Sai Kung Mar 2017

FAMILY | FOOD | HOME | SPORT | LIVING

March 2017

50

reasons to love

Sai Kung

The really useful magazine March 2017

PEOPLE 4 Snapped!

Sai Kung’s social life.

THE PLANNER 8 Happening in March What’s on.

NEWS 14 What’s going on?

In your backyard.

GIVEAWAYS 16 Free stuff Fab things to win.

FIVE MINUTES WITH...

18 Jarvis Chow TVB’s anchorman.

LOCAL 20 Plastic not fantastic A petition to reduce the use of plastic wrapping.

ON PATROL 21 Police blotter Sai Kung Police updates.

VILLAGE FOCUS 22 Yim Tin Tsai The revitalised village.

COVER STORY 24 50 reasons to love Sai Kung Dogs, beaches, hikes, and more.

SPECIAL FEATURE

EDUCATION 42 SCAD Hong Kong Kate Davies takes a tour.

BIG DAY OUT 46 Sham Chung Rory Mackay travels to Sai Kung West Country Park.

TRAVEL 48 Bespoke travel How to create a tailor-made holiday.

ZIM-CITY 54 Paul Zimmerman tells us to…

Save country parks.

36 Sai Kung artists Nine local artists gear up for art month.

HOROSCOPES 56 Signs from the stars Adam White predicts your future.

PETS 58 Ask Dr. Pauline “My cat has started urinating all over the house. What should I do?”. Plus Walkies.

GARDENING 61 Gardening in Hong Kong What to plant in March.

VINES IN SAI KUNG 64 A glimmer of hope Stephen Vines weighs in.

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contributors

Robyn Or flig ht a s a re po rt er, a … h a s wor k ed ow py w rite r a n d n att en d a nt, a co a free la n ce as m a k e s a liv in g w rite r. S h e d oe s nd a er p h ot og ra p h er h a ppy. R ea d h er h s e k a m r w h ate ve 18. rv is C h ow on p.

Ja h it w w ie rv inte

Louise Hill … is th e crea

tive gra ph be hi nd th is m onth ic d es ig ne r a nd a rt ist ’s co ve r. H er lo ve fo r A si a sh in es th ro ug h in he r d et aile d, co lo urfu a nd vib ra nt prints . Y ou w ill fi nd he l r eith er wor ki ng at he r co m pute r, d ra w in g boa rd or wal ki ng th e st re et s w it h he r ca m er a pl a nn in g he r ne xt a rt wor k.

To se e m ore of L ou is e’ s wor k, vi sit www. lo ui se-h ill-d es ig n. co m

o of n in g a eria l ph ot n u st e th ok to … ai p24. K im is a S on n w To g n l u Sa i K es ta ki n g a eria or d a d n a t en d K u n g re si l flyi n g s re m ot e cont ro y jo en d n a os ph ot og ra ph er h a s bee n a ph ot fo r a ctivitie s. K im a s flown d ron es h d n a rs ea y 0 fo r 2 ea rs. m ore th a n 10 y

Want to write for Sai Kung Magazine? Contact editorial@fastmedia.com.hk

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Kim Wong

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people Snaps from Sai Kung

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say cheese Snaps from Sai Kung

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people Spring Charity Barefoot Walk for Children

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say cheese

Photo by Sunny Lee

MSIG Sai Kung 50

Share your event photos with us at editorial@fastmedia.com.hk. Get snapping!

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planner

MAR 16-19

Taste of Hong Kong

A food lover’s paradise. Sample signature dishes from some of Hong Kong’s top restaurants including Arcane, Zuma and Kuam at Potato Head.

Plus there will be masterclasses, wine tastings and a Gourmet Market with over 60 artisan producers at the festival. Central Harbourfront.

For more information and tickets visit hongkong.tastefestivals.com

MAR 1-9 Suits for Success

UNTIL MAR 4 Hansel & Gretel

Donate your (gently used) work attire to help young people and those in need who require professional clothes to attend job interviews.

Donate your suits at PURE Yoga and Fitness Centres or email suitsforsuccesshk@gmail.com for details.

A living diorama of spectacle, song and puppets, inspired by the classic fairytale opera by Engelbert Humperdinck. The HKU Black Box, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong. Tickets from $150 from www.ticketflap.com

MAR 3 Kidz Night Out Held from 5.30-8.30pm, Kidz Night Out aims to provide an educational experience for children, where they can learn, build and play with LEGO. Pizza and drinks are included. $300 per child or $250 for current students.

Book your spot by calling 2791 0007. For more information visit bricks4kidz.com.hk/saikung

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Science Alive 2017

MAR 4-17

To encourage students’ participation in STEM education, Science Alive will be returning to Hong Kong with over 50 educational activities and workshops. The festival will explore a range of topics including the earth, energy, dinosaurs, and more.

Hong Kong Science Museum. For more information visit www.britishcouncil.hk

Hong Kong International Young Readers Festival Encourage children to discover the joy of reading with a series of workshops, readings and even a chance to meet some of their favourite authors.

Visit youngreadersfestival.org for programme details.

MAR 6-17

happening in March Olives, Ladies Who Lunch Dresses, Small Print and more. Coffee and prosecco will be served for all shoppers. 11am-4pm, Cena in Sai Kung Square. For more details, call Claire Brownless at 6100 0253.

Photo by Rosanne Yu

MAR 10-19 Hong Kong Flower Show

MAR 4 Welsh Society Annual Ball There will be a live auction and entertainment from Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir at St David’s Society’s annual ball. Funds will be donated to Hope Of The City which supports low income and underprivileged families in Hong Kong. 7pm-1am, The Conrad Hotel.

Tickets $1,600 per person for four-course meal and full bar from eventbrite.com

most important sectors: seafaring. Secondary schools across Hong Kong are invited to participate in interactive careers workshops with women who currently work in the maritime industries. An evening lecture, “Women at Sea: Conversation with Women Seafarers”, is open to the public (6:30-8pm). RSVP required for both events. Interested schools and members of the public should contact education@hkmaritimemuseum.org

MARCH 7, 14, 21, 28 Cantonese Slang Class

MAR 8-12 Hong Kong T20 Blitz

Learn Cantonese slang from Sai Kung resident, Kristy Lau. Holding informal Cantonese classes in Sai Kung, she will teach you a range of informal phrases for work, social situations and living in Hong Kong. 5-7 people per class.

10-11am, Steamers, $450 per person for four classes. To register, contact Kristy 6377 5567.

The world’s best T20 players join forces with the best local players in this five-team tournament. The Kowloon Cantons will be hoping to regain their crown. Tickets start from $90 at www.ticketflap.com. Visit www.hkcricket.org for more details.

Mission Road Cricket Ground, 15 Tin Kwong Road, Ho Man Tin.

MAR 8 International Women’s Day Head to the Hong Kong Maritime Museum for a series of events to celebrate women’s contribution to one of Hong Kong’s oldest and

MAR 9 Pop up shop A range of Sai Kung businesses showcasing their products including Gifts in a Tin, Not Only

Roses take centre stage during this year’s show titled ‘Blossoms of Love’. Professional horticulturalists will showcase their blooms and commercial stalls will sell flowers and gardening products. Admission is $14, open from 9am until late. Victoria Park, Causeway Bay.

MAR 11 CWS City Challenge A fundraising challenge that lets you explore Hong Kong’s hidden gems. In its 5th edition, teams of two to five people must pass through 30 checkpoints across three separate categories in three hours. Funds raised will help towards improving the Government education system in Nepal. Yau Tsim Mong District of Kowloon. 2-5pm, entry fee $300 per person, register before March 7. For more information, visit www.cwshk.org

Freespace Happening

MA 11-1R2

The final free weekend festival of the season at the West Kowloon Cultural District sees two days of live music, market stalls and even camping under the stars. Free, Nursery Park, West Kowloon Cultural District, www.westkowloon.hk

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planner MAR 19 Sai Kung Sunday Market Browse through over 60 stalls of food vendors and artisans at this well-established indoor market. Children can enjoy face painting and cuddles with adorable puppies, while you eat, browse and shop. 11am-5pm, Hong Kong Academy, 33 Wai Man Road, Sai Kung.

MAR 11-12 ALTN8 Music Festival

UNTIL MAR 18 Hong Kong Arts Festival

Indoor electronic music festival ALTN8 is coming to Hong Kong for the first time. Spread over eight venues across the city, there will be over 30 international and local artists including British bass musicians GotSome, Preditah and German artists Stephan Bodzin. Tickets $480 from www.ticketflap.com

The 45th Hong Kong Arts Festival will showcase over 150 performances and 250 special activities. This year will showcase two trilogies - HKAF commissioned and produced, A Floating Family and New York’s Public Theatre, The Gabriels.

Visit www.hk.artsfestival.org for more information.

HK Ballet: Coppelia With exquisite costumes and set designs, follow the story of a mysterious inventor, his life-sized doll and an inquisitive young group in comic ballet, Coppelia. Sha Tin Town Hall Auditorium. Tickets are $100 from www.urbtix.hk

MA 24-2R6

MAR 19 Heben Haven Sailing Centre Open Day Children and adults can enjoy sailing demonstrations and workshops. Food stalls and face painting for the kids.

Free. 10-5pm. For more information, email sailadmin@hhyc.org.hk

MAR 25 Sai Kung Saturday Hash House Harriers Join the monthly hare around the Sai Kung countryside. Child and dog-friendly, starts at 4pm. Details at sites.google.com/site/ saikungsaturdayh3

MAR 25 3-Legged Charity Walk Held at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club, participants will walk in a 3-legged manner. Christian Action’s fifth charity walk raises funds for child welfare services in Qinghai. There will be African drumming, ethnic music and dance performances, green and upcycling workshops, and more. 9am2pm. Register before March 10 at www.christian-action.org.hk

MAR 26 Mother’s Day (UK) Arrange some flowers and send her a card!

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happening in March Check out these art events around town MAR 17-20 Asia Contemporary Art Show

MAR 20 Art Gallery Night

In its 10th edition, the show will allow collectors and buyers to browse and buy original paintings, limited edition, sculpture and photography pieces.

There are two new features to this year’s event, China Perspectives and Artist Projects. Tickets can be purchased from asiacontemporaryart.com

Galleries of The Hong Kong Art Gallery Association will welcome visitors from 6pm-8pm in celebration of the city’s art events. Participating galleries will extend their opening hours and host special events and performances with cocktail reception. Free, no tickets or registration required. To see a full list of participating galleries, visit www.hk-aga.org

MAR 21-25 Art Central

MAR 18-30 Landscapes of the Mind Showcasing prints of local artist Tamera Bedford at H Studio Gallery with sushi and sake to pair. Artist reception on the 18th from 6-8.30pm. RSVP to Helen Boyd 9123 8664. 1/1 Wan King Path, Sai Kung.

Art Central returns to Central Harbourfront for its third edition, featuring over 100 leading international galleries. Large-scale installations, performances, talks and panel discussions await Hong Kong’s growing art community. Tickets start from $230 from www.ticketflap.com

MAR 22, 23-26, 27 Gum Trees - Retrospective Through photography, oil painting and drawing, Sai Kung-based artist Narelle Cridland explores her identity as an expat

living in Hong Kong in her upcoming exhibition. Opening evening on March 22.

Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, 7A Kennedy Road, Central, 9808 9940.

MAR 23-25 Art Basel International art extravaganza returns for its fifth edition. With 242 galleries from 34 countries and territories, the fair will include large-scale sculptural installations and Art Basel Miami Beach’s Kabinett, a specially curated project with thematic group exhibitions, installations, collections of historical art material.

Tickets from $250-$650 and available from hkticketing.com or call 3128 8288.

UNTIL MAR 16 2x1 Exhibition A joint exhibition by Australian-born, Sai Kung artists, Helen Boyd and Lori Foster.

Boyd will feature her four piece canvas work. Live music from local band Village Dogs. The Purple Bar, 56 Forbes Street, Kennedy Town.

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planner

BOOK NOW APR 1 Sonar 2017 Celebrating music, creativity and technology, Sonar debuts in Hong Kong and brings in a lineup of live acts and DJs including DJ Shadow, Gilles Peterson and Dave Clarke.

Tickets are $180-780. 11am-3pm, Hong Kong Science Park, Sha Tin. Visit sonarhongkong.com for more information.

