Sai Kung Magazine, December

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Aerial Photos of Clearwater Bay

Snake alert!

Pythons in a squeeze

132

festive things to

Do

FAMILY | property | sport | LIving

I’m !

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the really useful magazinE

Dear Santa...

ISSUE 02 | DecEMBER 2009

All I want for Christmas The big quiz

How well do you know

Sai Kung?

Marina Cove Step through the barrier

saikung The really useful magazine

DecemBER 2009

the planner 4 Christmas crackers It’s all happening in December.

NEWS 8 On the moo-ve Corralling the cows.

LOCAL HERO 10 Maria Cordero TV cook and singing sensation.

LOCAL 12 Snakes in the grass Why are our captured pythons being dumped in China?

QUIZ 14 Fingers on buzzers Test your local knowledge.

EATING 18 Festive treats Christmas recipes, plus Nibbles.

BOOTS 20 Reclaiming the MacLehose Walk off the turkey.

HONG KONG AERIAL 22 Sai Kung from the sky Pictures of home.

OUTDOOR 24 Geo-tastic!

Visiting the Geopark.

PROPERTY 26 A house less ordinary Agent Fixit’s tips on renting a flat, and transactions.

MOTORING

BEAUTY

32 Little green machine Hong Kong’s very own electric car.

TOYS

38 Hangover, what hangover?

Cures for the morning after.

PETS

33 Eat my wake Aboard the Grand Banks “pocket rocket” .

39 Deck the halls, but mind the budgie Seasonal hazards for pets.

FAMILY

BACK PAGE

34 The Gate Focus on Woodland Pre-school 36 All I want for Christmas The gifts at the top of Santa’s Sai Kung lists.

42 Last Orders is home for Christmas Room on the Broom competition, plus quiz answers.

INTERIORS 29 Taking the indoors out Designing a patio.

VILLAGE FOCUS 30 Marina Cove

We know you care about the environment. Please help by recycling this magazine when you are done with it. For a full list of Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay paper collection points see www.saikung.com

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planner the best of December Dec 1-Jan 3 Hong Kong Disneyland Sparkling Christmas

Dec 5-13

East Asian Games

From aquatics to wushu: 22 sports in seven days. Support the Hong Kong team, and check out such Olympic stars as springboard gold medallists Wu Minxia and Guo Jingjing, 110m hurdles winner Liu Xiang and our very own snooker champ, Marco Fu. Tickets from www.hkticketing.com. For the full schedule, visit www.2009eastasiangames.hk.

It’s a Winter Wonderland at Disneyland with snowfall on Main Street, the Let it Snow Parade, nighttime light show, and special yuletide menus, plus all your favourite attractions. 10am - 8pm.

Tickets $350 adults, $250 children, $170 senior citizens aged 65 or above. Hong Kong Disneyland, Lantau, 1830 830, www.hongkongdisneyland.com.

Dec 2-5

Kiteboard Tour Asia

The world’s fastest-growing new watersport comes to Hong Kong on the second leg of its five-stop international competition tour.

Boarders take to the water, then take to the air with a giant, highly manoeuvrable kite. Local and international riders will be out in force for what promises to be a great spectator event. 10am-5pm, Palm Beach Watersports Centre, Cheung Sha Beach, Lantau. www.kiteboardtour.asia.

Dec 4-13

Aladdin - The Pantomime

The Hong Kong Players present their annual pantomime, complete with Widow Twanky, the genie, plenty of slapstick, and all your panto favourites from the Star Fairy to slap my thigh. HK Arts Centre, Harbour Road, Wan Chai. Tickets from Urbtix, www.urbtix.hk.

Dec 5 Sai Kung Charity Quiz It’s back! After a four-year hiatus the popular Christmas Charity Quiz is returning to Hebe Haven Yacht Club. Run by Sonja Welker - with a little help from her friends right here at Sai Kung magazine - the event promises to be a mixture of great food, spot prizes, and plenty of brain-teasers. Profits to Operation Santa Claus. 7.30pm, Garden Bar, Hebe Haven Yacht Club, Pak Sha Wan. Tickets $250, including dinner. Book a table at quizsaikung@gmail.com.

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Dec 5 HKUST Garage Sale Closest thing Hong Kong gets to a car-boot sale; 160 tables loaded with secondhand treasures, books, CDs, toys etc.

Go rummage. Parking, food and drink available. All profits go to charity. 9:30am-1:30pm, LG3 Car Park, HK University of Science and Technology, Clearwater Bay Road.

Information: 9045 5942, gujean@ust.hk.

Dec 5-6 East Asian Games Rugby Sevens Get there early for a good seat and to cheer on Sai Kung Stingrays, the biggest contingent among the mini-rugby teams entertaining the crowd before the men’s and women’s competitions start. Go Stingrays! Minis, 8am-10am.

Competition, 10am-4pm. Hong Kong Stadium, So Kong Po. Tickets $100 for two-day pass, www.hkticketing.com.

Dec 6 Hong Kong Adventist College’s International Food and Fun Fair Adventist College, with its sea-facing campus with its beautiful European style buildings, is surely one of Hong Kong’s most beautiful schools. So their annual “International Food and Fun Fair” with 30 booths, a variety of world foods and lots of fun games, is the perfect excuse for a look see and lovely lunch. Time: 10 am to 3pm. Free entry. Clearwater Bay Road. www.hongkongsda.org.

Dec 5 SKIP CHRISTMAS FUN DAY Fun and games for the whole family. Adults $150, children $50.

10am-3pm, Sai Kung International Pre-school (SKIP), 159 Che Keng Tuk Road, Sai Kung, 2791 7354.

Dec 9 QUIZ NIGHT Pit your wits against the sharpest brains in the bar at this fortnightly pub quiz. Hebe One O One, Hiram’s Highway, Pak Sha Wan, Sai Kung, 2335 5515.

Dec 12 SS501 - Persona It’s a big couple of weeks for hot Korean boy singers. First Rain, now boyband SS501, who will be sending teeny-boppers into a frenzy for one night only.

AsiaWorld-Expo Arena, Lantau.

Tickets $380-$980, www. hkticketing.com.

Dec 12 - Jan 3 Ocean Park Christmas Sensation Winter brings tube rides down an icy slope, world-class figure skating, Santa’s lodge and an interactive Magic Academy, as well as all your favourite rides, animals and exhibits. Tickets, $250 adults, $125 children aged 3-11. Ocean Park, Aberdeen, 3923 2323, www.oceanpark.com.hk.

Dec 13 Sai Kung Christmas Concert

Dec 17 Christmas Carols At KGV

Fa-la-la-la-laa la-la-la-laaaa...

Tune up those vocal chords for this highlight of the Sai Kung year, when the whole town turns out for the annual carols sing-along and lashings of Christmas spirit.

6.30pm-8.30pm, Sai Square, near the pier, Sai Kung.

Traditional carols and plenty of witty performances - always great entertainment, and not just for parents. The minced pies and mulled wine are pretty darn good too. Donations welcome. 6.30pm, Main Hall, King George V School, Tin Kwong Road, Ho Man Tin, 2711 3029.

Dec 13

Hong Kong International Races The highlight of Hong Kong’s horse-racing calendar, with some of the world’s top jockeys vying for $62 million in prize money.

Sponsored by Cathay Pacific.

Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin. For details, visit www.cxhkir.com.

LOV_halfpage_shikung_ad_output.pdf

11/19/2009

4:12:57 PM

Where Retail Really is Therapy An hour from tranquil Sai Kung, LoveIt offers another kind of oasis. Styled like a fashionista’s dream home, the LoveIt boutique is filled with exclusive designer pieces at high street prices.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

Getting that outer glow is simple with soft styling and honest feedback. From sizes 0 to 20, from kaftans to cocktail dresses, LoveIt has just the treatment for you.

For the ultimate in pampering, drop by for Frocks and Bubbles (Saturdays 1-5pm and

CMY

K

Mondays 6-9pm) or make an appointment at a time that suits you.

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 5

planner Dec 25

Christmas Day Turkey, pressies and all the trimmings. If you get stuck, play Monopoly.

Dec 23 QUIZ NIGHT Pit your wits in the fortnightly pub quiz. Hebe One O One, Hiram’s Highway, Pak Sha Wan, Sai Kung, 2335 5515.

Dec 24 Midnight Mass Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sai Kung, 2792 2967, 2792 5089.

Dec 26 Hebe Haven yacht club Treasure Hunt Hebe’s sailors breeze around Port Shelter, hunting down clues. For details, contact HHYC, Hiram’s Highway, Pak Sha Wan, 2719 9682.

Dec 26 Boxing Day Dec 17 Entries for China Coast Marathon Calling all runners: today is your last chance to submit entries for the Sun Hung Kai Properties China Coast Marathon and half-marathon, to be held on January 17. The races start at Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung Country Park. Entry fee: $250. Enquiries to 9038 5460 (English), or 9168 9412 (Chinese), catherineavohkccm@gmail.com.

Details at www.avohk.org.

Dec 18 Last day of term ESF schools’ two-week holiday starts midday.

Dec 19 Air Supply Neverending Love Tour All Out of Love? Nope, not yet it seems. Hong Kong’s neverending love affair with the Aussie balladeers continues. HK Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. Tickets $280-$480, www.hkticketing.com.

Dec 19 Magical Mystery Tour Join the Sai Kung Saturday Hash House Harriers for a pub quiz on the hoof. Teams of two will be haring around Sai Kung answering questions, with Rambo and Wimp options. Adults $100, prizes for kids. Bring a pen and water.

Proceeds to Operation Santa Claus.

