stanley, 2813 9055.
Email: mksman8@ymail.com WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 29
food by fergus
popular tastes
On trend Fergus Fung serves up a menu of dining fads over the past decade. The WOM guide launched its Top 10 restaurant awards in 27 categories last month to coincide with the launch of its 10th edition. We’ve seen dining trends come and go so here’s what we think have been the most prominent to affect Hong Kong over the past decade. Private kitchens. These have been a feature of Hong Kong’s dining scene since the 1990s. Operating out of office blocks, residential buildings and even boats in the Aberdeen shelter with little or no signage, they offer amazing, tailored-to-taste dishes. Sky-high rents. The cost of running restaurants has risen drastically in the last 10 years. A large number of restaurants and bars have been forced to close their doors or move further out, which has been great for the next trend… Growth in neighbourhood dining. Neighbourhood dining has become all the
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rage in the last few years with some charming restaurants springing up in unlikely residential areas such as Wong Chuk Hang. They offer a homely vibe, usually a quieter atmosphere and a smaller venue. We give them the thumbs up. Celebrity chefs. At the other extreme end is an influx of celebrity chefs to our busy shores, opening restaurants all over the place. Cooking techniques. Famous chef Ferran Adria made “molecular gastronomy” famous. “Air” and “foam” are commonplace on menus. Specialised menus. Menus have shrunk and some restaurants serve only a handful of items. Seasonal, organic and local food. Growing concern for the environment and healthy living means there are more green choices than ever - and not only in vegetarian restaurants (which have also increased in number).
Wine, cocktails and craft beers. More people have become wine savvy and cocktails have made a comeback. Add to this, a popular thirst for craft beer. No reservation restaurants. These used to exist for a quick bite but now trendy restaurants have adopted this policy. Worth the wait? The rise of social media. Thanks to the invention of digital cameras and smartphones, diners can broadcast their meals right away. If somebody had done that 10 years ago, others would have thought they were tourists. For the full list of WOM’s Top 10 award winners, visit www.womguide.com/top10. Fergus Fung co-founded the WOM Hong Kong restaurant guide, available in online and print versions. He is also a wine consultant for Bonhams 1793 and a Southern District Councillor.
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education
modern art
Mixing paints and pixels Kristen Tadrous delves into 21st-century child’s play.
Young artists create with mixed media.
These days, education and technology are getting cosier than ever. Pacifiers have been replaced by tablets and our little ones are now being dubbed the “digital natives” with a surprisingly innate ability to use technology. How much is too much? is a question that often gets asked when referring to children and screen time. Amid this age of technological takeover, art teacher Cathy Hunt takes an alternative approach to this critique – how we use the digital world as an activity to engage children rather than how often. Pushing digital boundaries is what Hunt knows best. The education consultant, art teacher and bestselling author hosts education workshops on using the iPad for creating all kinds of visual art. Geared to educators, these seminars encourage a broadening of the handson and tactile experience of art, making the iPad a staple to paint on the table. Through the Asia-based education technology company, 21st Century Learning International, Hunt will be showcasing her expertise in an iPad Art Room workshop, as well a regional conference this December in
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Hong Kong. Note that while it’s only open to educators, parents can still learn about her work in iPad Art, her popular book about transformative ways of using the iPad in the creative process. Whereas most view screens as having no place in the art classroom, Hunt sees it as a canvas for growth. “Technology is actually connecting kids to exciting opportunities to create and have those experiences,” she says. With the iPad, kids are becoming artists, photographers, storytellers and animators. In spite of the tech upsurge in the classroom, trends are not leaning toward a digital-only path, Hunt reassures us. A hybrid road is being paved, combining traditional tools and new media as a mainstay in the learning environment. “It’s about collaboration and sharing the screen with young learners. Constructing an on-screen paper body using digital scissors and pins can be a natural process, and can be used in the same way as a more traditional setting,” she says. From parents to teachers, Hunt’s advice on
choosing the best apps for children is simple. “It’s about confidence, a learn-by-play mindset,” she emphasises. Apps which are open-ended and ageappropriate are the deciding factors in how children will absorb. The best collaborative apps? Puppet Pals takes the fun of animating puppet shows to the next level. Your young ones will also love the free Lego Movie Maker app, letting them construct movies with Lego tools. Hunt also swears by the the iMotion HD, an all-ages app that lets kids make time-lapse movies and stop motion – even using play dough to make morph-able creatures. When all is said and done, we all learn by showing. Changing the dialogue by asking your child, “Can you show me what you just did?” is a game changer in your child’s creativity – and his confidence. You can learn more about Hunt’s work on her website, www.ipadartroom.com, or visit www.21c-learning.com for information on 21st Century Learning International events.