APR 12-16 2017 UCI Track Cycling World Championships

105-107 Ho Pong Road, Tseung Kwan O, www.trackworldcup.hk

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Track Cycling World Cup will be held in Hong Kong is back this year at the Tseung Kwan O Velodrome. Don’t miss the top riders from around the world battle it out for Olympic qualification points. Hong Kong Velodrome,

APR 7-9 Rugby 7s Three days of beer, singing, dodgy dancing, fancy dress and not to forget the world-class rugby. Tickets are on sale for the city’s biggest sporting event, starting at $350-750 each and can be purchased at www.viagogo.com.

Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, hksevens.com

APR 23-MAY 28 The 6th Hong Kong Games The 6th Hong Kong Games will see teams competing in eight sports including athletics, basketball, futsal, swimming, tennis and more.

Held across different sporting venues in Hong Kong. Opening ceremony April 23.

Visit www.hongkonggames.hk for more information.

Got an event? We can publish the details for free. Email editorial@fastmedia.com.hk.

Great brands at

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Babyzen YOYO+

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Skip Hop Zoo Back Pack

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Entertainment Building Store, Central T 2522 7112 | Horizon Plaza Store, Ap Lei Chau T 2552 5000 Stanley Plaza Store, Stanley T 2555 6318 | Sai Kung Store, Sai Kung T 2976 0223 | D Park Store, Tsuen Wan T 2799 2923

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news

Hebe Haven Yacht Club Open Day

New dining moves Castelo Concepts newest ventures include The Boat House in Pak Sha Wan and St Barts in Clearwater Bay. The Boat House seems to include a mixture of cuisines, from Western to Thai and Japanese. While St Barts will provide a deli and a wine shop. The Castelo Concepts group has two well established restaurants in the Sai Kung area. The group opened its first restaurant Pepperonis in 1992, followed

by Jaspas in The Square and its main office is located in Sai Kung. The group has also expanded in Sai Ying Pun recently. www.casteloconcepts.com Five Coffee Company in the Old Town has relocated and rebranded. Reopening in the first week of April, the cafe will be called Blacksmith and be in its new location on See Cheung Street. Co-owner Ah Lam is passionate about his coffee and opened Five Coffee Company in 2014. The small cafe sports retro decor and will carry over their solid cup of joe and sweet treats to the new location. The Hoi Pong Square location will be transformed into a tea house. Details to come.

Blacksmith Coffee House: G/F, 17 See Cheung Street, Sai Kung Blacksmith Tea House: G/F, 3 Hoi Pong Street, Sai Kung

For the 7th year running, Hebe Haven Yacht Club (HHYC) will be welcoming adults and children 7 years and older to their open day on March 19 from 10am to 5pm. Guests will be able to test the waters with HHYC’s range of boats that are suited to different ages and experience level. As well as sailing trials and demonstrations by qualified instructors, the event will include kayaking, food stalls, children’s activities and fun and games.

Guests will be able to meet the Hebe Dragon

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Racing Squad and learn about Sailability Hong Kong which caters to those with disabilities.

This year’s open day will also see a new addition - a car boot sale, selling secondhand and pre-loved items. The open day is free and open to the public.

For more information, email sailadmin@ hhyc.org.hk. Car spaces are $200, to book a pitch for the car boot sale, contact Paul Longhurst, plong66netvigator.com

in your backyard

Casa under fire

Casa’s battle for an outdoor seating license seems to be never ending. The restaurant had reportedly been obstructing public space, and were given a few days to remove the tables placed outside. Casa’s landlord offered to hire a barrister for James Bradshaw, Nathan Fleck and the Casa team to battle the ongoing

New Montessori school opening in Sai Kung

licensing issues. They are hopeful that they will obtain the outdoor seating license in a month or two. Casa has been battling with the FEHD since it applied for its outdoor seating license.

In the meantime, Casa will operate as usual.

Shop 1, Hoi Pong Square, Sai Kung, 5594 0007.

Sai Kung Montessori will be opening its doors to children aged 3-4 years old. Following the Montessori Casa Dei’ Bambini philosophy and education, Sai Kung Montessori utilises a childcentred approach and has a three hour work day cycle. Classes will be kept small, with a maximum of seven children per class. Sai Kung resident Melody Foerster opens the school with the hopes of offering children an alternative method to learning, which is still relatively uncommon in Hong Kong. Foerster says, “there is no interview process, however, I’ll meet with parents to allow them to understand the Montessori approach and to discuss the goals they have for their children and how to achieve them together.”

For the school year 2017-2018, Sai Kung Montessori will be offering two classes for children aged 3-4. Early enrolment start April 18, with second round of enrolment on August 14.

Fees are $7,500 a month for five days a week.

Sai Kung Montessori will be holding information sessions throughout March to give parents an opportunity to learn about the Montessori approach (Mar 2 at 6.30-7.30pm; March 6 at 9.30-10.30am; March 8 at 6.307.30pm). RSVP by emailing Melody at info@saikungmontessori.com.

G/F, 787 Po Tung Road, Tan Cheung Village, 5367 8587.

New PEKiP programmes via Skype

Join the Air Plant Club Local resident, Elizabeth Albone-Keeling, has launched her newly established business, Air Plant Club, bringing Air Plants to Sai Kung.

Absorbing all of their nutrients through their leaves which come from the water and the air, Air Plants do not have roots nor do they need soil to sustain life. “It is an interesting and easy way to care for a plant that won’t take up much

room - great for a Hong Kong home,” says Albone-Keeling. Tillandsias, most commonly known as Air Plants are native to Central and South America, Southern USA and the West Indies. Plants range from $30-150.

Visit www.theairplantclub.com for more information.

PEKiP is offering Skype sessions for all Sai Kung mothers and babies to join their Prague Parent-Infant programme.

Suited to 2-5 month old babies, PEKiP is a child development programme aimed at facilitating the development of babies in their first year, through play and movement.

The PEKiP programme uses a combination of play, excercises and massages to stimulate the development of their psychomotor skills while getting the parent involved to form and establish a healthy and intimate parent-child bond.

The first PEKiP’s skype session starts March 7 and will run eight 45 minute lessons across March and April.

For more information or to register, visit www.pekip.com.hk

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giveaways

win at www.saikung.com

Bookazine

Treasure Island

The Optimist

In honour of International Women’s Day on March 8, Bookazine has compiled a list of ten inspiring books that highlight the lives and achievements of women from all over the world. The list includes Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In, I Am Malala by Taliban shooting victim Malala Yousafzai, and The Female Lead: Women Who Shape Our World by Edwina Dunn. 10 percent of sales made from this list until March 8 will be donated to local women’s charity HER Fund. We have two copies of The Female Lead, containing stories and portraits of 60 inspirational women, to give away.

Give a child an Easter break to remember at Treasure Island’s Spring Adventure Camp.

Set on picturesque Pui O Beach, the weeklong day camps include outdoor activities like kayaking, bike tours and hiking. Children aged eight to 15 are welcome; one lucky child gets a free spot from us, worth $4,300.

Enjoy a Spanish brunch fit for a king (and his kingdom!) at The Optimist. Each brunch-goer gets to enjoy the cold buffet, a selection of shared starters, one delicious main and a dessert from the chef’s selection. One lucky reader will win a $1,000 brunch voucher (enough to cover two people for brunch, with a little to spare!)

Deadline: March 15 Deadline: March 30

Deadline: March 30

Nude by Nature Australia’s #1 mineral makeup brand, Nude

by Nature, has officially arrived in Hong Kong.

The brand prides itself on being natural, 100% cruelty-free, and PETA-certified — best of all, it contains natural Australian ingredients that are great for your skin. We’re giving away a selection of products (highlight stick, eyeshadow trio, setting powder, BB cream and contour brush), worth $1,060, to one lucky winner.

Deadline: March 30

F45 F45 is the newest fitness sensation to take Hong Kong by storm, with three studios launched on Hong Kong Island within a year. Originally from Australia, the functional training program consists of daily 45-minute long team training workouts.

Rotating sixteen different exercise programs, 2,500 moves, and interval training ensures that no workout at F45 is ever the same. Two lucky readers each get a two-week pass to F45 Sheung Wan and Wan Chai.

Deadline: March 30

Subscribe to our e-newsletter to get all our giveaways delivered straight to your inbox: saikung.com/subscribe

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five minutes with

Publisher

Tom Hilditch tom@fastmedia.com.hk

Editorial

Editor-in-Chief Shreena Patel shreena@fastmedia.com.hk Editor Annie Wong annie@fastmedia.com.hk Contributing Editor Callum Wiggins callum@fastmedia.com.hk Carolynne Dear carolynne@fastmedia.com.hk Senior Staff Writer Eric Ho eric@fastmedia.com.hk

Design

Design Manager Cindy Suen cindy@fastmedia.com.hk Graphic Designer Anna Schulteisz anna@fastmedia.com.hk

Thanks to

Adam White Belinda Bamford Daniel Tsang Dr. Pauline Taylor Hazel Yin Tong Kate Davies Kim Wong Kristy Wong Louise Hill Max Yip Paul Zimmerman Robyn Or Rory Mackay Stephen Vines Vicki Lee

Published by

Fast Media Floor LG1, 222 Queens Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Illustration by Louise Hill.

Jarvis Chow

TVB’s TV anchor talks to Robyn Or about presenting at Cannes Film Festival and his passion for Japanese culture.

I began working at TVB as a reporter. In the beginning, it was only going to be for a year.

From programme research to video editing, the experience of production formed the backbone of my career as an anchor.

Being an artist was not part of my plan as I’ve always thought about studying abroad in Japan after graduation. TVB was hosting a recruitment talk at my school when I graduated. I accompanied my school mates to the interviews as they were nervous.

My first overseas job as a reporter was to record and interview Jolin Tsoi. I flew to Taiwan in the morning and came

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I tried to resign from TVB twice but failed.

back to Hong Kong in less than 24 hours. I rushed back to the office to edit and voice-over my work but my weariness vanished the moment it was broadcasted.

The essence of conducting interviews is about

communication. Not just to ask questions but to listen and follow up for more in-depth details. A good anchor should be responsible for what he says as well as taking care of the interviewee’s feelings.

Research and preparation are the foundation to good interviews; I like to ask questions that can touch the heart. Interviewees should always be the center of the interview.

I tried to resign from TVB twice but failed. I enjoyed being a reporter but studying abroad in Japan had always been my dream. I was assigned to report on Tokyo Film Festival the first

anchorman time I handed in my resignation letter. The second time I prepared to resign, they sent me to Cannes Film Festival. I quit after the festival otherwise I would never be able to accomplish my dream - to study and live in Japan.

The first day I arrived in Tokyo, my former management called and asked me to fly home as he knew I enjoyed my work. We made a deal that I would come back for a two year anchoring contract after studying a year in Japan. Hokkaido is one of my favourite places in Japan. I am interested in exploring Japanese culture so I like wandering around the countryside to meet the locals.

World’s Great Parties was filmed in 2005 and is the most exciting project of mine. The programme introduced traditional culture in five episodes - I reported on Hamamatsu Festival which is a traditional festival dating back to the 16th century to celebrate the birth of a baby by flying the kites to the sky. We were very lucky to meet a local family at the festival who welcomed us to their home. We received a lot of positive feedback from the audience as they could see the real life of local people. The episode was my baby as I did the research, script writing and voice-over.

The episode was my baby as I did the research, script writing and voice-over.

Chances come and go every single moment in the entertainment industry. Having a project today doesn’t mean the same for tomorrow.

The years when I was travelling on the shuttle bus to TVB city, I noticed that people in Tseung Kwan O can do everything like shopping, dining and sports without leaving the area.

Big shopping malls were being built around there and has made the Lohas Park area more established too. By 2020, another mall will be built serving the local residents.

Sai Kung is good for a day trip, especially for recharging from the endless work. I find taking the ferry to Half Moon Bay relaxing, I like sitting on the beach and listening to music while being surrounded by the moving waves.

It’s nice to see many independent shops in Sai Kung, selling designer and handcrafted products, it forms a unique community.

There are quite a few indie coffee shops hidden in the Sai Kung alleys.

Iced drip coffee with fruity flavours is my all-time favourite when cafe hopping.

