Expat Parent June 2018

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June 2018

Super summer travel -

what’s hot for the holidays

Summer camps -

Hong Kong’s biggest and best guide!

Junk it!

Crusin’ the South China morning coast

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CONTENTs

ISSUE 050

2

Editor’s letter

58

Things we’d buy

Hello from the hot desk

Forget-me-not

4 Contributors

60 Dining

Meet the team

Junk food

7

What’s on

65

Travel news

Don’t cry for Evita

Hot news from KL and Singapore

12

Things you should know

70 Travel

There be dragons

Finding yourself in Greece

14 News

74

Big Day Out

Cooling dips in the country

80

Flailing spouse

Turn on, tune in, drop out

Happenings this month

18 Giveaways

Be lucky

20

Me & my big idea

Health bite

22 Debate of the month

To dine or not to dine?

24

Book review

Going-away gifts

28

My Hong Kong

Life behind the lens

30

Cover story

Setting sail on the South China Sea

39

School news

New headmistress for Mount Kelly

44

Summer camps

The ultimate guide!

52

Life & style

Happy in the Valley

39

48

30

59 53

Scan and visit our website expat-parent.com

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editor’s message

who’s in charge?

Editorial editorial@hongkongliving.com Editor Carolynne Dear

Managing Editor Gemma Shaw

Media Management Trainee Julianne Dionisio

Media Trainee Nicole Slater

Design cindy@hongkongliving.com Design Manager Cindy Suen

Graphic Designer Sonia Khatwani

Sales & Marketing talk@hongkongliving.com Sales Director Hilda Chan

Sales and Marketing Executive Isamonia Chui

Sales and Marketing Executive Corrie Tang

Sales and Marketing Executive Johnny Wong

Accounting charles@hongkongliving.com

W

e reached peak busy-ness in our household this month, with a basketball trip to Guangzhou, a netball tour to Beijing, a school camp in Sai Kung Country Park and a pretty hefty June issue to edit (that last one was for me, of course). I love the opportunities that Hong Kong affords my kids, there’s never a dull moment, even if it is just huge excitement over the school being shut for black rain or a T8. Fortunately neither has struck so far this year.

And while the action never stops in Hong Kong, it’s also ‘that’ time of year when many expats will be tearing themselves away for pastures new. It’s never easy saying goodbye, but if you’re looking for a memorable gift for friends to take with them, we’ve got some great ideas on page 58.

And if you’re staying but hoping to fill those long summer days, look no further than our summer camp guide on page 44. It’s bigger than ever and is sure to take the ‘I’m boreds’ out of the long school break.

I’ll be jetting off for a well-deserved break in Italy with the family later this month, but I’m already looking forward to our return and getting stuck into another exciting school year.

So wherever you’re headed this summer, travel safely and have a good one!

Assistant Operations Manager Charles Lau

Publisher Tom Hilditch tom@hongkongliving.com

Contact us Admin: 3568 3722 | Editorial: 2776 2773 | Advertising: 2776 2772 Published by Hong Kong Living Ltd, L1 Kai Wong Commercial Building, 222 Queens Road Central, Hong Kong Printer Apex Print Limited, 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong

about the cover A big thank you to our cover stars this month, twins Finn and Sienna. They’re nine years old, live in Mid-levels and are in Year 4 at ESF Glenealy School. Finn is an avid cricketer and is also crazy about football and rugby. Sienna takes a slightly calmer approach to life, loving art, musical theatre and unicorns. But both always jump at a junk - the cover picture sees them heading over to South Bay for some inflatable fun.

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HONG KONG hongkongliving.com Expat Parent is published by Hong Kong Living 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. Expat Parent cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

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contributors

Nashua Gallagher

Amelia Sewell

Marianne Rogerson

...works for the Financial Times by day but at night she comes home and writes poetry.

As well, she’s a mum-of-two and on page 26 she explains why creativity is important for all mums, whatever their background. Nashua is also founder of Peel Street Poetry. Find out more by taking a look at facebook.com/peelstreetpoetry

...is our new education editor. She has a background in education consultancy in both the UK and Hong Kong, and moved here from London four years ago. When she’s not reviewing schools, Amelia loves P.G. Wodehouse, hates celery, and lives in Mid-levels with her husband and toddler. Neither of them laughs at her jokes.

...is a travel blogger and freelance writer. This month she headed to Singapore to review the revamped Shangri-La Hotel — find out what she thought on page 66. Marianne lives in Stanley with her two children and husband, and isn’t averse to the odd glass of bubbly — once she’s filed her copy, of course. Follow her adventures at mumonthemove.com

Want to write for Expat Parent Magazine? Contact editorial@hongkongliving.com

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what’s on

Diary dates

JUN 18

Tuen Ng

Paddles up for Dragon Boat Day! Don’t miss the celebrations on Hong Kong’s waterways this month. For a full low-down of splashtastic racing, turn to page 12.

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what’s on UNT J U N IL 10

Stage-struck Ten-year-old ESF Kennedy School student Jocelyn Sumner is performing in the Broadway hit Evita this month

UNTIL JUN 17

JUN 4

Young actors perform 20 classic shows, $125, McAulay Studio, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai and Y Studio, Youth Square, 238 Chai Wan Road, Chai Wan, urbtix.hk

Browse hundreds of stalls boasting a host of covetable gifts. Free, 10am-7pm, Grand Ballroom, Conrad Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, prestigefairs.hk

JUN 1-3

Rose

The Faust Festival

Tabby McTat A musical that’s PURRRR-fect for the whole family, with stories of friendship, loyalty and cats. Tickets from $195, Drama Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, hkticketing.com.hk

Summer Holiday Shopping Fair

JUN 4-5 A collection of handcrafted Indian jewellery, including ethnic and Western-style statement bracelets, earrings and sautoirs. If you can’t justify a jewellery shopping date, think of it as a cultural learning experience. 10am-7pm, Caine Room, Conrad Hotel, Pacific Place, Admiralty, therose.in

“I’m one of a group of six children chosen to perform in the musical. There are 18 children in total, divided into three groups of six. I play various parts, including a scout, an orphan and a mourner, and I’m also in the choir.

“Evita is the story of the life of Eva Peron, Argentina’s first lady in the 1940s and ’50s, tracing the highs and the lows and the good and the bad times. I have three costume changes, which is quite exciting, and it’s a lot of fun backstage.

“Although I love all aspects of performing, I enjoy the singing most of all – I have to sing in Spanish and in Latin. I enjoyed learning the lyrics.

“We had five days of rehearsal before the show opened. At first it’s hard remembering where to stand and what to do, but it gets easier every time you perform.

“I’ve never been part of a show like this before. My fabulous music teacher at school encouraged me to audition; the selection process took a whole day. I don’t attend dance or drama school but I do go to Glee Club, my teacher is amazing.”

Evita is playing at the Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wan Chai until June 10, hkticketing.com.hk

showcase 120 outfits they’ve created, 2-2.45pm, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, polyu.edu.hk

JUN 6

Waterfront Yoga with Yoga House Head up to Sai Kung with your yoga mat for a healthy, energising start to your day on the waterfront. $160 per class, 7-8am, Momentai Kiosk 1 Waterfront, Wai Man Road, Sai Kung, facebook.com/momentaila

JUN 7-10

Evolution Asia Yoga Conference

Take a moment to appreciate the world we live in

With 160 classes, workshops and events, there’s something for all levels, bodies and minds. Register in advance for the classes.

Tickets from $800 (single-session pass), 8am-8pm, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, asiayogaconference.com

Yoga class at Pier 10

JUN 5

JUN 8

Does your dog face downward? Free, 8.30-9.30am, Pier 10 Central Pier, yogacommunity.org

Twenty graduating students of ITC’s BA (Hons) Scheme in Fashion & Textiles proudly

A celebration of fashion’s newest movers and

JUN 2

Kayak n Run Two races starting at Nim Shue Wan beach, Discovery Bay. Check out the course route and register at actionasiaevents.com

JUN 3

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JUN 5

World Environment Day

PolyU Fashion Show 2018

Runway 2018: the Hive Studios x Redress

tell me more

mum-about-town

Enjoy traditional Celtic dancing, Jun 12-17

shakers, in collaboration with Redress, a local environmental organisation working to reduce textile waste in the fashion industry. 6.30pm, $100-300, Cheung Hing Industrial Building, Smithfield Road, Kennedy Town, thehivestudios.com.hk

JUN 8-10

Catch Me If You Can Face Productions presents this fast-paced, high-flying musical, with a cast of local performers aged 6-18. In English. Tickets from $250, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, faceproductions.com.hk

JUN 10

Chinmaya Carnival A fun day out with the family, celebrating India’s culture and customs through interactive games, live entertainment, storytelling, vegetarian food and free yoga sessions.

1-6pm, Central Harbourfront Event Space, facebook.com/ ChinmayaHongKong

JUN 11- 23

STAGE RIGHT! Youth Theatre Festival Talented youngsters perform shows throughout the festival: The Gruffalo, Hansel & Gretel & The Creepy Woods, Sparkle Shark, Christmas in July and the murder mystery Murder at Ritton Lee Manor. Various dates, times and venues, stagerighthk.com/theatre-festival

JUN 12-17 Irish Celtic

Outstanding musical numbers from some top tapping Irish performers. $445-$895, 7.45pm, Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wan Chai, hkticketing.com.hk

JUN 16

ASA 2018 Summer Soccer Tournament This fun tournament day promises excitement and plenty of action, with plenty of games and prizes for everyone. 2-6pm, Hong Kong Football Club, 3 Sports Road, Happy Valley, adventuresportsacademy.com

Support Hong Kong’s canine population, June 9

Puppy power I’m looking forward to a night under the stars at the brand new Kerry Hotel on June 9 - and it’s all for a good cause. Local party organiser Events for Life is volunteering its time and resources to pull off funfilled extravaganza, ‘Paws Under The Stars’, including buffet, free-flow drinks, a live band, silent auction, model parade and lucky door prizes.

All proceeds go to Sai Kung Stray Friends Foundation to help the Sai Kung dog shelter in its quest to care for abandoned and stray pups.

The party takes place on the terrace with fabulous views over the harbour and cityscape, so it’s sure to be a night to remember. 7-10pm. tickets are a bargain at $698/person, book now at fringebacker.com

Girl power If you’re a working gal, you need to add ‘Celebrating Women In The Workplace’ on June 6 to your iCal. It’s shaping up to be a fascinating morning of workshops focusing on leadership, work/life balance, the role of men and mental health - and what’s more, all ticket sales go towards The Women’s Foundation Financial Literacy Program which aims to help women in business better understand financing and budgeting. The event has been organised by Women Empowered, tickets available now from eventbrite.hk expat-parent.com 9

what’s on JUN 18 Tuen Ng

A day off to cheer on the dragon boats.

JUN 20

Sunday Pop Up at Momentai Summer pop-up shopping day on Sai Kung’s waterfront. 11am-4pm, Momentai Kiosk, 1 Waterfront, Wai Man Road, Sai Kung, facebook.com/momentaila

JUN 23

Family Fun Festival Enjoy activities including soccer, fencing, coding, art, dancing, Chinese calligraphy and more. For kids aged one to 10 years, 9.30am-9pm, Wellcome Paradise, 3/F KITEC, Kowloon Bay, tickets from shop.whizpa.com

JUN 22-24

Dragon Boat Carnival Race down to the waterfront for all the noisy action. Bring the family and friends for live music, great grub from a fleet of food trucks, and activities and entertainment for kids. Free entry. Victoria Harbour, Central Waterfront, Tsim Sha Tsui, discoverhongkong.com

JUN 29-JUL 21

Dragon Multi-arts Festival Incredible installations, performing arts shows and chill chats on art and artistic creations.

From $336, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, 2582 0200, culturalmasseur.hk

A smorgasbord of fun performances from Faust, until Jun 17

JUN 16

Restorative and Regenerative Walk Take a guided, facilitated walk through Nature, and reflect on and learn more about yourself. $280, 9am-12pm, meet at Sai Kung Town taxi stand, Sai Kung, kembali.org

JUN 16-17

Father’s Day Brunch Free food for the kids and free beer, house red/ white wine, Prosecco and champagne for dad.

