Sai Kung Magazine November 2012

November 2012

Lorette E. Roberts Opens her sketchbook

G.O.D’s graffiti artist New hotels in TKO

187 things to do

Guest guide Put your visitors in the picture

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The really useful magazine NOVEMBER 2012

THE PLANNER 4 Happening in November Trailwalker, Moonwalk and cake walks.

LETTERS 10 Have your say NEWS 11 What’s going on?

New hotels for Tseung Kwan O, diggers in Pak Sha O, and the G.O.D graffiti artist.

LOCAL 14 Making an impression Lorette E. Roberts on her iconic sketchbooks.

INTERVIEW 16 Leila Alpiyeva The prima ballerina from Almaty.

VINES IN SAI KUNG 17 Time to confess?

Of illegal structures and mainland tourists.

FEATURE 18 Guest guide Tell your visitors where to go.

WINE 24 Great white In defence of chardonnay.

EATING 25 New in TKO Two hotels, four restaurants and a rooftop bar. Plus turkey cooking tips.

EDUCATION 28 IB in kindergarten How the PYP works at Abacus.

Plus school interview tips.

FAMILY 32 The estate you’re in Why you need to write a will. Plus a Christmas fair guide and a new column.

HEALTH & BEAUTY 36 The long run Preparing for a marathon.

MOTORING 36 Crossing oceans How to import a classic car.

HIKES 39 Island life A circuit of Tung Lung Chau.

PETS 38 In the litter tray Plus a new column from Hong Kong Dog Rescue’s Sally Andersen.

TRAVEL 42 It’s all downhill from here Asian ski resorts.

GARDENING 44 Cutting remarks Jane Ram wields the secateurs.

MARKETPLACE 45 Your guide to shops and services Cool stuff to buy and do.

ON PATROL 48 Take a hike Safety first in the country parks.

CLASSIFIEDS 52 Local property, holiday lets And loads of other random stuff.

ULTIMATE GUIDE 54 All you need to know Numbers that make life easier.

PEOPLE 56 Back to the 70s Steamers’ period party, Readers’ Choice winners, and sundowners.

BIRD AT MY WINDOW 58 Japanese white-eye David Diskin on Hong Kong birds.

LAST ORDERS 58 Iain Lafferty is not a team player

"You can do anything, but not everything." – DaVID ALLEN

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planner

happening in november

Nov 16

Oxfam Trailwalker The MacLehose madness strikes again for a good cause. For details and donations, visit www.oxfamtrailwalker.org.hk.

Nov 1 Public pool closes

Nov 2 Melbourne Cup

Sai Kung swimming pool is shut until April 1, but Tseung Kwan O’s (heated) pool will remain open.

Celebrate the race that stops a nation.

With fashions on the field, three-course meal and after-party. Tables selling fast.

Happy Valley racecourse. Details from the Australian Association, www.ozhongkong.com.

Nov 3 Sukhvinder Singh Live Catch Bollywood’s favourite singer performing Jai Ho, Chaiyya Chaiyya and more.

HKCEC, Wan Chai. Tickets $270-$1,200 from www. hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Nov 2 New Song Quiz Night Nov 1-4 The Bootleg Beatles The next best thing to the Fab Four themselves, still touring after 33 years. Lyric Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $350$850 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Nov 1-4 Wine & Dine Festival Four nights of foodie heaven with 280 food stalls, wine tasting in the Grand Tasting Pavilion, and dessert in the Sweet Pavilion. Nov 1, 8.30pm-11.30pm. Nov 2-4, 2pm-midnight. West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade, www.discoverhongkong.com.

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Rack your brains for the New Song Christian Kindergarten quiz, with fun games and a curry buffet. Hebe Haven Yacht Club, Pak Sha Wan. Tickets $250 from 2791-2472, newsong@netvigator. com.

Nov 3 Leapfrog Halloween Party (Slightly) scary but fun games, barbecue, bar, raffle, auction, face painting, disco and prizes for best costume. 3pm, Leapfrog Kindergarten, 11 Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung Country Park, 2791 1540, www. leapfrogkindergarten.org.

Nov 4 Chicago Live Old rockers unite at Chicago’s first ever Hong Kong concert. AsiaWorldExpo, Lantau. Tickets $588-$1,088 from www. hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Nov 8 Sai Kung Sampler The monthly pop-up market at Steamers.

Shop and slurp. 66 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, 2792 6991.

Nov 9 Steamers Golf Championship Steamers’ Golf Society’s big day out with an annual competition, great prizes and trophies to be won.

66 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, 2792 6991, gm@ steamerssaikung.com.

november Nov 9 Redfoo of LMFAO and the Party Rock Crew They’re sexy and they know it. AsiaWorldArena, Lantau. Tickets $580-$780 at www. hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Nov 23-Jan 1 WinterFest 2012 Catch the Christmas lights around the harbour.

nov 24 bike hash Hashing on wheels. 11am, Sun Ping Bicycle, Sai Kung old town. Details from Onon Plod, 9307 2041.

Nov 10 Moonwalk Link hands against blindness in a 20km overnight walk from Mong Kok Fa Hui Park to Sai Kung Pier. 10pm-6am. All proceeds to Orbis. Enrol at www.orbis.org.hk.

Nov 15-18 Hong Kong Open Championship International golf tournament. Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling. Tickets $150-$600 from Cityline, 2111 5333, www.ubshongkongopen.com.

Nov 17-18 Lan Kwai Fong Carnival Lan Kwai grooves to a Mardi Gras beat. Nov 17, 1am-1pm; Nov 18, 1pm-10pm.

Nov 28 Jennifer Lopez Live J-Lo does her thing at the AsiaWorld-Arena, Lantau. Tickets $480$1,580 from Urbtix, www.urbtix.hk.

Nov 29 Quiz Night Thinking caps on for Steamers’ quiz. 66 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, 2792 6991, gm@steamerssaikung.com.

Ends Nov 30 Hong Kong International Photo Festival

Nov 11 Breezy Sai Kung Carnival Roving entertainers, music, drummers and a hip hop performance by Japan’s Wrecking Crew Orchestra. Sai Kung Waterfront Park, 3pm-6pm.

Details from 2591 1340, www.lcsd.gov.hk/eo.

Nov 17-18 Arts in the Park Mardi Gras

See the city through fresh eyes with works by local and international photographers.

For details, visit www.hkipf.org.hk.

The Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation festival packs in a crowd of 70,000. 10am-5pm. Parade of giant puppets at 3pm, Nov 18. Central Lawn, Victoria Park, Causeway Bay, www.hkyaf.com.

Until Nov 17 New Vision Arts Festival A packed programme of Asian culture. For details, visit www.newvisionfestival.gov.hk.

Nov 12-24 Artists Abroad Sai Kung-based Sarah Bent is one of eight artists featured. The Rotunda, One Exchange Square, Central, www.artistsabroadhk.com.

Nov 13 Diwali

Nov 14, 28 Quiz Nights

Shine a light.

Brainboxes compete at Hebe One O One. 8.30pm, 112 Pak Sha Wan, 2335 5515.

Nov 30 Movember Men, grow a moustache this month and get a free pint at Steamers tonight. 66 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, 2792 6991.

Nov 22 Thanksgiving Turkey time for Americans.

If you have an event in Sai Kung, please email the details to editor@saikung.com 6 | WWW.SAIKUNG.COM

november

Book now Dec 2 Sting: Back to Bass Tour Sting performs with a stripped-down five-man band. HKCEC, Wan Chai.

Tickets $488-$1,388 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Dec 1-2 Clockenflap Hong Kong’s homegrown music festival features international heavy-hitters De La Soul, Sneaky Sound System and Azealia Banks, and local acts such as Dan F and Uptown Rockers. West Kowloon Cultural District. Tickets go on sale October 10. Get ‘em while they’re hot at www.clockenflap.com.

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Dec 8 WINTER GARAGE SALE

Dec 10 Macy Gray Live

Book your tables by calling 9045 5942 or emailing gujean@ust.hk. 9.30am1.30pm, LG3 car park, HK University of Science & Technology, Clearwater Bay.

The croaky-voiced diva plays Star Hall, KITEC, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $480-$680 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Dec 4 Elton John

Jan 16-Feb 9 KIDSFEST 2013

It’s been a long, long time... the Rocket Man cometh.

HKCEC, Wan Chai. Tickets $488-$1,888 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Stage productions of children’s favourites: “Horrible Histories” (“Barmy Britain” and “Ruthless Romans”), “Mr Benn”, “Room on the Broom” and “The Gruffalo”.

Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Details and tickets from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

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letters

have your say

Pack a Box of Hope SKIP (Sai Kung International Pre-school) is once again working with the Box of Hope charity project. It is a such a lovely charity and one that children of all ages can get involved in, but anyone can contribute and we would love to see more families in Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay getting involved.

It’s very simple: decorate an old shoe box and fill it with new, interesting and educational gifts then drop it off at various collection points. The boxes are delivered to children in need in time for Christmas. Details of what to pack are included on the website, www.boxofhope.org.

SKIP is a collection point and boxes can be dropped off from November 5 to 9 at 159 Che Keng Tuk Road, Sai Kung, www.skip.edu.hk, 2791 7354.

Claire Ford, Office manager, SKIP

Where the boxes go...

Six-year-old Rose is the eldest child in her family, which lives in the Philippines.

Her father is a fisherman and her mother, who is pregnant with her fourth child, runs a small store. They live on around HK$560 a month.

Rose lives in a bamboo house with an electricity supply, but only a manual pump for water.

Seven months after receiving her Box of Hope, the doll, book and ball that Rose received are still in great condition and she treasures each item.

John is also six and lives with his parents and two siblings near the coast in a bamboo house in the Philippines. The house has no

electricity and John’s father, a fisherman, earns just HK$372 a month. Last December, John was thrilled to receive a Box of Hope. It was the first gift he had even been given. Among all the toys, his favourites were a truck and a blue cap, which he wears when he walks to school, rain or shine. John says his toys are so precious to him that he worries about sharing them in case they get broken or lost. Sometimes he lets his best friend, Rey, play with his truck.

John Paul moved in with his grandmother when his parents separated and abandoned him. They survive on just HK$186 a month.

John’s most treasured possessions arrived in his Box of Hope. The gift wrapping still looks as tidy as it did seven months ago when John received the first present of his life.

Inside was a toothbrush and toothpaste, a hat, a book and a Spongebob Squarepants toy, which he has played with every day since. Each evening, John carefully replaces his toy back inside its original box and puts it safely on a ledge where it will be safe, dry and clean until tomorrow.

Please email your letters to editor@saikung.com. We may edit for length.

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news

in the know

New hotels in TKO Just in time for granny season, two new international hotels have opened above Tseung Kwan O MTR station and PopCorn Mall. Upscale business hotel Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East opened in September, with the more budgetoriented Holiday Inn Express Kowloon East receiving its first guests on October 26.

The Crowne Plaza has 359 guestrooms, a Sense of Touch spa with seven treatment rooms, 25-metre outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and several restaurants (for details, see page 25). Its crowning glory is a rooftop alfresco bar and Italian restaurant, Cielo, with lovely views of Junk Bay. “Being the first international-branded upscale hotel in Kowloon East, the Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East will benefit from the rapid development of the ‘new’ Central Business District of Hong Kong,” said general manager Dominique Berhoet. “We are expecting a very strong demand in corporate, MICE and leisure markets, with vibrant and emerging business activities in the former Kai Tak airport, Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay, and the completion of Kai Tak cruise terminal in mid-2013.”

During the opening promotion, a 20 per cent discount means rooms are available from $1,600 a night. Guestrooms are spacious by Hong Kong hotel standards at 30 sqm to 90 sqm, with floor-to-ceiling windows and glasswalled en suites with bathtubs and separate rain showers.

It has extensive meeting facilities and one of the largest ballrooms in Hong Kong, able to seat 1,000 people, which is expected to do brisk business come wedding season.

The Holiday Inn Express Kowloon East offers good value for money, with its 300 rooms (20 sqm-22 sqm) going for as little as $855 a night during the opening promotion period. It achieved 100 per cent occupancy on opening night.

It offers, “smart travelers a fresh, clean, uncomplicated hotel experience with good value, great service and relevant amenities.” That includes a scent designed exclusively for Holiday Inn. Both hotels are at 3 Tong Tak Street, Tseung Kwan O. Crowne Plaza: 3983 0388.

Holiday Inn Express: 3199 5588. Tseung Kwan O MTR, Exit C.

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news

Diggers destroy Pak Sha O wetland

Here be dragons This year’s Dragon Run surfski and outrigger races take place on November 10. The long race once again pits paddlers against the elements on a 24km route from Clearwater Bay to the Nine Pins, past the harbour and around Cape D’Aguilar to Stanley Main Beach. The “short” route is a challenging 9km loop from the Hong Kong Sea School in Stanley. Strictly for the hardy, just getting out of Clearwater Bay can be hazardous on a big-wave day, with 10-20 knot winds expected. Cheer them on at 10am, Clearwater Bay Beach.

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A beautiful, rare wetland in Pak Sha O has been cleared and drained in what could potentially be the first step in the redevelopment of the historic Hakka village.

A Tai Po company, Xinhua Bookstore Xiang Jian Group, has secured about 40 per cent of saleable land in the village and earlier this year applied to build two Spanish-style villas in the middle of the immaculately preserved and much-loved community. Last month, the diggers moved in, draining three hectares of previously pristine wetland.

“Excavation machines have started digging up dirt, draining the wetlands and destroying plants,” James Wong Ming of the Friends of Sai Kung told the South China Morning Post.

“We speculate [the developer] is using a ‘first destroy, then develop’ policy here to do what they want.”

The problem is one of zoning. Pak Sha O is one of 35 unprotected private zones within Hong Kong’s country parks. While the government is aware of the problem, it can take more than three years to draw up Development Permission Area (DPA) plans and rezone the land. In the meantime, the unzoned land is vulnerable to developers.