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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, handpicked 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
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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. 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. Make your own judgment. What is right for another family may not be right for your child. ITS School Placements provides an education consulting service that works with families and employers to find the right schools for individual children in Hong Kong, from nursery to secondary schools. ITS also offers research, policy and advisory services for corporations. For more details, contact es@itseducation.asia, 3188 3940 or www.itseducation.asia.
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family Happy Halloween Joanna Tuft is spooked out. Ocean Park Spooky experiences are yours for the taking at Ocean Park's seven haunted attractions. With just one ticket, you can scare yourself from morning to night in the H14 madhouse or the bloody old estate, Rigor Mortis Live. Visit the Forest of Legends for a mysterious Chinese fairyland of caves, towering bamboo and mythical characters. If your Halloween fashion sense is on point, then show off your outfits at the Kids’ Halloween Runway Contest, to be held at the Whiskers Theatre on designated Saturdays and Sundays; winners could receive prizes worth up to $4,000. Don’t miss the skeletons either; follow the dance parade through the park. You could also head to the Doraemon Halloween party for Halloween fun for the whole family. Tickets cost $320 for adults and $160 for children (aged three to 11). Ocean Park also offers student tickets for $262 and 18% off daytime admission tickets on Thursdays and Fridays with a student ID card.
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Ocean Park's Forest of Legends.
Get a premium ticket ($628 for adults and $314 for children) for admission to all day-and-night Halloween horrors with priority access to 16 attractions, a $100 in-park coupon pack and a Halloween souvenir. Tickets available at the park's main entrance, all 7-Eleven shops in Hong Kong, or book online at www.oceanpark.com.hk.
Disneyland Visit Disneyland for spectacular Halloween celebrations with all your favourite Disney characters. The Halloween celebrations include the Main Street Haunted Hotel, the Cursed Jungle in Adventureland and Trick or Treat Fests with Mickey and the gang. New this year is Disney’s Paint the Night, which debuts on
boo!
October 1; visit for a dazzling array of lights, pixie dust and floats with all your favourites on them. Also new for this year is the Horrors of the Amazon, a show staged at the Theatre in the Wild, narrated by local celebrity Power Chan Kwok-pong. Keep an eye out for some unique characters lurking about: the cannibalised Babyhead, Headless Horsemen and even Jack the Pumpkin King. Haunted Halloween will be available on October 2, and Fridays to
The Fright Dome was rated one of the top five scariest attractions in the US Sundays from Oct 3-31. Tickets are $320-$450 and the park has extended its opening hours till 11pm. You can gain access to all kinds of shows and designated attractions with a Night Ticket ($340 for ages three and above). What’s more, a Halloween Spectacular Tour will also
be available during the Halloween period, from 1pm-8pm, for groups of up to six, conducted in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Prices start at $5,388 for three consecutive hours. Tickets are available at www.park.hongkongdisneyland.com.
littlies into the Kids’ Talents Show, dancing and music performances, game booths and more. Free admission. October 26, 2-5pm. Ocean View Court, the Arcade, Cyberport. www.wisekidstoys.com
Fright Dome Hong Kong For a really good scare, visit the Fright Dome on the Peak, the American version of which was rated one of the top five scariest attractions in the country. The Dome features a variety of scary attractions and professional actors, who will give you the fright of your life. Please note: this attraction is not recommended for children under 12. The event runs from September 26 to November 2 at the Peak Galleria Rooftop; tickets from $199-$399.
Lan Kwai Fong Halloween Party Something for the grown-ups. Make your way to Lan Kwai Fong for its famous Halloween Party with crazy costumes and booze aplenty. Anything goes so dress in your most elaborate Halloween get-up and join the parade of witches and demons along the streets. Free admission. Lan Kwai Fong, Central. www.lankwaifong.com.