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This all-you-can-eat four-hour brunch is a great way to treat dad on his special day.

12-4pm, G/F, California Tower, 30-32 D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, ciaochow.com.hk

JUN 17

Father’s Day Celebrate the main man in your life.

Salute that sun, Jun 7-10

BOOK NOW VARIOUS DATES IN JULY

Malvern Little Star Summer Camp Children from pre-nursery to kindergarten can learn the basics of drama and stage performance concepts and develop performance skills, $3,900 per week, 1-4pm, Coronation Circle, 1 Yau Cheung Road, Yau Ma Tei, malvernpreschool.hk

SEP 5-9

The Amazing Bubbleman Foamy fun with Louis Pearl, the Amazing Bubbleman, who sold out theatres last time he performed in Hong Kong.

Think square bubbles, trampoline bubbles, flying UFO bubbles and even people inside bubbles - prepare to be amazed. Tickets from $395, Drama Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wan Chai, hkticketing.com

NOV 9-11

CLOCKENFLAP 2018 November might feel like a long way away, but early-bird tickets have been released for this not-to-be-missed music and arts festival which is celebrating its 11th year. The threeday event is aimed at locals, expats, families, students and kids. This year’s line-up is yet to be confirmed but watch this space. Free for under 12s, tickets from $890, Central Harbourfront, clockenflap.com

Clockenflap is on the cards, Nov 9-11

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things to know

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Tuen Ng, or ‘Dragon Boat Day’, falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, which makes it June 18 this year. At this time, the sun and the dragon are considered to be at their most potent.

Worshipping the dragon is meant to avert misfortune and encourage rainfall, vital for rice farmers in ancient times.

As part of the celebrations, sticky rice wrapped in leaves are scattered on the water. This dates from the legend of Qu Yuan, a court official who tried to kill himself by wading into the local river. The villagers saved him by scattering rice to stop the fish from eating him.

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Popular racing spots in Hong Kong include Tai O (tai-o.hk), Stanley (dragonboat.org.hk), Aberdeen, Discovery Bay (ddeck.hk), and Sai Kung (skdragonboat.org).

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Stanley is the ‘big daddy’ of Hong Kong’s dragon boat events. It attracts over 30,000 spectators each year to watch 250 local and international teams battle it out at Stanley Main Beach.

Things you need to know Dragon Boat Day

Tai O on Lantau hosts perhaps Hong Kong’s most unique dragon boat event. It’s organised by three local fishermen associations and includes a water parade with decorated sampans pulled by dragon boats.

Racing takes place in the middle of the stilt village.

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Dragon boat races take place throughout the summer - get along to Sai Kung in September for its annual Summer Vigor event, date to be confirmed, details at skdragonboat.org

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Most racing on Tuen Ng takes place over a short course, or 250m. Lamma hosts a longer course event at its annual Lamma 500 International Dragon Boat Festival with boats racing over - you’ve guessed it - 500m.

Photo coutesy of LCSD

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12 expat-parent.com Photo courtesy of lamma500.com

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news

It’s a jungle out there Hong Kong has come eighth in this year’s City Nature Challenge. The annual event invites people from around the world to take part by finding and documenting the different plants and wildlife they spot in their city. Hong Kong nature observations totalled almost 3,000 different species, with plants and insects making up a large percentage.

Although Hong Kong has some of the most densely populated urban areas in the world,

around 75% of its land area is undeveloped, much of which is country parkland or under statutory protection. Pictured is Ho Chung village and Sai Kung Country Park East.

A total of 762 Hong Kongers took part in the challenge, identifying and photographing different species throughout the city and countryside, citynaturechallenge.org

Pizza da action Italian restaurant DiVino Patio will be rolling out the pizza boards, dough and toppings this month as kids are invited to join its Junior Pizza Master sessions.

From June 10, diners aged four to 10 years will be able to create their own masterpieces while parents relax over an à la carte or threecourse power brunch. Prizes include dining vouchers for best pizza and all participants will receive a certificate. There will also be an indoor pop-up playground to enjoy.

Pizza classes run from noon to 2.30pm on Sundays in June, beginning June 10. divinopatio.com

Baking fun at DiVino Patio’s pizza classes

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news

Ocean Park hotel on hold The launch of the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel has been postponed for up to three months. The luxury hotel, located in Wong Chuk Hang, was originally slated to open in June.

“The target opening date is expected to be slightly adjusted to a later time within 2018 to accommodate preparatory work,” said a spokesperson for Marriott. It is hoped the new hotel will boost tourism and help revive the 41-year-old theme park.

Hong Kong’s heritage haul Sixteen colonial buildings will be opening their doors this month as part of the government’s Heritage Fiesta. Visitors will have the chance to look around the historic buildings, many of which are not usually open to the public. Most date from the early years of the 156 years of British colonial rule.

Reclamation projects in the 1970s and ’80s saw many of Hong Kong’s old buildings destroyed, but there has recently been a move to preserve what is left of the territory’s historic heartlands.

“It’s a great opportunity for the public to appreciate these well-preserved historic buildings that have played a role to serve the

community in Hong Kong,” said a spokesperson for the Commissioner for Heritage’s Office of the Development Bureau.

Participating buildings include Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, Mid-levels; Race Course Fire Memorial, Happy Valley; Montgomery Block of Old Victoria Barracks (currently offices for the Mother’s Choice charity), Mid-levels; Island House (now a World Wildlife Fund conservation studies centre), Tai Po; the former Sha Tin Police Station (now Shatin High Rock Christian School), Sha Tin; and Man Mo Temple Compound, a declared monument, Sheung Wan. The event runs from June 1 to July 31. heritage.gov.hk

The heat is on Hong Kong enjoyed – or possibly endured – its hottest day of the year so far last month, with the mercury hitting 34.5 degrees on May 20. It was the third-hottest May day since records began in 1884.

The hottest day ever for the territory was recorded in August 2017, when temperatures reached 36.6 degrees, shortly before two major typhoons, Hato and Pakhar, made landfall at the

end of that month.

Hong Kong’s typhoon season officially begins this month and will run until approximately October. According to the Hong Kong Observatory, five to eight tropical cyclones – or typhoons – are forecast to come within 500km of the city this year. For updates and other weather information, download the Hong Kong Observatory app, MyObservatory.

Photo courtesy of Kim Bongiorno

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giveaways WIN HERE! Click the WIN tab on our website: hongkongliving.com

Liv Art

Mochy Kid

Asia Pacific Adventure

FAUST International

LivArt can take your child’s sketches, drawings, photos and other elements and turn them into beautiful clothing, art books, digital prints and more. Channel your child’s creativity into a truly personal gift or keepsake. liv-art.com We’re happy to give away three unique cushion covers that will be designed by your child, worth $450 each!

Specialising in outdoor learning for over 15 years, Asia Pacific Adventure knows how to make the most out of a Hong Kong summer.

Adventure programmes around the coastlines of Hong Kong run from June 15 to August 3 and include kayaking, snorkeling and gorge-walking. Contact 2792 7160, summer@apa.co or register at summer.asiapacificadventure.com We’re offering one week-long course for a child aged 7-15, valued at $2,680.

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Mochy Kid creates play experiences for young creators aged three or older. Their DIY STEM & STREAM (Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Art & Mathematics) activity kits help children understand the theories behind everyday life. mochykid.com We’re happy to give away a Mochy Kid Picasso Doodling Robot and a Unicorn Monogram Storage Case.

Faust International, founded in 1999, provides challenging and creative workshops for young people, introducing them into the world of theatre and performing arts. The week-long summer theatre programmes aim to empower children through drama and performance skills. Suitable for children aged three to 14. faustworld.com.hk We’re happy to give away one free place at one of Faust’s programmes between June 25 and August 24, valued at $2,980!

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me & my big idea

Food for thought Catherine Wang is the home-baking mamma behind a brand-new line of healthy snacks. She tells Expat Parent how she did it I started a journey of experimentation in the kitchen, believing there must be a way to swap those cheap, generic ingredients with highquality, nutrient-dense superfoods without sacrificing taste. The snacks I made were a big hit with the family so I decided to share them.

How did the business start-up work out?

It took me well over a year to fine-tune recipes and set everything up. When setting up a business, you really need to learn all sorts of things. It’s a long and tiring journey but also very interesting and rewarding.

How did you develop the recipes for a commercial environment?

How we make the snacks in the commercial kitchen is no different from how we make them at home. We want to provide that home-made quality to our customers. I’m so happy to see that adults and kids are loving our snacks.

How do you see the business expanding?

We are receiving increasing numbers of orders online and we expect this to continue to grow.

We are also in discussions with a few retailers and have just started selling in Spicebox Organics, which is really exciting.

What have you learnt from the experience?

So much! From the business side of things to how to balance everything. There’s still a lot to learn and work on, but I’m loving the process.

With hindsight, of course there are many things that if done differently could have achieved faster or better results. But it’s all a learning curve and I wouldn’t have learnt anything if I hadn’t gone through it.

Catherine Wang has turned her love for healthy baking into a business

So what's the big idea?

We’re called Nature’s Twist and we handmake all-natural superfood snacks in Hong Kong each week. We use nutrient-dense ingredients from around the world. The snacks are vegan and gluten-free and contain absolutely no refined sugar — each snack is gently dehydrated at low temperatures to preserve ingredients and taste.

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What prompted it?

Three years ago I was struggling with personal health issues while also trying to deal with my son’s food intolerances. In the process of completely changing our family diet, I was surprised to find that even products marketed as natural and healthy were often full of unnecessary additives and nutrition-deficient ‘filler’ ingredients. They just weren’t real. So

How are you promoting the product?

We’ll be launching some contests and campaigns on Facebook and Instagram soon, so don’t forget to follow us. As a photographer I love beautiful images, especially those of food, so I’m enjoying creating an eye-catching personal Instagram account too @cathcreate.

Order Nature’s Twist snacks from naturestwist.co and Spicebox Organics, follow @naturestwistco

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debate of the month

Tiny diners Should restaurant manners be drilled in at an early age, or are tots best left at home?

“If my twins have a run around the restaurant first, I find they usually sit still when the food arrives. The wait-staff always think they’re cute.” Tam

“Depends on the restaurant - if it’s billed as a family place, I really think other diners should expect that there will be whiny toddlers. But if on the other hand it’s Caprice, complaints would be absolutely justified!” Gill

I hate having to squeeze past strollers just to get to my table.

Matt It’s a restaurant, not a kindergarten. Grownups only for us!

Tia

“Ours is just a newborn, but we’re going to take him everywhere we go. Then he’ll know his manners from an early age.” Lorna

I think I’m owed an hour or two of sanity if I’ve broken free for the night!

Laura

Are you kidding?!

Complete nightmare definitely leave them at home!

Diana

“Get with the programme and give yourself a break. Toddlers are not designed to sit still for longer than about five minutes, no matter how ‘well’ you’re bringing them up.” Stella

“It’s only when your own kids grow up that you realise what a pain young children in restaurants really are.” Pete

We want to hear from you! Next month: Maternity wear - when is it no longer acceptable post-natal?

Email your views to editorial@hongkongliving.com

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book review

A taste of home

Treat tiny friends and relatives to a tale about the territory

My Hong Kong

Pun Choi

This is Hong Kong

Hong Kong From A to Z

Joanne O’Callaghan

Jane Houng

Miroslav Sasek

Ellen Ng

Experience Hong Kong through the eyes of a child as readers are whisked across the territory, from The Peak tram, to the pandas at Ocean Park and the golden sands of South Bay.

A smorgasbord of traditional Chinese folk and fairy tales retold in contemporary settings - Pun Choi literally translates as ‘big bowl feast’. An entertaining introduction to Chinese culture.

A nostalgic look at Hong Kong in the midtwentieth century. ‘Roaring jets’ bring in the tourists and ‘bamboo rickshaws’ transport them along Hong Kong streets.

Beautifully illustrated, this is one to treasure.

Little Ayma buckets around Hong Kong with Romer the frog, discovering Hong Kong culture through the alphabet - from ‘A’ is for Aberdeen to Z is for… Well, you’ll just have to find out.

Books are available from Bookazine stores, Commercial Press stores and Kidnapped Bookshop, Sai Kung.