My motto is to work hard and play hard. My short term goal is to produce a self-directed travel programme, showing the beauty of the world.

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local

Plastic not fantastic Digital

Digital Marketing Manager Charmaine Mirandilla charmaine@fastmedia.com.hk

Sales & Marketing Sales Director Oliver Simons oliver@fastmedia.com.hk

Sales & Marketing Executive Egbert Cheung egbert@fastmedia.com.hk Maria Jones maria@fastmedia.com.hk Bonnie Li bonnie@fastmedia.com.hk

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PA to the Publisher Amanda Chia amanda@fastmedia.com.hk

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www.saikung.com ads@fastmedia.com.hk @saikungmag facebook.com/SaiKungMagazine GIVE US A CALL! Admin: 3568 3722 Editorial: 2776 2773 Advertising: 2776 2772, 3563 9755 Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay Magazine is published by Fast Media Ltd. This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication.

The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Fast Media Ltd 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 in any way, part or format without written permission from the publisher.

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A Sai Kung resident has launched a petition urging supermarkets to stop using excess plastic wrapping, Annie Wong reports.

H

ave you ever come home from a supermarket haul, packed away the produce and ended up with handfuls of plastic wrapping?

Over a staggering 1,000 tonnes of waste is disposed of in Hong Kong every day. A petition, recently launched by Sai Kung resident Lisa Odell, aims to bring this number down.

Odell has made it her goal to reduce - and ultimately to eliminate - the amount of plastic used in supermarkets across Hong Kong.

“When I began looking for plastic alternatives for my own home to reduce our daily waste, I also began to realise the horror and magnitude of our world’s plastic pollution problem,” she explains.

“I felt a sense of responsibility rise up within me.” It was then that Plastic-Free HK was born - a company and social initiative that sells eco-friendly household items.

Under Plastic-Free HK, Odell has launched a petition calling on three of Hong Kong’s largest supermarket chains - Wellcome, ParknShop and CitySuper - to use as little plastic wrapping as possible to package their produce. “This petition is rooted in, and fueled by, the immense damage being done to our natural environments by plastics, specifically the oceans and marine life,” she says.

Not only is plastic harmful to the environment, but it poses a harmful effect on humans. In the first case, birds and fish see plastic as food, ingest it and die, or get tangled and maimed by it and suffer immensely. There are documented cases of turtles with plastic straws in their noses, seals with plastic wrapped around their necks and birds with bellies full of plastic waste. Secondly, plastic contains toxic chemicals, like BPA and phthalates, which leach into our food when wrapped around it, into our water when sold in it, into our waterways when littered

Sai Kung resident Lisa Odell launches petition.

into them and into our food when eaten by animals (mainly fish).

These chemicals disrupt our hormones. The effects of hormonal imbalance include the early onset of puberty, infertility and unhealthy pregnancies amongst other things.

Although Hong Kong made a step forward in reducing the use of plastic bags when the Government introduced a 50c-per-bag levy, the use of plastic wrapping on our produce is still evident.

The petition has quickly garnered almost 9,500 signatures, but Odell hopes to reach 100,000 signatures. “If all our dreams could come true with this petition, absolutely all plastic-wrapped produce would be banned from these supermarkets,” she says.

“Produce would either be sold loose or wrapped in something sustainable that will return to the earth without ill effects.”

Wellcome and CitySuper have both responded that “wrapping produce in plastic is used for the hygiene and quality of products” and that they will “continue to make efforts in reducing packaging”.

In the meantime, how can you as an individual help the environment? Odell says it is most important to refuse the unnecessary consumption of plastic around you, “this means absolutely no single-use, disposable plastics.” She stresses that there are more sustainable and eco-friendly options out there: “Purchase reusable, sustainable options like a stainless steel straw and bamboo cutlery. Personally, I have a “shopping kit” in the boot of my car that is always there for my grocery store runs.”

In the longer term, Odell wants Hong Kong to be a leader in “living in harmony with nature while still having amazing lives”. But for now, she’s focused on providing Hongkongers with alternatives to everyday plastics and bringing a more sustainable life within reach.

To help Odell’s cause and to sign the petition, visit www.change.org Have an opinion? Email editorial@fastmedia.com.hk

on patrol

Police blotter Senior Inspector Max Yip reports on the recent cases in Sai Kung.

· Four burglars from Mainland China were

arrested after they attempted to break into the Sai Kung home of actor Francis Ng. The police were notified after the security guard spotted them climbing the wall. The burglars were all arrested before they gained access to the property. The police have have been watching the individuals as they were suspected to be part of a burglary syndicate. Ng was not in the house at the time during the attempted break in.

· Operation AUTOBINDER began at the start of

.

February. The operation’s objective looks to crack down on jaywalking in the Sai Kung area and inform the public on the potential dangers of doing so. Besides leaflet distribution, officers have been stationed at the traffic crossings within Sai Kung town.

· Sai Kung Police organised a Youth

Mountaineering training programme in collaboration with the secondary students

of Sai Kung Sung Tsun Catholic School. The training was to recruit students to become ambassadors of the programme, who will promote hiking safety in the future.

· An elderly man who suffers from dementia

was reported missing after he went out for his morning walk. It turns out he had boarded a bus and made the journey to Wong Tai Sin from start to finish twice without paying. The driver noticed he may have been lost and reported to the police who picked him up at the bus station.

The police would like to remind the public that there is no hard and fast rule such as waiting 48 hours before one can report a missing person.

· A car crashed into the Ho Chung Che Kung

Temple, stopping just short of the main structure - thankfully no one was injured.The driver was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs but said to have mistaken the brake pedal for the accelerator. The case has been

passed onto the traffic department for further investigation.

· Crowd control and queue management were

conducted around the vicinity of the temple in Pak Sha Wan during the Kwun Yum Treasury Open Festival. Worshippers secure imaginary loans from Kwun Yum through offerings in hopes of raising their income in the upcoming year. Around 1,000 visitors descended onto the Kwun Yum Temple.

· A report came in about a fight that had

occurred amongst cows. The informant saw several cows at the Pak Tam Chung area and suspected they had been injured. However, the cows had left before the police arrived.

For more information, contact Sai Kung Police Station, 1 Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, 3661 1630

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village focus

Yim Tin Tsai Eric Ho visits the revitalised village.

L

ike many remote Sai Kung villages, Yim Tin Tsai is a small island which has succumbed to the perils of village abandonment. But fast forward to the present day and it seems the village has discovered a new lease of life.

Situated on the blue waters of Port Shelter, the only way of reaching the island is via the sampans lined along the Sai Kung waterfront taking only 15 minutes to transport you across to the village. As you step off the rickety sampan and take your first glance towards the lush greenery, sandy beach and crystal clear waters; you can’t help but become captivated by the idyllic charm of the island.

The entrance of the village is marked by a large old tree which faces out towards the sea. “This tree has been here for hundreds of years,” shouts the man working behind the small village store. Similar to the village, the tree has managed to stand the test of time.

The Chan family came and settled on the offshore island some 300 years ago, originating from the Yantian district of Shenzhen, formerly known as Yim Tin - a place well known for its salt farming; the name Yim Tin means ‘salt pan’ in Cantonese.

The Chan family decided to name their new island Yim Tin Tsai which translated to ‘little salt pan’, in honour of their homeland.

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For many years, the villagers were able to live off farming, fishing and salt-making; selling what they had to other villagers in Sai Kung.

Unfortunately, the diminishing farming industry and cheaper imported salt left the villagers yearning for better opportunities elsewhere, and in 1998 the last resident of the island had left.

“We wanted to restore Yim Tin Tsai back to its former glory even before it was completely abandoned. We had actually begun planning back in 1994,” says Colin Chan Chung-yin, village chief of Yim Tin Tsai. “Restoration work finally started in 2008 and by 2011, the island had its first full-time resident back.” Although not a former villager, the resident decided to rent a house on the island so that he could help save Yim Tin Tsai.

Yim Tin Tsai holds daily ecotourism tours which welcome a flurry of visitors into its village. The salt pans have been reopened for demonstration purposes, and the salt produced is now used for souvenirs only. Chan explained his future plans for the island, “We want to restore the collapsed buildings so that former villagers can return and enjoy life on Yim Tin Tsai as they once did.”

Want to have your village featured?

Email editorial@fastmedia.com.hk

One of seven beautiful stained glass paintings created to illustrate the Yim Tin Tsai lifestyle in the old days - this one depicts marriage on the island.

How to get to Yim Tin Tsai • Take a sampan from Sai Kung waterfront.

Return ticket costs $50.

• English-speaking ecotours are available for $75 per person, which includes a return sampan ride. Fill out the application form on www.yimtintsai.com or email yttvillage@yimtintsai.com

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cover story

Sai Kung Tang Shiu Kin Sports Ground

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Sai Kung Swimming Pool

50 shades of Sai Kung

50

reasons to love

Sai Kung

By Annie Wong.

The Square

Photo by Kim Wong

Sai Kung Public Pier

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cover story

50

Whether it’s uphill or a leisurely stroll, giving yourself a challenge or taking the family out, Sai Kung has plenty of hiking routes. Voted “Best place to take the kids” in Sai Kung Readers’ Choice Awards, Trio Beach is a family-friendly hike which lets you dip your feet in the crystal clear waters while the children will be kept entertained in the playground. Or If you’re up for the challenge, the infamous Sharp Peak measures 468m and the steepness of the mountain will test the limits of even the most experienced hikers.

Ranging from selling little trinkets and locals making traditional rice rolls to quaint coffee shops, Sai Kung Old Town has a maze of stalls and businesses. It was also home to someone we’ll always remember - the tin man.

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The Square always has a jovial atmosphere with kids playing in the playground and residents chit-chatting at nearby cafes.

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Sai Kung has been featured in well over 30 documented films with some of the most famous celebrities of their era visiting our beautiful villages and utilising the natural beauty for their films. Films include Dragon; The Bruce Lee Story (Nam Shan San Tsuen), The Killer (along the promenade) and The Sand Pebbles (Three Fathoms Cove).

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Get on the water and ride the waves!

Whether you like surfing, paddle boarding or wakeboarding, the choices are endless. Blue Sky Sports Club offer a range of watersport

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courses and camps for teenagers and adults. For more information, visit bluesky-sc.com The Hive screens a movie every month on their rooftop. Grab some popcorn at the next movie screening - it’s bound to be a hit with the kids! 5 Tai Mong Tsai Road, thehive.com.hk

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Sai Kung has several unique features and landmarks, all with great history.

Formerly a fishing village, majority of the residents were ‘hakka’, and made a living through the means of catching or selling fish.

The hills and bays of Sai Kung also protected the guerillas of Hong Kong Independent Battalion during the Japanese occupation.

Many monuments built to commemorate the events can be found across Sai Kung today, including the ‘Memorial Monuments for Sai Kung Martyrs During World War II’ in Tsam Chuk Wan.

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High five!

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There are the long-established classics like Jaspas but the new restaurants in the Square, like The Conservatory and Calimex are also making a name for themselves.

Whether you’re craving Japanese, Mexican or you just want to hunker down on a BLT sandwich, Sai Kung’s got it.

Jaspas: 13 Sha Tsui Path, Sai Kung, 2792 6388, www.casteloconcepts.com Ali Oli: G/F, 11 Sha Tsui Path, Sai Kung, 2792 2655, www.alioli.com.hk The Conservatory: G/F, 26 Wan King Path, Sai Kung, www.enotecagroup.com Cali-mex: 22 Wan King Path, Sai Kung, cali-mex.com

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Paddle ! boarding

There is so much more freedom of space and cleaner air to breathe. Sai Kung has the best beaches in Hong Kong by far - great sand, clear water and fun waves for surfing, even during the winter months.

Ian McKay, Sai Kung resident

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cover story Hire out a sampan from along the waterfront and travel out to the islands of Sai Kung. Sampan rides start from around $100. We recommend going to four or five islands which will take around two hours, giving you enough time to explore each island sufficiently. Popular destinations include Sharp Island, High Island and Po Pin Chau.

Remember to check out prices at several companies before settling!

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Hi!

Junk Season!

There are eight barbecue areas spanning just within the Sai Kung Country Parks, with 152 barbecue pits in the Tai Mong Tsai barbecue area alone. Invisible Kitchen offers different BBQ packages like the Classic BBQ menu, to make your experience easier. Grab your friends, pack a few essentials and get grilling!