Cyberport Halloween Carnival Time to dress up, scream and play. Cyberport offer a variety of family-friendly games at its Halloween Party. Join the party with spiders, a mummy bowling game, as well as a baby crawling competition (7-12 months). Get the
Hot Tub Family Carnival Celebrate Halloween at The Pulse’s Hot Tub Family Carnival from 3.30pm-5.30pm on Oct 26. Expect clowns, bouncy castles, music, food drink and a family friendly film that can be viewed from a hot tub. Tickets are $280 per person. Book by emailing info@milesinternational.com.hk). Rooftop, The pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay.
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outdoors The Wright way
Triathlete Andrew Wright on giving back to the sport he loves. By Vanessa Gunn. I was born in Hong Kong and went to school here. For sixth form, I went to boarding school in the UK to do A-levels but I came back for university and started doing triathlons. My family is here and that’s what has kept me here. I raced for 12 years for Hong Kong, pretty much full time apart from university studies. I did a Masters degree too, which I spread over two years so I had time to train. I also started a bike shop, which I ran for two years until the rent got too high and we had to close it. I was also coaching triathlon but after the shop closed, I ran 26 full time.
Andrew Wright in action.
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Triathlon is a relatively new sport, especially in Hong Kong. I think it was due to the lack of opportunity to do triathlon in Hong Kong that I started my own company coaching the sport here. My family has a strong coaching background: my grandfather started a swimming school about 40 years ago and he coached a lot of high-level Hong Kong swimmers. I’ve put so much time and effort into triathlon so by coaching
others I feel as though I’m giving back to the sport. The Southside beaches are great, conveniently close and quiet. They are very usable for training. The air is better too. It’s definitely sunnier on this side of the Island and people want to train here. Living on the Southside makes going to work much easier; our office is in Wong Chuk Hang and we use the Aberdeen and Happy Valley tracks so everything stays quite local. The tour buses that park in Repulse Bay and leave their engines running are a big problem. Idling engines are illegal in Hong Kong but the police do nothing about it and we end up breathing these black fumes when we run, which isn’t good. A lot of my spare time involves answering emails, meeting people in the industry, discussing sponsorships, talking to athletes and
run for it
race organisers. It is all triathlon orientated in some way, but if you’re passionate about the sport as we are, you always want to do more, even when the working day is over. As a triathlon coach, you need to be knowledgeable about the sport and people need to believe what you’re saying. Most importantly, you need to be passionate. Trying to motivate anybody to train long hours when they are already so busy is hard. There’s a bit of counselling involved as well. When people take a sport seriously, it becomes a massive part of their life so if they are having issues at home, you need to be able to give good advice and be a friend. Dedication is key in the people we train. We want the kids to enjoy the sessions and come back again. Their level of competency is also important because they need to be able to handle long training hours on top of schoolwork and everything else.
Coaching such a new sport and getting so many people interested in it is an achievement for me as a coach. I think the 26 Club has also raised the standard of triathlon in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Triathlon Association said that they won’t support us because we’re competing with them, but it’s a real compliment that they think one small club can do that.
When people take a sport seriously, it becomes a massive part of their life... Getting people into cycling is a big danger. The bike-handling skills of people here usually aren’t great because they haven’t grown up riding bicycles and the drivers aren’t used to cyclists
either. People drive quickly and the traffic is bad, which makes cycling on roads so difficult. Pollution can also be a problem. When kids are selected for the national triathlon team, they have to train three times a week in Sha Tin, which can be almost impossible for them alongside school and other activities. We’ve had six kids kicked off the Hong Kong squad this year because they couldn’t make training. No sports programme in the world is run in one centralised place where everyone has to train or they’re not on the team. It’s very motivating when the kids do well in races and get good results. It’s great to see people bettering themselves, such as when someone tells me they got into a school or have started feeling fitter and healthier because of doing triathlon. It’s good when you know that you have helped them achieve something great. For details, visit www.26coaching.com.
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big day out
Perfect conditions: the journey begins at the Clearwater Bay Marina.