Summer sizzlers Top picks for lounger lizards this holiday Kate Mosse is back!

If you were glued to Labyrinth and Sepulchre, you’ll love Mosse’s latest offering, The Burning Chambers, which takes readers back to France’s Midi region. It’s 1562 and Minou Joubert receives an anonymous letter containing just five words — SHE KNOWS THAT YOU LIVE. But before she can decipher the message, she meets a young Huguenot, Piet Reydon, and her destiny changes forever. From bloody religious battles to dark conspiracies, it’s another richly depicted rollercoaster ride.

Meanwhile, over in the UK, Amanda Jennings takes readers to the wild Cornish coastline in The Cliff House. It’s 24 expat-parent.com

1986 and the wealthy Davenport family live a glamorous lifestyle in a breathtaking house overlooking the sea. But 16 year-old Tamsyn has her binoculars trained on the house, wishing her life could be as perfect as theirs, longing to make Edie Davenport a friend.

Exploring obsession, loss and longing and set on one of the UK’s more remote coastlines, the story packs a punch.

Whistle In The Dark is the latest unputdownable tale from Emma Healey, award-winning author of Elizabeth Is Missing. This time, mum Jen’s fifteenyear-old daughter goes missing for four agonising days.

When Lana is found unharmed in the middle of the desolate countryside, everyone assumes the worst is over the and police close the case. But

back at home in London, she begins acting strangely and refuses to return to school. Will she ever reveal what happened?

From Lauren Weisberger, sassy author of The Devil Wears Prada, comes When Life Gives You Lululemons. Emily Charlton does not ‘do’ the suburbs — she is a successful stylist and image consultant to Hollywood stars.

But when social media obsessed millennials start stealing her clients, she needs to get with the programme.

So when her friend and high-profile model Karolina Hartwell is suddenly and very publicly dumped by her senator husband, the ladies decide to exact revenge.

Books are available from Bookazine stores, Kidnapped Bookshop and bookdepository.com

book review

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book review

Channeling your inner creative Poet Nashua Gallagher is about to publish her first collection of work, All The Words A Stage.

She explains why creativity is important for mums

“

There are some Sundays in the Gallagher household when all that can be heard is the sound of tapping keys and two children trying very hard to be quiet. There is certainly entertainment value in an eight-year-old and a ten-yearold fighting silently over an iPad. And if the weather is nice, you will hear a shouted whisper, “meet you at the park, my mum is writing.”

Weekends such as these don’t always produce the best work; let’s face it, I’ve been to restaurants that are quieter. But the kids’ gesture doesn’t pass unnoticed.

My upcoming publication, All The Words A Stage, dips in and out of my relationship with writing and how my experiences have developed from ‘life stage’ to ‘spoken-word stage’ - from love to marriage, the road to motherhood and all the life that exists in between. Balancing a demanding career, two young children and moonlighting as a poet may seem like more work than it’s worth. But I can say with confidence that I have benefitted from these explorations in creativity via the written word.

Creativity is not just for a certain type of person. It is democratic, ambiguous, a powerful means of mental decluttering and it piggybacks many of the benefits of mindfulness. But most importantly, it’s fun and, and if nothing else, the end result is its own reward. A flick of a page of my work and I’m transported back to pushing a buggy through Tai O village, or a late August day at Repulse Bay beach with smaller, not yet

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screen-aged children.

In his book Sapiens, Noah Yuval Harari credits our ability to imagine and create as the reason homo-sapiens took a great intellectual leap forward, moving beyond hunter-gathering. We developed a capacity to believe in gods, create systems of commerce and lay the foundations for the modern world. Creativity is innate to us as a species.

Creativity is like a fidget spinner for the mind, a muscle working in the background to build a framework around the things that we observe, maintaining a state of curiosity.

But as a mother, the hazy first years of overseeing the well-being and development of a tiny human sends your sense of identity into a tailspin. You gain a whole new pronoun and prioritizing your time takes negotiation and effort. I often hear parents downplay their own sense of creativity, whilst running after a finger-painting toddler, or shuttling their child to art class and later perhaps encouraging that child to pursue a creative subject to examination level.

However, in my experience, leaning on your sense of creativity can enhance and help process this special time - and perhaps even result in concrete souvenirs to cherish in years to come.”

All The Words A Stage by Nashua Gallagher is published by Chameleon Press and is available at Bookazine.

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PEOPLE

My Hong Kong — the photographer

Belinda Bath (left) relaxing with the family

Belinda Bath is known for her gorgeous prints from travels across Asia. She tells Expat Parent why Hong Kong is home We arrived here in 2007. There was a work opportunity for my husband and we thought, why not? The kids were young and we fancied a bit of an adventure, so off we went. We planned for the trip to be three years; 11 years later we’re still here.

stylist in Melbourne for 15 years before I moved here, so I was in the industry and working with a lot of very creative people, including photographers, art directors, stylists and hair and make-up artists. It was a place where I could hone my skills and creative eye.

We’ve lived all over. We started off in a serviced apartment in Kennedy Town and then moved to an apartment on Robinson Road, Mid-levels. When the global financial crisis hit we were able to secure a much bigger place in Tai Kok Tsui, near Olympic. But when rents rose again we were forced to move to where we are today, in Ngau Chi Wan, which is near Choi Hung on Kowloon-side. Our current place is my favourite — it’s close to the kids’ school and we are surrounded by greenery, but with spectacular views over the city.

Becoming a photographer was an organic process. I didn’t just wake up one morning and decide that’s that what I wanted to do.

I started taking photos of Hong Kong everyday life and slowly built up a library of images.

Then one day a friend asked if I could put a piece together for her using my photographs.

We worked together on the project and she loved what I did — and things sort of snowballed from there.

I didn’t start photography until after I arrived in Hong Kong. I was a photographic 28 expat-parent.com

My ready-to-hang designs can take a few months to create. I need to collect all the right images. The custom designs depend on the what the client wants. Sometimes

they come together really quickly. Nothing is too hard; the difficult part of bespoke pieces is having the client understand the design process. It’s complex and colour and balance are hugely important. At the end of the day I want to give my clients something they will love, but also something I’m proud of and happy to put my name to.

I always love my latest montage until a new design comes along. Then that one’s my favourite. But having said that, I do have a soft spot for my Tattoo Buddha series and I have a few custom designs that I really love.

I enjoy photographing in the grittier areas of Hong Kong most. Sham Shui Po, Sheung Wan, Tai Hang, Prince Edward and Yau Ma Tei spring to mind. Some images are very spontaneous and are snapped as I see things; others are more calculated. It all depends on what I’m working on and what I see.

PEOPLE I have to admit, I’ve explored pretty much every corner of Hong Kong. When I’ve got visitors in town, I loving taking them to see the more authentic and cultural parts of town — the wet markets, the temples and so on.

I try to avoid tourist spots. Hong Kong is very exciting; it’s a wonderful mix of culture, urban grittiness, style and business.

Getting stuck into the different cultures and festivals is what I love the most. I’ve been lucky enough to photograph backstage at a Chinese Opera, get up close to the annual mid-autumn Dragon Dance in Tai Hang, and visit Cheung Chau during the famous bun festival in May. Capturing the lanterns during lunar festival at the end of the summer is always a highlight. These are all things you can’t experience anywhere else in the world.

My weekends are mostly taken up with the kids’ sport. We love to travel as a family, but as my daughter is currently in her final year of school a lot of my time is spent supporting her at the moment.

If we’re eating out, we head to Hong Kong Island. Current favourites are Uma Nota, Chom Chom, Samsen and Francis, but we’re always looking out for new places to try. We love to head to a restaurant as a family.

In terms of new work projects, I’d like to try and get back to India at the end of the year. I have a lot of friends there who have a passion for photography and it’s one of my favourite places to photograph. Mexico is also on the bucket list, but I need to get through my daughter’s final exam year first.

One of the hardest things about expat living is the constant revolving door of friends moving in and out of your life. I find that really hard.

Follow Belinda Bath on Instagram and Facebook @belindabathimages.

For more details about her work, see belindabathimages.com

The Tattoo Buddha series is one of her favourite pieces of work

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C ST OV O ER RY

Water world

Hire a junk and discover Hong Kong’s beaches and coves.

Here’s how... By Julianne Dionisio

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R VE Y O R C TO S

Boats for hire Island Junks Boats cater for up to 40 and include Chinese teak junks as well as speedboats. Food packages and drinks packages are available – all drinks packages include Prosecco and Aperol. Destinations include all the usual Island haunts, plus there is a Sai Kung pickup option if you want to access Long Ke Wan and Clearwater Bay, prices start at $630 per person depending on destination and package, islandjunks.com.hk

Luxury and splurging: Michelangelo Cruise Hop aboard the sleek, super-stylish, 80-foot Michelangelo. It can accommodate up to 59 guests and is furnished with mahogany wood panelling, large sunbeds and several guest cabins. With 30 years’ experience, Captain A On knows the boating hotspots in Sai Kung, South Bay and Lamma, with a pick-up point of your choice. On-board buffet, cocktail party menus and beverages available. Hire starts at $32,000 to sail around Sai Kung and $24,000 for four hours in Central. Prices vary during peak season. luxuryjunk.com.hk

Enjoying the sunshine at Long Ke Wan

Classic junk: Hong Kong Yachting

Spa on the sea: Lazy Days

Junk-boat hire starts from $8,000 and boats can accommodate 30-40 people. Various catering options are available upon request.

Add on an extra cost for speedboats, water slides and waiters. hongkongyachting.com

Cruise in style with one of Lazy Days’ luxury junks. They’re equipped with loungers, sound systems, water inflatables, books and magazines, so you can customise your experience by adding on spa and nail treatments, massages and even wakeboarding lessons. Catering packages start at $940 per person. Boat-only hire starts at $15,000 for a maximum of 32 guests. lazydays.com.hk

Mini junking: Breakaway Company If you’re taking tots, Breakaway’s mini boat trip lasts just four hours and kids will love playing on the inflatable island or in the inflatable pool. There’s a net underneath the pool so toddlers can soak in the sea water safely. Children and infants are supplied with life jackets upon request and packages include a kayak. Fixed-rate packages start at $12,450 for 15 people; additional adults cost $830 per person and additional kids cost $450 per person. The price includes kid-friendly catering options such as mac and cheese or meatballs with gravy. Adults are also well catered for, and the package includes five bottles of wine or sparkling wine plus free flow of soft drinks. breakawayhk.com

For an exotic twist: Koh Thai Koh Thai provides one of the best services on the sea, not to mention the food, an impressive, colourful Thai buffet. Cruise around Sai Kung and Hong Kong Island in one of their seven boats. Add-on services include water sport activities such as banana boating, wakeboarding, water skiing and extreme body surfing. Prices start at $680 per person for a Saturday booking, with a minimum of 25 people. No need to fuss about hosting yourself; Koh Thai’s friendly staff are able to co-ordinate. kohthai.com

Teak decks: Hong Kong Junks Offering junks for all occasions, Hong Kong Junk boats include Swissy III and Wet Dreams, both of which can accommodate up to 40 people and offer fully-equipped kitchen, bar and onboard toilet and shower. Pick up from Aberdeen, Central, TST and Causeway Bay. Maximise the fun with water noodles, face painting, wakeboarding, banana boats and an onboard DJ. Boat-only rates start from $8,000 and all-inclusive packages start from $750 per person. hongkongjunks.com.hk All the fun at Repulse Bay

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C ST OV O ER RY

New

s

e i r o t i Terr

u K i Sa

Kowloon tral Ferry Piers

a m m La nd Isla

Cen

Rainbow Restaurant Aberdeen

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Pak

Causeway Bay

HK island Repulse Bay South Bay

Stanley

R VE Y O R C TO S

Where to anchor South Bay If you’re casting off from Central Ferry Piers or Aberdeen, glamorous South Bay is a mere stone’s throw away. Anchor up and relax or attempt a swim into the beach. Usually quieter than Repulse Bay but with plenty of space in the bay for kayaking or banana boating.

