FAMILY | FOOD | TRAVEL | ARTS & CULTURE
May 2019
Enter the
Raindrops on roses dragon
and
whiskers on kittens
Into the woods
2019
steaks
When the moon hits your eye like a big...
Hong Kong Living
Survival of the fittest
Awards
Sing
WILD SALMON AND WHERE TO GET IT
It makes sense
Fit for a Queen
Finger Are you okay.com? on the Raise the pulse
see the wood for your Grand Soar like an eagle Can’t for the trees sand SOON ALL THIS I choose battle WILL BE YOURS of the you Life’s a beach beaches Hike to it! bowl me over Put a pin in it - The best gym
supper
Down by the bay
I
Rumour has it
Hong Kong because...
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The really useful magazine May 2019
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34 EDUCATION
SNAPPED! Southsiders out and about
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40
A peek inside Wycombe Abbey ahead of its September opening
THE PLANNER
38 BIG DAY OUT
What’s on in May
12 MUST HAVE THIS MONTH Mother's Day gift guide
Explore Lamma Island
40 ARTS & CULTURE Your guide to the Affordable Art Fair
14 NEWS
42 HEALTH & BEAUTY
What’s happening in our backyard
Get summer ready with tans, waxing and nail spas
15 GIVEAWAYS Win an un-pho-gettable two-night stay in Vietnam!
44 TRAVEL An Arabian adventure on camelback
17 FIVE MINUTES WITH...
42
48 ZIM CITY
Noel Smyth, Managing Director of Delaney’s Development Ltd.
Paul Zimmerman on waterfront developments
19 LOCAL
50 PETS
A shark net update
Dr Pauline answers your pet questions. Plus Mochi’s Musings
21 COVER STORY Hong Kong Living Awards, the results are in!
30 DINING
52 SOUTHSIDE SECRETS Stray Birds 31
Hong Kong chefs share what they learnt from their Mums. Plus Nibbles
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19
56 MRS BACKFIRE
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Cut out and keep. Your handy guide to Hong Kong’s climate
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14
“ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST. WHAT YOU PLANT NOW, YOU WILL HARVEST LATER.” — OG MANDINO
SOUTHSIDE.HK | 1
editor’s letter
A
fter a pretty hectic April, May feels like a breath of fresh air - minus the humidity and pollution. I look forward to relaxing with a cocktail at Repulse Bay during one of our many public holidays this month! We’ve been busy in the office over the last few weeks counting votes for our Hong Kong Living Awards, and the results are in! From Hong Kong’s best beaches to businesses, restaurants to rest-spots, check out who’s won over on page 21! Celebrate the important women in your life this Mother’s Day (May 12), our gift guide has you covered on page 12, plus famous Hong Kong chefs share family recipes passed down through the generations on page 30. Affordable Art Fair will be gracing our city from May 16-19, Vasavi Seethepalli takes a sneak peek at what to expect on page 40. Wishing you a wonderful start to the summer season and fingers crossed the rains stays at bay!
Editorial
Managing editor Gemma Shaw, gemma@hongkongliving.com Editor Nicole Slater, nicole@hongkongliving.com Contributing editor Becky Love, becky@hongkongliving.com Vasavi Seethepalli, vasavi@hongkongliving.com Editorial assistant Nicole Cooley, ncooley@hongkongliving.com Media assistant Jeramy Lee, jeramy@hongkongliving.com
Design
Design Coordinator Sonia Khatwani, sonia@hongkongliving.com Graphic Designer Alvin Cheng, alvin@hongkongliving.com
Events
Event executive Ran Chan, ran@hongkongliving.com
Sales & Marketing
Director of Partnerships Hilda Chan, hilda@hongkongliving.com Senior Sales & Marketing executive Isamonia Chui, isamonia@hongkongliving.com Sales & Marketing executive Corrie Tang, corrie@hongkongliving.com Mathew Cheung, mathew@hongkongliving.com
Operations
Assistant Operations Manager Charles Lau, charles@hongkongliving.com
contributors
Digital
Digital Editor Apple Lee, apple@hongkongliving.com
Publisher
Tom Hilditch, tom@hongkongliving.com
Thanks to
Karin Bremer, Nigel Griffiths, Holly Annie Black, Shreena Patel, Mochi Contact us Admin: 3568 3722 | Editorial: 2776 2773 | Advertising: 2776 2772
Amilia Sewell ...Our Education Editor caught up with the headmaster of Wycombe Abbey ahead of its opening this September. How do you prepare for the Hong Kong summer? Service the air-con units! And have a holiday booked so that there is some light at the end of the long, sweaty tunnel.
Vasavi Seethepalli ...Our arty Contributing Editor chats to artists ahead of this month’s Affordable Art Fair. How do you prepare for the Hong Kong summer? Hong Kong summer means family time, that includes travelling which means planning ahead and reading up!
Holly Annie Black ...Our Editorial Intern heads back to the UK this month, we’ll miss her! How do you prepare for the Hong Kong summer? I’m savouring every last sunny day and hitting the Southside beaches. I’m also taking one last (for now) South East Asia trip to explore what I have yet to see!
Want to write for Southside Magazine? Contact editorial@hongkongliving.com 2 | SOUTHSIDE.HK
Published by Hong Kong Living Ltd, L1 Kai Wong Commercial Building, 222 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong Printer Apex Print Limited, 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong
Cover by: Sonia Khatwani
HONG KONG hongkongliving.com Southside Magazine 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. Southside Magazine cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.
SOUTHSIDE.HK | 3
people Snaps from Southside
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say cheese Hong Kong Living Easter Fair
Photo Credit: Anna May Goshong
Rugby Sevens
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planner
Photo credit Timothy Wong
MAY 4
Stanley Dragon Boat Warm-Up Races Ahead of the festival in June, take a peek of what’s to come at The Warm Up races. Paddlers are limited to 18 and the course is shorter, expect an action packed day of racing. 8am-5pm. Free. Stanley Main Beach, Stanley. dragonboat.org.hk
UNTIL MAY 5
MAY 4
Enter a journey through time with over 30 rare prints of old Hong Kong. 6am-11.30pm. Free. Hotel Lobby, The Pottinger, 74 Queen’s Road Central, Central (hotel main entrance: 21 Stanley Street). thepottinger.com
Join the Chinese Academy education seminar “Effective Bilingual Immersion Strategies” to learn about the admissions process for 2019/20. 2.304.30pm. Free. 77 Caroline Hill Road, Causeway Bay. caps.edu.hk
MAY 1-JUN 30
MAY 4
One of the largest cultural events in Asia with more than 150 programmes across two months. Enjoy heritage and contemporary arts, painting and design and music including classical, hiphop and dance. Ticket prices and venues vary. frenchmay.com
Using cardboard, bottles, cereal boxes and a whole range of household items, children will
Steps Through Time - Old Photo Exhibition
Le French May Arts Festival
MAY 1
Labour Day Let’s kick off the month with a public holiday!
MAY 4
The Crayon Run A charity run for parents, kids and helpers to raise money for children in need. 8-11.30am. $250 per family, including t-shirts for one adult and one child. Tai Pak Beach, Discovery Bay. thecrayonrun.com
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Chinese Academy Education and Admissions Seminar
discover fun and inventive ways to make toys, games, and decorative items.10am-12:30pm. Open to children aged 2-5 years. Free. 9-12, Coronation Circle, 1 Yau Cheung Road, Southwest Kowloon. www.malvernpreschool.hk
Malvern Preschool Experience Day
Hong Kong Living Awards 2019 Charity Lunch Join Hong Kong Living at our annual summer charity lunch to celebrate the best of our city. Enjoy a glitzy three course lunch with bubbles on arrival. There will be a raffle with prizes in support of our charity partner HandsOn Hong Kong. 12 noon-3pm. $550. FINDS, The Luxe Manor, Tsim Sha Tsui. hongkongliving.com
MAY 8
MAY 19
With no set route or distance, navigate through the city with the District Race app in the world’s greatest urban exploration race. Run in teams or individually. Gates open at 5am. Last call tickets from $350. Central Harbourfront Event Space. exploredistrict.com
Spring Regatta at Royal Yacht Club
MAY 9-13
Cheung Chau Bun Festival
MAY 4
Garage Greens Urban Farming Experiences Get your hands dirty and learn how to grow your own food sustainably. 3-5pm. Great for families! Prices from $200. Garage Academy Campus, 93 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai. eventbrite.hk
MAY 4-5
Shi Fu Miz Festival A two day music and art project on Cheung Chau Island hosted by Hong Kong-based creative agency, FuFu and Parisian collective La Mamie’s. Two day ticket from $880, there is also the option of camping. Sai Yuen Farm, Cheung Chau. shifumiz.com
A colourful and unique festival which began as a way for fishing communities to pray for safety against pirates. The festival includes a parade and a climbing competition up bun towers made of bamboo and handmade buns. Special ferry timetables will be in place. Cheng Chau. cheung-chau.com
MAY 10-JUN 2 War Horse
The National Theatre of Great Britain’s Tony Award-winning production, based on the Michael Morpurgo novel premieres in Hong Kong. Times vary. Additional dates have recently been added. Tickets from $395. Lyric Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai. hkticketing.com
Photo credit: RHKYC/Guy Nowell, Spring Regatta 2018
District Race Hong Kong
planner
brings her new show to Hong Kong. 8pm. Tickets from $588. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wan Chai. hkticketing.com
MAY 11
Special Mother’s Day Workshop: DIY Dreamcatcher Workshop + High Tea Mothers and daughters (or sons!) can share a fun DIY workshop accompanied by delicious pastries. Choose from different colours and textures at the “yarn bar” and The Knitting Room instructor Céline will guide you on how to create your own modern dreamcatcher. What’s more, there is a wine bar! 3-4.30pm. $550 for two. To register email chateau@zoobeetle.com. Château Zoobeetle, 38 Sai Street, Sheung Wan. zoobeetle.com
MAY 11-12
Spring Regatta 2019 The annual closing regatta of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s racing season, featuring three races over two days in the Eastern Harbour. Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club recommend watching the race from the below waterside locations: • The Fireboat Alexander Grantham Exhibition Gallery • The Quarry Bay Promenade Pet Garden • Waterfront at Kowloon Side rhkyc.org.hk
MAY 9
MAY 12
Fujiya & Miyagi Live in Hong Kong Post Wave Music presents British indietronica group Fujiya & Miyagi whose music has featured in Breaking Bad and SKINS. 7.30pm. Tickets from $300. MOM Livehouse, B39 , Seven Seas Shopping Centre, 113-121 King’s Road, North Point. ticketflap.com
Asian Professional Boxing Championship
MAY 10
Katya: Help Me I’m Dying Katya Zamolodchikova, RuPaul’s Drag Race Miss Congeniality and All Stars Season 2 finalist
Watch elite boxers including Raymond Poo, Hong Kong’s first ever Youth World Champion. 6pm. Tickets from $380. Hall 5G, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. hkticketing.com
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planner MAY 12
Buddha’s Birthday
To celebrate the Buddha’s birthday, Treasure Island Restaurant & Bar will be extending their opening hours from Thursday through Monday. The bar will be open from 3pm-9pm on Thursday and 10am-10pm from Friday to Monday. Pui O Beach, Lantau Island. treasureislandhk.com
It’s on a Sunday this year. Oh wait…
MAY 16-19
Mother’s Day Don’t forget to buy a gift - see page 12 for ideas.
