Expat Parent January 2020

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FAMILY | EDUCATION | HOME | DAYS OUT

the really useful magazine expat-parent.com

January 2020

Dim sum for little ones

Beauty SOS Your guide to pregnancy skincare

Strollerfriendly hikes

Baby’s firsts checklist style

Hong Kong

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CONTENTs 2

Editor’s letter

7

Hello from the hot desk. Plus three things we love

4

Our guide to a day at the AIA Carnival

41

48

News Things to know

Two little dumplings

12 29

Me & my big idea Julianna Yau, Founder and Director of Ampla Education

18

Travel

Our busy mum-of-two reflects on the accomplishments of 2019

Celebrating Lunar New Year

17

Outdoors

Photographer Karin Bremer goes on a Nepalese adventure. Plus travel news

What’s on

Your monthly local news roundup

15

Big day out

Stroller-friendly hikes for tykes

Contributors

Dates for your diary this January.

Plus our Mum about town

12

36 38

Meet the team

7

ISSUE 068

Must haves Cosy bedrooms for the colder months

20

Cover story Hong Kong firsts for your little one

24

Book club

38

Interview with author Lindsay Varty.

Plus January reads and podcasts

26

Hong Kong Baby Skincare survival for pregnant mamas. Plus baby news

29

Dining

46 15 23

Dim sum with the kids. Plus dining news

32

Education Amelia Sewell visits International Montessori School

24

20

18 Scan and visit our website expat-parent.com

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editor’s message

W

elcome to the new decade.

But there’s barely time this month to make New Year’s resolutions, no sooner are we back from Christmas vacation, the Chinese New Year festivities begin.

If you’re staying in Hong Kong over the holiday and have a newborn in tow, check out our cover story on baby’s first on page 20. From baby’s first haircut at The Mandarin Barber, to baby’s first Star Ferry ride, we round up the best milestones to celebrate with your baby.

January is great weather to hit the hills, we cover stroller-friendly hikes on page 38. And what better than Mickey Mouse-shaped dim sum to get little ones excited about Chinese cuisine? Nicole Cooley suggests the best dim sum restaurants for kids on page 30.

Lastly, a quick reminder to join us on January 19 for our New Year Urban Retreat. The event is packed with nutritional workshops, yoga classes and meditation sessions aboard the wheel itself!

Tickets at hongkongliving.com/shop

who’s in charge?

Editorial editorial@hongkongliving.com Managing Editor Gemma Shaw

Contributing Editor Nicole Slater

Editorial Assistant Nicole Cooley

Editorial Assistant Charmaine Ng

Digital Editor Apple Lee

Design vicky@hongkongliving.com Graphic Designer Vicky Lam

Graphic Designer Jeramy Lee

Sales & Marketing talk@hongkongliving.com

3 things we love this month...

Two Moons Signature Dry Gin

AIA Carnival

Drum roll please…the AIA Great European Carnival has returned to Hong Kong’s Central Harbourfront Event Space for the sixth year running. Enjoy thrilling rides, classic games and The Great Circus of Europe led by Ringmaster Ryan. The carnival runs until February 16. Tickets $130 including entry and 10 tokens. tgec.asia/tickets

Hong Kong Urban Retreat

On January 19, join us underneath The Hong Kong Observation Wheel for an afternoon of fitness classes and nutrition talks led by prominent figures in the yoga, fitness, meditation and nutrition industries. Tickets $180, ($99 before Jan 3) hongkongliving.com/shop

about the cover Talented photographer Karin Bremer shot our cover this month. Karin runs photography company “Karin Bremer Photography” and shoots family portraits, events and commercial product services. She has an unfaltering patience and snaps the perfect portraits everytime, no matter the age of her subjects. karinbremer.com 2 expat-parent.com

Head of Digital Content Isamonia Chui

Partnership Manager Mathew Cheung

Partnership Manager Elaine Li

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 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong Printer Apex Print Limited, 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong

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.

Credit: Karin Bremer Photography

Hong Kong’s first ever gin distillery, Two Moons, recently launched their locally crafted Signature Dry Gin and tours of their distillery in Chai Wan. A bottle of the Asian-influenced Signature Dry Gin is $530 from twomoonsdistillery.com

Director of Content Hilda Chan

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contributors

Rosie Gundelach

Amelia Sewell

Karin Bremer

Rosie Gundelach is a Registered Australian midwife living in Hong Kong. She is currently not practicing and is enjoying being a busy mum to her two babies, sixteen months apart. She discusses pregnancy skincare on page 26.

It’s back to school for our Education Editor this month. She ventures over to Stanley to visit the International Montessori School Stanley Campus and learn more about Montessori education. Read all about it on page 32.

Dutch-Australian photographer Karin runs Karin Bremer Photography. This month, fresh from shooting our cover, she ventured to Nepal to attempt an ultra-marathon and explore the country’s unique culture. Read about her Nepalese adventure on page 42. karinbremer.com

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

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what’s on

Diary dates

JAN 19

New Year Urban Retreat Kickstart the new year with classes and workshops led by prominent figures in the yoga, fitness, meditation and nutrition industries. 12pm-5pm. $180 (early bird $99 until Jan 3). AIA Vitality Park, 33 Man Kwong Street, Central. hongkongliving.com/shop

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what’s on JAN 5

Hill’s X SPCA Dogathon 2020 Woof woof! The biggest dog carnival of the year descends on Lantau. 8.30am - 3pm.

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort Coach Park. dogathon.spca.org.hk

JAN 6- 9

Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair Not just for kids! This fair is in its 46th edition and features the latest products from over 2,000 exhibitors. $100. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. hktoyfair.hktdc.com

JAN 12

Discovery Bay Chinese New Year Market

UNTIL JAN 1

UNTIL FEB 16

Join in a spectacular New Year’s countdown on the harbourfront. Free. Locations vary. discoverhongkong.com

This year’s carnival brings with it games, great prizes, European street entertainers and thrilling rides. Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Road, Central. tgec.asia

Hong Kong WinterFest

UNTIL JAN 2

AIA The Great European Carnival

Pacific Place “Sincerely Yours”

JAN 1

Pacific Place transforms into Santa’s very own printing house. It’s not too late to make giant Christmas cards. Free. 88 Queensway, Admiralty. pacificplace.com.hk

Place your bets! Sha Tin Race Course. hkjc.com

UNTIL JAN 12

Disney’s The Lion King Musical Get in on the action for the Hong Kong premiere of Disney’s The Lion King. Times vary. $399.

AsiaWorld Expo, Lantau Island. hkticketing.com

New Year’s Horse Racing

Public holidays in 2020 • Jan 1

NewYear’s Day

• Apr 30 Birthday of Buddha

• Jan 25 Lunar New Year

• May 1

• Jan 27 The Third Day of Lunar New Year

• Jun 25 Tuen Ng Festival

• Jan 28 The Fourth Day of Lunar New Year • Apr 4

Ching Ming Festival

• Apr 10 Good Friday

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This popular outdoor market serves up

Labour Day

• Jul 1

HKSAR Establishment Day

• Oct 1

National Day

• Oct 2

The Day Following MidAutumn Festival

• Oct 26 Chung Yeung Festival

• Apr 11 The Day Following Good Friday

• Dec 25 Christmas Day

• Apr 13 Easter Monday

• Dec 26 The First Weekday After Christmas Day

tell me more

mum about town

homemade crafts, jewellery, clothing and food. 11am-6pm. Discovery Bay Plaza, Lantau. handmadehongkong.com

JAN 15 - FEB 23

Hong Kong KidsFest

Credit: Steve Ullathorne

Nine fantastic shows include The Gruffalo and Mr Men and Little Miss. $195.

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. kidsfest.com.hk

JAN 19

Gammon China Coast Marathon and Half Marathon Hong Kong’s oldest marathon and half marathon enters its 40th year. 8am. $400. Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung. avohk.org

JAN 22-23

The National Folkloric Dance Troupe of Egypt

Disney nostalgia We’re finally getting in on the action and heading to Lantau to watch Disney’s The Lion King Musical! After a very Frozen 2-themed end to the year, I’m very much looking forward to changing playlists and enjoying this spectacular stage show with the whole family. Full of nostalgia and stunning effects, this will most certainly be full of the magic of Disney.

Disney’s The Lion King Musical: Until Jan 12, times vary. $399.

AsiaWorld Expo, Lantau Island. hkticketing.com

This vibrant Egyptian dance troupe head to Hong Kong. Times vary. $450 (60% donated to charity). Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central. maxwelldancing.com

JAN 25

Chinese New Year Kung Hei Fat Choi!

JAN 26

Chinese New Year Fireworks Boom! 8pm. Victoria Harbour.

