Expat Parent July 2014 by Hong Kong Living Ltd

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FAMILY

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JULY 2014

the really useful magazine www.expat-parent.com

July 2014

199 cool ideas for happy kids*

FAMILY • EDUCATION • HOME • MONEY

* As

Double trouble? Raising twins Living in Disco Bay www.expat-parent.com FREE

Summer scoop

On ice cream, brunch and trampolines 1

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Contents

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What’s on 6 Editor’s Letter A message from Expat Parent’s Adele Brunner. 8 Calendar Happening in July.

p.28

12 Zeitgeist The spirit of the moment. 14 News Need to know. 18 Must haves Travel essentials for getaway season. 21 The monthly quiz Are you ready for July?

Family 24 Meet the parents Raising multiples. 28 Feature An activity a day: 31 things to do in July.

Education 36 Open day Inside Renaissance College’s close-knit community. 40 Principal’s office With Renaissance head of school, Dr Harry Brown. 44 Me and my hobby Meet world-ranking longboarder, Harry Clarke.

Food 46 The scoop Hong Kong’s best ice cream.

48 Table for four Family-friendly brunches (they’re biblical).

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Contents

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Home 54 Home front Creating space in Discovery Bay. 59 Get the look A buyers’ guide.

p.64

Adventures 60 Big day out Flightseeing by helicopter. 64 Travel Local hotels with great pools.

Money 68 Money & me Habitat Property founder Victoria Allan opens her wallet.

Resources 70 Books & apps Useful stuff. 72 Marketplace Your guide to shops and services. 76 Business directory Numbers that make life easier. 80 Distribution Where to find Expat Parent.

Back page 82 The bald truth about fatherhood Simon Parry feels judged by a car part.

48 60

This month’s cover: Photographer: Hannah Grogan Models: Scarlett and Harry Knowling Location: Sai Kung Waterfront Special thanks to the Knowling family and Kira Albarus for assisting.

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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 Marketing & Communications Manager Sharon Wong sharon@fastmedia.com.hk Sales Executive Angela Tsui angela@fastmedia.com.hk

ith any luck, you’ll be reading this magazine at a more leisurely pace than usual. Even if you’re keeping one eye on the kids, hopefully it is with a cup of coffee in hand or even a cheeky glass of wine. Because, hey, school’s out and it’s as much of a break for parents as it is for children. For many of us, the term-time routines of the school run, homework, serving as afternoon taxi drivers and constant activities can seem relentless. Summer holidays are a great excuse to slow down, to relax rules and bedtimes, and make the most of being off schedule. Even those of us staying in Hong Kong and continuing to work benefit from less crowded trains and expressways and the calm that seems to descend during the summer expat exodus. However, there is a fine line between

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Rica Bartlett rica@fastmedia.com.hk Accounts Manager Connie Lam accounts@fastmedia.com.hk

enjoying the free time and utter boredom. And it can be particularly hard for children whose friends are away. With that in mind, we have come up with lots of activities to keep the family occupied during the long summer holiday, plus ideas for Hong Kong and Macau staycations at hotels with great swimming pools. They may be just down the road, but – trust us – treat yourselves to a weekend stay and you’ll feel refreshed and relaxed. This issue also includes Hong Kong’s best family brunches. And summer wouldn’t be summer without a Mister Softee ice cream. We reveal where to find the city’s best cones. However you choose to spend it, we wish you and your families a fun-filled July!

Adele Brunner

Publisher Tom Hilditch tom@fastmedia.com.hk Contributors Carolynne Dear Simon Parry Elizabeth Kerr Evie Burrows-Taylor Jodee Fong Melody Liu Gordon Hu Timothy Ma SooYoun Oh 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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Our Mission is to provide a world-class international school where students, through active participation, achieve their personal best and graduate as skilled, influential and responsible international citizens. Located in Kowloon Tong, the Australian International School Hong Kong (AISHK) is a leading Reception to Year 12 international school with a reputation for outstanding academic performance. Our commitment is to develop all students intellectually, socially, physically and ethically in congruence with Australian culture. The School is currently accepting applications for a limited number of places in Years 3-12.

Australian International School Hong Kong www.aishk.edu.hk

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on

JUL 5 Teva Kayak n Run Kayak and running races, including a family short course for parents and kids over age six circling Middle Island, to raise funds for the Action Asia Foundation. Deep Water Bay. Register at www.actionasiaevents.com.

UNTIL JUL 13 FIFA World Cup Gooooaal! A perfect excuse to be wildly patriotic in living rooms and venues across Hong Kong.

UNTIL AUG 24 Summer at Ocean Park Watery fun at Ocean Park, plus the new Shark Mystique attraction, with more than 100 sharks and rays, and summer schools. Ocean Park Road, www. oceanpark.com.hk.

UNTIL AUG 30 Chinese Opera Festival Get to grips with Chinese traditional culture and music. Details at www. cof.gov.hk.

UNTIL OCT 5 Transformers 30th Anniversary Expo The Transformers toys are 30 years old. See the seven-metre Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, play in the laser area and view 400 limited-edition figures. Tickets from $80. The Venetian Macau, www. transformers30.com. See News, p.17, for a chance to win free tickets.

JUL 1 HKSAR Establishment Day Public holiday. Join the annual demo.

JUL 4-11 World Masters Squash Championship More than 700 world-class players compete. Hong Kong Squash Centre, Garden Road, Central, and Hong Kong Football Club, Sports Road, Happy Valley, www.worldmasterssquash.com.hk.

Transformers 30th Anniversary Expo. 8

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Summer at Ocean Park.

Hong Kong’s first 3-D Museum.

What’s on Fun with Art.

JUL 4 American Independence Day

JUL 7-10 Hong Kong Fashion Week

JUL 12 Sham Shui Po local tour

Fly the stars and stripes, eat apple pie, wear a cowboy hat.

Find out what you’ll be wearing in spring/ summer 2015. Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, www.hktdc.com.

Explore this interesting area on a twohour tour with an English-speaking guide. Tickets $300 from www.walkin.hk.

JUL 5-6 Hong Kong International Education Expo As well as international tertiary courses, this year’s event has a Child Education Zone with details of kindergartens, after-school activities and summer courses. Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, 2561 5566, www.newayfairs.com.

JUL 11-AUG 17 International Arts Carnival Annual children’s arts festival, including theatre, dance, circus, music, and more. The International Children’s Film Carnival includes golden oldies, live action and modern animations. Details at www.hkiac. gov.hk. Tickets from www.urbtix.hk.

JUL 12 Shek O Challenge Open-water swimming, running and paddling races from Big Wave Bay to Shek O’s Back Beach, followed by a beach party. From 12.30pm, Big Wave Bay. Registration costs $450 until July 10 at www.openwaterasia.com.

JUL 6, 20 Fun with Art Let the kids play on the grass with free interactive games organised by Playright Children’s Play Association. 2pm5pm, Central and Western Waterfront Promenade, www.artaliveatpark.hk.

JUL 7 HK 3-D Museum Opens A 10,000 sqft museum of amazing 3-D paintings and art with a Hong Kong theme, including a giant Bank of China Tower that visitors can “climb”. Open daily 10am10pm. Adults $149, children $100. 1/F Hilton Tower, 96 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, www.hk3dm.com.hk. Shek O Challenge.

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What’s on JUL 12 Exchange Square on the Lawn Hone your haggling skills at a one-day, cash-free barter and exchange market. 3pm-8pm, Central and Western District Promenade, www.artaliveatpark.hk.

Jul 11-13 Dora The Explorer Live Help everyone’s favourite explorer find her missing teddy in the City of Lost Toys. Star Hall, KITEC, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $135-$650 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288. Dora the Explorer Live.

JUL 16-22 25th Hong Kong Book Fair Annual event for bookworms, with seminars, meet-the-author sessions and children’s events. Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, www. hkbookfair.hktdc.com.

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JUL 19-20 Lan Kwai Fong Beer and Music Fest Weekend street party with drink and food stalls, plus live music, games and competitions. 1pm till late. Lan Kwai Fong, Central, www.lankwaifong.com.

JUL 20 Birthday of Kwan Tai Fireworks, feasting, lion and dragon dancers, incense, Chinese opera, mahjong, fortune-telling, carnivals and more. 124-130 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, 2540 0350. www.hong-kong-traveller.com.

Book Now

Sep 24-Oct 22 Mamma Mia!

website, www.barclaysmoontrekker.com, for wait list details.

All your ABBA favourites plus a big fat Greek wedding. Lyric Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $395-$896 from www.hkticketing. com, 3128 8288.

Oct 17-19 Stick Man

Sep 23-28 Potted Potter

Barclays Moontrekker.

Aug 27-31 Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales Live musical of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. Star Hall, KITEC, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $150$600 from www.hkticketing.com, 3218 8288.

Picture: Hester Lo

All seven Harry Potter books and a live Quidditch match in 70 minutes. Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $395$550 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Oct 9-12 Dr Bunhead’s (Don’t) Try This At Home

The favourite children’s book live on stage. Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $195-$435 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Nov 28-30 Seussical the Musical The Cat in the Hat, 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.

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 10 Barclays Moontrekker The annual charity night hike this year has 43km and 30km routes from Mui Wo to Pui O, Lantau. Registration is full, but check the

Stick Man

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Zeitgeist Boinggg! Get jumping at Hong Kongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first trampoline park, which is due to open in mid-July in North Point. The 7,000 sq ft Ryze Trampoline Park will have wall-to-wall interconnected trampolines, fully padded for safety, where children and adults can bounce till they can bounce no more. As well as the open jumping area, there will be Olympicstyle foam pits, slacklines and trampoline dodgeball and basketball areas. Aerobic exercise classes (trampolining burns 1,000 calories an hour), dodgeball tournaments, private parties and theme nights will be available, as well as special blacklight and laser nights for members of ClubRyze. One- or two-hour passes will be available online for about the price of a cinema ticket. 3/F, 321 Java Road, North Point, 8191 6817, www.ryze.info.

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Hotter than July

Five things to do at PMQ Make the most of Hong Kong’s new hotspot. Open daily, 7am-11pm. 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, www.pmq.org.hk. 1. See the pandas If you missed the panda infestation at the airport and Statue Square, head to PMQ. The 1,600 handcrafted papier-mâché pandas by artist Paulo Grangeon will be in residence until July 17.

Tame your mane We love summer, except for one thing: frizzy hair. One minute you’re in your ensuite with sleek, blow-dried locks; the next, you’re outside and your crowning glory has exploded, Afro-style. According to top Hong Kong hairdresser Paul Gerrard (1/F & 2/F, Wah Hing House, 35 Pottinger Street, Central, 2869 4408), hair frizzes when the strands absorb moisture during our notoriously humid summers and expand. The more damaged and coarse the hair, the more porous it is and the more moisture it absorbs. What to do? Have a Brazilian blowout. Liquid keratin protein seals the hair shaft, leaving it sleek, shiny and frizz-free. Get a haircut. Trimming your hair every six to eight weeks helps prevent split ends, which make hair look even frizzier. Use the right products. Buy a goodquality conditioner and serum/smoothing cream – and use them. Don’t over-heat the hair. Straightening irons offer a quick fix but can make hair more porous in the long run. Use a thermal heat protector prior to use. Drink more water. Hydrated hair is healthy hair. Which also means less frizz. Drink about eight cups of water a day.