4.45pm, Plod’s Pagoda, Wan King Path, Sai Kung. Details 9307 2041, GunpowderPlod@gmail.com.

Traditionally the day to get out and about to work off yesterday’s dinner.

Dec 31 New Year’s Eve Biggest party night of the year.

Dec 31 Studio 54 Party Dig out your disco pants for Hebe One O One’s New Year’s Eve Party. Dress code: Outrageous.

Music: 70s cheese. Work off the five-course set dinner doing the bump on the dance floor, or go for the drinks-only option. Tickets for dinner and open bar (including bubbly) are $688 before Christmas Day, and $788 afterwards. Drinksonly tickets are $388 (7pm-close).

Hebe One O One, Hiram’s Highway, Pak Sha Wan, Sai Kung, 2335 5515.

jan 1 New Year’s day Biggest hangover of the year.

Book Now Jan 13-23 Room on the Broom The people who brought The Gruffalo to the stage are back with another children’s favourite.

Is there room on the broom for me? You bet! Tickets from HK Ticketing, www.hkticketing.com.

Jan 16 Green Day Who wants to see an “American Idiot”? The kohl-eyed kings of rock, live on Lantau. AsiaWorldExpo Arena. Tickets $350-$750, www.hkticketing.com.

Feb 2-14 Merchants of Bollywood Slicker than a slick thing on a wet night, this musical charts the rise of India’s film industry with plenty of Bollywood dancing and fabby music - but will there be any kissing? Lyric Theatre, HK Academy for Performing Arts, Wan Chai. Tickets $395-$795, www.hkticketing.com.

Dec 18-20, 22-27 The Nutcracker

The Hong Kong Ballet’s annual production - Hong Kong’s answer to The Great Escape. Tickets $120-$1,000, www.urbtix.com.

Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui.

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Tell us about your events.

Email editor@saikung.com

news Poor cows After a number of traffic accidents involving feral cattle, the AFCD is adopting a tough policy towards the cows on Sai Kung’s roads: round them up, move them out.

Is time up for Sai Kung’s iconic and much-photographed herds of feral cows?

As a government campaign to relocate the cattle intensifies, local tempers are flaring and life looks bleak for the cows that are much loved by many residents.

An Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) campaign to relocate the cattle has been underway since October, with teams being sent out to capture and tranquilize the animals before moving them elsewhere.

But the activities and results of the campaign are hotly disputed. Local activists claim the cows are being taken away and quietly slaughtered. They claim at least two cows have been killed in capture attempts around Sha Kok Mei in November.

The AFCD deny hurting any animals. AFCD field officer, Mr C.M. Kwok, told Sai Kung magazine: “We have been out to round up and relocate the cattle several times in the past two months but we are yet to find any.” Asked if any cattle had been killed in capture attempts, Mr Kwok said: “Absolutely not.”

Precise details of the AFCD’s relocation program, such as where the cows will be relocated and what conditions would be like in their new home, were not available at the time of going to press.

Mr Kwok was also unable to comment on why the cows were being moved.

It is presumed the main purpose is to improve road safety in the area, following a recent sharp increase in the number of cars colliding with wandering cattle, especially after dark. Adding to the problem is the construction site between Tai Mong Tsai and Wai Man roads on land where the cows previously grazed.

What is certain is the AFCD have stepped up efforts to round up the cows in recent weeks, especially in the Sha Kok Mei area. AFCD posters alerting locals to the a number of “roundup” efforts on November 18 were put up around the village.

“The AFCD says there is a relocation scheme,” says longterm Sha Kok Mei resident Anthony Meadth, a well-known local journalist. “But the reality is they are killing them after just a week in captivity. We have asked the AFCD many times to produce evidence that the cows

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are relocated. But they have not. In fact, our research shows that the cows are kept for about a week before being slaughtered.”

Concerned locals have formed a Sai Kung Buffalo Watch group on Facebook in an attempt to monitor the roundup campaign. The group currently has 58 members.

“It is a tragedy for Sai Kung,” Mr Meadth said. “These animals are beautiful and harmless. They have been wandering free in the area for more than 25 years and are among the most photographed and remarked on aspects of local culture.

“I have lived here for 12 years and grown very fond of the cows and am able to distinguish between them. They have been very much a part of the local scene. Tourists always remark on them and photograph them. It is amazing that the government has no interest in preserving this part of Sai Kung history.”

The origin of the Sha Kok Mei herd is shrouded in mystery. Local folklore has it that they are descended from a herd released from a local cattle farm when it closed sometime around 1976. AFCD field officer Mr Kwok said, “We just don’t know how long they have been roaming around. Two decades at least, but I really can’t guess.”

Moreover, Mr Kwok said it was impossible to guess the size of the total population. “There is likely more than just one herd,” he said. “We do not know how many cattle are living wild in the hills. There are maybe many cattle we never see.” It is only the cattle wandering on the roads that are likely to be rounded up Sha Kok Mei resident Lin A. Neuman, a former editor of the Hong Kong Standard newspaper, attempted to investigate the herd in 2006. “I have asked if anyone remembers when they were released or who owned them,” he wrote in the Asia Sentinel news website. “No one seems to know. The old women point in the general direction of mountains behind the village and say, ‘They were over there.’”

He added, “Other visitors may take from their Hong Kong years the electric buzz of Central, the thrill of shopping or some odd fascination with the sheer greed of the place. My favourite memory is watching the herd grow. No one owns them, eats them or milks them. They just live here. [Once] I came upon the entire group asleep in front of my house.”

For Mr Neuman, the freelance cows were always on a collision course with Hong Kong bureaucracy. The government’s 1972 “village-house policy” (entitling every indigenous New Territories’ male villager to a plot of land on which to build a three-storey, 2,100 sqft house) has led to a squeeze on land. “The cattle used to graze where the houses now stand,” wrote Mr Neuman, “I kept expecting a bureaucrat to pull up with a clipboard and send the cows away.” It seems that time may finally have come.

The gift of giving Have a Christmas clearout and give your good-quality secondhand items to one of these charities.

Friends of the Earth 2528-5588, www.foe.org.hk The charity has hundreds of collection bins for anyone who wants to give their old clothes a new home. Check the FOE website for a list of the bins. See also the arrangements for old printer cartridge and CD recycling.

Crossroads 2 Castle Peak Rd., Tuen Mun. 2984-9309, www.crossroads.org.hk Crossroads will pick up your unwanted goodies - old clothes, furniture, office furniture, electrical goods - as long as they’re in good working order and give them to the needy both here and overseas. Check the website for urgently needed items.

Caritas 27 Pokfield Rd., Kennedy Town. 2716-6875, www.caritas.org.hk If you’re upgrading to a new laptop or PC, give your old one to Caritas, which will fix it up and find it a new home in a school or charity. Drop your hardware at any Caritas outlet (see the website for addresses).

Eco Mama A2/ 7/F, Tung Chong Factory Building, 653 King’s Rd., North Point 2189-7236, www.eco-mama.org Make way for all those Christmas presents by donating toys your kids no longer use to Eco Mama, where it will either be donated to a children’s charity or cleaned up and sold on to an eco-friendly mom.

Spreading Christmas cheer to underprivileged children in Hong Kong, China and around the world, the children at SKIP (Sai Kung International Pre-school) collected 60 boxes stuffed with presents for local charity, Box of Hope. Set up in 2008 by two Hong Kong mums who wanted to teach their children that Christmas is about giving, Box of Hope sent 1,000 boxes to children in crisis last year. For more details, see www.boxofhope.org and www.skip.edu.hk.

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local hero

Maria Cordero Singer, actress and celebrity cook, Maria Cordero - affectionately known as Fat Mama by her fans, which seems a rather unfair nickname for the now-svelte star - has come a long way since growing up poor in Macau. Her Cable TV show, “Maria’s Kitchen”, used to be filmed in her home in Clearwater Bay. She shared the house with four generations of her family, who were only allowed into her famous kitchen to do the washing up.

You lived in the Clearwater Bay area for many years. Can you tell us what you liked about the area?

What I like about Clearwater Bay and Sai Kung is the fresh air and clean environment. Living here is wonderful balance to the stresses of city life.

How important is nature in your life?

Very important. Some of my family members (including me) have respiratory problems. I also grow my own plants such as chili and turnips. The beauty of growing my own vegetables is that I know I won’t be eating harmful substances used in industrial farming.

Are there any local issues you are passionate about?

I feel the expansion plans for Hiram’s Highway are a big mistake.

The government wants to expand the road from two lanes to four lanes.

I am strongly opposed to the plan. The environment of the whole area is at stake here. I have spoken to politicians about it. I think it is a very important issue.

Winter is drawing in. What’s good to buy in the food market right now?

In season right now are mutton, small fish, Chinese sausage and freshwater hairy crab - although the crab won’t be good for much longer.

What is the most important quality in a friend?

The ability to put up with me and my faults! That’s a real strength. It’s nice to be admired for your strong points but when someone is understanding of your shortcomings - that what makes a great friendship.

What is your favorite walk in Sai Kung?

I like to go to Sai Kung Ferry Pier - there is a long pathway by the sea. Moreover, I love seafood and that’s where the seafood restaurants are. Another place I like to go is the dessert shop. Sai Kung is blessed with great food.

My favorite Sai Kung restaurants? There are so many. But I especially like Mun Kee dessert, Tung Kee seafood restaurant and some of the local Thai restaurants.

Do you have any tips for mums cooking Christmas lunch?

I would recommend chicken breast stuffed with cheese because chicken breast is lean while cheese adds flavour. And add veggies to the plate for taste and colour.

The Maria Cordero motto?