JAN 27

Chinese New Year Race Day Strike it lucky at Sha Tin Racecourse! 11am. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Sha Tin Racecourse Stand, Sha Tin. hkjc.com

Double the fun The festivities continue into January with both the New Year and Lunar New Year in the same month. Continuing with our annual tradition, we’ll be taking in one of Hong Kong’s spectacular lantern displays and traditional performances before jetting off to warmer climates to enjoy the Chinese New Year break.

Lunar New Year Lantern Carnivals: Jan 17-Feb 9, 7.30-9.30pm.

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Tung Chung North Park, Wai Man Road Playground and Sai Kung Waterfront Park. expat-parent.com 9

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BOOK NOW FEB 8-9

Sleeping Beauty

Credit: Dancers (from left): Dong Ruixue, Henry Seldon | Creative: Design Army | Photographer: Dean Alexander | Courtesy of Hong Kong Ballet

Performed by the Hong Kong Ballet. Times vary. From $200. The Box, Freespace, West Kowloon Cultural District. hkballet.com

FEB 13-MAR 14

Hong Kong Arts Festival A month-long performing arts festival.

Times, prices and locations vary. hk.artsfestival.org/en

FEB 14-16

Longines Masters of Hong Kong This prestigious equestrian event debuts the Asian Arabian Horse Show for the first time.

And a hobby horse competition for kids!

Times vary. From $230. AsiaWorld-Expo, Lantau. longinesmasters.com

MAR 18

Marilyn Manson Live in Hong Kong Standing is the only way to go. From $898.

Hall 10, AsiaWorld-Expo, Chek Lap Kok. hkticketing.com

APRIL 2-26

Cirque du Soleil Returning to Hong Kong for the first time in two years, Cirque du Soleil has announced a thrilling new Big Top show. Tickets from $450. Visit the iconic blue-and-white Big Top at Central Harbourfront, 9 Lung Wo Road, Central. premier.hkticketing.com

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news

Sónar gets Stormzy Spanish electronic musical festival Sónar will return to Hong Kong for their fourth edition on March 29 with none other than British grime star Stormzy. He last performed in Hong Kong at Clockenflap 2017 when he supported The Prodigy. His latest appearance is part of a world tour to promote the December release of his new album Heavy is the Head.

Stormzy’s visit to Asia will also take in Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul. Tickets from $680.

The Grand Hall, Building 12W, Hong Kong Science & Technology Park. sonarhongkong.com

HKFC 10s rugby tournament cancelled Power hike Electricity bills in Hong Kong are set to rise from January 1. Customers of CLP Power, serving Kowloon, the New Territories and Lantau, can expect tariffs to increase by up to 2.5 percent, whilst customers of HK Electric, supplying Hong Kong Island and Lamma, will see tariffs increase by up to 5.2 percent.

These increases are the result of the two firms

reducing their reliance on coal and moving to cleaner fuel sources in order to meet Hong Kong’s emission targets this year. However, the announcement of subsidies offered by the government should offset the increases, so that consumers should not be left feeling out of pocket.

Last month, the Hong Kong Football Club announced that the 2020 HKFC 10s Rugby Tournament, scheduled for April 1-2, will no longer go ahead. The club cited, “owing to the ongoing situation in Hong Kong, the tournament has, for the first time, had difficulty in attracting and securing firm commitments from enough overseas teams of sufficient quality”. The club goes on to say that in making the decision to cancel what would have been a diminished event in 2020, they instead want to focus on making the 2021 edition even better.

Parading away The Hong Kong Tourism Board has announced that, for the first time since 1996, the 2020 Lunar New Year Parade will be cancelled and replaced with a carnival. The parade which was scheduled to take place on the evening of the first day of the Lunar New Year has been considered too risky since the route travels through Tsim Sha Tsui, an area hard hit by recent protests. In its place, a four-day carnival (held from January 25-28) will feature international acts, food stalls and games. A venue for the carnival is yet to be confirmed. Visit discoverhongkong.com 12 expat-parent.com

news

On December 1, Octopus Cards Limited (OCL) increased the stored value limit of newly issued Octopus products from $1,000 to $3,000.

Existing Octopus customers can upgrade their limit via the Octopus App or at any Octopus Service Point. “From a fast electronic way to pay fares on public transport, the Octopus payment system has expanded to encompass the retail sector covering all walks of life,” says Mr Sunny Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of OCL. “Therefore, we have increased both the stored value limit and transaction value of Octopus to meet customers’ greater spending needs.” octopus.com.hk

Hong Kong Museum of Art reopens Late last year, Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) in Tsim Sha Tsui reopened after a major renovation. Established in 1962, HKMoA was originally housed in City Hall and featured art from ancient to contemporary. The museum moved to Tsim Sha Tsui in 1991 and closed in August 2015 for renovation and expansion. Exhibition space was increased to 10,000 square metres and five new galleries were added, including a nine-metre high gallery for larger artworks. Four different entrances to the reception lobby are now open to visitors with a range of new dining outlets looking out over the harbour. 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. hk.art.museum

Credit: Leisure and Cultural Services Department

Octopus adds value

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things to know

Clean up

1 Homes are thoroughly cleaned in the run up to the

festivities, as it is considered bad luck to clean your home during the week of Lunar New Year. Sweep dust into the middle of the room and out the door to symbolise the sweeping away of bad luck.

Visit a flower market

2 Brighten up your home

Go veggie

with a bunch of flowers or a Mandarin tree - these are believed to bring good luck around this time. While unfortunately the famous Victoria Park Market is cancelled this year, there are still plenty of places to stock up on festive flowers, including Prince Edward Flower Market in Mong Kok.

3 Legend has it that going vegetarian for the first day of

the Lunar New Year (January 25) enhances longevity and helps purify and cleanse the body. Visit one of the city’s many vegetarian restaurants or create your own homemade vegetarian feast.

Watch the fireworks

5 Fireworks and firecrackers are

believed to scare away evil spirits, so expect a spectacular display. Grab a spot along the harbourfront for 8pm on The Second Day of Lunar New Year (January 26).

Chinese New Year Carnival

4 While the beloved Lunar New Year

Parade has been cancelled this year, a four-day carnival will take its place.

The carnival will run from January 25 to 28 and feature international acts, food stalls and games. The venue is yet to be confirmed. For the most up to date information, visit discoverhongkong.com

Things you need to know Lunar New Year Take part in a Lion Dance

6 Lion and dragon dances are performed

just about everywhere during the Lunar New Year. Pop down to your local town centre where you’ll find performers dressed as lions and dragons parading around the town while blessing local businesses.

Make a wish at the

8 Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees

A visit to the Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees during Lunar New Year is thought to bring good luck.

Traditionally joss paper was tied to an orange and thrown into the tree in an attempt to secure it around a high branch to entice good luck.

Make it rain with Lai See

7 ‘Lai see’ is the traditional name for the lucky red envelopes given by married people to their single relatives, colleagues and those in the service industry during the 15 days preceding Lunar New Year (January 25-February 8). The envelopes should contain crisp banknotes and the amount is symbolic.

How much to give? $20 for an acquaintance you see regularly but don’t know well, such as a doorman. $50 for someone close to you such as friends’ children, or your hairdresser. $100 as a generous gift to someone you care about. This is generally the minimum a bosses give to employees. $500+ is not unheard of, but it is usually given with a good motive such as birthdays or weddings around this time.

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me & my big idea

Me & my big idea

Nicole Cooley chats with Founder and Director of Ampla Education, Julianna Yau, about opportunities in education So what’s the big idea?

I established Ampla Education with an aim to help children enhance lifelong learning opportunities and achieve their goals by delivering holistic mentorship programmes catered to individual needs.

How did the idea come about?

I noticed that lots of children have great academic potential but lacked the opportunity to fully realise their skills. Through supervising a team of experienced mentors, consultants and teachers primarily from the UK and US, Ampla has helped many students from early childhood up to young adults in making their dreams a reality.

How tough was it getting the business up and running?

It was very tough at first as I created everything from scratch, but after three years, we now have a strong global network of mentors who work with our students on school admission strategies. Intellectual enrichment programmes are then devised to promote a well-rounded education. With clients from all over the world, including Hong Kong, America, China, the UK, Vietnam, and more, we boast an impressive track record of 90 percent of students receiving offers from their target schools.

Do you follow a western or eastern approach to education?

My childhood was spent in Canada, adolescence in Hong Kong, I attended boarding school and university in the UK, followed by a teaching course in the US. Having experienced four different education systems, I believe I am uniquely positioned to understand the needs of our students and am able to incorporate and integrate the best elements of each system into our learning programmes. By offering the perfect blend of knowledge, flexibility and interaction, Ampla fosters intellectual curiosity, encourages independent learning, and offers students the freedom to learn at their own pace.