All at sea Evie Burrows-Taylor sets sail with Captain Carmine Vastola for an aquatic adventure. You might have hiked Hong Kong’s tallest peaks, surfed its biggest waves and plunged its murkiest depths, but if you haven’t added fishing to your roster of outdoor activities, you’re missing out. If you long to ditch Hong Kong’s crowded streets and head for the high seas, then look no further. A trip with Captain Carmine Vastola, aboard his boat, The Thai Lady, will show you a different side of this city’s shores. And with an abundance of literature to inspire the novice seadog – whether it’s Ahab seeking his revenge on Moby Dick, or Conrad’s tales of ocean voyages – why not go in search of your own maritime adventure? Mine started at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon, when we set off from Clearwater Bay Marina, for a 24-hour, deep-sea fishing trip. Luckily, conditions were perfect. Joining
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I saw a breathtaking creature leaping through the air me aboard The Thai Lady were Vastola, his “deckie”, Carr Seto, and three fellow passengers. Our first stop was to refuel at Lemmas Island, a 30-minute journey into the South China Sea. This curious island with its small number of inhabitants is dedicated to the business of refuelling the boats that dock briefly at its shores. Distressed-looking buildings lining the island give off an air of faded glory, and Vastola revealed that this was once a tourist destination, popular for the monkeys that inhabited the area. After this intriguing pit stop, we sped past
the traditional Chinese fishing boats, continuing our journey out to sea. Like other expert fishermen, Vastola is a keen advocate of rig fishing, which allows access to a diverse array of fish seeking protection from predators in the water surrounding these industrial interlopers. As darkness fell after a three-hour trip, we reached an oil rig, its neighbours glowing in the distance, and the boat was tethered. Vastola, whose passion for fishing began in New Jersey, where he grew up, made his way to Hong Kong in 1993, and has since made the city his surrogate home. The Thai Lady, named in honour of his wife, will soon be joined by a larger boat currently being constructed in the US. This new vessel will hold 30 people, allowing Vastola to take much bigger groups out to sea, once it hits the water in spring 2015. Once Vastola and Seto had set up the
fish tales
fishing rods, we assumed our positions for the long night ahead. The first catch, a large barracuda, joined us on deck within the first half hour, and the later haul, including a large mangrove jack and yellowfin tuna, proved equally as impressive. As others filtered off below deck for a few hours’ sleep (apparently the best fish are caught between 12am and 4am), I struggled to tear myself away. The black sea was alive with activity, stars littered the clear sky, and despite my failure to successfully reel in any of the fish I hooked, there was no shortage of opportunities. The only sounds, aside from our own, were the low humming of the oil rig and the occasional worker setting up rods off its sides. The air was a combination of salt, sea and pungent Chinese food wafting from the rig’s staff canteen. Finally, sleep caught up with me and I followed the others below deck, settling in one of the boat’s nooks, the air conditioning providing a welcome relief from the balmy night. After about two hours’ sleep, I was lucky enough to wake up in time to witness some more night-time catches, followed by a spectacular sunrise. The one that got away.
At 7am, Vastola attached larger fishing rods to the boat in preparation for a morning of trawling the waters around neighbouring rigs. Sailing the boat slowly would give us a chance to increase our catch efficiently and see if we could add some variety to the previous night’s haul. This resulted in some of the biggest fish of the trip, including a 20lb wahoo. The most spectacular moment was yet to come. At around 10 am, one of the rods was tugged violently seaward, and I rushed to attempt to reel in whatever had been hooked. After struggling for some minutes, I looked into the distance and saw a breathtaking creature leaping through the air. It was the elusive marlin fish. Unsurprisingly, I was no match for him, but the on-board excitement was palpable. A fellow passenger explained that keen fishermen go to Cuba, one of writer Ernest Hemingway’s favourite fishing haunts, paying tens of thousands of US dollars in the hope of snagging one. This was a wonderful way to end the trip, and shortly afterwards we headed for home. All at once, I was back on the MTR with several fish steaks packed in ice and a serious case of sea legs. While others might refer to tales at sea written by others, I’ll always have my trip aboard The Thai Lady to fuel my daydreams. Catches of the day aboard The Thai Lady.
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travel
A WEEKEND AWAY IN
SHANGHAI Hannah Grogan sets off for a quick taste of China.
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the pearl of the orient
Left: the view from The Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund. Above: xiao long bao at the famous Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant.