“Pak Sha O has a diverse ecological profile and one of the best-conserved villages in Hong Kong, and is now under huge development pressure,” Wong told the Post. “If this is still not worthy of conservation and protection, what is?”

HK fashion degrees launched Wannabe fashion designers now have the option of taking a bachelor’s or master’s degree in fashion at SCAD Hong Kong (Savannah College of Art and Design). Already available in SCAD’s US campuses, the four new courses are in fashion, fashion and marketing management, and luxury and fashion management. John Paul Rowan, Vice President for SCAD Hong Kong, said, “The newly introduced fashion programs will add to Hong Kong’s appeal as a regional international education hub. Indeed, a number of SCAD fashion student in the United States have already enrolled to study in Hong Kong.” For details, visit scad.edu.

Pictures: Louise Butcher

slice of life

Giving face Artist Alex Croft got his cans out for G.O.D’s Delay No More graffiti mural. By Carla Schael.

Why did you choose Sai Kung as a “canvas”?

I’ve been painting shop shutters around Sai Kung since 2005. I like Sai Kung. I’ve watched it develop, living here for 12 years, and consider it home. It’s a strange little place, where so many different people meet. I have many good memories here. But I don’t want to limit myself to Sai Kung. I intend to, hopefully, paint large works all over Hong Kong.

How did you get involved with G.O.D? I noticed G.O.D had a large blank wall and relayed my interest in collaborating. To my delight, they contacted me after checking out my work. Creatively, it was very free and open, with hardly any preconceived notions. The designers at G.O.D were very accepting of what I wanted to do. I like to

draw faces as they appeal to a lot of people; they can recognize a face more easily than written graffiti.

I like to paint faces in a traditional graffiti style.

What inspires your work?

Growing up in many places – including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UK – life itself is the inspiration. Graffiti and street art are an inspiration. I look at the city in a different way; I see the spaces and blank walls as a canvas. My father has always been an artist,

encouraging me to draw. He and his artwork are a great influence in my life. A Hong Kong artist who has always been an inspiration is Big Mad, aka 13177 (“Big” spelled numerically).

Where did you train?

I went to King George V School and recently finished a degree in fine art illustration and photography at Kingston University in England.

I like to use walls as a canvas and the camera to document the work. I like spray paint as a medium. I enjoy the process of creation.

Tell us about Sai Kung’s art scene.

Sai Kung has a lot of potential to develop and become a key place for young Hong Kong artists to congregate. It would be nice if Sai Kung could become the Bristol or Brighton of Hong Kong.

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local Senior Consultant Editor Jane Steer jane@saikung.com Managing Editor William Whitaker william@fastmedia.com.hk

Sketch show Author Lorette E. Roberts tells Carolynne Dear how her iconic sketchbooks started as a leaving present.

wildflowers and so on, I miss the energy of Hong Kong. The farmhouse is full of Chinese artifacts from our time here.”

Roberts has also ensured her little piece of England now celebrates Lunar New Year. “I’m still not sure what the locals think,” she says, chuckling. “But I host a big party where we dress up in an Anglicised version of Chinese New Year, I buy dim sum from the local supermarket and we have a really fun night.”

And so Roberts, who began her career as a botanical artist but never had formal art training, set about sketching and painting hundreds of images of Hong Kong until eventually they were bursting from her notebook.

“It was a lot of work,” she admits. When friends pointed out it was also a lot of effort for a leaving present, Roberts decided to turn her sketches into a book.

“Obviously it had to be full-colour, and as some of the images were large and had to fold out, selfpublishing was the only option.”

Sketches of Hong Kong enjoyed great success, and Roberts found a publisher, Blacksmith Books, for a second edition plus books dedicated to Sai Kung, Stanley, SoHo, China and Singapore. She is working on a book of sketches for Vietnam.

“I’m trying to capture the traditional aspect of the country, elements of which are quickly disappearing. For instance, I love the traditional dress, but I don’t think it will be worn forever. Of course, the Vietnamese should

Roberts has led a peripatetic existence, following her civilengineer husband from one continent to another, landing in Hong Kong in 1998.

“Like all expats we were constantly on the verge of leaving,” she says. “This went on for eight enjoyable years, and when it finally looked like we definitely would be going, I decided to put together a book of sketches to give to my husband as a sort of leaving present.”

be able to dress as the rest of the world does, but it just seems a bit of a shame to see these beautiful costumes disappearing from the streets,” she says.

Her books include iconic images, such as the Star Ferry, the Peak Tram, Victoria Harbour, but Roberts says she is much more interested in people.

“I love to watch people at work.

There are so many craftsmen in Hong Kong, like the lantern makers, many of which are

Art Director Sammy Ko sammy@fastmedia.com.hk Graphic Designer Carly Tonna carly@fastmedia.com.hk Sales Manager Nobel Cho nobel@fastmedia.com.hk Accounts Manager Clara Chan accounts@fastmedia.com.hk Publisher Tom Hilditch tom@fastmedia.com.hk This month’s contributors Coco Marett Carolynne Dear Graham Uden Iain Lafferty David Diskin Jane Ram Robby Nimmo Stephen Vines Cynthia Smillie Sally Andersen Aaron Lai Christine Or Timmy Lee Kevin Yeung Alasdair Nicol Carla Schael Printer Gear Printing 1/F, Express Industrial Bldg 43 Heung Yip Road Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong Published by Fast Media Limited Floor LG1 222, Queens Road Central Hong Kong Give us a call!

Editorial: 2776 2773 Advertising: 2776 2772 Sai Kung Magazine is published by Fast Media Ltd. This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Fast Media Ltd 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 in any way, part or format without written permission from the publisher.

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“It’s been a great visit,” declares Lorette E. Roberts of her latest trip to China, settling back with a flat-white coffee in the comfortable, old-world confines of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club. An artist, publisher and teacher, Roberts is best-known for her wonderfully illustrated sketch books, depicting through beautifully crafted drawings and paintings the minutia of life in the SAR. A Hong Kong resident for eight years, Roberts is now happily ensconced in a pretty Suffolk village in Britain, but returns to the city twice a year to catch up on life in Asia, and to run successful watercolour classes.

“It’s great being back in the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong, such a change from the slow pace of rural England,” she says. “I love the contrast. I think I have the best of both worlds.”

These days, Roberts works in a 400-year-old English farmhouse, her easel lit by several red Hong Kong market lampshades hanging from the ancient beams.

“I know, it’s fabulous, isn’t it?” she says, laughing. “Those lamps are so Hong Kong. Although I love the tranquillity of my home, the changing seasons and the

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quick draw

Scenes from Sketches of Sai Kung.

becoming lost skills.”

She photographs anything she finds interesting, returning home to sketch the scene.

“I don’t leave the house with any sort of plan in the morning. Scenes just sort of happen,” she says. “One of my favourite images came from sitting down on a break in the Art Museum. Suddenly, all these little schoolchildren came running in and knelt down in front of me, backs facing me, to view the harbour. I had this wonderful view of lots of little feet – fantastic. It’s turned out to be a very popular image.”

Every picture tells a tale, and one with a interesting story is the old Police Station in Stanley, scene

of the last tiger shooting in Hong Kong in the 1940s. Roberts was amazed to receive a letter from a reader about the shooting.

“It was from an American who was born in Stanley prison during the war. He said to avoid disturbing the other prisoners, his mother would sneak outside onto the verandah at night to rock him back to sleep. One night she was sitting, rocking and dozing, when she opened her eyes to see a tiger standing right in front of her. Paralyzed with fear and not knowing what to do, she sat motionless clutching her baby until the tiger eventually just wandered off. No one believed

her in the morning, until news reached the prison a few days later that a tiger had been shot and killed in Stanley.”

Roberts lived in Mid-Levels during her time in Hong Kong (“wonderful”), but admits to loving the villages and the history of Hong Kong.

“In the New Territories, you can still find villages that grow fields of watercress. I find this fascinating.”

Her curiosity has won her invitations into people’s homes throughout Asia, to the consternation of her husband.

“I think he worries about me, disappearing off on my own into rural China, but I’ve enjoyed

9/6/11 4:01 PM

such lovely hospitality from local people who see me sketching. It’s funny, people often object to being photographed, but don’t seem to mind being sketched.”

But for now it’s back to Suffolk, a packed schedule of art classes and the Vietnamese sketchbook to complete. And she is also in the throes of planning an art exhibition that will bring her back to Hong Kong next spring.

For more information about Roberts, her classes, exhibitions and books, please visit www.loretteroberts.com.

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interview

prima ballerina we have made many friends. Our three-year-old son is very extrovert and settled into Sai Kung life pretty quickly.

I found it very easy to open a business here as there’s less bureaucracy and corruption.

Leila Alpiyeva The Slovak National Theatre’s former principal dancer tells Robby Nimmo why she set up the Russian Ballet School in Sai Kung.

I teach children from seven years. Muscles are not really ready before seven and the brain and body co-ordination is not yet established for serious ballet.

There is no age limit for adults learning ballet. I encourage people to fulfil their dreams, no matter how old they are. I had one Chinese woman whose parents had not let her learn ballet as a child, so at 56, and very successful in her legal career, she decided to take it up and I gave her private lessons. You’re never too old to try.

I’d like to encourage boys to also come along. Even if they don’t stick with ballet, it is wonderful for developing strength, stamina and coordination for other sports.

I have small classes with personal instruction where people learn ballet the Vaganova way.

I am the only Russian ballet teacher in Hong Kong, I believe.

The Russian approach to ballet is different. It is about expression, discipline, grace and elegance.

This is what I encourage in my school.

Sai Kung is the right place and this is the right time for a unique school such as this.

I come from Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan in the former Soviet republic.

We are very physical people. Apart from ballet, Kazakhstan is also known for weightlifting, boxing and gymnastics. It’s a vast country with a population of only 16 million but we won seven gold medals at the London Olympics.

studied from 8am to 8pm, six days a week.

Soviet ballet was based on strict discipline and that is why they get results. I am 38 and I have been dancing professionally for 20 years.

The Soviet mentality was not very outwardlooking. It focused on perfect technique. In that regime, if you were a principal dancer, your life was quite restricted.

Fate is a wonderful thing. While my son was snowboarding in my country, I met my (now) husband’s older brother, a banker working in Kazakhstan, who introduced me to Martin. He had lived in the United States for 10 years, three years in Portugal and another two in Singapore.

Our ancestors go back to Genghis Khan. He seized the whole region and his descendants held it for 500 years. As a nation, we are made up of more than 100 different nationalities. A long time ago, Kazakh people were nomads from Hungary.

I shared his dream for a destiny that took me to other countries. From age 12, I had a vision to visit other countries and to experience them beyond a superficial level. I hoped as a ballerina this would be possible. I went to Switzerland to dance in 1991 when I was 17 and that set things in motion.

I have always loved to dance. I finished professional ballet school in 1992, the year of the country’s independence. It was very strict and about 100 students applied for every place.

For eight years, from age nine, we trained and

In 2007, I moved to London when my eldest son was 14. We came to Hong Kong when my husband accepted a position from an American bank. We found life liberating here in Hong Kong. It is so cosmopolitan and, as a family,

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I am optimistic about my school. Success doesn’t happen overnight. All businesses take time, passion and dedication. I’d like to open a second school on the island early next year.

I am presently doing the documentation for a male teacher from Almaty to come here to Hong Kong. He has more than 20 years experience on the stage and seven years as a teacher.

Sunday is my only day off. We love to have guests around to our house for barbecues, or to have family time.

Sai Kung is so different from Weybridge, England, where I lived for four years and my eldest son and I were the only Russian speakers. In Sai Kung everybody is so cosmopolitan, it doesn’t matter what language you speak, where you come from or where you are headed next – you fit in.

Russian Ballet school runs private lessons and classes for children from the age of seven to adults. 787 Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, 2159 4192, www.russianballetschool-hk.com.

vines in sai kung

stephen says

Confession concession Stephen Vines tackles the illegal structure conundrum and mainland tourists.

The problem with confessions To fess up or not to fess up that has been the question for practically every homeowner in the New Territories for the past few months.

The question arises because the government announced property owners reporting certain types of unauthorized building works would be given an undefined amnesty.

There are few New Territories' houses that do not have something the government would consider to be an unauthorized structure, be it a little canopy, something-or-other on the roof and many, many more things. This is a problem for anyone other than well-connected property owners, who seem able to add to their properties at will while the bureaucrats look the other way.

So most people have to make a decision.

But as ever with government edicts, it is not clear what the government regards as being acceptable for the amnesty. Moreover, there is no guarantee that, even if certain structures are acceptable for the time being, anyone registering them will not be required to take them away in the future.

Little wonder the initial response to this amnesty was miserable. The deadline has been extended to the end of the year, so anyone still pondering has time to make up their minds. By the by, while they’re doing so it is worth being reminded that nothing is free in this life. Any structure being reported has to be signed off as safe by a registered person, many of whom are going to make a packet out of this scheme.

Commonsense will resolutely not be applied in this matter because bureaucrats are involved – they are loath to let go of powers and even more loath to deal with priorities. The

way they work is government by numbers. In this instance, they like to say they have tackled X number of unauthorized structures without distinguishing between structures that present real safety issues and those that do not.

The Hong Kong bureaucracy is particularly bad because in our cockamamie system of government the bureaucrats become policymakers – it’s a bit like giving matches to small children and wondering why they start fires. Bureaucrats like to play with files and petty rules and regulations that keep many people employed and create a regime of largely mindless regulations.

Well, I suppose it’s better than the system across the border where rule of law is something else altogether and bureaucrats earn their real money from backhanders.

Why can’t they spend their money somewhere else?

For some reason, probably to do with the lack of mega shopping malls, Sai Kung has been “spared” the invasion of mainland visitors.