Invisible Kitchen: 2711 5788, www.invisiblekitchen.com

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Some people like the anonymity of living in the city but I prefer living in a place with so many familiar faces.

I love that it can take 20 minutes to walk across the square because you bump into so many people - adults and children that you know!

Matt Cooper, Sai Kung author

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Sai Kung is the ultimate hotspot for junks. Travel out to the Ninepin Group to see the glorious rock formations if the weather is good. Otherwise Tai Long Wan and Millionaire’s Beach are also popular favourites.

Try Hong Kong Yachting for your next junk trip, hongkongyachting.com

The people of Hong Kong flock to Sai Kung waterfront to witness local and international teams battle it out in the sweltering heat. Yat yee, yat yee! Visit www.dragonboat. org.hk for more information on this year’s races.

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Sai Kung is a haven for children.

Whether you’ve got a tech-head or an artist in the making, there are a handful of classes to keep the kids entertained over the summer.

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Ranging from artisanal food to jewellery, face painting to clothes, Sai Kung Sunday Market welcomes over 60 stalls every month at Hong Kong Academy. Check website for the next market date www.saikungmarkets. com

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Sai Kung has pockets of villages ready for you to explore. The well-kept Hoi Ha makes a great day trip for water sports and barbecues. Or explore the revitalised village of Yim Tin Tsai - read about what we thought on p22.

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There are beautiful views of Sai Kung from every angle. Every angle.

The art scene in Sai Kung is blossoming.

Sai Kung hosted its first Sai Kung Art and About in 2016 and returned in December of the same year. The events showcased numerous art works and hosted workshops for art lovers, collectors and buyers. We interview nine local artists on p36 - see what they have planned for art month.

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50 shades of Sai Kung

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Sai Kung’s great outdoors provides the perfect spot for numerous outdoor challenges and events including Action Asia and charity events. Take a look at the photos from MSIG Sai Kung 50 on p6, or check Action Asia’s website for upcoming events, www.actionasiaevents.com

Coffee culture is strong in Sai Kung.

There are a handful of cafes in the Square including Classified but a few of our favourites include Little Cove Espresso and BEI Coffee in the old town.

Little Cove Espresso: G/F, 34 See Cheung Street, Sai Kung, 9423 1655, www.instagram.com/littlecove.espresso.

BEI Coffee: G/F, 3 Sai Kung Tai Street, 2791 5278, www.facebook.com/bei.coffeekan

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t’s wha p? u

Just hangin’

process in fishing villages to add salted fish to make claypot rice and it is also regularly added to congee.

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Admire rock cliffs and sea caves on Nine Pin Islands or the hexagonal rock columns on the Sai Kung volcanic rock region.

Live Nature’s eco tours operates five tours around Sai Kung’s geological landscape.

There are several tours throughout the day depending on the tour.

Live Nature: 8200 0248, www.ecotoursaikung.com

Sai Kung welcomed Hong Kong Golf and Tennis Academy late 2016. The Academy spans across a total of 76,200 sq meters, bringing together world-class golf and tennis facilities all under one roof. Two year admission packages are priced at HK$160,000 and 10-year admission at HK$500,000. For more information, visit www.hkgta.com

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You’re bound to see locals drying egg yolk and salted fish on the streets of Sai Kung. It may seem quirky but it’s a traditional

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The air quality in Sai Kung is better… sometimes…

A slower pace of life.

Who doesn’t like that?

From a facial at Sense of Touch to having your tootsies filed and polished at Sabai Day Spa, Sai Kung isn’t short of pampering spots… and relax!

Sense of Touch: G/F, 77 Man Nin Street, 2791 2278, www.senseoftouch.com.hk Sabai Day Spa: 2F/10D, Po Tung Road, 2791 2259, www.sabaidayspa.com

ven Hebe Ha ! ub Yacht Cl

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Sai Kung. Where everybody knows your name.

Whether you need a steamer, a tent, a Christmas-tree fairy or a 12-foot swimming pool, you’ll find it at Shun Kee City Houseware. Shun Kee opened over 50 years ago and was affectionately named ‘Harrods’ by residents with its wide range of products.

6-10 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, 2792 9850.

It’s the relaxed lifestyle community that warms the most.

People simply smile & laugh more here. A breath of fresh air in more ways than one.

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cover story

The coast. Especially in winter, when the sun is shining and the beaches are empty – except for us and the three sea eagles circling Snake Bay last weekend.

Cruising back to Pak Sha Wan at sunset is the best journey in the world.

Jane Steer, Sai Kung resident

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Sai Kung is extremely blessed with plenty of stunning beaches. It is also a great place for a family day out. Dig your toes into the sand and take a dip in the crystal clear waters.

Our three favourites include Tai Long Wan, Trio Beach and Long Ke. Sai Kung Country Park. The hikes, villages, beautiful scenery. What’s not to like? Maybe the snakes...

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The community. Everyone is friendly and will band together to support each other.

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Sai Kung Magazine. Come on, you know you love us!

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Sai Kung’s waterfront is filled with seafood restaurants. Choices are endless but we recommend salt and pepper mantis shrimp at Michelin star Chuen Kee Seafood Restaurant and razor clams in black bean sauce at Loaf On who earned Sai Kung’s first Michelin star.

Chuen Kee: 51-55 Hoi Pong Street, Sai Kung, 2791 1195.

Loaf On: 49 See Cheung Street, Sai Kung, 2792 9966.

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Founded by a small group of parents from Clearwater Bay and Sai Kung, Sai Kung Stingrays has come a long way from its first training session in 2006. The club celebrated their 10 year anniversary in 2016 and welcomes over 700 players across Hong Kong.

To sign up visit www.saikungstingrays.com

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You can witness beautiful and exquisite wildlife in your backyard - from butterflies to dragonflies and monkeys to sea eagles.

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There aren’t a lot of places in Hong Kong where you can dine alfresco. Although there are several battles with the FEHD on outdoor seating licenses, Sai Kung is home to a few great outdoor dining options.

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cover story

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Natural beauty at your doorstep - the mountains and the beaches are just a stone’s throw away.

Sai Kung Astropark allows guests and enthusiasts to view the Milky Way in a 1,200 sq ft area. Avid astronomers can bring their own telescopes (electricity is provided at an extra cost). You must book if you plan to camp overnight. www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Space

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We’ve seen it all - dogs in sunnies, dogs in prams, dogs with multi-coloured paws…

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The mouth-watering pineapple bun at Sai Kung Cafe & Bakery. Mmmm…

Sai Kung Cafe and Bakery: G/F, 6-7 Kam Po Court, 2 Hoi Pong Square, Sai Kung, 2792 3861.

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Happiness costs just $9! Pick up an ice cream from the Mobile Softee van parked near the bus bay by the waterfront.

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Tee up at Kau Sai Chau. Hong Kong’s only public golf course houses a drop-in driving range and three 18-hole courses. It’s only a ferry ride away from Sai Kung waterfront. Day passes are $360 on weekdays and $400 on weekends and public holidays. www.kscgolf.org.hk, 2791 3318.

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Being able to buy fresh seafood from the sampans docked on the waterfront. There are floating seaside markets almost every day of the week where you’ll be able to find an array of seafood including fish, shrimp, clams and more.

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You’re bound to see Sai Kung’s psychedelic parrot man and the guy sitting with his majestic-looking cat along the waterfront.

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I love the natural beauty of Sai Kung. The landscape and lush surroundings give me a calming reassurance and delivers peace-ofmind when relaxation is needed. It’s peaceful.

Denise Steller, Sai Kung resident 32 | WWW.SAIKUNG.COM

That ‘small town feel’ that’s next to impossible to find anywhere else in Hong Kong.

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Grabbing a pint of beer with your mates at Steamers.

Steamers: 66 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, 2792 6991, www.steamerssaikung.com

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P olly w

ants crackera

50 shades of Sai Kung The waterfront promenade is arguably one of Sai Kung’s most iconic areas.

It’s a beautiful stretch where residents enjoy leisurely strolls and take their dogs for their daily exercise. The view across the water is like none other, making it a great escape from the chaotic city centre.

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4 3

Cows!

A walk around Permaclub’s grounds sees a huge variety of plants, fruits, vegetables and herbs being grown, composting and rainwater recycling systems and even a pond full of frogs. You can find Permaclub at the

bottom of Hang Hau Wing Lung Road in Clearwater Bay, To find out more about Permaclub, email Jacqueline at info@permaclub.org.

MOO

Sai Kung is a melting pot where east meets west, old and new, lively and green.

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We like to embrace the many great outdoor activities Sai Kung has to offer. Whether we're on the water on a SUP, on a trail hike, or out camping, this is what makes us happy and where memories are made.

Dayle Haigh-Smith, Founder of Outdoor Fitness

SouthStream Ad_19x12_O.pdf

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17/2/17

10:47 am

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1

You!

Every one of you makes Sai Kung a nice, friendly, and safe place to live.

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50 shades of Sai Kung

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special feature

Painting Sai Kung

As art month descends into Hong Kong, Annie Wong speaks to nine Sai Kung artists to see what they have in store for art lovers.

I have lived in Sai Kung for the last 20 years.

I love its landscape, flora and fauna, character and natural textures which I translate into my art.

I specialise in mixed media, mostly on canvas, working in abstract and semi abstract urban and natural landscapes; and also life drawing. It is an ongoing exploration of techniques, materials and ideas.

My latest work is the ‘Firestorm’ series, a metaphor for a journey through adversity and emerging regeneration. My future projects include a series of photographic and mixed media work inspired by the local landscape.

Sai Kung has a thriving, up and coming art community, especially since the ‘Sai Kung Art and About’ events that were held last year.

The new and existing studios and galleries helps promote the artistic creativity in the local community and provides the opportunity for more people to be involved. I will be exhibiting “2x1” together with fellow Australian artist and local resident, Helen Boyd in March. I hope one day, I’ll be able to see a National Art Gallery open in Hong Kong.

“2x1” exhibition will be held at The Purple Bar, Kennedy Town until March 16. Lori’s work is available from H Studio in Sai Kung.

Lori Foster

As an artist, I am constantly in search of patterns and textures in the urban environment.

I also seek inspiration from the culture of places that I travel to and incorporate subtle often hidden references to literature, religion and portraiture into my works.

I have explored many different media and new processes to explore colour and texture.

My decisions derive from a textile aesthetic and composition but in more recent years, I have focused more on printmaking, painting and combinations of these.

My last two exhibitions in Hong Kong were a collection of encaustic paintings based upon endangered species and a collection of digital works exploring human spaces.

I am now combining these two processes by incorporating digitally edited imagery into

Sue Perks

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my encaustic paintings for a 2017 collection which will be exhibited in November.

The development of my encaustic work is my long term plan as working with beeswax constantly presents technical challenges, there is a wonderful spontaneity but also a need to control the hot beeswax which is immensely satisfying.

I have lived in Sai Kung for the majority of the 14 years I have lived in Hong Kong.

I like the small town feel of Sai Kung where shop owners know you by name and the accessibility to the country park - I am fortunate in that I have a great sea view which I never fail to appreciate. I exhibit regularly in Hong Kong, as well as Sydney in Australia.

I have now settled into a rhythm of creating a collection every two years to achieve a balance between my full time teaching and my own practice.

To see more of Sue’s work, visit www.sueperksart.com or email sueperksart@gmail.com

colour my world

I’ve been painting and drawing since I was a child. I started following my dream to study fine arts at a community college where I slowly built up a portfolio.

The mediums I work with include drawing, painting, collage, mixed media and photography. The topics I paint stem from life drawing to abstract and everything in between.

I enjoying living in Sai Kung as it’s a good mix of old style Hong Kong and western influences; I like wandering and being inspired by the locals going about their day, be it tending to their fishing boats or celebrating Chinese New Year with all the rituals. My art is inspired by living in Hong Kong in combination with my ideas sparked from my imagination and childhood. The art community in Sai Kung is growing into something really unique. I co-run H Studio gallery - a collection of three studios which I hope to support more Sai Kung artists. It’s great to work with other artists, bounce ideas off each other, get feedback and collaborate on events.

I’ve just completed a four-piece canvas work for a joint exhibition called ‘2x1’ with local artist, Lori Foster in Kennedy town.

