Southside Magazine February 2014

February 2014 Wave hello to the Year of the Horse

20 reasons why...

Shek O rocks Climbing

Learn the ropes

Ocean Park’s Water World plans

196 things to â?¤

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The really useful magazine FEBRUARY 2014

Why do you choose to live in Southside? Tell us in our Readers’ Choice Awards for a chance to win great prizes. Vote now at www.southside.hk.

PEOPLE 4 Snapped!

Southside’s social life.

THE PLANNER 6 Happening in February Things to do in the Year of the Horse.

NEWS 10 What’s going on?

In your backyard.

COUNTRY PARKS 12 From paradise to battlefield News from the green front.

FIVE MINUTES WITH...

14 The vertical gardener A grassroots movement.

LOCAL 16 News splash What to expect in Ocean Park’s Water World, mark II.

charity focus 18 The Nesbitt Centre Helping special-needs people transition to adulthood.

FEATURE 20 Reasons to love Shek O The best things about our favourite seaside village.

28 Trail running Discover the joy.

EATING 32 Fergus on food Where to get a Chiuchow fix.

34 Winter warmers Hot plates for cold days. Plus Valentine’s Day Nibbles.

EDUCATION 38 Inside EtonHouse The lowdown on Southside’s new preschool.

FAMILY 40 Teaching children with autism Hong Kong makes progress. outdoors 42 Cliffhangers and boulder holders Where to go climbing.

BIG DAY OUT 45 Chi Lin Nunnery A zen retreat in Kowloon.

HEALTH & BEAUTY 48 Red-carpet ready The Hollywood HydraFacial has landed.

MARKETPLACE 60 Your guide to shops and services Cool stuff to buy and do.

CLASSIFIEDS 66 Loads of random useful local stuff ULTIMATE GUIDE 68 All you need to know Numbers that make life easier.

MY SOUTHSIDE 62 Richard X. Zawitz The man who invented the Tangle.

PETS 50 Puppy love Sally Andersen recalls her first pup rescue.

CREATURE FEATURE 51 Reeves’ turtle The facts.

Cover by Mark Lehmkuhler

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man” – Winston Churchill

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people Snaps from Southside

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say cheese

Share your event photos with us at photo@fastmedia.com.hk. Get snapping!

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 5

planner FEB 2 Lunar New Year Race Day Back a horse, watch it run. Sha Tin Racecourse.

First race 12.30pm, www.hkjc.com.

FEB 3 Lunar New Year Cup The annual international soccer tournament pitting Hong Kong against four Asian teams.

Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, www.hkfa.com.

FEB 9 Confucius Carnival Stage performances, booths, interactive games, lion dancing, Chinese orchestra, opera and choir performances. 3pm, Paterson and Great George streets, East Point and Lockhart roads, Causeway Bay.

FEB 13 Avril Lavigne The sk8er girl’s back. AsiaWorld Expo, Lantau.

Tickets $380$780 from www. hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

FEB 15

Cold Half Swim

Hardy swimmers race from Stanley Main Beach to Middle Island, followed by a warming beach party at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. Register by Feb 7 at www.openwaterasia.com.

FEB 14 Valentine’s Day Love is in the air.

FEB 1-3 Lunar New Year Public holiday to welcome the Year of the Horse. Let’s hear it for the gee-gees.

FEB 1 Lunar New Year Fireworks Wahhh! Victoria Harbour, 8pm.

UNTIL FEB 9 Bamboo Theatre A capella and jazz artists share the stage with Hong Kong’s best Chinese opera troupes.

Western Kowloon Cultural District. Tickets $200-$280 from www.urbtix.hk, 2734 9009.

UNTIL FEB 16 Blossoming Lunar Fiesta Ocean Park celebrates Lunar New Year with water acrobatics, giant drums and lots of lai see. Details at www.oceanpark.com.hk.

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FEB 15 Stormy Dragons Valentine’s Ball Party time for the dragonboat paddlers, with a three-course charity dinner, free-flowing bar and entertainment. 7.30pm-late. Hong Kong Sea School, 13-15 Tung Tau Wan Road, Stanley. Tickets $1,000 from stormys. valentines.ball@gmail.com.

JAN 15-FEB 16 Kidsfest!

Stage productions of nine favourite children’s stories, including The Gruffalo, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Horrible Histories and Private Peaceful. Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai.

Tickets $195-$395 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

What is your favourite annual event on Southside? Tell us by voting in our Readers’ Choice Awards. Vote now at www.southside.hk.

happening in february FEB 16 Hong Kong Marathon Cheer on the thousands of able-bodied and wheelchair racers from Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (near The Mira) to Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. From 6am. For details, visit www.hkmarathon.com.