Can you tell us about a memorable success story?

What are your plans for the future of Ampla?

As an educator, I deeply believe in the power of education in changing the world.

To empower young people and create long term impact, I have implemented corporate social responsibility initiatives to make quality education easily accessible. As thousands of villages in Cambodia lack functional schools, I have sponsored the construction of two primary and secondary school buildings to make a bigger impact on vulnerable children in these rural communities. It’s very encouraging to see that the supportive learning environments we created benefitted hundreds of children and have successfully reduced the drop-out rate and increased the secondary schooling completion rate threefold.

We’re launching our edu-tainment branch of the business combining education and entertainment to transform children’s parties (at a venue of their choice) into a thrilling adventure. By hosting Hong Kong’s firstever interactive mystery parties for children complete with exquisite props, we hope to teach learning through play as they immerse themselves in interactive detective stories.

Ampla Education, 9/F, Honest Building, 9 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay. ampla-edu.com

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MUST HAVES Black Edition Kensu Cushion, Viridian $2,600 from Lane Crawford lanecrawford.com.hk

Harlow Dressing Table, Smoke $3,992 from Indigo Living indigo-living.com

Tom Dixon Soft Cushion, Pink $2,100 from Lane Crawford lanecrawford.com.hk

Marble Look Octagonal Photo Frame $179 from Marks and Spencer marksandspencer.com/hk

Snug as a bu

in a rug

Bedroom furniture and accessories to keep you cosy this winter. By Nicole Slater

Amanda Bed $18,392 from Indigo Living indigo-living.com

LC4 Chaise Lounge $3,290 from Decor8 decor8.com.hk

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Rounded Vintage Hanging Mirror $299 from Marks and Spencer marksandspencer. com/hk

MUST HAVES

Carling Luxury Table Light with Marble Base $2,290 from Decor8 decor8.com.hk

Watercolour Floral Print Duvet Cover $599 from Zara Home zarahome.com/hk

Pomegranate Noir Deluxe Candle $560 from Jo Malone jomalone. com.hk

ug

g

y

White Faux Fur Rug $799 from Zara Home zarahome.com/hk

Nelson Style Sunburst Clock, Walnut $1,180 from Decor8 decor8.com.hk

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C ST OV O ER RY

Baby’s firsts

From your baby’s first haircut to their first trip to the beach, Nicole Cooley rounds up Hong Kong’s best milestones Chinese New Year Celebrating the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong is like no other occasion, full of festivities and colourful performances. Littles ones can experience the brightly coloured lions and dragons as they dance along to the noise of drums for the first time. If they find the drums too noisy, head to one of Hong Kong’s many flower markets and help them explore the different smells and colours of the flowers.

This year, there will be a four-day carnival from January 25 to 28 with local and international performances to mesmerise your children.

Chinese New Year is a busy time in Hong Kong, so plan ahead and even consider taking just the baby carrier! discoverhongkong.com

Star Ferry Climb aboard the historical Star Ferry for your little one’s first adventure on the water!

They can stay in the pram or use a carrier to avoid the bumpy route onto the boat; there are plenty of seats on board and space to stow the pram. The water and seabreeze may even rock them to sleep! Embark on this 10-minute infamous ferry trip from Central, Tsim Sha Tsui or Wan Chai piers. Under threes go free. starferry.com.hk

and child-friendly attractions. The recentlyrevamped boardwalk offers a host of familyfriendly eateries including Limewood and Classified. Remember to bring plenty of sunscreen, hats, beach towels and swimwear.

Then again, perhaps save a dip in the water for when the weather warms up a little! Facilities include changing rooms, toilets, shower facilities and a playground. Beach Road, Repulse Bay. discoverhongkong.com

Repulse Bay Ready to take your baby to the beach for the first time? Repulse Bay meets all your little one’s needs with its soft sand and calm, shallow waters. If they’re in need of a chance to escape the heat or some time out from trying to eat sand, The Pulse shopping centre offers refreshing A/C 20 expat-parent.com

The Mandarin Barber The barber at The Mandarin Oriental offers a unique experience for your baby’s very first haircut. Every Sunday, between 9 and 11am, the Mandarin Barber opens its doors

to little ones and their parents. The 30-minute experience includes

R VE Y O R C TO S

a Baby’s First Haircut certificate signed by our barber, with a lock of hair placed in a frame to treasure forever. Guests can even turn the locks of their baby’s hair into a Chinese calligraphy brush at an additional cost. Remember to reserve in advance! 5 Connaught Road, Central. mandarinoriental.com

Credit: Ron Reiring

Pepper and Mint Boutique: Dim Sum Shoes For little ones who are going from crawling to cruising and finally walking, these handmade shoes are ideal. Elastic casing means shoes can easily be taken on and off, they’re made from breathable canvas with a lining of 100 percent soft cotton and the soles are anti-slip. Oh and did we mention, they are covered in delicious dim sum making your baby’s chubby feet even more adorable!

There’s even a matching baby blanket available too. pepperandmintboutique.com

Petit Tippi Hong Kong-based online store Petit Tippi is a one-stop-shop for natural, organic and eco-friendly baby products. From cloth diapers to baby bottles, everything is made with your child’s well-being and the sustainability of their future in mind. The store also has a Baby Registry and runs workshops hosted by in-house staff and industry professionals offering advice on a whole host of topics, ranging from cloth diapering to nutrition to gentle sleep training at their workshop space in Sai Ying Pun. petittippi.com

super-safe first sleeping space for babies up to six months old. Parents can relax knowing the Angel Babybox has been awarded the same safety certification as cots and cribs for domestic use (BSEN1130) and it is made of ecological soft 100 percent Japanese cotton and non-toxic foam for the baby’s comfort.

The uniquely multifunctional design means the pod can even open up to become a playing or changing mat for tummy time or your little one’s first crawl, whilst flat packing easily for travelling and storage. angel-babybox.com

Angel Babybox The Angel Babybox is a beautifully designed and protective sleeping pod, making it a

All About Grounding Breast milk is most babies first meal, yet many mums struggle to breastfeed. MILKY Mumma Nutrition is an Australian brand dedicated to helping support new mums from pregnancy, labor, breastfeeding to postpartum health, with a series of expertly formulated lactation and nutrient-dense smoothies.

Lactation cookies and other treats are also available from Boobie Bikkies. Visit allaboutgrounding.com and use the promotion code hkliving to receive a $20 cash coupon. expat-parent.com 21

C ST OV O ER RY 22 expat-parent.com

R VE Y O R C TO S

Make memories

of photography services from nature to events. karinbremer.com

Venture Studios

Jules, Baby!

Founded in 2017, Julia Broad specialises in newborn and maternity photography. She strives to create a space for women to feel beautiful as their family grows and have tangible memories of their time together.

Julia offers environmental, home and studio sessions based out of her home in Wan Chai. bookings@julesbaby.com

Panda Pottery: Footprint Keepsakes More for the parents, treasure your newborn’s chubby little feet forever in the form of a footprint on pottery from mugs to plates.

The colourful paints are water based and non-toxic, so wash off easily and are safe for babies. Panda Pottery welcome families to their studio in Clearwater Bay or can arrange home visits around Hong Kong. pandapottery.com

Karin Bremer Photography Dutch Australian Karin Bremer puts families and their little ones at ease, ready for their first snap. As a mother herself, Karin understands children and aims to capture the most flattering but also genuine pictures possible. As well as baby’s first pictures, she offers a range

Head over to Venture Studios or get them to come to you for your baby’s first photo.

Following the shoot, they’ll pull together the best images for a onehour cinematic viewing.

They also provide hand crafted frames for treasuring beautiful memories on the walls of your home forever. venturephotography.com

Black Dot Photography Cherish your newborn’s moments forever with a first photo shoot from photographer, Tansy of Black Dot Photography.

Tansy offers to come straight to your home for a more relaxed

session, capturing all those little newborn moments and what’s more, she shares access to all the photos post-session.

She also offers packages to document every special moment from each stage of pregnancy to fun memories with all the family. blackdotphotography.org

The Lion Rock Press: Bilingual Baby Milestone Cards The Lion Rock Press help tired parents remember to record certain firsts with these 50 beautiful Hong Kongthemed baby milestone cards. The eco-friendly cards include the standard weekly photo reminders, and also cards for your baby’s first dim sum lunch, first Chinese New Year, and even the first time they ruin several outfits (it’s going to happen).

One side is in English, whilst the other is in Chinese, perfect for starting those language skills early. thelionrockpress.com expat-parent.com 23

book review

Surviving sunsets Rugby player and author Lindsay Varty sheds light on traditional Hong Kong tradesmen in her book Sunset Survivors. By Nicole Cooley How did you go from professional rugby player to writing a book?