Rainbow Restaurant Don’t fancy self-catering? The Rainbow at Sok Kwu Wan on Lamma is a junk-lunch stalwart. Expect hustle and bustle, plenty of beer (we recommend you BYO wine), plates of steaming fried rice, noodles and seafood favourites (the pipis in blackbean sauce are highly recommended), plus ice creams and soft drinks for the kids. If you have no junk, the restaurant has its own boat that can pick you up from Central or TST. This joint gets super busy on weekends, so book in advance on 2982 8100.

ung Sai Kung Pier

k Sha Wan

Po Toi

Long Ke Wan Yau Lei Bluff Island

Clearwa

ter Bay

y

Po Toi

Further afield and only recommended in calmer conditions, the Po Toi islands are on the southernmost tip of Hong Kong; expect a sailing time from Aberdeen of over an hour.

There are hiking opportunities and temples but most people head down for a seafood lunch. Ming Kee Seafood Restaurant knows its stuff, serving up groaning plates of all the usual classics (the salt and pepper squid is particularly good). Plus soft drinks and ice creams for kids. Book in advance on 2849 4038.

Clearwater Bay If you’re heading from Central Ferry Piers or Causeway Bay, Clearwater Bay is a couple of hours’ sailing time and is a great destination.

The journey over takes you through the eastern section of the harbour, which is great for sightseeing opportunities, and then past Tung Lung Chau island and around past Clearwater Bay Country Park on the headland. Clearwater Bay itself is a glistening blue and large enough to accommodate many

boats. If you anchor close enough, a swim to Clearwater Bay Beach II could be on the cards.

Bluff Island If you’re heading out from Pak Sha Wan or Sai Kung Pier, Bluff is a top destination. The scenery here is spectacular – all emeraldgreen mountains and sparkling water. Bluff even has its own mini-reef (boats must anchor away from the buoyed-off zone).

The beach is small but cute with a hike that can be attempted to Bluff’s highest peak if you’re feeling energetic. This area tends to be slightly quieter than infamous Millionaires Bay opposite. Sailing time from Sai Kung is around an hour.

Long Ke Wan This is a spectacular ocean-side bay and beach just south of Hong Kong’s renowned Tai Long Wan basin. It’s a reasonably long sail from Sai Kung – around an hour-and-ahalf, and should only be attempted on calmer days as the open ocean can get rough. The journey is all worth it though. Think gleaming stretches of sand and crystal-clear waters.

You could be mistaken for thinking you’re on a deserted island in Thailand or the Philippines. There is nowhere to buy food, so come prepared. Mobile reception can also be patchy.

Yau Lei If you’re sailing in the Sai Kung area and need lunch, High Island Seafood Restaurant at Yau Lei is where you need to be. The little restaurant does a fine line in all the usual fried rice/noodle/steamed fish/seafood favourites and the friendly stuff are more than happy to direct tiny diners to the ice cream cabinet.

There is jetty-jumping fun by the fishing village and a cute little beach overlooked by the restaurant (ask for a table by the beach) has protected swimming. Bookings via WhatsApp on 2791 1822.

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C ST OV O ER RY

Junk food

Chowing down at Lamma’s Rainbow Restaurant

Chicken on the Run

Cali-Mex

Monsieur ChattĂŠ

Chicken on the Run is an Australian-style takeaway restaurant that offers hearty and healthy dishes including beef, fish, salads, sides and, of course, freshly roasted Australian chickens. Junk sets range from $116 to $140. Be sure to end the feast on a sweet note with delicious and chocolatey brownie bites. chickenontherun.com

For a Mexican twist, order a fresh, delicious platter from Cali-Mex. Choices include crunchy nachos, stuffed burritos and cheesy quesadillas delivered straight to your boat.

All go down a treat with a margarita or two in hand. Catering from 10 to 15 guests from $88 to $168 per person. cali-mex.com

This sophisticated French dining experience includes homemade French dishes such as Quiche Lorraine, roast chicken and exquisite cheese platters. This one is for those who are feeling indulgent. Junk catering packages range from $150 to $350 per person, and in typical French style, all sets including fresh bread. mrchatte.com.hk

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C ST OV O ER RY

il Bel Paese Escape to the Mediterranean for the day! For a true Italian experience, il Bel Paese offers a special junk package that includes Italian classics such as bruschetta, cherry mozzarella and tomato and pesto pasta salads. A fresh fruit platter is on offer to keep you hydrated. Junk sets range from $280 to $400 per person, with add-on wine and beer packages from $430. ilbelpaese.com.hk

TaKorea This restaurant offers a fusion of Korean and Mexican. On offer are sweet spices and unique combinations, such as TaKorea’s famous K-pop chicken and eggplant burritos. Perfect for an energy boost while out at sea. TaKorea offers four junk catering sets, ranging from light snacks to the Ultra feast package. Prices range from $600 to $2,000 depending on how many people are onboard and how hungry you are! facebook.com/TaKoreaHK

Invisible Kitchen Invisible Kitchen offers three junk sets; Essentials, Classic and Deluxe, which include a variety of salads, pastas and sandwiches as well as some tasty treats for dessert. Prices range from $200 to $350 per person, for a minimum of 15 people. Honour Industrial Centre, 6 Sun Yip St, Chai Wan, invisiblekitchen.com

All aboard at South Bay

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schools

School news

ARTY PARTY French International School students show off their artwork for the school’s annual Art Walk exhibition at its Jardine’s Lookout campus. This year’s theme was ‘Unite Our World Through Art’.

expat-parent.com 39

schools

New kids on the block It’s all action this summer with a host of new schools promising August openings. Amelia Sewell finds out if they’re on track

Shrewsbury Alongside Malvern College Hong Kong, Shrewsbury is another well-known British name launching in Hong Kong for the new school year. Based in Tseung Kwan O, New Territories, and with capacity for 1,000 places, it will be an international primary school for children aged three to 11 years.

Founded over 450 years ago, Shrewsbury UK is one of the original nine British public schools, in good company with the likes of Eton and Winchester. The school has previous experience on the international scene with Shrewsbury Bangkok, which opened 15 years ago.

The founding Hong Kong principal, Ben Keeling, is well-known among parents, having been integral in the set-up of Kellett’s Kowloon Bay campus in 2013. He’s well-versed with both the Hong Kong education system and the challenges of starting a school from the ground up.

Located in a purpose-built campus in

Mountain views at Shrewsbury’s New Territories purpose-built campus

Tseung Kwan O district, onsite facilities include an auditorium, recital suite, library, and sports facilities for gymnastics, dance and athletics.

Academically, the core programme of study will be linked closely to the English National Curriculum, with six classes in each primary year group. Lessons will be themed and taught as a combination of academic study together with exploratory and

collaborative learning. Daily Mandarin lessons will cater for everyone across the fluency spectrum.

Like a number of schools focusing on the outdoors, the school says that it aims to make the most of its rural location close to mountains, forests, hiking trails and parks, offering an education beyond the classroom. shrewsbury.hk

French International School Tseung Kwan O seems to be becoming a ‘go-to’ location for Hong Kong’s education offerings, with the French International School (FIS) also setting up shop here. A longstanding name in education in Hong Kong, FIS currently educates nearly 3,000 students across campuses in Happy Valley, Jardine’s Lookout, Chai Wan and Hung Hom (although the Hung Hom campus will close in July in

order to be absorbed by the new opening).

For those in the international stream, the new, purpose-built campus will cater for primary only, starting with Reception to Year 2 in the first academic year and organically progressing up to Year 6 by 2022.

For those in the French stream, the offering is from primary (starting with moyenne section), up to college (junior secondary),

Final fit-out for FIS in Tseung Kwan O

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although for the first year, the oldest year group will be 4ème.

Whilst the primary and secondary schools will be in separate blocks, the two streams of primary will be largely integrated, with an entire year group to each floor. A strong focus of this campus is on communal areas, allowing all pupils and teachers to collaborate, promoting a naturally broad bilingual environment.

As is expected of any purpose-built campus, the facilities are impressive.

Interesting additions are the native and educational gardens, which go hand-inhand with the school’s green, sustainable approach to the building. These gardens will be managed and run by the children.

Headmaster David Tran took up his post at the beginning of the current academic year and oversees all of the FIS schools. fis.edu.hk

schools

Malvern College Hong Kong Malvern welcomed local media to its Providence Bay, New Territories, campus last month as the purpose-built school building reached the final stages of its interior fit-out.

On track for an August opening, it will be a through-train school for pupils aged from five to 18 years, stopping at Year 9 in the first year and growing organically from there.

This is the fourth in Malvern’s portfolio of international schools (it has two in China, one in Egypt and one more in the pipeline), and parents can be reassured that Malvern is wellversed in the art of founding schools.

Although the campus is only half the size of an average local secondary school, the architects have created an impressive sevenstorey building which squeezes the maximum out of the 26,000 square metre space. Some of the most impressive aspects include a huge, open-plan, amphitheatre-style library at the heart of the building, music and recital rooms, a large auditorium, a 25m indoor pool,

a science centre and a rooftop sky pitch.

Students will also be able to access sports facilities at the adjacent Science Park.

The school will follow the International Baccalaureate curriculum and students will also benefit from Malvern’s association with the Forest School programme, an initiative that promotes outdoor learning as a key part of children’s development. In order to facilitate this, Malvern has taken the unusual step of acquiring a separate piece of land in a rural part of the New Territories.

If you are UK-focused, there will be opportunities for students to move to Malvern’s prep school at Year 7, The Downs, and to Malvern College UK at Year 9.

Perhaps most reassuringly for parents, the founding headmaster, Dr Robin Lister, comes directly from the UK school, where he was deputy head for 10 years. An academicturned-teacher, he has been at Malvern for nearly 30 years.

The school is set to open in Providence Bay

The Malvern College Preschool opened in 2017 in Kowloon. Join the Campus Tour on June 16, malverncollege.org.hk

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schools

Mount Kelly beds in New head mistress Lisa Milanec explains to Amelia Sewell why this British School is different We are very much targeted at parents who want a UK higher education for their children

N

Lisa Milanec has taken over as head mistress of Mount Kelly Schools Hong Kong

ot much gets past a Hong Kong parent. So Mount Kelly’s stuttering arrival into Hong Kong two years ago did not go unnoticed. With licensing problems, relocation issues and stern letters from the Education Bureau, it was not the smoothest of beginnings.

However last year saw the successful launch of the Mount Kelly International Preschool under the experienced eye of founding head of preschool Abigail Carr, as well as a preparatory school section, both in

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Tsim Sha Tsui.

And this year the school appears to have brought an equally safe pair of hands to the fore with Lisa Milanec, who was recently appointed headmistress of Mount Kelly Schools Hong Kong (MKSHK), following senior leadership roles in Shanghai and Beijing.

Milanec is no stranger to a challenge.

With over a decade’s experience working in education in Asia, in her previous roles she dealt with everything from restructuring and expansion to marketing and rebranding. She

will be borrowing from that experience as she spearheads MKSHKs progression.

“Each of the schools I have worked at in Asia has been going through a process of development and all were still quite new schools,” she says. “I would go from speaking with architects and stakeholders to then walking into a meeting with parents.”

At MKSHK she has moved straight into solidifying the school’s structure. The current set-up sees the prep school in Tsim Sha Tsui catering for Years 1 to 6. It is due to expand up to Year 9 from September. Down the road is the preschool, and next to that is the playgroup. A purpose-built campus for a through-school in the New Territories for ages three to 18 is in the planning, but for now is a way off.

Cynics can perhaps be forgiven for rolling their eyes at yet another British school opening in Hong Kong, but the MKSHK offering does sound like it has something different to offer.

There are two distinct strands to their approach. Firstly, the relationship between the Hong Kong school and its UK counterpart in Devon is a strong one. This is not just the borrowing of a name. Instead, with an open-door policy and shared curriculum, pupils will be able to transition seamlessly from the Hong Kong campus to the UK one.

“Once they have completed Year 8, pupils can, if they wish, move to the UK school with a guaranteed place,” says Milanec. “We provide a direct path through, which means students would not need to take the Common Entrance exam.”

schools

The school enjoys the great ideas through its close partnership with the Shackleton Programme

For pupils unsure of whether boardingschool life is for them, the school offers a short exchange that will allow them to try it out for seven to 10 days.

“From Year 5 upwards, we have an exchange programme, during which the pupils will stay in one of the boarding houses. The similarities between the schools are such that even our uniforms are exactly the same so the students will literally just slot straight in.”

