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October 2016

Party On! Brilliant ideas for big birthday bashes The mountains are calling

Four mums take on the mighty MacLehose

Hong Kong’s Pink Revolution

Cancer Fund founder Sally Lo on doing your bit for breast cancer

PINK MONTH

STUDENT PASS W O W MONDAY - FRIDAY | 3 - 6 PM $49 PER STUDENT | 1 HOUSE DRINK | 1 SNACK | 1 HOUR FREE BOWLING MINIMUM GROUP OF FOUR 4 | ID REQUIRED THIS OFFER IS SUBJECT TO 10% SERVICE CHARGE | NOT AVAILABLE ON PUBLIC HOLIDAY VALID UNTIL NOVEMBER 30, 2016

4/F, Centro, 1A Chui Tong Road, 2 expat-parent.com Sai Kung, N.T., Hong Kong

WWW.TIKITIKI.HK

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CONTENTs

ISSUE 030

2

Editor’s letter

46

Winds of change as autumn blows in.

ESF’s West Island under the spotlight.

4 Contributors

Open Day

Meet the team.

50

Principal’s Office

6

Life at West Island School according to new head Chris Sammons.

Educational fun and frolics from across Hong Kong.

52

Me & My Hobby

8

What’s on

Children’s charity by local youngsters.

Diary dates, plus catch up with Mum about Town.

54

Life & Style News

Our brand new section starts here.

56

Life & Style

School photos

12 News

What’s happening this month.

16 Giveaways Loads free stuff.

10

We catch up with textile designer

Natalie Miller, Bowerbird Home and Chinadoll.

18

Debate of the month

64

Food News

Trick or treat - love it or loathe it?

20

Book Review

The Taste Buddies hit the town, plus other news.

Ghost stories and new releases.

66

Dots of love

Dim sum adventures.

70

Big Day Out

Hitting the MacLehose.

22

Halloween Products

Hallowe’en fun.

24

My Hong Kong

Saving the pink dolphins.

24

74 Travel

26 The Big Interview

We chat to Sally Lo, founder of Hong Kong Cancer Fund.

28

Party on!

Your guide to hosting the ultimate birthday bash.

38

Modern Family

Breaking out of the bubble.

42

School News

Malvern Preschool exclusive and other happenings.

Scan and visit our website expat-parent.com

28

Hiking in Lijiang.

80

Bald Truths

Our haggard dad returns.

70

74

66

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editor’s message

who’s in charge?

Publisher Tom Hilditch tom@fastmedia.com.hk

Editorial editorial@fastmedia.com.hk Managing Editor Callum Wiggins

Editor Carolynne Dear

Contributing editor Shreena Patel

Contributing editor Annie Wong

Design cindy@fastmedia.com.hk Senior Graphic Designer Cindy Suen

Graphic Designer Anna Schulteisz

Assistant Graphic Designer Stephanie Brown

Sales & Marketing ads@fastmedia.com.hk

A

nd so we move into my favourite time of year in Hong Kong. The cooler days and bluer skies lift my spirit - and sometimes even move me enough to tie on a pair of trainers and take to the hills. Autumn is hiking season and all over Hong Kong, the mountains are calling. But if those trails still looks a bit daunting, we’ve spoken to four mums who completed the 100km MacLehose trail (don’t panic - it was in stages over six weeks, they had to be back for school pick-up after all) and they have a ton of tips for hitting the hills (see page 70).

We also proudly launch our new Life & Style section this month. Our style correspondent Adele Brunner has had a lot of fun putting together these pages, bringing you all the latest home and styling news. See for yourself on page 54.

We also have lots of party tips in our special feature on page 28. Whether you’ve got a bunch of littlies you want to keep away from the lounge room, or a crowd of teens who want to keep it cool, we’ve got lots of ideas for the perfect party, plus tips from the kids themselves about what makes for a perfect party.

And of course not forgetting our main theme this month, breast cancer awareness. We spoke to Hong Kong Cancer Fund founder Sally Lo about her October Pink Revolution and how the Fund came about. Pink events this month have been highlighted with a ribbon, but if you haven’t got time to commit to a lunch or a morning tea, please do consider making a donation. The Cancer Fund provides an invaluable service and is run entirely on charitable contributions.

Sales Manager Oliver Simons

Sales and Marketing Executive Maria Jones

Sales and Marketing Executive Egbert Cheung

Sales and Marketing Executive Bonnie Li

Account Manager Matt van Reenen

Accounting Executive Jason To

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

Office Security

Peace Keepers

Cat the dog

Fish & Chips

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

www.fastmedia.com.hk Expat Parent is published by Fast Media Limited. This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Expat Parent cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

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contributors

Catherine Lewis

Adele Brunner

Kate Farr

...brings us this month’s travel feature, The road to Shangri-la, about her family’s trekking adventures in Lijian, Yunnan Province.

Catherine’s three young daughters, Abigail, Elinor and Isabel took to the mountains with gusto, clambering up Tiger Leaping Gorge by foot and on horseback. Back on the flats, the family enjoys regular trips to visit family in Wales as well as to Sydney and Melbourne in Australia.

...put together this month’s brand new section, Life & Style. Showcasing all the latest in home news, the section will also be taking a look at up-coming events, new products, new launches and family events. Adele is a regular design contributor to the South China Morning Post and is a past-editor of Expat Parent. When she’s not writing, she’s a busy mum and unpaid taxi driver to three sport-loving children.

...rounded up the best family dim sum spots in town - see page 66. Originally hailing from the UK, Kate is a freelance writer and editor and co-founder of editorial agency Editors’ Ink (editorsinkhk.com). Mum to two busy boys, she also blogs about all things family-related as the Accidental Tai-Tai (accidentaltaitai.com).

Follow her adventures in#nofilterparenting on Twitter and Instagram @accidental_tt.

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

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school photos Glenealy School

Year 4 boys playing board games with their year one buddies.

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school photos Nord Anglia International School

Nord Anglia students deliver mooncakes to elderly members of the The Ivy Club in Lam Tin.

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what’s on

Young children trick or treating to celebrate Halloween, October 31.

UNTIL NOV 29

OCT 1

OCT 21

Rescue The Ocean A joint exhibition organised by the Hong Kong Museum of Climate Change, New York’s Rare Animals Really Endangered group and Hong Kong-based Plastic Free Seas, showcasing creative artworks designed to raise awareness of humans’ impact on the world’s oceans.

Free entry, Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, Yasumoto International Academic Park, Lvl 8, Chinese University Hong Kong, Sha Tin, gaia.cuhk.edu.hk.

CNCF Family Fun Movie Day Games, workshops, food and retail stalls plus an open air cinema. $100/adult, $200/ two children; $500/family (two adults and two children). All proceeds go towards Christina Noble Children’s Foundation projects. 1-7pm, Podium, Cyberport, ticketflap.com/cncf.

Urban Air - photography exhibition by Derry Ainsworth Hong Kong’s first dedicated exhibition for aerial photography of the city, taken using a drone. 6.30 - 9.30pm, The Hive Studios, 8/F Cheung Hing Building, 12P Smithfield Road, Hong Kong, pelago.events.

OCT 9

OCT 22

Chung Yeung Festival A day of remembrance and graveside visiting in the hills. Expect firecrackers. The following day is a public holiday.

Hong Kong Bazaar Fourth annual fusion lifestyle fair, featuring home decor, gifts, jewellery, fashion accessories, handicrafts, designerware, munchies and wine. 10am-8pm, The Mariners’ Club, 11 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, hongkongbazaar13@gmail.com.

OCT 1 National Day In celebration of China becoming the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Enjoy the day off on this public holiday.

OCT 1 Fish For Trash - Aberdeen Harbour Community Clean Up Led by the Save Aberdeen Harbour Alliance, who are hoping to turn the tide on the huge amounts of trash that wash up in Aberdeen Harbour. 10am, Kwun Hoi Path, Aberdeen, saveaberdeenharbour.hk.

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OCT 12 Pink Morning Tea Organised by the Australian Association of Hong Kong to support Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation. 10am12pm, The Langham, 8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, $450 (members), $550 (nonmembers). Dress: Pink and fun.

Tickets from ozhongkong.com.

OCT 22 Repulse Bay Triple Brand new event with three high-intensity interval swims of 1km, 600m and 200m, plus a beach run after each. Every swimmer will need to complete all three races to accumulate a total race time. 1pm, Repulse Bay Beach, Repulse Bay, openwaterasia.com.

tell me more

MUM ABOUT TOWN

Hong Kong Beach Festival in full swing, October 22 & 23.

OCT 22 & 23 Hong Kong Beach Festival A weekend packed with sporting events on the sand, including water polo, dodgeball and crossfit. Teams of four to ten and don’t miss the family BBQ on Saturday. Tickets $120-$530 depending on event, spectating is free.

Repulse Bay Beach, ticketflap.com.

OCT 22 & 23 Twelfth Night Hong Kong’s Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection has teamed up with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Education Team to bring a modern take on Twelfth Night to the stage. Aimed at the younger generation, the comedy takes place 1900s colonial Hong Kong. Tickets from urbtix.hk and more information at aftec.hk.

OCT 30 Charity Race on The Peak The 42nd Sedan Chair Race sees teams of eight runners and one lucky passenger race along the 2.1km route on Mount Kellett Road to raise money for local charities. Racing starts at 10am-1.30pm, Matilda International Hospital, Mount Kellett Road, The Peak, sedanchairrace.org.

OCT 30 Children’s Hallowe’en Bookfest Bookazine will again be leading a Hallowe’en themed children’s bookfest including ghoulish story-telling, bloody face-painting, a fancy dress fashion show, Hallowe’en bingo, a Room On The Broom-themed treasure hunt, and trick or treat party bags. Suitable for three to 12 year olds, free entry, 3-6.30pm, The Repulse Bay, 109 Repulse Bay Road, register at enquiries@bookazine.com.hk.

OCT 30 The Loft Sessions Family fun with zombie creation stations, a deadly disco, devilishly delicious food, tricks, treats and more. Brought to you by RF Discos, Sweet Soirees and The White Loft. Contact info.theloftsessions@gmail.com for more details.

OCT 31 Hallowe’en Get the candy ready for the spookiest night of the year.

Sai Kung ‘s Pink Ladies frock up for breast cancer, October 5.

Lunchtime chatter I was delighted to be invited to the second Mums@PLAY bazaar being held in Pok Fu Lam on October 5. This is an event that has been created by mums, for mums, and has been cleverly put together in the delicious El Charro Mexican restaurant in Cyberport Arcade.

The select group are passionate about what they sell, and this event allows them to interact and network with customers and guests over lunch or coffee. The event runs from 11am - 7pm, entrance is free, and shoppers can expect to browse jewellery, accessories, stationery, baby products, home decor and more - don’t forget your shopping bags.

For more information, see mumsatplay.com.

Bubbles for breast cancer Sai Kung’s infamous Pink Ladies have put together yet another show-stopping charity event in support of the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation. The 50 Shades of Pink long lunch is being held at Cielo Italian Restaurant, Crowne Plaza, Tseung Kwan O, October 5, and all are welcome - just don’t forget to frock up in pink. Along with a complimentary glass of bubbles and a glass of wine over a laid-back three-course luncheon, special guest Eve Roth Lindsay will be hosting a fashion and personal styling presentation. Last year they raised just under $130,000. Tickets are $500 from skpinkladies@yahoo.com, the lunch runs from 11am to 2pm.

Photography first The very talented award winning photographer and expat mum Katie Vajda will be presenting her first Hong Kong exhibition later this month.

Body Domestic has been curated over five floors of the AO Vertical Art Space in Chai Wan, and blends photography, performance and observation to redefine and challenge where the body fits within the current lived paradigm. Which as a non-creative is slightly over my head, but what I do know is her photographs are stunning. It runs from 9am-6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am-6pm Saturday and Sunday, Oct 29 - Nov 30. AO Vertical Art Space, 13/F Asia One Tower, 8 Fung Yip Street, Chai Wan. expat-parent.com 9

book now

NOV 1 Farmer’s Kitchen Melbourne Cup The race that stops a nation will be celebrated Hong Kong-style thanks to Farmer’s Kitchen who will be showing the race and hosting lunch at the Hong Kong Football Club. The lunch runs from 10am-2pm, with an

NOV 25 - NOV 27

DEC 8 - JAN 8

Clockenflap The annual music festival changes location to Central this year after five years at the West Kowloon Cultural District.

The line-up includes Icelandic post-rockers Sigur Ros, reggae Kiwi band Fat Freddy’s Drop and Swedish indie folk singersongwriter and guitarist Jose Gonzalez. Tickets from $850 from clockenflap.com. Concessions available.

Wicked The spellbinding musical, which has cast its magic over more than 50 million theatre goers worldwide, takes to the stage at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Inspired

by L Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz, the all-singing, all-dancing spectacular follows the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and how she became so wonderfully wicked. Tickets from $445, hkticketing.com.

after-party until 8pm at the Crowne Plaza Rooftop Bar with live music, DJ and dancing. A number of exclusive gifts will be auctioned off, including one donated by last year’s Cup winner, jockey Michelle Payne.

Tickets $1060 from eventbrite.com Clockenflap will be crossing the harbour to Central.

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news

Rise to the challenge This month sees hundreds of trail walkers racing to beat the sun as it rises over Lantau Island.

Now in its eighth year, Barclays Moontrekker is going stronger than ever, with places for the popular trekking challenge selling out in just four minutes earlier this year.

According to founder William Sargent, 1,500 trekkers will be hitting the trail, up from 380 when it first started in 2009. Monies raised will be

donated to The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

“We love the work TNC does and its support for what we think is one of the world’s most pressing issues - environmental sustainability,” he said. “Moontrekker funding goes towards projects in Hong Kong and the Pacific - marine conservation and fisheries management; and Borneo - working with palm oil producers to improve practices and buying ecologically

important land for conservation.”

There are two trek distances, the 30km Moonlit race and the 43km Sunrise option. Both routes begin on the evening of October 14 at Mui Wo, South Lantau, and finish the following morning at Pui O beach.

See barclaysmoontrekker.com for more details about the event.