2. Pick up couture paints Artists rejoice, Hong Kong’s first designer paint shop has arrived. 513 Paint Shop (pictured) is all about artisan craftsmanship with its own range of colours such as Typewriter, Bubble Tutu and Velvet Suit. Unit S513, 5/F, 2155 2282, www.513paintshop.com. 3. Shop at the market Your last chance to shop at the Night Market (at least for the time being) is July 25-27. Get down there from sunset to midnight on Friday and Saturday, or Sunday afternoon, for live music, beautiful hand-crafted pieces and delicious food. 4. Worship G.O.D. Super-cool local design and culture brand, Goods of Desire (G.O.D.), has opened next to Vivienne Tam with its usual blend of Hong Kong-inspired furniture, homeware and clothing. Unit SG09-14, G/F, www.god.com.hk. 5. Get social Buzzing Aberdeen Street Social is the latest collaboration between celeb chef Jason Atherton and entrepreneur Yenn Wong (22 Ships, Ham & Sherry). The upstairs restaurant serves quality modern-British cuisine, while downstairs is more casual with a cocktail bar and cafe serving bite-size delicacies and drinks. There’s also a garden terrace and the Sweet Social retail shop selling mouth-watering patisseries and gelati. G/F-1/F, 2866 0300, www.aberdeenstreetsocial.hk.

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News

How to build a sand palace Castles Can Fly has turned sandcastles into an art form. Instead of an upside-down bucket, think complex towers and turrets, battlements and bridges. The company runs corporate team-building events, youth leadership development and teacher-training programmes but also caters for private parties and family gatherings, encouraging parents to get sandy with their kids. Armed with its special buckets,

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Castles Can Fly will come to the beach of your choice and soon have you planning, designing and building like master architects. Parties from $5,400 for a minimum of 10 families (two adults and two children per family). It also runs family fun days on Sundays at Stanley Main Beach, Shek O and Repulse Bay beaches. Details at www. castlescanfly.com.hk.

News

Get ’appy As parents, we may not like to see our kids spending their free time in front of a screen, but technology is where it’s at. First Code Academy believes the leaders of tomorrow need to be masters of technology, and is offering a range of summer courses for children aged eight

to 18, to introduce them to basic coding (which fosters problem-solving skills and encourages an entrepreneurial spirit) and computer software development. The App Creator course (for 12- to 14-year-olds) dives into the concepts of computer science and explains how to create a mobile app. On the App Entrepreneur Design Thinking Bootcamp, older teens (aged 15 and above) will

learn about the design thinking process and solve problems for a local non-profit organisation using technology. The course will be led by Xianyi Wu, an alumni of Stanford’s Institute of Design and a Forbeslisted entrepreneur. Courses last 90 minutes to all day, five days a week for two weeks, for $4,280$15,000. Cocoon, 3/F, Citicorp Center, Tin Hau, www.firstcodeacademy.com.

Be in Expat Parent Be featured in Expat Parent’s social media pages. From your child’s first steps to your summer getaways, we want to hear all about it. Post your story and photos and we’ll publish the best ones. Upload your pictures to our Instagram and Facebook pages using #expatparenthk or simply email us at photo@fastmedia.com.hk.

Bi, weekly Raise your children’s fitness levels with Warren Warner’s biathlon summer courses. From June 30, Ironman Warner will put groups of up to 10 children (aged nine and up) through their paces, with swimming training (stroke correction and endurance

in the pool and sea), running (fitness, track and cross country) and a fun race on Clearwater Bay Beach. A five-day course is $1,200 and children must be comfortable swimming at least 150 metres. For details, email waz.warner@gmail.com. expat-parent.com

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Concordia International School Admission Office: Tel: +852 2789 9890 Fax: + 852 2392 8820 Email: office@concordiaintl.edu.hk 68 Begonia Road, Yau Yat Chuen, Kowloon, HK www.cihs.edu.hk

Invites Applications for Grades 7-12

Kids can cook Parents, prepare to sit back and be served food made by your children (without messing up the kitchen – at least, not yours). Overseen by two passionate bakers, the Mixing Bowl offers baking classes and courses for adults and kids, plus some family courses. Kids can learn to make all sorts of cakes and bread, including cinnamon buns, sourdough bread and lemon cake. Single classes from $300, baking courses from $2,500 for 15 hours. 5 Shin Hing Street, Sheung Wan, www.themixingbowlhk.com.

In the swim Summer in Hong Kong revolves around pools and beaches, so it makes sense to have a shop dedicated to swimming. New online store Little Fish (www.littlefish.hk) is a swim store for the undereights. It was founded by health and lifestyle consultant Maddy Bettridge and swimming coach Cathryn Mullin, Hong Kong mums who bring years of experience to the stock choices. Products include reusable swimming nappies, swimsuits and sunwear in UV protective fabric and stacks of water toys.

No refund on new ESF levy • Small class size of 15 to 22 students per class • Interactive teaching program with Mac 1:1 Program • American-patterned school offering Grades 7-12 • Students write the PSAT, SAT, TOEFL and AP in High School

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From August 2015, all new students joining ESF schools will have to pay a one-off, non-refundable capital levy (NCL). The levy starts at $38,000 for children entering Year One, reducing on a sliding scale for children who join the system later in their school careers. The NCL replaces the refundable capital levy scheme (RCL), which was introduced in 2011. ESF kindergarten and Private Independent School students will not have to pay the NCL, and those already in the ESF system will continue to follow the RCL scheme. Money raised from the levy will be used to maintain and upgrade the ESF’s 15 schools, which has become more pressing following the Hong Kong Government’s decision to phase out its capital subvention to the ESF.

News

World’s best family hotels International travel website Smith & Family has just launched online. Based on the Mr & Mrs Smith collection of luxury hotels and boutiques for couples, the Smith & Family website hand-picks and anonymously reviews child-friendly hotels and family stays. Co-founders James and Tamara Lohan say, “Each property in the Smith & Family Collection has to be parent-approved and of course be great for kids, but it’s also important that it is fun for you as a family unit.” To celebrate the launch, more than 65 Smith & Family hotels around the world are offering two nights of complimentary babysitting to families who book by July 15, 2014, for stays of seven or more nights before December 31, 2014. That’ll allow mums and dads to spend some valuable time together, hassle-free. For details, visit www.smithandfamily.com.

Sharks at the park Shark Mystique is Ocean Park’s newest attraction. Opened last week, the new aquarium gives guests a 360-degree panorama of more than 100 sharks and rays. Extensive displays and state-ofthe-art interactive games teach guests about their ecology and shark conservation. The opening is one of the highlights of Summer Shark Fever, which includes a foam party on Thrill Mountain, sharks’ dancing performance (no, we can’t quite picture that either) and a Seawater Battle at Whiskers Harbour. While Shark Mystique is a permanent attraction, Summer Shark Fever runs until Aug 24. Ocean Park, Aberdeen, 3923 2323, www.oceanpark.com.hk.

Ticket giveaway

FREE STUFF!

We’re giving away a bunch of tickets this month via our Facebook page. Transformers fans can win four tickets to the Transformers 30th Anniversary Expo at The Venetian, Macau, and experience some of the blockbuster thrills of the new movie, Transformers: Age of Extinction., which was filmed in Hong Kong. Classical music fans can win tickets to the Cello and Piano Duo Recital on July 7, when Colin Carr and Mary Wu play pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Debussy and Brahms. For a chance to win, like our Facebook page (www.facebook. com/expatparenthk) and send us a message with your name, telephone number and details of which show you’d like to attend.

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Must have

Everything but the sink Essential gadgets and gear to make life easier next time you travel. By Melody Liu.

Aqua Zinger water bottle $340, from Zing Anything, www.zinganything.com.

Trunki Penelope Princess Carriage suitcase $499, from Bumps to Babes, www.bumpstobabes.hk.

Leather luggage tags $179 each, from Indigo Living, www.indigo-living.com.

Louis Vuitton City Guides $4,750, from Lane Crawford, www.lanecrawford.com. 18

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Tags wireless earbuds $500, from Outdoor Tech, www.outdoortechnology.com.

Travel blanket by Flight 001, $300, from Lane Crawford.

Trunki SnooziHedz Pillow/Blanket set $249, from Bumps to Babes. Panda Transformer pillow $280, from G.O.D, www.god.com.hk.

Go-Pro Hero3+ sports video camera $3,800, from www.gopro.com.

Zoo Luggage Bee $379, from Indigo Living.

Bingo Tourismo game $279, from Indigo Living.

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Are you ready for July?

The monthly quiz

Question 1 How will you be spending July 1? a) Just your average Tuesday, it will be business as usual. b) Got a few errands to run, might just pop into Central. c) Book a fancy restaurant overlooking the harbour for the HKSAR Establishment Day fireworks. d) None of the above.

Question 2 What’s the best way to apply sunscreen? a) Slather it on the night before then go to bed. b) Twenty minutes before heading out of the door. c) After you strip off in the sun. d) Apply it? Isn’t sunscreen available in a drinkable version now?

Question 3 What will you be looking for at the Hong Kong Book Fair? a) Educational books, fiction, non-fiction, religion, books for teens and children,

e-books, audio and visual learning aids… all the good stuff. b) O ne of the Hong Kong model’s signatures. c) What are “books”? d) Something pretty for the coffee table.

Question 4 Travelling with toddlers, should you or shouldn’t you? a) Y ou should, they’ll be fine. Pack an eye mask and comfy neck pillow for a smooth journey. b) Y es, but take a friend who can babysit while you have fun. c) Yes, but make sure you have a travelling strategy locked down first. d) Hell, no!

Question 5 You forgot to set the alarm and now you’re late for your flight. What do you do? a) Panic, then go back to sleep. b) O h well, you hadn’t even started packing. c) Cry. d) Keep calm and change flight.

Question 6 What can you expect at Hong Kong’s new museum, which opens this month? a) Pandas! Those papier-mache critters are everywhere. b) Er… something concerning food? c) 3-D art. d) There’s space for a new museum?

Question 7 There’s a snake in the house, who you gonna call? a) Mum. b) The AFCD. c) 999. d) Your local police station.

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The answers

Are you ready for July?

the middle of the day so don’t forget a hat, sunglasses and sun-protective clothing. Now you’re good to go.

3. Answer: a

1. Answer: d None of the above. July 1 is a public holiday for the HKSAR Establishment Day, and in previous years that’s been cause for celebration. But hold off booking a smart, waterfront restaurant because there will be no fireworks this year. The next fireworks display is likely to be in 2017, 20 years after Prince Charles and the last governor, Chris Patten, oversaw the handover of Hong Kong sovereignty from Britain to the People’s Republic of China. Central is likely to be heaving, however, as Hongkongers take to the streets to stage an annual protest march for democracy and other political concerns. This year, about 100,000 people are expected to turn up.