3 RD - 4 TH, APRIL, 2014

FEB 18-MAR 22 Hong Kong Arts Festival World-class opera, theatre, music and dance. Highlights include Lohengrin by Savonlinna Opera, Bullet Catch, African Tales by Shakespeare, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, The Magic Piano, Grammy winners Gregory Porter, Roberto Foseca and pianist Maria Joao Pires, Giselle by La Scala Ballet and Highland Fling by the Scottish Ballet.

Details at www.hk.artsfestival.org.

FEB 21-MAR 2 Restaurant Week Sample the best food in town with cut-price meals at more than 50 top restaurants across Hong Kong, including venues in Stanley, Aberdeen and The Peak; www.restaurantweek.hk.

SEE THE ABILITY, NURTURE THE POTENTIAL 3 RD - 4 TH, APRIL, 2014

PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, ASD INDIVIDUALS & PROFESSIONALS WELCOME

SEE THE ABILITY, NURTURE THE POTENTIAL

FEB 21-23 Hong Kong Masters Elite showjumping featuring the world’s top 25 riders, plus horse clinics, photo shoots and meet-and-greet opportunities. AsiaWorld-Expo, Lantau.

Tickets $190-$980 from www.cityline.com, 2111 5333.

FEB 26-28 Le Malade Imaginaire by Moliere Play and ballet by La Comédie de la Mansionnière in aid of a Cambodian school construction project. In French with English subtitles. French International School, 34 Price Road, Jardine’s Lookout. Tickets $150$300 from www.lemaladeimaginaire.com.

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FEB 26-MAR 1 Abigail’s Party Hong Kong Players take on Mike Leigh’s classic comedy. McAulay Studio, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. Tickets $220-$280 from www.urbtix.hk, 2111 5999.

FEB 28 Quiz Night Rack your brains. 8pm-10pm, Pickled Pelican, 90 Stanley Main Street, Stanley, 2813 4313.

CYBERPORT CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION CENTER

REGISTER ONLINE NOW

www.esfeducation.com/asd-conference-2014 FOR FURTHER INFO

t. 852 3762 2523

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planner

Book now MAR 9 The Rolling Stones 14 on Fire

MAR 13-15 Beertopia 2014

A last chance to see Mick and the boys?

Not likely! Cotai Arena, Macau. Tickets $580-$14,880 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Hong Kong’s international craft beer festival, with live music, great food and more than 400 beers to sample.

Tickets $280-$930 from www.beertopiahk.com.

MAR 23 Il Divo Concert

MAR 9 Outward Bound Adventure Race 2014 One-day adventure race around Hong Kong Island. Including running, kayaking, swimming, orienteering and unexpected challenges.

Register at www.outwardbound.org.hk.

Broadway songs, opera voices.

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai.

Tickets $490$1,590 from www.hkticketing. com, 3128 8288.

Mar 28-30 Hong Kong Rugby Sevens Three days of beer, singing, dodgy dancing, fancy dress and, oh yes, world-class rugby.

Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, www.hksevens.com.

MAR 29-30 Bruno Mars The Moonshine Jungle In town for the first time. AsiaWorld Expo, Lantau. Tickets $599-$1,088 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

APR 3-4 ASD Conference For professionals and families of people with autism. Register by Mar 14. Cyberport 3, Pok Fu Lam, www.esfeducation.com.

Got an event? We can publish the details for free. Email editor@southside.hk.

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news 20,000 new flats could bring traffic chaos to Pok Fu Lam

Wah Fu Estate is to be redeveloped.

A change in government policy could see an additional 20,000 flats being built in Pok Fu Lam and bring traffic chaos to the already congested residential area.

Chief executive Leung Chun-ying relaxed

height restrictions in the area in last month’s policy address, leaving the way open to build a new development south of Chi Fu and redevelop the 47-year-old Wah Fu Estate.

Southern District Councillor Paul Zimmerman

told Southside Magazine, “The government will first build the new housing at Chi Fu, then they will decant the residents of Wah Fu into the new housing and redevelop the old units.”

He said the time scale for the redevelopment is unclear but the project could take 10 years. Details of exactly what form the new flats will take have not been released.

“Residents in Wah Fu want the redevelopment because they will get new flats,” Zimmerman said. “But residents in Chi Fu and Bel-Air are very concerned over the location, height and bulk of the expansion of Wah Fu, as it may impact their view of the Lamma Channel and the country park.”

As for the impact on traffic, the government has already commissioned a $1.2 million consultation to study the effect on Pok Fu Lam and Victoria roads. The MTR’s new South Island Line will not stretch as far as Wah Fu Estate.

“The Government has yet to show a comprehensive traffic assessment. And I’m afraid that the Transport Department is weak in objecting to redevelopment plans when they see that roads will be overloaded,” Zimmerman said.