MAY 12
MAY 13
Day following Buddha’s Birthday …Monday is a public holiday!
MAY 13
Extended opening hours at Treasure Island Restaurant & Bar
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Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong Celebrating 20 years of making art affordable and accessible to many around the world. This fair attracts art lovers, enthusiasts and collectors. Opening times vary. Tickets from $165. Hall 3DE (Expo Drive Entrance), Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. affordableartfair.com
Spartan Race
MAY 25
Test your endurance in the world’s biggest obstacle race. Run, climb, push, pull, throw and crawl through mud and barbed wire. Registration is now open for adults and children. Ping Shan, New Territories. spartanrace.hk
planner MAY 17 & 18
Jason Mraz Good Vibes American singer-songwriter brings his positive vibes and folk-pop sound to Hong Kong. 8pm. Tickets from $588. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai. hkticketing.com
MAY 17-19
Elmer the Patchwork Elephant Show Based on the classic children’s book by David McKee, Elmer tells the story of an elephant who stands out because of his patchwork of colours. Times vary. Tickets from $195. Drama Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wan Chai. hkticketing.com
week long event. The festival will feature 23 shows and 76 performances across different age groups. $135. Mcaulay Studio, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai & YStudio, Youth Square, 238 Chai Wan Road, Chai Wan. urbtix.hk
MAY 25
Shrewsbury International School Talk & Tour Learn more about Shrewsbury International School’s unique primary-focused and purpose built facility for children aged three -11 years. 10am. To book email admissions@shrewsbury.hk or call 2480 1500. shrewsbury.hk
Beyond Borders Contemporary Art Exhibition A cross-cultural art exhibition featuring 30 international artists. 10am-8pm. Free. Loft 22, 22/F California Tower, 30-32 D’Aguilar Street, Central. artformekongchildren.com
The Faust Festival 2019 Young actors of Faust International Youth Theatre showcase their talents during this four
MAY 25
Women’s Empowerment DayFest Five empowering classes to relax, rejuvenate, express, heal and nourish yourself through yoga and meditation. Includes a healthy lunch and free essential oil blend. 9.25am-5.30pm. $1,950. Platform Coworking Space, 1/F 120 Connaught Road West, Sai Ying Pun. To register, email michelle@purepotentialworldwide.com
MAY 18-21
MAY 21-JUN 16
Kayaking and running event with a family fun race and an adult race. 7.30am start. $300 for a family team of two and $750 for an adult team of two. Deep Water Bay. actionasiaevents.com
MAY 31
15th Anniversary Networking Party
MAY 25
Deep Water Bay Kayak n Run by Action Asia Events
Rachael & Smith have been bringing people together for 15 years and invite you to celebrate with them. 7-9pm. $520 includes two drinks, bring a friend for free. LFK Tower, Central. rachaelandsmith.com
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book now
BOOK NOW JUN 14
Iliza in Asia Live Nation have announced a second show, after the first show sold out! Don’t miss stand-up comedian Iliza Shlesinger wellknown for her four Netflix specials, live in Hong Kong. Tickets from $488. 8pm. KITEC G/F, Music Zone @ E-max, 1 Trademark Drive, Kowloon Bay. livenation.hk
JUN 15-16
Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Cycling Alliance are hosting a unique urban bicycle ride. Proceeds raised will go to Justice Centre Hong Kong, an NGO which provides free legal and psychosocial assistance to Hong Kong’s most vulnerable forced migrants. Starts at 8.30am. Entrance is $500 for adults and $250 for children with bike rentals available. Participants will cycle from Lai Chi Kok to Jordan. justicecentre.org.hk
“The Witches” David Wood’s magical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches uses puppetry, dance and music to bring this story to the stage. Saturday at 6pm and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets from $250. The Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. ticketflap.com
JUN 16
Ride for Justice In honour of United Nations World Refugee Day on June 20, Justice Centre
SEPT 20-OCT 6
“Matilda the Musical” Roald Dahl’s heart-warming story of an extraordinary little girl comes to Hong Kong. Times vary. From $445. Lyric Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wan Chai. hkticketing.com
Got an event? We can publish the details. Email editorial@hongkongliving.com
SOUTHSIDE.HK | 11
must have this month
Just for mum
#2
18 ways to say “I love you” this Mother’s Day
Big Love Set of 4 Teaspoons $380 from Alessi townhouse.com.hk
#1 Materialism Gift Set $1,780 from Tom Dixon tomdixon.net
#4
#5
18k Rose Gold Diamond Ring $7956 from Kristina Rybaltchenko Hong Kong rybaltchenko.com
#6
#3 Sonos One Smart Speaker $1,999 from Sonos sonos.com
#7
Perrier-Jouët Blason Rose $558 from Perrier-Jouët perrier-jouet.com
Pixie Bra Front $486 from Pure Apparel be-pure.com 20 Years in Asia Gold Edition Bike $18,100 from Brompton brompton.com/gold
#8
Magic Kiss Lipstick Trio Kit $729 from Charlotte Tilbury lanecrawford.com
#9 Nespresso Essenza Plus $1,788 from Nespresso nespresso.com
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thanks mum
#10
#12
Hong Kong Skyline Candle $250 or $350 scented from Lion Rock Press thelionrockpress.com
Fatto a Mano Pink Champagne Glass $795 per piece from Riedel townhouse.com.hk
#13 ‘Thanks Mum’ Greeting Card $60 from Kikki.K Locations across Hong Kong
#11 Petrified Wood Bookends $1,950 from TREE tree.com.hk
#14
#18
Face Creme Visage 50ml $690 from Bonpoint Skincare Collection Locations across Hong Kong
The Ultimate Pamper Gift Box - EcoDrive ‘Gift Better’ $1,200 from Bydeau bydeau.com
Voyageur Witney Backpack in Blue Palm Print $3,490 from TUMI tumi-hk.com
#15
#16
#17
Sterling silver 18K gold plated bangles with natural gemstone $740 to $1,370 from Kura Jewellery Mother's Day promotion: 25% Off kurajewellery.com
Oasis V Bra Tank $580 from Pure Apparel be-pure.com
SOUTHSIDE.HK | 13
news
Darkness into Light Walk
Hong Kong property prices continue to rise
Darkness into Light is a charitable walk which began in Dublin, Ireland in 2009 with the aim of raising funds and awareness for suicide prevention charities. Since it has grown into a worldwide movement and in 2018 over 200,000 people took part walking across the world in relay; 150 locations across 16 countries. Hong Kong will participate this year for the third time. Although a serious cause, the walk also provides an opportunity for people to connect with their local community in a bright, positive and fun way. This year’s walk will take place at 5am on May 11, the money raised will benefit mental health awareness charities here in Hong Kong. Entry is $225 for adults, $45 for children and free for under fives. Register at darknessintolight.ie/event/hong-kong
Despite having the world’s least affordable housing market for the ninth year in a row, Hong Kong property prices are still increasing. Although a slide was indicated in August 2018, statistics have shown a steady increase in prices for ten straight weeks. Earlier this year, a paper tycoon and his wife reportedly spent HK$1.45 billion on a nine-apartment complex in Repulse Bay - Hong
Fortnum & Mason to open in Hong Kong
Kong’s most expensive luxury property purchase so far this year. The complex was purchased from AIA, who paid HK$20.2 million for the property back in 1985. Raymond Lee Man Chun, co-founder of Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing is believed to be the new owner. The paper company reportedly made sales of HK$32.21 billion in 2018, with a net profit of HK$4.88 billion.