Apparently they do really terrible things like take up space, spend lots of money in the local economy and talk loudly in Putonghua, the language we’re all supposed to be learning.

In case anyone has forgotten Hong Kong is supposed to be one of the world’s best destinations and the government pours bucket loads of cash into the hapless Hong Kong Tourism Association to encourage more people to come.

It seems many people across the border heard about this visitor stuff and decided to take a look. Hong Kong residents are apparently up in arms precisely because they have done so.

Someone needs to explain this. Why are Chinese less acceptable as visitors than Americans? Or, to put it another way, have you ever heard of a place that complains quite so bitterly about people bringing in cash and spending it?

Okay, I know what makes people upset but I can’t help wondering whether these are the same people who join tours groups to Thailand, demand to eat Chinese food wherever they go, hunt in packs for bargains and are not exactly quiet. The bottom line is this – if you set out your stall to attract tourists you really should not complain when they arrive. On the contrary, you should be accommodating.

As for tourism to Sai Kung, well that’s an entirely different matter and frankly I am sufficiently curmudgeonly to resent people pouring in here from faraway place like Hong Kong island. But that’s just me.

Stephen Vines is a journalist, broadcaster and entrepreneur. He is the former editor of the Eastern Express and Southeast Asia correspondent for The Observer.

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 17

Picture: Graham Uden

feature

Ham Tin Wan in Tai Long Wan.

The houseguest guide 10 great places to take visitors in Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay. 1. Tai Long Wan Hong Kong’s most spectacular beaches comprise four long stretches of pristine silver sand, turquoise rollers blowing in from the Philippines and emerald mountains, with scarcely a footprint in sight. A few surfers ride the waves, a feral cow family trots along the sand, and red-faced hikers blow the froth off a cold beer or two at Hoi Fung Store on Ham Tin beach. Occasionally a helicopter drops off a wealthy urban refugee direct from the roof of the Peninsula. It could be Bali, except our beaches are more beautiful and less crowded.

We have yet to meet anybody who says it’s not worth the legwork required to get there.

Catch a cab to the pagoda at the end of Sai Kung Sai Wan Road in the country park and walk (downhill) for 40 minutes to Sai Wan, the calmest of the beaches. Catch your breath at the Oriental beachfront restaurant, then follow the trail over the headland to Ham Tin where Hoi Fung Store rents surfboards and tents. Alternatively, take the 94/96R bus from Sai Kung to Wong Shek Pier, then follow the MacLehose Trail to Chek Keng and over the ridge to Tai Long Wan and some amazing views.

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2. Mystery Night Paddling It’s officially “winter”, but with temperatures hovering in the mid-20s and the sea almost as warm as the air, we’re betting visitors will be keen to dip their toes in the ocean. More active types can try Sai Kung’s myriad watersports through Blue Sky Sports Club, which offers everything from kayaking to dragon-boating.

Take a stand-up paddle boarding lesson then

try its latest activity, the Mystery Night Paddling Trip. A moonlit adventure on the calm waters of Inner Port Shelter, it’s a chance to get upclose and personal with the area’s nighttime marine life – hopefully including bio-luminescent plankton that sparkles magically under your feet and leaves a glittering trail in your wake. $380 per person, 7.30pm-9pm, for a minimum of four people. Details at www.bluesky-sc.com.

Mystery Night Paddling.

3. Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, Sha Tin This is one of the quirkiest and most interesting monasteries in the territory, not least because of the embalmed body of its founder, Reverend Yuet Kai, that sits in the lotus position, covered in gold leaf, in a glass case in front of the main altar.

Labelled “The Diamond Indestructible Body of Yuexi”, it’s a bizarre (but not terrifying) spectacle with a certain ghoulish fascination. Reverend Yuet was a philosopher, poet, monk and skilled lyre player who founded the monastery in 1949.

Eight months after he passed away in 1965, his body was exhumed in line with his wishes and found to be perfectly preserved.

The monastery’s other attractions are less gruesome. It is reached by 431 steps (starting close to IKEA; signposted from Sha Tin Station), lined with 500 life-sized statues. There are five temples, containing about 13,000 gold ceramic Buddha statues each with a different pose and expression and engraved with the name of a donor, plus a nine-storey pagoda and various galleries and pavilions that are worth a visit.

4. Sheung Luk Stream Leaping off an eight-metre cliff into a deep, cool pool fed by a pristine waterfall in Sheung Luk Stream is a Sai Kung rite of passage. It’s not for the faint-hearted; just scrambling up the cliff requires a head for heights and jumping off is a mind-spinning leap of faith. But this is undoubtedly the finest stream in Hong Kong and hours of entertainment. (Don’t take our word for it, check out the videos on YouTube.) Sheung Luk Stream lies between Sai Wan and Ham Tin Wan, in Sai Kung East Country Park so combine a visit with a trip to Tai Long Wan for the ultimate adventure day out.

Take the MacLehose Trail to the north end of Sai Wan beach, then follow the pretty stream uphill for 10 minutes to a series of pools – the upper pool is the largest and deepest. Leap, swim, picnic, make memories. Campers report having the place all to themselves until about 11am even on summer weekends, so overnight on Sai Wan (there are simple rooms and beach camping available) to really make the most of it.

Sheung Luk Stream.

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Picture: Stephen Edwards

feature

feature 5. Sai Kung old town The heart of Sai Kung district for about a century, the one-time fishing village and market has benefited from a government-funded regeneration project that has gentrified and upgraded its streets. That translates into new brick paving, pagoda-topped information boards, an attractive square outside the Tin Hau Temple and a whole new boho vibe. The food stalls, marine suppliers and mechanics are disappearing and in their place is a funky mixture of independent shops, cafes and restaurants.

But the character of the area remains essentially unchanged: narrow alleyways, small shops, chatting neighbours and local craftsmen. Light incense in the temple, sample Chinese tea in the teashop on See Cheung Street or a Kopi Lewak coffee across the road in Colour Brown. Browse the eco-friendly goods at Green Earth Society, learn to throw clay in the new pottery studio or take an art class at Anastassia’s Art House, have a manicure in the beauty salons, or shop for French gourmet treats in D’Oli deli. With new shops and restaurants popping up almost weekly, there’s something for everyone.

Go on, get lost...

6. Tin Hau Temple, Joss House Bay Once a year, on Tin Hau Festival, up to 50,000 people and hundreds of boats descend on Hong Kong’s oldest Tin Hau Temple, dedicated to the goddess of the sea in 1266. For the devout, it’s a chance to pay their respects and perhaps fumble under the quilt on the Dragon Bed in a side hall for a lucky lotus seed for fertility or lai see packet for wealth. Avoid the 23rd day of the third lunar month (usually in May), however, and this is a tranquil place.

Keen walkers can hike from the High Junk Peak Trail in Clearwater Bay. The rest of us may prefer to catch green minibus 16 from Po Lam to Po Toi O, alighting at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club, and walk 10 minutes down the steps near the club gate. Sailing junk Aqua Luna runs day trips from Victoria Harbour to the temple every Thursday for $340/person ($200 for children under 11), including dim sum lunch and one drink.

Details at www.aqua.com.hk, 2116 8821.

Illustration: Leonardo Chu, HKDI

7. Sheung Yiu Folk Museum This restored 19th-century fortified Hakka village in Sai Kung Country Park offers a glimpse of what life was like for the Wong clan, who settled there 150 years ago to produce lime for the building industry. It’s midway along the Sheung Yiu Family Walk, which also hooks up with the Pak Tam Chung Nature Trail.

Take bus 94 or 96R from Sai Kung town to the first stop beyond the country park gate, or park at the gate and walk to the head of the signposted trail at Fat Kee store. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm, and entrance is free.

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feature 8. Junk tripping Surely the finest way to spend a Hong Kong weekend is aboard a junk, whether it’s a sunset cruise of Victoria Harbour or a day partying off Millionaire’s Beach in Sai Kung Country Park.

Aqua Luna runs daily 45-minute cocktail cruises aboard an upmarket handcrafted traditional junk with red sails (www.aqua.com.hk, 2116 8821.

Jaspa’s Party Junks are surely the most fun way to experience Sai Kung’s pretty beaches, and entertaining houseguests is the perfect excuse (not that you need one). Featuring Jaspa’s legendary service, the Sea Breeze cocktails flow all day and an apparently neverending series of dishes appear from the galley.

Just bring a towel, up to 40 friends and $600 a head (children under four $100; under-12s $200). Reservations at 2792 6001, www. casteloconcepts.com.

Left: Sai Kung old town and Tin Hau Temple, Joss House Bay. Right: Hap Mun Beach.

9. Kau Sai Chau Golf Club Take the solar-powered ferry from the Sai Kung waterfront (near the swimming pool) through Inner Port Shelter to beautiful Kau Sai Chau for a buffet lunch in the clubhouse (11.30am2.30pm, $130 each, including ferry and shuttle bus). Hit a few balls at the drop-in driving range, or book a round on one of the three 18-hole courses – although you’ll need to show a handicap card to play. Details at www.kscgolf.org.hk, 2791 3388.

Best beaches Hoi Ha Pristine beach with starfish and coral in a marine preserve in Sai Kung Country Park. Kayaks and snorkels for hire, eco-tours (10.30am). Minibus 7 from Sai Kung.

Trio Gorgeous beach, divided in two by rocky outcrop. Barbecues and facilities. Hike 45 mins from Che Keng Tuk Road (near SKIP kindergarten), or take sampan from Pak Sha Wan Pier; green minibus 101 or 1M. Clearwater Bay Second Beach Long sweep of sand with facilities (changing rooms, rafts, shark nets). Accessed by several flights of steps. Tai Au Mun Road, Clearwater Bay. Bus 91 from Choi Hung, minibus 16 from Po Lam. Silverstrand Small beach off Clearwater Bay Road at bottom of several flights of steps.

Municipal facilities, bus and parking. Bus 91 from Choi Hung, minibus 16 from Po Lam. Hap Mun Half Moon Bay is a crescent of white sand reached by kaido (ferry) from Sai Kung waterfront. Barbecues, small shop and municipal facilities.

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feature 10. Michelin-recommended seafood A couple of years ago, Sai Kung old town restaurant Loaf On won the area’s first ever Michelin star for its mighty fine take on Cantonese seafood. Near neighbour Chuen Kee – located on the waterfront – also has an entry in the guide. For good reason. Sai Kung’s fishing fleet may be diminished but our seafood tanks are still sloshing over with weird and wonderful marine life: elephantine geoducks, prehistoric

horseshoe crabs and once, memorably, a fivefoot shark. Go trad at Chuen Kee: pick a fish, a catty or two of prawns, squid, shellfish or lobster, then hand the squirming bags over to your waitress with cooking instructions. The more squeamish may prefer Loaf On, where you can choose to order from the menu without looking dinner in the eye. Loaf On, 49 See Cheung Street, Sai Kung, 2792 9966. Chuen Kee, 51-55 Hoi Pong Street, Sai Kung, 2791-1195

Where to eat...

Set lunch Soup, main course and a drink for less than $100 a head try Okapi (67 Man Nin Street, 2791 5068), Dim sum Beach Cuisine serves good dim sum from an English menu in a beachfront location five minutes’ walk from Sai Kung.

Sha Ha Beach, Tai Mong Tsai Road, Sai Kung, 2792 4990.

Fine-dining Gorgeous One-Thirtyone has a tiny dining room, waterside lawns and exquisite multi-course prix fixe menu.

Reservations essential. 131 Tseng Tau Village, Shap Sze Heung, 2791 2684.

Peking duck It’s the house speciality at upmarket northern Chinese restaurant Sha Tin 18, Hyatt Regency Sha Tin, 18 Chak Cheung Street, Sha Tin, 3723 1234.

Picture: Aaron Lai

Sunday roast Hebe One O One does an excellent Sunday roast with all the trimmings. 112 Pak Sha Wan, 2335 5515.

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wine

it's crisp

Great white

Wine events Nov 1-4 Wine and Dine Festival Don’t miss the Grand Tasting Pavilion for fine wines.

West Kowloon Cultural Area.

Free entrance. Details at www.discoverhongkong.com.

Alasdair Nicol loves chardonnay, and isn’t afraid to admit it.

ABC? That’s so last century.

Anything But Chardonnay was the mantra of the 1990s and early noughties, when there were a lot of bad chardonnays on the market – over-oaked, too full-bodied wines, many from Australia, that were virtually undrinkable. But things have changed and – I’ll admit it – I love chardonnay It’s time to revisit these wines.

In most parts of the wine-making world, chardonnay has become a more tender varietal and the wine is made with more care and thought.

Another commonly heard phrase: “Oh, I don’t drink chardonnay, but I love Chablis.”

Chablis, my friends, is chardonnay from Burgundy. If you like Chablis, you’ll like chardonnay.

Come on people, you are missing out on many of the world’s great white wines.

California is producing some amazing chardonnays that have strength and power, but with subtle creaminess and finesse, not unlike those from Chablis. New Zealand is making some of the best chardonnays on the planet, with some being mistaken for Chablis in blind tastings by well-regarded wine professionals.

The dreaded Aussie chardonnay is no longer to be feared. There are some fantastic

Nov 6 New Zealand Family of 12 Wine Dinner Pairing Kiwi wine and Italian food. Scala Restaurant, Renaissance Harbour View Hotel. Tickets $850 from nicholem@villamaria.co.nz.

wines coming from the country’s slightly cooler areas. Chardonnays from Margaret River in Western Australia are a little more feminine, while those from Adelaide Hills in South Australia benefit from being grown at a higher altitude.

If your fear of chardonnay stems from the presence of oak in the wine, look towards Spain, which is producing some great unwooded chardonnay. Unoaked wines are also coming from the new world, and they will tell you this on the label. Unwooded chardonnay is crisp and clean,

refreshing to the max, perfect for our climate and pairs excellently with Hong Kong’s seafood dishes.