The second strand is that the structure of the school is firmly rooted in the British preparatory system rather than primary/ secondary. A significant by-product of this model is that pupils can therefore be prepared for Common Entrance exams by MKSHK should they want to transfer to a different UK-based school after Year 8.

“This is what makes us different. We have got much more of a prep school philosophy and are very much targeted at parents who want a UK higher education for their children.”

The primary focus of this exam preparation will be on the 13+, however the school will also support parents who would like their child to sit the 11+.

“Obviously we would like pupils to move to Mount Kelly but we will offer the Common Entrance preparation so they can be admitted into other schools too,” she says.

Milanec is supported by the head of prep, Nick Rothwell, who comes from a prep-school background in the UK. With Milanec’s knowledge of international schools and Rothwell’s prep experience, this

promises to be a strong team with all bases covered.

Not all parents have an eye on a move to the UK though, and understandably the immediate priority is what is on offer in Hong Kong. Milanec is often asked about the school’s outdoor facilities, and she explains that despite being based in urban Kowloon, the school is not short of opportunities: a stone’s throw from its door is the Kowloon Bowling Green Club, the Kowloon Cricket Club and King’s Park, and the school has access to all of them for sport and swimming. And a school that promises its class sizes will be kept to a maximum of 15 students cannot be overlooked.

The importance of the ‘beyond the classroom’ concept is something that British education is known for, and Mount Kelly is no different. The school’s outdoor curriculum includes the Shackleton Programme, which is in addition to the timetabled sporting

activities. Devised to aid leadership, teamwork and practical skills, it includes elements of adventure, service to the community, proficiency and survival. Some aspects of the programme are designed to take children out of their comfort zone, while others aim to encourage their social responsibility.

Of the balance between classroom and outdoor learning, Milanec says: “Our children are outside twice a week for almost the whole afternoon. Yes, academics are important, but we want children to get out there building skills and learning teamwork because that matters just as much.”

And so it seems that after a steep learning curve, MKSHK is now resolute in its direction. “We understand that some parents might imagine that we’re just another British school, but actually there is a significant difference in what we are offering,” says Milanec. mountkelly.edu.hk

All students will be offered UK Common Entrance exam preparation

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schools

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schools

Summer in the city Get kids and teens out and about this summer with our guide to the best camps in Hong Kong

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schools

Hanging ten at Treasure Island, Lantau

The great outdoors Treasure Island

Hong Kong Academy

Ark Eden

Surf’s up! From June to late August, Treasure Island Summer Surf Camp promises an unforgettable Hong Kong summer. For surfers aged five to 16, of all levels and experience, these week-long day camps will also teach water skills, ocean safety and environmental awareness. treasureislandhk.com

Lovers of basketball and soccer can all play under one roof at HKA’s summer programme.

Or for those more comfortable in a classroom, there are also coding and science sessions. asa@hkacademy.edu.hk

A summer in the great outdoors is on offer at Ark Eden’s farm in Mui Wo. Exploring the forest, hunting for treasure and cooking up feasts will keep even the most active minds occupied. Taught through exploration and play, the camps, starting at the end of June, are suitable for students aged five to 11. arkedenonlantau.org

Hebe Haven Yacht Club Anyone with a love of the open seas will feel right at home at the Adventure Watersports Week, with a choice of activities on sailboats, motorboats, paddle boards and dinghies. The 10 weeks of courses, catering for six to 14 year-olds, also include beach games and Mini Olympics. Non-members welcome. hhyc.org.hk

Discovery Montessori School Aimed at pre-schoolers and primary students, the DMS summer camp is an excellent opportunity for parents to see the Montessori method in action. Perfect for all-round children with curious minds, this fun-filled course includes water play, field trips and science experiments. dms.edu.hk 46 expat-parent.com

Asia Pacific Adventure For budding explorers aged seven to 15, Asia Pacific Adventure offers week-long courses this summer. Specialists in outdoor-learning, ASA has designed a camp that travels around the Hong Kong coastline, with water-based programmes that include activities such as kayaking, snorkelling and stand-up paddle boarding. summer.asiapacificadventure.com

Harbour School You might detect a fishy theme for The Harbour School’s summer camp. The Fully Immersive Scholar’s Holiday (F.I.S.H.) courses run from July 3 to August 17. Students aged five to 18 can join the team in the Marine Science Centre as they study marine ecosystems and take part in projects linked to real-world issues. To enhance the experience, there’s even a 50-foot sailboat. ths.edu.hk

Outward Bound Not for the faint-hearted (or anyone under 15), this is course in the ancient art of bushcraft.

Skills taught will include fire-lighting, natural navigation and crisis management. A Youth Sea programme teaches basic sailing theories and the transferable skills of leadership and problem-solving. outwardbound.org.hk

Hong Kong International Tennis Academy The folks at the Hong Kong International Tennis Academy believe that champions are born at tournaments, not at training camps. Their Summer Intensive Camps include tournaments and match play experiences to improve players’ physical and mental skills. hkita.com

schools

Languages HK Kidz If languages are what your child is looking for, HK Kidz might have the solution. Offering a creative way for children to develop language skills, classes are available in German, Spanish, French, Mandarin, Japanese and English. Taught through songs, drama, storytelling, role-play and games, classes are suitable for children aged from two to 12.

A variety of enrichment classes can also be mixed and matched. hkkidz.com

The International Montessori School Looking for Mandarin or English immersion for your children? IMS has got you covered. Other course options are Maths and ‘Read & Write’, all taught in the Montessori style. Courses are two weeks long over July and August, with halfday and full-day programmes available at two campuses: South Horizons (ages three to nine) and Mid-levels (ages three to six). ims.edu.hk

Fun in Shanghai with That’s Mandarin

Korean International School

That’s Mandarin

Throughout July, the Korean International Summer School is offering a range of exciting academic and recreational courses. Aimed at students aged three to 12, sessions can be morning, afternoon or both. Subjects on offer are French, ICT, art, Mandarin, ESL and sport. Other than the foreign-language classes, teaching will be in English. kis.edu.hk

For those with Mandarin on the brain, here’s a chance to head to Shanghai for a language summer camp. Aimed at children aged from seven to 17, the courses are two-week cycles offering a mixture of classroom lessons, challenging activities and cultural excursions. summercampschina.com

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schools

Splashing around with ESF

All-rounders Trybe HK Energetic children don’t want to spend the summer with their two feet firmly on the ground.

Trybe HK offers a summer camp that will have them launching from beams and being suspended from the ceiling. With gymnastics, acrobatics, aerial and Parkour all available, this is about as active as it gets. Private lessons and small-group sessions are also available. trybehk.com

Hong Kong International School The Summer Discovery Program has been running for over 40 years, offering a fun and challenging range of courses for children aged four to 17. On offer at this year’s camp is everything from film-making and basketball to public speaking and Mandarin. The programme runs in two three-week sessions across the Tai Tam and Repulse Bay campuses. summer.hkis.edu.hk

ARCH Sherlock Holmes would have loved this!

Centred around the theme ‘Junior Detectives: Improbable and Impossible’, this 10-day course combines history, literature and drama with STEM and robotics to help participants solve crimes and complete challenges. Aimed at children aged eight to 11, the camp also includes golf and tennis coaching for an allround summer of fun. arch-education.com

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English Schools Foundation There will be no complaints about boredom this summer at the ESF Guardian Planet Adventures. With four weeks of thrilling themes from superheroes to dragons, and wild animals to pirates, little people will have their imaginations captured as they use games, stories and drama to develop their interest in reading, writing and speaking. esf.org.hk

Kids Gallery There’s something for everyone at Kids Gallery this summer, as they’re offering over 100 camps across the city, from Central to Yau Tong and Kowloon. Whether the theme is Peppa Pig, Frozen or Aladdin, children will take part in a variety of activities, including hip-hop, painting, ballet and magic. kidsgallery.com

ATOM Academy Looking for K-Pop and taekwondo all under the same roof? Look no further. With Mandarin, gymnastics and science as well, ATOM’s Summer Fiesta caters for children from two-and-a-half to eight years. Camps run from the end of June until the end of August. Swimming classes by the Hong Kong Swimming Academy are also available. atomacademy.com.hk

ActiveKids A great option for the all-rounder who can’t decide, ActiveKids in Kennedy Town has all the bases covered. With fashion design courses, chess camps, dinosaur mysteries, cooking, coding and chess, this

is the destination for variety. It’s all sure to keep three to 17 year olds fascinated and out of trouble. activekidshk.com and thechessacademyhk.com

Dalton Community Dalton has things wrapped up on both sides of the harbour with camps at its Kowloon and Cyberport campuses. Split into three age groups catering for children aged from one to 10, classes for the younger ones will be a mixture of gym, art, music and reading, whilst the older children (six and above) will focus on drama and STEAM. dshk.edu.hk

YWCA Centre of Learning and Life Enhancement You name it, the YWCA has got it this summer. Perfect for siblings with different interests, there’s something for everyone: specialist courses in soccer, cooking, gymnastics, drama, STEM and swimming.

So whether your children want to know more about 3D printing or fancy perfecting their skills on the trampoline, there will be something to keep them busy. clle.ywca.org.hk

American School Hong Kong If your children are keen on football, animals, science, coding, Wushu, pottery or medieval history, the ASHK Summer Program is for them.

It includes three sessions of nine or 10 days each, with separate courses for students aged from six to eight, and nine to 13. Open to ASHK and non-ASHK students. ashk.edu.hk

schools Academic Aegis Advisor Experienced tutors will guide your children through the first stages of the IB, SAT and ACT courses, and prepare them for the future by ensuring they have the necessary skill sets to succeed. aegis-advisors.com

Norton House There’s no rest for the wicked, or those applying to boarding school. Norton House has designed a summer enrichment series for those looking to gain entry to schools abroad.

Running throughout the summer and suitable for both primary and secondary students, this is a chance for them to brush up on some key skills before the forthcoming admission season starts in the autumn. nh.edu.hk

St George University High school and college students looking to pursue a career in medicine or veterinary medicine are sure to have fun while gaining a valuable competitive edge at the St George University Summer Leadership Academy. sgu.edu

Canadian International School The CDNIS summer-school brochure is 70 pages long so it’s safe to assume there’s a fair bit of variety. Some of the activities not often seen in Hong Kong include ukulele, inline skating and Bizsmart, an entrepreneurial course for 11-19 year-olds. The school has also coupled with the University of Cambridge again this year to provide an undergraduatestyle course for those contemplating their career. There are also courses for little ones as young as three. cdnis.edu.hk

The Edge

Sylvan Learning

It’s noses to the grindstone for some this summer, with eyes on the prize for a top college place. The Edge presents a two-week intensive boot camp for applicants to US colleges who are looking to raise their ACT/ SAT scores. The course offers 70 hours of teaching and will be conducted by test-prep specialists. theedge.com.hk

Sylvan Learning is offering four week-long summer workshops on reading, writing, times tables and robotics. The summer workshops using latest teaching methods, engaging activities, games and a fun rewards system to inspire your child’s learning. sylvanlearning. com

Hong Kong Education & Tutoring Services If your child has to spend the summer with their nose buried in the books, it helps for them to have some company. One of ETS’s courses will help them make friends while they brush up on their iGCSE, IB or A Levels subjects.

Choose from courses for students in Year 7 or upwards, and beginners’ courses in French and Spanish. Help is also at hand for personal statement writing and IELTS courses. hkets.net

The Medic Portal Hong Kong students hoping to get into a UK medical school will snap up these courses offered by The Medic Portal. The three-day training covers the BMAT, UKCAT and the interview, and the courses are written and taught by doctors who are all experts in medical education. July 7-9 at Kellett (Kowloon Bay). themedicportal.com

Koding Kingdom Specialising in technology and multimedia design, Koding Kingdom provides summer coding courses for students aged from four to 18. They’ll refine their skills in computer science or just have a good time learning some new cool tech. kodingkingdom.com/

Alpha Academy Keep the cogs turning throughout the summer with Maths Gymnastics, Experimental Science and Brain Training. Suitable for primary and secondary school students, this is particularly aimed at those sitting UK entrance exams or iGCSEs. Also on offer are public-speaking events and debating workshops for students wanting to brush up on their communication skills. alphaacademy.edu.hk

STEMex The sky’s the limit at this science-based summer camp, where scientific imaginations will run wild. Catering for children aged four to 14, this camp combines engineering, robotics and programming with unlimited creativity.