As well as running workshops, holding exhibitions and hosting drawing groups, I’m currently working on a large body of work for a solo exhibition that will take me 12-18 months to complete. As March is art month I’ll also be exhibiting some artwork for a couple of upcoming charity exhibitions too. It’s an exciting month for art.

“2x1” exhibition will be held at The Purple Bar, Kennedy Town until March 16.

To see more of Helen’s work, visit helenbronteboyd.com

Helen Boyd

From a young age, my grandparents have always wanted to educate my brother and I in our traditional and cultural heritage of Hong Kong. It was at this time that I was exposed to artistic activities and when I started learning from a local artist. I fell in love with art and art history, learning about the different techniques, the artists and movement within the history of art now and then.

In the beginning, my art was studies of the human form and the creation of my own style in painting to mix mediums with painting surfaces.

It later transformed into landscape drawings of Sai kung with appreciation of space and lines. Sai Kung, to me is such a beautiful place, an urban coastal town with an open natural landscape.

I had the idea around five years ago of creating a wider community for the artists. I felt many of the talents around Hong Kong were too

Tony Cheng

introverted so I wanted the wider public to know that art was not just from abroad, but also here in Hong Kong.

In 2016 that vision became reality, I became the co-founder of the very first Sai Kung Art And About, an outdoor art fair created to introduce the artists themselves to local people, telling the world that Hong Kong has a diverse creative mind of its own.

“Sundial” was my last piece of work which was part of my Sunflower series; a painted blossom of sunflowers applied on a light tone circular tiled board to bring out the vibrant yellow. A controlled application of brush strokes with a cheeky little twist and a collage of gold leaves which gave it its name.

I am currently working on “One Hundred Suns” which I hope to complete by the end of this year.

All artists have the dream of creating something ‘big’ in the art world, including myself. I have a few big ideas but let’s not ruin the surprise for the future.

To view Tony’s work, visit www.chichingtonycheng.com

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I am happy to see that there are so many talented artists in Sai Kung who are all so supportive of each other.

I have been living in Sai Kung for the past four years and currently live inside the Country Park. I love the peace and quiet, as well as wonderful scenery and great places to walk my dogs.

I paint contemporary realism in watercolour, focusing on still lifes, tropical flowers and foliage and portraits of pets and children. My still lifes often contain blue and white china which is always a lovely reminder of Asia.

With my paintings of tropical foliage, I hope to bring the beauty of nature from the outside to the inside, and with my portraits, I hope to capture a moment in time which will last forever. I love the luminosity of watercolour, it dries quickly and doesn’t smell. The sunlight brings out a myriad of colours, shadows and abstract shapes and patterns, especially on glassware and crystal, this is where my inspiration stems from.

In the next couple of years, I’d like to move away from traditional watercolour and experiment with watercolour and acrylic inks on a surface other than paper. I am working on the establishment of a new art society, Flora & Fauna Artists of Hong Kong for 2017, with the aim of recording the flowers, foliage and wildlife of Hong Kong. At the moment, I am also starting some pet portraits and working on paintings for exhibitions outside of Hong Kong.

To see more of Sarah’s work, visit www.sarahwatercolours.com

Sarah Bent

I have enjoyed standing in front of a canvas with a paintbrush as long as I can remember. I have lived in Sai Kung since the 2000s.

My artwork is inspired by this and discuss my identity as an expat living in Hong Kong - I paint oil on canvas and linen and use different Chinese and Australian symbols to communicate a narrative.

As for my photography, I photograph images of interest on a digital camera and then use a unique technique to carefully scratch back the emulsion of the photographic paper - this allows me to draw on the photographic paper; removing and adding subject matter.

I have been monitoring Sai Kung’s art community and it is exciting to see more cultural and art projects popping up over the last few years - art and cultural events help bring a community together.

Currently, I’m working on some photographs that I took from the Kimberely region in Western Australia for the book ‘A Town is Born, the Fitzroy Crossing Story’. A few upcoming exhibitions include Gum Trees - Retrospective,

Narelle Cridland

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which includes a combination of photographs and oil paintings completed over the past five years.

I studied both photography and painting and recently went back to University to study Art History. I work as the Specialist Visual Arts Teacher (primary) at the Australian International School. I love working with and teaching children different techniques in art and watching them work through the art making process; watching children start with a blank canvas and generating an artwork that has a personal meaning to them is exciting and rewarding.

To see more of Narelle’s work, visit www.narellecridland.com or email narellecridland@hotmail.com

colour my world I work mainly with oils on canvas. I am really interested in capturing light and texture.

I would like to show people in all their strengths and vulnerabilities. My last series was about the ‘hidden’ people working at the ground level of Hong Kong society. This time I am working on a large oil, painting women of all types, in some great costumes like the national dress of Korea - a Hanbok. It has jewel-like colours and rich textures which I am trying to capture with the movement and grace of the woman wearing it.

What inspires my art is the people around me, not just those in the immediate vicinity, but everywhere. I have lived in Sai Kung for over 15 years. The art community in Sai Kung is very diverse, both in who is doing it and what they are doing. It would be nice to get together with other artists from time to time.

I would like to experiment as I go on with working with actual textiles as part of mixed media pieces as well. In the coming years, I would like to look into the beauty of yoga, maybe do a series of yoga poses. I would like

Claire Billson

to have a series through which I can show people the beauty of women - not just physical beauty, but inner strength, serenity, feistiness and wisdom, and set that off against gorgeous textiles from around the world.

To see more of Claire’s work, visit clairebillson.com

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special feature I’m relatively new to art but I love the freedom it gives me. I like mixed media - watercolours, acrylics, charcoal and painting cityscapes and portraits in acrylics.

For speed I like to paint with the edge of an old credit card.

I’ve lived in Sai Kung for just over a year and a half. I got into art in 2015 when I had three months between jobs. I spent hours in basic art classes with retired people and set up a small studio in my basement to experiment with paint.

There are a few champion artists in Sai Kung that are making a difference and I hope this builds momentum at all ages for the art community here. I’m privileged to know many of the artists here - that’s really what makes it count for me. It’s fabulous being in the same space with passionate artists and seeing a variety of styles and skills.

Through my art, I want to show the wonder and brightness of the world we live in, and sometimes also the darkness. I’m currently working on “Colours of the Night”, pieces for an exhibition I’m hoping to put on using cityscapes and portraiture.

To see more of Peter’s work, visit ploartist.wixsite.com/portfolio or email ploartist@gmail.com

Peter Lo

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I am a self-taught artist. I’ve lived in Sai Kung for five years but first became interested in creating art when I moved to Beijing eight years ago. In my first year of creating art, I was doing mainly pencil drawings which then progressed to traditional Chinese ink brush painting and oil painting. From there I’ve played with different kinds of media and techniques ranging from painting to printmaking.

The work I’ve been making for the last few years is a multi-staged process which begins with making an original painting on small pieces of watercolour paper using both watercolor paint and, usually, ink. Sometimes I employ other material to alter the images, such as rubbing salt or sand into the wet paint or using special pens from Japan. Once I’ve finished making the initial piece I then work with a fine art printer on Hong Kong island to enlarge it.

I’m currently working on a set of watercolour paintings inspired from images taken from space, they are all of natural landscapes which span the globe. With them I hope to convey from a macro sense all of the beauty found around the world. The paintings are abstract in design, and span different landscapes from the Antarctica to the Sahara.

Everything I make is abstract and comes directly from my mind. The works are influenced by the time I have spent in the natural world, my interest in human consciousness and things I have been exposed to in my many travels.

For me, the creation of my art is truly an exercise in meditation and I hope to allow others looking at it to get a sense of that for themselves.

My art is very personal to me but that is about to change as I have my first solo show this month in Sai Kung at H Studio.

I think there are a lot of creative people living in the Sai Kung area, working in many different

Tamera Bedford

areas. I’d like to see artists in the area interacting and collaborating more. I think, together as a group, Sai Kung has a lot to offer the Hong Kong art community. I look at my work as everexpanding and try not to place any limitations on myself. As a self-taught artist, I have a lot of freedom in what I make and how I make it, which makes what I’m doing unique and fresh.

Tamera’s first solo exhibition will be held at H Studio Gallery from March 18-30.

To see more of Tamera’s work, visit www.tamerabedford.com or email Tamera at tamera@tamerabedford.com

Want to buy art?

The Art House Asia aims to provide a space for people to view artworks in ‘real’ lifestyle spaces. Founder, Helen Smeaton, invites people into her home on Siu Hang Hau Road in Clear Water Bay to give them the full experience of the artworks in a space buyer’s intend them for - homes.

Smeaton features a handful of international artists and local artists. Currently, The Art House Asia is exhibiting Sai Kung artist Phillipa Bloom’s work.

Visit thearthouseasia.com for more information. To book an appointment, email enquiries@thearthouseasia.com or call 5648 7474.

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education

SCAD Hong Kong

Kate Davies visits the Savannah College of Art and Design where the next generation of artistic talent is being nurtured.

T

ucked away on Tai Po Road is the former North Kowloon Magistracy.

The historical building erected in neoclassical style in the sixties was once devoted to dispensing justice to small time criminals. Today it houses the Hong Kong campus of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), a university established in the U.S. that doesn’t teach law and order but rather is focused on grooming professionals that will go on to do justice for creative businesses and industries around the globe.

“We have a long history of historic restoration at SCAD”, says John Paul Rowan, vice president of strategy and innovation at SCAD. “Of the 115 buildings [we occupy] everything apart from four are historic structures”. Rowan was heavily involved in the development of the Hong Kong site. He and I are talking in Courtroom number 1, which still very much resembles the original space,

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complete with teak floors, prisoners dock, security bars and an iron gate. There is also a fabric chandelier hanging from the ceiling and a large decorated commemorative horse watching us intently from a ledge above the doorway that are both creations of SCAD alumni. In fact, the entire building is a compromise between the modern and historical. The bronze-studded panel doors at the main entrance, the natural granite staircases, the main courtroom and an original detention cell have all been carefully restored, this is offset by every available inch of visible wall space filled with pieces of art by current students and alumni. SCAD’s efforts have been recognized by the UNESCO AsiaPacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation for their impressive revitalisation.

The Hong Kong campus is one of four the university runs. Students can attend the school from the Savannah or Atlanta campuses in North America or Lacoste, France; and if they

can’t make it to any of those there is also an e-learning option. “Why Hong Kong?” I ask.

“We saw interest [in SCAD] from all over Asia, but students didn’t end up joining because the school was just too far away”, says Rowan.

He goes on to tell me that Hong Kong had a “special vibrancy” and that they thought they could offer something unique that wasn’t available here. “We are the largest non-profit art and design university in the world. That allows our students to have hyper-specialisations.”

In essence this means that students do not enroll to SCAD to earn a broad degree in film for example. The size of the school allows the students to major in specialisations that run the gamut from visual effects to motion media design, 2D animation, 3D animation, stop motion animation, directing and producing among many others. Currently the school offers more than 40 degree programs including building, communication, entertainment, liberal

creative creatures and fine arts as well as design, fashion, digital media and foundation studies.

The courses at SCAD are global in a very real sense of the word. “Once a student is admitted to SCAD, they are admitted to all the locations,” Rowan tells me. “With just one week’s notice, when a new term is starting, a student can apply to join another campus where the housing costs and tuition are the same.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of all the locations to get as much of a global perspective as possible”. Faculty on the other hand are encouraged to be as contextual as they can with the location they are in. In terms of Hong Kong, SCAD’s fashion department really lucks out. Being based in Sham Shui Po means they have the “best fabric sourcing in the world on their doorstep”, Rowan explains. “That, and Hong Kong has a great tailoring tradition.” He tells me they hold fine art exhibitions around Hong Kong, with a recent exhibition in Pacific Place repurposing old switch gears donated by China Light and Power (CLP). Students made them into kinetic sculptures, “one even turned them into a fountain, which was pretty cool.”

SCAD are also the official education partner for Art Central and they collaborate with the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre. With March being a big month for art in Hong Kong I did ask if they had anything planned but Rowan refused to disclose anything in detail just yet. “Stay tuned,” he says “they’re going to be really good.”

The collaborations don’t stop there. One of the components that SCAD focuses on is adapting these skills for the professional world.