I actually wrote the book whilst still training full time as a professional rugby player!

I have written for different Hong Kong magazines and newspapers on a freelance basis since I finished university. About four years ago, I began working on this book in between training sessions and tournaments.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Choose a subject you are passionate about, otherwise you will drown in the process!

Do you have plans for another book?

Yes! I am currently working on a few things including a Sunset Survivors for young children.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I have lived in Hong Kong since I was just 20 days old. My mother is Macanese (a mix of Portuguese and Chinese) and was brought up in Hong Kong, and my father is British but has lived here since he was six. I went to Clearwater Bay Primary School and then KGV. For me, Hong Kong is home. I love everything about the culture: from the filthy floors of the wet market, to the smell of roasted chestnuts during winter.

So what’s the book about?

Sunset Survivors is a collection of interviews, facts and photographs which focus on Hong Kong’s fading traditional industries, or ‘sunset industries’ as they are commonly referred to, and the people who are keeping them alive.

What inspired you to write the book?

Growing up in Hong Kong, my parents always wanted my brother and I to experience ‘the real Hong Kong.’ We would eat congee in Sham Shui Po, shop in wet markets and go squid fishing on junk boats.

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As I grew up, I saw many of these traditional Hong Kong things that I loved, change or disappear. I decided to document them before they were gone forever.

Who are the survivors?

Most importantly, where can we buy Sunset Survivors?

You can buy the book from most bookstores in Hong Kong as well as from G.O.D. Or buy online through various sites (check out the list of local and international sites on my website).

The ‘survivors’ are the traditional craftsmen, and women, of Hong Kong who have persisted despite the introduction of modern technology, rising rents, factories and changing cultural beliefs. They are shoe shiners, knife sharpeners, face threaders, bamboo birdcage makers and more.

What was your most memorable interview from your book and why?

I loved interviewing the letter writer in the Yau Ma Tei Jade market because I uncovered so many of his hidden talents that I would not have expected. He is 85 and uses a 50-year-old typewriter to help illiterate people write letters and assists anyone in filling in their tax forms. He is originally from Vietnam and can speak five languages (including fluent French!).

For more information and stories about Sunset Survivors, check out the following: Facebook: @sunsetsurvivorshongkong Instagram: @sunsetsurvivors sunsetsurvivors.com

Books & podcasts

book review

BOOKS

Lux is in the Air

by Orchid Bloom

A Small Band of Men,

by Les Bird

Sporty Girl Journals,

by Alicia Lui

Experience the true lux of Hong Kong’s elite through the eyes of Phoebe Downlington, an expatriate in the travel retail industry. As her career takes her to the luxurious Vuitton House, her love life also goes up a notch, leading her to fall for Alex. But will the be drama be too much? Filled with recognisable Hong Kong locations and traditions you’ll be sucked into this world of glamour from the first chapter! Available from Book Depository for $86. bookdepository.com

British-born Les Bird joined the Hong Kong Marine Police in 1976 and shares his tales in A Small Band of Men. As the longest serving officer of the Marine Police, Bird’s gripping memoir details the issues and cases he dealt with over his 20 years of service, such as the smuggling between the mainland and Hong Kong in the leadup to the handover. Both well written and full of Hong Kong’s history, this is a book you won’t want to put down.

Available at Swindon, Kelly & Walsh, and Hong Kong Book Centre for $180. earnshawbooks.com

Alicia Lui, founder of volunteer-led non-profit initiative Women In Sports Empowered Hong Kong (WISE HK), aims to encourage girls to participate in sport and make it a lifelong habit. The journals combine stories of inspiring female athletes in Hong Kong, space for recording sports experiences, and creative activities to engage in. So whether you or your daughters are sporty or not, this book encourages positive associations with sports. Available at Gone Running and T8 Labs (both in Wan Chai), Lantau Base Camp in Mui Wo and Bookazine stores across Hong Kong.

For romantics

For history buffs

For mums & daughters

PODCASTS Table Manners

NHS Couch to 5k

Smart People Podcast

Feel like you’re part of the dinner party with fun, witty and inspiring conversation from British singer Jessie Ware, her mum Lennie and their guests. The pair cook up a delicious sounding feast and invite a celebrity guest over to in for a bite. As well as chatting about the food on their plates, the conversation delves into the world of music, culture and politics. Listen at jessieware.com/podcasts or download from iTunes.

Inspiring and achievable, the NHS Couch to 5k podcast gets complete beginners off the couch and running 5km straight.

A motivational ‘personal trainer’ says when to stop and start with different music interspersed to help listeners build up slowly through a mixture of walking and running. There’s a plan that can be printed showing three runs a week with a day of rest between each. Nine weeks later, listeners will be running 5km (or around 30 minutes) non-stop! Listen on nhs.uk or download from iTunes.

Why wouldn’t we want to listen to smart people? Centered around interviews with leaders of innovative and pioneering conversation, this podcast will provide some inspiring insights to motivate your mind for the new year. Each guest is renowned for their work and experience, with one of my personal favourites being shame researcher Brené Brown. Check out her episode to challenge everything you believe about courage and vulnerability. Listen on smartpeoplepodcast.com or download from iTunes.

Nicole recommends

Stephen recommends

Luisa recommends expat-parent.com 25

hk baby

Glow as you grow

Rosie Gundelach shares tips and tricks to maintain skin care during pregnancy

E

veryone assumes that with pregnancy comes glowy, mama-to-be goddess skin and thick, luscious locks. What people don’t tell you is that with your hormones raging to grow your bub, sometimes it’s your skin and hair that take the fall. Here are some key physical changes to look out for as well as some suggestions on how you can boost your glow.

Hyperpigmentation Due to hormonal changes, there are a few different ways hyperpigmentation can present in pregnancy.

Melasma Sometimes called “pregnancy mask”, melasma is the darkening of patches of skin usually on your face (nose and cheeks are the most common), neck and décolletage.

For some women, it may just be a noticeable darkening of freckles and/or scars. It’s 26 expat-parent.com

nothing to be concerned about, as it’s purely a hormonal reaction to pregnancy. It is hiking season so to minimise melasma when out in the sun, wear a hat and use a good quality sunscreen, as the sun can darken pigmentation.

Sunscreen There are two different types of sunscreens on the market, chemical and physical (broad spectrum) sunscreens. Physical sunscreens are mineral based and contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Evidence suggests this to be the safest sunscreen option in pregnancy as it sits on the surface of your skin and blocks UVA rays, as opposed to chemical sunscreens that may contain oxybenzone (not considered safe in pregnancy).

Hydroquinone is a clinical skin-lightening agent that is a popular depigmenting agent for conditions such as melasma, in other words, women use this to lighten the dark

splotches that can crop up due to increased pigmentation. But if you were thinking of getting a jump on fixing your pigmentation during pregnancy, think again. This skinlightening agent is off-limits during pregnancy since research shows that 35-45% of this product seeps into your body.

Other pigmentation issues Linea Nigra, is another very common skin pigmentation that can show up in pregnancy.

It refers to the darkening of skin in a line running vertically from the pubic bone to the navel. Completely harmless it warrants no particular management and fades post birth.

Darkening of the areola is also very common and perfectly normal. Babies are born with poor eyesight and the darkening of your areola and nipples helps your baby to find their way to the breast that little bit easier – pretty clever, hey! This also fades post birth.

hk baby

Stretch Marks There are oodles of creams, oils, moisturisers and belly masks on the market that swear to minimise your chance of stretch marks, however the evidence is actually out on the efficacy of these products, and it’s more about keeping your skin hydrated than using specific products. The science says you’re either genetically predisposed or not. Rapid weight gain also plays a part, so slow and steady growth and weight gain may help your skin to stretch slowly.

Acne and the Acids With the wonderful cocktail of hormones surging around your body, oil production can go a bit crazy, hello pimples! Staying hydrated, cleansing and moisturising will help, however, many of us use beauty products with acids in them, some are safe, some aren’t. Hyaluronic acid, used by many women for its moisturising and super hydrating effects, is safe in pregnancy. Avoid products such as retinols and salicylic acids (BHAs) as they aren’t recommended in pregnancy. A lot of exfoliates contain acids, so best to check your products. A good hack if you do not want to purchase more skincare (pregnancy can seem like a never-ending list of things to buy) is a warm, damp muslin cloth to wash away your cleanser. The muslin cloth will help to aid exfoliation, always rub upwards (don’t assist gravity in the ageing process).