Now is the time to try it, with the cooler weather encouraging us to drink white wines with a little more body and character. Then put the days of ABC behind you.

Alasdair Nicol blogs about wine in Hong Kong at www. winetimeshk.blogspot. com Contact him at agsnicol@gmail.com

Recommended wines Kumeu River Chardonnay 2009, New Zealand Fine bouquet with good depth and intensity. The wine is elegantly proportioned and has notes of peach and minerals with a light oaky spiciness. Great textured body and creamy finish.

A must for chardonnay lovers. $220 from Wine ’n’ Things (www.winenthings.com.hk).

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Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Chardonnay 2009 Wonderful aromas reminiscent of a high-quality Californian chardonnay that really surprises.

Drinks well, a real break away from the normal associations of Chinese wine. Well worth a try and good value for money. $218 from Telford Wine and Spirits.

Nov 6 Sweet Bordeaux Night Tasting of sweet wines from Sauternes. 6.30pm-10pm, Mariners Rest, Hullett House, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tickets $220$250 from Hullett House, Tivo (Wyndham Street, Central), Shiro (Hysan Place, Causeway Bay) and Le Marmite (Staunton Street, Central) or call 3988 0000.

Nov 7 Zachy’s Fine Wine Auction Pick up a crate at the Mandarin Oriental, Connaught Road Central. For details, visit www.zachys.com.

Nov 10 Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 10am to 5pm.

Admission on the door $200.

Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay 2010, Australia One of my favourite chardonnays does not come cheap. This is the pinnacle of Penfolds white wine-making – a crisp and refreshing wine with plenty of character and a long, unwavering finish. $220 from Watson’s Wine Cellar.

eating

roof with a view

Sunset at Cielo on the roof at Crowne Plaza Kowloon East

What’s new in TKO Two new international hotels offer a wealth of dining options.

Cielo Rooftop terraces are the new big thing in Hong Kong, and now there’s one right on our doorstep.

Perched way up on the 47th floor, Cielo is a rooftop bar and Italian restaurant with a large terrace and sweeping views across Junk Bay. It gets our vote for sundowners, with its funky outdoor furniture and soft mood lighting creating a chic setting for cocktails – the signature TKO Fizz or a cheeky Cosmopolitan, perhaps. On the menu are Italian classics such as osso bucco, homemade pasta – maybe a spinach and ricotta raviolio with rocket and tomato sauce ($138) – or the more contemporary mushroom cappuccino with truffle cheese ($88). A two-course lunch set starts at $138, and two-course dinner set at $288. 47/F, Crowne Plaza Kowloon East, 3983 0688.

INA by Inagiku Good news for tempura fans: INA by Inagiku is part of a storied restaurant chain, spun off from one of Tokyo’s oldest and most famous restaurants, Inagiku, which traces its history to 1866. The original is famed for its tempura and, sure enough, you can expect plenty of perfectly battered produce at this “vice-line” restaurant.

Also on the menu are teppanyaki, sushi and sashimi, served in a cosmpolitan setting. It’s an independently operated outlet, and sister to Inagiku in the Four Seasons Hong Kong and the Royal Garden Kowloon. Open daily 11am3pm and 6pm-11pm, 2/F, Holiday Inn Express Kowloon East, 2623 2300.

Tze Yuet Heen Water as it might be depicted in a Chinese ink painting sets the theme at this tranquil modern Cantonese restaurant.

That translates into a meandering curved wall, a gently swirling carpet and carp artwork on walls and window treatments casting fishy shadows across the tables. An award-winning chef rocks the woks, turning out a delicious array of dim sum and dishes such as sauteed scallops with pea pods, diced beef with macadamia nuts in rice-paper nest and braised pork rib in sweet plum sauce. Yum. 2/F, Crowne Plaza Kowloon East, 3983 0688.

The Chef’s Table This place has set hearts pounding, with buffet fans swarming to its lunch, afternoon tea and dinner smorgasbords. So much so, in fact, that the dinner buffet is already sold out through the end of November – and that’s only because the Christmas season prices had yet to be set at the time of writing. It’s a pleasant, contemporary dining space, with natural materials and warm colours setting a cosy mood for open cooking stations and tables groaning with local and international goodies. Lunch buffet starts at $188, tea at $98 and dinner $368 (concessions for children and seniors). 1/F, Crowne Plaza Kowloon East, 3983 0688.

JIN Cuisine Shanghainese delicacies are the order of the day in this independent restaurant, which this month means mouthwatering hairy crab dishes.

It’s a calm, serene contemporary space in which to indulge in delicate xiao long bao and other dim sum and the robust flavours of Shanghai’s classic dishes. 2/F, Holiday Inn Express Kowloon East, 2623 2333.

Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East and Holiday Inn Express Kowloon East are both at 3 Tak Tong Street, Tseung Kwan O. Tseung Kwan O MTR, Exit C. Free parking with purchases of $300 or more.

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 25

eating

Nibbles Fondue returns The cool weather brings many good things, and at Cafe at the Hyatt Regency Sha Tin that includes Swiss fondue.

Rib-sticking, messy and designed to be shared, it’s a hotpot of melted cheesy goodness (specifically emmental and gruyere, garlic, kirsch and sauvignon blanc; an alcohol-free version is available), scooped up with chunks of bread to a chorus of “mmmmmm”. Get your fix from November 1 to March 31.

18 Chak Cheung Street, Sha Tin, 3723 1234.

Half-price deal Occo and Piccolo’s are buzzing on Monday and Tuesday nights thanks to the half-price deal on main courses from the savvy people at Castelo Concepts. Under the offer, dishes from the mains, pizza, salad and pasta menus are two-for-one, with the cheapest meal coming free. So if you’ve ever fancied trying Occo’s legendary 8oz wagyu steak ($460) or grilled barramundi fillet ($215), Monday or Tuesday night, 6pm-9pm, is the time.

Occo Steak & Seafood: 18 Wan King Path, Sai Kung, 2791 1792. Piccolo’s: 20 Wan King Path, 2791 9233, www.casteloconcepts.com.

Pizzeria opens La Gondola Pizzeria has opened its third branch in See Cheung Street (it has branches in Central and Tsim Sha Tsui). Happily ensconced on what is fast becoming Sai Kung’s food street, the new pizzeria is small but turns out deliciously authentic Naples-style pizza, with crunchy thin-crust bases and many toppings imported from Italy. Drop by from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Thursday, and get two for the price of one. We’ve been hearing good things about the Four Seasons pizza ($118).

Salads, pasta and cupcakes are also available.

42 See Cheung Street, Sai Kung, 3480 1605.

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recipe

How to cook a Thanksgiving bird

By South Stream Seafoods

American Thanksgiving is nearly on us and Turkey Day, as it’s affectionately called, triggers an anticipatory mouth-watering response from diners and a clammy, cold sweat from newbie chefs. But you needn’t fear the fowl.

Which turkey to buy?

Conventionally raised birds such as Norbest and Butterball are pre-brined, ready to be stuffed and roasted. Free-range organic birds such as Eberly turkeys raised on Amish farms are not brined and you have the option of soaking them in salt water or roasting au naturel.

Buy Online!

Fast

How big should the turkey be? Conventional wisdom says to allow 1lb for each person; a 16lb bird will feed 16 people. I always buy the biggest bird that will fit in my oven as I love leftovers.

I put turkey slices in ziplock bags for sandwiches and use the bones to make gallons of turkey soup, which I freeze.

How do I defrost the turkey? No matter what method you decide on, keep the turkey in its original packing. The safest way is to leave the bird to defrost slowly in the fridge at a rate of approximately 5lbs a day.

It is not recommended that you leave it on the countertop to defrost as that invites bacteria. If you have to rush the bird along, place it in the sink and run cold water over it. Change the water every 30 minutes or leave the tap running slightly. Hopefully your sink has an overflow drain.

Is any additional preparation needed?

Slide one hand between the skin and meat and place chunks of butter under the skin. And put a good dollop of butter in the neck cavity before stuffing the bird. As the turkey cooks, this butter soaks into the meat, making it moist and adding to the flavour of the gravy drippings.

How long should the turkey be cooked?

Conventional birds have a pop-up timer and are pretty much idiot-proof. They are pre-basted and pumped with broth. But I’ve known pop-ups to fail and prefer using a meat thermometer.

Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C), and check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. It must reach 180°F (82°C) in the thigh of a whole turkey and the centre of the stuffing should reach 165°F (74°C).

Alternatively, pierce an unstuffed turkey in several places; juices should be clear with no trace of pink. Let the bird stand for 20 minutes before removing the stuffing and carving.

Brad’s tip: For a moist, juicy turkey, turn it from breast to back-side-up every 20-30 minutes using oven gloves. This way the breast and back alternatively soak up the buttery juice and ooze Thanksgiving goodness.

Amish turkeys?

Raised on Amish and Mennonite farms in Pennsylvania Dutch country, organic Eberly turkeys are free-range birds raised on traditional family farms.

Allowed to forage freely the birds develop naturally and are free of any genetically modified foods. This makes a meatier, leaner bird that tastes just as nature intended. Reserve your Eberly turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas by ordering online at www.south-stream-seafoods.com.

Tell us when you need it delivered and we’ll set it aside for your special day. We can even help you defrost it prior to your delivery date.

Let South Stream save you time this Thanksgiving and Christmas. Trying to put together a special meal can have you running around town like a turkey with its head chopped off.

We sell a range of different turkeys and ducks, sausage meat for stuffing and a host of other goodies to make your big meal a success… and it’s all delivered to your door.

Fresh Fantastic

Not enough room in your freezer? We’re happy to keep your bird until closer to the day and even help you defrost it if you desire.

Buy your turkey online at: www.south-stream-seafoods.com or call 2555 6200 WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 27

education Get with the programme Curious about IB in kindergartens? Principal Frances Hurley explains how it works at ESF Abacus International Kindergarten.

How are ESF International kindergartens different?

Our teachers are highly qualified Early Years’ practitioners committed to supporting children with their learning. We are currently all candidate schools for the International Baccalaureate Organisation Primary Years Programme (PYP). When we are authorised, we will be able to offer children a seamless education from kindergarten to Year 6 and easier transition to ESF primary or other IBO international schools.

ESF International Kindergartens are inclusive and accept children of different nationalities and abilities as we believe this fosters tolerance, empathy and respect. We also firmly believe one-size teaching does not fit all children; our teaching always provides for the individual child. We work from what the children already know, can do and are interested in and then challenge them to move to the next developmental stage. We focus on encouraging children to think, be independent learners and ask questions about the world.

As part of the larger ESF organisation, our teachers have opportunities for professional development ensuring high-quality teaching and learning in the classrooms.

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Our language programme offers classes for children that need support learning English and we run a Mandarin programme for children to learn a second language.

All our kindergartens have spacious, modern classrooms, with indoor and outdoor spaces for children to explore. They are well resourced with learning materials and technology tools such as iPads, interactive whiteboards and computers.

How important is play in early learning?

Play has a vitally important role in children’s learning. It is the tool children use to make sense of the world, try new things and practise the skills they have learned. We provide children with opportunities for free play, where the children choose their own activities, and play activities more directed by the teacher. All of these activities have explicit learning objectives ensuring children learn basic skills such as simple addition. During free play, the toys and resources available are planned to support learning and development.

Educational research has shown younger children learn better and are more likely to understand concepts if they have the opportunity to play and be actively involved in their own

learning rather than be taught by a teacher.

However, the teacher works with the children at the play activity, notices what the child is able to do and asks guiding questions, developing the activity for each individual child’s needs.

Play also provides great opportunities for children's language development, the high ratio of staff to children means children have trained supportive adults as strong language models, encouraging children to ask and answer questions and solve problems.

What are the core elements of the PYP curriculum?

PYP is an international curriculum taught in many international schools, including ESF primary schools. The PYP has six curriculum areas: languages (English and, in our kindergartens, Mandarin), mathematics, science, social studies (including early geography and history skills), arts (art, drama, dance and music), physical education and personal and social education.

The kindergartens teach four units of work a year, which are based around a concept and may include learning in several subject areas.

A concept might be “Recognising patterns and cycles helps us to understand our world”.

play's the thing Through this unit children might investigate patterns in art work, the environment and numbers, as well as their daily cycle, days of the week and animal lifecycles.

In addition, children are encouraged to develop communication skills, fine and gross motor skills and thinking skills. Through the personal and social component of the curriculum our children also learn to be a responsible and caring community member.

Tell us about your teaching staff.

The staff are highly qualified and dedicated.

All our teachers have at least a Post Graduate Education qualification or a degree in education.

Teaching in the early years is a specialised job that requires extra training because younger

children have different developmental needs and learn differently to older children. So we also make sure that our teachers have Early Years training and experience.

A qualified teacher leads each class, with one or more Educational Assistants, many of whom hold teaching or child-care qualifications. These staff endeavour to make sure every child receives equal attention and the right kind of stimulating questions, materials and challenges.

How do you prepare children for primary school?

A large part of our job is to prepare children with the basic skills for literacy, maths and science. However, we work hard to provide other important skills and attitudes children will need at school, such as how to be a caring friend and to be open-minded towards other people’s ideas. Independence is one of these skills. We encourage children to plan and gather the resources they need for each activity, which

helps them become independent. Problem solving is also an important skill, so we provide activities where children can practise their thinking, communication and negotiation skills.

Perhaps, the most important skills we encourage, however, are around learning itself.

We encourage children to ask questions and to learn how to find the answers. This might be by researching in a book, looking up the answer on the computer or asking an expert. Or it might be by working together to investigate, experiment and observe. For example, if a child asked "What colour are caterpillars?" the teacher might reply, “Great question, now how could we find that out?” The next day she might provide play activities, books about caterpillars, magnifying glasses and pots for collecting caterpillars from the garden, drawing and painting materials and real caterpillars for children to observe and paint.