No one can deny that one of the great things about living in Hong Kong is the city’s close proximity to so many other fabulous places. From the islands of Southeast Asia to the manifold pleasures of China, there’s so much to see and do – and only a few hours away. With a number of weekends to spare and wanderlust calling, we plan to pack our bags on a regular basis and check out some of Hong Kong’s closest weekend travel destinations. First up is sightseeing in Shanghai. What to expect As China’s biggest and most populated city, Shanghai can be a little intimidating, even for us street-smart Hong Kongers. Before going, I debated whether or not I’d need a guidebook. I’m not typically one for tourist traps and maps but I picked up a copy of Lonely Planet’s Pocket Guide to Shanghai from Dymocks and was thankful for it. The great firewall of China meant simple blogs and pages were out of our reach for the weekend. Having a book and a map definitely saved our bacon on a number of occasions when accessing even ordinary
websites on the internet was impossible. If you’re visiting, be conscious of scams. We’d heard of several before we left and, coming armed with this knowledge, we thought we’d be safe. This was not the case. Only one hour after arriving, we found ourselves in a particularly hairy situation involving a taxi driver.
Where to go We were two people and we had two days to see as much as we could. But packing everything into such a short time was ambitious. Depending on what you want out of a weekend away, a lot of the stuff is not worth your time. Shanghai is an adventurous city, teeming with life. It’s full of winding back alleys and contrasting architecture, and it feels as though every street has something new on it to stare at. As a photographer, wandering around exploring and taking photos was enough to keep me satisfied but (understandably) my travel companion needed a bit more. The obvious place to hit is The Bund. Take a stroll
and a selfie or two along the riverside. Then catch your breath at one of the many luxurious hotels lining the route. I recommend the Peace Hotel’s café: it does a mean milkshake and an even better salted chocolate eclair.
Shanghai is an adventurous city, teeming with life Don’t miss the historic Yuyuan Garden, built in 1577, which borders the Old Town. Afterwards, try the famous dumplings at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant. With long queues stretching around the corner for a xiao long bao takeaway, head upstairs to take a seat and skip the wait. Other highlights include the Xintiandi district with its converted shops, cafés and daily nightlife, and the old beauty of Shanghai’s French Concession.
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travel Before you go From Hong Kong, flights to Shanghai are very frequent and are only two hours long. Hong Kong Airlines run Friday-night flights that will take you to Pudong. We snagged pretty cheap flights for less than $1,200 each return, only two weeks in advance. It’s important to remember that there’s no mucking around with visas when you go to China. Plan ahead and get them sorted before you go. I recommend the good people at Forever Bright Trading. Based in East Tsim Sha Tsui, the company is open early enough to visit before work. Its website is clear and staff are helpful. You can have an express two-day wait for your visa, which will cost you a few extra dollars, or the general four-day wait. www.fbt-chinavisa.com.hk.
Clockwise from left: enjoy the intimacy of your private pool at The Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund; inside Yuyan Garden.
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Left: Shanghai is a city that’s constantly on the move.
travel
Where to stay Hoping for a pseudo relaxing weekend away, we opted for a stay at the spa hotel, The Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund. It’s 20 years since the first Banyan Tree hotel opened in Phuket, dreamed up by former journalist Ho Kwon-ping at his home on Lamma Island and named after Yung Shue Wan (Banyan Tree Bay). Being a Hongkonger at heart, I’ve always felt a fondness for the chain that was conjured up on our shores. The hotel itself is fabulous – everything you’d expect from the five-star urban resort. Just a short five- to 10-minute taxi ride almost anywhere in the city, it’s incredibly central without being stuck in the thick of it. One thing everyone recommended was to find a good rooftop bar for an evening drink. And TOPS bar at the Banyan Tree is one of the best. With an unobstructed 180-degree view of the Huangpu River to the iconic Lujiazui skyline and The Bund, it’s the perfect spot for sundowners. In true Banyan Tree style, all 130 rooms are an experience in themselves with river views and oversized windows that open onto the Bund. The perennially popular Oasis Room even features an outdoor private dipping pool. In the evenings, take to the waterfront for a fully loaded barbecue buffet at the hotel’s Riviera outside dining. Available from Thursday to Sunday, it even has live music. Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund, 19 Gongping Rd, Hongkou, Shanghai, China, 200082, +86 21 5521 7337, www.banyantree.com.
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living & home
All decked out: a stylish terrace on a liveaboard boat.
Alternative accommodation Rebecca Simpson thinks outside the 1,200-square-foot box.