“From the very first class you’re building a resume,” Rowan tells me. Every student has a ‘Student Success Advisor’ (as opposed to

a general advisor) and a faculty advisor just within the student’s discipline. On top of that, once the student has an idea of what career opportunities are, SCAD tries to connect the student with someone in the school who has career experience they want to replicate or experience in a company they want to work for.

Students are also expected to hit the ground running, professionally speaking. “We don’t wait until students graduate to have them working with companies in Hong Kong. They work with HSBC, CLP, MTR, Hallmark Cards, Coca Cola and Yves Saint Laurent [among others]”. Many of these companies go on to hire students

after graduation. In fact, the SCAD prospectus states that in an alumni survey, 98 percent of the Spring 2015 graduates were employed, pursuing higher education or both within 10 months of graduation. To add to the ‘real world’ element of the schooling, many of SCAD’s faculty are ex-professionals who have come full circle to teach the next generation their craft.

I didn’t meet any faculty on my tour of the campus but I did peer into a classroom filled with a dozen trendily dressed fashion students who didn’t notice my face peering through the glass as they busily chatted to each other over a project. The classes are kept very small on purpose I’m told, with a maximum of 20 students although the average is 12.

For those taking visual effects, animation, and motion media design programmes, the school also has a fully equipped Green Screen Studio while in the homework lab students have access to industry standard Wacom tablets and custom Apple Mac and Hewlett Packard machines, made for SCAD specs.

Throughout the campus are little study nooks and interestingly decorated spaces for students to gather and while the furniture in the Hong Kong building is mainly bought, some of the furniture in the Savannah campus is made by the

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education

School Report

students and purchased from them. It’s all part of the process of teaching students business practices in how to sell their creations and price them appropriately. On the ground floor is the original, though, refurbished cafeteria and the library, which, although it may appear small at first, is home to 15,000 circulating volumes, more than 100 periodicals, plus it has

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access to around 400,000 e-books. Students can also request books from other campuses that can be sent over. “We try to make sure that students have any resource they could possibly need for any project they want to take on,” Rowan explains.

So, who are the students? “The type of students that want to come to SCAD are those

Established: 1978 Class size: Faculty to student ratio: 1:19 Curriculum: B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A. Fees 2016/2017: Various undergraduate and graduate options, check website for details Non refundable capital levy: N/A Address: 292 Tai Po Road, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon Tel: 2253 8044

who are incredibly creative, great problem solvers and who want to be innovators,” Rowan tells me. “I want passion, we can’t teach that. I can teach you everything else, I really can.” From what I can see, there is no shortage of passion here.

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big day out

A Sham Chung adventure Rory Mackay explores the depths of Sai Kung West Country Park.

Remote, picturesque and obscure. Sham Chung possesses a little bit of something for everyone. With its traditional hamlets and old woodlands, set in a basin ringed by rolling hills, the Sham Chung region is one of the jewels in the crown of rural Hong Kong. From familyfriendly outings and historical rekeys, to day hikes and mountain biking, this idyllic enclave has plenty of enticing options to keep you more than entertained for the day.

Easily reached, it makes for a convenient full or half day trip away from the city. Nestled within the northern coastline of Sai Kung West Country Park, Sham Chung was once synonymous with being one of Hong Kong’s largest wetland areas. Despite these not existing anymore, it is still a lovely place to visit full of ponds and open

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grassland, a very rare sight in Hong Kong.

By far the simplest way to reach the area is through Yung Shue O. Getting there can be done from either the Sai Kung or Sha Tin side of the surrounding mountain ranges. The 99 and 299x KMB bus routes run between Sai Kung and Heng On MTR and Sha Tin MTR respectively and will deposit you at the head of the access road to Yung Shue O. From this junction it is a 45-minute walk down the single-track road to reach Yung Shue O, so if you’re short on time, it is advisable to take a taxi instead (costs $60 from Sai Kung Town). Once you have reached the village of Yung Shue O, the road stops and the hiking trail begins. Make sure to follow the painted banners in Yung Shue O that indicate the way to Sham

Chung and not the wooden signposts. The concrete footpath then winds its way through the village and onto a stunning coastline with views across Tolo Harbour and Ma On Shan. From

to the west

there, it is a 45-minute stroll along the coastline to Sham Chung Ferry Pier and then inland to the village grasslands.

If you had been tackling this route back at the turn of the 20th century, the footpath would have swept into a shallow lagoon, but then in the 1920s it was drained to create a sizable area of arable land. The fertility of this land subsequently led to the founding of Sham Chung village and the remains of this are still there to see today, however it is now occupied by a dai pai dong.

Along with many similar villages across Hong Kong, Sham Chung village met its demise as the territory became more developed and many folks left these small communities in the New Territories for the opportunity to make more money elsewhere. Since then, controversy has surrounded plans by Sun Hung Kai Properties for a golf course and recreation centre in Sham Chung. It appears that the developers went ahead and begun the initial construction of a course without planning consent. Then never followed through after they were unable to rubber stamp the project.

Despite its chequered history, the region is still teaming with some very unique wildlife for

hikers to keep an eye out for. Extremely rare elsewhere in Hong Kong, the colourful Paradise Fish and relatively large Brown Fish Owl have found a home in leafy areas of Sham Chung.

There is then the abundance of other birds, reptiles, insects and wild cattle that one would expect to find across the Sai Kung Peninsula.

For most folks, it is advisable to simply return from Sham Chung the same way you entered. Taxis can often be hard to come by at Yung Shue O, so make sure to factor in extra time on the return leg in order to walk back to Sai Sha Road.

Once back on the main road, there are plenty of taxis and different buses to take back to Sai Kung or Sha Tin. For those who fancy doing that little bit more, follow the trail inland to reach the far northern extremities of the country park at Pak Sha O and Hoi Ha. This route is suitable for hikers and cyclists alike. All in all, Sham Chung is packed to the brim to see and explore, and fun for all involved.

Rory Mackay runs adventure company Wild Hong Kong.

For details, visit www.wildhongkong.com.

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Image courtesy of Blueflower Travel

travel

Bespoke travel

Annapurna base camp, Nepal.

Just like a custom-tailored suit, a bespoke holiday is designed to be a better fit.

Shreena Patel finds out more.

M

ost of us buy our clothes off the rack, and while they might fit us fine, a custom-tailored suit or dress fits better. The same goes for travel.

Whether you want to dine in the best local restaurants or satisfy your personal interests from taphophilia (an enthusiasm for cemeteries) to diving, there are people who can make it happen.

One of those people is Eldi Lau, Lifestyle Travel Sales Manager at Quintessentially Travel.

“Our saying is: ‘The answer is yes. Now what’s the question?’”, says Lau. “Among our more unusual requests, we’ve arranged a private viewing and tour of the Taj Mahal, a Sydney Harbour island dinner with a private Sydney Symphony Orchestra recital and a private banquet on The Great Wall of China. We’ve even booked an entire island.”

But grandiose requests aren’t the only reason to go bespoke. Booking a custom-tailored holiday could save you time and effort, enrich your experience and ensure your stress levels remain low throughout your trip.

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Saving time and effort...and relationships Picture the scene. You’ve just spent hours staring at a laptop screen, combing through booking websites and online reviews to plan an upcoming trip. You present the fruits of your labour to your travel companion who swiftly remarks, “Hmmm I’m not sure...maybe we should keep looking.” Cue frayed tempers and last-minute searching for an alternative, before settling for something similar but more expensive because everything is now fully booked. Sound familiar?

“There’s an overwhelming amount of choice available at the touch of a button,” says Lau. “Our clients appreciate having a personal, dedicated travel specialist who can cut through the noise and offer a carefully considered itinerary, tailor-made for them. This need for time-saving, high-quality guidance is why bespoke travel is becoming more popular and we’ll see a lot more growth in above-and-beyond services like these.”

Lifestyle Travel Sales Manager at Quintessentially Travel

Eldi Lau

Best travel experience: A trip to Peru’s Lake Titicaca - it was like being in a dream. We also visited the Uros tribe on their floating island which was incredible.

Worst travel experience: A trip to Sweden where my luggage was lost in transit from London. It got there eventually but it wasn’t the best start..

Favourite travel book: The Art of Travel

by Alain De Botton.

Where would you like to go next on holiday? Rapa Nui in Chile and Cheval Blanc Randheli in the Maldives.

“I never travel without…” My camera.

tailor made Founder, Blueflower Travel Best travel experience: Engaging with lions on foot in Zimbabwe.

Worst travel experience: Being stranded for three days in a Nepali airport, unable to reach the wondrous Himalayas.

Favourite travel book: Old Beasts, Men and Gods by Ferdinand Ossendowski (1924).

Where would you like to go next on holiday? To experience a world class conservation initiative for gorillas in Rwanda.

“I never travel without…”

My Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones.

Andrea Os

Enriching your experience Besides, saving you time, bespoke travel specialists claim to have access to in-depth knowledge, local connections and expertise to help you plan a much more fulfilling trip.

“Planning is an important part of the travel experience. It allows us to travel with our imagination,” says Andrea Oschetti, former travel journalist, chef and founder of Blueflower Travel, a bespoke travel company launched in Hong Kong last year.

“Alas, it’s often the opposite. With a full time job and a family, we lack the time to make sure we get the most out of holidays. Without connections and lots of research, travellers miss the most powerful experiences. At Blueflower, we work hard to take away the complexity of planning an elaborate trip. But we are not just another travel agent; we act as travel mentors.”

The first step in planning a holiday with Blueflower is to meet your dedicated “travel

Image courtesy of Blueflower Travel

chetti

Hiking to Tiger Nest Monastery or Taktsang Lhakhang - Bhutan.

mentor”. Clients are invited to Blueflower’s 2,500 sq.ft. travel salon in Wong Chuk Hang - also Oschetti’s home - to meet “over a large map and a bottle of wine”, surrounded by cultural artefacts, maps and photographs from his trips abroad. The company also hosts regular talks and practical workshops to encourage clients to do something different with their holidays.

Doing something different doesn’t have to mean a hard slog around historical monuments and obscure villages, as Alex Malcolm, founder of bespoke luxury travel specialist Jacada Travel, points out. “There’s a lot more to travelling than just sightseeing,” he says. “It’s about allowing you to explore a destination in a way that speaks to your particular interests. Some clients might just wish to explore off-the-beaten-track hikes; others might want to discover the best spots for wine and dine. Everyone has a different agenda.”

Of course, some things are permanently off the menu. “We say no to hunting,” Malcolm

explains. “Wherever your opinion lies, it’s not something any of us at Ja cada got into the travel industry for.”

Malcolm was inspired to launch Jacada Travel in 2008, after living in Rio. Like Oschetti, he believes people need to get more out of their time away. “Living in a well-off city like Hong Kong can narrow your view. Family travel is great for broadening children’s horizons,” he says.

Each of Jacada Travel’s “travel designers” has recent, in-depth experience in Latin America, Asia, Africa, Europe, Australasia or the polar regions. The company also has local guides in all its destinations.

The best-laid plans of mice and men...

Travel is an operations business with moving parts and sometimes things go wrong. Usually when this happens, it’s up to you to sort it out which can be stressful and involve a lot of

Image courtesy of Jacada Travel

Founder, Jacada Travel

olm

alc Alex M

Best travel experience: Going on holiday with my mum and sister for the first time in 20 years - it made mum very happy. We rode horses in Patagonia.

Worst travel experience: Watching people throwing rubbish in the water off the coast of Brazil, home to some beautiful coral.

Favourite travel book: Old Patagonian Express by Paul Theroux.

Where would you like to go next on holiday? Mongolia.

“I never travel without…” A comfy pair of sweatpants.

On the Rovos Rail, travelling through the Kalahari Desert to Namibia.

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travel

Planning...allows us to travel with our imagination.

Money, money, money Of course, this kind of service doesn’t come cheap. Jacada Travel’s clients typically spend around US$8,000-10,000 per person on a trip,

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and some spend significantly more.

Quintessentially Travel is also focused on the luxury end of the market, though Lau points out that clients do get cheaper rates and better access because of the company’s extensive network. “Our clients are high net worth individuals with busy lives. Many are business executives with families looking for stand-out holidays,” she says. “But we have over 36,000 partnerships in over 100 destinations, so we can secure 4-5* hotels at reduced prices as well as access to amenities, upgrades and unadvertised excursions, so the entire experience becomes much more affordable than you might think.”