Stanley Montessori primary opens

The new International Montessori School (IMS) in Stanley opens this month. Currently accepting applications for children aged three to 12, it is is the only accredited Montessori Primary School in Greater China and offers a dual-language (English and Putonghua) programme. The new campus adds more than 700 new international school places to IMS’ current network of campuses in Tin Hau, South Horizons and Mid-Levels. For details, call 2861 0339, or email info@montessori.edu.hk.

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HKIS to rebuild Repulse Bay site The redevelopment of Hong Kong International School in Repulse Bay has been given the go-ahead now that space has been found at the Tai Tam campus to house the lower primary school students during the construction.

An alternative site in Hung Hom was rejected as too polluted last year, delaying the start of the $1 billion construction project.

The existing building, which opened in 1975, will be demolished in June to make way for a new world-class facility on the site. The new building, which is scheduled to open for the 2017-18 academic year, will include a swimming pool, gymnasium, 750-seat auditorium and a residential tower of 56 faculty apartments.

in your backyard

Flexible fitness Stanley wins Public Space Awards classes for mums Here’s a great idea from Flex Studio for yummy mummies struggling to juggle their own fitness regimes with their kids’ activities.

Parents who enroll a child in any FlexKids programme can book a simultaneous 45-minute private session ($650; also available for groups of two or three) instead of the usual 60-minute sessions. The timing means mums can exercise and still be there to drop off and pick up their children.

“It’s ideal for the busy parent who is often taking their kids from place to place, working out how to fit in all their child’s wants and needs into the day, but probably forgetting about their own,” says co-director Heather Thomas Shalabi.

FlexKids classes include yoga, Pilates for teens and tweens, tween zumba and capoeira.

Spaces are still available for the January-March term for the yoga and capoeira classes. One Island South, 2 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, 2813 2212, www.flexhk.com.

Stanley Waterfront has picked up two awards in the inaugural Public Space Awards: overall winner and best waterfront.

Organized by Hong Kong Public Space Initiative (HKPSI), RFP Magazine and Designing Hong Kong, the awards were nominated and voted for by the public. The waterfront – Stanley

promenade and the Stanley Plaza piazza – won for “successful public-private integration with great variety of activities and users”. For more information, visit www.publicspace.hk.

Don’t agree with the results? Tell us why by voting in the Readers’ Choice Awards at www.southside.hk.

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 11

Headline save our

country parks

news from the green front

From paradise to battlefield

In a new column, Paul Zimmerman outlines the threat to our country parks.

Since the Country Parks Ordinance was enacted in 1976, Hong Kong’s country parks have been sacrosanct as the city’s green escapes. Over the next 38 years, 24 country parks were designated across the territory for water-catchment protection, nature conservation, countryside recreation and outdoor education.

These hilly green lungs covered with woodland, tranquil reservoirs and stunning

coastlines are valuable ecological, geological and recreational resources for our dense city.

Former governor Sir Murray MacLehose, who oversaw the introduction of the country parks, said: “The mountains and the beaches are for the many what the golf course and the yacht are for the few. And if these magnificent natural facilities are to be enjoyed to the full and not to be destroyed by misuse, they must be catered for and administered just as much as, say, the playgrounds and swimming complexes in the urban areas.”

Tables and benches, barbecue sites, children’s play apparatus and campsites help visitors enjoy the scenic beauty of the beaches, hills and woods. In 2012, a whopping 12.9 million people visited the parks to hike, run, use the fitness equipment, barbecue, picnic, camp swim and other activities.

But in 2010, Hong Kong became aware of the ongoing destruction and development of agricultural land previously excluded from the country parks. The development just behind the

beach at Tai Long Sai Wan highlighted how the exploitation of loopholes and lack of planning and land controls could result in development that is incompatible with the surrounding country parks.

The government’s promise to protect the parks from the Heung Yee Kuk and small house development has yet to materialize. Then last summer, the government raised the option of taking land from the country parks for the development of new housing estates.

With that the country parks became embroiled in a controversial debate over land supply in Hong Kong. From sanctuary, the country parks became a battlefield and leading green groups joined forces to form the Save Our Country Parks alliance. Stay tuned – and enjoy the parks.

Paul Zimmerman is the CEO of Designing Hong Kong, a Southern District Councillor and the co-convenor of Save Our Country Parks alliance.

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five minutes with...

vertical gardener

Growing up Why Margaret Chan is covering Hong Kong’s walls with plants. By Olivia Lai. I have a mission in life. I chose my career based on what the world needs and my interests. I did courses in writing and filmmaking in New York to launch SquAir Spaces and SquAir Roots. SquAir Spaces is a social business where we build plant walls, and use it to fund the education work of SquAir Roots. Education is hugely important to me.

I have cared about the environment since I read a book about the greenhouse effect back in the 1980s. It changed my life. I realised nothing I did was enough.

About 68 per cent of the earth’s plant biodiversity will become extinct by the middle of this century. That’s pretty scary. So the mission of SquAir Roots is to educate young people to grow things, and about preventing plant extinctions.