Mickey and Minnie gear up for Hallowe’en The Disney mice will be hosting villains from 24 Disney stories at their costume party at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort this month. Until October 31, Disney Halloween Time will be bringing “wicked fun” in the day and “spinetingling thrills” in the evening. As dusk falls, the villains take over the park, casting spells over the night-time spectacular and in Fantasy Gardens. The Evil Queen will be leading the night-time cavalcade, Villains Night Out, accompanied by the Queen of Hearts, Captain Hook and Jack Skellington (from The Nighmare Before Christmas).

Further highlights include The Nightmare Experiment and Disney Trick-or-Treat Booths.

In the daytime, Main Street USA will be festooned with carved pumpkins and visitors can enjoy a Halloween themed parade.

Double The Fun special offer entitles Hong Kong residents to two park visits for a full experience of Disney Halloween Time, both during the day and in the evening, disney.com.hk.

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Pumpkins and villains ahoy at Hong Kong Disneyland this year.

news

Pink power

In brief…

Twenty seven local retailers will be supporting the Hong Kong Cancer Fund’s Pink Revolution this month, offering a range of items with a percentage of proceeds being donated to support the Fund’s free breast cancer services.

One in 17 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Hong Kong, with side effects lasting long after treatment. Now in its 16th year, Pink Revolution brings celebrities, medical professionals and breast cancer survivors together to raise breast cancer awareness.

Show your support for breast cancer awareness; pictured is “The cancer journey doesn’t end with Shanghai Tang’s specially designed Crystal Hulu bracelet, shanghaitang.com treatment,” said Sally Lo, founder and chief executive of Hong Kong Cancer Fund. “It is sometimes where challenges begin, as survivors try to get back to normal life. Our To find out more about the Pink comprehensive, free services are delivered Revolution, see cancer-fund.org/pink. by our professional team of nurses, social For our full interview with Sally Lo and the workers, therapists and volunteer experts Pink Revolution, turn to page 26. in different areas… We want to ensure that no one should face cancer alone.”

...Parenting expert and TV personality Jo Frost will be doling out weekly advice on dealing with tantruming toddlers and other issues via live Q&A chats online.

Each week a chosen request will be featured in the #AskJoFrost video posted online at JoFrost.com. Topics will include potty training, homework and child anxiety.

“Sometimes viewers are at the end of their ropes and need help asap,” said Frost. “Other times they need help to resolve and find solutions and get prepared for either the next developmental stage or a challenge that has come up.”

Learn to think by learning to code facebook.com/firstcodeacademy

Core Programs for ages 6+

Shaping Future Creators AppJamming, Robotics, Scratch, Python, Minecraft Modding, 3D Printing and more! www.firstcodeacademy.com Sheung Wan | Kowloon +852 2772 2101 14 expat-parent.com

first_code

Christmas in the box Local charity Box of Hope is launching its 2016 Christmas campaign this month, encouraging children to donate a shoebox of small gifts for under-privileged children.

“Box of Hope demonstrates to our school children that you really can make a direct difference to other people’s lives,” said founder Nicole Woolhouse.

Now in its ninth year, the campaign launches on October 31 and is aiming for 25,000 boxes, up from 1,200 when it first began in 2008.

“Every year our volunteers are overwhelmed by the generosity, thoughtfulness and kindness of Hong Kong’s schoolchilren,” said Woolhouse.

The charity will also be running its popular Box Design competition children need to email a photography of their decorated box to nicole@boxofhope.org, with their name, age and school. See boxofhope. org for more details and a list of box collection points.

Box of Hope is hoping to deliever 25,000 Christhmas boxes this year.

Diamond celebrations for AWA Hong Kong’s American Women’s Association is celebrating 60 years in the territory this month, with a star spangled gala dinner and ball.

The Association was originally set up in 1956 to support the trailing wives of the increasing numbers of American servicemen being deployed to Hong Kong.

With manufacturing in the region also on the rise, many American businesses were also posting employees to the area.

The Association continued to reach out and lend a “soft landing” to American wives throughout the ensuing decades, although these days the Society welcomes members from all nations and walks of life - and men too. According to current president Marcy McAllister LaRont, the Association is witnessing a rise in the trailing husband, too, these days.

“We run an active social and charitable programme, with a view to providing our members with a place to socialize and network, and to serve the local community,” she said.

The AWA 60th Anniversary Gala takes place on October 22nd at the Aberdeen Marina Club. See awa.org.hk for more information, or for membership details. expat-parent.com 15

giveaways WIN HERE! Click the Giveaways tab on our website: www.expat-parent.com

Thriller Live

Le Bistro Winebeast

To celebrate the world’s King of Pop, Michael Jackson, the newly opened Parisian Macao is bringing West End production Thriller Live to Macau. Now in its eighth year, this electrifying show is sure to make you sing, attempt to moonwalk and struggle to stay in your seat for 90 whole minutes. We have a pair of A Reserve tickets, worth $480 each, along with roundtrip ferry tickets to give away!

WineBeast started off as a humble wine shop in a small Wan Chai space — thanks to its success, a 3000 square-foot bistro aptly named Le Bistro Winebeast shortly followed. They serve traditional French bistro cuisine with an exciting modern twist, and as of September they have a delicious brunch as well.

Deadline: October 24.

Deadline: October 25

We’re giving away a brunch for four adults and two kids, perfect for a two-family date!

Chinadoll Kids

Surlaplage

Chinadoll Kids is Hong Kong’s newest player in the luxury kids’ clothing market. They specialize in filling the gap between modern and traditional qipaos for children — the dresses are playful, modern, chic and comfortable with the luxury of brocade silks and the traditional touch of a hand sewn and beaded Mandarin collar to complete the look. Each piece is unique with handsewn beading and is made from leftover brocade silks from various designer houses. Prices range from $880 to $1880, but we are giving away one dress worth $1480 to a lucky winner. Follow Chinadoll Kids on Facebook and Instagram to find out more. www.chinadollkids.com

Surlaplage is a new label specializing in chic, sun-protective swimwear and accessories for six-14 year olds. Their ‘Hamptons’ capsule collection, with preppy polka dots, comes in gorgeous shades and includes rash shirts, bathers, and bikini tops. Sun protection never looked so good!

Deadline: October 28

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We’re giving away the complete capsule collection (worth $2000). It consists of a rash shirt set, one piece swimsuit, bikini top, fedora hat and sunglasses. www.surlaplage.co Deadline: October 27

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Contact Us admissions@sais.hk +852 2500 8688 www.sais.hk

*Stamford American School Hong Kong will apply to the International Baccalaureate for program candidacy in December 2017.

expat-parent.com 17

debate of the month

Candy crunchers

Trick or treat - fantastic family fun, or a sugar-fueled horror story?

Please! Save me from the huge bin bags of lollies the kids accumulate. It’s all cheap rubbish.

Marion, Kowloon.

“I hate Hallowe’en, really hate it. It’s not something my culture celebrates and the pressure to buy expensive costumes is huge.”

Virginie, HK Island.

Yet another festival, this one culminating in over-excited children fueled up on pure sugar. No, not my best Hong Kong moment.

Lisa, Stanley.

An expensive event right before Christmas. I don’t like the idea of the kids “begging” for sweets, either.

Danni, New Territories.

Costumes - tick. Sweets - tick.

Excited children - tick. We do love a good Hallowe’en!

Elsie, Lantau.

“If you can’t beat them, join them!

I don’t want to be that stick-inthe-mud parent.”

Jane, Clearwater Bay.

I’m not a huge fan of the sacks of sweets, but hey, it’s only once a year Jo, Kowloon.

“We’re heading off to the local Yacht Club for a costume party, it should be good!”

Louise, Sai Kung.

“Our family is a big fan of Hallowe’en - we’ll be pulling out all the stops. Back home in Australia we used to cover our front lawn with fun activities like apple bobbing and apple ducking.”

Karen, Sai Kung.

We want to hear from you! Next month: Babies in Business - Lovely for the parents to stretch out; or should they be banished to the back of the plane?

Email your views to editorial@fastmedia.com.hk or go to www.expat-parent.com 18 expat-parent.com

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book review

Ghost tales

Cosy up for a haunted Hallowe’en.

If you’re looking for a classic, The Woman In White by Victorian author Wilkie Collins was first published in 1859 and is considered to be one of the first in the genre of “sensation novels”. On a moonlit London night, protagonist Walter Hartright comes across a young, solitary and terrified young girl dressed entirely in white. He gives her directions, but later feels compelled to solve the mystery of her distress.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Walters is set in rural, post-war England. During a hot and dusty summer, a doctor is called out to dilapidated Hundreds Hall. The Georgian pile, once a grand house, is in decline and its cash-strapped owners are struggling to keep it from ruin. But is the family being haunted by something more sinister than a dying way of life?

Children’s storyteller Roald Dahl was especially fascinated by the classic ghost story. For his adult anthology, Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories, he read 749 supernatural tales at the British Museum Library before selecting 14 for this collection.

They should, as he writes, “give you the creeps and disturb your thoughts.”

If you’re looking to learn a little more about the traditional Chinese world of ghosts (or just want to feel a chill down your spine), this one is for you. Chinese Ghost Stories: Curious Tales of the Supernatural

by Lafcadio Hearn is a selection of the most entertaining traditional Chinese tales of the strange and the fantastic. Richly atmospheric, they speak of chilling horror, eerie beauty and otherworldly intervention.

Out this month Hong Kong author Blair Reeve has just published the second in his series of children’s books. Greta von Gerbil is a tiny rodent with a really large vocabulary.

When she walks around Rodentville using lots of big words, her fellow townsfolk feel threatened. A pair of chipmunks decide to steal her thesaurus, but just before they destroy it, the local gangsters think up a cunning plan. Seamus McHamster, with his henchmen Guinea Pig Digby and Sophie O’Gopher, hope to outsmart Greta by using her thesaurus to make sentences with the biggest words they can find, and a crazy word battle commences. Greta von Gerbil is a comical narrative and using words such as “circumlocutory” and “sesquipedalian” it certainly stretches young vocabularies.

Greta Von Gerbil is available from Bookazine (bookazine.com.hk), Growhouse (growhouse-lgt.com), Kidnapped (facebook.com/kidnappedbookshop) and anapestpress.com.

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Blair Reeve publishes his second children’s book this month

book review Expat childhoods Author Peter Wood on growing up in colonial Africa.

Between 1975 and 1979 I wrote diaries. I was a teenager trying to come to terms with the Rhodesian Bush War (the civil war that raged from 1964-79 in Rhodesia, culminating in the country achieving independence as Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe in 1980) and typical teenage issues, not to mention trying to understand my sexuality.

I didn’t read the diaries again for several decades - I had entrusted them to my journalist friend Foxy, but in the early 2000s he came through Hong Kong and dropped them off.

My parents had eventually been thrown off their land by Mugabe in 2001 - along with most other white farmers - so it was with a heavy heart that I began re-reading the diaries.

They were extremely moving and somewhat uncomfortable, but also, I realised, very funny. Despite the unusual circumstances of my childhood - war, wild animals, a tough boarding school - there were similarities with childhoods the world over. My teenage issues were just the same as kids growing up in Hong Kong or Singapore or Perth.

So I started writing. I also used the opportunity to document as many of the stories as possible that I’d learned from the strange and unusual people I’d known, before they took them to their grave.

I was a rebel at school, which was prompted by my being gay - I hid my sexuality by being naughty. I was eventually asked by the headmaster to leave the school and after completing a year in the army, I left for the UK.

I had strong family ties with Britain, through cousins and so forth, and I was able to get permanent residency through my grandparents. I stayed there for 13 years but eventually felt I needed to get away from a country battered by war and politics and to discover myself. This is where the diaries stop, and so is where my story ends.

My book is not about war or politics, it’s about family. And it’s funny.

I now live in Hong Kong and I think it’s wonderful seeing all these multi-cultural kids.

I find them to be polite, worldly-wise and not at all the spoilt brats that expat children are so often depicted to be. This kind of upbringing is the way forward in a crazy world.

Mud Between Your Toes: A Rhodesian Farm

by Peter Wood is available from amazon.com.

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things we’d buy Halloween cookie cutters $75 from Swoon, www.swoonxoxo.com

Bleeding zombie bowl $480 from Matteo Party, www.matteoparty.com

That’s Mr & Mrs Bones $139 from Swoon, www.swoonxoxo.com

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Boo Crew foil balloon $260 for bouquet from The Party Boutique, www.partyboutique.com.hk Plastic pumpkin bucket Starting at $68 from Matteo Party, 1 United Success Commercial Centre, 506-508 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, 2342 8887, www.matteoparty.com Monster-BOO Frankenstein infant/ toddler costume $398 from Let’s Party, www.letsparty.com.hk

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people

My Hong Kong the conservationist

British expat Janet Walker on saving Lantau’s pink dolphins.

I arrived in Hong Kong in 1996. I’d been teaching with my husband in Japan and then went backpacking. Like lots of people, we came to Hong Kong when we were low on funds and as Brits could walk in and start working. We thought we might stay a year of two before settling down back in the UK. We moved to Ap Lei Chau 12 years ago, but have always lived in the Aberdeen and Pok Fu Lam areas. Our daughter, Sam, is now 14.

In the summer of ‘97 I was looking for some extra work and I saw a tiny advert in The South China Morning Post saying “Ecotourism company needs Japanese/English speaker for tour guide plus.” I had no idea there was any eco-tourism in Hong Kong, but I’ve always been a tree-hugger so I posted my CV and was sent a postcard of a dolphin in return, saying they would be in touch.

Dolphins! I was thrilled.

Wan Chai’s infamous American Restaurant is Walker’s “go to” eatery when she has guests in town.

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My “interview” with HK Dolphinwatch consisted of joining a dolphin trip to make sure I didn’t get seasick. And as luck would have it, a Japanese friend was one of the passengers. She spoke great English but I made her speak Japanese all day so I could show off. In those days, Japan was Hong Kong’s main source of tourists. The mainland Chinese market hadn’t really matured beyond the shopping and dining stage.