2. Answer: d Twenty minutes before heading out. According to the Australian Cancer Council (which knows a thing or two about sun protection), sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before going outdoors and every two hours afterwards. Choose a product that is water resistant and SPF30 or higher, even on overcast days. Most people don’t use enough. Apply at least a teaspoon of sunblock to each limb, your front and your back, and half a teaspoon to your face, neck and ears. UV rays are at their most intense in

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Educational books, fiction, non-fiction, religion, books for teens and children, e-books, audio and visual learning aids. The 25th annual Hong Kong Book Fair features all the above and more. It is being held at the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Centre on July 16-22 and promises to be bigger and better than ever. Themed zones make it easier to find your preferred genres: English Avenue has English-language offerings, General Books Pavilion has Chinese-language publications and Children’s Paradise is for kids and teens. Tickets are available from branches of 7-Eleven and Circle K, www.hkticketing.com, and at the door. Before noon, entry is $10, otherwise adults pay $25 and children under 12 pay $10. www.hkbookfair.hktdc.com.

4. Answer: c Yes, but make sure you have a travelling strategy locked down first. Teacher, mother of two and founder of the Sai Kung Mummies Facebook page and website, Alexandra Carlile, has experience of travelling with toddlers. “Flying long-haul, economy class with two toddlers is similar to having a Pilates class in the outside lane of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel. Constantly on edge and in perpetual motion, it is an experience that can scar even the most hardened Tiger Mother,” she says. Most parents have their own strategy to cope with an unsettled travelling toddler, but Carlile’s preferred method is to suspend all family rules during travelling time. “[Children] become more amenable in the face of unexpected regime change,” she notes. So, maybe let go (temporarily) of that chocolate quota – your children, and your sanity during a 12-hour flight, may thank you for it. For more tips, visit www.saikungmummies.com.

5. Answer: d Keep calm and change flight. A missed flight is not the end of the world.

Once you realise you are not going to make it in time, call the airline. If you are already at the airport, talk to someone at the airline desk or the gate agent if you have missed a connection. If you’re lucky (and pleasant to the airport staff), they’ll arrange for you to be on standby for the next flight. This may be free or subject to a “change fee”. If you’re a member of the airline’s loyalty scheme, mention it as it may help your chances. Worst-case scenario? You may have to buy another full-fare ticket, but you’ll still get to enjoy your holiday. (And you probably won’t forget to set the alarm ever again.)

6. Answer: c 3-D art. Bingo. The city’s first 3-D museum opens this month in Kowloon. With an exhibition area of more than 10,000 square feet, HK 3-D Museum will promote local culture through more than 70 3-D art pieces in five exhibition zones: Modern Hong Kong, Hong Kong Memories, Chinese Culture, Love Journey and Imaginary Wonderland. Visitors can interact with the art and have fun in a special experience zone with a mirror maze, infinity tunnel, 3-D virtual projection and trick art games. Adults $149, concessions $100. Open daily 10am-10pm. 1/F Hilton Tower, 96 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, www.hk3dm.com.hk.

7. Answer: d Your local police station. Snakes are active in warmer months, and frequently find themselves slithering into places they are not wanted. If you come across a snake in your home, do not approach it, but call your local police station (not 999). The police will come to your home, check the snake is still there, then call a snake catcher who will trap and remove the snake. (If you call a snake catcher directly, please remember to pay him.) Before the police arrive, try to identify the species if possible and keep an eye on it from a safe distance. Prevent pets or children from getting too close. Snakes only bite when their territory is invaded or they feel threatened.

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Meet the parents

Same same but

different

Twins: double happiness or double trouble? Adele Brunner asks parents of multiples.

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Meet the parents

The Voss Andreas Voss and his wife, Susana, have five-year-old triplets, Isabella, Raica and Charles. To be told we were expecting triplets was a complete surprise. Although we have a few cases of twins on my wife’s side of the family and some on mine a few generations back, it never crossed our minds. My wife doubled her normal weight during pregnancy and spent the last four weeks lying down at home. Our obstetrician, Dr Ghosh, who was excellent and very supportive, wanted the gestation period to last as long as possible, but Susana got to eight months and wanted to deliver them. They were born by Caesarian section at the Matilda Hospital. The girls, Isabella and Raica, were 2.34kg and 2.45kg respectively, and Charles weighed 2.02kg. We didn’t (and still don’t) have family nearby to help us out. We went from having a part-time cleaner to three full-time helpers and a driver. Our paediatrician Dr Thorndup said we’d need an army at home and this has been the case, especially when the children were really young. From the beginning, we had a fairly strict routine. Susana breastfed the

The triplets aren’t identical and have quite different personalities

babies every two to three hours and supplemented some feeds with milk powder. But it felt like we were turning circles – just as we had finished seeing to the third baby, we’d be back to feeding the first one again, like shift workers! We basically stayed at home for the first three months and didn’t really go out. We had to use a double pushchair and a single one for family outings. Triple pushchairs are available but Hong Kong’s pavements are too narrow so it wouldn’t have been practical. We were living in Po Shan Road so it was good exercise to take one or two of the babies out and head up to the Peak and back. Life got easier when the children started kindergarten because it gave my wife some free time in the mornings. Now we’re kept busy with after-school and

social activities. Not a week goes by when someone doesn’t come home with a party invitation. Their own birthday party is crazy. We do one for all three of them and every year we say no more. It’s quite difficult to manage but at least we get it over with. We asked the school to put Isabella, Raica and Charles into different classes. We wanted to split them up so they could develop their own identities and make their own friends. It is something we felt strongly about, but the school also advised doing this. They’d all been together for almost four years so it took a week or two for them to adapt but it has worked out well. Their next school only has two classes in a year and we have yet to figure out who to put with who. The triplets aren’t identical and have quite different personalities. The most obvious difference is between the two sexes. My wife used to take Charles along to the girls’ activities but now he prefers to hang out with other boys. They have the usual sibling fights but they generally all get on. They know they’re triplets and therefore rather special and they also know their exact birth order. They were born a minute apart; Charles was a perfect gentleman and let the girls go first.

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Meet the parents

The McMillans Phalé McMillan and her husband, Robert, have twin boys, Roman and Cameron, aged seven months, and daughters Sienna, six, and Isla, five. Twins run on my side of the family, but we never expected it would happen to us. So when the doctor told us at our first scan that he could see two babies, we were completely shocked but thrilled. Double surprise, double happiness! Our next surprise came after the 12-week scan when we found out the twins were boys. We had two girls and we had assumed we’d be having another two. My pregnancy went well. I experienced morning sickness for the first time (I’d never had it with my previous two pregnancies) and had different cravings. I only wanted to eat very bland British food, like mashed potatoes, and a lot of meat, which was odd as I don’t eat much meat. I had a lot of energy after three months and spent much of my free time baking cakes. Not all my friends were happy with that because they gained weight too. The pregnancy became tougher near the end as my belly was huge. Sleeping became a challenge because it was difficult to find a comfortable position. I was also juggling a fulltime job that required travelling, with spending quality time with my husband and daughters plus fitting in social activities – on not much sleep. I did Pilates and fitness exercises to make sure I didn’t get any issues with back problems. Looking back, I still wonder how I managed to pull it all off. Roman and Cameron were born at the Matilda Hospital at 35 weeks, each weighing 2.7 kg, and fortunately didn’t need to go into neonatal intensive care [as twins often do]. We still don’t know whether they are identical or not. We need to do a DNA test to get this confirmed but they currently look a lot alike. One of the main challenges so far has been breastfeeding, but I’ve managed to do this for almost six months. I am one of those lucky women who can produce a good supply of milk and I don’t have any difficulties with the babies latching on. At the beginning, I fed on demand and felt as though I was spending most of my time feeding. We soon managed to establish a routine and I only had to feed them every three to four hours, which allowed me some free time to spend with Sienna and Isla or just relaxing. Roman and Cameron are happy, relaxed little boys, who are developing at more or less the same rate. I follow some of Gina Ford’s programme, which seems to work. I feed both

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Picture: Jill Carter Photography

Twins run on my side of the family, but we never expected it would happen to us boys at the same time and they go to sleep at the same time, in separate cots, next to each other. The funny thing is they don’t wake each other up. Roman can cry his heart out and Cameron will sleep through it all, and vice versa. I went back to work after three months but was able to work from home for the first month, which was great. Now I’m in the office full time, but we have two helpers, who assist with the household and the kids. It is definitely harder to have two babies at the same time, but as the girls were born only 13 months apart, I felt like I’d been through it already so not much has changed from that perspective. We find we are more relaxed as parents because we have learned from our experiences and past mistakes and we are lucky that the boys are not particularly fussy. Sienna and Isla enjoy being big sisters because they get to play with real-life baby dolls. They have been very helpful with things such as bathing the babies or monitoring them when we’re in the car. Sienna knows exactly who is who. Isla still has to ask sometimes whether it is Roman or Cameron she’s playing with, but I don’t think either of the girls have a preference. The boys are so similar. We go out a lot as a family but it depends on what we are doing and it’s good to spend time with the girls only. We invested in an iCandy Peach Blossom Twin pram, which is perfect for twins and very easy to use. Friends with twins gave me tips but, in the end, you have to figure it out yourself and just get on with it. I would say to anyone expecting twins to try to relax and not get stressed about it. It is a lot of work but also such good fun. It’s a miracle to have a baby, let alone two! Make sure you spend quality time with your hubby without the kids. My husband introduced a Friday date night after the birth of our first daughter and, to be honest, that was the last thing on my mind after dealing with a small baby all day. It was a great idea because it is good to talk about things other than babies whilst enjoying a nice dinner. As he says, happy parents, happy family. expat-parent.com

Feature

Get on your bike and ride the Yuen Kam Nam Circuit, near Yuen Long.

activity a day

Adele Brunner suggests 31 things to do in July.

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Picture: Hannah Groghan

Feature

1. Photo racing Every month, the Hong Kong Photography Club challenges its 600 members to a Photography Race, in which they charge around the territory in search of the perfect shot. “The challenge is to take five photos in teams of two over a seven-hour period in four different themes,” explains club founder Miranda Legg. Because the themes are random and must be picked up at home base, it means a lot of running around town with heavy camera gear, but by the end

you’ll be fit, and have a collection of great photos of the city. Details at www.meetup. com/hongkongphotographyclub.

2. Pink dolphins Want something adventurous, educational and fun for all the family? Hong Kong Dolphinwatch ticks all the boxes with its ecological boat tours to spot the pink dolphins off Lantau Island. Tours include four hours at sea, a presentation, information sheets and light refreshments. Join a tour on Wednesday, Friday or Sunday (adults $420,

children under 12 $210) or gather a group of 56 people and charter your own trip (from $8,000 for a half day). Those who don’t see a dolphin can join another tour for free. Details at www.hkdolphinwatch.com.

3. Hong Kong Maritime Museum The revamped Maritime Museum is five times larger than it used to be and much more fun. Fifteen galleries explore Hong Kong’s fascinating maritime history through model boats, tales of sea bandits, paintings and displays. There are cannons, expat-parent.com

Feature

Paddle to Little Millionaire’s Beach in Sai Kung with Kayak and Hike.

navigational equipment, bells and even a replica ship’s bridge to play on. Open MonFri,9.30-5.30pm; Sat-Sun 10am-7pm; $30/ adult, $15/child. Central Ferry Pier No.8, Central, www.hkmaritimemuseum.org.