14 | WWW.SAIKUNG.COM

Plants are not only about aesthetics. It’s also very meditative when you’re taking care of a plant. But not many Hong Kong people know how to take care of plants properly, so they don’t often survive long.

[In the Kyoto Protocol] politicians announced we had to cut global emissions by 2015. But I get annoyed with those vague responses. I pay attention to organizations like Greenpeace, but they’re not comprehensive enough. They’re not making things worse, but I’m not sure they’re making things better either.

SquAir Roots educates young people to grow plants and prevent plant extinctions What people don’t know about recycling paper is that it’s very expensive, and it uses a lot of water to wash off the ink and a lot of bleach to reach paper quality. In the end, the process is highly toxic.

I’m excited about the changes in Wong Chuk Hang. With the new MTR station coming in and the new hotel at Ocean Park, there’s going to be more tourists and business. I think Southside will not stay as a residential district.

For details on SquAir Spaces and SquAir Roots, please visit www.sqspaces.com.

local

coming to a theme park near you

Editorial Jane Steer jane@fastmedia.com.hk Hannah Grogan hannah@fastmedia.com.hk Cherrie Yu cherrie@fastmedia.com.hk Art Director Reynaldo Dela Paz rey@fastmedia.com.hk Graphic Designer Evy Cheung evy@fastmedia.com.hk Sales Manager Jonathan Csanyi-Fritz jonathan@fastmedia.com.hk Sales Executive Jackie Wilson jackie@fastmedia.com.hk Digital Content Editor Sharon Wong sharon@fastmedia.com.hk Accounts Manager Connie Lam accounts@fastmedia.com.hk Publisher Tom Hilditch tom@fastmedia.com.hk Contributors Adele Rosi Carolynne Dear Fergus Fung Sally Andersen Steffi Yuen Olivia Lai Jane Wolfers Paul Zimmerman Carolyn Martin Vivien Yu Printer Gear Printing Room 3B, 49 Wong Chuk Hang Road, (Derrick Industrial Building), Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong Published by Fast Media Floor LG1, 222 Queens Road Central Hong Kong

Give us a call!

Editorial: 2776 2773 Advertising: 2776 2772 Southside 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. Southside Magazine cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or pubishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

From top: new attractions at Ocean Park include koalas in Adventures in Australia, Water World and Shark Mystic.

Water World II Ocean Park announces 30 new attractions.

Cherrie Yu reports.

Water World is back! Ocean Park’s much-missed waterpark, which closed in 1999, is to reopen all year round in 2017 with twice as many pools, slides and other attractions as the original version.

Of 30 new attractions Ocean Park announced last month, 25 will be in Water World, including the world’s longest lazy river, 13 stateof-the-art giant water slides, two wave pools, a surfing simulator and indoor and outdoor sandy beaches.

The new 440,000-square-foot park will be built into the hillside at Tai Shue Wan overlooking Aberdeen, giving visitors the feeling of shooting down the super-fast slides and into the sea.

The climate-controlled, yearround indoor section will feature a wave pool, beach and several water slides. There will also be a premium zone with private cabanas and other facilities, a 500-seat Chinese

restaurant, a food court and several smaller food outlets. It will create 2,900 jobs by 2018.

Coming this year are two new premium attractions: Shark Mystic and Adventures in Australia.

Replacing the multi-storey Atoll Reef, the shark aquarium will feature 100 sharks from 15 different species, while koalas will be the focus of the new Adventures in Australia.

A gift from the South Australian government, it will open with four koalas with an additional four koalas plus other Outback animals to come later. Eucalyptus trees have been planted in China to provide the koalas with a fresh supply of their favourite food.

A further three attractions are still to be announced.

Ocean Park, Aberdeen, 3923 2323, www.oceanpark.com.hk.

What Southside issues do you care about most? Tell us in our Readers’ Choice Awards for the chance to win great prizes. Vote now at www.southside.hk.

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Book Now

www.urbtix.hk | 2111 5999

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Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor Violin Concerto in A minor, Op 82 Renaud Capuçon (Violin) Symphony No 7 in A, Op 92

Programme details and artists are subject to change.

Mar 7

charity focus Independence days The Nesbitt Centre helps people with special needs live independently.

By Olivia Lai. service seekers are local residents and the rest are expats.

The Nesbitt Centre focuses on helping students older than 16 to transition effectively from secondary school to adulthood and to integrate into society. Jacqueline Law, secretary to the board of directors, explains that the centre takes a holistic approach offering day schools, guidance counselling, recreational and educational programmes “The Centre aims to help students achieve independence and develop their own opportunities within the Nesbitt Centre students run The Nest coffee shop. community,” she says.