American Bill Leverett started Hong Kong Dolphinwatch in 1995 as a way of raising awareness about the dolphins. He knew of them through his work with Friends of the Earth and couldn’t believe nobody was doing anything for them. He saw that in some areas of the world whale and dolphin watching can be a huge part of the local tourist economy if done properly, and thought that if the same happened in Hong Kong maybe people would think the dolphins were worth saving. Unfortunately it didn’t really work out - there are businesses with a lot stronger influence than ours out there.

After 19 years I still get excited to see the dolphins and love seeing people’s reactions when they spot their first. The most common reaction is “Wow! They really are pink!”

I’ve met so many interesting people; activists, writers, an opera singer who sang to the dolphins, a Brownie pack who also sang - Kumbaya, they got better results than the

(Top) Walker loves wondering around the old areas of Hong Kong on days off; (bottom) just 60 dolphins remain around North Lantau.

People soprano, a new age practitioner who dangled crystals over them and an American expert on Chinese hermits writing a “water feature”. I’ve seen it all.

We get some splendid questions at our school talks - the kids often ask how you can tell the difference between a boy dolphin and a girl dolphin. I was explaining it to a four-year old recently and he looked horrified! It is so important for children to understand wildlife, no aquarium or zoo will do that.

On a typical tour, we bus everyone from TST to Lantau, and explain what to expect. We’re on the boat for three to four hours - wild animals don’t always run to a timeframe - and we include a morning tea.

When we spot a pod, we slow down to see if we can approach them - we’re the uninvited guests in their home after all. Calves are black and only 80cm at birth, once they get older and lose their pigmentation my job gets a bit easier! We don’t know why they are pink, it is not diet related, they don’t eat shrimp or anything like that.

It is estimated there are just 60 pink dolphins left in North Lantau, although that figure doesn’t include their cousins throughout

the region. That’s about half what it was ten years ago. The main threats are pollution, loss of habitat and associated construction work (the airport extension is a huge concern), overfishing, net entanglement and boat traffic.

Pollution can cause contamination in mothers’ milk, so the death rate of calves is particularly high. Personally I haven’t eaten any local seafood since joining Dolphinwatch.

There are some very powerful forces in Hong Kong so if someone wants to build a great big bridge through the delta, they’ll get their way. There are some good people out there, but I do feel we’ve been banging our heads against a brick wall for 20 years.

Autumn was always the best time for sightings, but these days things are less predictable. Our success rate is over 95%, so if none are spotted we’ll offer another trip for free. They are estuarine dolphins, so anywhere north or west of Lantau has potential.

On my days off I like to knit and read, or try to get to the pool in summer. I love the convenience of Hong Kong, it’s compact and safe and you can move from the city to the countryside, mountains and beaches in no

time, with excellent public transport links.

I like to wander around the older parts of town, although it makes me sad to see how much development there is. Wan Chai has changed so much. I love places like Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po, but a lot of the history is disappearing.

I like taking visitors to the American Peking restaurant in Wan Chai. But personally I prefer to eat vegetarian and love Indian food.

We’ll keep going with Dolphinwatch as long as there are dolphins and people who want to see them. We are really pleased when people write to the papers and raise development and pollution issues. So many of the things that affect the dolphins are also harmful to us. Recycling, not eating local seafood and avoiding unethical dolphin trips on Lantau are all things we can do to help.

Book a tour at hkdolphinwatch.com.

Donations can also be made to the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, the only local charity that is 100% devoted to the dolphins, hkdcs.org.

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THE big interview

In the pink

Carolynne Dear speaks to Sally Lo, CEO and founder of the Hong Kong Cancer Fund and October’s Pink Revolution.

“

In the mid-1980s my dear friend Nickie was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I experienced first-hand the colossal impact cancer can have, and the difficulty of coping with the death of a close friend when she passed away only months later.

At this time, there was little guidance, information or supportive care as cancer was still largely a taboo subject in Hong Kong.

I had been heavily involved in community work in the territory at the encouragement of my mother-in-law when I arrived here from London in the late ‘60s, and shortly after Nickie’s death I was approached with a request to start a cancer support group.

Cancer affects not only a person’s health, it casts a significant emotional burden on entire families and can have huge financial ramifications. We started as an English support group offering peer support and information.

The very first funding we received came unexpectedly in the form of $30,000 left over from the kitty of an oncology conference I was helping to organise. I suggested we use the money to establish a fund to provide cancer support and information, and the Cancer Fund was born.

CanSurvive was the first support group I setup, working out of a doctor’s dining room. I was subsequently asked by oncologist Dr Jonathan Sham Shun-tong how I would use space in a public hospital if I had the chance. From this conversation the first Cancer Patient Resource Centre was opened in Queen Mary Hospital.

We were able to provide expertise and information, working in collaboration with Back Up UK publications, from the moment of diagnosis. From humble beginnings, we have now mushroomed into a professional care and services network throughout Hong Kong. We aim to meet the psychological, emotional, practical and educational needs of anyone touched by cancer.

I remember one of my first ever cases, a husband with two children whose wife had been diagnosed with cancer of the tongue. She was refusing treatment and the two boys were

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THE big interview

Lo at work with her team at Hong Kong Cancer Fund.

behaving very badly with all the change. I spoke with him and recommended family therapy - six months later, the boys were feeling calmer, the family was more connected and the wife was receiving treatment.

This story has stayed with me because it shows how cancer affects everybody, not just the patient. And healing doesn’t come in a onesize-fits-all package; counselling, workshops and complementary therapies such as reiki, yoga and art, can all help.

These days, more people are surviving cancer and going on to live with long term side effects, so there is increasing need for supportive care in the community. We complement the medical care, providing the missing link that ensures cancer survivors are well-supported both during and after treatment. We aim to ensure that no-one faces cancer alone.

We have a network of seven Cancer Patient Resource Centres within hospitals and four CancerLink support centres under Hong Kong Cancer Fund. They offer face-to-face consultation, peer support and workshops.

Last year we received over 100,000 visits to our CancerLink centres and in excess of 13,000 calls to our cancer support hotline.

October’s Pink Revolution is one of our busiest times of the year. We have a “dress pink” day on October 21, where we encourage

people to dress in pink or host a pink party to raise funds for breast cancer. We also have a “Shop for Pink” campaign which runs throughout the month, with 27 brands and retailers offering “pink deals”.

We believe that raising awareness and educating women about how to recognise the signs of breast cancer are the best ways to

Thirty years ago cancer was largely a taboo subject in Hong Kong ensure early detection and a greater chance for survival. Along with fund raising, we will be working hard all month to raise awareness.

As CEO and founder, I am just as involved and committed to the Cancer Fund today as I was 30 years ago. We are busier than ever and looking to expand to meet Hong Kong’s growing cancer needs.

Our CancerLink centre in Central is relocating to North Point and we are opening a

new centre in Kwai Chung.

We face many challenges in sourcing funding for our services, and are looking for qualified and experienced oncology care professionals able to understand our clients’ needs. Survivorship is a growing area of interest in the oncology field and we are working hard to ensure we can continue to support people as they move beyond their cancer to a good quality of life in survival.”

The Hong Kong Cancer Fund relies almost entirely on donations. If you would like to help, a monthly gift of just $100 can make a huge impact. To find out more about this and October’s Pink Revolution, see cancer-fund.org.

If you or a family member is affected by cancer, the Hong Kong Cancer Fund hotline is 3667 3000.

Look after yourself Mamograms - breast x-ray screenings - are recommended every two years for women over the age of 40. They can detect cancer early, often before it can be felt, and is therefore easier to treat. Pregnant women are not recommended to have mamograms due to possible radiation damage to the fetus.

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Let’s get this party started

There’s always a good excuse to hang out the bunting, writes Carolynne Dear.

caption

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P

arty means party in any language, but different cultures consider a varying range of milestones important when it comes to celebrating.

In the Philippines, a child’s seventh birthday holds a special significance. Seven is viewed as the “safe” age, when the child has negotiated its way through the dicier years of early childhood.

It is also seen as an age where the child gains some sort of independence, starting “proper” grade school after years of pre-school.

Digital media editor Charmaine Mirandella remembers a huge party being thrown in her honour when she reached the magic number.

“My parents flew the whole Hong Kong branch of the family back to our family home in the Philippines, which is about two hours from Manila,” recalls Mirandella. “The Manila contingent hired two Jeepneys (Fillipino buses) to journey over and the house was readied for over 200 guests. We had around ten domestic helpers putting it all in place.”

To keep all those little people happy, Mirandella’s mum hired a clown, a Rondalla Band (the cars were removed from the garage to accommodate the instruments), an ice cream cart scooping out popular Filipino flavours cheese, ube and mango, and a huge clay pot-style pinata filled with candy and chocolate coins.

“It was pretty big,” admits Mirandella. “I remember I had a special white party dress. The receiving room, garage and drawing room were all set aside for the party guests and our street was actually closed off for the day. My parents ordered a suckling pig for the adults who stayed out on the street eating and drinking. A huge dinner was also prepared for family members in the evening.”

For Chinese families, 100 days is a

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significant milestone for a new baby. The 100 Days Celebration marks the end of the first three months of life for a new baby. This period is considered to be when the mother and child are most vulnerable and traditionally advised to stay indoors to avoid illness.

On the morning of a 100 days celebration, the family traditionally burns prayer offerings to the gods and ancestors of their home, which informs deities of the new addition and appeals to spirits to protect the child. The baby’s head is shaved - although these days it is more common just to cut off a lock of hair; this is a sign of preparing the baby for life in the community with good health, happiness and success.

It was a pretty big seventh birthday. There were 200 guests and our street was closed off for the day.

The mother and baby are then bathed in water mixed with pomelo leaves to wash away bad luck and evil and the baby is usually dressed in red with gold accessories.

A party is then held for family and friends, with a banquet of traditional foods, such as glutinous rice, buns and roast meats, and goodie bags containing symbolic red eggs.

For many cultures, a birthday is the most common excuse for a party, and Hong Kong certainly see its fair share of extravagant

celebrations.

“I went to a fifth birthday last year with rolling buffets for the adults and the kids, freeflow Dom Perignon, a stage show and a photo booth. It was epic and great fun,” said one Island-based mum.

But you don’t have to empty your bank account to have a good time.

“In a cosmopolitan place like Hong Kong, some of our most memorable children’s parties have been the more simple ones held outdoors,” says mum-of-two Ellen Hobson.

“Providing you’re prepared for Hong Kong’s famously unpredictable weather, a birthday party in a scenic spot by the water can mean lots of fun for active youngsters. We’ve held running races, fishing for minnows down at the water’s edge and exploring the pontoons.

“Often, the more wet and wild the weather, the more the kids (boys in particular) seem to enjoy it,” she adds.

Hong Kong’s many beaches make great spots for pirate-themed bashes, with buried treasure, pirate maps and wet sponge throwing “battles”.

“A friend of mine created a Peter Panthemed party in the lush surrounds of the Victoria Recreation Club up at Emerald Bay, Sai Kung, complete with a teepee and a colourful pirate boat made from wooden planks from the local hardware shop,” recalls Hobson.

For older kids, hiring a paddle board or kayaking instructor at a local beach can make for a fun afternoon, followed up with a BBQ most Hong Kong beaches have BBQ pits, just bring charcoal and sausages.

Whatever your budget (or party excuse) we’ve got you covered over the next few pages...

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Let us entertain you Top ideas for the big day.

Blowing bubbles Soap specialist Lush offers a fun-filled couple of hours mixing potions and creating bath bombs at their Mong Kok-based store. All games are cleverly based around the huge Lush product line and the enthusiastic party hosts quickly have the kids teamed up and playing a soapy version of 3D Pictionary, bubble-offs and create your own bath bomb. Every child is given a voucher and a free-run of the downstairs store. “Best party ever!” come the cries as parents assemble and the party cames to a close. Some food is provided, although you are free to supplement and bring a birthday cake, lush-hk.com.

Rumple and Friends Boasting a range of party characters, Rumple and Friends can provide entertainment customized for any theme. From superhero training camps, to princess lessons, jungle hunts or space exploration, they are guaranteed to liven up any party. New rundowns for this party season keep the ideas fresh so no child can claim they’ve seen them before.

Email info@rumpleandfriends.com.

Good clean fun at Lush.

Where Early Years Matter !"!#$%&'($)&'($ Streams: English and Bilingual Age: 12 months to 6 years

Address: Tower 18 Parkview,

88 Tai Tam Reservoir Road, HK Tel: 2812 6023 Fax: 2812 2938

!"!#$%&'(&&)$

Streams: Bilingual and Trilingual Age: 12 months to 6 years

IB Au t h o r is Wo r ld ed Scho o ls

Address: Podium Level, Kowloon Station

1 Austin Road West, Kowloon.

Tel: 2812 6801

Fax: 2812 6201

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Free jumping mayhem at Bounce trampoline park, bounceinc.com.hk

Move the action away from your lounge room and book a Woodland venue. Woodland Schools entertain pre-schoolers every day of the week in a variety of locations throughout Hong Kong, making them the perfect hosts for lots of excited party-going tots come the weekend. Their six schools are spacious and child friendly with age appropriate indoor and outdoor equipment the kids are free to use.

Entertaining and catering options are available, although you are free to do your own thing (each school has a handy kitchen at its disposal). Woodland parties are suitable for kids up to the age of eight, with capacity for up to 20 guests.

Have a look at woodlandschools.com, or email rachel@woodlandschools.com.

Adventures for littlies

Chalk caters for up to 45 kids with UV art jam sessions. The events include a mixture of painting, music, chalk drawing on walls, creative accessorizing with neon masks, bracelets, sunglasses, body paint and wigs, and general hanging out . The arty parties aim to bring out the crazy in guests, with an on-hand art tutor to help with neon body painting and henna drawing. There is also a rooftop space where parents can hang out with BYO drinks and food while the kids go mad in the blacklight area indoors. A standard package costs $250/person for a three-hour time slot with unlimited soft drinks. Food catering can be arranged or you are free to bring your own. Chalk parties are recommended for kids up to the age of 14 years. See sketch-studios. com.hk or WhatsApp/call 5117 5092.

Teen dreams

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Seedling has been creating kids craft kits since 2007, so they are experts when it comes to throwing a crafty party. Their themed events encourage every child to let their creative imaginations run wild. Party packages at the Sheung Wan venue include a three hour event with an hour of art and craft using Seedling products, party themed posters, a personalized “welcome” birthday door sign, use of the studio space and pantry, colourful plastic tableware and free small canvas party bags. The venue caters for up to ten children. Find out more at seedling.com.hk or enquiry@minifab.com.hk.