(www.thehive.com.hk) is running French comedy/thriller Subway on July 12. For a more exclusive viewing experience, Hushup Events (www.hushup.hk) will set up a portable cinema showing the film of your choice.

4. Mai Po Night Safari

6. Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden

Stalk nocturnal creatures – fireflies, roosting birds, leopard cats – through the wetlands of the WWF Mai Po Nature Reserve on this after-dark adventure. Available for adults and children over 12, the four-hour Night Safaris start at sunset every Saturday, Sunday and public holiday until the end of August. Reservations essential. Tickets $350 from WWF Hong Kong, www.wwf.org.hk.

Established by the Kadoorie brothers on the slopes of Tai Mo Shan in 1956 to help local farmers, and a pioneer in organic farming, KFBG is now more about conservation and environmental education. Explore its vegetable terraces, gardens and paths, spot the flamingos, pigs and monkeys, visit injured owls and parrots in the bird rehabilitation sanctuaries, or hike its many trails – try the Never Never Trail to a waterfall. Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, www.kfbg.org.

5. Outdoor Movies Make your next family cinema trip extraspecial by watching a movie outdoors after dark. The Hive in Sai Kung (www. thehivesaikung.com.hk) hosts the regular Sai Kung Open Air Cinema Club. This month, it is showing Mary Poppins (6pm, Saturday, July 6) and The Spy Who Loved Me (Saturday, July 26). Meanwhile, its Wan Chai location

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aquabound.com.hk), and in Sai Kung at Sha Ha Beach (skbeach.com.hk/skwatersports. html, 9170 7513), Tai Wan (Dolphin Canoe Club, www.hkdcc.com) and Hoi Ha (Fred the Boatman, 2328 2169, 9164 5756, or 2328 2181). Or push the boat out with a junk or speedboat and kayak trip around the astonishing Geopark with Kayak and Hike (www.kayak-and-hike.com).

8. Glamping Rent an air-conditioned safari tent at Palm Beach (www.palmbeach.com.hk) on Lower Cheung Sha Beach, Lantau. As well as cool air, the luxe three-metre-high tents have mattresses and other furniture. Kids may prefer the teepees at the site’s Teepee Village, one of which sleeps up to 20 people. Pack your warpaint.

7. Kayaking

9. Visit a ghost town

Possibly the cheapest and most accessible way to enjoy Hong Kong’s watery playgrounds, kayaks are available to hire on Cheung Sha Beach (Long Coast Seasports, 8104 6222), Stanley Main Beach (www.

Wong Chuk Yeung is an abandoned village high on a hill near Sai Kung town. The crumbling stone houses are deliciously creepy, and many still contain old photographs, tea sets and mouldering

Feature furniture. Just don’t push your luck by taking a memento. (Top of Chuk Yeung Road, Sai Kung.)

10. On yer bike Get up early and go for a cycle. Little ones will enjoy Inspiration Lake at the Disneyland Resort, where you can picnic on the grass. Older children and adults might prefer the 20km Yuen Nam Kam Circuit near Yuen Long, or the even longer track from Sha Tin Science Park through Tai Po to Plover Cove.

11. Drive an F1 car Boyracers and speed queens can get behind the wheel of a Formula One car at virtual racing centre, Sideways Driving Club. You sit in a “race car”, complete with realistic steering systems and brakes, and channel your inner Lewis Hamilton, racing your mates around pre-programmed circuits. www. sideways.com.hk.

12. Ocean Park With rides, shows, funfair games, cable cars and animals galore, Ocean Park is a no-brainer. Apart from the park’s annual, Summer Splash, the theme park is also running summer schools for children aged four to 15, with games, visits to exhibits, sleepovers in the aquarium and a chance to get up close to the animals. $1,950-$4,300, depending on age. Details at www.oceanpark.com.hk.

13. Hong Kong Disneyland Children of all ages love Disneyland, whether they want to meet Tinkerbell, scream on Space Mountain, catch a show, watch 3-D movies or take a spin in a teacup. Stay overnight for the fireworks and breakfast with Mickey Mouse and Co at the Disney Hotel. Details at www.disneyland.hk.

Race like Jensen Button in the virtual F1 cars at Sideways Driving Club.

14. Peak Tram

15. Hike to Tai Long Wan

A vertiginous trip on the Peak Tram is always a winner, no matter how often you’ve done it before. Use an Octopus card to jump the queue and pack a picnic and a ball for a run-around at the relatively quiet Victoria Peak Gardens on Mount Austin Road. The tram departs every 10-15 minutes from the terminus at Garden Road, Central. 7ammidnight. Adult return $40, child return $18; www.thepeak.com.hk.

These four beautiful beaches in Sai Kung Country Park are the best in Hong Kong – heck, they’re among the finest in Asia. They offer great hiking, calm anchorages (Sai Wan), good surfing (Tai Wan), cold beers (Ham Tin) and cliff jumping (Sheung Luk Stream), plus acres of golden sand with none of the no-fun rules that blight other local beaches. Need we say more?

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Email: heike.pfordte@locations.com.hk C: (852) 6385 7613 | T: (852) 2109 9096 www.locations.com.hk

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Feature

Stroll the boardwalks at the Wetland Park, keeping an eye out for wildlife.

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Feature 16. Stand-up paddleboarding It’s still THE watersport of the moment so give it a go. Boards can be rented from Aquabound on Stanley Main Beach (www. aquabound.com.hk) and Blue Sky Sports Club in Sai Kung (www.bluesky-sc.com).

17. Hong Kong Wetland Park Be an ecotourist at the Wetland Park. The 60-hectare site has stroller-friendly trails and boardwalks, wildlife to spot (mudskippers, butterflies, birds) and a 10,000 sqm interactive visitor centre offering a crash course in environmental awareness. Take sunglasses, hats, water and plenty of snacks. Picnicking is not permitted in the wetlands but there’s plenty of space on the grass near the entrance. Open 10am-5pm, closed Tue. Adults $30, children $15. Tin Shui Wai, www. wetlandpark.gov.hk

Get a 360-degree view of Hong Kong from the sky100 observation deck in the ICC.

18. Hoi Ha Wan Hong Kong has one of the most abundant marine ecosystems in the region. Rare coral and mangrove habitats, the pristine beach, thousands of starfish and the occasional seahorse at the Hoi Ha Marine Park are a reminder that our wealth is more than material. Visit the Marine Life Centre and take a trip on the Transparency glassbottomed boat. Details at www.wwf.org.hk.

19. Noah’s Ark This Ma Wan theme park offers action and adventure, games and cinema set around a vast replica of the ark. There are interactive exhibitions telling the biblical story, life-sized animal sculptures (two by two, naturally) and the Adventureland Rope Course. Or retreat to the nearby beach. Details at www. noahsark.com.hk.

20. Temple of 10,000 Buddhas (Man Fat Tsz) One of our quirkiest and most interesting temples, not least because of the glass case containing the embalmed body of its founder, Revered Yuet Kai, sitting in the lotus position, covered in gold leaf. To get there, climb 431 steps lined with 500 life-sized statues to five temples containing about 13,000 gold ceramic Buddha statues, each with a different pose and expression. (Signposted from Sha Tin Station.)

21. artjamming If you can stand, you can paint, claims artjamming, a drop-in centre where up to 60 wannabe artists can wield a brush. Costs vary with canvas size and materials, from $300 for

a smallish canvas and three hours of painting to $700 for a large canvas and four hours of painting. Open Tue-Sat 11am11pm, Sun and holidays 11am-6pm. 123 Wellington Street, Central, 2581 3600, www.artjamming.com.

22. Ice skating Escape the heat by going ice skating. There are rinks in Elements (www.therink.com.hk), MegaBox (www.megaice.com.hk), Festival Walk (Glacier, www.festivalwalk.com.hk) and Tai Koo Shing’s Cityplaza (www.icepalace. com.hk) malls. Get your skates on.

23. PLAY An indoor play centre with a difference, PLAY offers indoor skiing, snowboarding, baseball and softball. Three dry ski slopes with adjustable angles and speeds let beginners and intermediate skiers and

snowboarders practice and perfect their skills (from $1,380 for a private lesson for up to two children, aged four to eight years). Or brush up your batting with the fully automated baseball and softball machines ($30 for 14 balls). 1/F-2/F, 79 Hung To Road, Kwun Tong, www.321play.com.hk.

24. sky100 Way up on the 100th floor of the ICC, sky100 is the territory’s only indoor observation deck, offering 360-degree views of the city. Adults $168, children under 12 $118. 10am-9pm. Check the online calendar for clashes with private events at www. sky100.com.hk.

25. Hunt for geocache treasure Geocaching is a global treasure hunt that will turn any hike into a real-time adventure. Using a smartphone, register for free at expat-parent.com

Feature

Say hello to the big fella with a trip on the Ngong Ping 360 cable car to the Big Buddha.

www.geocaching.com, pick a geocache (container) hidden in your area – there are more than two million around the world – and follow a set of coordinates to find it. Once you’ve found the geocache, sign the logbook at the location and share your find online. Before you know it, you’ll have hiked several kilometres without a grumble.

28. Ngong Ping & Big Buddha

Even novice anglers will be hard pressed not to hook a bite at TMT Fish Farm. Manmade ponds are stocked with various species – including some sizeable fish – and hooks, lines, nets and bait are provided. 11A Tai Mei Tuk, Tai Po (near bus terminus), 2662 6351, www.tmtfishfarm.com.

It’s uber touristy but kids will love the Ngong Ping 360 cable cars – go early to beat the queue. Not for the faint-hearted, the Crystal Cabins have glass floors for a bird’s eye view of the mountain below. At the end of the ride, visit the Buddhist theme park, climb 268 steps to the world’s largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha, or light incense at the Po Ling Monastery. Jump the queue by booking your cable car tickets online up to seven days in advance at www.np360.com.hk.

27. Visit outer space

29. Tai O Fishing Village

Wannabe astronauts will love the interactive Space Museum dedicated to space science and astronomy. The Stanley Ho Space Theatre specializes in Omnimax films; this summer, it’s showing Flight of the Butterflies and Penguins. Open Mon, Wed-Fri, 10am-

Combine the cable car trip with a visit to Hong Kong’s oldest fishing village. Situated on the northwest coast of Lantau, Tai O features houses built on stilts over the water. Hop on a local boat for a quick waterborne tour, then take a walk round the lively

26. Catch a fish

6pm; weekends and holidays, 10am-9pm. Closed Tue. 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2721 0226.

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seafood market with its fishtanks, dried seafood and souvenirs, followed by a meal at one of the seafood restaurants. To get there from Ngong Ping, take bus no.21.

30. Go Skateboarding The new Tseung Kwan O Skatepark, next to the velodrome, is the biggest and arguably the best in the city, with a replica of the famous Bondi Beach “pool”, plus an L-shaped bowl, street area, half-pipes and bowls of varying difficulty. Open 8am-10pm, Po Hong Road, Tseung Kwan O.