Work hard and eventually you’ll succeed!

local in your backyard

Snakes in the grass Hong Kong’s pythons are a protected species. So why are those captured in Sai Kung being dumped by the AFCD in southern China, where they are hunted for their meat and skins? The Red Pimpernel investigates.

Government officials are being urged to explain a controversial policy of dumping pythons captured in Sai Kung over the border in China where the snake is an endangered species and is hunted for its skin and meat.

About 30 pythons a year are believed to be caught in Hong Kong after being reported to police when they stray too close to residential areas. And about a quarter of these are picked up in the Sai Kung area alone.

After capture, in compliance with government policy, the pythons are taken to an animal-management centre run by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) at Sheung Shui, close to the border, where they are held sometimes for weeks before being released in China.

The AFCD claims it carries out the practice because the Burmese python is “large and powerful’ and “could pose threats to humans and their pets or livestock”. It says releasing the snakes in Hong Kong is not an option.

However, animal-welfare experts say the snakes are not dangerous and fear the practice could adversely affect the python population, upsetting the ecological balance in Sai Kung’s countryside. They fear removing the python – Hong Kong’s biggest predator - could cause a surge in the population of animals it hunts.

There is also concern about releasing the snake, an “at risk” protected species, in China, where the skin of a large python can fetch as much as 10,000 yuan on the black market.

The Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) submitted questions to the AFCD expressing concern over its practice of moving the snakes and asking for clarification on why and how it is carried out, but said the subsequent meeting with officials had not been fruitful.

The SPCA is now pressing to visit the animal-management centre to see how the snakes are kept and in what conditions.

SPCA executive director Sandy Macalister said the society is very concerned about the translocation of the python, especially as it was being done in the absence of any scientific study.

“There needs to be a valid reason [for moving the snakes] and in this case what is the reason? Why it is done? And why is it necessary? There is also the issue of the animals’ welfare, which in this case is a protected species. This is of paramount importance. Hong Kong has the responsibility to ensure that whatever practice it adopts, it protects the animal,” he said.

“We need to know how the pythons are handled, how long they are held, how they are released and how the whole procedure is monitored. At the moment, we don’t know what is happening.”

The issue is of on-going concern for Sai Kung snake-catcher David Willott, who strongly dismisses claims that the snake poses a threat to

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Snake catcher Dave Willott with a captured python. He dismisses claims that the snakes threaten people.

humans. Earlier this year, Willott threatened to stop capturing pythons after a four-metre python he captured from a garden in a Sai Kung village died several days after being taken to the AFCD centre.

Willott has also officially complained to the Hong Kong Office of the Ombudsman, which investigates complaints against the public sector, about the AFCD’s treatment of pythons but was told the ombudsman could not investigate because it was a policy matter and not a case of maladministration.

Willott says he has captured six or seven pythons a year since taking up the role of snake-catcher 12 years ago. These are always taken by police to the AFCD’s centre.

“After that no one really knows what happens to them. I have been told they are taken to China and released but how, why and what procedure is followed is a mystery,” Willott said.

One animal expert expressed the worst fears held by many over the python’s fate. “Why China, where there is a huge market for snakes as food?” he said. “ I have seen them in wet market just over the border. I am sure a healthy python would be in demand in a local restaurant and I cannot imagine a poorly paid official seeing a few pythons and not thinking: “How much money can I make from that?”

An AFCD spokesman said the visit to the animal-management centre would be conducted by members of the Animal Welfare Advisory Group (AWAG) which advises them on all matters relating to animal welfare and of which the SPCA is a member. However, he said the date had not yet been confirmed.

saikung Publishers A Fast Media Limited Production Contact Visit us online at SaiKung.com Editorial Jane Steer Jane@saikung.com Advertising Sales Director: Helen Rigby helen@saikung.com Art Direction Fish Lau Marketing Pam Udell pam@saikung.com

How dangerous is a python?

Growing up to six metres in length and 90kg in weight, the Burmese python is Hong Kong’s biggest predator.

It feeds on small mammals common to Sai Kung, such as young calves, wild cats, monkeys, barking deer and boar, often lying in wait near water holes or hanging in trees.

On rare occasions, it has been known to attack pets. A husky dog was crushed to death by a four-metre python in Sai Kung Country Park in 2006. In another incident in Sai Kung Country Park in September 2007, a 41-year-old woman successfully wrestled her 20kg pet free from a 4.5-metre python.

However, there are no reported cases of a python attacking a human, which, says snake-catcher David Willott, makes it less of a threat than several other snake species in Hong Kong. Some local snakes, including the Chinese cobra, the king cobra and kraits, carry potentially fatal bites.

Yet while other captured snakes are released back into the Sai Kung countryside, the Burmese python is handed over to the AFCD. This is because it is protected under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance which gives the AFCD control and forbids anyone else capturing, keeping or moving a python without the relevant licence.

Contributors Graham Uden Adele Rosi Denise Li Hazel Parry Simon Parry Elizabeth Case Dr Carmel Taylor MVB Jackie Peers Iain Lafferty Aani Andriani Becky Merrett Jennie Hope Peterson Christine Lau Helen Brighton Trigg Printer Gear Printing 1/F Express Industrial Bldg, 43 Heung Yip Rd, Wong Chuk Hang

Sai Kung is published by Fast Media Ltd (HK). No part of this magazine maybe reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

This magazine is published on the understanding that Sai Kung cannot beheld responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. All care is taken with accuracy but the publishers cannot be held responsible for any factual errors that may occur. The views expressed herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or publishers.

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quiz fingers on buzzers

Match the face to the place These are all familiar faces, but where do they work?

Word search

Find the Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay words Sheung Sze Wan Lobster Bay Steamers Ng Fai Tin Hang Hau Seafood Junk Trip Abacus East Point City Silverstrand Sea Sand Ding uk Maclehose HKUST The square Country park Ho Chung Sunday brunch Fish Traffic jam

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Name that tune The following phrases refer to which Christmas songs?

1. Bleached yule 2. Delight for this Planet 3. Frozen Precipitation Commence 4. Nocturnal Noiselessness 5. Singular Yearning for the Twin Anterior Incisors

Sai Kung

Test your local knowledge 1. Sai Kung is home to China’s 183rd... a) Geode b) Geoduck c) Geopark 2. STT stands for: a) Sad tee-totaller b) Short-term tenancy c) Sorely tested tenant 3. Who or what was Hiram, of highway fame? a) A British brigadeer b) An extinct breed of mountain goat c) A brand of sausages 4. An illegal structure is: a) Anything your neighbours don’t like b) A sure-fire route to insomnia c) An essential addition to any Sai Kung or Clearwater Bay home d) All of the above 5. The WWII British line of defence that stretched from Kwai Chung to Port Shelter was called: a) The Tea Drinkers Line b) The Gin Drinkers Line c) The Whisky Drinkers Line

6. The word “Hebe” does NOT apply to which of these? a) A feeling of anxiety b) The most beautiful Greek goddess c) An evergreen shrub d) A Sai Kung port

11. What Clearwater Bay landmark is built on the former British garrison, Kohima Camp? a) Hong Kong University of Science and Technology b) Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club c) Park N Shop d) Clearwater Bay Equestrian Centre

7. Village dogs are: a) A damn nuisance b) A Sai Kung cover band c) Misunderstood

12. What is the full name of the Sai Kung stadium? a) Sai Kung Tung Chee-hwa Stadium b) Sai Kung Tin Shiu Wai Stadium c) Sai Kung Tang Shiu Kin Stadium d) Sai Kung Tang Shek Kiu Stadium

8. What cultural monument can be found in Ho Chung? a) A disused factory, a relic from Hong Kong’s industrial heyday b) An ancient rock carving c) A road to nowhere d) All of the above 9. Sai Kung’s feral cows should be: a) Rounded up b) Left to roam c) Loved 10. Bananas, doughnuts and biscuits can be: a) Enjoyed with coffee b) Towed behind a speedboat c) Fattening d) All of the above

13. What does a ding do? a) Dong b) Stop a bus c) Has the right to build a village house d) Is male and has the right to build a village house 14. Match the bus route to the destination: 792M Sha Tin 299 Hang Hau 91 Tiu Keng Leng 101M Diamond Hill 15. True or false: all the original villagers living in Po Toi O are surnamed Po.

Spot the difference

Get out a magnifying glass and look very closely to find 10 differences

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Find Santa Father Christmas came to Sai Kung early this year, find the 10 hidden Clauses

For the answers, see page 42

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Christmas quizzers How much do you really know about the holiday?

1. Name all seven of Santa's reindeer.

2. Which of these was not a gift from the Three Kings: a) Frankincense b) Jade c) Myrrh 3. Who was Scrooge's dead business partner in "A Christmas Carol"? a) Jacob Marley b) Bob Marley c) Bob Cratchit d) Mr Fezziwig 4. When are the 12 days of Christmas? a) December 6-December 13 b) December 14-December 25 c) December 21-January 1 d) December 26-January 6 5. The Grinch lives on a mountain near what town? a) Whoville b) Whereville c) Whatville d) Whyville 6. What were Frosty the Snowman's last words? a) "Make mine a hot toddy" b) "I may be some time" c) "I wet myself" d) "I'll be back again someday" 7. What holiday film appears on US television more than 300 times a year? a) White Christmas b) The Great Escape c) It's A Wonderful Life d) Miracle on 34th Street 8. According to the poem The Night Before Christmas, visions of what dance in children's heads? a) Sugarplums b) Fairies c) Peardrops 9. Where did the real St Nicholas live? a) Holland b) Turkey c) Germany 10. Which of these events did NOT occur on Christmas Day? a) Hong Kong fell to the Japanese in WWII b) Ebenezer Scrooge was visited by four ghosts c) King Arthur pulled Excalibur from the stone d) Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor 11. The song "Jingle Bells" was written in: a) 1857 b) 1877 c) 1937

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eating all the trimmings

Nibbles Open just in time for your Christmas delicacies is Best Food, selling top-quality meat and seafood including Japanese Wagyu, French duck liver, Canadian steak, hairy crab and live Boston lobster. 10 Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, 2791 9919.