Arty party

Ok, we’re not talking Whistler or the Alps, but PLAY does a fine line in artificial indoor skiing and snowboarding in downtown Kwun Tong. It has two slopes, both of which can be hired privately. Sleds and snowboard instructors are provided and rock climbing is also available.Play321.com.hk or booking@321play.com.hk

Hit the slopes

If bowling is their thing, Tiki Tiki Bowling Bar has the party thing covered. Basic party packages include two fun-filled hours with the skittles, including invitations, decorations, video wall announcements, balloons, party favours and a cake. If you don’t think a few rounds of bowling are enough, additional extras include balloon sculpting, face painting, clowns, character actors and puppet shows. Themed parties - such as Dinosaur, Mermaid and Pirate, are also available. The packages are open for parties of up to twelve children, and include three hours of free parking on-site.

Have a look at tikitiki.hk.

Strike it right

Andrew the Brilliant Balloon Man Laugh until tears roll down your cheeks as Andrew climbs inside a balloon - yes, he really does. The entertainment continues with balloon twisting, jokes, puppets, storytelling and general mayhem. He succeeds where many adults have failed in keeping young children enthralled for up to an hour. He has sculpted balloons for the children of Tony Blair, Sir Paul McCartney and the British Royal family. We can only guess, but we’re betting they were doubled up with laughter too. Have a look at his online video at thebrilliantballoonman.com.

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Sweet treats

We’re not all Martha Stewart, so here are some of Hong Kong’s top bakers to give you a helping hand.

Blissful Frostings The Cake Lady These clever cooks bake a range of mouthwatering cakes, cupcakes, cookies and cake pops. They make all kinds of cake, including egg-free, dairy-free or gluten-free and using the best ingredients, such as organic flour and hormone-free eggs. Each order is special, and receives love and attention.

They do appreciate a lead time of at least ten days - they promise you won’t be disappointed. The team is based in Pok Fu Lam and prefer customers to come and pick up their creations. Look them up at facebook.com/blissfulfrostings or email bfrostings@gmail.com.

Before 2012, baking was just a hobby.

Nowadays it’s a serious passion. Hong Kong’s Cake Lady bakes a variety of cakes, including cupcakes, conventional cakes (nut-free, sugar-free, dairy-free and eggless) and cookies. She needs about a week to bake, design and perfect the cake. Her home, where she pulls her goodies out of the oven, is in Lam Tin and she prefers clients to come and pick-up their orders themselves. Prices depend on weight, design and type of icing - roughly, a two pound cake with a simple design would cost between $380 and $500, facebook.com/cakeladyhk, Instagram (cakeladyhk) cakeladyhk@hotmail.com.

The Sweet Tooth Fairies

The Rose Petal Cakery Anytime is cake time at The Rose Petal Cakery - it could be a birthday, wedding, baby shower or just some friends round for dinner that requires a yummy dessert.

Whatever the event, these ladies have got you covered. Themes are what they do best, whether it’s Star Wars or Princesses, they aim to transform your ideas into delicious reality. They also offer fun cupcakes and cookies either as a side or to slide into party bags. Only the finest ingredients will do, and recipes can be tailored to suite dietary requirements. They’re even been known to pull a mean chocolate beetroot cake out of the oven. Email Anoushka or Lisa at sales@ rosepetalcakery.com, Facebook at The Rose Petal Cakery.

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Cakey Makey Sai Kung-based baker Jude Bailey is also a party planner and is not lacking in the creativity department. If you’re looking for a cake with a difference, Bailey is your lady. “I do like to push the boundaries. I recently baked a python for a friend who hit the headlines recently when he was bitten by a Burmese Python on a hiking trail. There could have been no other cake for him!” she says. Crowned the youngest ever Master Cake Decorator and Sugar Crafter in the UK at the age of 11, these days she pipes a mean 3D stiletto shoe, and can also pull jellyfish, corsets and giant cupcakes out of the icing bag. Her speciality though is current on-trend “drip” cakes. She needs seven-to ten days notice, and can deliver locally. You can WhatsApp her on 6298 1800, or view her creations at facebook.com/CakeyMakey.

The Sweet Tooth Fairies is a boutique bakery specialising in customised desserts.

Creations include celebratory cakes, cupcakes, macarons, cookies and other pastries. All are personalized with the tiniest of details in design. They can also custombake to suit special dietary requirements, such as low-sugar, gluten-free, vegan and so on. The bakery also offers workshops for both amateur and serious bakers, or as a fun family activity at their dedicated commercial kitchen space in Kwun Tong.

“The largest cake we’ve baked to-date was wider than a doorway and had to be carried by two people. It was decorated as the Hong Kong skyline - using a whopping 60 eggs and 5kgs of butter!” they say.

The bakers need orders one month in advance, prices start from $600 for a basic round buttercream cake, facebook.com/ SweetToothFairies or email tstfhk@ hotmail.com.

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Style it right

Getting creative has never been easier.

A one-stop-shop for all party essential, Partytime has one of the city’s largest selections of party supplies, from foil balloons, to giant pinatas, party bags, accessories and imported toys and sweets.

The distinctive black and white Partytime shops in Prince’s Building and Times Square have been designed to make shopping easy, with items arranged by occasion, character and colour. Hot products this autumn include Shopkins, Pokemon and Happy Jackson supplies. Partytime also offers a full-party planning service covering face painters, magicians and custom cakes and banners, partytime.com.hk.

Partytime

The Party Boutique Gorgeous partyware for all your essentials. This one-stop online shop has tableware, banners, balloons and party favours in a range of different themes. They also offer a personalised design service, including customised banners, bunting, gift stickers and more - what child doesn’t want their name emblazoned across a wall? Jump online and to partyboutique.com.hk.

ExpatParent_Oct16_OP.indd 1

Eezy Peezy Parties

Hallelujah! No more schlepping across town looking for party bags, balloons, napkins that match the party theme, then hours on the internet tracking down an entertainer and caterers. Eezy Peezy Parties takes the hard work out of the equation leaving you to enjoy the fun bits of the big day. Log-on, create an account, select and send your e-invites, set up a gift list, shop for your party supplies (there are loads of themes and designs to choose from), select your venue, caterers and entertainer. And when the event is over, mail your thank you cards and post up the party pictures. It’s as easy as that.

This one-stop-shop is at eezypeezyparties.com.

Swoon Soirees This simple to use website aims to have you party-ready within 24 hours.

Lots of stylish partyware covering all bases - from birthdays to Hallowe’en to baby showers - make this an essential addition to any parent’s contact book. As well as heaps of decorations and tableware, there is also bakeware - think cookie cutters, sprinkles and cake stands - as well as gift ideas. Event planning and styling services are also available, swoonxoxo.com.

20/9/2016 12:23:12

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Party people

Hong Kong’s youngest movers and shakers tell us about their hottest events.

“My best birthday party ever was my eighth party this year at the pool. I just liked being with my friends and jumping in,” Aisling, age eight.

Aisling

“My favourite party is a Bounce party because you get a private room and a lot more time to jump and do tricks,” George, age 12 - Bounce trampoline park, bounceinc.com.hk.

George

“My best birthday parties are ginormous pool party sleepovers because I love swimming and I love sleepovers and combined together makes so much sense! It’s just so good!”

Anna, age nine.

Anna

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Twopresents is an online fundraising platform that allows kids to share their birthday with a charity of their choice. Instead of bringing gifts, guests are invited to contribute money online towards a “special” present chosen by the child and a good cause they care about. Since its inception in 2013, Twopresents has raised over $2.5 million and helped over 35 local charities. Find out more at twopresents.com.

“My best ever party was at Impact Force because I shot a lot of people and it was a lot of fun,” Oliver, age 11 - Impact Force, Hong Kong’s largest indoor wargame site, impactforceqb.com.

Oliver

“My favourite party was my sleepover party on the last day of school because we stayed up late telling ghost stories and we laughed about them in the morning.

It was really fun and the cake was very good,” Maddie, age nine.

Maddie

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modern family

All mapped out Expat strongholds on Hong Kong Island are being passed over for better value locations elsewhere. Carolynne Dear speaks to four families who have taken the plunge.

Tai Po

Children’s author Sarah Brennan and family moved from expat-friendly Pok Fu Lam to Tai Po in the New Territories.

We moved to the New Territories 18 months ago to be nearer my husband’s work and my daughters’ school in Kowloon Tong. We settled on Tai Po largely because of the wonderful apartment we found, just five minutes from Tai Po Market station, giving easy access to the MTR system. Kowloon Tong is now just 20 minutes away; Central about 50 minutes at rush-hour.

While downtown Tai Po comprises highrise towers, the surrounding areas include spacious low-rise apartments like ours, nestled beside country parks. We’re now paying less rent for more space; the air is cleaner, and the surroundings far greener.

My teenagers love exploring the extensive cycling paths with their friends, as well as the affordable shopping. Happy surprises have

South Lantau

Cathay executive Amanda McDonald has recently renovated a village house on South Lantau.

We live in a village house in Pui O, which we moved to a couple of years ago. We opted for Lantau because of its laid-back feel and its beach lifestyle. We also have a lot of friends here and it’s convenient for my office in Tung Chung.

There really is not much not to like about South Lantau. From the wild buffalo that wander freely to the great beaches, it is very rustic and authentic and is very grounding for Hong Kong.

It’s also the best value area in the territory in terms of accommodation at the moment.

Our house is a typical village home, although we have recently renovated. The open-plan kitchen is on the second floor so we have water glimpses while we’re eating. From the rooftop, we can see Pui O beach.

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included the superb fish counters at Yata; the antics of wild monkeys in the surrounding trees; bird-watching – Tai Po is on one of the world’s great avian migration routes; and beautiful weekend walks in the country parks from autumn to spring.

There are some frustrations: few English speakers (we still get stared at); no nearby cinemas offering western films; and long drives to my Aberdeen office, which means working more from home. But overall, the move was well worth it.

New Territories

Transport can be tricky, but we do have our own car with a Lantau permit (Lantau is strictly

Lantau Island

prohibited to drivers without a permit). On the weekends and public holidays it can get really busy with long taxi lines, so I would recommend getting here early if you’re coming over for a day out.

My three children are usually driven to school by my husband or myself, depending on our

work schedules and who’s around. After school, because they all finish at different times, they catch the MTR and then either a taxi or a bus over the hill from Tung Chung.

The best thing about living here is the weekends. We love going for a swim in the local waterfalls and the children still like visiting the Big Buddha for a treat. Winter weekends are perfect for chatting with friends around a beach bonfire.

Socially, there are loads of restaurants in Cheung Sha. Mavericks bar and restaurant on Pui O beach has a skate ramp and on the weekends they let young DJs try out their skills on the turntables, which is good fun. We also love kicking back at The China Bear pub in Mui Wo, or enjoying Chinese food on Mui Wo Pier.

The only drama has been the amount of rubbish in the water and on the beaches this summer - but I understand that has been a problem Hong Kong-wide. It’s a real concern.

HK

modern family Sha Tin

Netball coach and mum-of-two Sarah Rawiller has always lived in Sha Tin. We arrived in Hong Kong two years ago and because of the location of my husband’s job

K Island

Sai Kung

PR executive Kristine Nudds moved her family of five from Southside to Sai Kung four years ago.

We moved from Pok Fu Lam just over four years ago because the children’s school -

we moved straight to Sha Tin - and have been here ever since.

I have heard so many people refer to it as “the sticks” but for us it’s ideal.

My husband is a jockey for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, so we live on Sha Tin Racecourse in a complex. The apartments are home to horse trainers, jockeys and vets and there is great community vibe throughout the complex.

From our apartment we can watch early morning track work, which is a hive of activity from 5am. We can also watch the races on Sundays, listening to the crowds roar as they cheer the horses home.

In terms of the hustle and bustle of Central, I guess you could say we are quite isolated. But our amazing views of the surrounding mountains, river and the track more than make up for this.

As a family we love the great

outdoors and there are so many things to do up here. The coastal bike ride from Sha Tin to Tai Po has lots of great scenery, and there are some amazing hikes suitable for beginners or advanced walkers - it’s a great way to stay fit as well as exploring the local forests.

Sha Tin’s New Town Plaza is a three phase shopping mall and has pretty much everything we need (think IKEA, Marks & Spencer, Toy R Us, Zara, Esprit and much more). It also has a lot of restaurants, including my favourite noodle bar, Din Tai Fong.

My children are at school in Kowloon Tong. I drive them in most days, although the local public transport is great; we have an MTR station and there are always loads of buses and taxis.

My only niggle is getting home from a night out in Central - the taxis aren’t too keen about heading away from the Island. Thank goodness for Uber!

Sha Tin has the best of all worlds for us, and works really well for our family.

Hong Kong Academy -was re-locating from Kennedy Town to Sai Kung.

To be honest, I was a bit concerned about surviving life more than a fifteen minute taxi ride from Central - I have never lived in the suburbs before, so I did worry life as I knew it might be about to end! However, it would have been too much to expect the children to embark on that sort of commute every day. At the time they were all in primary.

The end result of being dragged kicking and screaming from the Island has actually turned out to be a very positive one. Sai Kung (and we live the “right” (south) side of Sai Kung) is only a half hour drive from Central, which is probably about the same as it is from Island locations such as Stanley.

The children love living in a house and we all enjoy the sense of community that we have up here. Both myself and my husband work in Central in the week so it’s great

to come home each evening to a place surrounded by water, hills and wonderful hikes. Every weekend is like a mini-break.

Financially when we moved it was definitely advantageous to shift to Sai Kung where rents were significantly lower than on Southside, although I’m not sure if that is still the case. It has enabled us to live in a house rather than an apartment.

Public transport is great, although it is a little challenging where we live to catch a green minibus at peak hours. We do have a car, I’m particularly fond of the “park and ride” systems at nearby Hang Hau and Choi Hung MTR stations.

We enjoy socialising in Sai Kung on the weekends, there’s a great selection of pubs and restaurants in Sai Kung Town, or we can just as easily head into Central.