The Nesbitt Centre was established in 1993, One project, Preparation for Life, allows when founder David Nesbitt realised Hong Kong students to experience independence by offered no English-language tertiary education sharing a flat, supported by a key worker. for students with learning disabilities, such as In November, the centre successfully his daughter. Today, about half the centre’s launched The Nest coffee shop in the grounds

next step of St John’s Cathedral and last month opened a second branch, Cafe 8 at Pier 8. The shops are run as social enterprises to provide vocational training and job opportunities for the centre’s students, who have responded with great enthusiasm.

The centre helps students transition effectively from secondary school to adulthood Attitudes towards people with special needs in Hong Kong and internationally have improved in the past 20 years, Law says.

“Those with special needs need not to be hidden away, they have a voice and equal rights within a society,” she says.

Looking forward, she says the Nesbitt Centre is committed to “working for the best interest for our service users… and we hope that one day our students will be able to run the enterprises on their own”.

For details, please visit nesbittcentre.org.hk.

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feature

We ❤ Shek O 20 reasons to love the village at the end of the road.

By Hannah Grogan and Cherrie Yu.

Mediterranean good looks, great food, a laidback vibe and that gorgeous beach make Shek O one of Hong Kong’s favourite holiday destinations, but for those who live there, it’s the close-knit community that makes it special.

1. That Shek O feeling There’s a pleasure in living where other people go on holiday. “Coming home at the end of the day, passing the quarry and seeing the view and the beach, it just gives you that feeling that you’re back home,” says long-time resident Jennifer Pollard. “That and the sense of community, you can always guarantee you know someone in the playground.”

2. Sundowners at Ben’s Back Beach Bar Sand, sea, cold beer, reggae and good company. 273 Shek O Village, 2809 2268.

3. Golf Whether you’re five or 55, Shek O caters to golf lovers of all ages. It can be tricky to wrangle tee time at the Shek O Golf and Country Club, but you can always wield a putter at the equally venerable mini golf course behind the beach.

Open 9am-5.30pm, $13 a round.

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4. Great grills Shek O draws the barbecue brigade year round. Get there early to snag one of the 39 public pits – and stock up on chicken wings and shrimps beforehand as Shek O has no supermarkets or 7-Elevens. Alternatively book a spot at a private barbecue site such as Liu’s Barbecue, which charges from $200 for a pit, charcoal and five hours of cooking time. Shek O Main Beach, 2809 4579.

5. Bird’s-eye view Jumping off Dragon’s Back is a popular activity with paragliders, who often fill the skies and land on the beaches. To take off with the Hong Kong Paragliding Association you must hold a valid license and be at an advanced level. Instructor Yuen Wai-kit offers beginners’ lessons in Sai Kung and Ma On Shan ($1,000 a session; it takes at least three sessions to qualify). Details at pilotkit@yahoo.com.hk, 9620 0577.

6. Dragon’s Back My, but you love this trail. Winning Best Hike by a country mile in our Readers’ Choice Awards 2013, section eight of the Hong Kong Trail follows the ridge from Wan Cham Shan to Shek O Peak, with fabulous views and a chance to end the walk with a dip and a meal in Shek O. 7. Lip-smacking food It may be small, but Shek O punches above its weight when it comes to food. Choose from Asian and Western cuisines, cha chaan tengs, alfresco barbecues, dessert shops, the legendary Shek O Chinese & Thai, quirky cafe The Black Sheep or beach-side fine dining at Cococabana. You won’t be disappointed.

8. Home from home With the rise of Internet sites such as airbnb. com, weekend breaks are now available in Shek O. Bunk in town, seconds from the beach, for

we do like to be beside the seaside

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We love Shek O because...

Mrs. Cho “I have lived here for five years, moving in with my son. I like the idea of strolling anywhere I want without worrying about anything.

Everyone is a neighbour.”

Leung Gui-ling “I have lived here since I was a little girl.

I always join the community events.

You walk past, see something happening and you’re welcome to join in.”

Nick Lee, civil worker “I have lived here for 30 years. I like how everyone is not anonymous here like in the city; everyone is our neighbour and willing to lend a helping hand.”

Samuel Daffner “I have lived here for a few months.

I like that Shek O has lots of space and is near to the beach. The food is good – my favourite restaurant is The Black Sheep for the pizzas.”

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Picture: Claudia Whitney

feature

Clockwise from top left: a busy summer weekend; a paraglider touches down; the united colours of Shek O; tag-team yoga on the sand.

as little as $560 a night, or treat yourself to an entire apartment, rooftop, barbecue and all.

Visit www.airbnb.com for listings.

9. Stargazing Not only does the air seem cleaner but Shek O’s small size means there’s less light pollution – and that means more stars. Lay out on the beach after dark and count the constellations.