31. Tea at the Peninsula Treat yourselves to the quintessential afternoon tea with all the trimmings and live music in the gilt-edged lobby at The Peninsula. Tea for two, including finger sandwiches, sweet and savoury pastries, raisin scones with Devonshire clotted cream and organic strawberry jam, plus your choice of tea, is $598 and is available daily from 2pm-6pm. Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, www.hongkongpeninsula.com.

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Education

Good vibrations Beyond the facilities, Renaissance College is notable for its palpable energy and sense of community, writes Evie Burrows-Taylor.

Middle school students experimenting in the chemistry lab.

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Open day

The communal hub of the primary school.

he story of Renaissance College began in 2001, when the Canadian Overseas School suddenly declared bankruptcy and closed in the middle of the school year. The Education Manpower Bureau and ESF Educational Services stepped in and a new school, Phoenix International, rose from its ashes. In 2006, it opened a permanent campus in Ma On Shan and adopted a new name, Renaissance College Hong Kong, to mark the school’s evolution. Today, the school feels fresh and

dynamic, and the campus is modern, even cutting edge. Helping it stay ahead of the curve are innovations such as the new technology suite, the Red Door Centre, which opened in November, complete with a robotics space and film developing technology. It is available for all 2,050 students, from years one to 13. “[It has] a particular draw for the secondary years,” principal Harry Brown says. “They can develop the ability to think more creatively, to manipulate TV cameras and use editing suites.” Technology is just one of the key areas of focus at Renaissance College — others expat-parent.com

Education

Primary students work with their teacher in the common room.

include sport and teaching Chinese. The school follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, including the Primary Years and Middle Years programmes (PYP and MYP) and the diploma. Annual fees are $86,800 per student for years one to six, $116,100 for years seven-11, and $117,400 for years 12-13. Students in years seven to 13 can also apply for full academic, sports, music, drama and visual arts scholarships; currently, more than 130 students are enrolled in the scholarship programme. “There’s a special energy here, and part of it is being an all-through school,” says Brown, who joined in 2009. “The younger children’s enthusiasm is tempered by the older children’s, and in turn, the older children never run out of gas as the younger students are there.” The school’s house system also helps foster relationships between children in different year groups, and there are house competitions throughout the school year.

The school feels fresh and dynamic, and the campus is modern, even cutting edge Middle School students spend Friday afternoons volunteering, and Brown says many of them choose to dedicate their time to activities for younger students. The energy is palpable. The campus design reinforces the sense of community, with primary-school classrooms centring Clockwise from above left: the school’s robotics space; television studio; bulletin board of activities.

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Middle School students doing group discussions in the Red Door Centre.

on a communal hub and the Red Door Centre’s large windows overlooking a basketball court next to a spacious outdoor lunch area. Children’s artwork decorates almost every inch of the school: alumni have gone on to study art in leading art schools such as Central St Martins College in London. “In our first graduating class in 2009, the majority of students were either going to Canada or staying here in Hong Kong,” Brown said. “[Now] not so many are going to Canada, but there’s greater interest in the US and the UK — just as our population changes.” Students hail from all over the

The indoor pool keeps students in the swim.

globe, with Brown counting some 40 nationalities, including students from all around Asia, Europe and North America. As an ESF Private Independent School, Renaissance is required to admit a large percentage of local children — at capacity (2,100 students), 70 per cent of students must have at least one parent with permanent residency in Hong Kong. The school doesn’t have a catchment area, so children living anywhere in the city can apply for admission. Beyond the classroom, students also have the opportunity to pursue activities within and outside school. Local and international trips and camps

have included trips to Laos, a year six Treasure Island camp on Lantau, and a year five exploration camp in Mui Wo. Activities within the school take place in facilities such as the 25-metre heated indoor swimming pool, two rooftop astroturf playing fields, the Black Box Theatre drama studio, and a performing arts centre, complete with professional lighting and sound rig, grand piano and dressing rooms. “The facilities are state of the art and that helps to inspire children,” Brown says. “Parents spend a lot of time preparing kids for school, and it’s our job to prepare the school for kids.”

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Open day What was your dream job when you were in school? When I was in primary school, there were astronauts going to the moon, so everybody wanted to be an astronaut and I was one of them. That gave way in middle school when I found out how much maths was involved, but by then Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d been coaching younger students and knew by grade six that I wanted to be a teacher. How long have you been a teacher? More than 30 years.

Dr Harry Brown Head of School Renaissance College

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What are some of the challenges of being a principal? Human relations issues. In a large school like ours, there are a lot of moving parts, so the challenge is to make a big school feel small. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as much for the teachers as for the students. What do you enjoy most about being a principal? The students, especially in an all-through school. You can begin the morning laughing with five-year-olds, and end the day in a

Principal’s office debate with year 13s about any topic or current event. Each year has its own energy and enthusiasm — it’s a complete joy. What has been the most memorable event of your career? Probably moving to Hong Kong – this is my first overseas posting. What do you like most about Hong Kong? I’m originally from New York so I like the city feeling – there’s a heartbeat here. The mass transit system is bar none - spend a weekend in New York or London to appreciate that. I also really appreciate the work ethic. The children work hard and are very committed to their education. Hong Kong’s a great city. As a child, what was the best advice you were given by a teacher? People support what they help to create. Whether you’re building a team to compete athletically, or to open a school, people will support it if they’re part of the process.

Any tips for de-stressing? Running, yoga, cycling and outdoor activities during the pleasant months. I love the cinema, and I live in Central, where there’s always a new restaurant. I also like exploring Hong Kong — there’s great history here, which is fun to seek out.

psychology, but in school it would have been English. Do the kids have any nicknames for you? The little ones are unsure what to call me, so they say my whole name, “Good morning, Dr Harry Brown”.

What talent would you most like to have? I would love to be able to speak flawless Cantonese and Mandarin. What quality do you value most in people? Compassion. Did you have a favourite teacher growing up? I don’t think there was one in particular, but the ones I enjoyed most really understood their material, were passionate, and [taught] in a funny, entertaining way. The best ones clearly cared about the students and their success, as well as their subject. Did you have a favourite subject? Ironically, it was maths. I majored in

Renaissance College Address: Address: 5 Hang Ming Street, Ma On Shan, New Territories Phone: 3556 3556 Website: www.renaissance.edu.hk

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Sponsored column

Bilingual preschool education

To become fluent in a second language, start young, says Anne Murphy of ITS Educational Services. “Ni hao?” shouts four-year-old Jackson Williams, bouncing into preschool in Central one Saturday morning. It’s graduation day for Jackson and his 15 classmates, aged two to four, who have been learning Mandarin for 16 weeks. When they started, few of them could speak or understand the language. Now, after just 20 hours of instruction, they can follow and participate in a puppet show of

Goldilocks and the Three Bears performed entirely in Mandarin. They also know their numbers, colours, fruit and vegetables and how to follow basic classroom instructions. In multicultural Hong Kong, many preschool children learn at least one second language, usually English or Mandarin (or both). Classes where children are actively involved in constructing their own learning through self-directed investigation provide opportunities for teachers to talk with children individually or in a small group. These natural conversations mean the second language becomes a regular means of communication rather than a special subject. A growing number of parents are turning to language-immersion programmes for their toddlers and preschoolers. Some are looking to preserve family heritage; others for academic advantage. Full-immersion language learning is very successful. The method

adopted by some Hong Kong preschools, sees language teachers in the room sequentially, for the same amount of time. The teacher maintains the integrity of the language by using it at all times: during snack time, in the playground, to tell stories, in discussions, etc. This immersion enables the children to pick up grammar rules, idiomatic expressions and vocabulary relating to a variety of subjects, particularly when the curriculum is theme-based. Being bilingual can only be an advantage, but it is important to choose a learning method that will give your child the skills to communicate competently in a second or third language. “I believe it’s important to know another language – it helps in every aspect of your life,” says Jackson’s mother. Anne Murphy is the Director of ITS Educational Services. ITS offer a variety of education solutions – from single consultations, to step-by-step management of school placements and admissions. For details, email anne.m@itseducation.asia.

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Me & my hobby

Sk8r boy Entrepreneurial Harry Clarke, 16, is the world’s no.3 junior longboarder. By Jodee Fong. I have been longboarding for two and a half years and started competing internationally a year ago. I was introduced to this sport when a friend showed me YouTube videos. I was so intrigued that I got my first longboard a few months later. I have competed in four downhill skateboard races in Hong Kong and three in the Philippines. Recently, I became the World Junior number three on the International Downhill Federation (IDF) point ranking. I competed against riders aged 13 to 18 years old. The more races I attend on the circuit and the better I performed, the more points I get. So far, the best race I’ve ever done is the Visayan Longboarding Trilogy (VLT) competition in April in Cebu where I managed to qualify as the champion in the juniors’ group. The most common misconception about longboarding is that it’s the same as skateboarding, but it’s not. Longboarding is more about speed, sliding and skating down hills; while skateboarding is more about doing tricks and flipping in a skatepark. Although the functions of skateboards are pretty similar, several things are easier on longboards. A longboard has wider trucks and bigger wheels, which allows us to gain and maintain speed easier, as well as to roll over cracks in the road without falling off. Longboarding is my life. It has completely changed me and I can’t imagine life without it. I enjoy it so much because it gives me a feeling that I can’t get anywhere else. When I’m longboarding, my body takes over, my mind is entirely focused and I don’t have time to think. The thrill is simply inexpressible unless you have tried it. I practise as much as I can. Before I got my number three world ranking, I used to train from noon to 5pm every weekend for two

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Learn to longboard years. Now, to prepare for an upcoming competition, Euro Skate Adventure, I’ve been practicing after school everyday (when it’s not raining). There will be four longboard races in three countries (Germany, Czech Republic and France) in July and August, where the top players come together to compete on crazy hills at speeds of up to 100km/h in a controlled environment. It really doesn’t get better than that. I learned everything I need to know about longboarding from my mentor, Pierre van Remoortere (and a lot of practising). I started learning by myself by pushing around on my new board and trying to do tricks and slides. In 2011, I met my mentor

dad took charge of the handcrafting. But the demand became too high and we had to get our boards manufactured in China. We sell the longboards on our Facebook page and in The Phat Shack in Sai Kung. It is hard to strike a balance between school, practise and running a company but nothing beats riding a board that you made. The most valuable lesson I’ve taken from the business is that, sometimes, pushing things may not be the best way to make things happen. My family is 100 per cent behind me when it comes to skating and competing. Both my parents are teachers, so I have to do my

Be patient, start slowly and don’t go to the high hills at first. The essential quality in downhill skateboard racing is the ability to have a good time. It’s not about who wins the race, it’s about who wins the party. I’m lucky to be sponsored by Sai Kung’s longboard specialist, The Phat Shack, and Predator, a renowned brand for skaters and para-gliders. Last month, with two great skaters from Sai Kung, Kellan Osborne and William Percillier, we formed Hong Kong’s first skate team representing The Phat Shack and we’re currently looking for funds and sponsorships (for details, email thephatshack.hk@gmail.com).