Hong 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 expat families are doing. Beyond Hong Kong, communities across the globe are sprouting solid alternative housing solutions. 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
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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 mother-oftwo Daisy Lawes, who gave loft living a go. “We were on a shoestring budget and after trawling
on foot from warehouse 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
ship and shore
We moved to the Marina with our kids and haven’t looked back
Sink or swim
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. Power can be shut off for hours, and that’s a deal breaker
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living & home
Warehouse conversions are a designer’s dream.
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
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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 marina
club with the largest, sheltered liveaboard community in the territory. Here, families revel in the open space on three-storey 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.
health & beauty Fall for it Fashion expert Eve Roth Lindsay checks out this autumn’s most-wanted items. Ready to shop for Autumn 2014? Check out this season’s most wanted. Autumn has arrived. Cooler days are on the horizon – a fresh change after a long, hot and humid summer. It might still 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
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invest in – much more flattering than black. Add a pop of a brighter or muted colour to make it work for you. Jewel tones Ruby, sapphire, emerald, aubergine 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
shop till you drop
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 fantastic belt at your waist. 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. 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.
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, 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 this fabulous pattern is on a midilength 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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pets Get the message
Breeding doesn’t really matter, writes Sally Andersen.
I was very happy to receive this recent message: “Hi, I am from Varanasi, India, and I met Sally at the Aberdeen Centre in 2008 while studying for my PhD at Hong Kong University. I had wanted to adopt a German Shepherd but when she interviewed me for the purpose, I was motivated by her thoughts. She asked me straight, ‘If you love dogs, why don’t you love street dogs in your own city in India?’. On my way home, I began asking myself questions such as why I felt I needed a German Shepherd or another European dog. The answer was ego and immediately I threw away my desires. Thereafter, back in my country, I started feeding around eight stray dogs in my residential area and they now love me so much it is unspeakable. I owe Sally a lot for this.” As rewarding as it is to find homes for unwanted dogs and puppies, knowing that you’ve made a “conversion” like this is something special, and it made me feel good all
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day. It’s not the first time someone has adopted a rescue dog rather than buying one from a pet shop or breeder as originally intended but imagining this lucky group of Varanasi street dogs finding their saviour is wonderful.
If you love dogs, why don’t you love street dogs in your own city in India? It’s not only the dogs whose lives have been changed, but that of the lady who has found such joy in what she’s doing, and the love she’s receiving from the animals she’s taken under her wing. I replied to a post on one of the local Facebook forums asking where was the best place to get a certain breed of puppy. I
know it’s counterproductive to get upset or accusatory but I did respond with a genuine question asking why it had to be that particular breed, because it’s something that has always puzzled me. I understand that some breeds are less likely to trigger allergies – although no dog is guaranteed not to produce a reaction – and I
slum dogs
hong kong creatures The Eurasian Tree Sparrow aka Passer montanus
also appreciate that size matters in many cases. What I don’t get at all is the absolute need for a specific breed because of the way it looks or because they’re the latest fad. I’ve seen thousands of mixed breeds pass through the doors of Hong Kong Dog Rescue. All of them are beautiful in my eyes but there have been many considered stunning even from a critical outsider’s point of view. As for temperament, I’ve met as many unpredictable pure breeds as mongrels, and many mutts that are heartmeltingly soft and sweet. Which brings me back to my message from India and my hope that many more will discover the joy that comes with saving a life rather than buying one. Sally Andersen is the founder of Hong Kong Dog Rescue, a charity that rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes unwanted or abandoned dogs.
The Eurasian tree sparrow is one of the resident species found in urban areas all over Hong Kong. Like other resident species, they normally live and breed in the territory for the duration of their lives, which is typically about two years. They largely feed on seeds and small invertebrates like snails and worms. The Eurasian tree sparrows have a wingspan of about 21cm, which makes them slightly smaller than the house sparrow. They have black spots on their white cheeks and a rich chestnut crown and nape. They have pale brown legs and a bill that changes colour from lead-blue in summer to black in winter. The younger birds are duller versions of the adults and hybridisation between the Eurasian tree sparrow and the house sparrow has been recorded.