In this way we encourage children to develop the skills for learning rather than just expecting to be given the answers.

ESF Abacus International Kindergarten, 1A Mang Kung Uk Road, Clearwater Bay, 2719 5712, www.esf.edu.hk.

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WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 29

sponsored column

Ready for your closeup Preparing your child for interviews and assessments at international schools.

Children as young as two and a half years old can be called for a screening interview or assessment at international schools in Hong Kong. These usually take place from November to March and can be a stressful time for parents and children. If schools cannot select the right students from the first round of applicants, they may invite a second round of interviewees.

Most interviews for are similar to a mini class with six to eight children engaging in group activities conducted by two or three teachers.

Your child’s English or Mandarin

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skills are not tested formally but through conversation. Neither are children asked to demonstrate skills and knowledge beyond their school age, such as reading or solving arithmetic problems above ageappropriate levels.

Help your child by ensuring he or she can understand and follow simple instructions. This is probably the most important aspect of an interview. Teachers check for lateral thinking as well as manners and confidence levels when the child responds to difficult questions.

Instill “etiquette”. Children are

expected to greet teachers formally and to thank them at the end. They should make good eye contact with the teacher.

Make sure your child is willing to respond and communicate.

Teachers often toss out a question to a group of children to see who will respond. Children are typically asked their names and about other family members, where they live or when their birthday is. Teachers may ask children about the activity and expect children to answer in complete sentences rather than one-word responses.

Build up your child’s interactive skills in various situations, which will relax them on the day. Attend drama clubs or practice interview preparation sessions. (ITS School Placements provides practice sessions from September to February every year).

Expose your child to activities they are likely to encounter at an interview, such as listening to stories, talking about what they read or drawing a picture of a special day.

Primary-level children may be tested on phonics, numbers

and basic reading skills. Fluency in English is essential for most international schools.

Some educators argue the best preparation is no preparation at all, because a child’s personality, talents and temperament shine naturally. It’s important not to bombard your child with questions that may make him or her nervous.

“The best advice I can give is to encourage your child to be as friendly and cooperative as possible with new teachers and children. In a child’s world, this equates to ‘be good’, ‘be nice’ and ‘play with other children’.” Anne Murphy, Director, ITS School Placements.

ITS School Placements provides an education consulting service that works with families and employers to find the right schools for individual children in Hong Kong, from nursery to secondary schools. ITS also offers research, policy and advisory services for corporations.

For more details, contact es@ tuition.com.hk or 3188 3940.

family

forward planning

Will power Carolynne Dear discovers why expats should get their estates in order.

Last night, I had an “admin evening”. I went through my email inbox, paid bills, responded to invitations, filled out forms and started planning a holiday. But what I could, and should, have been doing is taking care of something much more important – myself and my husband’s estate.

That wouldn’t surprise Todd Pallett, managing director at EXS Capital Group, who has been advising and drawing up wills for Hong Kong expats for 11 years.

“To me, it’s incredible, but people spend more time planning their holiday than their estate,” he says. “I would say nine out of 10 expats do not have any sort of will.”

Life moves fast in Hong Kong. And as a newbie to the territory, it’s even busier. By the time you’ve secured school places, unpacked furniture, found a helper, made some social contacts and got into some sort of rhythm at work, there’s not much spare time left.

So it’s unsurprising that the issue of estate management is pushed to the bottom of the “to do” pile.

But what many parents may not know is that

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under Hong Kong law, on the untimely demise of both parents, it is the courts that decide who will take care of your children. If no legal instruction has been left, or the legal instruction

has been made overseas and is hard to get hold of, your offspring become Wards of the State – in effect, orphans.

Mum-of-three Sarah Williams is typical of many expats who assume a will “back home” covers everything.

“We have wills in Australia covering legal guardianship and inheritance,” she says. “I just assumed Australian law would take care of any issues. In my naivety, I haven’t looked into whether this would be the case.”

Pallett advises: “If your guardians live overseas, deeds of interim guardianship need to

be put in place in Hong Kong. Of course the Hong Kong Government doesn’t like to step in and remove children from their home, but if there are no other instructions it is forced to do so.

“I’ve lived through big disasters, such as the Bali bombing and the Boxing Day tsunami, and had to deal with the fallout. The government will try hard to find a next-of-kin to take care of the kids – please don’t imagine an Annietype scenario, with frightened children being dumped in an orphanage. For locals, it’s usually quite straightforward, with a nearby aunt or grandparent willing to take interim responsibility.

But most expats have no other family members living in Hong Kong, which makes it very difficult,” he says.

If you have made no contingency for the division and inheritance of your assets, it may take years for the courts to sort through everything.

“I’ve seen it all,” Pallett says. “Money that was intended for the children going to the mistress, banks selling assets while the widow and the children are left homeless. You need separate wills covering assets in different countries.”

Addressing legal guardianship is straightforward. You need a Deed of Interim Guardianship, which means nominating a helper, neighbour or friend to take care of the kids until the permanent guardian arrives in Hong Kong to take over. The interim guardians also need to sign the deed.

A Deed of Permanent Guardianship also needs to be completed – these are the guardians who will take care of the children on a longterm basis. This requires a bit more planning and thought, but theoretically can be signed and completed within minutes. Pallett has put together a DIY kit that parents can order and fill out at their leisure. It’s a free service and simple to complete.

And, of course, the deeds need to be easily located.

Once guardianship is in place, it’s time to address your financial assets, which if spread globally, will be a lengthier process and one that will require meeting an appropriate professional.

Pallett is addressing the issue of legal guardianship in free seminars on November 21 and 24 at Baby Central, BT Centre, Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen.

To reserve a place, email support@ babycentral.com.hk or call 2553 8000.

Pallett can be contacted at EXS Capital Group, 3752 8802, wealth@exscapital.com.

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family

one-stop shops

All the fun of the fairs Your guide to Christmas bazaars, school fairs and more.

Nov 1 AWA Charity Bazaar The American Women’s Association’s fundraiser brings shopping, a cafe, fashion show, bake sale and more. Free shuttle bus from Admiralty MTR. 10am-6pm, HKJC Happy Valley Racecourse, 2527 2961, tracruss@gmail.com.

Nov 3 Fiesta of Cultures Hong Lok Yuen International School celebrates multi-culturally. 11am-4pm. Buses available from Tai Wo MTR. 20th Street, Hong Lok Yuen, www.hylis.edu.hk.

Nov 3 Wild West Fair Mosey on down for games, stalls and food.

11am-4pm, Australian International School, 3A Norfolk Road, Kowloon Tong, 2304 6078.

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Nov 12, 17, Dec 10 The Conrad Fair The mother of all Christmas fairs. Conrad Hotel, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, 2521 3838, www.prestigefairs.hk.

Nov 17 Abacus BBQ Fun Day Arts and crafts, bouncy castle, train rides, face painting, balloon modelling, games, fancy dress parade. 11am-3pm, 1A Mang Kung Uk Road, Clearwater Bay, 2719 5712, kinder@abacus.esf.org.hk.

Nov 17 Sha Tin College & Junior School Fair Fashion show, bouncy castle, candy fishing and shopping. Noon-6pm. Free buses from Sha Tin MTR. 3 Lai Wo Lane, Fo Tan, Sha Tin, 2699 1811.

Nov 20 KGV Christmas Fair Fun and games and lots of carols at King George V School. 2 Tin Kwong Road, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, www.kgv.edu.hk.

Nov 24 A Christmas to Remember Games, stalls, food, bar, entertainment and more. 11am-3pm, Clearwater Bay School, Clearwater Bay Road, 3458 3286.

Dec 1 Imagination Flights of fantasy take centre-stage at Renaissance College's buzzy fair. 11am-4pm, 5 Hang Ming Street, Ma On Shan, 3556 3556.

Dec 8 SKIP Christmas Fair Santa’s Grotto, arts and crafts, entertainment.

10am-2pm, all welcome. Family tickets $150 from SKIP, 159 Che Keng Tuk Road, Sai Kung, 2791 7354, www.skip.edu.hk.

four kids & a life

and so to bed

A day off In the first of a new column, Carolynne Dear takes to the king-size.

Last month I did something outrageous. I handed the school bus responsibilities over to my lovely helper and spent the entire day in bed.

I was slightly inspired by Sue Townsend’s book, The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year, but mostly I was just tired. Too tired to wake up first thing – despite the din of four children, a husband and a dog getting ready – too tired to answer the phone, too tired even to raise my weary head from the pillow.

It sounds self-indulgent and spoiled, which I suppose it was. But I have often fantasized about spending an entire day in bed without ever having managed it – particularly during the baby years, when I was so dog-tired I practically crawled round the house between breastfeeding newborns, changing nappies and finding lost security blankets.

But last month I was so tired I did it. A whole 24 hours propped up on fluffy pillows.

I even spent most of it asleep – until Spooks came on after lunch. Then I spent a happy

hour finishing an undemanding piece of chick lit (she got it together with the gardener in the end), and when the children came in from school, we spent an entirely enjoyable afternoon spreadeagled on the king-size while they told me about their respective days.

The four-year-old practised his phonics, the five-year-old showed me her marshmallows decorated as witches (cue lots of green icing sugar on the white Sheridan bed-linen), we ran through Year 2 spellings and we discussed how we were going to tackle Year 4 multiplication.

We rounded it off with a nice game of Uno and then it was time for tea, while I had another nap.

After tea, we watched Nickelodeon. I spend a lot of time demanding the children “switch that rubbish off”, but they might be onto something with Big Time Rush.

Of course, the children thought it was hilarious to find mummy still in bed at 3.30pm (I expect to feature in school “news” this week), while my husband just looked worried.

It just goes to show that life as a wife and mother is not as easy as it sounds. The following day it was back to the grindstone of replying to endless school-generated emails, paying the equally endless doctor’s bills, organizing the ten-year-old’s birthday party, selecting furniture for a new holiday house, booking next summer’s villa... I might have stayed in bed for a second day if I hadn’t remembered my mid-week lunch with the girls at the Cricket Club.

It turns out the secret is knowing exactly when to get off the merry-go-round – and when to get back on.

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 35

health & beauty The long run Personal trainer Louis Doctrove dodges the pitfalls of distance runs.

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With distance runners now training for the upcoming Unicef charity run and Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, here’s how to train more effectively by avoiding some common mistakes.

Running too far, too quickly Soon after you sign up for a full- or half-marathon, it's time to train.

Excitement about the event can cause runners to tackle longer runs than their bodies are ready for and can lead to injury and burnout.The best way to ensure success on race day is to follow a plan that starts from your current fitness level. So if your longest run is three miles, create a plan that starts with no more than four miles for the first run. The goal isn’t about how many miles you can rack up before the big day, it’s about getting to the start line fit and ready to race.

Running too fast Training for a marathon involves building and progressing throughout the season. It’s

important to vary your effort level as you train. If you can talk while you're running the long run, you're at the right effort. If you can't, you're running too fast. Avoid training by pace or with a target time as this can set you up for what is known as race pact training disaster, where you feel great for about four to six weeks, then things start to deteriorate – your energy levels decline, your body aches, and performance suffers.

Running by pace rather than feel The easiest way to crash during a long run is to run it by pace. Pace is the outcome, not the target. When you run by feel (effort level) and stick with a conversation-pace effort level, you'll be in the right zone for the day. This is because there are a variety of things that affect performance and turn your normal, easy 10:30 pace into a hard run.

Running during hot weather is much harder on the body. Other factors that can affect training are lack of sleep, stress and training fatigue from other workouts.

ready, set...

Doing back-to-back long runs It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers game. You do not have to complete several long runs back to back to get into race shape, or run the race distance before you run the race. Gradually build up your training mileage, alternating a long run one weekend with a shorter run the following weekend. This gives your body a chance to recover. Stacking up too many long runs back to back can lead to fatigue, making it a struggle to get through the day.

Training with a buddy not at your fitness level One of the best parts of being a distance runner is running with a friend or group. But if they aren't at your fitness level you can end up running too quickly or too slowly, both of which can have negative

effects on your performance.

Running too slowly can alter your natural stride and increase impact forces on the body. Train at your effort level and find a friend or group that closely matches it.

Catching up on mileage when you have a set back The training plan is a blueprint that will evolve and change through the season. In the event you get sick, miss a training run while on vacation or get off track for another reason, it is better to merge back into a modified plan than try to catch up. Should you miss a week owing to illness, try a few test runs of 30 minutes or so to remind your body that you're a runner. From there, build back up in mileage while keeping it at an easy effort for the return week.

Louis Doctrove (louisdoctrove@hotmail.com) is a NASM-certified personal trainer with a Sports and Exercise Science BSc. He specialises in strength training, weight loss and TRX suspension training.

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The machine provides a “mechanical workout”. On the face, this translates as a deep massage of specific areas, stretching the connective fibres and surrounding tissue, and increasing circulation, draining the lymphatic system and restoring collagen and elastin. The body treatments are a “lipomassage” that gently folds and sucks the skin between

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WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 37

motoring

Pictures: Aaron Lai

legal immigrant

Mint condition

"Minty", a classic 1991 Porsche 964 series 911, was imported from Japan.

Importing a classic car is easier than it sounds. Kevin Yeung explains how.

It’s 11.30pm on July 21 and my phone is ringing. It’s my buddy, Chuck.

Uncharacteristically euphoric, Chuck yells, “Dude, we just celebrated my birthday in Japan and I got my wife a beautiful and totally unmolested 21-year-old that we want to bring back to Hong Kong!”

Now Chuck has always been creative, but this new interpretation of the modern family caught me off guard. Thankfully, he quickly explained "Minty" was an unusual mint-green, 1991 Porsche 964 series 911 that he and Mrs Chuck fell in love with at first sight. They had to have it.