Irritation and itchy skin Unfortunately, skin irritation comes with the pregnancy territory and can differ for the same woman in different pregnancies. It’s trial and error. The process of eliminating products one by one and sticking to more natural products can be a great place to start. Itchiness is also very common in pregnancy with your skin stretching to make room for your growing family addition, however there are some instances where itching can be a serious medical condition. If you’re concerned, speak with your doctor or midwife.

Rosie Gundelach is a Registered Australian midwife living in Hong Kong.

She is currently not practicing and is enjoying being a busy mum to her two babies, sixteen months apart.

HK Baby News

All new winter lactation smoothies Australian caring brand, MILKY Mumma Nutrition has three new tasty smoothie flavours for pregnant and breastfeeding mums this winter.

The smoothies contain organic, vegan-friendly ingredients and galactagogues to encourage lactation in new mums. With flavours such as chai latte, double chocolate and iced latte, the products are both convenient and tasty. Visit allaboutgrounding.com and use the promotion code hkliving to receive a $20 cash coupon.

Trial classes at miniDalton

Petit Tippi Trible loyalty program

MiniDalton Playgroup is a dual-language programme designed to support the ‘whole child’ for ages 12 to 24 months. Through a variety of activities such as Circle Time, Sensory, Gym, Art, Music and Story Time, children are provided with an enriching and stimulating setting in which to explore. The Dalton philosophy of ‘I am not led, I lead’ runs through the core of the programme and emphasises each child’s independence, confidence and creativity to help them develop and grow. Free trial classes are available on January 9 and 16 at their Hong Kong Island campus in Pok Fu Lam. For more information, visit minidalton.com

Hong Kong based online baby store, Petit Tippi has recently launched their new Petit Tippi Trible loyalty program, offering mums and dads a chance to receive special rewards including free local shipping and cash back,when they shop, review products or refer a friend. Sign up on petittippi. com and start collecting points today!

Staying safe on the road Families on-the-go can now get the hifold delivered directly to their home in Hong Kong.

The hifold is designed to be the world’s most adjustable high-back booster for four-year-olds and above. It complies with both Europe and US safety standards, has 243 individual settings across the head, torso, thighs and height for optimum comfort and safety and can be set up and ready to use in under 10 seconds - ideal for even the shortest taxi journeys! The hifold is $1,499 with free standard shipping, use code HiExpatParent for a special discount. taxibaby.com expat-parent.com 27

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dining news

Dining news Nectar says goodbye After just half a year, progressive plant-based fine dining restaurant Nectar has announced its closure in late December. The restaurant, previously known as Grassroots Pantry, reopened as Nectar in July 2019. In an official statement, Executive chef and owner, Peggy Chan, stated, “over the past few months we have done everything in our power to restore cash flow and keep the business afloat. As a family run social enterprise, our financial resources are only so limited. My team and I are so incredibly proud of what we have put out these past couple of months and we are honored to have served every single guest.” The restaurant will remain tentatively at its current location until March 2020 and will still be open for hosting private dinners and events. G/F, 108 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan. nectarexperience.co

New year, new Fortnum’s Luxury British retailer and restaurant Fortnum & Mason opened their doors at K11 MUSEA in late November. Named 181, in honour of their address in Piccadilly London, the dining room and bar overlook stunning views of Hong Kong Island. Lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and snacks are served, with advance reservations advised.

Fortnum’s traditional afternoon tea is priced at $588 and includes rare teas, scones and finger sandwiches, accompanied by a live pianist.

Reserve online at 181fortnums.com.hk

Goodbye Cé La Vi

Quinoa on you

Lan Kwai Fong’s popular rooftop bar and Japanese restaurant Cé La Vi has sadly closed its doors after calling California Tower home since 2015. Iconic Locations Limited, the company behind Cé La Vi, comments in an official statement that it is currently exploring other locations in the city to bring back the brand. The luxurious bar impressed guests until the very end, departing with a bang at its final New Year’s Eve party. Those who still want a taste of Cé La Vi’s unbeatable Japanese cuisine can head over to the recently opened venue in Tokyo and in January 2020, Dubai.

Beef & Liberty have introduced a healthy alternative burger for the new year. The Quinoa, is a 100 percent plant-based burger consisting of a house-made vegetable patty (quinoa, onion and jalapeño), topped with vegan cheddar cheese, served in a toasted vegan bun. The burger will be available from January 4 to February 23, and can be added as part of the Beef & Liberty lunch set for $149. Beef & Liberty has two locations in Southside at Stanley Plaza and One Island South, Wong Chuk Hang. beef-liberty.com

Lobster boil Island Shangri-La’s new Sunday brunch brings New Orleans’ iconic flavours and laid back dining experience to their bespoke dining room. Diners can enjoy free-flow whole Boston lobster, short neck clams, blue mussels, razor clams, prawns, sweet corn and French beans – all served from a table side cooking pot. Enjoy free-flow Veuve Clicquot Champagne and Young Master craft beer or join in on a table-side Bloody Mary crafting session for the ultimate Southern experience. $898 per person. Island Shangri-La, Level 6, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Admiralty. shangri-la.com

Leah Cafe opening Popular British restaurant, The Leah in Causeway Bay has opened Leah Cafe, a new all-day dining concept at Lee Garden Two to cater for customers craving Sharman’s celebrated British comfort food throughout the day. Leah Cafe, located next to popular family members club, Maggie & Rose will be open from 11am-7pm serving up Chef Sharman’s signature pies as well as some exclusive additions including Roast Sichuan Chicken Pie and Pork and Chilli & Eggplant Pie. Lee Garden Two 303-309, Causeway Bay. theleah.co

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dining

Dim sum for

Crystal Lotus, Disneyland Hong Kong As well as having a magical time at Disneyland, both kids and adults can feast on a whimsical assortment of dim sum resembling their favourite Disney and Pixar characters.

Favourites include the three little pigs barbecue pork bun, little green men pork and vegetable bun and Mickey’s double-layer turnip and taro pudding. Remember to order the Signature Disney Dim Sum at least 48 hours in advance on weekdays and 24 hours in advance on weekends and public holidays. Hong Kong Disneyland, Lantau. hongkongdisneyland.com

kids

with a twist, like salt-baked whole sea bass, red wine braised oxtail and dragon beard kale.

As for the interiors, it looks very much like a real-life Pinterest board with gold accents, cute turquoise plates and tufted banquettes.

Kids are sure to love the photogenic dishes, and parents will love that the food contains no MSG. We all win! 2/F, Nan Fung Place, 173 Des Voeux Road, Central. yumchahk.com

Yum Cha Yum Cha serves up some of the cutest, most Instagrammable dim sum in town! The restaurant also delivers good quality favourites 30 expat-parent.com

Character Dim Sum at Disney

Where to get the best Yum Cha with little ones this Chinese New year.

By Nicole Cooley

Yum Cha dining room

dining Duddell’s Duddell’s chefs carefully craft elevated versions of classic dim sum items such as fluffy steamed buns filled with ibérico pork and siu mai topped with scallop and caviar.

The restaurant on the lower level has a slightly larger dim sum selection during lunchtime but if you’re looking for a more casual dining experience, head up to the salon, which offers an all-day dim sum menu helping to deal with hungry kids at any moment, and great cocktails for the adults to sip on. 3/F-4/F, Shanghai Tang Mansion, 1 Duddell Street, Central. duddells.co

Tim Ho Wan What started off as a dingy 20-seater in Mong Kok has grown into a dim sum powerhouse with a global presence. Founded by chef Mak Kwai-pui, who honed his craft at the Four Seasons Hong Kong, he’s kept the hotellevel quality but at a fraction of the price, and everything at Tim Ho Wan is steamed or fried fresh to order. Kids will be chomping down the barbecue pork buns of tender meat baked in a sweet and flaky pastry, but don’t let them miss other signatures, such as the pan-fried radish cake, steamed rice rolls and steamed sponge cake. Unfortunately high chairs are not available, but service is fast and messiness seems to be encouraged. For one of the cheapest Michelin meals in town, head to Tim Ho Wan’s Sham Shui Po branch. 9-11 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po. timhowan.hk

Duddell’s garden terrace

Cha sum at Yum Creative dim

Lin Heung Tea House This Wellington Street mainstay was close to shuttering its doors earlier this year until some of its loyal employees stepped in to take over the lease. Aside from the change in management and an ever-so-slight tweak to its Chinese name, much of the restaurant has remained the same. Dim sum is still served the old-school way, in bamboo steamers piled on metal push trolleys, much to the excitement of the little ones. There’s no need to mind your manners here – just shove your way up to the head of

the cart and select the dishes you’re hungry for.

160-164 Wellington Street, Central.