It’s not about who wins the race, it’s about who wins the party

on a snowboarding trip to Switzerland. We started practicing together when we got back to Hong Kong and he showed me how to skate much faster and better.

fair share of studying. I also have a little sister. I tried to teach her but unfortunately she’s not as keen on skating as me...

The craziest moments usually happen when I go to the Philippines. Whether it’s skating, driving (and occasionally, crashing) motorbikes, jumping off waterfalls, falling off cliffs or eating bizarre street food, there is always a good time in that country.

Hong Kong, and Sai Kung in particular, has great hills for longboarding but there is a lack of awareness about the sport. It would be nice if more people understand what we do.

When I’m not skating, I organise events, film and edit videos, as well as work on my startup company, Freetec, which sells longboards. In 2010, I started up a local business selling handmade longboards with my dad. My board got run over by a bus and dad said we should make one instead of ordering a new one from America. I would design and test the boards, while my

My goal is to be the World Junior Champion on the IDF ranking and turn longboarding into a career. I like the idea of starting a longboarding school in Hong Kong, but the local scene has to grow a bit for that to happen. My advice to beginners would be to always wear a helmet, gloves and pads. Make sure you skate within your limits.

A huge “thank you” to everyone who has supported me so far – Freetec Longboards, Predator Helmets, The Phat Shack, SkateBox Channel and my family, friends and my mentor Pierre. Much love, guys! WHERE TO LONGBOARD • Stanley Plaza • Sai Kung Waterfront • Plantation Road, The Peak GET THE GEAR The Phat Shack 1/F, 5 Tak Lung Back Street, Sai Kung, www.facebook.com/ThePHATShack HK Skate City www.hkskatecity.com SBDW Longboard Shop 8/F, Sui Fai Factory, 5-13 Shan Mei Street, Fo Tan, www.sbdwlongboardshop.com

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Food

The scoop Chill with the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best ice creams. By Cherrie Yu and Tim Ma.

XTC Gelato What: Gelato, milkshakes and more in an ever-changing spectrum of flavours. Summer offerings include strawberry cheesecake and banoffee as well as year-round favourites chocolate and sea salt caramella. Price: Single scoop $36, double scoop $46. Where: B2 Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, 2870 3029, www.xtc.com.hk.

Happy Cow What: Dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, low-glycemic and vegan, this is about as healthy as ice cream gets. Try cherry almond fudge, lime in the coconut or cinnamon caramel swirl. Price: Small $36; large $84. Where: Health-food stores including Just Green, www.happycowhk.com.

I-Scream What: Authentic Italian gelato and sorbetto (plus cakes and wraps), in a world of flavours including the best-selling Belgian Chocolate. Price: Single scoop $35, double scoop $58. Where: Shop 1104, IFC Mall, Podium Level 1, Central, 2234 7281, www.iscream.com.hk.

Yo Mama What: Pots of frozen yoghurt in a few flavours (original, cappuccino, green tea, dark chocolate and blueberry) with a huge choice of toppings from branflakes to gummy bears. Look for the Garfield Froâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Yo sundae at the Festival Walk location. Price: Regular $31, large $38. Where: Five locations, including IFC Mall, Central, 2872 7000, www.yomama.com.hk.

Lab Made What: Frozen to order in liquid nitrogen, experimental ice cream flavours include sugar-free Earl Grey green tea, crunchy sea salt gelato with caramel sauce and lemon meringue pie sorbet. Price: $39 to $44. Where: 6 Brown Street, Tai Hang, Causeway Bay, 3462 6530, www.labmade.com.hk.

Ice Cream Gallery What: Low-fat, low-sugar, preservativefree ice cream in a choice of French, Italian, Japanese and liquid nitrogen styles. Flavours include white truffle, lobster, foie gras, organic rose chocolate, and bacon and eggs. Price: $35-$100 for 100ml. Where: G/F, Windsor House, 311 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, 2336 5116, www.icecreamgallery.com.hk.

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Little Softee Mobile Softee’s Ice Cream Picture by Hannah Grogan

Model: Claudia Brunner

Like the first swallow, the nostalgic tinkling notes of the Blue Danube issuing tinnily from the back of the Mobile Softee ice cream van announces the arrival of summer. Formerly known as Mister Softee – a US franchise started in 1927 – Hong Kong’s ice cream vans were imported from Britain in 1970 and have been operating ever since. The licenses cannot be transferred to new vans, owing to hawker legislation introduced in 1978, so the old trucks are still on the road. Operator Ng Enterprises renamed the business in 2010, and prices have risen from 50 cents in 1970 to a still modest $9, but little else has changed. Its 14 blue-topped trucks sell just four products, but the most popular is still the classic cone, with two-and-a-half swirls of soft vanilla ice cream. Look for the annual Lunar New Year special – lucky red strawberry ice cream.

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Table for four

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s do brunch Biblical buffets for the weekend brunch bunch. Barbecue brilliance at The Grill.

The Grill Food Kid-friendly Slip on your sunnies and get that holiday vibe with an alfresco poolside barbecue buffet at The Grill at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. Located on the spectacular 11thfloor deck, overlooking the harbour, the Weekend Barbecue Brunch includes salads, seafood on ice, chargrilled specialities, breakfast items, signature homemade

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desserts, and bottomless glasses of fresh juice and smoothies. Children can play in the nearby outdoor playground, or splash out on a day pass (adults $550, kids $300) and make a day of it around the pool and in the gym. Children $269, adults $538 or $736 with free-flowing drinks (Chandon Brut, Mimosa, Kir Royal, Bellini, selected wines and beers). High chairs available. 11.30am-3pm, weekends. Seafood on ice at The Grill.

The Grill, 11/F, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, 2584 7722.

Table for four Café Deco Food Kid-friendly Children are well catered for at Café Deco’s Sunday Brunch, with a children’s entertainer and kids’ corner piled with built-in interactive games, books, puzzles, mazes and toys. While the children are happy, parents can feast on a semi-buffet spread, including roast beef, a seafood mountain and made-to-order dishes. Every diner gets a sea urchin special, and free-flowing wine and soda. If you can persuade the kids back to the table, choose from a special kids menu including mushroom risotto ($76) and Hawaiian pizza ($76). Adults $468, children (aged three to 11) $238. 11am-3pm, Sundays. Cafe Deco, Level 1 & 2, The Peak Galleria, 118 Peak Road, 2849 5111.

Café Deco’s dessert buffet and play area equal kids’ heaven.

Mix and match at Nomads.

Nomads Food Kid-friendly Children love Nomads. Perhaps it’s the sheepskin-draped chairs, bull skulls and casual atmosphere, or possibly it’s because they are in control of everything they eat. At the Mongolian do-it-yourself barbecue diners pile a bowl with their favourite ingredients —— vegetables, raw meat, fish, spices and more — fill a cup with their sauce of choice then hand it to the chef who cooks it up on a hot plate. It’s fun for children to mix and match their own meals, then watch the chef at work through the kitchen windows. Go back as often as you like. There’s also a small starter and dessert buffet. Adults $118, children aged four-eight $98. Noon3pm, weekends and public holidays. Nomads, G/F, Shop A, 55 Kimberly Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2722 0733.

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Table for four Alfresco dining and an ice-cream wagon at DiVino Patio.

DiVino Patio Food Kid-friendly A firm favourite for its comfy atmosphere, spaciousness and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities, this Italian restaurant now has an alfresco terrace perfect for a leisurely family brunch. Kids will love the I-Scream ice cream wagon, play area, colouring zone and special menu including omelette, pizza, spaghetti with tomato sauce or meatballs, Angus beef burger, grilled chicken paillard, and free-flowing ice cream cones. Mums and dads will be just as happy with the tasty Tuscan Summer barbecue, with 300-day striploin, chicken drumsticks, homemade porchetta, Black Angus mini beef burgers, pork belly, swordfish and vegetarian options. Children $168 (free for under-fives), adults $368, plus $98 for free-flowing drinks. 11.30am3.30pm, Sundays and public holidays. DiVino Patio, 1/F, Causeway Bay Centre, 28 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, 2877 3552.

Meat-lovers will go mad for brunch at Blue Butcher

Blue Butcher Food Kid-friendly This popular spot ran off with a bunch of awards last year, so expectations are high but the Sunday brunch menu hits the spot for meat-lovers. The industrial atmosphere and cheery candles set a laidback tone for a semi-buffet feast. Get busy on the starter buffet, laden with oysters, lemon poached shrimps, herbcured salmon and a host of salads. The kids will like the Belgium waffle station with a choice of toppings such as mixed berries and maple syrup, adults may prefer foie gras seared to order and served on brioche. Choose a main course option including dry-aged roast of the day, wagyu beef burger and slow poached eggs with serrano ham. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a choice of dessert. Brunch is $390 per person, with free-flowing wine from $260. Noon-3pm, Sundays. Blue Butcher, 108 Hollywood Road, Central, 2613 9286.

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Antipasti at the Clipper Lounge.

Clipper Lounge Food Kid-friendly With impeccable service and delicious food, it’s always a good time at the Clipper Lounge. The Sunday brunch buffet is a

much-loved, all-you-can-eat international extravaganza. Set in the spacious lobby, it’s more kid-friendly than you might think, with an agreeable buzz and lots of movement between tables. The enticing buffet tables are laden with favourites, including noodles, sushi and sashimi, prime rib, an ocean of seafood — plus a platter of oysters and

lobster delivered to your table — Peking duck, Iberico ham and a choice of 30 desserts (we counted). What’s not to like? Children $348, adults $658 with free-flowing R de Ruinart. 11.30am-3pm, Sundays. Clipper Lounge, Mandarin Oriental, M/F, 5 Connaught Road, Central, 2825 4007.

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Table for four Wild Grass Food Kid-friendly Jean-Paul Gauci’s eco-friendly restaurant serves a three-course farm-to-table weekend brunch using locally sourced, sustainable and organic seasonal ingredients. The cosy, cottage-like setting will appeal to children, who can choose from a special kids’ menu (think spaghetti with tomato sauce, sausage and mash, fish and chips, plus dessert and a drink). At the carvery, adults can tuck into Dingley Dell pork, leg of lamb, organic chicken, fish dishes and a wide range of vegetarian options. Adults $298 plus $268 for free-flowing drinks, children $180. Weekends, noon-4pm.

It’s a farm-to-table experience at Wild Grass.

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Wild Grass, 1/F, 4-8 Arbuthnot Road, Central, 2810 1189.

Table for four Kitchen at the W Food Kid-friendly Kids aged three to 12 eat free at Kitchen at the W Hotel’s Saturday lunch buffet (noon-2.30pm). Tables groan under sushi, salmon and salad selections, and an enticing spread of desserts. Adults pay $338 each or $438 with free-flowing sparkling wine. One child eats free with each paying adult; every additional child will set you back $169. On Sundays, the venue offers the Bubbly Seafood Brunch (noon-3pm), with ocean-fresh oysters, prime Boston lobsters, hot dishes, melt-in-the-mouth desserts and free-flowing Jouët Grand Brut NV Champagne. Adults $758, children $324.