10. Surf culture Just down the road, Big Wave Bay is home to some of the finest swells in the 852. Hip surf and skate company X Game (2366 9293, www.xgamehk.com) offers surfing lessons for $500 a person for groups of two to four people, or $800 for a private one-to-one lesson. Hang ten, dudes. (Sorry.)

11. Rainbow village Shek O is a visual feast – just check out the

mailboxes and brightly coloured exteriors with doors painted every and any colour. The beach is a fiesta of sun umbrellas and beach balls in eye-popping shades of red, yellow, blue and white, brightly painted paddle boards and even fluorescent budgie smugglers.

12. Philanthropy on the beach Big-hearted Shek O came out in a good cause on December 8 to raise money for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan with tag-team yoga on the beach organised by local yogi May Nogoy, with instructors Claudia Whitney and Lindsay Jang. All those positive vibes were immediately put to good use at a rocking beach party – sorry, tea dance – with cocktails and tapas by Cococabana. We applaud you.

13. Big sand Shek O Beach always surprises with the sheer quantity of sand available. Even on the busiest

Don’t agree with our list of favourites or have some of your own? Tell us by voting in our Readers’ Choice Awards. Vote now at www.southside.hk.

Sunday, there’s space to lay your towel. Go early to guarantee a prime location.

14 Hong Kong’s last island village This is real island life. All the residents seem to know their neighbours, strangers greet each other with a friendly “cho san”, and everyone comes out for community parties to celebrate occasions from Halloween to Lunar New Year (we’re assured the beach will be a blast at midnight on February 1). Shek O even looks like it came from central casting for a sleepy Mediterranean village with its small whitewashed and brightly coloured houses on narrow winding streets. Just thinking about it makes us want a siesta.

15. The blue bridge Dinky.

16. Inflatable toys Dolphins, whales, giant octopuses, boats, rings in all sizes and colours... if it floats, Shek O’s beach shops have it.

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The blue bridge to the headland (note the lane divider); the annual Chinese opera is the biggest event of the year.

17. Red prawn curry at Shek O Chinese & Thai Mighty fine. (We also recommend the prawn cakes.) 303 Shek O Village, 2809 4426.

18. Chinese opera The biggest event of the year is the annual Chinese opera, held in a temporary bamboo theatre that has been constructed in the beach car park every November for the past 50 years. A lion dances

from the temple to the theatre to kick off proceedings. Last year the community raised $800,000 to put on the show, says organiser Raymond Yip.

lighthouse dating to 1875. But our favourite is the whale skeleton mounted outside the Swire Institute of Marine Science (www.swims.hku.hk).

20. Weird and wonderful From sandcastle-sculpting competitions to tightrope walking over the beach, Shek O has more than its fair share of fun. And we’re looking forward to more of it in 2014.

19. Cape D’Aguilar Hong Kong’s southernmost point is a wild and wave-lashed place with a 20-hectare marine reserve, mangroves, a coral reef and a heritage

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feature

Claire Price hits her stride on the Dragon’s Back.

Hit the trails Jane Wolfers discovers the joys of trail running.

With 42 per cent of Hong Kong designated as country park, criss-crossed by hundreds of kilometres of well-maintained paths, trail running is one of the best ways to explore the territory. It’s fun, challenging and sociable.

Four of Hong Kong’s top trail runners – Dan Parr, Rachel Jacqueline, John Ellis and Claire Price – give us the lowdown on one of the city’s fastest-growing sports.

What’s your favourite thing about trail running in Hong Kong?

Dan Parr: You can leave the office on a Friday night and be only a couple of kilometres away, looking down on the city, and run for four to five hours and not see another human.

Rachel Jacqueline: At its rawest, trail running

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is a primitive adventure – your two feet, nature and a trail. Your resolve and mental fortitude are put to the test through the external environment, as well as internally. Trail running has taught me patience, gratitude, acceptance.

It’s a unique way to explore, absorb and connect with nature. I also love the community.

It’s not just local – it’s a global community.

The people are so accepting, supportive and non-judgmental.

What safety precautions do you recommend?

Claire Price: I never worry about my safety in Hong Kong. If it’s hot, take plenty to drink, know where you’re going, and know a shortcut to get to a taxi or some form of transport

if you’re doing a long run – it’s easy to get exhausted and overheated in the summer. In the mountains, be prepared for changeable weather as it can get cold quickly at altitude.

What are your favourite trails?

John Ellis: On the Island, Dragon’s Back has some amazing views and the Twins from Parkview to Stanley is a great midweek challenge. Further afield, Lantau’s Tung O ancient trail is one of my favourites – not too technical, rolling hills, coastal, and finishing in Tai O is a bonus.

RJ: The beaches on stages one and two of the MacLehose Trail are mind blowing.

DP: Stage four of the MacLehose has some of the most magnificent views in Hong Kong. But

Picture: Sanja Jugovic Burns

take to the hills

Clockwise from top: Take the high road – MacLehose Trail stage four; Rachel Jacqueline sets the pace; join a trail running race and discover a new side of Hong Kong.