My biggest niggle living here are the taxis. Some are quite reluctant to head out to the New Territories from SoHo late in the evening.

But any negatives are far outweighed by the benefits of living “out of town”. Personally, I think we’ve got the best of both worlds.

Being dragged kicking and screaming from the Island has actually been positive

expat-parent.com 39

40 expat-parent.com

expat-parent.com 41

school scene

School news Malvern College Preschool set for 2017 opening aged from one to five years, with a two-hour playgroup for one to two year olds and half and full day programmes for two years and up.

The campus will be located on Yau Cheung Road, between Austin and Yau Ma Tei (Malvern College will be opening adjacent to Hong Kong Science Park in Tai Po).

Classes will accommodate 20 students for Pre-Nursery (from two years), Kindergarten 1 and Kindergarten 2; with a ratio of one

Artist’s impression of the brand new Kowloon-based campus.

With building work on a “big” school already started, it comes as no surprise that British private school Malvern College will be adding an early years programme to its portfolio in Hong Kong.

Backed by 150 years of education experience in the UK, Malvern will be offering a “hands-on”, “child-centered” Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum at its Kowloon-based pre-school, slated to open in August 2017.

The curriculum is inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach, a teaching philosophy that views the environment as the “third teacher”.

A wood hut, sand pit and open-ended play equipment will create an environment where children will be able to freely explore their five senses.

Malvern College is indeed set to be the first Forest School in the territory, a programme which encourages children to think, question, problem-solve and collaborate, with a strong emphasis on the natural environment.

“Our educationally harnessed play programme builds on the UK’s EYFS curriculum, which sets expectations for each age and stage of a child’s developmental progress,” said Malvern College Preschool 42 expat-parent.com

principal Jacqueline McNalty.

Seven areas of learning and development are targeted, including personal, social and emotional; physical; communication and language; literacy; mathematics; understanding the world; and expressive art and design.

The emphasis will be on play-based learning, with a balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities.

“While such a play-based approach might be different from that of other Hong Kong kindergartens, many European and Scandinavian countries take a similar approach in Early Childhood Programs and achieve academic results that top global leagues tables,” said McNalty.

The school will embrace diversity and expects a proportion of its students to be learning English as an additional language.

Teachers will be appropriately trained to ensure children acquire good standards in spoken English. Each classroom will be assigned a native English speaker as well as a native or near-native Mandarin speaking teacher and songs and activities will be devised for children to take an active role in acquiring vocabulary in each language.

The school will be aimed at children

Students enrolled for a year will receive priority for assessment for Malvern College teacher to six students in Pre-Nursery, and nine students to each teacher in Kindergarten 1 and 2. Students enrolled in the pre-school for at least one year will receive priority for assessment for Malvern College.

Applications for admission in August 2017 are now welcome and prospective students and their parents will be contacted later this autumn for observational assessments.

According to the school, this assists teachers in reviewing the child’s social and emotional skills, school readiness, interest and knowledge of the EYFS and physical skills. They are then in a better position to tailor their teaching to the needs and learning styles of the child. Parents will also be required to attend an interview with the child present.

It is anticipated fees will be between $8,000 and $8,800 per installment for eleven installments for the half-day programme, and $13,000-$13,800 per month for the full-day programme. This is subject to Education Bureau approval.

For more information, contact mcpsadm@ malvernpreschool.hk or call 3898 4660.

expat-parent.com 43

school scene

Brit pre-school open day

The British Council preschool opened this summer.

The newly opened British Council International Pre-School is now accepting applications for Nursery (K1) to Upper Kindergarten (K3) for the 2017-18 academic year.

All children who are eligible to study in Hong Kong are welcome to apply. The preschool uses the UK-based International Primary Curriculum, which is delivered through a full immersion bilingual programme.

The school will be holding an open day on November 5 at its Admiralty campus where parents can meet with the head of school and other teachers.

Games and activities will be available for children aged two to six years.

See surveymonkey.com/r/preschoolopenday to register; walk-in registration is also welcomed.

Fall fun If you’re looking for activities to fill the October mid-term break, OWN Academy will be running an innovative Inspiration Fall Camp.

The six-day camp will run from October 10-15 with a carefully curated activities programme including design thinking, connected learning, entrepreneurship and social responsibility.

Students will travel to various parts of Hong Kong to learn from mentors and teachers and get involved in a variety of activities.

OWN will also be running a series of threehour Exploration Saturday Camps from October 8 to December 10. A heap of fun and unusual activities include a nature adventure and plastic ocean coastal surveillance with overnight camp, urban farming, carpentry, food photography, film making, animation and graphic design. The camps run from 3-6pm at a variety of locations, including Central, Sheung Wan, Chai Wan and Clearwater Bay and welcomes children aged from eight through to 13 years. Contact info@ ownacademy.co or see ownacademy.co for registration or more information.

Diary Dates...

October 4, 18 & 29 - The American School Hong Kong (ASHK) will be running campus tours and information sessions. Parents will be able to find out more about the ASHK curriculum and admissions procedure, as well as tour the recently renovated campus.

The sessions run 10-11am, see ashk.edu.hk/online-registration.php.

October 6 - Yew Chung International School will be holding an early childhood education information session, 2.30-4pm. Find out how your child can benefit from YCIS’s play-based learning environment at the school’s campus at 3 To Fuk Road, Kowloon Tong. Email admissions@ycef.com to reserve a spot.

Carving racing cars for Creativity Day

Canadian PM meets scouts and students Canadian International School students and members of the 1st Hong Kong Canadian Scout Group met the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, at Sai Wan War Cemetery last month, as he paid respects to the Canadian soldiers who fought in the Battle of Hong Kong in WWII. Justin Trudeau shakes hands with CDNIS students

44 expat-parent.com

expat-parent.com 45

open day

Westside story

Rebecca Simpson speaks to new head Chris Sammons about taking on one of Hong Kong’s top tier secondary schools.

Leading the charge - students take part in a school fun day.

W

est Island has been renowned in Hong Kong for a strong academic and sporting record for over twenty years. This year, it welcomes a new a new head-of-school, Chris Sammons, who replaces popular former principal, Jane Foxglove.

Situated on Victoria Road, Pok Fu Lam, with the steep slopes of Mount Davis to one side and the East Lamma Channel to the other, the school was originally founded in 1991. At that stage it housed its initial 80-odd students in the old military hospital on Borrett Road, Mid-levels, moving to the purpose-built campus in Pok Fu Lam in 1994.

Sammons, fresh from the UK, has inherited a legacy of excellence - West Island School (WIS) boasts an impressive average IB score six points ahead of the world average and a 98% success rate for its students’ first choice of university destination.

Lesser men would be nervous, but he seems energised rather than intimidated while he speaks about his new role, gazing out

46 expat-parent.com

beyond the Pok Fu Lam cemetery and across the water. He may have big shoes to fill, but this new challenge comes with an impressive view, so it’s not all bad.

“My vision for West Island School is for it to become world-leading,” he muses. “There’s no magic to that, it’s about relationships between staff and students, about high quality pastoral care, about high aspiration and having the best teachers - the best-trained teachers in the world who can enable students to take on their own learning.”

Currently, WIS is an ESF secondary school providing an enquiry-based education for children aged 11-19 years old. The school offers students an IGSCE (year 10) and IB Diploma (year 13) qualification upon graduation.

Like so many Hong Kong schools, WIS has a waiting list for all year levels, but in positive news, it does see active movement and those seeking places are usually accommodated in good time.

Academic excellence has fast become the

calling card of so many Hong Kong schools, WIS is another addition to that list. The school has consistently delivered superior IB results.

Those math-challenged parents among us will need two hands to count the number of perfect IB scorers the school has produced each year.

Perfect scores are very impressive, but it’s the university acceptance rate that really speaks to the power of the school’s relationship-centric approach - 98% of WIS students are accepted into their first University choice (However it’s very important to note that perfect IB scores aren’t the be-all-and-endall of University acceptance. In fact, there’s discussion about the weight academics is playing in the application process. There’s a wind of change affecting foreign student applications – perfect grades, while always influential, are becoming less important to selectors.)

So, how does WIS achieve results like this? The short answer is: Relationships.

“That achievement comes from really

open day

Young students discover what’s cooking.

knowing our learners well, and building on the relationships we have with them so they can perform to their best,” explains Sammons. He also credits the team at the school’s dedicated careers centre.

All schools would claim to have a relationship with each student, so what makes the WIS approach so unique and effective?

It’s a combination of getting to know students before they enter the school system, and the intimate in-school tutor group system that ensures each student is given ample personal time with a single, dedicated teacher throughout each school year.

“We get to know the learners even before they join us,” explains Sammons. “That’s about relationships with the primary schools (most learners come from Kennedy school), understanding them in Year six, knowing where their skills and talents are.”

Once the school year has started, each child is afforded personal time with a dedicated teacher on a regular basis. This happens in two formats – daily in the student’s tutor group, a small session of up to 16 students that starts each school day. And, in regular 1:1 sessions with their tutor who then becomes a single point of contact for that student.

“There’s a daily conversation being had with each student about the things they

need to do and even about what happened overnight. Are they prepared for the day? This gets them set up for the day,” adds Sammons.

This is supported by a 1:1 program in which young people will have three or four individual, structured conversations with their tutor on a Monday afternoon. “It’s a thorough conversation that takes over an hour. The

Perfect grades, while impressive, are becoming less important to university selectors.

tutor will talk about their learning, where their strengths are, talk about any difficulties.

They also receive information from subject teachers.”

From this ongoing, structured monitoring, each student is challenged with his or her own “high challenge, easy access learning path”, ensuring their needs are being met and their best results are being achieved. WIS also offers a learning centre for additional learning

support to those who need special resources.

The school has resources for over 20 students with moderate learning difficulties.

Those parents who shudder at the thought of tests will be happy to know that school assessments have evolved since ‘the olden days’ when we were at school. WIS is no exception, they’ve moved well away from the formal assessment structure once embraced by schools and now offer ongoing, individual assessments for each learner.

“The school has moved away from this sense of you get assessed at the end of term, each of the faculties assess the child when it needs to be done,” explains Sammons. While this might seem unconventional to some parents, he assures that WIS parents are very well informed.

“As a parent, you have an ongoing report that happens via our website throughout the whole year.”

This ongoing information builds into a significant portfolio of information about each child, “At the end of the year, you might have up to forty pieces of information that have come to you. It’s a much more formative conversation that’s happening,” he concludes.

In terms of technology in the classroom, the school uses Google Drive, Google Classroom and Google Apps which allows expat-parent.com 47

open day

The school runs a strong perfoming arts programme.

teachers to collaboratively set tasks, then monitor children as they build up their knowledge, interrupting or extending the students where necessary.

“There’s been a huge investment in technology” says Sammons, explaining that the school has sighted a sweet spot for the future curriculum where technology, the arts and ICT computing meet, in a space where design concepts of the future can be explored.

For this year, many of the science and tech facilities at WIS have been given a refresh over the summer of 2016, ready to inspire an eager new generation of WIS students.

“The arts also have a very long tradition at West Island School. We have a performance group called Circle in the Water. Drama delivers some of the best results in the school, we believe the arts has a central importance – they develop confidence, communications skills, but most importantly it’s about the creativity.”

Sammons believes strongly in the power of a liberal arts education for success, explaining that WIS is one of few schools with a unique policy that mandates students participate in an arts subjects for their IB studies (with some 48 expat-parent.com

student exceptions). “We expect our students to choose a subject in the arts. Other schools don’t expect that, but we do. It’s of central importance to the curriculum”. He cites a UK study that shows the vast majority (80%) of arts graduates go on to leadership positions in business, “It’s about development of creative skills and effective communication,” he says.

WIS is also renowned for its sporting success. Facilities include an indoor swimming pool that hosts a 7am WIS swimming club session frequented by visiting alumni; three outdoor facilities; a dance studio and an established relationship with neighbouring Hong Kong University that generously allow WIS students access to its own sporting facilities.

WIS has proudly brought home the city’s coveted BOCHK Bauhinia Bowl prize, a series of sports accolades bestowed to students and schools by the Hong Kong School Sports Federation. WIS footballing families are now very excited that the school has welcomed Cristiano Ronaldo’s, Ronaldo Football Academy, the first one to come to Hong Kong.

On the pans in cooking class.

expat-parent.com 49

principal’s office

Straight off the boat from the UK, Chris Sammons gives Rebecca Simpson the low-down on life as WIS principal.

How long have you been working in education?

I first qualified to teach in 1993 and have taught in five different secondary schools with various teaching and leadership roles.

What’s your history in Hong Kong?

I first came to Hong Kong in 1996 and worked at Sha Tin College as head of business and economics. I returned to the UK and have now been back in Hong Kong for six weeks. As you know, things move quickly here but the people and welcome are the same and it feels like I have never been away.

What are your best bits of Hong Kong?

I have always remembered and still enjoy walking along Tsim Tsa Tsui promenade at sun-set. I love emerging from East TST MTR and watching the visitors faces as they walk along the promenade and through the Cultural Centre to one of the most stunning sites in the world. I always drag visitors along on the first night they arrive.

Did you always want to work in education?

Always. My wife is a teacher of the deaf and when we were studying I was fascinated by the experiences and passion she had for her work.

What is the toughest part of a principal’s day?

The most important thing is to see the 50 expat-parent.com

opportunities in everything, no matter how tough it may feel. I think, like most people, the toughest part is getting up in the morning.

Hong Kong students have a wider appreciation of world affairs and are more outward looking.

What’s the biggest difference between teaching in Hong Kong and the UK? The international context and geographical location of Hong Kong means students have a wider appreciation of world affairs and are more outward looking. It makes it easier to teach both your subject and also how to show young people how to get along with others from such a wide range of backgrounds.

What’s the most exciting or beneficial opportunity for children completing their education in Hong Kong?

The can do culture; the chance to learn

internationally and mesh this with Mandarin; the diversity of people and the richness this brings to daily life; the inspiring architecture.

What’s your stance on homework?

Drawing on my experience as a teacher and a father, home learning should be valued by teachers, students and families.

It communicates value in knowledge, develops interest and can help parents come together with their children in the early years.