Retykle pops up at Repulse Bay
Iconic luxury British retailer Fortnum & Mason have chosen Hong Kong as the location to open their first standalone store outside of the UK. This will mark a momentous occasion in Fortnum’s 312 year history. The store which is due to open this September at K11 MUSEA in Tsim Sha Tsui will cover 7,000 square feet and feature some of the brand’s most iconic products including tea, biscuits, wine, hampers. A restaurant above will offer stunning views across Hong Kong harbour. fortnumandmason.com
Retykle is coming to Repulse Bay! The luxury e-commerce platform which retails designer children’s clothing for up to 90% off the original retail price will host a pop up from now
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until July 7. Shoppers will be able to purchase clothes, shoes and accessories for children from newborn to 12 years old. 9am-5pm. The Repulse Bay. retykle.com
in your backyard
Art @the Bay: Time Three new and Transformation ant species Exhibition discovered in Lantau The Repulse Bay is collaborating with local artist Matthew Tsang Man Fu to launch their firstever art exhibition Art @the Bay: Time and Transformation. The exhibition will feature seven pieces including sculptures, paintings, photography and Matthew’s twopart celebrated work, Before Collapse, which will be displayed on The Front Lawn and on the first floor of The Arcade. The Repulse Bay believes that situating some of Matthew’s most visually striking works at its venue offers a fresh, exciting way for visitors to experience art. The exhibition will run until May 28 and will be located around The Arcade. 109 Repulse Bay Road. therepulsebay.com
A total of three new ant species were discovered on Lantau Island at the end of March. Among the trio one was named Strumigenys lantaui after the location it was discovered in. Researchers from the University of Hong Kong’s School of Biological Sciences believe that ants travelled to Hong Kong via international trade. The recent discovery had sparked concerns for Hong Kong’s ecosystem as one of the species found is an urban pest native to South America.
Hong Kong Disneyland ticket price increase
As of April 24, entrance fees for Hong Kong Disneyland increased by three percent. The hike in prices comes after the new Marvelthemed Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle attraction was opened in March. With losses reported for the fourth year running, this is the fifth time that Disneyland prices have increased since its opening in 2005. Adult one-day tickets have increased to $639 and children’s to $475. Hong Kong residents have been given a two-month grace period to buy all annual passes and one-day tickets at current prices. hongkongdisneyland.com
win at hongkongliving.com
GIVEAWAYS
enter to win!
Win a two-night stay at Alba Wellness Resort by Fusion in Vietnam! Set at the foot of the Truong Son Mountains, spanning over 50 hectares of lush gardens and pristine lakes, is Alba Wellness Resort by Fusion. The nature-inspired destination combines rest, relaxation and the healing qualities of Thanh Tan hot springs to form a quiet respite just 30 kilometres north from Hue. The wellness resort features 30 Deluxe Rooms and 20 Bungalows. Surrounded by manicured gardens with calming waters and tranquil bamboo paths, guests can embrace a holistic lifestyle while lounging by the pool bar, enjoying massage and spa services and rejuvenating in the onsite Japanese onsen baths. We are giving away a two-night stay at Alba Wellness Resort’s Deluxe Room (accommodates two) to one lucky winner. The prize will include daily breakfast, an outdoor activity pass for highwire and zipline, unlimited access to onsen baths and a foot reflexology treatment at the wellness spa. To enter, visit hongkongliving.com/giveaways
SOUTHSIDE.HK | 15
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Five minutes with
Noel Smyth
Managing Director of Delaney’s Development Ltd talks to Holly Annie Black about their latest restaurant, EL Charro Mexican Cantina
five minutes with Space is a premium for us all in Hong Kong. El Charro has a great space that allows us to cater for groups of up to 200 people, something most restaurants here simply cannot do. Mexican cuisine has more colour and less spuds (potatoes) compared to Irish dishes. The colours, the taste, the smells… I have a newfound respect for Mexican cuisine. It doesn’t matter if you’re pulling pints or tossing tacos, you need to look after your customers and treat them like you would like to be treated when you go out for a meal. We are very fortunate to have some fantastic staff, they are the greatest asset to our business and integral to our success. The perception of working in F&B needs to change. There is a shortfall of individuals coming through the system and that is a huge worry given the amount of new restaurants opening. Hong Kong hinders creativity given the startup cost of opening a small outlet and the short term leases that come with it – that’s never really going to change sadly, it’s just how it is here. My best advice for aspiring restaurateurs? ldschool will never die, hospitality is king. El Charro Mexican Cantina is at The Arcade, 100 Cyberport Road, Telegraph Bay. elcharro.hk
Noel’s Last Minute Margarita’s
By the time this hits the press, we may have a new outlet in Wan Chai! We are currently working on a new project that may or may not fall into place.
I started working at age 15 in my local pub in Dublin. I took an apprenticeship in bartending, as an alternative to university and got a senior bartending role by the time I was 19.
Opening a new premises is pretty manic and can be difficult to enjoy. You’re constantly on the clock, pushing contractors, pleading with licensing and fighting to keep the budget in check.
The General Manager at Delaney’s offered me a job whilst I was serving him in Dublin. He came in for a late lunch one day and towards the end of his meal I heard him say “why haven’t I interviewed this guy”?
It’s a rollercoaster of a ride with many highs and lows, you just gotta enjoy the highs and quickly get over the lows.
Long-story-short, I was offered a headbartenders role at Delaney’s and I accepted, I really fancied the challenge of coming to Asia.
My dad was a bit of a legend in Ireland’s restaurant industry, very old-school, polished and a real professional, I always wanted to be like him.
I’m a proud Irishman, Delaney’s is something I worked with day and night for 20 years, so I really had to remove myself from that to step into the new colourful vibrant world of El Charro.
It’s unlikely that everyone had a bottle of Triple Sec or Cointreau under the sink at home but don’t panic here’s how to make an amazing Margarita: What you need: 2 Parts tequila (make sure its 100% agave) 2 Freshly squeezed Mexican limes 0.5-1 Part agave nectar Method: 1. Add ice to your cocktail shaker (can also use a clean sterile jar with lid) 2. Chop limes into quarters and squeeze all but one into the shaker 3. Add all other ingredients – cover and shake for 10 seconds and pour into a chilled glass 4. Rub the spare lime quarter around the glass and salt the rim
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local
You’re gonna need a bigger boat As shark season approaches, Holly Annie Black investigates the reliability of Southside’s shark nets Which sharks have frequented Hong Kong waters in the past?
S
hark nets have been a contentious topic of discussion since Typhoon Mangkhut caused considerable destruction on and off our shores last September. We may see lots of buoys’ bobbing around the edge of the bays, but is there really any protection underneath the water, or is it all a facade? The Hong Kong government started implementing shark nets in the early 1990’s, but after three shark related fatalities took place, they invested in a multi-million dollar scheme to install shark nets on all gazetted beaches. These beaches include Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay, Shek O, Big Wave Bay and Stanley Main Beach. The shark nets are 35mm square foot on the surface and 100mm square foot below, and are strongly anchored to resist most typhoons as well as waves up to 10 metres high. However, due to Typhoon Mangkhut’s exceptional force, many nets were damaged
South Bay
last September. After a two-metre long shark was reported off the shores of Shek O Beach last month, a spokesperson from the Department of Leisure and Cultural Services confirmed the shark nets in Shek O had been repaired prior to the spotting. Although sharks may no longer be a common sighting our waters, we can still anticipate a return of the big fish at some point in the future. Sharks are known for staying close to the beaches between the months of May and June as water temperature increases. Be assured, the Department of Leisure and Cultural Services do regular diverinspections of the nets twice a week, but if you’re worried, keep your goggles on and don’t swim too close to the nets!
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Whale shark
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White spotted bamboo shark
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Smooth hammerhead
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Great hammerhead
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Japenese Wobbegong
Got a local story? Have your say by emailing editorial@hongkongliving.com
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#HKLA2019
You voted, we counted‌ turn the pages to find out which Hong Kong beaches, restaurants and schools struck gold this year
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cover story
BEST BEACH
REPULSE BAY BEACH With easy access to cocktails and known to be one of Hong Kong’s most famous beaches, it’s no wonder these sandy shores were voted Hong Kong’s best beach!