The Eurasian tree sparrow likes to build nests in natural cavities such as those in old trees and rock faces or even in the large nests of the European magpie or white stork. The eggs usually hatch in less than two weeks and the sparrows reach breeding maturity up to a year later. Due to its cute appearance and abundance in urban areas, it is popular with most Hong Kong residents but is also considered a pest in some areas. It can spoil cereal crops and animal feed with its droppings. Steffi Yuen
Southside Magazine
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business directory Children’s Toys & Supplies apple & pie Shop 206, One Island South 3103 0853 | www.appleandpie.com www.facebook.com/appleandpie
Bumps to Babes 2552 5000 (Ap Lei Chau Main Store) 2522 7112 (Pedder Building Branch) www.bumpstobabes.com Toys Club 2836 0875 itoysclub@hotmail.com www.itoysclub.com
Community & Charity Watermark Community Church 2857 6160 wow@watermarkchurch.hk www.watermarkchurch.hk
Early Childhood
Morningstar Preschool
Learning through imagination, inquiry, integration and reflection
Morningstar Preschool and Kindergarten 9736 5241 info@morningstarschools.com www.morningstarschools.com Miles International Academy info@milesinternational.com.hk www.milesinternational.com.hk Montessori for Children 2813 9589 www.montessori.edu.sg hongkong@montessori.edu.sg Parkview International Pre-School 2812 6023 pipsinfo@pips.edu.hk Woodland Pre-Schools 2559 4855 www.woodlandschools.com
Educational Services
A&M US Groceries 2548 8280 | www.amnstores.com ITS Education Asia 2116 3916 | es@itseducation.asia www.itseducationasia.com
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Food Factory 2580 6654 | 9486 8901 contact@foodfactory.com.hk www.foodfactory.com.hk HK Caffe www.hkcaffe.com
Sylvan Learning Center 2873 0662 | info@sylvan.edu.hk www.educate.com
Brandon Learning Centre 2575 1761 (Causeway Bay) 2375 0088 (Kowloon) info@brandoncentre.com www.brandoncentre.com
The South African Shop 9457 0639 | info@thesouthafricanshop.com www.thesouthafricanshop.com OliveTreeHK www.olivetreehk.com O Thai Restaurant Deep Water Bay Beach 2164 8007 | mksman8@ymail.com Pacific Gourmet Ltd 2137 9985 | butcher@pacificgourmet.com.hk www.pacificgourmet.com.hk
Hong Kong Institue of Language 2877 6160 administration@hklanguages.com PowerBrain Rx 2302 0180 contact@powerbrainrx.com powerbrainrx.com Southside Mandarin 3427 9619 info@southsidemandarin.com www.southsidemandarin.com Trinity International Language Centre 2114 2812 enquiry@trinitylanguage.com www.trinitylanguage.com Tutortime www.tutortime.com.hk
Health & Wellness Alpha Nature Ltd. 2821 7612 www.alpha-general.com/tc James Chan Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner 98769925 | chankwojames@gmail.com Pure Swiss Limited 2323 2093 | admin@e-pureswiss.com www.e-pureswiss.com SPOT Centre 2807 2992 | contact@spot.com.hk www.spot.com.hk
UUIA. iuuokok@gmail.com 5185 0885 | 9189 9591 www.uuokok.com
Home & Interiors Extracurricular Chorus HK 6718 2585 www.chorus.hk Rock A Baby 3586 3070 | 3586 3071 info@rockababy.com.hk www.rockababy.com.hk
Educational Services Bricks 4 Kidz 2791 0007 info@bricks4kidz.hk www.bricks4kidz.hk
Food & Beverage
Box Design 2573 3323 info@boxdesign.com.hk www.boxdesign.com.hk
Cocoon Concept Ltd. 2896 0600 | info@cocoon-concept.com www.cocoon-concept.com
Modulnova Hong Kon 3741 2095 | info@mo www.modulnova.hk
Fashion & Accessories Itsie Bitsie Boutique 6871 0201 www.itsiebitsie.com
MODULNOVA HONG KONG LTD. 3741 2000 | info@modulnova.hk. www.modulnova.hk
handy Home & Interiors Hidestyle 2790 3801 | www.hkhiderigs.com JC Vision 2524 9988 Life’s A Breeze Ltd 2572 4000 | www.lifesabreezehk.com Life Solutions 2778 3282 | www.lifesolutions.com.hk Opus Design Ltd 9733 7328 | www.opusdesign.com.hk Rimba Rhyme Home Collection Ltd. 2544 4011 | www.rimbarhyme.com Xava Interiors 2858 9866 | info@xavainteriors.hk www.xavainteriors.hk