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Gourmet Food Fast Food Prices

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Open from:  11am to midnight (Mon to Thurs) 11am to 2am      (Fri, Sat, Sun) Shop 27, Chan Man Street, Sai Kung (opposite Mannings)

Love your red wines but fancy a bit of fizz for Christmas or New Year’s Eve? Have the best of both worlds with Rumball sparkling reds. Produced by specialist Aussie winemaker Peter Rumball, who makes only sparkling reds, the Sparkling Shiraz picked up 11 gold medals in its native Australia and another gold in France. Must be good, then! Available from Dalton Fine Wines, 17A, Pinnacle Building, 9 Ship Street, Wan Chai, 6498 5686, www.daltonwineltd.com.

Anthony’s Ranch is offering special menus for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The three-course Christmas set dinner for two is $300, or $360 with unlimited sparkling wine, and comes with a choice of smoked turkey, half rack of baby-back ribs, seared salmon filet or flat-iron steak. See in the New Year with a three-course set with entree choice of smoked prime rib, seared salmon filet, half rib & chicken BBQ combo, or Chef Jun’s Famous Meatloaf (see opposite), for $350 or $410 with unlimited sparkling wine. Yum! And don’t forget you can order all your favourites as takeaway. 28 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, 2791-6113, www.anthonys-ranch.com.

It may well be that Asia’s biggest pizza is made right here in Paisano’s, Sai Kung. At 24� in diameter, a Paisano pizza slice is certainly Hong Kong’s biggest. If you know different please tell us. Paisano’s, 27 Chan Man Street, Sai Kung (opposite Mannings chemist).

Hebe One O One has a bunch of special offers for the festive season, including a five-course set dinner on Christmas Eve for $398, a Christmas Day turkey/nut roast five-course set ($498) and a Boxing Day special roast, with Australian grain-fed ribeye, Yorkshire pud and honey roast chestnuts with bacon ($198). Kill the hangover on New Year’s Day with unlimited Bloody Marys until 6pm for just $101. New Year’s Eve features the Studio 54 party, see page 6 for details.

leave some for me

Christmas on a plate Add a bit of pizzazz to your Christmas menu with these recipes from Sai Kung restaurants.

Hebe One O One’s Beetroot Marinated Gravlax with Roquet Side of salmon, filleted, skin on, scales off 4 cups sugar 4 cups coarse salt (kosher) Bunch dill and chervil, finely chopped 3 beetroots, grated

Rub salmon fillet flesh with chopped dill and chervil. Layer over the grated beets - carefully, so as not to remove the herbs. Combine the sugar and salt and entirely cover the salmon with the mixture. Cover with clingfilm and refrigerate for at least two days, To serve: Using a sharp knife, cut into paper-thin slices and serve with a roquet salad and buttered rye bread.

Ali Oli’s Brandied Cherry Conserve 1kg Black cherries 8 cloves 1 cinnamon stick 150g brown sugar Piece lemon peel 50ml water 250ml brandy

Remove the stalks from the cherries, wash and stone them. Clean and sterilize a litre jar - or two half-litre jars. Dissolve the sugar in the water with the spices. Bring to boil, then add the brandy and turn the heat off. Put the cherries in the jar and cover with the hot sauce. Leave to mature for at least a month. Serve with ice-cream, cream or vanilla sponge cake.

Anthony’s Ranch Homemade Meatloaf Half medium onion, chopped 1 stalk celery, chopped 1 tbsp Italian seasoning 1 tbsp beef bouillon 1 tbsp A1 Steak Sauce 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp Tabasco sauce 1/2 cup milk 2 eggs 3 slices white bread

Pre-heat oven to 200 deg C. Saute onions, celery and Italian seasoning until the vegetables are translucent, then set aside. Combine milk, eggs and bread in food processor and blend until smooth.

Put onion and bread mixtures into a large bowl, add all the other ingredients, and mix well. Pour mixture into a rectangular baking tin to a depth of two-to-three inches.

Bake for 30-40 minutes.

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boots

made for walking

Reclaiming the MacLehose Jackie Peers sets a post-turkey challenge: stages four and five of the big Mac.

Now the temperatures have dropped and the Trailwalkers have deserted the hills for another year, it’s time to reclaim the MacLehose Trail - in particular, the grunty parts: stages four and five. If you have fit visitors, or you wake up one Saturday with no plans and it’s a beautiful clear day, then give the hounds a treat and go for it.

Stage four is a 12.7km route from Kei Ling Ha to Tate’s Cairn via Ma On Shan - the second highest mountain in Hong Kong. Stage five snakes 10.6km along the mountains behind Kowloon, from Tate’s Cairn to Tai Po Road via Lion Rock.

With scattered wildlife, diverse flora, distinctive geology, military emplacements and spectacular views across Kowloon and the New Territories, this really does show the best of Hong Kong. It’s a worldclass walk, and clearly signposted all the way.

But be warned – it’s no doddle.

It takes a good eight hours, with many ups and downs. A Country Series map (available from bookshops) may be handy as there are many alternative tracks down from the walk, should you or your

guests start to fade.

From Sai Kung town, catch a bus (Nos.99 or 299) east to Shui Long Wo (near Kei Ling Ha on Sai Sha Road), or drive to the unmetered car park. From there, it’s a great stroll up to the radio mast and then down through atmospheric bamboo groves. The steep ascent to the Ma On Shan saddle will get the lungs working. If it’s clear and you’re feeling perky, how about a blat to the summit?

Walking along the ridges above Sai Kung is exhilarating, especially in a breeze, and you can see the clear north/south vegetation divide. The south is drier, and opens out into open grasslands; a little touch of the African savanna before you get to the “Inca trail” – splendid stone paths leading to Gilwell’s Camp.

(Have a look at the walking fish in the little pond before the camp.)

Stage five takes you round the road to the Sha Tin Pass kiosk. It may look like a dilapidated aviary, but don’t let its appearance put you off. The friendly service and fine curries, not to mention the perfectly chilled Tsing Taos, make this a compulsory stopover.

View from the top: Sai Kung from Ma On Shan

Difficulty: Length: Shortcuts:

23.3km, eight hours Plenty - take a Country Series map to find your way down.

Getting up the next wee bit with a full tum can be irksome, and the views become very urban, but it’s amazing to see Kowloon and Hong Kong Island spread before you. And if you’ve still got some beans left, you can race up Lion Rock. And providing a lovely symmetry to the day, the trail finishes with a return to the jungle. You’re bound to see monkeys (one evening at dusk we

were astonished to see hundreds returning en masse from the Kowloon reservoirs across the Tai Po Road footbridge) and you may even see a porcupine if you’re lucky.

What a great day out - how lucky we are!

Buses 72, 81 and 86B will take you to Sham Shui Po, or a taxi to Shui Long Wo is less than $200.

A black kite’s view of Sha Tin

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pictures of home

Sai Kung as you have never seen it before. This picture is available in a range of sizes.

Eye in the sky A chance to own a piece of history as Sai Kung magazine releases a collection of aerial photographs.

When you look out of the window, go for a drive or take a hike, we’re betting the sheer beauty of Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay literally stops you in your tracks. It’s that “I LIVE HERE!” moment.

But how to explain that feeling to friends and relatives?

How to create an image that shows your home set within the stunning natural beauty of this area?

We decided to team up with international photographer Graham Uden and Hong Kong’s Heliservices to create a set of aerial photographs that capture the extraordinary beauty

of the area. These pictures, which were shot with the largest professional aerial format possible, are now available for readers to buy. Sizes vary from small to super huge (see box, right). We have most of the area’s residential areas covered. And if you order before December 13 we can get the photograph to you in time for Christmas.

We don’t want to get all misty-eyed here, but it really is a chance to buy a little bit of history. It’s the time of your life, after all. To find out more call 9492 1560, email photo@ saikung.com or visit www.hkaerial.com.

Order before December 13 for Christmas delivery 22 | WWW.SAIKUNG.COM

worth a million words

How we did it 1.

Award-winning photographer Graham Uden (top right) was signed up to plan and execute the shoot. Why Graham?

He is simply Hong Kong’s best corporate photographer. His reputation is peerless. He is highly awarded, has the best equipment and crucially - as a former war photographer with experience in Iraq and Afghanistan- he is crazy enough to hang out of a helicopter in a harness.

2. We hooked up with Hong Kong’s Heliservices pilot Andrew McArthur. He’s a Sai Kung local who knows the nooks and crannies of our beautiful peninsula better than any other helicopter pilot.

3. We waited for a perfect blue-sky day... And waited. And waited. And finally in late November we took off from the Peninsula hotel rooftop with Andrew, Graham and $400,000worth of photography equipment. The morning shoot encompassed the whole peninsula including Clearwater Bay, Marina Cove, Floral Villas, The Giverny, Silverstrand, Lobster Bay, Che Keng Tuk, Hing Keng Shek, Tai Wan, Tso Wo Hang, Sai Kung town and many other areas. Did we get your house?

Find out at HKAerial.com

Feng Shui Collection Price List SMALL MEDIUM LARGE LARGER

12” x 17” (image size 9.5” x 14”) 16” x 23” (image size 13” x 20”) 21” x 29” (image size 16” x 24”) 25” x 35” (image size 20” x 30”)

$2,700 $3,900 $5,300 $7,900

All prices include framing in a wooden or metal frame, a Lambda print with matt lamination and a single window mount in your choice of colour.