It also teaches a different set of skills that perhaps aren’t being measured independence, structure of time, to value knowledge.

Do you support the use of tech in the classroom?

Completely. I think we have arrived at the most exciting time in education when we are using technology to accelerate learning and make the use of time more efficient.

The simple use of shared googledoc and google classrooms is really empowering learners to take charge of their own learning.

Tell us a secret about yourself…

I really enjoy Jazz and have wanted to play the saxophone for most of my life. I started last year and am making slow progress…

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18/08/2016 10:38

me & my hobby

Sharing the love Charity starts at home for sisters Jeorge and Samantha Petris, founders of Little Philanthropist.

Little Philanthropist founders Jeorge and Samantha (centre) with friends.

How old are you and which school do you attend?

Jeorge: I’m eight years old and I go to a school in Sai Kung called Lei Sui Yam Memorial School.

Samantha: I’m six years old and I also to to Lei Sui Yam Memorial School.

Tell us about your hobby...

Jeorge: Little Philanthropist is a group we set up for helping people. Right now we are preparing for a big toy sale to help people with cancer, but when that is finished we would like to keep teaching other kids what it means to be a philanthropist and work together on other projects to help people.

Who thought up the idea?

Sam: Me and Jeorge, and also my little brother William. We all started it earlier this year because we were already helping elderly people (the girls were volunteering at the China Coast Community, a charity that supports English-speaking elderly people in Hong Kong).

Jeorge: And then our friend Cary got cancer so we started Little Philanthropist to help him and people like him. We also heard about a baby named Rett who had cancer and did not make it. There is now a vacation retreat in his name for families who have lost a child (Rett’s Roost). We hope that one day we can raise enough money for a family who has lost a child 52 expat-parent.com

to go on vacation here.

So how does Little Philanthropist work?

Jeorge: We are a group of kids (there are currently 13 Little Philanthropist ambassadors) who get together and work out how we can help people. We meet at least once a week to plan an event or some volunteering work.

Do you have any help, your website looks really good?

Jeorge: Yes, Charlie’s big sister Maxine helped us with the website. Me, Sam, Charlie, Callum and Declan designed the logo together.

The boys got to pick the final design after we all chose our favourites - I wanted the heart and Charlie wanted the star.

Can anyone join Little Philanthropist?

Jeorge: Yes, anyone is welcome to join. There are 13 of us on board at the moment. You just need to go to our website and take a look.

What are you working on right now?

Jeorge: We volunteer at the China Coast Community Centre teaching arts and crafts to the ladies there. We are also planning a big toy sale to raise money for the Children’s Cancer Foundation, the Cancer Fund and Carys Cancer Fund.

What do you enjoy about your hobby?

Jeorge: I like having my friends want to help us. We also get to check out all the toys people have donated with is pretty exciting.

Sam: I like helping others and I really enjoy doing arts and crafts with the ladies at China Coast. I get to teach them how to make things.

What are your plans for the future?

Jeorge: I would like to keep Little Philanthropist going and grow it so we have more kids helping as ambassadors. We have had a lot of people asking if we can support their charities for our next event.

Sam: It’s nice showing people what it means to be a philanthropist.

Do you have any other hobbies?

Jeorge: I’m very busy with piano, violin, African drum, hand chimes, football, drama, lion dance and Chinese dance.

Sam: I enjoy the same things as Jeorge, but I also like painting and skipping.

How can people donate or volunteer?

Jeorge: We would love to have more volunteers, but also sponsors so we can grow what we are doing into something bigger. Our website is littlephilanthropist.net and we also have a blog on Facebook at facebook.com/LittlePhilanthropist

expat-parent.com 53

life & style

Life & Style news New for autumn

Gift buying all wrapped up Merci Maman, a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge, is stocked by the new gift site.

Handmade glass vases are new this season.

Eco-chic specialist TREE has launched its autumn collection, with a host of feel-good looks to warm up interiors as temperatures drop.

The Organik furniture range uses recycled solid teak and mixed hardwood to create a host of rustic wooden pieces, using a unique crosshatch paint effect for that extra worn-in feel.

Funk up floors with lovingly crafted vintage Turkish carpets from the 1950s and ‘60s. This specially curated range includes carpets in their

original wash and pattern, along with pieces that have been restored in gentle dyes for a more up-to-date look.

And a range of recycled, handmade vases using a blend of techniques are an easy way to change the look of sideboards and tables as the seasons change.

For more information about TREE’s new collection, see tree.com.hk.

If you’re frequently stumped for gift ideas, new launch Gifts Less Ordinary takes the pain out of present-giving with an online gift site. The site fuses the best of British with the charm of Asia, offering a range of luxury brands from both parts of the globe.

Favourites include My 1st Years (the designers behind Prince George’s monogrammed dressing gown in which he greeted the US president earlier this year); Hong Kong jewellery designer Patinova; jeweller and Duchess of Cambridge favourite, Merci Maman; and Hong Kong personalised decor brand Little Days.

Gifts Less Ordinary founder Amy Read hopes the products she sources will be treasured and not “re-gifted”. “We’re taking gifting to a new level with personalisation services,” she said. “From picking the metals and gems of your necklace, to selecting a monogram initial on a wine bottle topper.”

The website can be found at giftslessordinary.com.

On the scent Fragrance specialist Cochine has launched a new scent, Tuberose & Wild Fig. According to Cochine founder Kate Crofton-Atkins, it aims capture “the romance of a sun-warmed Vietnamese evening”, mixing the rich notes of wild fig, tuberose and night flowering jasmine with the freshness of bergamot, crisp vetiver and warm ciderwood.

Hong Kong-based Crofton-Atkins was seduced by the aromas of Saigon when she lived in the city, and determined to build her brand using Vietnam’s rich scents.

This new fragrance was inspired by one of her favourite paintings, the “Girl with the Tuberose” by Vietnamese artist To Ngoc Van, and she set out to develop a product 54 expat-parent.com

that encapsulated dusk in Saigon, one of the times of day that she remembers most fondly - “that magical moment when dusk falls, the air is still warm, and the tuberose and jasmine start bursting into flower.”

Pure Tuberose absolute oil from southern France has been blended with wild fig inspired by the fig trees of Saigon, together with vetiver, Sicilian lemon and bergamot.

All Cochine candles are made in Vietnam using ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients, including botanical wax from renewable sources rather than paraffin wax.

The new fragrance is available as a scented candle or reed diffuser from Indigo Living, Harvey Nichols and the Four Seasons Hotel spa, cochine.com.

Bring the scents of Vietnam into your home with brand new fragance, Tuberose and Wild Fig.

life & style

All for a good cause

Kids clothing range Chinadoll is supporting Christina Noble Children’s Foundation.

New kids’ clothing brand Chinadoll is partnering with Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF) to donate a full school starter kit (including uniform, school books and stationery) for every Chinadoll dress purchased.

The charity’s “sunshine school” was established to give underprivileged children the opportunity to attend school at flexible times. It provides around 200 children aged between two and 17 years with schooling every day.

CNCF was started by humanitarian Christina Noble and now supports projects covering education, healthcare and community development all over Asia.

For more information see cncf.org.hk and chinadollkids.com

Arty party Hong Kong’s largest ever art week presented by its galleries is being held later this month. Now in its fourth year, Hong Kong Art Week - Autumn Edition runs from October 27 until November 9, with over 50 galleries hosting a city-wide public programme.

Arty activities include gallery tours, artist talks, studio visits, family activities and local neighbourhood events.

“We want to tell any lover of culture and art that our doors are open to you. Come in and meet the gallerists,” said Christine Chan Chiu, general manager of the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association.

Highlights this year include the Gallery Walk For Charity, and three interactive treasure hunts through Hong Kong’s art neighbourhoods have also been developed by iDiscover City Walks.

They will be linked to a map app currently being created specially for Art Week.

Tickets for the Gallery Walk for Charity can be purchased at ticketflap.com. All other Art Week – Autumn Edition events are free, tickets are limited, registration is at ticketflap.com

expat-parent.com 55

life & style

Hanging around Australian textile artist Natalie Miller will be running a series of workshops in Hong Kong this month. Adele Brunner follows the threads of her story.

H

ow do you describe what you do?

I am an architect and a textile artist, predominantly using yarns, cottons and rope to weave, know and create artworks in the form of wall hangings, sculptures, lighting and wearable art. I play with bright, bold colours and thick fibres, incorporating these into radical large-scale artwork.

life. When I was at school, I actually wanted to be a fashion designer, but ended up doing architecture. My mother was a dressmaker and my grandmother an incredible knitter.

Throughout my life, I have been surrounded by craft and people who make things with their hands. It wasn’t until I studied tapestry weaving five years ago that I questioned my career, and realised I wanted to weave for the rest of my life.

When did you realise textiles were your passion?

I have been into textiles and fashion all my

When did the macrame-ing and weaving begin?

Being born in the early 1970s, I used to dabble

56 expat-parent.com

in macrame as a child and my house was filled with hangings made by mother. Around ten years ago, I wanted some plant hangers so I retaught myself through vintage macrame books. I also started to do a bit of weaving on my own. When I moved to the country, I ended up studying tapestry weaving for a year.

Where do you work?

I live in the Southern Highlands, 90 minutes from Sydney in Australia. It is a country setting, surrounded by rolling green hills and dairy farms. I have a studio/shop (Green Bridge

life & style Studios) in the nearby township of Moss Vale.

Where do you get the inspiration for your designs?

I’m inspired by my travels, the countryside I live in and the cities I visit. Tapestry weaving is an ancient craft and has been used throughout the world in most cultures. I’m simply using traditional techniques to create contemporary artworks. I constantly have new ideas, and love making and creating.

Which kind of yarn do you use?

I hand dye my wool from an Australian breed of sheep; I also use cotton and yarn from Hong Kong-based kpc yarn which comes in an incredible colour palette. I love bright colours.

I believe every colour can work well together - there don’t have to be any rules. If I had to narrow it down to a favourite shade, it would be the pinks.

out the design and exactly how much rope would be required. It was a very labourintensive, highly stressful job, but it was the most rewarding project I have ever worked on. The design was for Chinese New Year and was symbolic of Chinese lanterns. I spent around two months in Hong Kong making the chandelier off-site in sections and around a week of night shifts installing it at Pacific Place.

What would be your advice to anyone wanting to take up weaving and macrame?

Absolutely take a workshop if possible, as you will learn all the correct techniques and the basics. I teach weaving and macrame in Hong Kong and throughout Asia, including retreats in Bali, Thailand and Japan, but you can also buy kits if you’re unable to make a workshop.

I have collaborated with kpc yarn and the kit is available through their website (kpcyarn.com).

At the end of the day, it’s all about the practice.

What’s next for you creatively?

I have a lot of textile tours and art retreats happening over the next 12 months, so I will be travelling and teaching craft. I would also like my artwork to head in the direction of more detailed hangings. These will take much longer and be very intricate, but I’m very excited about them.

Miller will be hosting weaving and macrame workshops this month at Mirth Home, M/F, BT Centre, 23 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong. For details, see stylebrief.bigcartel.com. More information about Miller can be found at nataliemillerdesign.com.

How long do your pieces take?

I’m currently working on a wall hanging that’s around 900mm by 900mm - I guestimate it will take at least 140 hours. It’s an extraordinarily time consuming craft.

You were the creative force behind the biggest macrame chandelier at Pacific Place earlier this year - how did that project come about?

Swire Properties approached me and asked me to tender the job. As I used to be an architect, I was able to provide detailed drawings and structural calculations to work

Miller loves bright colours and believes every colour can work together.

(Right) Her installation in Pacific Place during Chinese New Year.

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life & style

I wanna be your China doll A new kids brand hits Hong Kong this autumn with strong ethical influences.

C

hinadoll aims to fill the gap between modern and traditional with a range of pieces inspired by the qipao, a traditional Chinese dress dating from the seventeenth century.

The qipao was originally developed as a collarless, tube-shaped, loose fitting, slightly flared gown which became popular in the royal palace of the Qing dynasty.

The more well-known, modern version, also referred to as the Cheongsam, was created in 1920s Shanghai.

Traditional qipaos were made of silk, with thick laces trimmed at the collar, sleeves and edges.

Chinadoll’s interpretation are made from luxury brocade silks and are gorgeously finished with hand sewn and beaded mandarin collars.

With a nice ethical twist, the fabrics used are leftover scraps from various designer houses.

The dresses can be custom-made for special occasions or are available from pop-up stores - follow Chinadoll Kids on Facebook and Instagram to receive pop-up shop notifications, chinadollkids.com

Photography Wayne Wong with Evoke Eternity Make Up & Hair: Airplay Bar

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life & style

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expat-parent.com 59

life & style

Bird house

Homewares favourite Bowerbird is soaring this autumn, as it ushers in both new collections and fresh management, writes Adele Brunner.

E

ven if you think you’re perfectly happy with your home furnishings, spend any length of time at Bowerbird Home and you’ll have the urge to chuck them all out and start again. From gorgeous Belgian linen sofas to the brand’s signature blue-and-white porcelain accessories, the 5,000-square-foot flagship store in Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau, is filled with tasteful East-meets-West collections of all kinds of irresistible treasures. Before you know it, you’ll have spent an hour looking at cushions alone and have a wish-list as long as your arm.

A firm fixture on Hong Kong’s homeware scene, Bowerbird Home continues to go from strength to strength. While its founder Philippa Haydon, who moved with her family to Sydney earlier this year, remains a creative force within the company, the brand is now in the capable hands of co-owner Martin Graham.

“I bought the majority of the company in January. Philippa decided to relocate back to Australia and I was moving back to Hong Kong so it was win-win all round,” says Graham, who set up a sourcing business in India (where he lived for 24 years), supplying home furnishings to household names such as The White Company, Zara Home, Laura Ashley, Ralph Lauren and House of Fraser. “Philippa is the brand ambassador and the creative director; she and her team put together the aesthetics of Bowerbird Home. I provide the expertise to build on the brand and its inventory, and expand it in various 60 expat-parent.com

ways. As well as adding my suppliers into the mix, we’ve travelled throughout Asia sourcing products so we’ve been able to widen our database.”