Chuck and I are proud products of the 1990s when Bill Clinton was president, the Macarena was today's Gangnam Style and folks still feared the Y2K bug. In our formative years, the Porsche 964 was king of the road and we had its posters plastered on our walls. In the two decades since then, the Macarena has disappeared from the airwaves, America has embraced its first black president and the Y2K amounted to nothing. But the 964 is still with us, maturing gracefully into a cool classic car.

It is the last of the iconic 911s styled

by Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche and remains a timeless and constant influence over the Porsche bloodline. My favourite, most cherished

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car remains my slategrey, 1994 Porsche 964 Speedster. It’s the car I hope to pass on to my son.

Motoring enthusiasts are often enthralled by the great cars of “our” generation.

The problem facing many of us in Hong Kong has been choice – or the lack of it. The pursuit of these cars forced many of us to search overseas and seize opportunities as Chuck did to purchase gems to collect.

In Hong Kong, classic vehicles are defined as any vehicle more than 20 years old.

Thankfully, importing one is a pretty straightforward process.

Classic cars will not pass Hong Kong's strict Euro 5 level emissions approval so, as a precaution, I encouraged Chuck to obtain noise and exhaust exemptions from the Environmental Protection Department before shipping Minty to

Hong Kong (EPD: enquiry@epd.gov.hk, 2877 0448). For the exemptions, he had to present a copy of the vehicle registration document showing the date of manufacture along with documentation showing the vehicle had its original engine and was petrol-powered.

Once Minty was approved and shipped safely to Hong Kong, Chuck contacted the Motor Vehicle Valuation Group of the Customs and Excise Department (tel: 2231 4390) and completed the CED336 importation form to determine Minty's First Registration Tax. While the C&ED did its work, Chuck booked Minty in for a check up at To Kwa Wan Vehicle Examination Centre (tel: 2333 3112).

Once the centre issued a Certificate of Roadworthiness and Chuck had paid the First Registration Taxes, there was just one last form – the Transport Department’s TD22 – and Minty could hit the road. Today, Minty is one of the family, proudly serving as Mrs Chuck's commuter car.

Kevin Yeung is a Hong Kong resident and entrepreneur.

He is a founder of Feeding Hong Kong and a motoring enthusiast.

hikes

island life

Circling the dragon

Tranquil fish farms and rugged scenery.

Pete Spurrier visits historic Tung Lung Chau, the harbour’s “eastern dragon”.

Tung Lung Chau is a small but steeply mountainous island that guards the eastern approach to Victoria Harbour. Once garrisoned

by Qing dynasty soldiers, it now has few inhabitants but its cliffs are a popular challenge for local rock climbers and there’s an easy twohour walk around the island. The ferry schedule gives you plenty of time to wander and explore.

A kaido (village ferry service) sails to Tung Lung on Saturdays and Sundays from the Sam Ka Tsuen pier, near Yau Tong MTR. It runs five or six sailings a day, from 8.30am to 5pm, call 2513 1103 for details.

It’s a 40-minute journey by boat, passing through the narrow Lei Yue Mun strait then striking out east into the open sea. Shek O lies far off to the right, and the Clearwater Bay

peninsula to the left. Floating fish farms herald the island.

Alighting at the village pier, a temple can be seen beside the water, but Tung Lung’s natural assets are its real riches. The path climbs up through the small village of Nam Tong, colourful with papaya trees and bougainvillea flowers, and emerges onto a lush green upland. To the left, the narrow Fat Tong Mun channel separates Tung Lung from Joss House Bay and the territory’s biggest, oldest Tin Hau temple. Ahead, the tooth-like Ninepin Islands lie on the horizon.

Pass a pair of cafés – very friendly, with photos of hikers and rock climbers decorating the walls – then the path turns right towards the island’s campsite. Beyond, on a bluff overlooking the east coast, stand the ruins of Tung Lung Fort. Built at some point between 1662 and 1722, in the reign of Emperor Kangxi, it was intended to control coastal piracy and was equipped with eight cannons. It was abandoned in 1810, lay in ruins for 160 years, and was restored in the 1970s. There is not a lot to see, but a small exhibition hall gives details about Qing dynasty artefacts found during restoration. It must have been a remote, lonely place to be posted.

Cliffs on the far side of the fort are popular with climbing groups.

Enjoy the views but take care

around here; don’t let children or dogs run free near the edges.

On the way back, detour right after the South Garden Store to find a quiet, sandy beach. Or from the village with the main ferry pier, follow the red arrow painted on the path beside the upper café to a hillside lookout point 20 minutes’ walk to the south. From here, descend to the coastline to see Hong Kong’s largest (and possibly oldest) prehistoric rock carving. The swirling patterns are thought to represent a dragon. Perhaps Tung Lung (“Eastern Dragon”) took its name from this ancient carving?

The last ferry of the day returns to town at 5pm. Don’t miss it, or be prepared to spend a few nights with the villagers.

Pete Spurrier is the author of The Leisurely Hiker's Guide to Hong Kong and The Serious Hiker's Guide to Hong Kong (FormAsia).

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 39

pets

Sally to the rescue Hong Kong Dog Rescue founder Sally Andersen retraces her steps.

If anyone had told me 10 years ago what I'd be doing now and what my life would be like, I either would have laughed in disbelief or run like the wind. I didn't have any intention of starting a dog rescue charity, I just wanted to help a few strays escape from Death Row at the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) kennels.

To do that I had to set up a registered society (later to become a charity). That was easy enough, but the process of getting the dogs released was a performance. At that time it just

40 | WWW.SAIKUNG.COM

wasn't done – usually the only way the dogs left was in a black plastic bin-bag. Staff were reluctant, complaining it caused extra work, and the dogs were either village dogs (tong gau), Pekingese or shih tzus, all of whom were old and filthy.

Back then, not many people kept dogs as pets. If you had a nice dog there was a real danger it would be stolen and taken over the border to be sold.

These days the shoe is on the other foot.

The dog breeding and puppy trade is thriving on the mainland, with puppies being smuggled to Hong Kong to supply pet shops. The AFCD actively supports adoption from Animal Management Centres through organisations such as Hong Kong Dog Rescue. And HKDR has grown into probably the most high-profile non-government organisation in Hong Kong, with two homing centres and hundreds of dogs waiting for new homes, with pure breeds rubbing shoulders with the mixes.

It’s a success story in one way. But for me, success would be almost-empty kennels and nothing to do except spend time walking and taking care of a few dogs, knowing they wouldn't be with us long because they would soon be adopted. Instead it's a 365-days-a-year job, a struggle against a tide of dogs and puppies in need of shelter, desperately trying to find homes but knowing most of them will never be chosen.

Many are adults that came to us as puppies and that I personally looked after, so I'm emotionally involved in their lives.

I live and breathe dogs, I have learned a tremendous amount from and about them over the 20-plus years I've been doing this work, starting when I moved to Lamma in 1986. Now they're my life – and there would be no backing out even if I wanted to.

Sally Andersen is the founder of Hong Kong Dog Rescue, a charity that rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes unwanted or abandoned dogs.

the cat's whiskers

In the litter tray Cynthia Smillie tackles inappropriate cat pee. rehoming or even euthanasia.

Inappropriate urination takes two forms, spraying and elimination. With spraying, a cat reverses up to the spray site and deposits a small amount of urine usually high up on easily visible vertical surfaces. The cat

A client phoned a few weeks ago in desperation, “Please can you help me,” she said. “I am at the end of my tether."

Her cat had started urinating in the house. At first it was confined to a few places on the floor but over several months had escalated to more than 20 times a day all over the house including the sofa, curtains, cushions, kitchen appliances, the computer and, distressingly, on the beds.

Inappropriate urination can be stressful for owners to cope with. Not only does it cause a breakdown of the cat-owner relationship, it threatens the cat's welfare because if the problem remains unresolved, it may lead to punishment,

characteristically paddles its feet with its tail up and may have a glazed look on its face.

With elimination, however, the cat squats and deposits larger amounts of urine on horizontal surfaces, usually in quiet, private locations.

Resolving the problem successfully depends on finding out what is motivating the behaviour.

This can be tricky, particularly in multi-cat households. A simple litter box aversion because the cat does not like the type of litter, the type of tray or its location, or because it is not clean, is simply remedied. However, the problem is often a lot more complicated.

Clients are often perplexed when I ask them to draw a floor plan of their home with different coloured dots to mark the urination sites of all the cats in the household. But there are some distinct patterns that can give clues.

For example, if marks are confined to locations

around windows and doors, this usually indicates the cat perceives an external threat, perhaps from other cats in the neighbourhood.

If marks are located randomly throughout the house, this indicates some emotional disturbance within the home.

Environmental stressors include invasive smells brought from outside on shoes or bags, building or renovation work, a house move, a new baby or new pet, conflict between cats or frustration through lack of attention. Indoor cats with no opportunity to explore or fulfill normal feline behaviours, such as hunting, may also exhibit inappropriate urination.

Before implementing any behaviour modification programme, it is advisable to rule out medical factors such as urinary tract or renal disease, diabetes or arthritis.

Most importantly, owners should be aware that urination is the cat's way of trying to increase its sense of security and not, as some believe, an act of revenge. Just the opposite.

A cat may urinate on an owner’s bed because this is a place it feels secure. Which is not much consolation when you need to change the duvet.

Dr. Cynthia Smillie BVM&S PG DIp CABC MRCVS is a veterinary behaviourist and deals solely with behaviour problems in companion animals. For appointments please call 9618 2475 or visit www.petbehaviourhk.com.

Pet interview Name: Lucky Lucky Origin: I used to be a racehorse, but now I train people of all ages (and weights – ouch).

Favourite rider: Lottie (Farrar).

Best bribe: I'm a sucker for bananas – but apples, carrots or sugar will do.

Pet peeves: I hate it when Lottie takes me out right before dinner, especially on chilly evenings. I dread winter. And running around in summer gets me all sweaty, yeuch! My food gets all salty and soggy.

Favourite time of day: When Lottie grooms me, it's like a massage. But not cleaning hooves – it’s not easy balancing on three legs.

Word that best describes you: “Svelte”.

What annoys you: Cold showers in the winter.

Why can’t we horses have warm showers?

BFF: Anthony, who lives in the next stable.

He “gets” me.

Future plans: To retire as soon as possible and spend my days running around in a paddock – one with real grass.

Bedtime reading: Horse & Hound.

Lucky Lucky lives at Lo Wu Saddle Club and trains with riders of all levels of experience. Ho Sheung Heung, Sheung Shui, 2673 0066, lwsc@netvigator.com, www.lowusaddleclub.org.

WWW.SAIKUNG.COM | 41

travel

Snow patrol The ski’s the limit at Asia’s winter resorts, writes Carla Schael.

Niseko, Japan With plenty of fresh powder from snow storms blowing in from Siberia and a happening apresski scene, Niseko on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido has everything a snow bunny requires. By day, snowhounds head up to the slopes of Mount Yotei – the Mount Fuji of Hokkaido – and 1,190 acres of groomed ski runs spread across four interlinked resorts. By night, they warm up in the area’s natural hot springs (onsen), soothing away aches and pains in bubbling pools set in snowy gardens. Then head out to eat in one of the many cafes, casual diners and first-class restaurant hideaways. Or try night skiing at Hanazono 308, the largest night-skiing ground in the world. It’s a happy combination that has made Niseko one of the world’s most popular skiing destinations. A three-day pass is 15,800 yen (HK$1,600) for adults, 11,800 yen for seniors and children aged 13-15, and 8,600 yen for children aged seven-12. Fly to Sapporo and take the Niseko Ski Express JR train via Kutchan, or catch a Skybus from New Chitose Airport. For details, visit www.niseko.ne.jp/en.

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Jisen, South Korea Located just 40 minutes south of Seoul, Jisan Forest Resort is a good option for beginners and mid-level skiers – or for those pushed for time. It has a state-of-the-art snow-management system, which keeps the slopes in tip-top condition throughout the season. It offers plenty of special deals, such as one-day ski trips from Seoul for newbies. But our favourite is the nighttime skiing from December 23-February 12, when the slopes are open until 4am and adorned with golden lights that glint off the powder. For a break from the snow, Hanteo Pony Farm has pony rides, farm animals to pet and fields to explore.

Adult ski passes cost 63,000-144,000 won (HK$440-$1,000), children pay 48,000-96,000 won. There is also a “one-time” option for 8,000 won (HK$60). Jisan Forest Resort can be reached by bus from Incheon International Airport. For details, visit www.jisanresort.co.kr.

Snow City, Singapore Combine winter sun with skiing action at Singapore’s indoor ski centre, Snow City.

Maintained at a chilly –5°C, this 3,000 sqm, two-storey centre has a 60m slope for snowboarding, skiing or snow tubing. There’s also a playground for small children to build snowmen and throw a few snowballs around.

Two hours of play time costs S$27 (HK$170) for the over-12s or S$22 for children, including jackets and boots. Afterwards hit the Ice Bar for a shot or two of vodka served in ice glasses.

Shivers. 21 Jurong Town Hall Road, Singapore, +65 6567 0968, www.snowcity.com.sg.

travel Nanshan Ski Village, Beijing, China Only 60km from the capital, the Nanshan resort has more than 150,000 hectares of slopes and 21 runs mostly for beginners and intermediates.

Nanshan Ski Village, There are Beijing, China plenty of ski schools, with classes taught by instructors proficient in English. And for the brave, there is a challenging mogul field at the top of the runs, an off-piste tree run and even a bikini ski carnival in March. A three-day ski pass and equipment rental costs 720-960 RMB (HK$890$1,190) a person, plus the 20 RMB daily entrance ticket. Accommodation is in Europeanstyle ski chalets, such as the six-bedroom Norwegian Villas, or the log cabin Shirton Hotel. Nanshan Ski Village is accessible by the Jingcheng Highway to Miyun (exit 16). Or try the Nanshan Ski Express Coach (tel: +86 8909 1909). For details, visit www.nanshanski.com.