Bespoke travel: a rich man’s world?

“Absolutely not,” says Adrian Bottomley, founder of Whistling Arrow, which creates and manages intrepid adventures for families and friends.

By their nature, these trips often take place in remote and inaccessible locations that lack any luxury travel infrastructure.

“For example, just over a year ago we were contacted by a group of friends interested in a unique, immersive cultural adventure in Tibet,” says Bottomley. “And so, in November 2015, they stayed with Khampa nomads in their large black yak-wool tents and joined them

Image courtesy of Whistling Arrow

wasted time. However, if you’ve arranged your holiday through a bespoke travel specialist, there should be someone monitoring your journey, ready to handle any problems should they arise.

Jacada Travel is particularly well-prepared for such situations, with offices in multiple continents and a concierge in each region.

“Recently we had a US client whose flight to South Africa was delayed by nearly 24 hours, resulting in him missing a train that runs only twice a month,” says Malcolm. “We spoke to train operator and got the train to stop just outside the city, where the client - whom we collected from the airport in a car - caught up with it and jumped on. It was like Mission Impossible!”

Tibetan monks performing a rotary Cham dance at a festival near Tagong, eastern Tibet.

at their annual spiritual festival on the Tibetan grasslands. They also spent time with a family of renowned Tibetan bronze statue-makers in their remote valley home and photographed Cham dancers performing in a nearby hilltop village: home to a stunning 12th Century Sakyasect monastery. There, they witnessed one of the most extraordinary and esoteric tantric rituals - a Vajrakila sand mandala ceremony.

This two-week adventure cost about $28,000* per person; not cheap but hardly in the realms of the super-rich either.”

tailor made

Image courtesy of Jacada Travel

Founder, Whistling Arrow

Chile.

Every year, Whistling Arrow offers at least one “first foray” expedition. Despite the company’s extensive experience operating in remote locations, things sometimes do go wrong. “Most of the time, given many of our trips explore remote Himalayan and Tibetan peaks, client problems are related to acclimatization,” explains Bottomley. “But every so often, a seat-of-yourpants adventure tests us to the limit. In April 2016, on a private expedition to document and photograph the towering treehouses of the Stone Korowai tribe in Indonesian Papua, our party was

robbed at arrow point. But we dealt with it, and I’m glad to say both our clients and I are still here to tell the story!”

Amongst its more challenging requests, the team at Whistling Arrow has arranged a private trekking trip into the wilds of eastern Tibet to hunt for the fabled Himalayan Blue Poppy, a rhododendron based trekking trip to northern Yunnan, and a private expedition to one of the last remaining villages in eastern Nepal that produces traditional, hand-woven, natural-dyed Tibetan rugs.

Best travel experience: A solo expedition to forge a new trekking route around the three Adrian Bot spectacular and tomley sacred peaks of Yading, in eastern Tibet.

Worst travel experience: Being robbed at arrow point, in the remote Papuan jungle, at night.

Favourite travel book: The Way of the White Clouds by Anagarika Govinda.

Where would you like to go next on holiday? The Pamir mountains in Central Asia - many such remote areas are becoming more accessible with the recent ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative by the Chinese government. I’d also love to swim with humpback whales in Tonga!

“I never travel without…” a tub of talcum powder.

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Image courtesy of Whistling Arrow

travel

With a local nomadic family near Litang, eastern Tibet.

Join the club Launched in Hong Kong at the end of last year, Afini brings yet another perspective to the bespoke travel concept. CEO and co-founder John Blanco explains, “Afini was designed as a solution for my personal - and a common regional - travel problem. My wife and I have four children, plus a helper. We often holiday with friends too. Usual hotel bookings just ended up being a few boxes in a bigger box - not conducive to spending time together.”

Blanco invested in a holiday home in Portugal, but going to the same place every year became boring and a maintenance headache.

So, together with other well-known names in the luxury business (investors include the founder of Potatohead and Smailing Tour, members of the founding management team of US-based luxury destination club Inspirato and the ex-CEO of Indonesian airline company Garuda), Blanco set up Afini, a luxury destination club for Asia.

CEO and Co-founder, Afini Best travel experience: Growing up we moved every two years: my father was a Bolivian civil engineer and was sent around the world on various jobs. I lived in the outback in NW Australia where I passed kangaroos and aborigines daily on my way to school - the nearby sheep station held emu races on weekends. Dad was also involved in building a hydroelectric dam in the Amazon - once the area was drained, 25 anacondas were left on river bed and they created a snake zoo for the kids.

Worst travel experience: Years ago, a friend and I were driving to Belgium to go climbing. At the border, the guard’s cocker spaniel started going crazy. We were stopped and stripsearched.

Favourite travel book: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway.

Where would you like to go next on holiday? Mongolia - the Trans Siberian Railway “I never travel without…” A photo of my kids and a gin and tonic.

nco

John Bla

In Indonesian Papua, our party was robbed at arrow point. But we dealt with it.

“Afini has over 25 luxury properties around the world, accessible only to our members at up to 60 percent below comparable villa rates. We also layer in our own staff in each destination to ensure a level of service and familiarity. Each residence has a destination concierge, available 24/7, who oversees the itinerary and can offer expert guidance on the local area,” says Blanco.

Specifically, 90 percent of Afini’s properties are residences. The remaining 10 percent are “iconic hotel partners”, such as The Upper House in Hong Kong. “We secure our residences through long term leases so the nightly rates that we charge clients are very low,” explains Blanco.

Afini members are assigned a dedicated “lifestyle consultant” who plans everything, from arrival to departure, excluding flights. “It’s about anticipation to the nth degree,” explains Blanco,

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Afini residence at Menau, Koh Samui.

Afini residence at Naam Sawan, Phuket.

“whether it’s finding your favourite wine waiting for you in the kitchen, to specially arranged morning yoga classes.”

Member privileges include exclusive access to other clubs, curated experiences and luxury services, such as private tours at Art Basel, access to Simpson yachts, Aqua expeditions on

the Mekong and the Amazon and complimentary airline club membership (platinum for Garuda Indonesia, gold for Etihad).

There are 100 founder memberships available (for an auspicious US$8,888 each). Annual dues are US$2,000. “ 40 memberships have been taken so far.

tailor made

Image courtesy of TravelLocal

Co-founder, TravelLocal Best travel experience: Seeing mountain gorillas in the wild in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, western Uganda.

Worst travel experience: Probably my honeymoon! We went to Spain for a few days but our tour operator (big, international) didn’t get things quite right.

Favourite travel book: Foreign Devils On the Silk Road by Peter Hopkirk.

Where would you like to go next on holiday? A repeat trip to Georgia - amazing scenery, fantastic wine and food and some old friends I have to catch up with. I would also love to take my family on a safari and spend time on some really remote beaches - maybe the Togean Islands in Indonesia.

“I never travel without…” A compass. It sounds a bit old fashioned, but they are incredibly useful, especially in old cities.

en

Huw Ow

Lake Mutanda, Uganda.

Going online Bespoke travel is also going online. Global web platform TravelLocal connects travellers with local companies in their chosen destinations.

Everything is done online, from the initial query, to booking to payment.

“The travel industry has become a sort of gigantic assembly line factory, churning out generic and instantly forgettable trips,” says co-founder Huw Owen, who used to run a local travel company in Cambodia. “We sensed that travellers were fed up and looking for more knowledge and insight. When you think about it it’s absurd to ask a company in the UK or Hong Kong about travel to Cambodia. It makes far more sense to ask a local expert. We created TravelLocal to help travellers do exactly that.

Our local partner companies are chosen for their amazing local knowledge and contacts.”

TravelLocal’s customers range from 20 to 86 years old and book everything from homestays

to luxury resorts. “Typically we see families and couples spending $15,000 - 30,000 per person for a two week trip to countries such as Tanzania, Morocco and Uzbekistan. But we’ve also had bookings for $4,000 to Costa Rica and $300,000 to China,” says Owen. “Hong Kong is one of our key areas. Hong Kongers love to travel but they’re also savvy buyers and we dovetail nicely with that outlook.”

Owen admits that although requests are rarely declined, it does happen occasionally.

“We once had a request from two expats in Hong Kong who wanted to visit the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan - possible but not exactly easy. Someone also asked to go to Afghanistan - but we had to say no. I had a request at my former company from someone who wanted to travel from China to Japan by train. ‘I’m terribly sorry, Sir, but there’s 800km of ocean between them....’”

Trends for 2017 “Costa Rica has gone crazy. Iran is heading that way. We get a lot of bookings for Myanmar and Vietna m is an old favourite. We’re also seeing a lot more fa mily safaris. If you like the idea the Caribbean, go to Nicaragua (look up the Corn Islands) or Colombia. For safari, try Uganda - it has the Big 5 plus mountain gorillas. If you love the desert then you must see Na mibia where you can stargaze under some of the darkest skies on earth. If you’re a bucket-lister, try the Silk Route (Beijing-to-Tashkent), the Serengeti, Patagonia and the incredible cities of Iran.”

“ The Maldives is very popular at the moment, as well as Japan and Seoul in Korea. London and Paris continue to be top destinations, but we are also seeing a lot more requests for off-the-beaten track experiences.

Private islands are on the rise, as well as eco-friendly resorts. I would recommend a trip to the vastly under-explored continent of South America. Colonial and native history have intermingled and produced some of the most vibrant cultural landscapes in the world.”

Contact information Quintessentially Travel 2/F Teda Building, 87 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan. Call 3752 2076 or email info@quintessentiallytravel.com, www.quintessentiallytravel.com

Jacada Travel 17/F, Oriental Crystal Commercial Building, 46 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central. Call 2110 0537 or email travel@jacadatravel.com​, www.jacadatravel.com

TravelLocal Enquire, book and pay online at www.travellocal.com

Afini For enquiries and bookings contact Emma Symonds, Director of Sales at esymonds@afini.com, 5801 9974, www.afini.com

Blueflower Travel Call 3975 8193 or email hello@blueflower.la, www.blueflower.la

Whistling Arrow Call 2811 8892 or email adrian@whistlingarrow.com, www.whistlingarrow.com

* All prices in Hong Kong Dollars unless otherwise stated.

- Eldi Lau

- Huw Owen

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 53

A

fter 60 years of creating an ecological and recreational wonder right next to the world’s highest density urban areas, the Government has decided to cull our country parks.

Following World War II, massive reforestation took place to increase our water gathering capacity and protect hillsides from erosion. Around 1956, forestry officers started to make recommendations for managing forests for community services, however, only a few were listening.

As the population grew, pressure increased but it was to protect the forestry and water gathering areas from unplanned development, hillside fires and littering. In 1973, Governor Sir Murray MacLehose told the Legislative Council that, “the mountains and beaches are for the many but the golf courses and yachts are for the few”, and pushed the designation of Country Parks for recreation and conservation.

The park boundaries were carefully crafted considering its topography, water gathering, ecology, land ownership, landscape and recreational potential. By1979, 21 country parks covering 40% of the land area – primarily steep hillsides and remote shorelines - were designated. Since then, a few areas including the North Lantau Extension Country Park have been added.

The country parks - already under threat from the ongoing approvals of houses in enclaves – are now under full-blown attack as the Government has started to draft ‘objective criteria’ for excising land for development.

This goes in tandem with plans to increase immigration to counter our aging population, and to shore up future government land revenues.

To gain community buy in, it will test the boundaries with proposals for public housing and elderly homes on the periphery of the

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Photo by Thomas Brown, mgiganteus

Saving country parks

zim city

Clearwater Bay Country Park.

parks first. And plans to spare Robin’s Nest in the former Frontier Closed Area from development and to designate this as a park to safeguard the ecological corridor between the Pat Sin Leng Country Park and the Wutong Shan National Forest Park in Shenzhen, will be presented as new compensation.

Safeguards against this onslaught are limited. In excising part of the Clear Water Bay Country Park for a landfill extension in 2009, the government appointed Country and Marine Parks Board, who has shown to have no backbone. And negative vetting of the country park amendment bills severely limits the Legislative Council’s power to withstand government’s greedy fingers.

So it will be up to the community to stand tall, and to protect what makes Hong Kong a great city.