Yum Cha custard buns

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schools

The advantages of a Montessori education

Fun times at IMS

Amelia Sewell visits the International Montessori School campus in Stanley

I

am always keen to declare what a huge fan I am of Montessori education. Those who are more accustomed to the traditional ‘chalk and talk’ method of teaching can sometimes struggle to get their heads around it. But I don’t know many people who, when they take a deep dive into understanding the specifics of what Montessori offers, don’t emerge as converts.

A visit to International Montessori School (IMS) in Stanley is a demonstration of all that is wonderful about a purebred Montessori school, a place where both teachers in each classroom must be trained, or in training with AMI (the global body that maintains the original pedagogy). This is a school that is Montessori to its very core.

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But in the case of IMS, it also has the added dimension of providing a fully bilingual environment with one native English and one native Mandarin teacher in each class. Karin Ann is one of the co-founders of IMS and refers to the Chinese offering as “one of the pillars of our school. We take it very seriously.”

Anne Sawyer, the other co-founder, explains how this set up came about “When we decided we wanted to start a school, we wanted something different for our kids. Because there wasn’t anything in Hong Kong that would enable our kids to truly be able to speak, read and write both in Chinese and English and not have three hours of homework a night.”

And as anyone remotely familiar with Montessori knows, homework is not part of the deal. Instead, the acquisition of two languages comes about in a much more organic, social manner, requiring interaction with people and materials rather than just an exercise in memorising.

Sawyer describes the IMS classroom as a truly immersive dual language environment “that’s similar to a family home with two parents who have different mother tongues.

The children quickly learn who to speak to in each language.”

In addition to the presence of two native teachers (and as an aside, IMS teaches traditional Chinese characters), the other

schools

Creative talents

reason why IMS children acquire Mandarin and for some, English - so readily is because the methods of Montessori lend themselves perfectly to language learning.

“The way Montessori is, being so hands on, so multisensory, with children learning by using materials, this really cracks that problem of how to make Chinese relevant, interesting and engaging,” says Ann. When talking to a Montessori specialist, two of the things you hear a lot are the words ‘enable’ and ‘tools’. This is because the style of learning is not didactic and it’s not just fact learning. Instead the approach is to set up a child with access to all the tools they may need – a combination of materials, environment, teachers and peers - and once these are in place, they are ‘enabled’ to learn in their own way, at their own pace. They work on projects both small and large, individually and in groups, learning skills that will mold them into being proficient researchers, creative thinkers and resourceful problem solvers.

Of these tools available to them, the teachers are obviously an important component but it is crucial to appreciate that they are not the only component. At IMS, the students learn that there are others in the classroom who can assist in solving a problem or finding an answer; with mixed age classes, children are taught to look to their older peers for help. In turn, they also learn that they might be able to offer help to others.

“Teachers are not the font of all knowledge.

Somebody else in the classroom may know how to tie a shoe or how to refill the water jug.

If you can’t figure it out yourself, you don’t always need to ask the adult,” says Sawyer.

The benefit of the mixed age classes is also seen in how it motivates the children to progress, with younger kids wanting to imitate the older ones and older ones enjoying the opportunity to be the expert.

For anyone familiar with the phrase ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, this concept is very much in keeping with that; at IMS the focus is on learning from the classroom community

and providing children with the ability to craft their own path, in whichever direction they want to take it.

This frequently means that IMS students become known at their destination schools for their entrepreneurial spirit and ability to see things from alternative perspectives.

“Montessori kids think differently,” says Ann. “We find that what we do is particularly attractive to people who are entrepreneurs.

There are so many articles written on this.

Because entrepreneurs see that all the skills they use themselves are naturally nurtured within the Montessori classroom.”

Interactive learning

These skills are things such as creativity, collaboration and self-regulation. This last point is something that gets many traditionalists a little nervous: children?

Selecting their own tasks? Working on them independently? Terrifying.

But in practice, this is one of the many traits that allows IMS to see such success in its students. And it is in truth wrong to think that Montessori is unstructured because whilst the children are allowed to select their own

work, this is within a high structured setting and carefully decided framework, at all times overseen by a duo of eagle-eyed teachers.

Which paths IMS children take once they graduate is another interesting discussion.

Some people who are unfamiliar with Montessori imagine that this type of education will be a barrier to entry when moving onto the next stage of school, assuming it is not Montessori. However this could not be further from the truth. In fact, IMS finds that its graduates are snapped up, their reputation having preceded them.

“Parents fear that their children aren’t going to transition well into a traditional school but it’s actually the opposite. Because they are used to dealing with children who are older, children who are younger they’re the ideal child to transition; they’re highly adaptable,” says Sawyer.

Ann adds in that while CIS is a natural path for many of their families because of the strong emphasis on Mandarin, “IMS students fit in wherever they go”.

It is tough to do justice to Montessori in a relatively short amount of words. It is a much studied and discussed scientific programme on which people have written vast books. But Sawyer sums it up well when she says that creating a Montessori child is creating “an independent thinker”.

“A lot of time, as adults we think that education is just learning a set of facts but there’s so much more to it,” says Sawyer.

Maria Montessori might have been ahead of her time, but now that we’re in the 21st century, surely we’ve all caught on to realise this is entirely true. ims.edu.hk

Learning on all levels

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schools

Teaching in progress

34 expat-parent.com

schools PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE Meet Anne Sawyer and Karin Ann, co-founders of IMS How would you describe an IMS education?

The IMS programme is built on two pillars - an authentic Montessori curriculum, combined with a strong Chinese programme delivered within a dual language environment. At IMS we believe that every child has an innate thirst for knowledge and learning, and that it is our responsibility to provide the best environment to feed that thirst.

We also have faith that every child who is starting early can have a full grasp of both English and Chinese and grow to be bilingual learners.

classroom. Things like independence, creativity, motivation and initiative are part of their daily learning from a very young age.

Why did you start IMS? IMS was born 17 years ago by a small group of parents who wanted something different for our children and knew that learning could and should be done without three hours of homework a night! And we wanted our children to be able to read, write and speak Chinese so that they could live and work in Hong Kong - or move anywhere else on earth and adapt well.

What difference can Montessori make?

Where do your children go on to after IMS?

There are three things that really stand out. Firstly the curriculum uses many hands-on learning materials, which allow the children to use all their senses in their learning process, especially learning by doing. The Montessori approach is also individualised so that we understand each child and make sure they are each learning at their highest potential. Finally Montessori really emphasised the development of daily life skills in the classroom. All the skills we now call 21st century skills are embedded within the Montessori

Our children graduate to whatever school they want to attend. IMS has an incredible track record of successful placement, because the Montessori child is the ideal student. Montessori is most similar to the IB so the IMS experience prepares students well for schools with this curriculum.

Other parents are more concerned about continuing the strong Chinese programme.

How do teachers operate in a Montessori classroom - student-led, teacher-led, etc?

This depends on the school and level. At IMS, we have a dual language classroom.

Every environment has two teachers, one speaking English and the other Chinese.

All day long. There are 25 children in the class, who are either in a lesson with one of the teachers, or choosing their own work. There is a huge amount of planning behind the scenes for perfect timing of that next lesson, or grouping for a project - and teachers need to have five lessons up their sleeve at every moment just in case a child is ready for the next thing.

Children are directing their own choices all of the time - within highly guided structures. On top of the dual language classroom, at elementary level, there is also a 45 minute daily Chinese lesson.

What is your favourite part about what you do?

We get to make a difference, one child at a time. We loved seeing the children grow into the leaders of the school, directing assembly or developing service projects and watching them blossom. And we love hearing from our graduates about how they have become change agents in their new world whether it is in secondary or university or even in the workplace. Maria Montessori had a huge ideal of changing the future by changing the experience of the child and to see this actually happening with our children right before our eyes is the most gratifying thing.

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Big DAY OUT

Roll-up, roll-up, it’s showtime

Fun times on the Wave Swinger

AIA Carnival lights up the harbourfront. Nicole Slater reports

D

rum roll please… The AIA Carnival has returned to Hong Kong’s Central Harbourfront Event Space for the sixth year running. The Carnival takes place annually between December and February and features amusement rides, carnival skill games, performances on a community stage and The Great Circus of Europe.

While the organisers note that 2019 has been a challenging year for Hong Kong, they have been committed throughout the past few months to deliver an event that Hong Kong people from all walks of life can experience and enjoy. For general admission there is a “freeze” on last year’s entry prices, here are some of the highlights.

Globe of Death. Tickets from $200 and family packages from $700.

The Great Circus of Europe

Local element

Located in the iconic gigantic tent, The Great Circus of Europe from the UK will be led by Ringmaster Ryan and feature clowns, a swinging trapeze and motorbikes in the

While the carnival has a European influence, unique Hong Kong touches remind us to celebrate our home. Local food options include HK Street Snacks while the

36 expat-parent.com

Fairground rides New rides include a Ghost Train that cruises through spooky scenes. While the ever popular Starflyer which provides bird’s eye views of the Central Harbourfront will remain a firm fixture.