Meet the panel John Ellis John started trail running in Australia with a few team ultra races including an Oxfam Trailwalker and Wild Endurance, but really got into trail running in Hong Kong. He often runs ultra distance events on back-to-back weekends. He’s also pretty fast on the road, running the New York City marathon in 2013.

Rachel Jacqueline Rachel started trail running in Sydney before she realized what trail running was. After completing her first seven-

hour adventure race in Hong Kong, she swore she’d never again venture into Hong Kong’s wilderness. Somehow she signed up for a trail run in Tai Lam, and was hooked, taking part in races worldwide. Her standout race results include third in the Open Women’s 2013 Lantau 50km and 16th woman in the 2012 Vibram 100km race.

Dan Parr A rugby player in Britain, Dan took part in his first adventure race in Macau. Tail running creeps up on you, he says. His standout races include winning two of the four 250km self-supported Four Deserts Marathon

series across the Gobi and Sahara. He has placed third in the Hong Kong Oxfam Trailwalker, and last year finished 13th in his first 100-mile race at Mount Fuji, Japan.

Claire Price Possibly Hong Kong’s leading female trail runner, Claire set a new women’s record in the 2013 HK100. She came second in two ultra races around Mount Blanc – the CCC in 2011 and the TDS in 2013 – at high altitudes, in difficult weather conditions and with vertical ascents of 7,250m. “I’m still amazed I win anything to be honest, as I didn’t grow up doing much sport!” she says.

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Gear Trail-running shoes were invented for a reason.

Heavier and sturdier than regular running shoes, they help maintain grip on uneven terrain. Likewise 2XU compression tights have been shown to improve performance and recovery. Hong Kong has one specialist trailrunning store, Lantau Base Camp in Mui Wo (www.lantaubasecamp.com). It accepts online orders, but newbies should consider making the trek to chat to owners Jeremy and Valerie, who are keen trail runners.

Hydration and nutrition Stay properly hydrated during a run, especially if you’re planning to be on the trail for more than an hour, with a camelbak or water bottle. On longer runs, pack energy gels, energy bars or other snacks.

you’ll never get bored. You don’t need to look far to find new trails.

What was your most memorable run?

JE: The race I am most proud of was the 2013

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Stay connected Always carry a mobile phone in case you run into difficulties.

Better still, take a friend. And always check the weather forecast for incoming typhoons or even strong monsoons. Winter is a great time to get started.

Where to go Explore Hong Kong’s trails by entering a race, which are held most weekends (for details, visit www.hkhiking.com/trailrunning).

Running on trails is less taxing than on roads, with softer surfaces, ascents and descents, and the need to walk at times. As well as having less impact on your body, the scenery and variety of terrain makes it a lot less mentally taxing than a 21km road race.

Ultra Mount Fuji. It’s a brutal course of 100 miles and 9,000m of vertical ascent – that’s more than Mount Everest from sea level. It required massive mental determination. At the last checkpoint, I even had a little cry, but still managed to finish

the top Hong Kong runner in a world-class field.

CP: It was a farewell run for a friend. We ran from Hong Kong Park in Central to Stanley.

We started with just a few people, which initially disappointed him, but friends popped out of the bushes along the way, with sake, schnapps, beer and much merriment. We ended up with about 30 people in a long line of headlamps over Violet Hill and the Twins, down to Stanley, where we had dinner. Trail running is very sociable here. That’s what keeps me coming back – the friendships, camaraderie and shared experiences in beautiful places around the world.

How do you start trail running?

JE: Build up slowly. It’s easy to get injured by doing too much too quickly, especially with all the hills and steps in Hong Kong. Also, really take advantage of the great running weather in winter because it can be so oppressive in summer.

RJ: Enter a race. It’ll give you a goal to work towards and take you to some remote parts of Hong Kong.

DP: Sign up for an 8km, 15km or even 21km event to start with. You’ll be surprised what you can achieve.

food by fergus

review

102 Ap Lei Chau Main Street Fergus tucks into a Chiuchow favourite.

When craving a Chiuchow food fix, Hong Kong people usually head to Western District. But we are lucky to have a hidden gem right on Ap Lei Chau Main Street.

Chiuchow cuisine is generally regarded as more delicately flavoured than the heavy sauces used in most regional Chinese cuisines and it is particularly well known for its seafood and braised dishes, including goose, duck, pork, beancurd, eggs and offal. Ingredients are often braised in a distinctively flavoured marinade of spices and dried fruit peel, ginger, spring onions, sugar and dark and light soy sauce.

The sauce is said to improve with age and some traditional shops have 30-year-old marinades, with new ingredients added daily for extra complexity.