FENG SHUI EDITION PREMIERE EDIT Your selected image custom-made to order in any size and finish. Individual post-production and framing overseen by the photographer. Commissions accepted for individual residences, developments and clubs. Price on application.

www.hkaerial.com

Email: photo@saikung.com

Web: HKaerial.com

Tel: 9492 1560 WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 23

outdoor

sai kung rocks

Geo-tastic!

Meet the Dickens. A Sai Kung family with intrepid genes, they headed out to the Geopark soon after it opened last month to check out our world-class geo-heritage. “I think WOW sums it up,” said mum, Helen Brighton. “The kids [Aidan, 12, and Millie, 9] were amazed when they understood that they were standing in what was once a volcano. We all want to go again.”

The Geopark is spread over 49 square kilometres between the Ninepin Islands and Tung Ping Chau. The Dickens visited one of the world’s largest formations of hexagonal columnar jointing, just a hop, skip and a jump from the town centre: hop onto a no.94 bus to Pak Tam Chung country park gate, skip into a taxi to the East Dam of the High Island Reservoir (about $70), jump out the other end. Easy!

Like the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, the buckled hexagonal columnar jointing is “magnificent” and there’s plenty of signage to explain just how it came into being (a 140 million-year-old collapsed volcano: “I feel like an expert after reading the signs,” Helen said). There’s a viewing point on the dam and you can walk down to get an upclose look. “There were quite a few people around, probably because the weather was good and it had just opened. But it’s a big area, so even if there are lots of people it doesn’t feel busy,” Helen said.

Of more interest to Aidan and Millie was rock-hopping to a nearby cave.

“The cave was fantastic. Standing inside and climbing over the rocks to get to it was the best bit of the day - and they were amazed by the dam.”

When the family go again, Helen said, they’ll go early and leave time for the half-hour hike to Long Ke beach (“just a bit of a hill”), which is signposted from the East Dam pagoda.

Also easily accessible from Sai Kung and now part of the Geopark is a tombolo (a spit of deposited rocks and sand joining two islands) linking Sharp Island to Kiu Tau. Reached by kaido from Sai Kung, the ferry can drop you off at Kiu Tsui beach. Make use of the barbecue pits while you wait for the tide to drop low enough to stroll across the rocky tombolo.

Other local sites require a boat. Once afloat, you can visit the hexagonal columns of the Ninepin Islands – look for the “face” in the rocks - and the caves and stacks of Basalt, Bluff and Wang Chau islands, some of which are navigable by kayak. Then chill on the beach at Bluff, or head over to Pak A for a slap-up seafood meal.

Who says geology is boring?

Pictures: Helen Brighton

Geopark highlights include (from top) the caves and arches at Wang Chau, the hexagonal columns at Po Chin Chau, and further afield, beautiful Tung Ping Chau. Below: The Dickens on tour.

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Pictures courtesy of the Association of Geoconservation, Hong Kong

Turns out Sai Kung has some smashing rocks, but are they any fun? One family visits the new Geopark to find out.

property A house less ordinary Marina Cove is no stranger to renovations. So when it came to refurbishing this house, the first job was to strip away years of other people’s DIY.

When it came to renovating this Marina Cove house, architect Alex Fraser had a straightforward brief: a stylish, timeless, comfortable home for a couple with a young family and a fondness for outdoor living.

Her first step was to strip away years of renovation projects, rather than be dictated to by previous owners’ decisions, taking the building back to its original split-level form. Starting afresh with an empty shell enabled key spaces to be reconfigured to reflect the needs of a growing family. The main planning premise was to make every area special and to maximise the use of space.

Refurbishing a house from scratch is not the cheapest option but it allows you to tailor your home to your exact requirements. However, your needs and preferences may need translating into good design. This is where an architect or interior designer comes in handy.

It makes sense to invest more of your budget in areas that have the greatest use, such as the living and dining rooms and master bedroom. The family splashed out on top-quality fixtures and brand-name fittings in those areas to give a truly luxurious finish.

Emphasis was placed on fine-tuning the proportions of each space and using materials to highlight certain features of each room. Mixing leather, marble, sandstone, kiri board and teak in one room is possible if the tones

harmonise. And these mixed textures help to give an inside-outside feel to the living spaces. The rich floors and cabinetry work are offset by light, open ceilings and a variety of hard-wearing materials on the walls. Lighting is used in cabinetry throughout to soften its impact. Loose furniture was designed by Alex Fraser and fabricated by Artura Ficus to avoid having too matched an interior.

The bedrooms were designed to reflect their inhabitants, with themes for the older children and soft hues for the little ones. Organic paint murals by artist Andy Maluche allowed the spaces to be personalized with happy elements of childhood, such as a flying horse lighthouse, beach and seamonster ship.

The bathrooms are intended to encourage the user to linger and relax, with natural tones, a gorgeous feature shower flown in from Venice and a bit of sparkle from mother-of-pearl tiles.

Architect and interior designer: Alex Fraser, 2540 3253, fraser@netfront.net Artist and photographer: Andy Maluche, you–can-look-b@dont-touch-my.com Main contractor: Multiplex Construction, 2344 3183, emilywychan@hotmail.com Loose furniture: Artura Ficus, 3105 3904, Horizon18@ficus.com.hk Soft furnishings: Sheryia Curtain, 2525 6596, sheryia_curtain@yahoo.com.hk

Texture and clever lighting bring life to neutral tones in the living and dining areas, and even the to-die-for walk-in wardrobe.

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home for christmas

The beauty is in the details in kitchen, kid’s room and shower.

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property Inside Giverny the neighbours just sold for $57m

Ask Agent Fixit How to find a tenant Dear Agent Fixit I have a 700 sqft investment property in Sai Kung. It’s been on the market to let for three months at what I’m told is the right price, but no takers. I need the rent to cover the mortgage – soon. Help!

With interest rates hovering as low as they’re likely to go, property looks like an appealing place to park your cash and earn income. But there’s plenty of competition. Here’s how to make your property a hot ticket.

When advertising or listing with agents, focus on what’s special about your flat: sea views, a rooftop, a new kitchen, friendly neighbours, or walking distance to town. Many landlords don’t allow pets. If you do, make that clear. There are lots of animal lovers looking for a Sai Kung pad.

If your flat isn’t special – make it special. Never under-estimate the power of a clean coat of white paint and a scented oil diffuser. There are plenty of grubby, smelly flats out there; freshly painted apartments that smell of lemongrass, not mould, rent quickest. Tidy up entrances and stairwells, make sure they’re well-lit and put a plant by the front door.

Be flexible about leasing terms and offer shorter fixed contracts. Other sweeteners might include paying the rates, management or agent’s fees.

Furniture is another way to broaden the appeal of your unit. If you keep the colours light and neutral, good-quality secondhand furniture will do.

Don’t be a lazy landlord. If your property isn’t letting, there’s a reason.

Work out what it is and put it right. Easiest of all, lower the rent.

Costa Bello: $5,683 per square foot

Recent property transactions Property Villa Pergola, Pik Sha Road Aegean Villa, Silver Cape Road Portofino, Clear Water Bay Mau Po Village Che Keng Tuk Ta Ho Tun Costa Bello 2/F Floral Villas Greenview Garden Burlingame Garden

Got a question for Agent Fixit? Email editor@saikung.com.

sq.ft 2000 2291 4654 2100 2100 2100 1126 2865 1207 1869

Price 28.8M 22.8M 40.8M 8.75M 10.88M 11.5M 6.4M 32M 8M 11.68M

$/sqft $14,400 $9,950 $8,766 $4,166 $5,180 $5,476 $5,683 $11,162 $6,628 $6,249

Che Keng Tuk Waterfront Perfect setting, Perfect Layout, Front door parking & Jetty. Asking: 42M

Mountain Detached House 2100’ Private Pool & indeed Garden Excellent retreat! Asking: $29M

CWB Modern Home 2100’ Newly renovated, Modern Kitchen 3 bedrooms + Maids, Excellent location for outdoor activities.

Fixed Twin Parking. Reduced: $9.5M

Hebe Haven Detacted House 3500’ 3000’ Garden Private Pool High quality euro styling. Asking: $31.3M

Sheung Sze Wan 2100’ Perfect indeed garden, Hill top living, water views, Front door parking..Asking: $16M

Corner Detached House 2305’ Indeed garden & Private Pool, Contemporary design, Fantastic Layout, Asking: $27.88M

Sai Kung Villa 2000’ Sea View, Gdn, Communal Pool, 3 Bedrooms, 2C.P Asking: 43K

Capri 3500’ Detached with Private Pool 3 Bedrooms, parking Euro Styling.

Reduced: 55K

Water Front House 2100’ Sea View, 2 CP, Band New Condition, Use of pier, Asking: 120K

Jade Villa 2100’ Good Garden,Managed.

Excellent condition, Communal Pool, 4 BR (2 En-suite). Asking: 43K

CWB Duplex 1300’ Open Layout, 3 BR well equipped Kitchen, Roof, Parking Asking: 25k

Country Villa 2100’ Sea View + Garden, Excellent layout, 4 BR, twin living area, Maids and Parking. Asking: 32k

28 | WWW.SAIKUNG.COM

interiors Take the indoors out

room outside

Let the light in! A selection of terrace solutions from local architects, Box Design (tel: 2573 3323).

Indoor-outdoor living is the hallmark of Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay homes. If you’re lucky enough to have an outside space, no matter how small, make the most of it by creating an outdoor room.