Paul Zimmerman is the CEO of Designing Hong Kong, a Southern District Councillor and the co-convenor of Save Our Country Parks alliance.

Horoscopes

hong kong horoscopes

AQUARIUS Jan 21–Feb 19

PISCES Feb 20–Mar 20

ARIES Mar 21–Apr 20

TAURUS Apr 21–May 21

Aquarius, I’m certain that something will go your way this month, and it’s all down to your hard work. Good job! But this is no time to rest on your laurels. Consider the city’s skyscrapers: each was the tallest in the city, until the next one was built, and so on. If you don’t keep reaching upwards, you’ll soon find others towering above you.

I predict that the month ahead will be a good one for you, Pisces. That’s not because I gazed into a mysterious crystal ball. Nope: I bit into a delicious fishball.

As a delightful mix of texture and flavour exploded in my mouth, I thought to myself: If I can buy a skewer of fishballs for less than $10, then happiness really can be had at any price.

What’s bugging you this month, Aries? Is your boss being difficult, talking about “KPIs”, “deliverables”, “milestones” and other such interminable business jargon?

It can be annoying to listen to, which is why I want you to channel your inner OL. Make like a Hong Kong Office Lady and you’ll be able to detach from the stress and concentrate on the important things, like encouraging admirers to send you flowers at work.

Taurus, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the world is against you at the moment.

What with geopolitics, love and finances all feeling a little shaky, no wonder you’re worried. But take heart and stay bullish, Taurus: we live in times of change. And like a wet market butcher brandishing two cleavers, change can cut both ways.

LEO Jul 23–Aug 22

VIRGO Aug 23–Sep 23

LIBRA Sep 24–Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24–Nov 22

Leo, what was the last really good party you went to? Was it a swanky soiree on the Peak? A messy Lan Kwai Fong bar crawl? A beachside Shek O BBQ? Chances are, what made it wasn’t the event itself, but the people you were with.

Cherish your friends, Leo, before you end up at yet another cocktail party filled with people you can barely stand.

You probably know that “Kowloon” means “nine dragons”. But do you know why it’s called that? The nine dragons represent the eight peaks of Kowloon… and the ninth is the boy emperor Bing of Song, who fled to Hong Kong to escape the Mongols.

The innocent boy emperor ruled for less than a year and his dynasty ended with him.

Remember that what we build up can be taken away, Virgo: cherish the present and work to reinforce your future.

Libra, you’ve noticed someone else looking particularly good this month.

Why could it be? Is it a new haircut, or the new pair of shoes? No, it’s nothing superficial: They must have decided to work on their inner life. Are they making time for themselves? Following their dreams? Or just getting seven hours of sleep every night?

Ask them what the secret is, and next month others will be asking you.

Sometimes, getting life to go your way can feel just as impossible as trying to find a taxi willing to cross the harbour. But then again, there are cross-harbour taxi stands – and do you know about the “under the waves” hand motion that tells outof-service taxis you want to cross? In taxis and life alike, if you position yourself for success then it’s far easier to get to the other side.

As transmitted to Adam White, writer, editor and occasional soothsayer.

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GEMINI May 22–Jun 21

CANCER Jun 22–Jul 22

Door gods, IFC buildings, glasses of wine: Gemini, you don’t need me to tell you that good things come in twos. When it comes to pairs, you know best. But here’s a question: have you thought of doing things in ones?

Doubling-up often works, but sometimes the simple approach is best. Keep your life elegantly single for a while and see what happens.

Love can be difficult, especially in this transient city. No sooner do you fall for someone, than having them announce they’re moving to Dubai. It’s a tricky thing to manage, Cancer. But take heart from the fact that if they can move, so can you. But not to Dubai: I suggest that you just move on, instead.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23–Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22–Jan 20

What’s that smell? Is someone chowing down on stinky tofu around the corner?

Feel free to recoil and wrinkle your nose – but have you ever tried it, Sagittarius? I can promise you that the smell is a lot worse than the taste. And an adventure might be just what you need this month. Start with something culinary, and you might surprise yourself.

Capricorn, would you ever run for Chief Executive? Sure, it would be nice to be the most powerful person in Hong Kong. But it’s also a difficult job where everyone ends up disliking you. Are you willing to make that tradeoff? After all, there are many different types of power: Think carefully about what you really want before you throw your hat into the ring.

Woof!

pets Walkies with Sai Kung resident Ellen Hobson and Treacle, a one-year-old chocolate brown labrador.

Ask a vet...

Pets Central’s veterinarian Dr. Pauline Taylor answers your questions.

Q: “My dog really struggles with noise in Hong Kong and is very scared. How can we deal with this?”

Eating, grass, great walks, & poop!

I like to take Treacle for a walk along the trails at the back of the Lions Nature Education Centre on Che Keng Tuk Road.

The green and leafy route meanders over the hills before circling back and connecting to the footpath just by SKIP Kindergarten & Pre-school.

Take the turning to the left to continue on the popular child-friendly hike to Trio Beach. I generally let Treacle have a run on the sand and cool off in the waves at Trio before heading home. The whole hike takes about 1-1.5 hours depending on pace.

The walk starts from Lions Park. Head up the steep staircase at the back of the Lions Park. Walk along the Tsui Hang Nature Trail and then follow the signs up the hillside towards Ma Nam Wat. Active dogs get a good run up the slopes and along the paths and there’s plenty of shade and spectacular views overlooking Shelter Cove and Pak Sha Wan-Hebe Haven.

Families with young children can start at the footpath by SKIP Kindergarten & Pre-school and follow the shorter trail.

To finish, you can either walk back the way you came or catch the sampan from Trio Beach to Pak Sha Wan Public Pier.

The fare is $10 per person.

Be mindful of the environment and watch out for snakes and wild boar especially in the warmer months.

by, staff writers 58 | WWW.SAIKUNG.COM

Lions Nature Education Centre Trio Beach

A: Sensitivity to noise is one of the most common concerns of dog owners. Allowing pups exposure to these noises before 6 months of age may have a preventive effect.

Dealing with the problem in an adult dog isn’t easy and depends on the severity and frequency of the situation.

Every dog differs and learning to predict the sound and when it may happen and protect your dog from it is much easier than trying to attempt a cure. Safe dark quiet cupboards in your home at firework time is the way to start for a firework sensitive pet.

Q: “My dog keeps rummaging through our rubbish bin at home, how do I stop him?”

A: In a word, stop him from getting access to the rubbish bin, or if that is impossible ensure that your dog cannot access the contents. Make sure the bin is solid and has a fitted lid, is chained or locked in place so your dog can’t knock it over. Human rubbish can cause a lot of problems for our dogs which can become lodged and cause irritation in their digestive tract. If necessary put something heavy on the top to keep that lid down.

Q: “My cat has started urinating all over the house.

What should I do?”

A: In short, the first thing you need to do is to arrange to take your cat to a vet. As well as a physical exam, some initial lab tests will be required. There are many reasons cats do this, it is quite a common problem. Stress and anxiety are the main factors behind non-medical reasons. Medical causes include infections in the urinary tract, formation of irritating crystals and bladder stones, congenital problems and more so input from your vet at an early stage can help before you go down the wrong tract to investigate the problem. Good luck!

Got a question for Dr. Pauline?

Email editorial@fastmedia.com.hk

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marketplace The Hong Kong gardening column

T

he sun was still shining when Noah began his ark. Similarly, in Hong Kong this month, the successful gardener is busy in preparation.

Write to your seedsman in England asking him to dispatch celery and tomato seeds in time for planting in early August.

Manure should also be procured now and fermented for winter crops. Good sources include the numerous farms in Sai Kung, Lantau and the Happy Valley stables.

Now to work in the garden! March is generally misty and drizzly, with occasional days of dry and clear weather.

Temperatures waver between 11°C (52°F) and 27°C (81°F). Generally the weather improves towards the end of March. Ask your man to lay out a cotton waistcoat, linen shirt and stout boots.

In March, vegetable seeds of the following may be sown: Mustard and cress, radish, turnip, Chinese spinach, French beans, cucumber, lettuce, sweet corn, Chinese long bean and ochroes.

For flowers you may sow seeds for sunflowers, blue pea (clitora ternatea), cardinal vine (Ipomoea quamoclit), and cockscombs which deliver a lovely yellow bloom suggestive of a rooster’s comb. Put in cuttings of begonias. Give shrubberies a dressing of manure and prune your poinsettias.

For all Hong Kong gardeners, an easy victory this month is the Chinese Fan Palm (livistona chinensis). Cover some seeds with their own thickness of soil, place them in a shady position and keep them well watered. In about three months time the seeds will germinate and as soon as they are four inches high they may be potten off. If they are kept growing, plants two feet high may be had in two years time – a beautiful sight in any Hong Kong garden.

And one which would have made Noah’s heart soar.

By William James Tutcher F.L.S (1867-1920) Superintendent of Hong Kong Botanical Gardens.

Paraphrased from his seminal 1906 work Gardening for Hong Kong.

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A glimmer of hope

stephen says...

Culling trees, Pak Sha Wan’s new restaurants, and more

by, Stephen Vines.

S

o, Hong Kong’s fast fading Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has launched a task force to identify areas of the country parks that can be developed for housing. He claims that the aim is only to provide social housing in these areas. That sounds okay, does it not? However CY sort of gave the game away when asked why he was not looking at re-development of golf courses, primarily in Fanling. “Oh no, we can’t do that,” said Mr Leung because it would involve the destruction of trees. Are we to conclude that the country parks are bereft of trees?

The answer is obvious and it goes to the question of trust, because as night follows day once the countryside wreckers get busy on the country parks they will not limit their activities to providing social housing. And people like Mr Leung who is intent on preserving leisure facilities for the wealthy on the pretext that they are conserving nature cannot be trusted with the real task of maintaining Hong Kong’s wonderful rural environment.

Talking of trees, how many trees exactly are to be knocked down in the current phase of expanding Hiram’s Highway? All sorts of figures have been bandied around, one figure doing the rounds claims that 1,000 plus trees will have to go. As ever precise details are hard to come by. But clearly this road expansion will not be possible without chopping down a great many trees but what is to stop the planting of new roadside trees and foliage?

The information dished out during the so called consultation exercise in Sai Kung Town Hall made no mention of this.

There is however one positive development on the roadside of Hiram’s Highway - the now abandoned Sai Kung Central Primary School at Ho Chung will be transformed into something called an integrated welfare complex.

Apparently this will have rehabilitation and other worthy facilities. Surely there is some mistake here? How come it has not become another luxury housing project? It’s really hard not to be cynical these days.

If you move further south towards Tseung Kwan O you will appreciate the true meaning of housing development because density in this area is pretty high and strenuous efforts have

64 | WWW.SAIKUNG.COM

been made to ensure that little attention is paid to the aesthetics of the area. However we have not by any means seen the end of development here. In the Chief Executive’s Policy Address there was a reminder that the ‘romantically’ named Area 137 is about to be used for large scale residential, commercial and ‘other development’. The land is pretty flat and the area is big so it is an obvious space for building but instead of just focusing on numbers of units would it not have been a relief to hear something about the type of development and, even more ambitiously, what about letting us know how in planning for this barren site the government is thinking about the aesthetic qualities and the reintroduction of green features into good old Area 137. I know, I know these thoughts are out there somewhere in la la land but why is that so?

It has always been something of a mystery to me why the Pak Sha Wan area, just minutes away from the centre of Sai Kung, has consistently proved to be a graveyard for new restaurants.

Yet this has been the case although it is good to see that another attempt is being made to revive the biggest of the restaurants currently in this location with a makeover. What used to Hebe 101 is now called Padstow. I must admit not to have tried the food but it appears to have a nautical theme. Meanwhile on the opposite side of the road another fair sized restaurant that has had incarnations as Thai, Japanese and various Western types of food, has now been taken over

by Sai Kung’s savviest restaurant operator, Castelo Concepts. This company has spread from its Sai Kung base with one restaurant, Pepperonis, to becoming a highly successful chain all over Hong Kong and in Vietnam. It is planning to open a place called the Boat House. Let’s see how it does.

Frankly if Castelo can’t crack this space I am not sure who can as they have an uncanny ability to make their restaurants work.

Stephen Vines is a journalist, broadcaster and entrepreneur.

He is the former editor of the Eastern Express and Southeast Asia correspondent for The Observer.

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