Wanaka, New Zealand New Zealand’s largest ski fields are near Lake Wanaka, an hour’s drive from Queenstown in the South Island. There are eight ski resorts spread across 2,230 hectares and spectacular off-piste heli-skiing in the 100,000-hectare Mount Aspiring National Park. Activities abound, including crosscountry skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, ice climbing, snowshoeing, snow tours, mountain ascents, skydiving and any number of mad Kiwi

adventure experiences. It’s fun and friendly with world-class instructors and four ski schools to choose from, and plenty of apres-ski in Wanaka’s pubs and fine-dining restaurants.

A five-day pass to all resort areas, along with equipment rental, is NZ$654 (HK$4,150) for adults, NZ$388 (HK$2,500) for kids.

To get there, fly to Queenstown, Dunedin or Christchurch and transfer by coach to the resorts.

For details, visit www.lakewanaka.co.nz.

Wanaka, New Zealand

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gardening

Cutting remarks Jane Ram becomes obsessional about creating new plants.

September’s drop in humidity spurred gardeners and plants into action. It seemed everything needed to be cut back to encourage new growth and plenty of flower buds through winter. I hate to throw away pieces that can make new plants, so it becomes almost an obsession to strike as many cuttings as possible.

Within three weeks it seemed every stem was flourishing and a housing crisis was looming. Just as well I had agreed to give some plants to the Lamma Fun Day (November 24) for vocational training for disadvantaged children in Nepal.

Cuttings from woody shrubs such as hibiscus and bougainvillea are challenging and can be slow to strike. But this season it is almost too easy to propagate plants such as coleus and angel-wing begonias. I start some in water, although experts caution that water roots are brittle and the plant will take time to adjust to soil. If I have a substantial stem – 4cm5cm – I make a slanting cut about 1cm below a node, remove most of the leaves (to minimise stress) and put it into potting mix with a little extra coconut fibre to help drainage. If I could get it, I would add coarse river sand; instead, occasionally I liberate a little builders’ sand. I

growth spurts also add coarse vermiculite for good measure.

Although roots form easily in plain water, cuttings in potting mix should not stay too wet or the stems will rot. One school of thought suggests pushing the cut stems into the soil quite roughly – the damaged skin makes it easy for new roots to emerge.

Tough basil stems cut from plants that have lasted through the summer make sturdy new plants within a couple of weeks. Mint is less easy and I try to get it going in water before transferring to soil. Sometimes a stem has already put out some roots in search of new accommodation, so cut off that portion and transfer it to fresh soil.

I have long since run out of spare pots, so am pressing into service whatever I can find. My favourites are the small earthenware pots from expensive French and Swiss yoghurt brands.

Drill a few holes in the base and they make small plants look very appealing. Plastic water bottles and even empty tetrapaks are perfectly adequate as temporary plant pots.

Green giving Instead of relying on florists for over-priced bouquets, try creating your own gift plants from cuttings. It takes at least a month for cuttings to start looking good and mixed planters are always well received. Even the scruffiest container can be concealed inside a bowl or basket with a little moss for good measure.

Jay Yang of Ecotropolis recycles discarded plastic bottles to make novel plant pots in various sizes. I tested one that is still looking good after almost a year. It is light, virtually indestructible and sufficiently porous that it does not drown plants that have been hit by heavy rain.

Gardening tasks The last week of November is sometimes the coldest week of the year, so prepare a polystyrene box and horticultural fleece to protect tender plants such as episcias and peperomias when temperatures threaten to drop below 15 C. When the weather warms up, check these cosseted plants for signs of snails. If the potting soil is dry, a short soak in tepid water will help but it’s better to keep them too dry rather than risk rot.

Seedlings with two pairs of proper leaves are ready to be potted on. They need plenty of sun and water to boost strong growth.

Somewhere near you a mikania vine is setting seed. Try to eradicate at least some of it before the hundreds of miniature parachutes take wing to infest your garden.

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Gardening events Nov 15 Join a Nursery Trawl to catch some quickfix colour and variety for your garden or terrace. Local nurseries are well-stocked with bedding plants and herbs.

Nov 21 Learn about the infinite variety of gingers at an illustrated talk by Tom Wood, curator of the extensive Ginger Garden at Guangzhou’s South China botanical Garden.

Nov 25 Why did some trees fall and others survive Typhoon Vicente? An opentop bus makes a great viewing platform as landscape architect Gavin Coates provides commentary and leads a discussion on an entertaining tour through Central, Western and the Southside.

Dec 5 Learn about compost making and beekeeping during a small group visit to the Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden.

Jan A new series of Saturday afternoon workshops will begin in January. Topics include camellias, ferns, hibiscus and passion flowers.

For details and reservations, contact janetaipeng@gmail.com.

Jane Ram is a professional writer with a passion for plants. She has been gardening in Hong Kong for more than 30 years and is still learning. Please e-mail her at janetaipeng@ gmail.com with comments and queries, and to be kept informed of workshops and excursions for gardeners.

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To advertise, email: ads@saikung.com

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marketplace

kh. NEW SIZE SK Mag last ad for Nov 12.pdf 10/22/2012 8:08:25 PM

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

HONG LOK YUEN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SCHOOL BUS SERVICE AVAILABLE FROM SAI KUNG

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Hong Lok Yuen International School is an independent non-profit making school, providing quality international education, through an English medium, to kindergarten and primary students, in a multi- cultural environment. It was established over twenty five years ago to serve expatriates from all over the worlds, together with local Chinese children from Hong Lok Yuen, and other areas in the New Territories of Hong Kong.

HLYIS is a fully authorised IBPYP (International Baccalaureate Primary Years programme) school, with a strong emphasis on numeracy and literacy skills HONG LOK YUEN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL 20th Street, Hong Lok Yuen, Tai Po, New Territories.

For further information visit www.hlyis.edu.hk or email: info@hlyis.edu.hk telephone: 2658 6935 COUNCIL of INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

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STRESSED BY YOUR PET?!!!

PET BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS? Hong Kong’s first and only Behavioural Veterinary Practice can help resolve aggression, fear, anxiety, separation related problems, compulsive disorders, inappropriate toileting, noise phobias etc.

Not all behavioural problems are simply training issues.

Dr. Cynthia Smillie BVM&S PG Dip CABC MRCVS

Tel: 9618 2475 cynthia@petbehaviourhk.com

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marketplace

on patrol...

lost and found

Take a (safe) hike With the lower temperatures, many people are donning hiking boots and heading into the country parks. It’s a busy season for Sai Kung Police Station as we are regularly called out to assist hikers in difficulty: reports of lost, missing, sick or injured hikers are the most prevalent.

We regard every case with the utmost seriousness and deploy the maximum possible resources to ensure the safety of the affected persons. An individual can survive two weeks without food but only two days without water, so when an incident report is received, we are aware the clock is ticking. The officers in our dedicated Rural Patrol Unit (identifed by khaki

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uniforms) are well versed in Sai Kung’s rural trails and footpaths and are also very fit given the terrain that they have to cover.

For serious search and rescue operations, we often call on the specialist skills of the Fire Services Department, ambulance crews and the Civil Aid Service, a voluntary service with search and rescue teams specialising in mountain terrain. The Government Flying Service might be called in to chopper out affected hikers.

So any particular incident might involve more than 30 rescuers. After the event, I am sometimes concerned about the lack of preparedness of some hikers. There really is no excuse for getting lost these days, especially for the tech-savvy younger generation with GPS on their iPhones and apps that can pinpoint your position and map out your trail.

Detailed maps are easily obtainable and most paths are clearly signposted.

Before hitting the trails, check the safety trips on the AFCD website, www.afcd.gov.hk.

Three key factors ensure safe hiking; hydrate regularly – take more water than you think you’ll need; carry a (fully charged) mobile phone; and, most importantly, keep to the trails. If you get into trouble on a trail, you will be found. If you go missing off the beaten track, the task of locating you becomes very much harder. Be a smart hiker and, like a good boy scout, “be prepared”.

On a different topic, I recently attended a burglary scene and comforted a distressed house owner whose computer hard-drive had been stolen and with it thousands of family photos that were not backed up.

Please back up your hard drive or risk losing a lifetime of memories.

Stay safe.

Tim Sharpe is the Police DVC for Sai Kung.

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marketplace

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marketplace

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Luxury Beach Villa in Cebu Island Philippines for rent.

(Fully Staffed) 4 double rooms all with bath. 3 direct flights per day from HK. We have a Private chef, New 50ft sailing yacht, 2speedboats, Hobie Cat and more... www.cebubeach.net or contact owner +852 91625321

random but interesting BOAT

“MONTE FINO PRICED TO SELL. With acres of space, this 1993 66 ft classic luxury cruiser (refitted 2011) is great for sharing, chartering, or as a live-aboard. Beautiful teak floors throughout, blending perfectly with sophisticated neutral tones inside & out. Hull, all paneling, soft furnishing, heads, galley restored/repaired/refitted to a high standard. New swim platform and custom made Austral Props installed. 2 x 805.68 kW Detroit Diesel engines in good condition with only 17xx hours and 2 x Kohler diesel generators.

Capacity for 28, 6 berths, 1 crew cabin, 3 heads & 1 crew head.

Sound & TV system, plus hoist for tender. Asking 3.5 mil. 1.75 mil for half share. Enquiries for up to 8 syndicate members at 430k welcome. To view, call Mark 9664 8934/Joanna 9318 8736.

STUNNING 20 ft CHRIS CRAFT for sale.

Classic blue/red Heritage Edition 2011 Lancer. Only 6 hours on the engines.

Excellent condition. Like New. Volvo Penta Petrol Inboard 201.42 kW. Top speed 50.3 knots @ 5100 RPM Cruising speed 27.3 knots @ 3000 RPM. Under engine and structural WARRANTY. With DRY STACK at Pak Sha Wan. Don't miss out on this excellent opportunity to own a piece of motor boating history at a great price. New at 460k.

NOW ASKING 380k. Call Mark 9664 8934 or Joanna on 9318 8736.

Club Marina Cove Debenture for Sale Debenture with full membership and boat mooring for sale.

Interested parties please contact Nick for more info. Tel: 6685 4265

Health and Well being Massage @ Home, Hotel Body massage, Chinese Tui Na, Swedish Massage, lymphatic drainage & aromatherapy massage. Our therapists offer mobile (outcall, housecall) service $700/2hrs (text in Chinese Address & speak in Chinese 66903658) www.ablemassage.com

Recruitment Staff Wanted for Day Spa in Sai Kung town centre.

Experienced masseuse, beautician and nail technician.

Good salary and commission. All nationalities welcome to apply.

Contact Rebecca 91794577

Tuition PRIVATE VOICE LESSONS IN SAI KUNG Conservatory-trained professional Soprano, recently relocated to Hong Kong offers lessons to students 12 years old and up.

All experience levels welcome. angela.hodgins@gmail.com 6295 6266 CAPOEIRA BRASIL Brazillian martial art/sport/dance has come to Sai Kung!

Adults and Kids Classes available.

Call Canjiquinha for further details 9225 8924 Jesse Taekwondo & Hapkido Korea Kukkiwon Black-belt 5th Dan International Instructor Provide One-on-One personal training, Group training & Family classes. http://www.supra.com.hk/jessetkd

MUSIC TUITION AT HOMES. Individual lessons for Piano Repertoire / Music Theory / Piano accompaniment and Aural practice for other instruments' exams/competitions. English/ Chinese instruction. Holder of LTCL with Distinction of Trinity College London. Years of teaching experience. Member of professional charity choir. Please call 9336 8059 for details.

Tennis Performance Asia Limited Lessons/Training : Private, Groups – Adult, children, Ladies Coaching Kowloon, NT, HK Island HK,Australian,USTPA Qualified Coaches Contact Senior Coach Todd Hooper – 97335197: todd@ tennisperformanceasia.com www.tennisperformanceasia.com Director/Coach – Ray Kelly Piano Lesson @ HOME in English/ Cantonese by professional and qualified teachers. Annual Recital in Cityhall.

Trial lessons available, visit www.grandpiano.hk for details.

VIANNE'S MUSIC WONDERLAND PRIVATE PIANO COURSE @ YOUR HOME ﹣ www.mymusicwonderland.com ﹣ Experienced tutor accept students aged 3 and over. Student Annual Recital/ Practical Examination/ Competition/ Theory/ Accompaniment/ T: 6014-9389 for Trial lesson/ mschanpiano@yahoo.com Master Chow 9467-7787

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Please send an email to Catherine at man_catherine@ yahoo.com.hk

Services ShenZhen DayTrip Shopping Hk 2,000. with 7-Seaters Lighting Mall Furniture Mall Art village Homedecoration, Carpet and Rugs.

Franki (90362128) happyday2128@netvigator.com

PetProject.HK is the online store for all your pets needs, with the best food, treats and toys, home delivered.

Get $50 off your first order with discount code 'saikung'. Visit www.petproject.hk or call 3008 5650

PHOENIX CARPET CARE LTD for 20 years Hong Kong’s premier cleaner of carpets & upholstery. Phoenix ensure true quality workmanship at reasonable cost. Hand cleaning of Oriental rugs. Steam extraction of fitted carpets. Upholstery cleaning.

Scotchgard Protection. Call 2328 2287 or 9517 5436 for free quote/ inspection.

NATIONAL HARBOUR RENOVATIONS Home and office reno upgrades.

Plumbing, electrical and handyman services.