Work from the ground up. If you have a sloping garden, a wooden deck may be the answer. It it’s flat, a patio is more durable with a wider choice of materials and looks. Slate pavers are a popular choice for contemporary homes, although they can become sole-searingly hot in direct sunlight. Chinese terracotta pan-tiles have rustic appeal. Poured concrete can minimize glare. Wood looks great, but needs regular maintenance in tropical Hong Kong: go for teak for maximum durability. Then, of course, there are tiles cheap, flexible and hugely varied in colour and texture.

Trees offer beautifully dappled shade. Failing that, there’s a huge choice of awnings, umbrellas, shade sails or a permanent wooden or glass pergola (be warned, these may contravene building regs).

Like any room, furniture and accessories set the tone. Teak dining sets and faux wicker furniture are big news in… er, exterior design. Go for simple lines and update with soft furnishings – invest in top-quality outdoor fabrics to minimize fading. Check out the range at new Sai Kung outdoor furniture shop Wicka Designs, which sells faux wicker at wholesale prices.

And where would a patio be without plants, a riot of colour or a chic display of a single variety, perhaps? Just add friends, the tipple of your choice and sunshine for the perfect Sai Kung weekend.

Wicka Designs, 1 Tai Mong Tsai Road, Sai Kung, 2422 0885, www.wickadesigns.com Tensile Structures (sail shades), Transedge, 3422 8125 Lift Lifestyle International, 9283 5491, www.liftlifestyle.com Hong Kong Awnings Canopy Collection, 17A Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, 2792 7806 Everything Under the Sun, 9/F Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau, 2554 9088, www.resourceasia.com.hk Cartina International, 315-321 Lockhart Road, 3105 0510

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 29

village focus Marina Cove

Pictures: Graham Uden / hkaerial.com

Pontoon, anyone?

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Kids love living in Marina Cove. That’s partly because there are so many of them, which means there’s always someone to play with after school and at weekends. But Marina Cove also excels in child-friendly events, particularly Halloween and Christmas. Householders go all-out in decorating their homes so that the entire development is awash in pumpkins in October and fairy lights in December.

Then there’s the Club Marina Cove swimming pool, tennis courts, squash courts, billiard room and restaurants, and plenty of classes and activities to keep the smalls happy. The new Woodland Pre-school Sai Kung opened in September, with plenty of space for the under-sixes.

There’s an active roster of events for adults too, including dragon-boat and golf teams, workshops and classes. And, of course, last month’s International Hong Kong Boat Show at the marina.

The marina is at the heart of the big, gated development, which has an assortment of property, including split-level houses and apartments.

living is easy Built on eight hectares of reclaimed land (19781982), each house was originally a carbon-copy of its neighbours, but over the years many have been renovated and modified so that they have their own identity.

Adding to the resort-like atmosphere are the residents’ cyclos, canopied bicycles built for four, used for nipping around the development and down to the on-site shopping centre, which has a Wellcome supermarket, 7-Eleven and plenty of property and boat agents.

And, of course, there’s the marina itself, with island and finger berths, fuel station and other nautical niceties. The pontoons are mini ecosystems, with plenty of fish lurking in their shadows, including some fairly sizeable grey mullet and, word has it, baby barracuda. Some houses come with moorings at the end of the garden: the perfect solution for yachties.

The development is split into 10 blocks – A to K (there’s no I block) – with varying views, including hillside, marina and lucky K block where some houses have panoramas of Hebe Haven.

The most prestigious houses (block H) are on a man-made island, with their own pool.

Up for grabs

This 2,391-square-foot Marina Cove House has a waterfront location, full sea view and a beautiful 921-squarefoot garden to admire it from. There are three bedrooms and a garage.

It’s conveniently positioned for easy access to the clubhouse and facilities, which include a communal pool and tennis court. For sale at $24.5m or rent at $65,000 a month.

Contact Homelife Property on 2719 0606

HOMELIFE PROPERTY Shop 8, Level 8, Silverstrand Mart, 2 Silver Cape Road, Sai Kung, N.T. Shop 63, G/F, Sai Kung Town Ctr., 22-40 Fuk Man Road, Sai Kung, N.T.

C-020016

Specialists in Sai Kung / Clearwater Bay

43.8M / 130K PORTOFINO 4797’ + 1200’ GARDEN

Prestigious villa, lovely sea view, 4 bedrooms, w/3 en suites, modern decor, garage, clubhouse facilities

Tell us about your village.

Email editor@saikung.com

22.8M / 68K

21.8M HEBE HAVEN 2000’ + HUGE GARDEN Close to yacht club, private pool, high ceilings, nice decor, 4 bedrooms, garage, management

50K CLEARWATER BAY 2100’ + 2000’ HUGE GARDEN Green view, fully detached, brand new renovation, 4 bedrooms

25M SAI KUNG MID LEVEL 2100’ + 3000’ HUGE GARDEN Detached house, gate w/ private pool, 3 bedrooms, tasteful decor, open green view

www.saikung.com

PORTOFINO VILLA 2636’ + TERRACE Prestigious villa, sea view, 3 bedrooms, w/ 2 car parks, tennis court, swimming pool, gym, shuttle bus

19M MARINA COVE 1885’ + GARDEN + PONTOON Open Lake view, 17’ pontoon, 3 bedrooms, garage, club house facilities

A beautifully situated 1,885-square-foot house with full lake views. The house has three bedrooms, one of which is en-suite, and an open plan living room and kitchen.

There’s a well-kept garden of 700 sqft and the property comes with two car parking spaces. The icing on the cake is a 17ft pontoon. For sale at $19m.

Contact Sunshine Property on 2866 6640

9.5M / 30K VILLA ROYALE 2003’ + GARDEN Open pool view, convenient location, 3 en suites, nice decor, communal pool

www.homelife.com.hk

23.8M / 60K SILVER CAPE ROAD 2300’ + GARDEN Newly renovated, 4 bedrooms garage, convenient location

25M / 60K

12M TAI MONG TSAI 2100’ + HUGE GARDEN Sea view, peaceful location, lovely garden, 4 bedrooms, convenient to public transportation

SHEUNG SZE WAN 2100’ WATER FRONT HOUSE Detached house, garden w/ private gate, nice decor., 5 bedrooms, w/ 2 en suites

58K

95K

VILLA MONTICELLO 4442’ + ROOF GARDEN 4 bedrooms w/ 2 en suites, spacious layout, huge family room, garage

WING LUNG ROAD 2100’ PICTURESQUE SEA VIEW Semi-detached, peaceful location, tasteful renovation, 4 bedrooms w/ 3 en suites

info@homelife.com.hk WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 31

toys

playtime

Eat my wake Way more fun than a junk, the Grand Banks 41 EU is blow-your-hair-back fast, practical and tricked out with hi-tech wizardry.

Don’t be fooled by the family-cruiser good looks, this little baby can shift. Described by one reviewer as a “pocket rocket”, the Grand Banks Heritage 41 EU can tank along at 24 knots - that’s fast enough to blow your hair back and leave the weekend junk-trippers bobbing in your wake.

But the real appeal becomes apparent once you drop anchor. Where pointy-nosed, aerodynamically styled motorboats can be awkward to move around – with distressingly low safety rails and not-quite-comfortable deck areas – the Heritage has plenty of space for all. Whether you prefer to sunbathe on deck, moor up for an overnighter, or bomb the wrinklies by leaping from the flybridge, the 41 EU is oodles of fun.

The first new Grand Banks boat sold in Hong Kong in 20-something years launches this month, a great Christmas present for one local family, thanks to newly appointed dealer Asia Yacht Services. Once a local brand – GB had a boatyard in Hong Kong until 1973, when it shifted

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production to Singapore – it has an excellent reputation worldwide for top-quality family cruisers.

Originally modeled on US lobster trawlers, hence the classic lines, the 41ft model pictured here is the smallest of the Heritage Series – the largest is a seagoing 52 feet. It’s tricked out with plenty of toys: the standard salon comes with a 20-inch flat-screen TV, a Bose Wave system with iPod dock, both fridge and freezer in the well-planned galley and plenty of seating. There’s space below to sleep four adults in two cabins, plus a shower room, a second head and bags of storage. It features a state-of-the-art propulsion system, and a highly maneuverable joystick, which means you can dock, track sideways and spin on a dime one-handed.

For details, contact Asia Yacht Services, 2815 0404, info@asiayachtservices.com, www.asiayachtservices.com

motoring

charge!

Little green machine The award-winning electric-powered MyCar arrives in Hong Kong.

Keep an eye on the roads for MyCar, the awardwinning electric vehicle designed at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and manufactured by local company EuAuto Technology.

Winner of the best electric vehicle award at last year’s British International Motor Show, MyCar went on sale in Europe this year. Now safety requirements for Hong Kong roads have been met, EuAuto hopes to revolutionise life on local roads.

“Hong Kong is a perfect place for an electric car,” says Michael Lee, EuAuto’s business development director. “The size of the city is not big, so the range suits the batteries of our car. And Hong Kong is so populated. Every time I pass through Causeway Bay, I imagine what it would be like if all the vehicles were green, with zero emission.

Imagine Hong Kong with clean air.’’ We’d like to.

MyCar comes to Hong Kong as a twoseater electric vehicle, built from reinforced fibreglass panels. It can travel 112 kilometres on a full charge, and takes six to eight hours to fully charge through a plug that can be used in a normal household socket. Costing about $100,000, it will be limited to use on roads with a 50km/h speed limit.

“If Hong Kong wants the green market to keep growing, we need charging stations and other facilities,” says Mr Lee. “This is a growth industry, something more people are getting involved in.”