BEST HOTEL
THE PENINSULA HONG KONG
It is of great delight to learn that The Peninsula Hong Kong has been voted “Hong Kong Living Award 2019 – Best Hotel”, which marks the recognition bestowed to the team of the Grande Dame for its renowned offering for travellers. Mr Chong, Area Vice President and Managing Director, The Peninsula Hong Kong and The Peninsula Shanghai First opened in 1928, the 5-Star Peninsula Hotel has always been synonymous with luxury and comfort, operating prestigious properties in ten major cities around the globe, including their flagship hotel right here in Hong Kong. With impeccable service and loyal guests who return time and time again, The Peninsula rightfully earns its place as a favourite for our readers. The majestic lobby with vaulted ceilings and ornate cornices is a must-see. peninsula.com
BEST RELOCATION SERVICE
CROWN RELOCATIONS Relocating is a team effort, and Crown Relocations have been voted the best relocation service due to their outstanding team. With over 50 years experience, you’re guaranteed they will get the job done, hassle-free. crownrelo.com
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#HKLA2019
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cover story BEST GYM
PURE FITNESS
We’re honoured to be voted best gym by Hong Kong Living readers. Having grown with the Hong Kong fitness community for nearly 17 years now, the energy and spirit of our home never fails to amaze us. Thank you so much! Gary Wise, Regional Marketing Director, the Pure Group A gym purely dedicated to serving the community by promoting a healthy and active lifestyle throughout Hong Kong, Pure Fitness provides an inspiring environment and passionate professionals to help you reach your goals. Offering state-of-the-art equipment including Fitness On Demand virtual classes, exhilarating group exercise, innovative programmes and personal training, Pure Fitness will tone you up, keep you fit and get you energised. pure-fitness.com
BEST BEAUTY SALON
SENSE OF TOUCH
Truly an honour to have won these awards and have our loyal followers support us all these years. Thank you to Hong Kong Living and our spa clients for voting. Our spas continue to strive for excellence in our treatments and services. Multi-award winning and leading day spa Sense of Touch takes out the Best Beauty Salon Award once again, and it’s no surprise. With premium spa and beauty services across Hong Kong, being pampered couldn’t be any more convenient. Treat yourself to one of their many traditional treatments, or something that will give you long-lasting results. Either way, you will walk away feeling relaxed and spoilt. senseoftouch.com.hk
BEST RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX
THE REPULSE BAY COMPLEX
For the sixth year in a row, we are very pleased to win this annual award again. It is wonderful to be recognised as Hong Kong’s ultimate oceanfront residential complex, offering quality service and professional management. We really appreciate it!
Famously known as the building with a feng shui hole in it to bring good luck, Repulse Bay Complex overlooks Repulse Bay Beach and the South China Sea from Repulse Bay Road. Offering an oasis of calm and serenity, luxury sea-view accommodation, two award-winning restaurants and a shopping arcade, residents are treated to some of the best facilities that Hong Kong has to offer. therepulsebay.com
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#HKLA2019 BEST HIKE
DRAGON’S BACK
Simple to get to, and a fairly easy hike with scenic views, Dragon’s Back is a hit amongst our readers, locals and out-of-towners.
BEST RAINY DAY ACTIVITY
We asked you: What is the best hike in Hong Kong?
TIKITIKI BOWLING BAR The Peak Trail liff
Twin Peaks and Violet Hills
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High Island Reservoir With one restaurant, two bars and ten bowling lanes, Tikitiki Bowling Bar is a favourite amongst those living not only in Sai Kung but throughout Hong Kong. An entertainment venue perfect for a family day out, couples date night or a friendly catch-up, it’s no wonder Tikitiki has been voted a favourite amongst our readers! With a live band on weekends and creative cocktails that will hit your sweet spot, Tikitiki is the ultimate rainy day activity. tikitiki.hk
Lion’s Rock
Dragon’s Back
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cover story BEST REAL ESTATE
BEST RESTAURANT
OKAY.COM
WOOLOOMOOLOO STEAKHOUSE
Our readers know they will be okay in the hands of OKAY.com - which is why they were voted as Hong Kong’s best real estate agents. As Hong Kong’s trusted property agency, OKAY.com has the most up-to-date listings and responsive property agents to help you find your next home or property investment. With a website complete with insights, analysis and property news, you can be sure you’re getting the right information from agents in-the-know. OKAY.com
BEST LUXURY APARTMENT
QUEEN’S GARDEN
With a spacious open-air rooftop terrace, this sky-high dining experience on the 31st floor is like no other. Inspired by the laidback, food loving Australian ethos, the premium Aussie beef will have your mouth-watering as you enjoy wrap-around views of bustling Wan Chai and beyond. wooloo-mooloo.com
BEST PET SERVICE
PETS CENTRAL This prestigious property is located on Old Peak Road in MidLevels and offers quality living and an elegant lifestyle. The panoramic views of Victoria Harbour are undoubtedly some of the best apartment views in Hong Kong and the open-air sky garden on the 23rd floor is the perfect place to catch the Chinese New Year fireworks. With health, fitness and wellness facilities and equipment at the gym and spa complex, the living is easy at Queen’s Garden. queensgarden.com
BEST HOSPITAL
GLENEAGLES HONG KONG HOSPITAL
We truly understand the role all pets play in families and our aim is to keep these pets healthy, happy, cuddleable and lovable till the day they leave our lives. We only want the best for our furry friends - they’re family after all! Pets Central is the leading veterinary and animal care hospital in Hong Kong, and a favourite amongst our readers. Two of their hospitals are set to operate on a 24/7 basis, so you have peace of mind that they are there for you, any time of the day. pets-central.com
It’s our great honour to receive the award, thank you for your trust and we will continue to provide high-quality healthcare services at our best. Gleneagles located in Wong Chuk Hang is a state-of-the-art, multispecialty private tertiary hospital designed to provide the people of Hong Kong with high quality and accessible healthcare services. As experts in their field, the hospital also contributes to the training and development of healthcare professionals and advancement of clinical research. gleneagles.hk
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#HKLA2019 BEST PRE-SCHOOL / KINDERGARTEN
WOODLAND PRE-SCHOOLS
BEST PRIMARY SCHOOL
NORD ANGLIA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HONG KONG
“...Sincere thanks to our Woodland parents for taking the time to recommend us and trusting us to share in the start of their child’s amazing learning journey... ” For 40 years, Woodland Pre-Schools have set the standard in Hong Kong for quality early years education, ensuring the best start and easy transition into primary years. Both parents and children will find that Woodland boasts a wide variety of advantages, ensuring a wonderful, convenient and comprehensive pre-school experience for every family. woodlandschools.com
BEST ALL-THROUGH SCHOOL
MALVERN COLLEGE HONG KONG
We are very proud of the progress our pupils make. The opportunities we give children to develop holistically are outstanding and we do so in an environment of stimulating learning for each individual child, and with respect to all cultures and nationalities represented in the school. Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong is one of the leading International Schools in Hong Kong - so it comes as no surprise that they have been awarded the ‘Best Primary School’ trophy. They believe that there is no limit to what their students can achieve and encourage them to be ambitious, whilst offering a supportive and premium education with high-quality learning. nais.hk
BEST EDUCATION CONSULTANT
HONG KONG EDUCATION & TUTORING SERVICES WIth an impressive 150-year history, Malvern College Hong Kong seeks to develop forward-thinking, independent individuals who demonstrate strength of character, confidence, responsibility and compassion. Their rich and varied learning environment encourages inquisitive and critical learning and prepares students to face life and the challenges that lie ahead following graduation. malverncollege.org.hk
Since 2003, Hong Kong Education & Tutoring Services (HKETS) have worked with hundreds of students from different backgrounds. HKETS offers students a range of educational services including individual and small-group tuition, overseas education advice and university application assistance. hkets.net
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cover story BEST SECONDARY SCHOOL
STAMFORD AMERICAN SCHOOL HONG KONG We appreciate the support of the readers and our parents who have helped develop our school into a vibrant, caring community. We can’t wait for our first graduating class in 2023! The goal at Stamford American School Hong Kong is to instill an enthusiasm in their students for lifelong learning and a sense of global awareness. It is just as much about high-quality learning as it is preparing students for what is to come after graduation. The inspiring world of education at Stamford American School Hong Kong produces happy students, parents and staff, making for a deserved winner in their category. sais.edu.hk
BEST EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY
MINISPORT HONG KONG
BEST HONG KONG RUMOUR THIS YEAR
We’re all getting $4,000 from the government WHAT WOULD MAKE HONG KONG LIFE BETTER?
Great rental deals PERSON OF THE YEAR
Paul Zimmerman Paul Zimmerman is the elected district councillor for Southern District (Pok Fu Lam), the CEO of Designing Hong Kong, and a co-convenor of Save Our Country Parks. Now dedicated full-time to public service, Paul advocates good planning and sustainable development through many NGOs and alliances. He was awarded an Honorary Membership of the American Institute of Architects (HK) for his role in improving the harbourfront of Victoria Harbour.
From our whole team, thank you for selecting us for this award. We are thrilled and it is clearly one of the most significant milestones since our launch in 2012. Minisport Hong Kong proudly teach a variety of sports to over 400 children per week in Hong Kong through school programmes, holiday camps, private classes, events and birthday parties. Their mature and professional team pride themselves on offering a bright and fun environment for kids so that they can benefit physically and mentally and also learn to work solo or as a team. sportsclassesforkidshk.com
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FAVOURITE HONG KONG LIVING PUBLICATION
hongkongliving.com Publisher of monthly magazines including Southside & the Peak, Mid-levels Magazine, Expat Parent and Sai Kung Magazine. And the winner is... our hongkongliving.com website (by a hair!) Your favourite 2019 source to discover Hong Kong’s best hikes, happenings and hit lists.
dining
Gustavo & h grandmotheris
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mother Asher & his
home cooking
davin kim, chef of cobo house
Davin & his mother
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dining
jason luk, executive chef of eat darling eat
mei tak hui, executive chef of moon lok chinese restaurant
Find these chefs at: • • • •
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Jason & his mothe r
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Uma Nota, 38 Peel St, Central. uma-nota.com FRANCIS, 4 & 6 St. Francis Street, Wan Chai. francis.com.hk Mr Brown, G/F, 9 Ship St, Wan Chai. mrbrownhk.com TEST KITCHEN, Shop 3, Kwan Yick Building Phase 3, 158A Connaught Rd W, Sai Ying Pun. testkitchen.com.hk COBO House, G/F & 1/F, 8-12 South Lane Sai Wan, Shek Tong Tsui. cobohouse.com Eat Darling Eat, Shop 17, Fashion Walk, G/F, 11-19 Great George Street & 27-47 Paterson St, Causeway Bay. mingfathouse.com Moon Lok Chinese Restaurant, Shop 2-4, 1/F, Xiqu Centre, 88 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui. buick-hk.com
nibbles
NIBBLES News from the dining scene Meet the chefs behind Mamie Yvonne Hidden in the tapestry of the Stanley market is a tiny French Crêperie, Mamie Yvonne. Born in Brittany, Chef Sebastien Creugnet and his cousin Chef Gregory Bouger’s named the restaurant after their grandmother, Granny Yvonne. The buckwheat used for their buckwheat crêpes is specially imported from Brittany to bring the flavours and authenticity from the region. Chef Gregory initiated the concept, as he had learnt the art of making buckwheat crêpes and pizzas while previously working in Brittany. The thin, crispy and delectable crêpes make for a light and healthy meal. 118 Stanley main street, Stanley.