What this essentially means is that customers will be treated to even more variety on the Bowerbird Home theme, with a greater number of items made exclusively under the company name.

These started to appear in-store in mid-September and will continue to roll out throughout this month.

Already the exclusive supplier in Hong Kong

We’re trying to be a bit more grown up with two major new collections a year. of Wedgwood Home’s textiles and wallpapers and Kerrie Brown’s decorative art pieces, Bowerbird Home is also looking to work with other established and up-and-coming names.

“We are definitely keeping all the old favourites as well as bringing in new and fresh ideas,” says Graham. “We’re also trying to be a bit more grown-up by having two new major collections a year - autumn/winter and spring/ summer - as well as the Christmas range, rather

than randomly bringing things in.”

Another new feather to Bowerbird’s nest is its exclusive collaboration with Hong Kong interiors styling team, The Home Stylist. Alex Sheldon and her team offer professional styling and furniture rental advice to create welcoming homes, inspiring office spaces and stylish investment properties.

“We aren’t stylists but working with Alex means we can offer a one-stop shop,” says Graham.

Hong Kong’s retail market, he continues, hasn’t been the easiest to negotiate but the brand’s well-priced, high-quality products means it has been insulated from the worst. To this end, Bowerbird opened its flagship at the end of August and had a soft launch of its online store at the beginning of September. Graham is looking to open a second shop in a more mainstream location as well as assessing the possibility of expanding elsewhere in Asia.

“It’s really exciting putting everything into place,” he says. “Hong Kong isn’t a huge market like the US or Britain is - it’s just a city, but it’s a very sophisticated one. People are aware of international brands but, for me, it’s all about bringing in something different. We want to bring a newness and freshness into Hong Kong homewares and create a reason for existing and new customers to come in.”

Bowerbird Home, 8/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, 10.30am-6.30pm, Monday to Sunday, bowerbird-home.com.

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life & style Junk Towel in pink, $240, Mirth Home, mirthhome.com.

Fox cushion $99 from H&M Home, Shop G01, Hang Lung Centre, 2-20 Paterson Street, Causeway Bay.

Double Happiness Canvas Tote $395 from GOD, god.com.hk.

Think pink Looking on the rosy side of life.

Prosperity cushion, $450 from GOD.

Scented candle $59.90 from H&M Home.

Handmade butterfly clutch from vintage Japanese kimono $1800 from HKTDC Design Gallery 1 Harbour road, Wan Chai or refashion.hk 62 expat-parent.com

life & style Rose Quartz necklace, $600 from Legend of Lishka, legendoflishka.com.

Mini Balloon Dog Figurine Statue in pink, $580 from Decor8, 9/F Unit B, Fuk Chiu Factory Building, 20 Bute Street, Mong Kok.

Pink Blue & White cushion, Ikat Assam, $690 from Bowerbird Home, bowerbird-home.com.

Vela Luka mediumbrim Panama sun-hat in persimmon, Bella Blu Design, Facebook page Bella Blu Design.

Melamine Pink Heart Cup $69 from Mirth.

Honeysuckle Bath Salts, Barr & Co, $399 from Bowerbird Home.

Tiff Manuell Laptop Cover, $1,000 from Apartment 49, apartment49hk.com.

Hongkie flip flops, $228 from GOD. expat-parent.com 63

light bites

Food news Super suppers at Jamie’s Italian

Halloween kids lunches

Jamie’s Italian has ushered in a new “super food” section to its a la carte menu, meeting demand for nutritionally-driven dishes.

“Every recipe is designed to give you a brilliant boost of goodness,” says restaurant founder Jamie Oliver. “”Superfood” is a bit of a controversial term because there is no one food that has everything. But it is a term that people associate with nutrientdense food, cooked in a really balanced way.”

The new superfood selection includes dishes from his new cookbook, Super Food Family Classics, and others inspired by his travels around Asia. “It’s not about goji berries and green drinks,” he says. “It’s about cooking smart with simple foods.”

Dishes include My Own Brother’s Healthy Frittata, Make Your Own Super Food Wrap, Gluten-Free Fusilli Bolognese pasta and Tofu Mousse Cake.

Jamie’s Italian Causeway Bay, 3958 2222, Jamie’s Italian TST, 3758 3333, jamiesitalian.hk.

Belgian beerhouse Frites is celebrating Halloween with a magic show for kids, taking place at all its locations at 2pm on Sunday 30 October. Kids are welcome to dress up as their favourite book, movie or TV character - or in their best scary costumes. The best dressed child at each location will win a $500 Frites voucher. There’ll be Halloween candy a-plenty, complimentary ice cream and a lively magic show. Frites restaurants are located in Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and Quarry Bay, frites.hk

Health is the name of the game at Jamie’s Italian.

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Beast of a brunch Throughout October, kids dining at Le Bistro Winebeast and Le Cafe Winebeast get to eat free. The offer is valid for up to two children, accompanied by an adult and they must be under the age of 12. Brunch is served 11am4pm on Saturdays at Le Bistro Winebeast, and from 11am-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays at Le Cafe Winebeast, wine-beast.com.

The Taste Buddies

This month our taste busting tweens explore Shiro.

We love sushi so we were really excited to be lunching at a Japanese restaurant called Shiro.

The wait-staff were really friendly and they all said “hi” when we walked in.

We sat up on high-chairs at the sushi train and couldn’t help tucking into a couple of dishes while we were reading the menu. We had fresh salmon and prawn and they were delicious.

The kids menu has lots on it and once you’ve chosen you can fold the menu into a fish or a flying bird - the waiter showed us how. It was really cool.

We chose a Choco Bento Box, which was really cute and had prawn katsu and chicken karaage (a bit like deep-fried chicken) and udon noodles. It was really nice. We also tried the unlimited sushi which was pretty cool the waiters kept bringing more every time we finished.

Our little brother also had the bottomless sushi - he had three plates-full in total but didn’t like the sushi with the omelette on. He’s a bit weird like that.

My mum had chicken teriyaki which I also tasted - it had with seaweed strips along the top, adding to the overall taste. It was so nice and really filling and we kind of wished we hadn’t sneaked the sushi from the sushi train at the beginning.

Our dad had a bento box with soft shell crab and grilled cod. He said it was great.

For pudding we shared black sesame ice-cream, which we’d never tasted before. It was really unusual with a nutty after-taste, really delicious. My dad was a bit greedy and had two creme brulees - ginger and French espresso.

The restaurant overall is very good quality with nice waiters, amazing food and a fun origami menu. It is definitely a place to try.

PS My mum said to add that the green tea tiramisu is awesome.

Shiro Pacific Place, 11.30am-10pm, 2117 9481; Shiro TaiKoo Place, 12-11pm, 2116 4969, shiro-sushi.com.

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food

Little dumplings for your little dumplings Treat the kids to dim sum this autumn break, says Kate Farr.

Yum Cha The ideal choice for easy eats with children, Yum Cha’s Central location – with its baby changing facilities and high chairs – make it a shoe-in for the most convenient family dim sum experience in Hong Kong.

The playful menu includes sure-fire hits like googly-eyed custard buns, floppy-eared ͞hot dog͟ sausage rolls, pink-snouted piggy buns stuffed with delicious barbecue pork, and bird-shaped pineapple puffs served in their very own cage. Aside from the Instagram66 expat-parent.com

friendly presentation, Yum Cha pride themselves on their MSG-free food, giving you one less thing to worry about when eating with children.

Another added bonus for little ones who struggle to sit still for long is the full-sized truck in the restaurant’s entrance. Kids are positively encouraged to climb in and enjoy themselves, giving parents the opportunity to enjoy their meal while it’s still hot.

2/F Nan Fung Place, 173 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong, 3708 8081 yumchahk.com

Maxim’s Palace The granddaddy of Hong Kong dim sum joints, Maxim’s Palace has six locations across Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories, meaning you need never be too far from your next serving of bao. Maxim’s is a reliably good option for family dim sum due to its unique combination of classic Cantonese dishes, glitzy décor and –most exciting of all – the old-school trolley service that rolls right up to your table.

A squadron of servers circle the restaurant, pushing trolleys teetering with hot plates

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food and steamer baskets crammed with freshly made dim sum, along with their associated condiments. The restaurant claims to offer over 100 dim sum varieties each day, meaning that there’s bound to be something on the menu to please even the pickiest eater.

Arrive early or be prepared to wait – Maxim’s Palace is enduringly popular, particularly at weekends, when families from grandparents to toddlers gather to yum cha (literally ͞drink tea͟). High chairs are available on request.

While the iconic City Hall branch is closed for renovation until the end of October 2016, the Sheung Wan branch is every bit as good.

B13-B18, B/F Shun Tak Centre, Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan, 2291 0098, maximschinese.com.hk

Lin Heung Tea House One of the best places to take overseas visitors, Lin Heung was founded in 1926 and is one of Hong Kong’s oldest remaining dim sum joints.

What it lacks in modern amenities (don’t expect English menus, high chairs or changing facilities here), it more than makes up for in character, so bring older kids and prepare to make friends – you’ll be sharing your table with strangers.

As with Maxim’s Palace, Lin Heung also features trolley service, however that’s where the similarity ends. Grab an order card and fight your way through hoards of hungry diners to fetch your dim sum from the trolley – the bigger the crowd, the more popular the dishes, so be ready to roll up your sleeves and scrum!

Lin Heung’s signature dishes include lotus seed paste buns and steamed chicken buns, as well as enduring classics such as har gow

Dim sum going cheep at Yum Cha.

(shrimp dumplings) and siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings). Assign one family member to fetch and carry or risk losing your seat – this is survival of the fittest!

160-164 Wellington Street, Central, 2544 4556

Crystal Lotus While true connoisseurs of Cantonese cuisine may sniff, dim sum really doesn’t get any more family-friendly than Crystal Lotus at Hong Kong Disneyland. Located within the park itself, it’s known as one of the Magic Kingdom’s better dining options, so book in advance.

Another reason for advance booking is to reserve Crystal Lotus’ signature Disney dim

sum, which must be requested at least 48 hours in advance during the week, or 24 hours at weekends. Baymax buns, Mickey Mouse seafood pancakes and Olaf red bean buns all tap into Hong Kong’s craze for all things cartoonthemed, however award-winning Executive Chef Shu Wah Leung has created a menu that offers both style and substance. Adults may prefer to swerve the cartoon morsels altogether, and instead opt for some of the restaurant’s classic Cantonese seafood dishes.

There are high chairs and changing facilities, and, of course, no shortage of after-dinner entertainment. Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Lantau, 3510 6000 hongkongdisneyland.com/dining

Maxim’x is one the few venues where the dim sum trolley still reigns.

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food Long Men Lou For dim sum with a difference, look no further than Long Men Lou, a vegetarian teahouse located within the beautiful surrounds of Diamond Hill’s Nan Lian Gardens. This oasis is tucked away behind the garden’s waterfall, lending a secret hideaway vibe to your meal.

While the Buddhist vegetarian menu is simple enough, the quality here is excellent, with many of the dishes incorporating locally sourced organic ingredients, making this a healthier choice than usual. Select from set menu options according to the size of your party – all sets also include fruit and tea.

Suitable for families of all ages, the restaurant offers high chairs for the dinky diners in your party, and the spotless bathrooms includes baby changing facilities in which to freshen up before your stroll around the gardens. Booking is highly recommended as Long Men Lou tends to fill up quickly, particularly at weekends. Nan Lian Garden, 60 Fung Tak Road, Diamond Hill, Kowloon, 3658 9388 nanliangarden.org Little piggies for littles tummies at Yum Cha.

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big day out

Take a hike

Four school mums (and a couple of dogs) tackle one of the “best treks in the world�. Carolynne Dear went on the trail.

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big day out

High Island Reservoir - Photo by RT

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big day out

H

ong Kong’s MacLehose trail hit the headlines earlier this year for all the right reasons. It was selected - by no less than the National Geographic Society - as one of the world’s best hikes.

The 100km trail is the territory’s first and longest hiking route and was chosen by veteran US hiker M. John Fayhee on behalf of National Geographic as being up there with the world’s best.

The MacLehose is named after Hong Kong’s longest-serving colonial governor, Murray MacLehose, who established the city’s country parks and was himself a keen hiker.

It was opened in 1979 and its gruelling terrain was allegedly used by the British Army for fitness competitions.

“I hiked this trail in 1987 and it kicked my ass,” said Fayhee, who has also completed the 3,380km Appalachian Trail and the 1,368km Arizona Trail .

Undaunted by the experiences of US veteran hikers and the British Army, four Japanese International School mums and their dogs hit the trail earlier this year, hoping to complete the whole thing over a few weeks and before school pick-up.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” said mum-of-two Amanda Glover, and the initiator of the challenge.

So, she contacted a group of like-minded friends, they bought a hiking guide, and the dream became a reality.

The gruelling terrain was used by the British Army for training “I would say when you’re putting a group together, first make sure you’re contacting people you are happy to be spending up to four hours at a time on a mountain with, and also people who are of a similar fitness level.

We are not super fit, but we do have family commitments so couldn’t spend all day up there. I think we hit a comfortable pace, with opportunities to stop and take photos or have a quick snack,” she said.

The group of four, including Glover and fellow school mums Sarah Rock, Fiona Sobeck and Susannah Harvey-Jones, would set-off pre-rush hour (around 6.30am) each Friday morning. “At this time of day it’s easier picking up taxis - we didn’t have a single problem 72 expat-parent.com

New Territories

Sai Kung East Country Park

Tuen Mun, Gold Coast

Kowloon

Lantau Island

Hong Kong Island

The 100km MacLehose Trail runs from Sai Kung in the east to the Gold Coast in the west.

getting to and from the trail each week. We also missed the hottest part of the day,” Glover pointed out.

The best time of year to tackle the MacLehose is from now until February, as it’s cooler and drier than any other season.

The group agreed on a fixed day each week and put it in their diaries as a firm commitment - “there’s nothing worse than people dropping out on the morning of the hike,” admits Glover.

Kit included good quality hiking shoes, caps, fully charged Octopus cards (some of the car parks have water vending machines but only accept Octopus), Hong Kong ID cards, hiking sticks, high energy snacks (nuts, cereal bars and bananas in hard cases) and plenty of water (on some sections there is no opportunity to buy a drink).