Call Charles 90851886 info@nationalharbour.com.hk www.nationalharbour.hk

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the ultimate guide to sai kung COMMUNITY & HEALTH Hang Hau Community Hall 3740 5328/ 3740 5346 Li Pang Tat Chinese Medicine Practitioners 2328 9913 Resurrection Church 2358 3232 www.resurrection.org.hk Sai Kung District Community Centre 2792 1762 Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre 2792 3828 The Sai Kung Jockey Club Town Hall 3740 5328 / 2792 1487

DAILY NECESSITIES City Lifestyle 2791 5485 Mannings 2791 4432 Market Place by Jasons 2358 0542 ParknShop 2791 0471 Wellcome 2791 1841

FINANCIAL SERVICES Bank Of China (Hong Kong) 2792 1465 HSBC 2233 3000 Pacific Prime (Kiwisure) 3113 1331 christian@kwiksure.com www.kwiksure.com Standard Chartered Bank 2792 1351

TRANSPORT SERVICES Webjet HK

Unit 1706, BEA Tower, Millennium City 5, 418 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kln, Hong Kong 2313 9779 Onlinetravel@webjet.com.hk www.webjet.com.hk Crown Relocations 2636 8388 hongkong@crownrelo.com www.crownrelo.com/hongkong Hebe Haven Yacht Club pr_mgr@hhyc.org.hk www.hhyc.org.hk Kwong Hing Motors Ltd 2791 4949 http://khmwhk.com Expert-Transport & Relocations Warehouse 2566 4799 www.expertmover.hk

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HOME Box Design

2573 3323 info@boxdesign.com.hk www.boxdesign.com.hk

AA Mini Store 3483 1693 / 6977 6107 www.aa-aquarium.com AFSCO / Security Electrified Fence 2880 0512 marco afscohk@gmail.com www.sprintlocks.com Box Design 2573 3323 | info@boxdesign.com.hk www.boxdesign.com.hk Best United Eng. Ltd. / lawnings, roll shutter & insect screen 2344 9028 info@bestunited.com.hk www.bestunited.com.hk Brooks Thompson Ltd 2851 3665 iqbalhk@netvigator.com Chez Uno 2791 9662 / 2723 8990 www.chezuno.com Eco Living 2792 2998 askus@ecoliving.hk www.ecoliving.hk The Handyman HK 9268 0514 / 6376 7950 thehandymanhk@gmail.com Marco Electrician, Plumber, House painting 6190 8051 | marco_yenug000@hotmail.com Pakpersian Carpets Hong Kong 2549 012 / 9192 9594 pakpersian@netvigator.com www.pakersiancarpet.com Studio Annetta 9849 1216 suzy@studioannetta.com www.studioannetta.com Wicka Designs Limited 2422 0885 enquiry@wickadesigns.com www.wickadesigns.com

TOYS, ACCESSORIES & KIDS' PARTIES Bumps to Babes

2552 5000 (Ap Lei Chau Main Store) 2522 7112 (Pedder Building Branch) www.bumpstobabes.com

Hazel Ltd saleshazel@biznetvigator.com Hong Kong Toy Club 8216 3870 support@HongKongToyClub.com www.HongKongToyClub.com

LEARNING CENTRES Anfield School admin@anfield.edu.hk www.anfield.edu.hk Antsmart Learning Centre / Playgroup, Math 2335 1261 tangfrancis@hotmail.com www.playgroup.com.hk Craft Box 9014 3262 simone@craftbox.asia www.craftbox.asia Grand Piano www.grandpiano.hk La Petite France 3403 9887 info@lapetitefrance.com.hk www.lapetitefrance.com.hk Hong Kong Academy 2655 1111 www.hkacademy.edu.hk Hong Kong International Tennis Academy 9048 2810 lea.lai@hkita.com www.hkita.com Hong Lok Yuen International School 2658 6935 info@hlyis.edu.hk www.hlyis.edu.hk ITS 3188 3946 jennifer.c@tuition.com.hk Jumpstart Mandarin Learning Centre 2791 4838 jumpstart@netvigator.com www.jumpstartmlc.com Leapfrog Kindergarten 2791 1540 / 6413 8247 admin@leapfrogkindergarten.org www.leapfrogkindergarten.org Little Hands Workshop 5431 3122 info@littlehands.com.hk www.littlehands.com.hk New Song Christian Kindergarten (Sai Kung) 2791 2472 newsong@netvigator.com | www.newsonghk.com QUEST Study Skills 2690 9117 www.queststudyskills.com Russian Ballet School 9505 9305 info@russianballetschool-hk.com www.russianballetschool-hk.com Sai Kung Tutors 6907 2514 info@saikungtutors.com | www.saikungtutors.com Woodland Pre-Schools 2559 4855 enquiry@woodlandschools.com www.woodlandschools.com

Get listed

call 2776 2772 email marketing@saikung.com

directory FASHION & BEAUTY

PETS & VETS

REAL-ESTATE AGENCIES

Au Lait Online Nursing & Maternity Wear www.aulait.com.hk B Two Hair Salon 3194 4181 / 2861 2638 | btwohairsalon@gmail.com Nuan Cashmere sales@nuancashmere.com www.nuancashmere.com Podiatrist – Heidi Corcoran 2335 1694 / 6255 0088 info@ntpodiatry.com Sabai Day Spa 2791 2259 sabaidspa@sabaidayspa.com www.sabaidayspa.com Sense of Touch 2791 2278 | ask@senseoftouchhk.com www.senseoftouch.com.hk Tala’s Health and Beauty Centre 2335 1694 info@talashairandbeautycentre.com www.talashairandbeautycentre.com Tranquility Foot Spa 2792 0821 | Tranquility.skhk@gmail.com Wellness & birth, pre & postnatal home care 9022 1779 www.wellnessandbirth.com info@wellnessandbirth.com Zone@Sai Kung Reflexology Center 2886 8804 / 9779 0761 info@zone-massage.com www.zone-massage.com

Animal Behaviour Vet Practice 9618 2475 cynthia@petbehaviourhk.com www.petbehaviourhk.com Animal Emergency Centre 2915 7979 | trilby@animalemergency.com.hk b dog Tokyo(Grooming, spa, hotel) 2791 6555 b-dog@hotmail.co.jp | www.facebook.com/bdog.tokyo Ferndale Kennel 2792 4642 | boarding@ferndalekennels.com www.ferndalekennels.com Vet2Pet 6999 1003 vet2pet@yahoo.com | www.vet2pet.com.hk

Vega Suites 3963 7888 enquiries@vegasuites.com.hk www.vegasuites.com.hk Sino Group 8207 7608 www.sino-homes.com

SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT Curves

2234 9000 www.curves.com

Seasons Fitness

3/F, ICBC Tower, Citibank Plaza, No.3 Garden Road, Central, HK 2878 6288 | customerservice@seasonsfitness.com www.seasonsfitness.com Blue Sky Sports Club 2791 0806 www.bluesky-sc.com Cambridge Weight Plan Hong Kong 2525 7165 www.cambridgeweightplan.hk OKU Oxygen Limited 6904 3093 okuoxygen@gmail.com Outdoor Fitness 9043 4674 www.outdoorfitness.hk dayle@outdoorfitness.hk Weight Watcher 2813 0814 kmahjoubian@weightwatchers.com.hk www.weightwatchers.com.hk

MULTIMEDIA

2/F., 14A1 Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, NT, Hong Kong 2792 3939 | saikung.gallery@gmail.com www.saikunggallery.com

The Reading Room (Sai Kung)

21 Sai Kung Hoi Pong Street, Sai Kung, New Territories 9199 5900 | seasidereadingroom@gmail.com Dymocks 2791 9110 | www.dymocks.com.hk Jackie Peers 9121 1470 jackie@jackiepeers.com | www.jackiepeers.com Light Jar Photography 6274 1362 | info@lightjarphotography.com www.lightjarphotography.com

UTILITIES, SERVICES & EMERGENCY China Light & Power Emergency Services 2728 8333 China Light & Power Customer Info Line 2678 2678 Electrical Appliance Repair Hong Kong Mr Ho 9846 8082 Sai Kung District Council 3740 5200 Sai Kung Fire Station 2792 1553 Sai Kung Police Station 3661 1630 / 2791 5129 Sai Kung Post Office 2792 2243 Typhoon Emergency Centre 2773 2222 Water Fault Reports 2811 0788 Water Supplies Department 2824 5000

Food Delivery South Stream Seafoods

Units 202-204, Lai Sun Yuen Long Centre, 27 Wang Yip St East, Yuen Long, N.T. Hong Kong 2555 6200 sh@south-stream-seafoods.com www.south-stream-seafoods.com Casteloconcepts 2869 1766 | www.casteloconcepts.com Colour Brown Coffee 2791 7128 | shop.colourbrown.com.hk Hebe One O One 2335 5515 info@101.com.hk | www.hebe101.com Laithwaites Wine 3071 5085 info@laithwaiteswine.hk | www.laithwaiteswine.hk La Petite France 3403 9887 | info@lapetitefrance.com.hk www.lapetitefrance.com.hk Moshi Moshi 2668 2605 Natural Springs 2484 1388 | www.naturalsprings.hk Pacific Rich Resources (HK) Ltd 2316 7290 | office1@pacificrichresources.com Paisano’s Pizzeria (Sai Kung) 2791 4445 | www.paisanos.com.hk Pizza Express (Hong Kong) 2123 1083 | info@pizzaexpress.com.hk www.pizzaexpress.com.hk Organic Experience Management Group 2981 2888 | www.organicxp.com Winerack www.winerack.com.hk

OTHER SERVICES Biocycle 3575 2575 info@biocycle.hk | www.biocycle.com.hk Christian Environmental Health 2370 9236 a-s-a-p@ceh.com.hk | www.ceh.com.hk Everfine Membership Services Limited 2174 7880 enquiry@evergolf.com.hk | www.evergolf.com.hk Grand Hyatt Hong Kong 2956 1234 http://hongkong.grand.hyatt.com Lunchbox Theatrical Productions 8203 0299 Sum Hing Carton Box Factory info@boxx.hk | www.boxx.hk

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people Sai Kung sundowners Out on the town.

Sunset in Sai Kung.

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snap!

Above: Steamers' 70s and 80s party. Below: Readers' Choice Award winners.

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Thinking inside the box I possess a trait I’ve felt compelled to disguise group of people operating as one for their at every job interview I’ve ever had: I prefer momentum and impact, but individuals acting solitary exercise to the camaraderie and alone usually start them. From the Arab Spring competition of organized sports, linear to to the Civil Rights Movement, from Mohamed multitasking and quiet contemplation to the Bouazizi to Rosa Parks, the pattern is the distracting chatter of discussion. In short, I’m same. Creativity and innovation are no different. not a team player. In today’s work climate Don’t think the IT industry is epitomised by the dominated by groupthink, this is often seen as a schmoozing style and popular charisma of the major character flaw. late Steve Jobs. That’s marketing.

Educationalists have known for a long It was Jobs’ partner, the solitary time not to favour a single learning style doughnut-eating Steve Wozniak, and aim to engage and value who designed, built and a variety of approaches. Yet programmed the machines.

Iain Lafferty modern workplaces, with their “No serious work is emphasis on the central hub possible without solitude,” and collective brainstorming, stated Picasso, which goes encourage only one style of a long way to explaining why working. People skills are now rated Guernica didn’t come out of a Lamma well above work ethic in open-plan art jam. Likewise, if Newton hadn’t been offices more suited to social networking such a studious introvert – once described by than serious problem solving.

Wordsworth as, “Voyaging through strange This pseudo age of collaboration is partly seas of thought, alone” – he may not have been owing to advances in technology yet the tools unaccompanied under his mother’s apple tree of groupthink remain incredibly clumsy. The and, therefore, ready when the inspiration for the Google Doc, regarded by many as an invaluable Universal Law of Gravitation hit him on the head. weapon of mass discussion, is no more than Even the greatest creative collaboration thinly disguised spam containing presumptuous of all time, Lennon and McCartney, was never invitations to knowledge nirvana through a really such after about 1962 when the credit hyperlink that invariably doesn’t work. This clumpy became nothing more than a convenient way for interface seems more last century than this one. two mates to divide their royalties.

Modern work practices have all but Teamwork comes at a price. It stifles individual eliminated natural reflection time from the creativity in favour of an illusion of collaboration that typical workday by fostering our dependency exists outside the real decision-making process. on portable devices that keep us permanently So the next time you’re faced with a connected and, ultimately, distracted by too problem, don’t try looking for the solution much information. The right of freedom from online, calling a meeting or creating a Google interruption, essential for critical thinking, has Doc. Instead, unplug all your devices and go long since disappeared along with the tea trolley for a walk. Sit on a park bench and wallow in and the cigarette break. “Not enough time” has intellectual freedom. And if the boss asks taken over from “not enough money” in the where you’ve been, tell her you’ve been politics of industrial relations. outside the box.

Mass movements rely on an interconnected Iain Lafferty

bird at my window The Japanese white-eye aka Zosterops japonica The Japanese white-eye is one of the most abundant and widespread birds in Hong Kong.

It is easily identified by its small size, bright green upper parts, yellow throat and white rings around the eyes. It is a popular cage bird.

It breeds in woodland, tall shrubland, urban parks and gardens – almost anywhere there are trees. The only habitat where it is scarce or absent in the breeding season is montane grassland. Its nest is a cup of fine grasses in small forks in bushes or trees, including Chinese banyans. The breeding cycle from egg-laying to the young birds leaving the nest takes three to four weeks.

Three to four eggs are usually laid and two broods may be raised in a season.

After breeding, Japanese white-eyes come together in small parties that seem to be constantly on the move in search of food. Their diet consists mainly of soft fruits and nectar from a variety of flowering plants, although small insects are also taken.

The Japanese white-eye occurs in Japan, South Korea and most of China. Northern populations move south in winter and migrants reach Hong Kong in November.

David Diskin.

Hong Kong Academy is a community school that brings together students, teachers and parents around a commitment to learning at all levels. To learn more, attend our Sai Kung Information Session on 6 December. Call 2655-1112 to register, or visit www.hkacademy.edu.hk.

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