For something more serene, the River Rapids allow a family of four to ride together.

Game Booths Throw a hoop and win a prize! Succeed at classic game booths such as the Can Smash and Ring Toss to win plush cuddly toys such as The Snowman and characters from Toy Story 4.

event is sponsored by local companies including Salvage Grooming, Asia Miles and Renaissance Hotel.

Environmental considerations As a socially responsible company, the organiser The Great European Carnival has introduced new environmentally-friendly initiatives throughout the carnival and reduced their use of single-use plastics. A toy donation station has also been set up to help minimise wastage.

The Great European Carnival runs until February 16. Tickets are $130 including entry and 10 tokens, some online discounts apply.

Entry only costs $40. Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Road, Central. tgec.asia/tickets

expat-parent.com 37

OUTDOORS

Stroller-friendly strolls

Start January off on the right foot with these baby-friendly hikes.

By Nicole Slater

C

locking up your recommended step allowance with baby in tow can be quite a challenge, but not to worry, we’ve rounded up some of the most picturesque, stroller-friendly hikes across the city to get you and your little one out and about enjoying Hong Kong’s back garden.

frames and slides, while the gardens are home to a range of exotic and interesting animals including flamingos, monkeys, meerkats and Meet more!

the monkeys

Hong Kong Park and Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens No set time No need to stray far from the city, Hong Kong Park and the adjoining Zoological and Botanical Gardens are the perfect place to stroll, enjoy a picnic and introduce your little monkey to some new animals. The parks are mostly paved and flat so perfect for strollers. For slightly older children, Hong Kong Park boasts a large children’s playground complete with climbing 38 expat-parent.com

Parkview to Tai Tam 1 hour One of Hong Kong’s most popular strollerfriendly walks, this gem is mostly paved and downhill with stunning views across

the reservoir. Take a taxi to Parkview, head down to the left until you come across a black and white barrier, preventing traffic access. Cross the barrier and follow the signs for the waterworks trail until you reach Tai Tam Reservoir, then turn left and cross

OUTDOORS

View from the top

Peak Circle Walk 1 hour The entirely paved path which circles the top of the Peak is smooth riding for strollers and scooters. This is a time to appreciate the city in which you live in all its glory as you breathe in spectacular views of Hong Kong’s stunning skyline. Start at Lugard Road near The Peak Galleria, walk along the shaded path until you reach Harlech Road and continue until you eventually arrive back at your starting point, it’s that simple! The route offers shaded seating areas along the way and space for older children to run around so a great stroll for the whole family. If you really want to stretch those legs, you can hike up the Peak to the starting point from either the Morning Trail or up Old Peak Road.

over the bridge. Turn right and you’ll find yourself at another dam with beautiful views.

Head down the hill to reach Tai Tam Road, where you can then catch a bus or taxi to Stanley for a Best for well deserved lunch.

Credit: Peter Milton

rocking to sleep

Plover Cove 1.5 hours Plover Cove is a scenic dam surrounded by water, overlooking Shatin and makes for a great day out for the whole family.

The area boasts a range of restaurants so you can fuel up before setting off. From the car park and bus terminus, head past the public toilets and through a BBQ area towards the water. Take a left and then follow the cycle path on Tai Mei Tuk Road, where there is a slight hill before you reach the entrance of the dam. The dam is paved and flat, stretching over 2km, so perfect for strollers and firstMake a time cyclists. Be warned that day of the dam is very popular on it weekends.

expat-parent.com 39

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Travel news

travel news

Picturesque alpine village of Arosa

SKI INTO CHINESE NEW YEAR

From January 25 to February 1, take to the Swiss slopes on a luxury ski holiday with specialist tour operator Powder Bryne. For the first time, they are launching a Chinese New Year Programme in the picturesque alpine village of Arosa. The programme includes luxury in-resort services and award-winning Englishspeaking ski programmes, specifically for Asiabased guests who can enjoy quiet ski slopes out of the European peak ski season. The bespoke holiday can include drivers, ski guides and instructors, babysitters and a kid’s club to ensure guests and families enjoy a stress-free ski holiday. Prices start from around USD$3,700 per person for seven nights in a double room on a half-board basis. powderbyrne.com

brand TUMI became the official luggage partner of British automotive brand McLaren. As part of the new collaboration, TUMI will provide McLaren with business and travel essentials for life on the move. This will include equipping the world-famous McLaren F1 race team from the start of the 2020 season. Additionally, both brands will be working together to produce a luggage collection of unparalleled quality, innovation and design, to be available from late 2020. tumi.com

CRACK DOWN ON DISRUPTIVE PASSENGERS

From January 1, unruly passengers on international flights can face prosecution in the country where the plane lands. Previously passengers who caused disruptions, delays or threaten safety whilst onboard could only be prosecuted in the country where the plane is registered, making it difficult to prosecute on-board crimes. The change comes from an amendment to a 1963 global treaty made by 186 nations, known as the Tokyo Convention.

TUMI BAGS UP MCLAREN

In November, international travel and lifestyle

MODERN CHINESE FLAVOURS FLYING HIGH

Award-winning Hong Kong-born Chef DeAille Tam has collaborated with airline Finnair as part of their Signature Chef program to create a new modern Chinese-inspired menu. From December 5, Tam’s new inflight menu will be made available to Business Class customers on Finnair flights from Hong Kong to Helsinki as well as flights out of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing and Xi’an in Greater China.

The first menu includes a starter of drunken prawns followed by ribeye steak with black pepper jam, caramelised honey, pickled chinese

pepper, sweet potato and watercress nage. As the first female chef to receive a Michelin star in 2018 in Mainland China, Tam says, “One of my passions is to bring Chinese cuisine to a broader audience. My passion is to give people an experience where when they eat, a memory is made and kept. I think the aircraft is a perfect place for this.” finnair.com

ROSEWOOD LIMITED EDITION

Ultra-luxury hospitality brand Rosewood Hotels and Resorts revealed their new concept, Rosewood Limited Edition, in December. This collection features 12 one-of-a-kind travel experiences at properties around the globe for sharing with family and friends. Each journey is carefully curated through beloved brands and tastemakers to provide one of a kind experiences. Rosewood Hong Kong offers Life Behind the Lens, taking guests on a photo exploration of Hong Kong with the Directory of Culinary Operations, Sandro Gamba. Other packages include customising a vintage Jaguar Type E Cabriolet with renowned French designer Tristan Auer in Paris, and deep-diving in search of a Ulysse Nardin Diver 42mm fine watchpiece in the Bahamian sea. For more information, visit rosewoodhotels.com/en/ limitededition

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travel

A Nepalese adventure Karin Bremer attempts an ultra marathon whilst exploring the country and its culture

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Wrapped up warm

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epal was a country I had heard of but didn’t know much about when I booked my flights with Cathay’s Dragon Air. I was to attend an ultra marathon organised by Action Asia Events.

Since moving to Hong Kong, I have fallen in love with hiking trails and participated in several local races but this adventure was one that would combine sightseeing in Asia with three days of extreme exercise. As a first timer to overseas racing, I had a lot to learn and plan for. Luckily my good friend Margje, with whom I had completed the Oxfam Trailwalker 100km last year, was excited to join, so together we planned and trained.

On arrival in Nepal, we were notified that

the time difference was two and a quarter hours behind Hong Kong (this gave me a giggle as it was going to test my math skills!). But on the bright side, going back in time meant there was enough time to buy a visa on arrival (USD30 for 15 days), collect bags at the very small Arrivals Hall, check in at the Hotel Ambassador and manage a good night’s sleep. As always with travel, there were a few hiccups along the way.

My first challenge presented itself when the airport pick up service didn’t show up. I soon found myself in the hands of a rather chatty local taxi driver who quickly became my impromptu tour guide, keen to show me the last evening of the Diwali festivities. It was hard to make out much of the city as there are no

travel street lights, though the darkness did enhance the effect of the brightly lit Diwali decorations.

Kathmandu has no real addresses, so it took a bit of time to get used to the new directions Google maps provided. Luckily, I had bought a prepaid SIM card in Hong Kong allowing me to use the internet whilst exploring this new city.

The Ambassador Hotel proved to be in a central and convenient location for sightseeing the following day. As luck would have it, a former Hong Kong neighbour had moved to Kathmandu and she very kindly agreed to take us to the Great Boudha Stupa, a very impressive World Heritage Site. We explored the area and learnt a lot about how locals live and work in Nepal. Of course, we visited the tourist craft shops too and enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Hyatt Hotel. For non-locals, it is important to never drink the tap water or ice cubes, avoid chopped vegetables and fruit, and stay away from salads. By following these rules, we managed to avoid any upset tummies but still enjoyed eating delicious local food.