“I would say do your research properly before you set out,” said Glover. “I’m one of those people who never reads the instructions, so it’s a good idea to appoint a group leader who is happy to take charge of logistics.

At one point we summited a particularly steep peak, only to realise we’d gone the wrong way.” She recommends reading Pete Spurrier’s “The MacLehose Trail” as well as investing in a “proper” map (both can be bought in local bookshop Kidnapped in Sai Kung town before setting out).

Stages 1 & 2 (Pak Tam Chung - Long Ke, 10.6km; and Long Ke - Pak Tam Au, 13.5km) “We tackled the trail in order, starting with stage 1. We were quite militant about this, and it works really well as the stages do get tougher so you need to complete the first

couple to raise your fitness levels.

“We caught a green taxi from Sai Kung town to the Country Park gates (approximately fifteen minutes) and hiked from there. There is a large car park at the gates, but it does fill up quickly on weekends.

“For me, stage 1 was a bit dull - lots of concrete paths and roadways through Sai Kung’s country park. But if you’re a runner, this is a great section to complete at speed. “Stage 1 finishes above the beaches - we decided to do stage 2 at the same time as you have to hike back on yourself to reach a mini-bus stop at the end of stage 1. It makes better sense to use those kms tackling stage 2.

“Stage 2 was my favourite. This is classic beach territory - I love the beaches, and this section brings you down to some of Hong Kong’s most picturesque - Long Ke, Sai Wan and Ham Tin. The views are to die for, just amazing. We stopped for a fried rice pick-meup on Sai Wan (there is also a small Dai Pai Dong on Ham Tin) and if you’ve had enough at this point and the sea is calm, you can hire a speedboat to whizz you back to Sai Kung for about $120/person.

“To finish off stage 2, you hike to the back of Ham Tin, through the little village and the forest up to a pagoda, where you can catch a taxi or a minibus back to the park gates.

“Stage 1 took us about an hour and a half, and stage 2 just under four hours.”

Stage 3 (Pak Tam Au - Kei Ling Ha, 10.2km) “Sadly we had rubbish weather on this day, because the views are sensational.

My only regret of our whole MacLehose experience was maybe not waiting for brighter

big day out weather to complete Stage 3. Nevertheless, it was still one of my favourite sections.

“This is a tricky stage as there is a lot of clambering over rocks and stones, which was not great for knees and ankles on the descents.

Hiking sticks really help.

“I would describe this section as short, sharp and hard.

“You finish up on a road and we were able to catch mini-buses back into Sai Kung.

“We finished this stage in three hours.”

Stage 4 (Kei Ling Ha - Tate’s Cairn, 12.7km) “This was a lovely stage - all trail, no concrete and fantastic views.

“It starts on the eastern edge of Ma On Shan Country Park, and affords spectacular views over Sha Tin on one side and the ocean around Sai Kung on the other. Ma On Shan (Horse Saddle Mountain) is the second highest peak in the New Territories which is why the views are so good.

“Just a word of warning at the end, you have to do part of Stage 5 in order to reach the minibuses and taxis at Jat’s Incline, which means in practice it’s a couple of kilometres more than stated in the book.

“This stage took around four hours.”

Mums in the mountains, Fiona Sobek, Sarah Rock and Amanda Glover.

Stages 5 and 6

Stages 7 and 8

(Tate’s Cairn - Tai Po Road, 10.6km; and Tai Po Road - Shing Mun, 4.6km) “This was the monkey stage - there are literally hundreds of them and they stink! Do not under any circumstances get any food out during these sections as the monkeys are definitely not backward about coming forward.

I must admit, they did freak me out a bit but if you just keep ploughing on ahead, they don’t give you any trouble.

“We caught a taxi to the start of this stage, which worked well. It’s not a very steep section, and we found Stage 6 particularly easy going.

The scenery is completely different from the beach sections - lots of reservoirs and forest.

“Completing both stages took us about three hours.”

(Shing Mun - Lead Mine Pass, 6.2km; and Lead Mine Pass - Route Twisk, 9.7km) “This was the toughest section of the MacLehose for us, and we were glad we’d built up our fitness over the previous stages.

“Stage 7 runs alongside Shing Mun (or Jubilee) Reservoir. The reservoir was built in 1937 and takes its name from the silver jubilee celebrations of King George V - it was the largest dam of its day. It catches water from the many streams that tumble down the wooded slopes. The hike winds its way up a stone staircase to the summit of Needle Hill, with wooded hills on one side and the valley of Sha Tin to the east. Overhead, you can hear the planes as they begin their descent in Chek Lap Kok.

War stories Stages 6 and 7 bear witness to the Second World War and the advance of the Japanese across the New Territories and into Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

Many villages were plundered by troops when the so-called Gin Drinkers’ Line was attacked and eventually fell. Shing Mun Redoubt, set in the Kowloon hills and towards the end of Stage 6, was the centrepiece of a warren of defences designed to hold the hills from attack.

The complex of tunnels, pillboxes and lookout posts saw intense fighting, and the defence line finally fell on 9 December 1941, which prompted the evacuation of the whole of Kowloon and the retreat to Hong Kong Island. Today, the tunnels all named after London streets - can be easily accessed (don’t forget a torch).

They are fun for kids to explore (and learn a bit of history) - there is a car park at the beginning of Stage 7, and the tunnels are just a couple of kilometres away if you retrace the end of Stage 6.

“You then come down stone steps until you reach Lead Mine Pass.

“Stage 8 took much longer than I thought it would and it ends in the middle of nowhere - factor this in if you’re on a time constraint.

The path is a mix of trail and concrete and is very steep in parts - it was a lot harder than I anticipated.

“The final kilometres are on a long, winding concrete road which goes on and on and keeps double-backing on itself - in the end we ran it just to get it over with.

“But the scenery is spectacular, the valleys of trees make it feel more like a Norwegian forest than an Asian hiking route.”

Stages 9 and 10 (Route Twisk - Tin Fu Tsai, 6.3km; and Tin Fu Tsai - Tuen Mun, 15.6km) “You have to do these final stages together as Stage 9 finishes in the middle of nowhere.

Stage 9 was ok, but Stage 10 I found to be very dull. It’s one long concrete path that never seems to end. The views by this stage are of high rise and the city, and you can also see Harrow as you trek along the Gold Coast. It was a bit of an anticlimax after the amazing scenery of the rest of the trial, but it has to be done if you want to be a finisher...”

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travel

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travel

The road to Shangri-La The Lewis family takes to the mountains of Lijiang for a trek off the beaten track.

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travel

M

y husband Richard is a keen hiker and had always wanted to take us to trek the Tiger Leaping Gorge in Lijiang, Yunnan province. I’d heard how beautiful it was, so even though our daughters were only five, seven and eight years old, we decided to give it a shot.

Lijiang lies in the northwest of Yunnan province and its old town is a UNESCO heritage site. In ancient time, Baisha Old Town, which lies a few miles to the north of Lijiang, was the centre of silk embroidery in southwest China and the most important town on the Ancient Southern Silk Trail, which ran from Burma, through Lijiang to Tibet, across Iran and finally to the Mediterranean.

We did a lot of research on Trip Advisor and ended up flying from Shenzhen to Lijiang, although you can also fly from Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok via Kunming. Aside from the flights, the only other thing we booked was a couple of nights’ accommodation in a very basic, but pretty, teahouse in Shuhe called The Bruce Chalet. Shuhe is a couple of miles north of Lijiang’s old town and at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The guesthouse had beautiful gardens and ponds and was an easy walk into Shuhe old town. The owners were really helpful booking taxis for us, but we did have to rely quite a lot on Richard’s Mandarin as their English was very limited.

We went for four days and three nights, with the first and last nights in Shuhe. For the middle two we were up on the mountain trail, so we just had to keep our fingers crossed we would make it to a mountain tea-house before nightfall and that there would be beds available.

So after a day wandering around Shuhe, we hit the hills and spent two full days walking the mountain-top trail to the Tiger Leaping Gorge.

It was a very big ascent on the first day and we rode horses part of the way on the really steep bits. At a certain point, the horses can go no further so we were back to walking after that.

Walking through the steep terraced farms with the snow covered peaks as the backdrop was nothing short of spectacular. The land is so steep that all farming is done manually and we saw bulls at work and ladies hanging up the corn to dry for the winter feed. All we could hear was the occasional cowbell and the bleating of the mountain goats.

We had no guide so had to rely on Richard’s Mandarin skills, but we made it to Tina’s Guesthouse on the first night, which had amazing views of the surrounding peaks and, thankfully, hot showers.

It was amazing to be somewhere so remote

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Isabel trekking on the horse-back through the mountain villages.

Walking through the steep terraced farms with the snow covered peaks as the backdrop was nothing short of spectacular. and untouched and the kids still talk about it.

They all felt so proud when we reached the summit. There is also still much giggling about the “long drop” toilets, which they managed with minimal complaining to my great pride and amusement.

The area is quite famous for hot pot, cured meats and cabbage and given how cool the night air is, a bowl of chilli broth when we reached the mountain guesthouses warmed the soul.

Back in Lijiang, there was a variety of street foods, including skewered insects and sweet meats which were interesting to try. We do have one extremely fussy eater so she had to content herself with fried rice most days. The banana pancakes the mountain ladies made for our breakfast were divine.

The trip was an amazing experience and was very bonding - we all had to work together to keep going over the mountain which was pretty challenging both mentally and physically for the kids. The scenery was spectacular, which helped us rise to the challenge.

Back on lower ground, we preferred the quieter, historical town of Shuhe to the busy

We made it! Isabel, Abigail and Elinor on top of Tiger Leaping Gorge.

city of Lijiang, and it was a pleasure to walk through its streets, where the mountain streams run into the canals. The children were also able to view Chinese rural life up close. The locals were all delighted with them, especially during the trek. You don’t see many young Western families up there! We travelled around in a very back-to-basics fashion, using local minibuses and taxis. We were also more than happy with our $15 a night accommodation.

If we’d had a bit longer, it would have been nice to have seen many of the other gorgeous lake towns, and I would have liked to have explored the historical parts of Lijiang. However, due to the crowds and our exhaustion we didn’t quite manage it. I would also love to go back and travel the road to Dali and Shangri-La one day.

Travel notes The Lewis family flew Shenzhen Airlines from Shenzhen to Lijiang, global.shenzhenair.com.

In Shuhe, the family stayed at The Bruce Chalet, 62 Ronghua Road, Shuhe, 674100, Lijiang, bookings through booking.com.

Mountain guesthouses were booked on the spot.

Lijiang

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marketplace

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bald truths

A Bitter-Sweet Small Screen Romance Breaking up is never easy … especially when your relationship is based upon unrealistic expectations or a 24-month contract, Simon Parry discovers.

I

n the musty, flare-bottomed recesses of time, I once had a girlfriend who stubbornly –psychotically almost – refused to accept our relationship was over. Admittedly, as a local newspaper reporter with a colossal overdraft and a prematurely receding hairline, I was no great catch. But, for demented reasons of her own, she wouldn’t let go.

At first, I tried to broach the subject with sensitivity. Bye, bye, baby it’s been a sweet love, I told her tenderly, but I must be travelling on now, cos there’s too many places I’ve got to see. I’m as free as a bird now, I continued, and this bird you cannot change … or something along those lines.

Her response took me aback. Think, think, think about what you’re trying to do to me, she implored, followed by: If you leave me now you’ll take away the biggest part of me. Don’t leave me this way, I can’t survive, can’t stay alive … and so on. You get the idea.

So I dropped the subject for a week or two and then brought it up again with a bit more finality. Bye, bye, baby, baby goodbye, I crooned. When will I see you again, she lamented. The Twelfth of Never, I shot back.

Give me just one more night, she begged.

Walk on by, I retorted (okay that one didn’t quite work but I’d run out of suitable songs by then and it was all getting a bit silly.)

Eventually, after months of this tiresome lyrical interchange, she moved out – but left behind left a big bag of clothes and makeup. Come and get your stuff, I told her again and again (unable to recall any classic lyrics about abandoned undergarments). She promised to but never did and in the end I had to scoop it up and deliver it to her new place.

I rang the bell. She opened the door, took her belongings, narrowed her eyes, smiled coldly and said: “Remember that plastic bag of loose change you keep in your sock drawer to buy emergency curries and

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Simon Parry is a jaded, middleaged journalist and father of four.

He lives in Hong Kong.

Children consider TV as obsolete as vinyl records, newspapers, parents and physical exercise

beer when you hit your overdraft limit?” She produced the bag bulging with coppers, dangled it in front of me for a second then, laughing maniacally, slammed the door in my face. As her footsteps faded, I’m certain I heard her sing jauntily: ‘Money, money, money …’

That’s one mad harpy and £17.14 in

loose change I’ll never see again, I thought as I drove home. And I barely thought about it again for more than a quarter of a century until, this summer, exactly the same thing happened to me with PCCW’s Now TV. Well, a similar thing at any rate. I should know better at my age but I got into a brief but intense relationship with Now TV when they offered to let me watch all the football I wanted to and, as a bonus, keep my children entertained with endless cartoons and films.

I rashly let Now TV move in and things went fine until I realised I was working away too much to enjoy the football and that children, with their smart phones and laptops, consider TV as obsolete as vinyl records, newspapers, parents and physical exercise.

So, as the end of my 24-month contract was up, I told them I wanted out at the end of it. No way, they said. You can only cancel your contract no more than two months and no less than one month before it ends, even if you simply want to end it on the date it expires.

After much cajoling they accepted my termination request. But they left their equipment behind and despite more than 30 emails sent over a period of months attempting to arrange for them to collect it, they promised to but never did, apologising profusely each time an appointment or arrangement was broken.

Exasperated, I finally scooped it all up, put it in a bag and drove it 15 miles to their Shatin offices. Like my ex of a quarter century before, they were waiting for me.

Remember those credit card details you left with us, they asked: Well, we’ve charged it HK$2,000 for holding onto our stuff.

Lesson learnt, I thought as I walked away HK$2,000 poorer but free as a bird again.

I can at least thank Now TV for reminding me what it’s like to be irresistible … albeit to a scary, irrational psycho who takes your money without asking.

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