Green light for Amber reopening Two Michelin-starred restaurant, Amber, located within The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong will reopen this month following a three-month closure due to renovations. What to expect has been kept under wraps, however lucky guests got an early taste of the eight-course menu at the ‘Feast for the Future’ event which was held on the closing night. During the closure, Culinary Director Richard Ekkebus and his team hosted a series of pop-ups across Europe, North Africa and Asia, including Amsterdam, Marrakech and Taipei. The team visited local markets, discussed best practices, found
inspiration in new ingredients and broadened their exposure to new flavours, innovative cooking techniques and global culinary trends. Keep an eye out on their website for the opening date. amberhongkong.com
Star chefs cook up for charity Heep Hong Society is hosting its 26th Great Chefs of Hong Kong on May 6, featuring over 50 participating restaurants and hotels. Guests can taste over 100 signature dishes from Hong Kong’s top dining destinations including Grand Hyatt’s Grand Café, InterContinental’s Rech by Alain Ducasse, Island Shangri-La’s Summer Palace and more. Tickets are now available starting from $880 per guest. All proceeds will go towards supporting Heep Hong Society’s charity initiatives to provide holistic support to children with special needs. Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. heephong.org/greatchefs
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education
Wycombe Abbey One of Britain’s most renowned public schools, Wycombe Abbey opens in Hong Kong this September. Amelia Sewell takes a look landed in Hong Kong. So here is everything you need to know about the latest arrival. Opening in September, the school has taken a site in Tin Wan, just west of Aberdeen. This will be a specialist primary school for Years 1 to 6. A crucial difference from its British counterpart is that the Hong Kong school will be co-ed. This is actually Wycombe Abbey’s second opening internationally; another co-ed school opened in Changzhou in 2016 and more are in planning stages. The starting capacity for Hong Kong is for 200 pupils though the building has room for many more, and an appropriate application will be made in time to allow this. For now though, offers are already being made for the founding pupils set to start in the next academic year. The school will definitely open with Year 1 and 2 classes and is prepared to open with additional year groups if class sizes permit.
Who is in charge?
T
champions in 2018 – in addition to debating, politics and innovation. Wycombe Abbey is one of those schools that sets the benchmark to which others aspire.
Who and what is Wycombe Abbey?
And now this educational powerhouse has
o the British, the name Wycombe Abbey needs little explanation. To those less familiar with the UK’s private school system, below are some points to bring you up to speed.
Wycombe Abbey (pronounced Wickham, with a silent H, like the Jane Austen scoundrel) is a standard-bearer of British boarding education. Set in idyllic rural surroundings, for over a century it has educated some of the UK’s most successful women (the UK school is single sex). Many schools are guilty of hyperbole when writing their marketing material but in the case of Wycombe it is almost impossible to exaggerate: their academic record leaves every other school in the shadows; last year it was ranked number one nationally for A Level results; each year, roughly one third of its pupils receive offers for Oxbridge. Aside from academics, the school is also known for sporting excellence – National Schools lacrosse champions and Independent Schools ski
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Another (school) door opens
At the headmasterly helm is a man called Howard Tuckett, whose teaching CV is long and illustrious. A career primary school teacher, he has been a boarding school housemaster, a deputy head and a headmaster in some of the UK’s leading prep schools. That is in addition to his roles as a maths teacher, rugby coach and lacrosse umpire. He is also an inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), and has served as a governor at a number of other institutions. This is a man who knows a thing or two about education on every level but has not lost sight of where he started.
wycombe abbey And in the future…
“I have always managed to timetable myself into the teaching programme. I continue to strive to remain an active classroom teacher, the challenges and time demands of this exciting project notwithstanding,” he says.
Curriculum matters As the Founding Headmaster, Tuckett was charged with the responsibility of creating Wycombe Abbey’s new curriculum. Starting with a blank canvas – a headmaster’s dream! He set about researching which curricula globally would serve to provide the best possible offering for internationally minded pupils based in Hong Kong. The outcome is a programme of 14 subjects which cherrypick the strongest parts from a variety of national curricula – principally the UK and Hong Kong’s but also with elements of others that Tuckett felt served their aim. “The fourteen subjects are those advised by the UK’s Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB), and form the examination known as Common Entrance, which is the agreed standard benchmark for entry assessment to UK independent secondary schools. This curriculum will prepare children for entry to the best secondary schools anywhere in the world,” he explains. One of the things that will attract parents is the prominence given to Mandarin lessons. Rather than just one or two lessons a week, Tuckett tells me that Mandarin will be timetabled for between five and seven sessions each week, establishing it as a core subject. “Mandarin lessons will be given the same amount of teaching time on the timetable as English and mathematics,” he says. “In order to support the acquisition of Chinese further, we
are currently working on cross curricular plans to identify opportunities for discrete subjects to align so that Putonghua language and other subjects can work symbiotically to support the learning outcomes of both subjects.” Core Mandarin will be taught with simplified characters however in order to promote the broader aspects of Chinese culture, traditional character and calligraphy tuition will be offered as part of the extracurricular provision. The music, drama and art curricula will also include teaching an awareness of Chinese culture in song, theatre and artwork. Wycombe Abbey clearly plans to do much more than just give lip service to providing a comprehensive path to bilingual confidence.
While Wycombe Abbey’s first foray into the Hong Kong education scene is a primary school, there are also bigger plans in the pipeline. “Due to demand, we are now looking at providing an additional school which would be primary and secondary on a separate campus. So we are investigating sites in the New Territories now with a view to opening in 2022,” Tuckett tells me. That is not to say that this first campus in Tin Wan is a temporary measure. Tuckett assures me that the lease is substantial and Wycombe Abbey plan to bed in for the long term with this island-side campus. So it looks like the long term vision of Wycombe Abbey’s Hong Kong presence will be similar to Kellett’s set up – a primary school on HK Island and, in the coming years, a through-school across the harbour. One of the very reassuring facts for parents cautious about being the guinea pigs for new schools is that Wycombe Abbey arrives not only with a sterling record but also with a strong infrastructure behind it; the school will be supported on a practical level by the wider group with a number of the same board members who oversee the successful running of the UK school. Parents can therefore expect that the Hong Kong addition will be held to the same high expectations and standards that have propelled the British school to its extraordinary reputation. So there you have it - if you hadn’t previously heard of Wycombe Abbey, you have now. Prepare to watch its star rise. There is nothing that this school does by halves so expect to hear great things about Hong Kong’s newest arrival in the years to come.
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wycombe abbey
PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE Howard Tuckett Founding Headmaster of Wycombe Abbey What will WA bring to the HK education/school offering? Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong is a dedicated independent primary school for all children in Hong Kong. We are not an international school so we are not limited in our admission of pupils by any quota system. We aim to bring to Hong Kong an outstanding primary school. Our school will be academically rigorous, drawing on a specifically designed curriculum that aims to enable our pupils to prepare for entry to the finest independent secondary schools across the world.
Can you tell us a little about the curriculum? I have collated the curriculum myself, across fourteen subjects, merging the very best combination of the guidance and advice offered by ISEB, the British National Curriculum (Key Stages 1&2) and Hong Kong Primary Curriculum as advised in the various Hong Kong Curriculum Development Council (CDC) subject documents. I’ve enriched the advice derived from these core curricula further by investigating and drawing on other curriculum documents from around the world, including Ireland and Malta.
What role will technology play in the curriculum? Technology is a given part of the infrastructure of any serious academic environment. School-wide interactive screen technology together with pupil laptop and tablet provision form the most immediately obvious evidence of our dedication to technology. That said, I will always retain my view that technology can only support effective learning and great teaching. Technology cannot do the teaching and learning for us. As such, it is not the only tool we have in our box. For example, I have had great fun in recent weeks buying a brandnew library with a starting stock of 22,000 books!
What will be the relationship with WA in the UK? At the school governance level, there is a firm link with Wycombe Abbey UK.
Founding Headmaster, Howard Tuckett
However, being a pupil at Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong does not secure a girl departing our school a guaranteed place at Wycombe Abbey UK, although it is our aim that through the excellence of our primary provision, our departing students will be extremely well prepared to compete for a place at such a prestigious school, if they should choose to do so.