A spokesman for the Environment Bureau says the government is now actively promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the city. “As EVs do not have tailpipe emissions, they are a promising solution to roadside air pollution,” the spokesman said. “Their introduction will also

help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.”

The Hong Kong Government has been testdriving the Mitsubishi EV, i MiEV, since May, and the mainland’s BYD plug-in hybrid since July. It has also procured the first batch of 10 i MiEVs. “The government will continue to explore collaboration opportunities with electric-vehicle manufacturers, and we expect a larger number of electric vehicles will be introduced in the Hong Kong market in 2010-11.’’

That’s music to EuAuto’s ears. “Concern for the environment is something new for Hong Kong,’’ says Mr Lee. “But it is something corporate clients are interested in – it is good for their image, and it makes sense.’’

EuAuto, tel: 2334 7331

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 33

family The Gate The September Women

Although Hong Kong has been home for two decades there is one time of year that never fails to arouse nostalgia for the old land – Christmas. As soon as the temperature dips I scan the skies for snow. I love Christmas. At least, I did until I had children.

They ought to be a channel to relive happy memories. However, by the time the big day arrives my stress levels are through the roof and my tolerance levels at an all-time low as I struggle to remember it’s as important not to shout on Christmas Day as it is to remove the giblets from the turkey.

It all starts to go wrong in September. Fresh from the summer hols, the

energy at the Gate is high. In fact, it’s quite distressing. Some mothers are so hyper in their resolve, they have been collectively referred to as “September Women”: she who is going to study for (yet another) degree, found a charity and morph into a supermodel while holding down a top-dollar job. She will never be late for the Gate and will always arrive looking gorgeous.

These undoubtedly good intentions, and here’s the rub, are also applied to Christmas. Four months in advance, these uber-women are already planning their clever present lists. While these intentions should be applauded, they inspire in me a sense of impending doom. Ideas, shopping locales and web links are banded around with pride. Of course, it’s sacrilege to copy so I’m left breathless with inadequacy.

And I just can’t handle Shenzhen. I know I should be more grown up about the place but the prospect of getting a visa stirs up childhood fears of going to the dentist.

But the most pressured part of the pre-Christmas build-up has to be the daily Gate discussion of what parents plan to get their children. Some of these little darlings are my children’s buddies, so my heart sinks when words like “mobile phone”, “laptop” and “iTouch” are bandied about.

Great for the lucky recipients of their parents’ generosity… but for me I can only close my eyes and gird my loins for the barrage of silent recriminations from my three when they go back to school in January and compare their festive stash. Happy Christmas! Mother-in-the-Middle

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE…

Renaissance College Hong Kong is offering 100% scholarships to the city’s best and brightest students.

If you are an A-grade student or excel at music, sport or art, why not apply today?

Visit our Scholarships Information Evening on Thursday, January 14, 2010.

Information sessions will take place on campus from 6.30pm – 8.30pm.

To reserve a place, email scholarships@renaissance.edu.hk or call 3556 - 3536

Renaissance College Hong Kong

To seek. To strive. To serve.

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www.renaissance.edu.hk

dear santa...

Say hello to Woodland After 30 years on Hong Kong Island, Woodland Pre-school has opened in Sai Kung, with a colourful, welcoming space and lots of bright ideas. Jennie Hope Peterson pays a visit.

The new Woodland Pre-School Sai Kung is designed to let the imagination run free. Colourful, spacious and welcoming, there’s a variety of play areas to stimulate little minds. There’s an indoor play area with ouch-free, child-sized padded equipment, a well-stocked library with lounging space and an outdoor play area with a garden for digging and planting activities.

The 7,000sqft pre-school can enroll up to 250 children aged six months to five years in its part-time and full-time classes. Run by school supervisor Arabella Lambe and a team of six staff and two helpers, the child-to-teacher ratio is 10:1 or 12:1, depending on the age of the class.

The classes explore a variety of themes, which change on a monthly basis, through crafts, activities, learning exercises and stories, with regular mandarin lessons, outdoor play and snack times. When we visited, the toddlers were busy with farm-inspired crafts, getting to grips with straw and plants. It’s part of a carefully planned programme that includes daily physical play, cognitive play, quiet learning in class, and group downtime. By the time the children are ready to move onto primary school, they will have gained all the necessary developmental and academic skills for a smooth transition.

Located in Marina Cove, between Clearwater Bay and Sai Kung town centre, Woodland is part of a group of 10 Hong Kong pre-schools, most of which are based on the Island. The Sai Kung pre-school follows the Early Years Foundation Stage of the English National Curriculum, which means children of similar ages learn in groups actively directed by a teacher.

Sai Kung: What is different about Woodland Pre-Schools?

Arabella Lambe: We are a family-owned business; the Woodland Group has operated in Hong Kong since 1978. More than 100,000 children have successfully passed through our pre-schools. Our traditional schools are accredited by The Pre-School Learning Alliance (London), with 99 percent of our children going to their first choice of primary school.

SK: What sort of activities do you run?

AL: Each day we encourage outdoor learning activities that provide opportunities for role play, gross motor development such as throwing, kicking balls, climbing and running. These activities can also take place in our indoor play area should the weather be poor. We also provide Kids in Motion with a fitness specialist every other week.

SK: How are parents involved in the education process?

AL: Every week, each student takes home a letter to the parent detailing progress, activities, concerns, etc. We also provide parents with a calendar detailing our teaching plans and activities so they are aware of their child’s specific day-to-day activities. Parents are warmly welcomed to join classes and playtime. An adult must accompany the younger students (below two years four months) during their class sessions.

SK: How about parking or bus services?

AL: There is hourly parking in Marina Cove and we provide school bus services at different times throughout the day.

School supervisor Arabella Lambe welcomes a pre-schooler.

For more information, please contact Arabella Lambe at 2813-0290; saikung@woodlandschools.com, or visit www.woodlandschools.com.

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 35

family

All I Want for ‘Tis the season for getting great stuff.

We asked Sai Kung’s under-16s for their Christmas lists.

Sam, nearly 3 Top of list: Presents and yummy food Sam says: “And a football and a fire engine and a digger and all my friend can play together.”

Jack, 3-and-a-bit Top of list: Thomas the Tank Engine Jack says: “And I’d like a Christmas tree, snow, and ketchup on my Christmas dinner.”

A free Holiday Thomas and Tunnel with any Thomas wooden railway set. While stocks last.

Toys R Us, Metro City Phase 3, L1 Shop 137, 3194 6399

Rhea, 3 Top of list: A toy kitchen Rhea says: “Then I can wash my hands in the sink and make mummy, daddy and all my friends dinner. It will be fun mixing and stirring and cooking yummy food.”

Mini Sizzlin’ Kitchen - 3-8yrs, $450. Bumps to Babes, 5/F Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central, 2522 7112

James, 4 Top of list: Remote-contol Ultraman James says: “l want a remote-control Ultraman and a remote-control Transformer because l like it. Um… l want a toy Santa Claus to sing some songs. And l want a helicopter because Daddy broke my last one.”

Ashley, 9 Top of list: To see Rudolph Ashley says: “l want to see Rudolph’s nose - l want to see him live! I want a laptop so l can take funny photos of myself and chat with my friends. And l love crafty things.”

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Christmas Agnese, 10 Top of list: iPhone Agnese says: “I want it for the games.”

Her mum says: “You already have a Nintendo DS for games.”

Agnese says: “Yes, but I really would like a DSi.” Georgie, 12 Top of list: Electric hair straightener Georgie says: “To stop my hair being so frizzy and messy. I want it to be straight.”

Rob, 12 Top of list: BB Gun Rob says: “I love war games, so having my own gun would be cool. I’d also really like to upgrade my mobile phone.”

Teenager No.1, 13 Top of list: iPod She says: “I lost my old one.

Actually, my dad’s going to give me his iPhone because he doesn’t like it – I know, weird - so maybe I don’t need an iPod after all. Hmmm. Let me think some more…”

Teenager No.2, 13 Top of list: Waffle-maker She says: “I LOVE waffles. I have them at my friend’s house and they’re yum. I also want some chocolate chips and food colouring – I want to make tie-dye choc-chip waffles.”

Teenager No.3, 13 Top of list: Canon Ixus She says: “I like taking pictures and making movies. When we were on holiday, we made documentaries on my friend’s and my mum’s cameras. You can get the Ixus in loads of colours; I want a green one.”

Teenager No.4, 15 Top of list: Laptop and XBox games His mum says, confidentially: “I think he would really prefer an 18-year-old girl with loose morals.”

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 37

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Party season means late nights - and rotten mornings.

Adele Rosi rounds up some hangover cures.

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SPECIAL TREATS FOR YOU & YOUR LOVED ONES Special extended opening hours are available on request (before 11am and after 9pm) Make gift giving easy with our Gift Coupons Private Parties can be arranged at Special Rates (Bring your own snacks and drinks or let us arrange for you.)

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A pounding headache. Light-sensitive, bloodshot eyes. A mouth drier than the Gobi desert. Feeling sick if you do move/don’t move/ think of food/don’t have any food…

Welcome to the morning after the night before.

So what causes all that hangover misery? Alcohol enters the bloodstream and causes the pituitary gland in the brain to block the creation of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin. Without this hormone, the kidneys send water straight to the bladder rather than reabsorbing it back into the body, causing you to lose four times as much liquid as you gain.

Next morning your body is crying out to be rehydrated, and letting you know about it in the form of a dry mouth and dehydration headaches. Low levels of sodium and potassium – remember all those trips to the loo? – add to the headache and feelings of nausea and fatigue. And because alcohol is absorbed directly into the stomach, that gets irritated too, which is why many people can’t face the thought of eating.