The Kitchen at the W’s candy corner.

Kitchen at the W, 6/F, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, 3717 2222.

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Home front

Folding doors between the living area and balcony help to bring the outdoors in.

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Making

space I Creative thinking and an ability to throw things away define this Discovery Bay home. By Elizabeth Kerr.

nterior designer Cynthia LieBreit’s pantry sees a lot of action. Its restaurant-style, floor-to-ceiling shelves are filled with ingredients for the freshly baked goodies that even as we speak are wafting delicious aromas throughout her home. Indisputably, the kitchen is the heart of the Discovery Bay apartment she shares with her industrial designer husband and two young children. “We love to cook. We love to entertain,” she says. “When I lived in the Netherlands and [later] in Italy, the kitchen was always what kept the household together. It was the centre of the house. So I’ve always put a lot of attention on that. It must be a living kitchen. It must be alive somehow. Often you see these great [showroom] kitchens but they’re just… dead. There’s nothing going on.” The daughter of Indonesian-Chinese parents, Lie-Breit grew up in the Netherlands and spent seven years in Italy working in fashion for the Moncler Group, followed by stints in New York and Bangkok. But she switched direction after her first son was born in Hong Kong, starting a design firm, Bricks & Mortar. It helped that a few homes she designed for friends, mostly as favours, generated the kind of attention that sparks a career change and leads to a successful business. expat-parent.com

The home front

The use of contrasting materials keeps the kitchen and dining areas looking cool and contemporary.

“When some of the projects were [featured] in design magazines I thought, ‘Maybe I should do more with this.’ I was looking to go back to work after I had a baby and I was looking for something I could do on my own and manage my own time and be with the kids. Bricks & Mortar grew very organically,” she explains. Lie-Breit’s best portfolio piece is her own home. The 1,600-square-foot, twobedroom flat is defined by its contrasts: natural wood outlines stainless steel and exposed brick butts up against polished concrete. It manages to be steely and welcoming, modern and traditional, casual and meticulous all at the same time. “It’s about the way I look at materials, colours and contrast,” she says. “Materials play a key role in establishing mood. By using contrasting materials you can transform a dull place into a far more vibrant environment. I try to make use of extensive glazing and internal windows; it is lighting that truly brings spaces alive and

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Shelving, shelving everywhere: from floor to ceiling and in between.

Materials play a key role in establishing mood

allows the rich textures and character of a home and its materials to be appreciated. Bring the outside in.” She uses unconventional methods to define different areas in the intensely open-plan space. “I knocked all the walls down that I could,” she says. “I like open space living but at the same time I want the option of dividing the area softly, without hard doors or walls. I prefer big plants or curtains to create separations.”

The spacious balcony is as stylish and comfortable as the rest of the apartment.

These soft separations help to balance the industrial grey walls, providing some of the warmth that prevents the home from feeling like a Chai Wan warehouse. Wood of the same grain and colour is used throughout and there’s an emphasis on vertical lines. So where does she keep her stuff? The answer is very simple: she gets rid of it. “My advice is to throw half of your things away. I find that very common here – people love to keep stuff,” she says. “I don’t know what it is, but most [of us] have a small space and difficulty letting go of things. If you haven’t used it in the last year, you’re not going to in the next.” US comedian George Carlin, who once said, “A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff”, would be proud. But Lie-Breit has two children, runs her business largely from home and her husband has a massive vinyl collection. It has to go somewhere. That’s where the walls and three-metre ceilings come in – Lie-Breit exploits these usually neglected areas for storage. “You won’t use that [high up] space normally, but there’s so much you can do that’s high enough. It’s all planning and design. That’s perfect for stuff you don’t use everyday. There’s so much you can do with ceilings.” Floors are fair game too. Lie-Breit expat-parent.com

Home front opted for a platform system for her children’s bedrooms, using the space underneath for storage. “I wanted to create a separate area for sleeping and for playing and I couldn’t afford a separate bedroom and playroom. So I created these little niches. This is what I mean by playing with height. There’s storage underneath the platform. It’s costeffective as well,” she says. That kind of creative thinking is the result of careful planning. The renovation took just 11 weeks, but the design started months before. The live-in helper’s quarters were converted into kitchen space, which allowed more natural light in. A dividing wall was removed so the kitchen, dining and living area share one large space

extending to an expanded balcony (with mosquito screens and foldaway doors). The flour-laden pantry is tucked behind a rare new wall. The vinyl room will eventually become another kids’ room. Lateral thinking has jazzed up even

the prosaic aspects of the design. No fan of finials, Lie-Breit couldn’t find curtain rods she liked so she opted for gas piping. But unable to find the right towel rod, she turned to curtain rod supports, which this time did the trick. She’s a fan of repurposing. “Why not? They were $15 a piece. It’s a case of thinking outside the box. I just keep quality in mind,” she says. Quality is crucial but she’s not afraid of a good bargain. With the exception of lighting, electrical appliances and hidden hardware (which come from Europe or North America), Lie-Breit has no compunction about generic made-in-China elements. A toilet bowl is, after all, a toilet bowl.

Soft wood and greenery balance the industrial feel of the master bedroom wall.

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Get the look

Home front

Atelier dining table Handmade dining suite in Forest Stewardship Council-certified teak and matt-black iron, with locking wheels, price start at $7,950, TREE, 28/F Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, 2870 1582, www.tree.com.hk.

The Zonix fan In oil-rubbed bronze with cherry-wood or walnut blades, $2,340 by Fanimation. Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Breeze, 16/F, Horizon Plaza, www.lifesabreezehk.com.

Ottopod beanbag chairs $1,800, Slack Lifestyle, 9/F Evergreen Industrial Mansion, 12 Yip Fat Street, Wong Chuk Hang, 8109 6955, www.slackbeanbags.com.

Vertical garden planter Florafelt four-pocket planter (without plants), $511 from Plants on Walls, www.plantsonwalls.com.

Canvas teepee From about $800 at various vendors on Etsy, www.etsy.com.

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Big day out

For the

birds Hannah Grogan goes flightseeing by helicopter over Hong Kong.

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Long way up

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Big day out What is it? You, Hong Kong and a helicopter – and a pilot, of course. Heliservices has been running the only sightseeing helicopter tours of Hong Kong since 1978, offering views of the city unlike anything you’ve seen before. This year, it’s introducing a new service that allows guests to book individual seats for a 12-minute round-theisland tour rather than charter the entire Twin Squirrel helicopter, which makes that dream trip far more affordable. Heliservices really knows its stuff. As well as flight-seeing tours, it provides aerial filming (remember those amazing shots of Batman jumping off Two IFC in The Dark Knight?), banner towing, VIP charters, aerial surveying, lifting and construction work. One specialist piece of kit is a water jet for cleaning the ceramic insulators on power lines, which requires precision flying.

Contrary to popular belief, flightseeing tours aren’t just for tourists with deep pockets Where is it? Take off from the roof of The Peninsula hotel. The new seat-only Victoria Harbour Experience goes around Hong Kong Island; hire the whole helicopter and you can choose from a variety of routes including Lantau, Kowloon, the New Territories, Sai Kung and the Geopark. Any experience that involves The Pen is, of course, one to remember. Take the private elevator to the gorgeous, aviationthemed China Clipper Lounge (it’s all very James Bond). After a safety briefing – we recommend taking a bottle of champagne to sip during the video – head up to the rooftop helipad, where your chopper awaits. Strap yourself in, slip on the earphones so you can speak to each other and the pilot, then prepare for the stomachclenching swoop off the 30th floor. After that, it’s a pure joy ride.

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Taking off from The Peninsula hotel

Long way up The Peninsula

Kowloon

Hong Kong Victoria Park Shek O Ocean Park

Stanley

When to go?

Why go?

Now! Heliservices is offering seats on the new Victoria Harbour Experience for a cool $1,200 per person. Flights are available daily from 11am-5pm, subject to the weather. We recommend the last flight of the day at “golden hour”, when the sunset turns the sky shades of pink and yellow, and Hong Kong’s towers seem to glow.

Contrary to popular belief, flightseeing tours aren’t just for tourists with deep pockets. Hong Kong residents will get a thrill out of seeing the city from a new perspective – after all, we know exactly what we’re looking at. Besides, it’s fun trying to spot your favourite places from the air. And photographers will be glued

to their viewfinders (those post-flight snaps are sure to be a hit on Instagram). The new trip is a great gift idea for people who have everything, a hard-to-beat date, and an affordable option to impress the in-laws when they’re in town and you’ve already run through all the city’s must-sees. Why not see all the sights again, but this time from above? For reservations and details, visit www.heliservices.com.hk.

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Travel

Above: the inifinity spa pools at the InterContinental Hong Kong.

The water’s lovely When it comes to staycations, it’s okay to judge a hotel by its pool. Hong Kong Four Seasons An entire floor is dedicated to taking a dip at the Four Seasons Hong Kong. Its four outdoor pools – a free-form infinity pool, lap pool, whirlpool and plunge pool – have unrestricted views across Victoria Harbour, as well as cabanas, lounge chairs

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and poolside snacks and cocktails. But it’s the details that really make the Four Seasons’ pool terrace feel like the last word in summer luxury. The lap and infinity pools, which are both heated year-round, are equipped with speakers so swimmers can enjoy music underwater. Even better, when the weather’s hot, the hotel hands

out free ice lollies every hour. Fab. Until September 13, the hotel’s Experience More package includes two connecting rooms with harbour views from $5,000 a night, including $800 credit to spend in its restaurants or spa. 8 Finance Street, Central, 3196 8888, www.fourseasons.com.

Travel InterContinental Hong Kong With its blow-your-hair-back views, the stepped pool terrace on the third floor of the InterContinental is justly famous. The main pool is one of the largest in the city, but it’s the three infinity spa pools – each set at a different temperature – gazing straight down the harbour that will make you pinch yourself. The pool deck is open only to resident guests and Club I-Spa members. Start the day with complimentary tai chi or yoga class poolside, or order up a meal. There’s a menu of healthy dishes all week, but at weekends it fires up the grill for deliciously tempting barbecue. Don’t try to resist. 18 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2721 1211, www.hongkong-ic. intercontinental.com. Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Sha Tin This luxury hotel is perched on the edge of Tolo Harbour, with lovely views across the water to the Pat Sin Leng range, a Michelin-

The hotel hands out free ice lollies every hour. Fab

recommended Chinese restaurant (Sha Tin 18) and the multi-award-winning Melo Spa. But your children will love it for the 25m free-form heated pool, whirlpool and kids’ pool, and snacks and drinks available poolside. Other kid-friendly facilities include Camp Hyatt, which has a large outdoor playground and indoor playroom offering

art and craft activities and supervision for children aged four to 12 (under-fours must be accompanied). There’s also a tennis court and bicycles for use on Sha Tin’s miles of cycle track. The Family Summer Package includes one night’s accommodation, two drinks by the pool, an hour in Camp Hyatt, two hours’ bicycle hire and a mini-manicure for a child aged five-15, for about $1,580. Until July 13, the Swim and Dine package includes use of the pool and a meal (up to $300) at the Pool Bar for $390 each. 18 Chak Cheung Street, Sha Tin, 3723 1234, www.hongkong.shatin.hyatt.com. The Auberge Opened last year, the Auberge Discovery Bay is a charming seaside retreat, particularly for those who regard visiting Lantau as akin to leaving town. It’s a great destination for young families, with Hong Kong Disneyland around the corner and its very own Summer Colourful Funland until August 31: think horse-drawn carriage rides, bouncy castles, sports competitions and dance and drama performances. The activity centre also hosts all sorts of arts and crafts, plus cycling and guided hikes. But the Auberge makes our list for its gorgeous 25m outdoor pool, with full

Pool with a view The swimming pool at the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is the highest in the world. Way up on the 118th floor, the indoor inifinity-edged pool is 490m above sea level, so you may find yourself swimming in the clouds.