Tell us about your teaching background I trained for five years specifically as a primary school teacher at a South African teachers’ training college Edgewood College, University of Natal. I later completed my MA in Education in England. My MA studies were based around how a child’s ability to reason and learn develops during the primary age years. During my career I have taught at many schools, mostly independent, in South Africa and England. In my earlier career I held posts at various schools as a boarding housemaster, as head of PE, head of mathematics and as a deputy head. I have been a headmaster at two highly regarded independent prep schools in England for the last twenty years.
What do you feel are the benefits to an education in Hong Kong? Hong Kong is one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world. Any child who has had the fortune to spend their childhood here is geared for success as an adult in the international world of business, statesmanship, medicine or any of the other career options that will be available to them. The opportunity for us at Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong to provide the very best of primary learning and teaching, in order to further enhance the life opportunities offered to the children of Hong Kong, is both a great opportunity and an honour.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? Until recently, I have been very involved in school and club lacrosse umpiring across England. Since that part of my life has quietened down, I have become quite a keen runner. I am also a wholly undisciplined collector of books, coins, stamps and old cameras. My other real love is reading. I generally have several books on the go at any one time, across a very wide range of genres.
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big day out
Laid-back Lamma Nigel Griffiths ventures across Lamma Island
L
amma is one of Hong Kong’s bestknown outlying islands, with a rep for superb seafood, pretty beaches and hippies. The last is a little out-dated, because while some of the 5,000 residents on the 13 square kilometer island embrace an “alternative lifestyle”, a fast ferry service to Central means it is also home to plenty of professionals seeking a close-knit community and a laid-back, carefree environment. For the rest of us, it’s a great place to take a breather from the frantic pace of Hong Kong life. Located southwest of Hong Kong Island, life on the territory’s third largest island revolves around two relaxed villages – Yung Shue Wan (Banyan Tree Bay) in the north and Sok Kwu Wan (Picnic Bay) in the east. Few people live on the southern part of Lamma as it can only be accessed by hiking or private boat. The south’s biggest beach, Sham Wan, is an important breeding site for sea turtles.
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Catch a ferry from Central or Aberdeen to Yung Shue Wan. From the pier, the fishing harbour of O Tsai lies to the left with the smallest Tin Hau Temple I have seen in Hong Kong. To the right, the main harbour also serves as a typhoon shelter. Head along the harbour side to the main street. As well as various restaurants, from Cantonese seafood to organic vegetarian, there are two bars and the main Tin Hau Temple, built in 1876 and guarded by peculiar western lions. Apparently, when the temple’s original Chinese-style lions were damaged in 1960, the mason hired to replace them specialised in Western-style stone lions. The result is a fitting motif for this east-meetswest community. Half way down the street, a well signposted left turn leads to Sok Kwu Wan. The signpost suggests a hiking time of an hour and 20 minutes, but I suggest allowing at least two hours to take in the views. Follow the footpath through Tai Yuen and
Wang Long villages to Hung Shing Yeh Beach. The going is flat and beautiful orange flowers and purple grasses attract butterflies and many species of bird. The golden beach is peaceful during the week, but it gets busy at weekends, with shower and changing facilities and a barrestaurant in season. From here the path heads uphill, curling around the headland to give a great view over the beach and beyond to the power station. The trail is up and down. When the sea appears on the left, the hardest part of the hike is over and it’s downhill the rest of the way. Pass a cement works jutting out to sea, another pavilion overlooking Picnic Bay and some beehives. At Lo So Shing Village is an impressive graffiti mural painted in 2013 by Hong Kong Smilemakers. Walk through the village to lovely Lo So Shing Beach with barbecue pits, changing facilities and shallow rock pools on the headland for children to explore.
livin’ la vida lamma
Returning from the barbecue pits, before the LCSD block, stairs ascend and a footpath beckons through green vegetation and past the defunct Lo Shing Village School. If you did not turn off through the village to the beach but continued straight, it is here that the footpaths meet again. Walk around Picnic Bay past a sandy shoreline with egrets stalking fresh fish and the Kamikaze Caves, dug by the Japanese during the wartime occupation to hide boats filled with explosives to destroy British ships should they come near. Be brave and walk inside: there are no bats or other wildlife, just a stone face at the end.
Soon Sok Kwu Wan’s seafood restaurants appear across the inlet. Cross a bridge past a few houses and pathways leading left and right. The right track heads to a fenced-off pool teeming with wildlife. There are birds in the trees and frogs call at dusk. As well as a multitude of brown tree frogs and Asian common toads, this is where John D. Romer discovered the rare and endangered Romer’s tree frog in 1952. Keep your eyes open for a frog 2.5cm-3cm long with has a brown snakelike pattern on its back. Carry on the footpath and past another Tin Hau Temple, built after 1826, and into the strip of restaurants. The only one that doesn’t sell seafood is Lo So Kitchen, which has a vast selection of beers and German-style sausages. From here, take a ferry back to Aberdeen or Central. The path continues on to Mo Tat Wan, which has a pleasant beach fronted by The Bay Mediterranean restaurant. The Cheun Kee Ferry calls there between Sok Kwu Wan and Aberdeen. From Sok Kwu Wan or Mo Tat Wan, keen hikers can set out to climb Mount Stenhouse (Shan Tei Tong), Lamma’s highest peak at 353 metres. There are several routes up and down. Be warned: it’s not for the faint-hearted.
How to get there
Tin Hau Temple
Catch the ferry to Yung Shue Wan from Central Pier No. 4. The first ferry from Central is at 6.30am, Monday to Saturday, 7.30am on Sundays. The last ferry leaves Yung Shue Wan at 11.30pm. Visit hkkf.com.hk for full details.
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Art arts & culture
THAT WON’T BREAK THE BANK
Affordable Art Fair rolls into town, Vasavi Seethepalli meets the artists
T Art fair etiquette 1. Don’t criticise the art: Just imagine criticising artwork only to realise you were talking to the actual artist. And an art fair is no place for running or sneaking away unnoticed - so don’t get yourself into an awkward situation you can’t discretely slip away from. 2. Lower your voice: You may have told your kids to use their inside voice. Now it’s time to heed that advice. People don’t want to hear about why you love that piece or what you feel like for dinner. 3. Don’t wear a backpack: A quick spin on your heels in a backpack could cause art to topple in a domino effect. You really don’t want that. 4. Move it along: Sure, some artwork can be mesmerising, but don’t stand in front of it for so long that you have formed a queue behind you. Pretend you’re in the left lane of a Hong Kong escalator and keep moving. 5. Go easy on the bubbles: Free champagne can be fun - but it shouldn’t be too much fun. Honesty, voice volume and clumsiness all appear when you have a bit too much to drink, and if you’ve read the above points you will fail miserably at art etiquette if you drink too much.
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he Affordable Art Fair was founded 20 years ago after the founder Will Ramsay went into a gallery in London and wasn’t treated as a serious customer. He set up Will’s Art Warehouse in Battersea to try to make the whole experience of buying art accessible to everyone. He wanted the process to be fun, vibrant and exciting. Most importantly, he didn’t want people to feel intimidated or unable to even contemplate buying a piece because of exorbitant prices. The warehouse morphed into AFF, which now stages fairs worldwide, including in Stockholm, Melbourne and Hong Kong.
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR HONG KONG(AAFHK) Celebrating seven years in Hong Kong this year, Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong (AAFHK) descends on the city from May 16-19. The fair offers the chance to view and buy artwork from over 1,000 talented artists from across the globe. All are welcome and children are encouraged to attend to enjoy interactive and fun artistic activities. The Young Talent Hong Kong programme organised by AAFHK, helps promote promising
young local artists at AFFHK, with an emphasis on promoting local talent and this year there are 28 exhibitors from Hong Kong. We chat to three of the artists making waves at this year’s show.
MEET THE ARTISTS Christy Chow After studying gender and popular culture, Christy embarked on an artistic career by creating objects that dealt with popular commercial cultural demands and expectations on the female figure. “My artwork asks the question: How can we fix ourselves? My latest and on-going interactive installation series, Laborland is a playful dystopia of capitalism which merges labour and entertainment. These multimedia installations combine sculptural elements, video projection, sensors and sound to create an interactive experience for the audience,” explains Christy. Christy’s artistic career was thrust into the spotlight in 2017 when she was awarded the Human Rights Arts Prize. “It was a life-changing experience. My winning piece was included in a group show entitled A Beast, A God and A Line. The show toured to Myanmar and Poland where my work was appreciated by audiences internationally”. Christy hopes to develop her series Laborland by expanding into public art projects
paint the town
which address sustainability and social justice. Christy is represented by Red Chamber Gallery.
Lee Du Ploy A self-taught artist, Lee has been painting for nearly 55 years. He believes his paintings do not signify a style, rather his portrayal of a subject that is dear to his heart. “I spent many years as a complementary medical practitioner which involved talk therapy. I found it spiritual which helped me manifest my artistic dispositions. I portray the people I worked with...thus, the cause becomes the issue,” said Lee, who is also a therapist. Lee finds the studio isolating and is often confronted by an empty white space until his first line or smudge of colour on canvas. Lee takes an abstract approach to his portraits, focusing heavily on inner beauty. He believes the AAFHK is a great way to interact and get feedback from visitors who do not often attend art exhibitions. “I am often told that my work is an emotional confrontation, like a window to the soul”. He has received many accolades and exhibited extensively including at the Royal Academy’s summer exhibition. Lee is represented by ZZHK gallery, find him at booth #B09.