Based in Tsim Sha Tsui and Siu Sai Wan, this STEM course has everything from rockets to Minecraft as children learn how to solve problems innovatively. stemex.org

Techbob Academy Specialising in all things robotics, coding, engineering and architecture, Techbob Academy offers a hands-on learning experience using STEAM. A coding competition at the end of the programme gives children from all over Hong Kong an arena to showcase their creative games. techbob.com

Kicking around with CDNIS

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schools

Painting up a storm with Fairchild

Littlies Fairchild No books needed at this play-based activities summer camp at Fairchild Junior Academy.

Instead, it’s a glorious mixture of sports, music and movement, creative arts, cooking, science and storytelling. Taking place throughout July and August and open to children aged between eight months and six years, the camp is an action-packed way to spend the summer holidays. camps@fairchild.academy

Peterhouse Preschool Let their creativity overflow in the Summer Little Internship! Designed to inspire musical awareness, critical thinking and a good dollop of imagination, the Peterhouse course is for children aged between 18 months and five years, and follows the kindergarten and primary curriculum. peterhouse-preschool.com

Sunshine House

Mount Kelly

With a jam-packed schedule of exploration and intrigue, students can look forward to beach adventures and insect hunts while learning about teamwork and building their vocabulary.

For older children, there will also be a focus on developing personal confidence in preparation for primary-school interviews. sunshinehouse.com.hk

The Mount Kelly Babies and Toddlers Summer Programmes run throughout June and July. With storytelling, explorative play and co-ordinated games, this is aimed at children between the ages of 15 months and four years, who’ll also have the chance to take part in a free class to experience the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum. mountkelly.edu.hk

Maggie & Rose

Woodland Preschools

Head south to the Repulse Bay beach to make the most of Maggie & Rose’s muchenvied spot at The Pulse. Non-members are welcome to join in these unaccompanied camps for four to eight year olds. Running through July and August, the three-hour sessions include topics such as Bonkers Biology, Animal Planet and Art Factory. maggieandrose.com.hk

With multiple locations across Hong Kong and catering to children as young as six months old, the Woodland Preschools’ summer programme offers a broad range of options. Parents can choose between English, Mandarin or bilingual classes, with subjects including drama, music, science, cooking and design. There’s also a summer sports programme for children aged from two-and-a-half to seven years. woodlandschools.com

Sai Kung International Preschool This one is for those who like getting their hands dirty. The SKIP Summer Paint & Play programme is for children aged between one and five. They’ll participate in a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities, including arts, crafts, painting and sensory activities using play dough, goop, slime and sand, finishing up with story time, singing and dancing. Each child must be accompanied by an adult. skip.edu.hk Relaxing with a good book at Woodland Preschools

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schools Creative & Performing arts

Elephant Community Press Shaping budding authors and keen young readers, the Elephant Community Press week-long workshops aim to instil the foundations of storytelling and creative writing. They run from June 19 to August 24 and are suitable for children aged four to 14. elephantcommunitypress.com

Savannah College of Art & Design SCAD’s summer courses are for creative secondary school students who are thinking ahead to university. The courses offer them the chance to experience the university’s approach to education and its extensive facilities and resources, all while developing their individual creative vision through exciting art and design assignments. Residential and non-residential workshops are open to those aged 14-19. scad.edu.hk

Malvern Do you have a little performer in the house?

The ‘Malvern Little Star Summer Camp’ in Yau Ma Tei in July focuses on communication and language, so children will learn basic drama concepts and develop performance skills whilst perfecting movement and dance.

Designed for children from pre-nursery to Kindergarten 3. malvernpreschool.hk

Move for Life The Summer Dance Camp in Pok Fu Lam promises to exhaust the little people in a lively and fun environment. The camps are for two to five year olds and six to 12-year olds. Both involve a wide range of activities, including dancing, sport, indoor games, stories, free play and singing. moveforlife.asia

Stage Right Summer Theatre is a chance for 4-11-year-olds to practise their talents on the stage. In a fun, five-day programme, students will write a script, improve their performance skills through games and teamwork, and work towards performing an original piece of theatre to friends and family. stagerighthk.com Dress up fun with Stage Right

Board game fun at Elephant Community Press

Red Shoe Dance

Academy of Jazz

Jazz hands and pirouettes abound at this camp for dance-lovers. Building their skills in everything from classical ballet to Hip Hop and acro-dance to musical theatre, students will dance for two hours each day in a five-day course, learning different styles each time.

Suitable for those aged 6 and above. Morning sessions are for those newer to dance, whilst the afternoons are for the more confident. redshoedance.com

Academy of Dance Combines the magical world of Disney with the joy of dance for a truly wonderful summer-camp experience from July 23 to 27. With Miss Ria, a former dancer for Disneyland in The Lion King, your child will have a fun-filled, imaginative and thrilling week of exploring different dance styles. academyofjazz.com

Faust International Ensure your children have an action-packed summer full of drama, creativity and fun with Faust International’s summer programmes.

Choose a week-long theatre or writing workshop that will encourage your child’s creativity and confidence in performing. faustworld.com

Island Dance The Island Dance Summer Camp and workshops, covering jazz funk, Hip Hop, ballet and other styles, are designed improve and fine-tune your child’s dancing abilities.

The camps are for children aged from four to eight, while the workshops are for children aged from nine to 12. islanddance.com.hk

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life & style

Jennifer Margolin, founder of gift and flower specialist BYDEAU, at home on her comfy couch - ‘We all fight for the corner spot’

California dreaming Rachel Read peeks inside the light and airy Happy Valley home of Jennifer Margolin. Photography by Michelle Proctor Tell us a bit about yourself — how did you end up in Hong Kong?

It’s the classic Hong Kong story — husband gets transferred for work and wife and kid follow him. California is our family home; I was a creative director in Los Angeles and San Francisco, working on styling, trend forecasting and conference strategy. In my prior life, I had an event-planning company (I’m a certified wedding planner), so flowers and design have always been a big part of my life and work.

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Where do you live?

We live in Happy Valley and really love the neighbourhood and feel; there have been lots of new restaurants and shops opening over the past year, which makes it fun. Weekends here are the best; we walk down and get a coffee in the morning from our local bakery — something we would do in California.

What was your apartment like when you first moved in?

It’s a 1,700 square foot, three-bedroom and

three-bathroom apartment that was bare and ready for us to decorate. We moved all of our furniture with us to Hong Kong and I’m so glad that we did. We’ve switched some pieces out since moving here but a lot of our decor came with us and made the flat instantly feel like home. The biggest challenge was the limited space.

How would you describe your style?

I’d say I have a casual California vibe happening; we lived by the beach in California

life & style

The deep-plums and blues of the dining room rug offset the lighter wall shades

and I really loved that indoor-outdoor style of living. We want people to feel comfortable in our home so there’s nothing too fussy, we don’t want people to feel too intimidated to sit down or touch everything. We have lots of artwork we’ve collected from all over the world; there’s a sunset shot of our old pier in California that hangs in our entryway. It was a surprise gift from friends when we moved, so it’s very special to us. And of course now our daughter is older I’ve finally been able to have the large, white sofa I’ve always wanted!

How has your professional background influenced your style?

When decorating my own home, I don’t feel the need to update according to every new trend. It’s easy to add pops of colour or new cushions when I feel I need to update. For me, it’s more important to have a home that people feel comfortable in. I like nice things, not at the expense of creating a stuffy or uncomfortable space.

Take us through your colour schemes…

Our living room is mostly whites with blues and greens mixed in, whilst our dining room rug has light-blue and deep-plum colours that tie-in with our shoe cabinet in the hallway.

For the master bedroom, I used plum, offwhite and gold accents. For my daughter’s room, she chose white with lavender and blue tones. All of the rooms are designed to play into each other — they’re all a little bit different, but the colours all complement each other.

Did you have to make any compromise with the rest of the family’s tastes?

My family is pretty easy-going when it comes to decor — my husband just requests that it’s not too pink or girly, so I try and keep it fairly neutral.

Devilishly well-designed detail abounds

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life & style

The light-filled living space looks out over the greens of Bowen Road

What are your favourite features?

I love that our living room looks onto the greens of Bowen Road. Our HD Buttercup couch is so comfortable — we all fight for the corner spot.

Tell us about your most treasured pieces of furniture…

I found the purple buffet in our dining room at an antiques store in California for under US$100. I sent it to my furniture guy to give it a lacquered look, choosing a deep plum colour. Every time I look at it, it makes me smile… I found a great piece of furniture at a reasonable price and repurposed it, so it’s one-of-a-kind. Our dining table was a wedding present from my husband’s family — it’s made many moves with us and still looks brand new.

And what about favourite pieces that you’ve added since moving to Hong Kong?

The wall in our living room was bare for a long time while I searched for some artwork that would work there. I eventually discovered a piece by Prudence Caroline at iDecorate and fell in love instantly.

When decorating a space, what’s worth splurging on and saving on?

Splurge on your bed and a good sofa. In Hong Kong it’s also easy to get nice furniture at a reasonable price.

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How have you combatted any drawbacks in your space?

The lack of space was difficult to get used to.

We now have a rule that when new gifts come in, we give something away to make room. I clean out my closets every four to six months.

What inspired you to start BYDEAU? I couldn’t find an easy, affordable place to get flowers and gifts that were thoughtful but not generic. We’re on a mission to create the perfect giving and receiving experience.

What have been the challenges setting up a business in Hong Kong?

Getting your storage priorities right

the water in your vase every other day. The main thing is to choose flowers that make you happy.

What advice do you have for others looking to start a business here?

Make sure you really want it — it’s not easy, but at the same time it’s so rewarding. You’ll most likely miss out on things while you are building it up, so make sure you have a good support team of family, friends and colleagues who understand. But when you overhear people talking about your brand or see customer pictures online, it’s the best feeling in the world.

It’s been pretty easy. Since I’m new here, I’ve had to network as I’m meeting new people — in the States I had a database of contacts so would have known exactly who to go to for help and recommendations. The great thing about Hong Kong is that people are so open and inviting; it’s been fantastic meeting other women entrepreneurs and having that support system.

Can we have some insider tips on creating the perfect flower arrangement?

Make sure you let your flowers sit in fresh water and become well-hydrated before arranging them. Cut off any leaves below the waterline, as these will create bacteria, which shortens the life of your flowers. Also, cut the bottom of the stems at an angle; this will allow them to take on more water. Change

The deep-purple buffet is a customised antique from California

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life & style Jennifer recommends…

Happy Valley eats Feather & Bone “for brunch and groceries” Winner Building, 11 Wong Nai Chung Road, 2836 3789 Shanghai Lane “for the best dan dan noodles ever” 10 Min Fat Street, 2891 6629 Proof “for yummy sourdough bread and coffee” 14 Tsun Yuen Street, 6542 9788

iDecorate Shop 926, Lvl 9, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay idecorateshop.com Tom Dixon 52 Hollywood Road, Central tomdixon.net 1stdibs.com

Happy Alley “for a quick drink outdoors” 28-42 Yik Yam Street, 2576 9996

williams-sonoma.com

Interiors

onekingslane.com

HD Buttercup 2/F Horizon Plaza, 2 Wing Lee Street, Ap Lei Chau hdbuttercup.com Bowerbird Home 8/F Horizon Plaza, 2 Wing Lee Street, Ap Lei Chau bowerbird-home.com Red Cabinet 11/F Horizon Plaza, 2 Wing Lee Street,

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Ap Lei Chau red-cabinet.com.hk

hudsongracesf.com

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life & style Lucky Cat mug $165 mirthhome.com

ong Kong mug H $120 thelionrockpress.com

‘ Up In Lights’, framed black & white photograph with neon pink light $4,800 mirthhome.com

Super souvenirs Memories are made of these

cented candles S $250 thelionrockpress.com

riginal Hong Kong O artwork and prints by Florence Traissac from $8,500 arteflodesign.com

lace-name towels P $250 each mirthhome.com 58 expat-parent.com

life & style anda and Lucky Cat P soy jar candles $225 each god.com.hk

ong Kong wall art H

by Chinabcs from $600 ginnymalbon.com

im Sum Salt ‘n’ Pepper D shaker set $220 mirthhome.com

arewell greeting cards F $25 each thelionrockpress.com ong Kong notebooks H $150 each thelionrockpress.com

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dining

Healthy food for hungry tums Give family mealtimes a boost with mum-of-three Maayan Schwartz’s Hong Kong-friendly cookbook

M

aayan Schwartz has recently published Your Outsourced Kitchen, a collection of healthy, family-friendly recipes that have also been translated into Tagalog.