An entire floor is dedicated to pools at the Four Seasons.

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Travel

The pool decks at the (clockwise from top) Hyatt Regency in Sha Tin, the Auberge in Discovery Bay, and the Grand Hyatt in Wan Chai.

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Travel

At the Banyan Tree Macau, there are pools in every suite (left), plus an outdoor pool (above).

Macau

ocean views of the distant city, nearby Discovery Bay Beach and Hong Kong’s only tall ship, The Bounty, which is offering trips all summer. Summer Funland Family packages include two nights’ weekend accommodation (children under 12 stay free), breakfast for three and Funland activities, from $2,700. 88 Siena Avenue, Discovery Bay, Lantau, 2295 8288, www.aubergediscoverybay.com. Grand Hyatt Hong Kong When it comes to Hong Kong hotel pools, the Grand Hyatt’s is the one to beat. Perched up on the capacious 11th-floor deck, with spectacular harbour views, the

free-form 50m pool feels like a tropical hideaway, thanks to clever gardening (and a few cocktails). Establish a base camp on the sunloungers and sally forth to use the large children’s playground, tennis and squash courts, golf driving range, 400m jogging track or The Plateau spa. Hungry? Order a barbecue feast at the poolside Grill or choose from one of hotel’s other eight restaurants. This summer, Hong Kong ID cardholders can enjoy the 828 Local Escape package for $828 per person (based on two people sharing), including breakfast, full use of the pool and gym, and overnight parking. 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, 2584 7038, www.hongkong.grand.hyatt.com.

Banyan Tree Macau The Banyan Tree Macau is pool heaven. Not only does each of its 227 suites have its own indoor relaxation pool (yes, kids, a pool right inside your room), but each of its 450 sqm, Thai-style villas has a private outdoor pool set within its own walled gardens. As well as the hotel’s own large outdoor pool, guests have access to the amazing Galaxy pool deck, complete with wave pool and white sand beach. Go the whole hog with the Summer Splash deal (MOP1,500), which includes a private air-conditioned cabana for a day for four people, with unlimited use of the pools, snacks, private poolside sun-deck, flat-screen TV, iPad, private shower and washroom, loungers and free high-speed internet access. Also available to nonguests. Suites from MOP2,799 a night. Galaxy Macau Resort, Avenida Marginal Flor de Lotus, Cotai, Macau, +853 8883 8833, www.banyantree.com/en/macau. expat-parent.com

Money & me

Victoria Allan in front of the building she bought and is developing in K-Town.

Victoria Allan The founder of Habitat Property on where to buy in Hong Kong, jobs for kids and her weakness for YSL. How much is in your wallet? $700. What credit cards do you use? Citibank, but I don’t use credit cards very often. I don’t like getting the bill! Are you a spender or a saver? You will never see much of a balance in my bank account. I’m always investing everything I have in property. Why Hong Kong? I came to Hong Kong in 1997, just before the handover, to visit friends. I was offered a job and thought, why not? Tell us about how you started Habitat? I started Habitat after a brief stint in New York in 2000. When I came back to Hong Kong, I didn’t want to work within a corporate environment. An ex-colleague encouraged me.

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What advice would you give someone starting in business in Hong Kong? Don’t think too much about it. If people realised how hard it is to run a business, they probably wouldn’t do it. When were you poorest? My first company flopped and I lost all my savings. We manufactured laptop covers and were trying to get into big box retailers in America. It was a hard market. I didn’t know enough about it and I didn’t have the cash flow to last the distance. After that fell apart, I started Habitat. It was tough. I was always struggling to find money for the bus fare. But I was determined to run my own business. Being totally broke was a definite motivator to make the new business work. Do you prefer to manage your own affairs? Yes, I manage all my own investments.

Do you invest with your partner? I’m married with two young boys. My husband also has his own business and we are involved in development projects together. What was your best investment? In 2004, I purchased the majority of an old, nine-storey walk-up building in Kennedy Town. Over the next five years I purchased the whole building, then spent four years with the Buildings Department getting various things approved. It’s been a very long and difficult process (and a huge learning curve), but at last the building will be completed at the end of August. It will have eight high-level loft apartments for leasing. It is going to be very cool and I am working with some fabulous Australian architects on the project. Do you own your Hong Kong home? We bought a house in Stanley in 2011. I had shown the property to about 30 clients. No one wanted to buy it. I showed my husband and we decided to sell other things to buy the property. It was a great decision. We did a big renovation and now we live in a really unusual house on the beach in Stanley. It’s perfect for young children. What was your worst investment? Some shares I purchased. I should have sold

Money them sooner but I held on to them for too long so lost my whole investment. Can you name the company? Davent. Arrrghhh! Disaster. What was your best paid work? It took five or six years to get Habitat established, but it is now my best paid work. Mind you, I have worked harder than in any other job.

If people realised how hard it is to run a business, they probably wouldn’t do it

Do you have any advice for teaching children about money? Give them a job! Although my parents were generous with me growing up, I always had to have a job or do some sort of work. I was helping out in my father’s engineering business during school holidays from 10 or 12 years old.

Who is your inspiration? My father. He always encouraged me to give anything a go. He taught me to believe in myself.

How much pocket money do you give your children? My children are too little, but my threeyear-old has a piggy bank where he stashes away any coins he finds and then he takes the money out to buy small toys or candy.

What is the most extravagant thing you have ever bought? I recently bought a jacket from Yves Saint Laurent that was way too expensive. I have spent far too much on clothes over the years.

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Where is a good place to invest in property at the moment? If you are looking to buy for your own use in Hong Kong, then now is a good time to buy. There are few buyers around so vendors are more open to negotiation. Is Hong Kong played out? West of Central is still a good buy. And I’m obviously biased toward Kennedy Town. Any tips on buying property for investment? Do your homework. What steps are you taking toward securing a comfortable retirement? Property is a great investment. You can see it and be active in its management. What would you change about the Hong Kong tax system? I think the Hong Kong tax system is very advantageous. Obviously I would like to see the cooling tax measures on property removed.

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Public: Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan: 2595 6111 Prince of Wales, Sha Tin: 2632 2211 Queen Elizabeth, Jordan: 2958 8888 Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam: 2255 3838 Ruttonjee Hospital, Wan Chai: 2291 2000 St John's Hospital, Cheung Chau: 2981 9441 Tseung Kwan O Hospital: 2208 0111 Tuen Mun Hospital: 2468 5111 Tung Wah Eastern Hospital, Causeway Bay: 2162 6888 United Christian, Kwun Tong: 2379 9611 Private: Hong Kong Adventist Hospital, Stubbs Road: 3651 8888 Hong Kong Baptist Hospital, Kowloon Tong: 2339 8888 Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley: 2572 0211 Matilda International Hospital, The Peak: 2849 1500 St Teresaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital, Kowloon City: 2200 3434 Union Hospital, Sha Tin: 2608 3388

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Stanley Wellness Centre 2372 9700 info@stanleywellnesscentre.com www.stanleywellnesscentre.com Talaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hair & Beauty Centre 2335 1694 talashair@biznetvigator.com www.talashair.com

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Fatherhood, the bald truth

Rich dad, poor dad Simon Parry feels judged by a car part.

’m a bit depressed at the moment because I hit a neighbour’s car when I was reversing out of our village car park the other day and cracked its bumper. “Big deal,” you might say. “It’s only a bumper. Get over it. No one died.” All very true, of course – except that my neighbour’s car is a Ferrari, which makes hitting it a bit like killing someone, only messier and more expensive. The bumper, my wife told me (glaring up from a hurried Google search for the price of random super-car parts), is worth more than my entire car. In fact, it’s probably worth more than all the cars I’ve ever owned put together, which admittedly in a list whose highlights include a Robin Reliant and a 1977 Austin Princess isn’t an awful lot. She fixed me with a penetrating stare that seemed to suggest – in terms of usefulness and possibly also in terms of sexual technique and conversational flair – the Ferrari bumper might be somewhat handier to have around the house. Perhaps she’s contemplating a trade-in. What troubles me most about the incident (apart from the fact that I may have to withdraw the children from school and train them to do a comic song-and-dance routine outside Choi Hung MTR to help cover the repair bill) is why I hit the Ferrari. After all, our village car park is full of crappy old cars, some of them almost as old and crappy as mine. Why couldn’t I have careered into the back of one of those? No one would have been too bothered. In fact, I could have reversed back and forth for minutes, laughing maniacally with Highway to Hell blasting out of my car CD player while wing mirrors, bumpers and indicators flew in all directions, and all that fun would cost me only a fraction of the price of one Ferrari bumper. But no, I had to hit a car so coveted that it gets washed and waxed by a helper every couple of days; a car that’s so gleaming and immaculate it draws groans of ecstasy and admiration from passers-by. That’s when it dawned on me that perhaps I was subconsciously driven by jealousy. Maybe I mis-steered the way I did because seeing the Ferrari was a mocking, daily reminder that I have as much chance of driving a car like that as I do of dating a Kardashian girl.

As any car salesman will tell you, a man’s vehicle reflects his station in life. I’m a sad old hack with an ancient, rusting Mercedes. My neighbour is a pilot with a matt black Ferrari. He’s younger than me. He’s handsome. He has hair. He lives in a big house. And apart from the car I reversed into, he also owns an Audi, a BMW, a jet-ski and a motorbike. He might at least have had the decency to be obnoxious and arrogant, but not a bit of it. He’s modest, unassuming, witty, friendly and reacted with extreme good grace when I sheepishly told him what I’d done and even went so far as to shrug as it if it was really no big deal. I shuffled home from my confession feeling worse, not better, for his charm and good humour. Later that evening, while I was brooding over it and snapping grumpily at my offspring, I imagined him cheerfully helping his kids with their homework, playing with them, reading them bedtime stories, or doing one of the many other tedious and pointless father-child activities I’ve long since taken a principled stand against. Tragically, these are the adult role models your children measure you against. And in Hong Kong, the depressing truth for us underachieving mediocrities is that there’s always someone close by who’s richer, better looking and more successful than you. Worse, there’s also a fibreglass bumper out there that not only has more sex appeal and purpose in life than you, but a better sense of direction too.

As any car salesman will tell you, a man’s vehicle reflects his station in life

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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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