Norman O’Flynn Known for his unique portraits, South African artist, Norman O’Flynn, studied art at the
University of Cape Town. His artwork explores the meaning of the pop art tradition in today’s society, using his daily encounters with people and media as inspiration. By using oil and acrylic medium on plexiglass, the transparent plexiglass layers generate a “flat and shiny” surface that have a strong pop art influence. Norman uses a process called reverse-glass painting, which involves layering imagery drawn from the outside world and combining elements into a consumable product. Norman’s series Timekeeper depicts a tribe of unshakable observers, striking figures covered in frenetic and portentous tattoo-like markings. His portraits are covered in tattoos from head to toe, wearing scarves over their faces that hide their identities creating a sense of mystery. “I hope to find some soul mates, people like me, members of a tribe united by the same values...to make the world better and better and hope I find buyers,” laughs Norman. Norman is represented by Art Supermarket.
Affordable Art Fair 2019 This year the fair will run from May 16-19. Tickets from $165 for an adult which includes entry for a child under 16. HALL 3D&E, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. affordableartfair.com
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body & soul
1Get the glow California Beach Club
The only salon in Hong Kong with specialised spray tanning rooms, California Beach Club has been perfecting the art of spray tanning since 1999. Through their partner, The Beauty Place they also offer professional massage, facials and waxing. There is also the option of a detox/hydration spaCapsule to rehydrate skin and rejuvenate collagen levels through red light therapy programmes. 3rd Floor, Jade Centre, 98 Wellington Street, Central. californiabeachclub.net
Glow Spa In the heart of Central, this recently renovated haven provides an immediate escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. True to its name, Glow Spa offers professional spray tans using brands from Australia and England, to give you the perfect summer glow as well as a range of treatments for skin and hair. 9/F, Parker House, 72 Queen’s Road Central. glowspa.hk
Nail it The Nail Library The quirky interior of this funky little nail bar is reminiscent of a New York loft apartment. The Nail Library offers excellent pedicures and manicures with service and surroundings to match. Beverages offered on arrival include champagne. Book in advance. 10-12 Wo Lane, Central. facebook.com/The-Nail-Library
Moksa Slow Beauty Slow down in the heart of Central, sip a detox juice and relax in the tranquil, natural interiors of this heavenly nail bar. The Balinese and Parisian inspired ambience provides instant relaxation whilst the salon focuses on sustainability and the use of natural products. 1st Floor, 30 Hollywood Road, Central. moksa-slowbeauty.com
Nail 88 Popular among expats and locals alike is super budget-friendly Nails 88. The brand has locations in Sheung Wan and Wan Chai. It’s not fancy but the salon has a great selection of OPI and gel colours, the manicurists are thorough and you get a truly local vibe. Shop G24-25, Welland Building, 365 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan 2851 6711.
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summer in the city
Smooth criminal Browhaus Browhaus know brows and offer a range of options to get yours into shape. Choose from options including modern tweezing, classic threading and browgraphy (shaping and colour tweak). Browhaus also do lashes and offer a variety of waxing treatments. 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central. browhaus.com.hk
Strip: Ministry of Waxing With outlets all over the world, including New York, London and Manila, Strip has made a name for itself when it comes to Hong Kong hair removal. Remove any unwanted bodily hair with wax, IPL or laser treatments. Services offered to both men and women. 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central. strip.com.hk
Freedas Popular, no-frills Freedas offers cheap and cheerful spa services including threading, waxing, massage and hair styling. Carefully threaded eyebrows cost just $30, that’s unbeatable value in Hong Kong! Mezz Floor, 124 Caine Road, Central. freedashk.com
Fresh face Flawless Awarded ‘Spa of the Year’ in 2014 by AsiaSpa, Flawless is a modern and welcoming spa that offers innovative facials, massage, nails and professional make-up. Of the face treatments, the Opulence Luminosity facial which gently removes dead skin cells, brightens with pure oxygen and vitamin C and leaves skin glowing comes highly recommended. Sea Bird House, 22-28 Wyndham Street, Central. flawless.hk.com
Sense of Touch Awarded Best Spa 2019 by Hong Kong Living, this is Hong Kong’s only Balinese villa-style spa. The spa exclusively offers a rejuvenating Buccal facial, believed to be the latest secret weapon to keeping skin looking young. The spa also has its own line of skincare products. Various locations including Central, Repulse Bay and Tseung Kwan O. senseoftouch.com.hk
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travel
An Arabian adventure Nicole Slater travels by camel across the Arabian desert in Dubai
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hen planning a trip to Dubai, the first thought that came to mind was camels. Having never seen one in the flesh I was curious about the humped mammals, did they really spit all the time? - it turns out they don’t. While Dubai is known for its glamorous hotels and giant shopping malls, located just outside the busy metropolitan city, lies an expanse of untouched golden sand, making up the Arabian Desert. I wanted to experience both the glamour of Dubai and it’s unique cultural side, so a half-day
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desert safari was the perfect option. As the desert is difficult to access without a car or guide, we chose to go with Platinum Heritage (platinum-heritage.com), which is just one of the many companies that offers a full desert experience. The tour started with a pick up from our hotel and took around one and a half hours to get to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. When choosing the tour package, there was the option to explore the desert by camel or vintage Land Rover. Of course I chose the camel. Camels have played an important part in the
Emirati’s culture, as loyal travel companions and a means of transport. Platinum Heritage goes out of its way to look after each camel by providing them with high quality food and a large open farm for them to rest. They also use saddles made of soft spongy material to make for a comfortable journey for both camel and rider. After being hoisted up into the air and while holding on for dear life, I positioned myself on the camel’s back and we embarked on our desert stroll in groups of three. You can choose to either have your own camel or share one, I chose to have one all to myself.
Photo credit: Andy Moore
camel crossing
Did you know? Falcons are the National symbol of the UAE and have been known to fly first class on Emirates!
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camel crossing of other Arabic dishes to feast on including, hummus, lamb ouizi and tabbouleh. Since many locations in Dubai don’t serve alcohol, except hotels, I found it oddly amusing that Vimto was served at the traditional camp. Apparently the popular British fruit squash is a firm favourite amongst locals, especially during Ramadan. With full stomachs and arms covered in traditional henna tattoos, we sat down to watch a traditional Emirati performance with shotguns as props. I do hope they were props! We arrived back to the hotel at around 10pm.
Other things to do in Dubai Dubai mall fountain show
Photo credit: George Shahda
Be wowed by the world’s largest choreographed fountain system in a 20 minute display of water, lights and music. Saturday to Thursday: 1pm, 1.30pm and 2pm. Evening shows: every 30 minutes from 6-11pm. thedubaimall.com
Photo credit: Andy Moore
Jumeirah Beach
Did you know? Ramadan will be held from May 5 to June 4 this year. It’s best to avoid travelling to Dubai during this time of year as many restaurants and stalls will not serve food.
The tranquility of desert silence and the vast open space feels like another world. While the ride was a little bumpy at times, the slow and steady pace was rather relaxing. After an hour we arrive at camp where we enjoy a refreshing plum juice while sitting on the floor enjoying a falcon show. After sunset, we hop aboard a vintage Land Rover and are taken to a traditional Bedouin camp under the night sky, this is where we’ll enjoy our evening meal. With cushions spread out along the floor and traditional Arabic coffee on free-flow, the camp was more on the side of glamping. While I felt slightly guilty eating camel curry only hours after riding one, it’s not your usual menu so I put it down to a once-in-a-lifetime experience and tucked in. There were plenty
A long white sandy public beach, children’s playgrounds and plenty of alfresco dining options including the CheeseCake Factory.
Burj Khalifa The tallest structure and building in the world standing at 829.8 metres tall. Visit the observation deck and SKY lounge. burjkhalifa.ae
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zim city
Public vs private development of waterfronts The government is handing public waterfront land to private enterprises for enhancement. Paul Zimmerman reports
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n Hong Kong our waterfronts are mostly government land. Few private lots include the shore and seabed. Wharves, sawmills and shipyards had the harbour in front reclaimed or they surrendered their marine lot in return for new developmental rights with a condition that there would be a public waterfront. But this trend is at risk of a reversal: the government is handing public waterfront land to private enterprises for enhancement, management and operation. Proponents explain that this will lead to innovation and more creative designs. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is deemed too slow in adopting variety and commercial activities such dining facilities by hiding behind the terms of the Pleasure Grounds Regulation Ordinance. The risk of introducing private operators’ control over public space can’t always be foreseen. Public-private-partnerships (PPPs) such as tunnels demonstrated that when circumstances change you find that you lack flexibility to vary the terms - in this example, the fees to better manage traffic. Similarly ever since the Avenue of Stars was handed to New World in 2004, both sides found themselves struggling with the terms fixed for 20 years.
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Despite this, large stretches along the Kai Tak runway have been handed over to developers who buy adjacent sites. The government seeks to reduce the cost of design and management rather than innovation, with government’s design guidelines for developers to follow. While detailed agreements have yet to be disclosed, it appears that while it has a right to take back the land, the Development Bureau did not include a regular review of the performance and terms of operations. We did better with the event space and ferris wheel in Central, and the future water sports centre in the Wan Chai Basin. While there are limitations with the instrument, ShortTerm Tenancy (STT) agreements by the Lands Department, we can regularly adjust for what does and does not work. Important though is that government must invest in the expensive infrastructure – water, drainage, sewage, power, toilets and marine infrastructure (breakwater, landing steps, pontoons) as shortterm operators can never earn such costs back. Government is now sounding out the private sector for developing the large Urban Park on the Hung Hom waterfront. If they seek to transfer the cost, we will end up with a tourism attraction the local community will
hate. If the government seeks to find innovative ideas for its investment, the public will win. Key is that the policy to hand over waterfronts to private sectors must be deliberated with the community, constructively and in an open manner.