“Often the cooking responsibilities in Hong Kong homes are outsourced to our hardworking domestic helpers,” says Schwartz.

“We’ve all had those comical ‘lost in translation moments’, which is why I wanted to help ease the meal-preparation process.”

Recognising that it’s tough mapping out balanced and nutritious meal plans each week

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Baking guru Maayan Schwartz with her young family

when you’re juggling multiple responsibilities, Schwartz hopes that her carefully curated recipes will ease the pressure.

Each recipe is outlined in a simple, step-bystep way. There are no lengthy yarns about food evolution or the history behind the recipe, just a list of ingredients and a simple process written clearly in both English and Tagalog.

The book is beautifully photographed and contains over 80 healthy recipes, covering starters, salads, mains, desserts, small meals, soups and smoothies. Many Hong Kong restaurants have stepped up and contributed,

including Jinjuu, Bombay Dreams, Grassroots Pantry and Genie Juicery.

There is also a handy menu planner, plus cooking tips and pantry stock lists. And just so everyone’s working from the same page, there’s an explanation section outlining the health benefits of basic ingredients, including various oils and sweeteners.

There are vegetarian, fish-based and meatbased recipes, gluten-free options, detox soups and fusion dishes. Cuisines include Western, Middle Eastern and Asian.

Check out two of her favourites here...

Dining

SHIMA’S GLUTEN-FREE BROWNIE CUPCAKES

1/2 cup juicy Medjool dates, pitted 1/2 cup water 1 cup dark-chocolate pieces (at least 60% cacao) 1/2 cup coconut oil 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 and 1/3 cups coconut sugar 1 and 3/4 cups gluten-free flour 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum 1 tablespoon gluten-free baking powder 1 cup dairy-free dark-chocolate chips

up into pieces. Put into a bowl and heat in the microwave for a few minutes until the chocolate is melted. Be careful not to let it burn.

In a mixing bowl, combine the coconut oil (make sure it’s in its liquid form, and if necessary, heat in the microwave for a few seconds), the date paste, vanilla extract and melted chocolate. Mix well.

Take another bowl and use a wooden spoon to mix the coconut sugar, gluten-free flour, xanthan gum and baking powder together until well combined.

Combine the chocolate mixture with the flour mixture and mix well. Add the chocolate chips and mix again.

Preheat the oven to 175°C.

Baking the brownies

Makes 12 Ingredients

Making the date paste Double-check that the dates have no pits before putting them in a blender with the water, and blend until smooth.

The brownie mix Take the cup of dark chocolate and break it

Spoon the brownie mixture into 12 paper cupcake/muffin holders. If you have a stainless steel muffin tin for 12 muffins, it’s best to place each cupcake holder in the tin, as the shape will hold best this way. If not, just put the cupcake holders on a regular baking tray.

Bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes.

Let the brownies cool down before serving.

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dining dining KALE, CAULIFLOWER & LENTIL SALAD WITH CHARRED LEMONS Serves two as a main, four as a side salad 1/2 cauliflower, segmented into small pieces 1/2 cup cooked brown lentils (soak overnight) 1/2 lemon, peeled (optional for charred lemon pieces) 1/2 cup cashews, roasted and unsalted 6 cups curly kale, washed and chopped 1 teaspoon sunflower oil Juice from 1/2 lemon 2 teaspoons ground sumac

Dressing 1/3 cup coriander leaves 1/3 cup mint leaves 1 tablespoon raw turmeric, peeled and minced Thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled and minced 1 teaspoon turmeric spice 4 tablespoons tahini paste Juice from 1/2 lemon 1 teaspoon rice vinegar 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

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Dining 1 clove garlic 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon honey 1/2 cup water 1/4 teaspoon Pink Himalayan salt Black pepper to taste

Preparing the cauliflower Preheat the oven to 180˚C. Mix the cauliflower pieces with the sunflower oil, a pinch of salt and the juice from half a lemon. Place on a baking pan lined with baking paper. Once the oven has heated up, pop the tray in the oven and bake the cauliflower for about 25 minutes or until it has become slightly grilled/browned, but not too soft. Once it’s finished, turn off the oven and set the cauliflower aside.

Cooking the lentils Rinse the lentils, put them in a saucepan with about three cups of water and cook until soft.

This usually takes about 20-25 minutes. Once the lentils are softened, drain the water using a colander and set aside.

Making the charred lemons Cut a lemon in half and place it flesh-side-

down on a cutting board. Cut the lemon across into six even pieces and then cut each piece in thirds so you end up with 18 even pieces.

Remove all of the seeds. Coat a non-stick frying pan with oil spray and place on the stove on high heat. Once the pan is really hot, add the lemon pieces and let them slightly caramelise until they become a bit sticky and also slightly brown. After one minute, turn the flame down to low and stir the lemons to make sure they don’t burn. When they are sufficiently caramelised, set the lemons aside.

Dressing Put all of the dressing ingredients in the blender and blend until you get a thick creamy dressing.

Assembling the salad Place the chopped kale into a large salad bowl.

Put the grilled cauliflower pieces, cashew nuts, lentils and the charred lemons on the kale.

Sprinkle the sumac over the salad and pour over the dressing. Toss the salad really well, making sure the kale and salad ingredients are completely coated with the dressing. This salad tastes better if you eat it about 15-20 minutes after the dressing has been poured on so the

kale and lentils really absorb the flavours.

If you have any leftover dressing, use it as a delicious veggie dip over the next few days. *Both recipes can be found in Your Outsourced Kitchen.

Buy a copy of Your Outsourced Kitchen at a Bookazine store or youroutsourcedkitchen.com A percentage of the proceeds from sales of the book will be donated to the Cambodian Children’s Fund in Phnom Penh, which currently helps around 12,000 people in communities across the country.

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travel

Travel news

FAMILY FUN IN INDIA Kids under 12 get to stay free at Alila Fort Bishangarh in Rajasthan this summer. Bishangarh village (pictured) is at the foot of the 230-year-old fort; once the home of kings and Rajputs, it’s now a luxury hotel. The summer offer runs until July 31 and includes access to the kids’ club, spa credits and discounts on local cultural tours. alilahotels.com

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travel

Singapore splash-down Marianne Rogerson flew her kids to the Lion City to check out the Shangri-La Hotel’s new upgrade

Having a ball at Buds By Shangri-La kids’ club

The Shangri-La Hotel Singapore has just knocked the ball out of the park with its recent upgrade of its family-friendly facilities.

Despite being just a stone’s throw from shopping thoroughfare Orchard Road, Shangri-La’s flagship property is set amidst 15 acres of landscaped gardens, giving off vibes worthy of a tropical resort rather than a city-centre hotel.

The luxury hotel has always been a favourite of business and leisure travellers alike, but following the recent refurbishment of its Tower Wing, it looks set to conquer the Singapore family travel market in a major way.

Heading up the new facilities is the dedicated family floor, with a choice of 19 Deluxe Family Rooms and five two-bedroom themed Family Suites.

The Deluxe rooms are a spacious 38 square metres, with a built-in kids’ bed to further maximise space. I was impressed by touches such as the full-sized fridge and the height-adjustable table, while the kids were delighted with their mini-sized robes, slippers and pool ponchos.

But the most impressive feature of the 66 expat-parent.com

The kids were beyond excited to climb into their castle-themed bed, with flickering candle nightlights

floor is the themed suites. We opted for the Castle Suite, and the kids were beyond excited as they climbed the turrets to reach their dream-themed bed, with flickering candle nightlights to keep them company in the dark. Shangri-La really has thought of everything here – there was even a special kid-sized tunnel linking the adult and children’s bedrooms, which was of course used to full effect.

The suites also boast two bathrooms, with the kids’ bathroom kitted out with a child’s toilet seat, baby bath and children’s

toiletries. There’s even a supply of nappies, wet wipes and swim nappies, in case you forget to pack your own.

Speaking of which, if you need additional baby supplies, the centralised pantry on the family floor is fully stocked with every conceivable amenity, from Stokke strollers and cots to high chairs, bouncers, booster seats and bath toys.

There are even self-service laundry facilities for those inevitable accidents when travelling with young kids.

Along with the upgrade, the hotel has also opened an impressive kids’ club, Buds

By Shangri-La. My own littlies went crazy checking out the various interactive zones, throwing paint around the art room, singing karaoke in the music studio and zooming around the soft play and ball pit. There’s even a fully-equipped cooking classroom for those with time for a baking class. The fun extends outdoors with a pirate-ship playground and adjacent water-play zone with fountains, water guns and tipping buckets.

There’s also a Buds cafe, although mums and dads may prefer to leave the kids under the watchful eye of the kids’ club team and head back to the pool. Mine’s a Margarita… shangri-la.com

Time for a dip in the hotel pool

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travel

Kuala Lumpur welcomes Four Seasons

Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur is scheduled to open mid-summer.

Located in the Golden Triangle neighbourhood next to the Petronas Towers, the hotel will host over 200 guest rooms, four restaurants, a spa and wellness centre, a pool and one of the city’s most wide-ranging retail outposts.

Kuala Lumpur is a four-hour flight from Hong Kong and offers a wealth of cultural and family-friendly activities in year-round sunshine. Cathay Dragon operates several flights a day to the Malaysian capital.

It is anticipated the hotel will be open to guests by late August. fourseasons.com

Catch the action in Chiang Mai Anantara Chiang Mai Resort has launched a Family Vacation Package, with prices starting at US$357 per night. The offer includes two nights’ accommodation in one-, two- or three-bedroom serviced suites, daily breakfast for two, four or six people depending on the size of the

accommodation, return transfers to Chiang Mai airport, one family dinner and one 90-minute couples massage.

The resort is walking or biking distance from the Night Bazaar, outdoor markets and riverside boutiques and restaurants. Or soak up the culture of the old city’s moats, ruins

and temples. Further afield, active families can enjoy zip-lining through the rainforest, river rafting and local golf courses.

The resort offers a 34-metre riverside pool, river-view gym, spa and two restaurants. chiang-mai.anantara.com

Disturbed by the levels of trash they’d witnessed, they went away and created a range of bracelets to finance clean-up operations on beaches around the world.

Each bracelet funds the collection of one pound in weight of rubbish. In two years they have scooped up over 630,000 pounds of debris from oceans and coastlines in

27 different countries.

The Bali headquarters follows the launch of two similar offices, both in the US. The bracelets, priced at $180, are now available in Hong Kong through charity start-up Six Degrees in blue, white, coral or turquoise. sixdegreesboutique.com

Oceans heaven US environmental movement 4Ocean opened its first Asian headquarters in Bali last month. The organisation is the brainchild of two US friends, Alex and Andrew, who, while surfing in Bali two years ago, found themselves paddling through plastic-clogged water in order to catch the waves.

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travel

Soul searching

Discover your creative side in the Greek islands, says retreat specialist Paula Hagiefremidis. By Carolynne Dear

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travel

An evening styling workshop

E

Greek scenes

scaping the kids and the rat-race, former Hong Kong interiors consultant Elisha Rickward joined a Creative Immersion Retreat to the Greek island of Lemnos last year.

“It’s hard to put into words the magic that was Lemnos — although I did take away a heap of photos as it was an absolute visual feast,” says Rickward of the trip, which was part of a curated tour organised by Australianbased travel company, Mediterranean Wanderer.

“An amazing group of women came together from all over the world and over five days, we were treated to a smorgasbord of wonderful activities and workshops.”