In the afternoon, we made our way to the Pashupatinath Temple, which was an eye opening experience. In Western society, death is usually dealt with behind closed doors. Not so in this temple complex. A steady stream of bodies was brought to the holy river, where the families washed their loved ones’ bodies, before covering them in cloth and flowers and carrying them to the wood fired cremation piles. Our (compulsory) guide told us how elderly people choose to live in the complex to be close to the temple and have easy access to the holy river.

After a fairly restful day of acclimatising, we had a two and a half hour transit to the Balthali Village Resort. The bumpy and dusty road took us past many small villages, all with low rise buildings and many cows wandering around.

Sadly, there was also plenty of plastic on the side of the roads, but from a photographer’s

Happy school children

Waiting patiently

point of view, it was fascinating to witness such a unique landscape that has not been commercialised for tourism.

The journey to our accommodation was not for the faint hearted. Our medium-sized bus had little suspension and hurtled down the bumpy, narrow mountain roads with sudden lunges towards steep drop offs. Although the view was full of spectacular cliffs and valleys, the bus route was filled with a few too many deathdefying moments, making us very relieved and excited to arrive at our home for the next three nights.

The staff were incredibly welcoming and helpful and the managing director Ram, amazed us with his language skills. The food on offer was varied with Western, Chinese and local choices available. As race participants, we were allocated cabins in groups of two, which were basic but spacious and comfortable. As we woke the next morning for a 6am breakfast, we were greeted with the most memorable views. Seeing the sun rise, accompanied with magnificent colours over the green mountain tops dotted with colourful houses, had us raring to go.

I have no doubt that locals living in these remote villages were a little bemused by our group. Dressed in full hiking gear with race numbers on shirts, we hiked, ran and explored the area. At times we had groups of young expat-parent.com 43

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Tibetan prayer flags

children running along with us before cheerfully saying goodbye and returning to where they had come from. We greeted the locals with a warm “Namaste” wherever we went, and received smiles and much encouragement in return – I was particularly amused by the constant shout for us to go faster! But this was an ultra marathon, meaning 100km over three days with much elevation, and so we had to pace ourselves.

During the race, we made our way across single file ridgetop paths, passing houses with cows and goats in the gardens. We also spotted villagers washing their clothes in streams and carrying wood or other produce in big baskets on their backs. However, most of the time we hiked and ran in the peaceful surroundings of nature, doing our best to meet the 100km challenge.

Beautiful scenery was all around and as a photographer, I took so many photos that I worried my friend would get fed up with me saying “just one more photo here…”. But at the same time, it was also a time of realisation.

The realisation of how lucky we are to be living

Karin taking part in the Ultra Marathon

and working in a place like Hong Kong. As part of our race, we were encouraged to do some fundraising for the local schools and bring along school supplies. It was heartbreaking to see that some children had no idea what crayons were and as we handed out water paints, we had to stop to explain how to use the supplies. I will never forget the enormous smile one little girl gave me when she received a sparkly notebook and pencil.

On the last day of our race, the final 20km included a climb up a mountain to a monastery.

As we climbed, we heard monks chant – no Spotify playlist will ever top that one for me! At the top and around the monastery, the amount of prayer flags we encountered that day was beyond what I had hoped to see and stopped us in our tracks. The colours were so vibrant, with lines of flags going in all directions; it was hard to really do it justice in my photographs.

The view from the mountain top was equally spectacular and with good weather conditions, we had to pinch ourselves as we made our way to the finish line with big smiles on our faces.

We had a final dinner, medal ceremony and some photos back at the Ambassador Hotel, completing our Action Asia Events adventure.

However, with a data sim card, the “visit a city’ app and Google maps on my phone, I managed to walk another 17km the following day to see some more of the “must see” sights of Kathmandu. I greatly enjoyed the temples, markets, shops and bargained for some fun souvenirs to take home. In particular, Durbar Square and Monkey Temple were worth a visit.

Most temples charge a small entrance fee, but money exchange places were not hard to find and the FX to USD seemed relatively set meaning we didn’t need to shop around or double check rates for a reliable Nepalese rupee transaction.

I only gave up on my sightseeing when rush hour began at around 5pm and I lost my nerve crossing the road. I must have stood for a good five minutes waiting until finally I attached myself to some locals attempting to cross, all the while wondering how they knew when to cross with all the trucks, cars and motorcycles (oh so many of them), and how it was possible to reach the other side of the road unscathed.

I decided to count my blessings and not tempt fate crossing roads without traffic lights again, choosing to read my book in the hotel lobby until it was time to make our way back to the airport.

A group of us from Hong Kong all checked in together and waited in the busy departure hall of the airport. Whilst we had a small delay in departing Kathmandu, we still landed at Hong Kong International Airport at 5.35am. Using Hong Kong’s efficient HKID entrance gates, the airport express and a short taxi journey, I was back on the Southside by 6.45am. It is truly incredible how efficient Hong Kong is and it was even more noticeable after having spent a week in a country without concrete roads, street lights, traffic lights, or accessible public transportation. Home sweet home, until the next adventure. expat-parent.com 45

marketplace

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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two little dumplings

Silver linings

Our busy mum reflects on the accomplishments of 2019

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y husband and I are in the middle of negotiating our New Year’s resolutions. We do this every year. Like all normal humans, we rarely stick to them much past Chinese New Year but they at least give January some kind of temporary focus, distracting from the torment of trying to be teetotal for a month.

Thinking about next year’s resolution is a lovely opportunity to look back on the list of unrealistic expectations that we drew up twelve months ago, back when 2019 had yet to arrive and we believed this would be the year when we would finally be better people.

From the husband’s corner, he declared that he would read three books in 2019.

Just the three. I feel duty bound at this point to explain that he is dyslexic and doesn’t have a natural passion for reading so was trying to keep things realistic and achievable. Fair enough, I thought; three it is. To date (I am writing this with just days to go until Christmas) he has read the grand total of zero. Nada. Literally not a word of literature has passed his eyeballs in 2019.

Neither fact nor fiction.

The thrill-a-minute Ben Macintyre book which Father Christmas optimistically put in his stocking has been sitting on his bedside table ever since. I would put more money on someone reading one of those hotel room Gideon’s Bibles from cover to cover than on my husband reading even the opening page of that book before hell freezes over.

From my side, my resolution was to only make threats to the children that I would and could actually see through. I find I frequently overcommit and my three year old knows it. At a parenting evening, his preschool principal told us that in order for children to start to understand consequences to their actions, you should never issue a warning that you aren’t fully prepared to go through with. Wise words. So I decided that I would try to limit the melodrama and make the threats more measured.

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Our columnist is a mumof-two and meticulous organiser. She lives in Hong Kong. that this good intention lasted all of about three days and I’ve been on a downward spiral ever since. Obviously thanks to Christmas, we’re currently in the middle of peak threat season and I have never been more out of control.

And presumably like every other parent, we played the Father Christmas card far too

early. I think it was early November, a cool two months before the big man might come down the chimney. (And even that timing required some restraint: I had been tempted to utter the FC words the day after my son’s August birthday when my arsenal of carrot dangling birthday related threats had suddenly expired.)

So for the last six weeks, I have been dishing out the Father Christmas warning left, right and centre with wanton abandon.

Lines I have issued include such things as calling Father Christmas to tell him to put the Paw Patrol Lookout straight into the recycling bin, and threatening to eat all the chocolates in the advent calendar (which in fairness is one threat I could actually see through).

It really is the most wonderful time of the year.

But whilst my resolution might have failed spectacularly, it’s undeniable that sometimes the threats really do pay off. In this case, incessantly bribing my child into good behavior with the promise of a visit from a strange bearded man has helped to nail the final stages of the ever-tortuous potty training.

We were pretty much there but the one remaining hurdle was that the first-born refused to just quietly take himself to the loo.

Despite being fiercely independent about absolutely every other element of daily life (“I DO IT MYSELF!”), visits to the bathroom he felt were a two-person excursion. His MO was to issue a loud warning about the imminent bowel movement – and at no time more so than 6am - and then insist that a parent get up and come with him; despite the fact he’s perfectly capable of going alone.

So imagine my delight when I walked past the bathroom a few weeks ago and found him sitting on the loo all by himself.

“Well done, darling! You’re such a good boy!”

I expected him to smile proudly at the realisation that he’d made his mother happy.

But no. Instead he looked at me with the steely eyes of an M & A negotiator.

“You tell Father Christmas,” he said.

So the moral to this story is that I may not have made myself a better parent in 2019, but at least I am wiping one less bottom.

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