Paul Zimmerman is the CEO of Designing Hong Kong, a Southern District Councillor and the coconvenor of Save Our Country Parks alliance.
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woof
Ask a vet... Dr. Pauline Pets Central veterinarian Dr. Pauline Taylor answers your questions. “My dogs paws are dry and cracked. Is this normal or should I be putting cream on them?” I assume you mean the pads? These are very important parts of your dog’s paws as they protect the skin and surrounding tissues and absorb the pressures associated with day to day activities. It is not normal for the pads to be dry and cracked. This opens the way to infections including parasites percolating inwards, soft tissue pain and distress. I suggest you start by gently massaging the pads daily with Vaseline, coconut or baby oil and look carefully at your dog’s diet to ensure it’s well balanced. Treat him for hookworms and add some biotin powder to the food. Try this for a month and if that doesn’t work best check in with your vet. “My dog is so friendly to everyone she meets. How can I make her more of a guard dog?” In short you are not going to turn your dog into a guard dog unless you are prepared to subject her to inhumane training methods, physical and emotional abuse, even torture at the hands of some trainers. I suggest you be very happy with her friendly demeanor which is related to her genetic background, environment and her training from an early age. If you really need a guard ‘type’ dog you need to get an additional dog at home. “My cat goes to the toilet much more frequently when it is cold. Is there a reason for this?” I’d really like to know if your cat is an indoor or outdoor cat and if both urine and faeces are involved? Just as we’d rather not venture outside when it’s cold or raining, neither would your cat. So if you have an outdoor cat, it may be simply that you are witnessing what is normal toileting for your cat because he doesn’t want to go outside. Frustration, stress, or anxiety can sometimes affect a cat’s toileting habits. Any change in their routine, such as a new person in the household or moving house, can also lead to changes. They may also “mark” spots in the house with their urine as a means of marking their territory.
Got a question for Dr. Pauline? Email editorial@hongkongliving.com 50 | SOUTHSIDE.HK
woof
Mochi’s Musings The eyes and floppy ears of Hong Kong Living on what’s happening around the office
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’m Mochi, the office dog who gets to witness the flustered looks during production week and the high five’s when we nail the cover art. So what did I see this past month? Some of our team got together with a little wine (obviously) to record their first Hong Kong Living podcast! Of course you may have heard our Education and Dining Podcasts, but this was the first team edition where they had a chat about our April magazines and their shared love of Hong Kong. I can’t believe they call that work! Although I couldn’t help but eavesdrop and frankly, I was delighted and entertained by their thoughts and stories... and I’m not easily impressed! You can download the finished product
on Spotify or iTunes by searching Hong Kong Living. We also held our Easter Fair at Tikitiki Bowling Bar, and it was a massive success! The kids enjoyed bowling, an Easter hunt, painting competitions and a family photo shoot by Venture Studios. I did a painting myself. It turned out okay, but I think it would have been better if I had hands. You can check out all the photos on our Hong Kong Living Facebook page. Our next event will be the Hong Kong Living Awards 2019 Charity Lunch on May 8, to be held at FINDS, The Luxe Manor. Tickets include a three-course lunch and mini beauty services. Grab a ticket from hongkongliving.com/product/ hklawardscharitylunch and join in the fun! Until next time, Mochi xo
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southside secrets
Stray Birds 31 Part of The Southern District Literary Trail to commemorate writer Xiao Hong
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tray Birds 31 stands pride of place along Repulse Bay Beach and was unveiled in 2017 as part of the Southern District Literary Trail. The trail pays homage to five notable contemporary literary figures - each of whom has a connection to the Southside - with five unique sculptures. The sculpture commemorates writer Xiao Hong, best known for her book The Field of Life and Death. The writer was born in Heilongjiang, China in 1911 and fled to Hong Kong during the war in 1940. She came to Hong Kong with her lover Duanmu Hongliang and feel in love with Repulse Bay with many of her famous pieces written here, some of which
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Stray Birds 31
were published in local newspapers. Critically ill, Xiao passed away at the age of 31 in a temporary medical station in St. Stephen’s Girls’ College. Her last words were “I am going to be with the azure sky and blue water forever.” Knowing that Xiao loved looking at the sea, Duanmu buried half of her ashes in The Repulse Bay. Allegedly, he buried the other half somewhere in the vicinity of St. Stephen’s Girls’ College. Though Xiao’s grave at The Repulse Bay was later destroyed, her ashes were retrieved and buried in Guangzhou. The sculpture is made up of 31 birds to represent Xiao’s short life, as she always described herself as a flying bird. The birds are flying in different directions to symbolise Xiao’s turmoil and life of wandering. Each bird has markings of both a year and serial number to record her life and her writing. For more information on the trail visit travelsouth.hk
Xiao Hong
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column
Seasons of the Snake Mrs Backfire’s handy guide to Hong Kong’s climate
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s the wind blows, noisy and relentless, outside my window I ask myself: is this normal? It’s the middle of April, but a few degrees cooler than it was two weeks ago. And although rain threatens, no surprise there, the climate feels different somehow. Slightly out of whack. One minute I pull out a sweater, the next I’m looking for a pair of shorts. This morning it felt like the heat was on its way back, but tonight I’m hoping that milder weather is mercifully sticking around. According to Rooftop Republic, an organisation that promotes urban gardening, Hong Kong has two seasons: cool and warm. The group also says that our cool season is eight months long, lasting September to April, which makes me wonder what their definition of ‘cool’ is. I’m not sure about you, but after the months that we normally call summer (when it’s more hot than warm tbh), I don’t begin to feel ‘cool’ until maybe, maybe December. (Mind you, that could very well be due to one of those perimenopausal moments I’ve been told to expect.) And actually, when I stop to think about it, I’d reckon we’ve used our space heater once in the last five months. It’s been a long time since I could say with certainty, at any time of the year actually, that ‘winter is coming’ to the territory. With all this wacky weather going on, could it be that Hong Kong doesn’t have traditional seasons—or any seasons—anymore? We’ve always had the long, hot summer, but at least we were gifted a brief, sometimes chilly, winter and pleasant windows of spring and fall. But now, how are we supposed to acknowledge time passing in our natural world if the winds and the clouds and the sun are equally confused? How will we know when to sow and harvest? (That is, if we were the type of people who sow and harvest.)
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Whoa, Mrs Backfire, you might be saying: where are you going with this? We’re getting a little nervous. Not to worry, folks, I’m not trying to plant a dystopian-climate seed in your head. I just want to say, in the absence of traditional signals, we might need to begin looking at our world a little differently. Let’s start with spring. When you’re wondering if we’re coming out of a Hong Kong ‘winter’, don’t look for blossoms or green shoots or newborn lambs. That’s so old school! What you’ll notice instead is that certain things start to appear—frizzy hair, ceiling mold, drunk rugby fans—while other things, like the Peak as well as the top of the ICC building across the harbour, disappear into the clouds. Spring will also bring mildew-y bath towels that never completely dry, helpers on holiday for family graduations in the Philippines and school notices about procedures during red and black rainstorm warnings. The US has its Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog that every February comes out of his burrow to tell the country if they’ll have an early spring or a long winter. Maybe we need a Hong Kong equivalent. While Phil’s not known for his accuracy (35-40% apparently), he does give the people of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania an excuse to dress up in formal attire and read from scrolls. Phil’s even been on Oprah! Maybe we can ask the ginormous python spotted recently near the Pokfulam Reservoir for his (or her) opinion on the weather. Did the recent spate of mild days coax the reptile out on to that tree branch? Is summer coming even earlier than expected? Burmese pythons have been known to hibernate, not quite as consistently as groundhogs, but they’re also known for their climate flexibility and overall adaptability. And if that factoid strikes fear into your heart, I am with you! Can you imagine walking along and realising there’s a six-seveneight-foot snake in the tree above you? Don’t tread on me, Mr. Python’s saying. Well, don’t fall on me! Summer is, of course, our snake season. Correction—our snake-spotting season as opposed to our snake-soup-eating season, which is late fall to early winter. Summer is also when we get our two-a-days (days so hot and humid that you have to shower and change your undies twice a day) as well as nights of dear-lord-don’t-let-the-aircon-fail-me-now. Do I even need to mention mosquitos? They’re pretty much year-round now, aren’t they? So, after the weirdness of spring and post
summer’s oven, what do fall and winter bring? Snakes to eat, as I said, along with hairy crabs and mooncakes. School children hoping for typhoon days. People dining al fresco. And then, if and when the temperatures drop, we see a noticeable uptick in tourist arrivals—the great migration of grandparents here for the holidays—along with good winds for sailing and hotpot dining deals. We also get—no matter what the actual thermometer reads—that other reliable Hong Kong sign of winter: puffy jackets. You may not find them in any travel guide, but I hope my seasonal-spotting tips can help get you through the year. And if you find yourself in the coming months on the trails on a warm afternoon, don’t forget to look up as well as down!
Mrs Backfire is - in the words of John Hughes - a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal (well, just that one time and I do regret it). You can see me as you want to see me ;)
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