The cure, of course, is not drinking in the first place but where’s the fun in that?

Hangover remedies “I personally find that a fruit smoothie and a bit of light exercise works. You need to replace the vitamins you’ve lost – such as the Bs and C – and not just with a glass of fruit juice from a carton. Get some frozen berries, a banana (to replace lost potassium and give you energy), some skimmed milk and yoghurt and blend it all together.”

Tim Stevens, Fitcamp instructor, 9196 9442.

“A body scrub and massage will detox and stimulate your body to expel the alcohol. It is very relaxing and will also make your skin look better. Also, mix up a drink of honey, ginger, water and lemon juice. It replaces lost vitamins and is a fantastic boost.” Linda Cheun, Sabai Day Spa, 2791 2259.

“Try the homeopathic remedy Nux Vomica. Take five of the tiny pills every 10 minutes until you feel better. They are not painkillers but can help to ease a hangover. There are no side effects and you can’t overdose. Dabbing peppermint oil on forehead and temples can work against headaches. And sucking a sugarcube with a drop of anise oil will help to alleviate stomach problems.” Sabine Schellerer, homeopathic and herbal pharmacist, www.herbs-to-heal.com.

“Fried-egg-and-ketchup sandwich and a Diet Coke.” Abi Stead, triathlete.

SEA FOOT REFLEXOLOGY HOUSE 1/F, 60 Po Tung Road, Sai Kung

(between Tala’s and Firenze) TEL FOR APPOINTMENT: 2791.0328

38 | WWW.SAIKUNG.COM

Next month: defrizz with Tala’s new Brazilian keratin hair-straightening treatment.

pets

santa claws

Deck the halls, but mind the budgie When the mercury dips below 20 degrees and my canine patients need to be hauled out of their winter clothing before I can look at their skin problems, I know the festive season is upon us.

My first working Christmas Eve many years ago was spent reassuring guilt-ridden, inebriated pet owners while treating a vomiting beagle that had gobbled the wise men and an angel from the crib, a drowsy C doberman who had gotten into the punch bowl, a concussed cat who had M toppled the Christmas tree, and a terrified budgie who had flapped around Y in tinsel till he was almost mummified.

One way to prevent problems is to be careful how you deck your CM halls. Christmas sparkle can prove irresistible to cats, who like to indulge in a spot of tree diving, often with disastrous consequences. Although, MY thankfully, most canines don’t view the Christmas tree as another CY convenient urinal, many of them do enjoy nibbling goodies dangling from CMY lower branches, so keep baubles, bells and chocolate decorations up high, and avoid leaving parcels, especially tasty-smelling ones, under theK tree. Cats can find ribbons and bows fun to play with, but they can cause serious problems if swallowed. Keep your tree off limits, or consider a “scat mat”, which delivers static electricity to keep pets at a distance.

While most of us enjoy a knees-up with friends and family over the festive season, the noise and activity at Christmas parties can lead to over stimulation or even stress. Keep your pets away from the action where revellers cannot trip over them, annoy them with drunken embraces or feed them prohibited items. If this is not possible, then keep food off low tables and remove leftover cups of Christmas cheer before your dog does.

Be careful not to allow pets to overindulge in seasonal goodies. While most people know not to feed their animals turkey bones, which can lodge in the throat or intestinal tract, many do not realise the dangers of feeding other festive fare. Chocolate contains theobromine, which can be poisonous to cats and dogs. Rich fatty foods can cause gastroenteritis, and even potentially life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas.

So, have a safe and Merry Christmas. And remember: a CD of cats meowing popular Christmas songs is not a good gift for your budgie...

Dr Carmel Taylor, www.cutaneous.com.hkw

Relocate pets ad.pdf 21/10/2009 10:30:06

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 39

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classifieds ads just $200 email sales@saikung.com Garage Sale: HKUST Clearwater Bay - Saturday 5 December 9.30am-1.30 pm. Covered market selling new and secondhand goods.

Parking and food available. Entrance free. Further information 9045 5942 or email gujean@ust.hk Jervis bay Barbecue World: High-quality barbecues, lifestyle and accessories, gourmet and outdoor products. Shop 1212 Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau. Also in Central and Yau Tong. Tel: 2656 4429 www.jervisbaybarbecues.com CANTONESE SPEAKER NEEDED: I’m looking for someone to play with my 3 year old son for one afternoon each week to help him learn Cantonese. I live near Marina Cove. Please call me on 94921560 or email shamei@netvigator.com.

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Practical and emotional support to parents and baby in the comfort of your own home Antenatal and postnatal consultations

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back page

Last Orders I’m dreaming of a Taoist Christmas Having recently joined the ranks of the infantencumbered, my wife and I decided to cancel the annual Christmas pilgrimage to the tundra of Scotland and northern England. When we went back in the summer, we realized holidaying with a small child involves slightly more equipment than is required to invade Normandy and just as much planning.

So in 2009 “the old country” is coming to us in the form of a two-metre, genetically modified Douglas fir to be flown in from Auchtermuchty.

At $1,500 it’s expensive, but this includes carbon offsetting, whereby part of the price goes towards tree planting in the highlands of El Salvador in a vain attempt to keep ahead of illegal US logging.

With regard to presents, and despite its reputation for top-quality, lead-based toxic paint, Sai Kung is not recognized as a major shopping district. However, it does have one of the most

enjoyable retail experiences in Hong Kong: Shun Kee City Houseware Company, aka “Harrods”. To give a sense of the place, I once enquired if they had a fan belt for a 1972 mark 3 Ford Cortina; they asked what colour I’d like and whether I was looking for a single belt or a pack of five.

Like Aladdin’s cave crossed with the reading room of the British Museum and an Essex branch of Home Base, I often visit both to shop and to view the extensive display of exhibits.

One of my favourite areas (main gallery, fourth aisle on the left) houses an exquisite collection of early 1980s Taiwanese comedy smokeless ashtrays, plus several first-edition Filipino ironing-board covers portraying scenes from the crucifixion in day-glow, heat-resistant fabric. A guided tour by the genuinely friendly, encyclopedic staff is like a visit to the inside of Damien Hirst’s head - a surreal yet practical experience far more

COMPETITION

COMPETITION DEC 09

Win four tickets to “Room On the Broom” worth $1,380!

How the cat purred and how the witch grinned, As they sat on their broomstick and flew through the wind… Julia Donaldson’s best-selling children’s book is brought to the stage by Tall Stories, the creators of The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child shows. It flies into Hong Kong courtesy of ABA Productions in January, following tours of the UK and US. We are giving away two sets of four tickets, worth $1,380, to the premiere at 4.30pm, January 13, Drama Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wan Chai. To enter, answer this simple question: Who would you take with you to the show, and why?

Email your answer to helen@saikung.com before December 15, 2009.

For more information about Tall Stories, please visit www.tallstories.org.uk Tickets for “Room on the Broom” are available from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

42 | WWW.SAIKUNG.COM

entertaining than any Disney concoction.

Given that tree and presents can be obtained without leaving SK1, that only leaves the food and televisual entertainment to organize. As always, the Queen’s speech can be viewed and abused online from 3pm GMT. Better, all three hours of “The Great Escape”, conveniently reproduced on 13 VCDs, can be purchased from Today Speed Photofinishing Centre for $20.

As a champagne-swilling, vegetarian socialist, my Christmas dinner usually includes several kilos of Brussels sprouts sourced from a former Soviet gulag, and a large lump of tofu sculpted into the shape of a free-range anti-globalization protester.

But the real star of the show will be my Shenzhen Christmas crackers. More deadly than a Serbian cluster bomb, these pyrotechnics are guaranteed to separate the men from the boys, and occasionally the hands from the arms.

This will be my second Hong Kong Christmas and one I am very much looking forward to. Once again this year, I don’t have to worry about bonecrippling cold, smug Christian dogma or part-time seasonal drinkers standing three deep at the bar interfering with my lager delivery system. Instead, it will be a truly happy Christmas.

Iain Lafferty

Quiz answers Sai Kung p.15 1. c) Geopark 2. b) Short-term tenancy 3. c) A brand of sausages 4. d) All of the above 5. b) Gin Drinkers Line 6. a) A feeling of anxiety - that’s the heebie-jeebies 7. b) A Sai Kung cover band 8. b) An ancient rock carving is a listed monument 9. c) Loved (but we won’t argue with b) 10. b) Towed behind a speedboat (bananas are neither fattening nor good with coffee) 11. a) HKUST 12. c) Sai Kung Tang Shiu Kin Stadium 13. d) A male with the right to build a village house 14. 792M-Tiu Keng Leng, 299-Sha Tin, 91-Diamond Hill, 101M-Hang Hau 15. True Christmas p.17 1. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolf 2. b) Jade 3. a) Jacob Marley 4. d) December 26-January 6 5. a) Whoville 6. d) “I’ll be back again someday” 7. c) It’s a Wonderful Life 8. a) Sugarplums 9. b) Turkey 10. b) Ebenezer scrooge was not visited by four ghosts on Christmas Day 11. a) 1857 Name that tune p.15 1. White Christmas 2. Joy to the World 3. Let it Snow 4. Silent Night 5. All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth Spot the difference p.15 1.The pink basket on the front boat has gone.

2. The woman’s hat has changed from red to white.

3. The logo is missing from the umbrella on the second boat.

4. The yellow reflection on the second boat is missing.

5. One of the poles holding up the sign on the waterfront is taller.

6. A tyre has disappeared.

7. The bag hanging from the umbrella has changed colour.

8. There are now two hats under the green umbrella.

9. A building is missing, top left.

10.The wire above the umbrellas is missing.