Pets & Vets Homevet 9860 5522 | pets@homevet.com.hk www.homevet.com.hk
Sport4Kids 2773 1650 | info@sport4kids.hk www.sport4kids.hk
Pacific Pets @ Stanley 2813 7979 | retail@stanleyvetcentre.com
Teeter Hang Ups 3575 9332 www.inversion.com.hk
Stanley Veterinary Centre 2813 2030 | info@stanleyvetcentre.com www.stanleyvetcentre.com Hong Kong Canine 9411 7975 hkcanine@gmail.com www.hongkongcanine.com
Professional Services
International Schools The International Montessori School 2861 0339 | info@montessori.edu.hk www.montessori.edu.hk
Events & Entertainment ABA Productions Limited 2547 7150 | www.aba-productions.com Info@aba-productions.com Parties For Kids 9522 3003 | info@partiesforkids.hk www.partiesforkids.hk Rumple and Friends www.rumpleandfriends.com Tap Dogs May 20-25, HKAPA | www.hkticketing.com 3128 8288
Onsite Computer and Internet Services Co 2397 6418 enquiry@microtechhk.com www.microtechhk.com Caballo Living Co., Ltd. sales@caballoliving.com www.caballoliving.com 2363 1925 Dr. Fix It All Limited 2525 0055 sales@drfixitall.hk www.elitemovers.hk Expert-Transport & Relocations 2566 4799 | contact@expertmover.hk www.expertmover.hk EXS Capital 3752 8888 | www.exscapital.com Heliservices 2802 0200 | chp@heliservices.com.hk
Annerley 2983 1558 | info@annerley.com.hk www.annerley.com.hk
The Arcade, Cyberport 3166 3111 arcade@cyberport.hk www.arcade.cyberport.hk Genesis 33 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong 6688 8262
Habitat Property 2869 9069 www.habitat-property.com Hong Kong Parkview 2812 3945 www.hongkongparkview.com Savills (Exchange Square Branch) 2801 6100 www.savills.com.hk
Tertiary Education RDI Ltd 2992 0133 info@rdihongkong.com www.rdi.co.uk
Infinity Financial Solutions Ltd 2815 5828 | hongkong@infinitysolutions.com www.heliservices.com Monex Boom Securities (H.K.) Ltd 2255 8888 service@boomhq.com www.boom.com Sum Hing Carton Box Factory info@boxx.hk | www.boxx.hk Village Holdings Insurance www.villageholdingsinsurance.com
Maternity & Pregnancy
Real-Estate
Garson Real Estate Agencies 4/F Lee Fund Centre, No. 31 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong www.grea.com.hk
Le Meridien Cyberport Hotel 2980 7788 Ovolo Southside – 64 Wong Chuk Hang Road 3460 8100 | ovolohotels.com eservations@ovologroup.com 64 Wong Chuk Hang Road
Everfine Membership Services Limited 2174 7880 enquiry@evergolf.com.hk www.evergolf.com.hk
Animal Behaviour Vet Practice 9618 2475 | smillie.cynthia@gmail.com www.petbehaviourhk.com
Hotels & Private Clubs Le Meridien Cyberport Club Horizon 2155 0489 | www.clubhorizon.com.hk
Sports & Fitness
Waterpipeplus 9668 5865 (Southside Hotline) 3580 1888 (Service Hotline) HKI07@waterpipeplus.hk www.waterpipeplus.com
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This month’s winner:
“Picture of Cyberport.” Magali Vulin via email
“Sham Wan at sunset.” Annie Tang via email
“Dragon boats on Stanley Beach, waiting in the sun for their next chance to race.” – Brady Brewer via email. “China shipping line” @kvtad via instagram
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Want to see your own photos in Southside Magazine? Send us your best snaps from around town for a chance to have your photos appear in this space. Each month we’ll be posting a selection of our favourite pictures. To get involved, simply upload your pictures to Instagram or Facebook (#SouthsideMag) or email us (photo@fastmedia.com.hk). This just in! You can now also keep up to date on what we’re doing throughout the rest of the month. Follow our staff adventures on Instagram @SouthsideMag. 64 | WWW.SAIKUNG.COM