The tour was led by Mediterranean Wanderer founder, Paula Hagiefremidis, who is in the throes of putting together a ‘Food, Writing and Creative Escape’ back to Greece

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Paula Hagiefremidis and group enjoy a boat trip around Lemnos

and the island of Serifos in the western Cyclades this autumn.

Relaxing, restorative and highly enjoyable, the tours were first put together when Hagiefremidis hit a low point emotionally a few years ago. “I had got to a point where I wasn’t doing what truly made me happy,” she says.

“I was running a very successful Japanese restaurant which myself and my husband had started from scratch. It was doing enormously well but I wasn’t content.”

So she decided to ease herself out of her comfort zone and follow her heart — “which was daunting, I was terrified” — and set up a series of writing retreats to Greece.

“There are two significant reasons for picking Greece. Firstly, although I was born in Australia I have Greek heritage and spent countless childhood summers in Greece.

I speak, read and write Greek, as my parents

insisted I attend Greek school after my normal school hours. This was agonising as a child but now I can’t thank my parents enough — I couldn’t imagine visiting Greece today and not being able to immerse myself as a local.

Secondly, I wanted to give participants a unique experience, taking them right away from everyday life. The purpose of the retreats is for participants to feel restored, nurtured and inspired and the environment was always going to play a huge part in this,” she says.

The islands are carefully sourced to suit the style of course being offered, Hagiefremidis explaining that each one has its own charm.

“It’s important people get to experience the authentic side of Greece, to meet the artisan producers, to sample the produce and to experience the warmth of Greek hospitality,” enthuses Hagiefremidis.

Groups are purposefully kept small — no

travel more than ten people for the retreat this coming September — to allow participants to form stronger connections with each other. She stresses that although the tour has a writing component, no prior skills are needed, it is merely the vehicle for people to enhance their creativity.

“The retreats are as much for aspiring creatives who want to further their passion as they are for those who are feeling stuck and in need of direction and inspiration. Last year this was achieved through photography and styling, but the majority of women who attended were neither one nor the other. This year it will be all about using writing and our daily travels across the island to enhance, reflect and connect with what’s important to you. It’s also a chance to connect with an inspiring group of likeminded women.”

Along with the workshops, there will also be the chance to swim the aquamarine seas, share delicious meals, with a little bit of ‘Zorba dancing’ thrown in.

This autumn, participants will be staying in two private Cycladic-style seaside villas.

Guests can opt for a private room or shared accommodation and each bedroom has its own bathroom. There will be day trips around the island, both by road and by boat, as well as meet-ups with local artisans and freshly cooked local-style meals. “The schedule is all about

The seaside villa accommodation

allowing a balance of activities to both restore and inspire, as well as developing creative and personal pursuits. A full schedule is available on the company website.

“Paula’s love of Greece was very apparent,” commented Rickward at the end of her retreat. “Her enthusiasm was infectious. We climbed mountains (literally and figuratively), set up a styling shoot in a local town, picked wildflowers, danced with the locals under the stars and swam in the beautiful Aegean Sea.

My time on Lemnos with a bunch of inspiring women was a true life highlight and one I’m hoping to repeat someday.”

For further information about this September’s retreat, A Food, Writing & Creative Escape, see mediterraneanwanderer.com. Founder Paula Hagiefremidis can be contacted directly at paula@mediterraneanwanderer. com Swimming opportunities abound

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big day out

Falls paradise Local hiker Tara Smyth and kids take us to a secret waterfall world

Wild-water relaxation with the hiking posse

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his month’s Big Day Out is a bit of a hidden gem. In fact the ladies I took with me on my recce asked me why on Earth I would want to put it in a magazine for the world to see. Hmmmm, yes, well, good point. After much deliberation my kinder side got the better of me and I decided that I would indeed share the exact location of this fantastic fall, the Luk Wu Country Trail waterfall.

This hike takes in a couple of streams, walking in the water and negotiating rocks and boulders. Wear ordinary, well-fitting hiking shoes to protect your feet and regular hiking socks, or you’ll end up with blisters.

Never go in the streams with Crocs, flipflops, TEVAs or wetsuit booties — always wear regular hiking shoes.

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Head up to Sai Kung Town and take a green taxi to Sai Kung Country Park, through the gates and on to Sai Wan Pavilion.

Walk back 100 metres along the road and take the steep steps up to the right — the Luk Wu Country Trail. After about 300 metres you’ll come to a fork in the path — take the left-hand fork. After a further 800 metres you’ll hit our first stream. Negotiate the rocks carefully and walk along the riverbed; enjoying the cool waters flowing around your ankles. Very soon you’ll come to the first rock pool and waterfall. Take your pack off and stop awhile, taking time to swim in this beautiful pool. From here, head back to the Luk Wu Country Trail and back the way you came, or continue onto the next and really rather super-dramatic waterfall.

Important points to remember • Never enter a stream during heavy rainfall or when the Thunderstorm Warning is in force – flash floods are real and can be fatal.

• Never jump from rock to rock. You never know whether the rock you are jumping onto is stable.

• Never jump from a height into a rock pool until you have sufficiently tested the depth of the pool.

• Never dive head-first into a rock pool.

• Always wear sturdy footwear.

• Waterproof all your belongings in case you fall whilst walking and your pack ends up in the water.

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big day out

The cooling waters of Chek Keng

Taking it easy with a boat ride home

Long way down —"I will if you will..."

Take the narrow path, ‘sign-posted’ with ribbons, which runs up the right-hand side of the rock pool. There is a little negotiation required and you should take care of dogs and children here — there is a slightly precarious drop to the left, but it is absolutely doable with care.

From here, re-enter the stream. Walk for 20 to 30 minutes until you reach the stunning wall of rock. (At a small fork in the river,

When to visit After heavy rainfall: a few days after a big storm will guarantee a gushing waterfall.

The summer months: Hong Kong summers are the perfect waterfall climate, offering scorching summer days and torrential rain.

Never go: during a storm or rainstorm warning.

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keep right.) Water levels and waterfall flow all depend upon how much rain has recently fallen. At the time of our hike, there was very little water flowing, but I have been here when it’s really rather dramatic!

There aren’t really any deep watering holes here for swimming, but the place is stunning and well worth the detour – quite literally a natural amphitheatre of beauty and drama. Kids can clamber around on the rocks and there are plenty of great photo opportunities.

The next part of our hike takes us back to the Luk Wu Country Trail. The easiest (and safest) option is to turn around and walk back along the riverbed, past the original rock pool in which you swam, and back to the trail.

After about 10 minutes (650m) you’ll reach a signpost. Follow the path to the right,

signposted ‘Chek Keng’. On a clear day you will be rewarded with magnificent views down toward Chek Keng and out to sea. The path is a little hilly and eventually you will start to descend down toward sea level.

Just before reaching Chek Keng you’ll come to a concrete path that crosses a wide stream. To your right are some rocks and boulders. Clamber down about 15 metres, away from the path, and you’ll reach a small rock pool with waterfall. It’s lovely to swim here – or continue along about five metres and you’ll hit a calm pool, like a spa bath, where you can wallow and relax. This is a lovely, serene spot, and those passing on the path just 15 metres away will have no idea you’re even there.

When it’s time to drag yourself away, you’ll need to climb back up and return to the path. Continue for a few more minutes and you’ll reach Chek Keng and the Maclehose Trail (Stage 2). Now you have a few options. 1.) Turn right and continue along the whole of Maclehose 2 and back to Sai Wan Pavilion (the longest and hardest option). 2.) Turn left and continue along the last bit of Maclehose 2 to Pak Tam Au, where you can get a bus out of the Country Park and back to Sai Kung. Or do what we did, and ferry or kai-to out of Chek Keng to Wong Shek Pier and catch the bus.

Tara Smyth is Sai Kung‘s local Scout leader and runs photography company Nitty Gritty Images. Visit facebook.com/ NittyGrittyImages

marketplace

To advertise, email talk@hongkongliving.com or call 2776 2772.

marketplace

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marketplace

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To advertise, email talk@hongkongliving.com or call 2776 2772.

marketplace

To advertise, email talk@hongkongliving.com or call 2776 2772.

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flailing spouse

Turn on, tune in, drop out Why the New Territories is not Instagram territory

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aving spent years moaning at the kids to get off the tech, I found myself this month woefully buried in untouched admin. Yes, dear reader, I have discovered Instagram.

I know I’m very late to the party as at first I didn’t really ‘get’ Instagram, but oh my god, once you do, it’s a rabbit warren.

According to my friends and the kids, nobody really reads Facebook anymore. It’s all about the image and the ‘story’ these days over on ‘Insta’.

So I signed up and had a bit of an experiment, and soon realised I could make myself look quite amazing with the fantastic filters. ‘Crema’ is a particular favourite as it seems to smooth away all of my wrinkles and make me look quite tanned.

And then I discovered Instagram Influencers. There are loads of them, all over the world, and all letting you know about interesting little clothing companies, jewellery boutiques, shoe shops and other relatively undiscovered, independent businesses.

And everything is handily tagged so all you have to do is click on the picture to go to the websites where you can have a good old shop. And before you know it you’re on first-name terms with the parcel-delivery guy (seriously).

Indeed, why would I want to be filling in the Boy Child’s boring old camp reply slip when I could be buying a brand-new pair of earrings worn by @styleblazer? And why would I want to read the school newsletter when I could be perusing which summer skirts @chloelovestoshop is recommending this week?

And then there are the Stories. You just click on a profile and there are these reasonably entertaining videos about how to apply mascara if you’re over 40, or how to tie a scarf attractively. I have just spent ten minutes watching @ladyofthemanor77 having her hair highlighted in a salon in Amersham, UK. And another five finding out what @fashionfoiegras thought of the Met Ball gowns this year.

I have no idea who any of these people are, but for some reason their amateur, slightly wonky films make for compelling viewing. Much more compelling than filling 80 expat-parent.com

Our columnist is a longsuffering expat wife, and mother to several energetic, third-culture children.

She lives in Hong Kong. in our Hong Kong permanent residency applications, anyway.

But after my husband came home late from work the other night to find me comatose on top of the duvet, iPhone firmly clutched in my sticky mitt, I realised I needed to kick my social media habit. I’d fallen asleep waiting for a boutique in Mykonos to process my payment for a Japanese kimono (I know, slightly off the grid, but they are seriously to die for, check them out @solymarbeachboutique). Unfortunately my husband had also done a quick sweep of the house before coming upstairs — the Boy Child’s English homework lay untouched on the dining table, the Blonde Child had fallen asleep on the couch, and the Teen Child was making her own dinner (ok, I’m not that bad, she’d got home late from soccer training and turned her nose up at the roast chicken).

But the point was, I needed to snap out

of it. I needed to break free of @doesmybumlook40, I needed to relinquish @cucumberclothing, I needed to get my life back. So when a text popped up from a neighbour about a hike the following day, I jumped at the invite.

The route chosen was a reasonably remote one in the New Territories. The online guide said the circular trail was about eight kms, which would have us in Sai Kung enjoying an al fresco lunch by midday. So we were happily marching past little villages and streams and mangrove swamps, when one of the group wondered whether we were on the right track, as we did seem to have been walking for rather a long time. Three hours in fact.

So we plucked out our phones to give Google Maps a quick look, and horrors!

There was no reception. We’d been taken out by China Mobile. “Well,” said one of the group, pointing to the other side of the reservoir. “I do think that might be China over there.”

And then we got really lost and wandered around in what turned out to be everincreasing circles for a bit before happening on an ancient walled Hakka village. “There is a boat, from this pier here,” said one of the villagers when asked for the quickest route back to Tai Po. Our spirits were momentarily raised... but then dashed again. “It arrives on Sunday,” he continued helpfully.

It turned out our only route home was back up some decidedly tall mountains, whereupon we should eventually reach Bride’s Pool Road, where we could flag down a green cab. But not content with the havoc they had already wreaked, our little blue Google Maps dots reliably told us to go one way, and then decided we ought to go the other way, and then the track petered out altogether and we saw a snake.

The whole hike ended up taking most of the day and we walked almost a half marathon, mostly up steep hills.

And so I guess the moral of the story is that while being totally addicted to tech is a Bad Thing, we do actually need it from time to time. As my grandma would have said, everything in moderation. Either that or buy a map.

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