Ap Lei Chau’s Chiuchow eatery (which has no English name) may not use 30-year marinades, but its sliced braised goose is delicious. It’s a tiny dai pai dong-style shop on the main street, next to the Ap Lei Chau

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Municipal Services Building and wet market, with simple stools in a cramped dining room.

There is a back room for larger parties with a separate entrance in the alley next to the shop.

The extensive menu is in Chinese only.

Aside from the braised dishes with Chiuchow spice marinade, noteworthy dishes include Chiuchow-style steamed fish. Ma you fish or pomfret are steamed with celery, minced meat, light soy sauce and fish sauce, while the da

leng fish is served at room temperature. The oyster omelette is flavoursome with the oyster’s metallic taste pairing well with the crispy edges of the fried egg. The shredded chicken in sesame sauce is also delectable.

A winter favourite is pao fan, made by adding cooked rice to soup, together with ingredients such as oysters with minced meat or whitebait. The shop also welcomes diners to bring their own seafood from the wet market for dishes such as steamed fish and crustaceans, stir-fried clams in black bean sauce, and deepfried black pepper squid. , 102 Ap Lei Chau Main Street, 2553 3018. (food only) Fergus Fung co-founded the WOM Hong Kong restaurant guide, available in online and print versions. He is also a wine consultant for Bonhams 1793 and a Southern District Councillor.

eating Full steam ahead

Beat the chill with rib-sticking winter warmers. By Olivia Lai. the more unusual Meat Lovers fondue ($348), which includes chicken fillet, beef fillet and pork sausages. And if that’s not enough, for an extra $100 there’s a chocolate fondue in the dessert buffet. Try it with a pear-flavoured Williams Schnapps.

Available throughout February. 4/F, Le Meridien Cyberport, 100 Cyberport Road, Pok Fu Lam, 2980 7417, prompt. lmc@lemeridien.com Delaney’s hearty and delicious Irish stew.

Prompt So alpine it almost yodels, fondue is Europe’s favourite winter dish, warming body and soul with big sharing pots of oozy cheese.

Prompt offers a classic cheese ($328) and

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Delaney’s Warm the cockles of your heart with Irish stew ($148), made with slow-cooked New Zealand lamb and fresh vegetables, served in a sourdough loaf. Delaney’s is also offering

a yummy selection of hot alcoholic drinks, including the Hot Toddy (spiced Irish whiskey with brown sugar and lemon) and the Flu Fixer (triple sec, fresh lemon juice, boiling water and a clove-studded orange slice).

Or try hot chocolate generously laced with honeyed whiskey and topped with fresh cream. All $70, or $50 during happy hour.

The Spire at the Arcade, Cyberport, Pok Fu Lam; 2677 1126, thejack@netvigator.com.

Jaspas Nothing beats a hearty cut of meat on a cold day, such as Jaspas’ justly famous Parmesancrusted lamb rack ($285). The dessert menu has two entries that are perfect for a chilly day: chocolate pudding, a light fluffy pudding with a molten centre of hot, rich chocolate sauce, and that winter comfort-food classic, apple crumble (both $78). Yum. Manhattan Heights, 83 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town, 2872 0823, www.casteloconcepts.com

mm-mmm!

So alpine it almost yodels, fondue is Europe’s favourite winter dish The Verandah The Verandah takes cheese fondue to a new level, with a range of cheeses to choose from including gruyere & raclette, tiltster & appenzeller ($288-$508). It also offers a Lindt chocolate fondue ($288 for two), served with a selection of fresh fruits, berries and marshmallows, or a luxurious black truffle and champagne fondue ($608 for two).

Available until March 8 (except Feb 13-15).

Closed Mondays. 109 Repulse Bay Road, 2292 2822, www.therepulsebay.com.

King Ludwig Beerhall Go for a German feast at King Ludwig Beerhall in a distinctly European style dining room – think towering, beamed ceilings, foaming pitchers of beer and lots of wood.

Warm up with traditional fondue at The Verandah.

Order a sharing platter of German sausages – Nuremberg, Weisswurst, Bockwurst – and sauerkraut ($160-$260) or such classics as

Wiener schnitzel, potato cakes and the signature pork knuckle. Prost! 2/F, Murray House, Stanley, 2899 0122, www.kingparrot.com

Best children's activity? Tells us in our Readers’ Choice Awards for the chance to win prizes worth $100,000. Vote now on www.southside.hk.

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 35

nibbles

Food of love Valentine’s Day dinners – and a sexy singles party.

Pelican is offering a special Valentine’s menu for $488 a person. It includes foie gras, consomme with cabbage and morel ravioli and a choice of lamb loin or sea bass, followed by mascarpone cheese mousse with dark cherry jelly and passion fruit meringue. Pickled Pelican, 90 Stanley Main Street, 2813 4313.

We heart Prompt’s Valentine’s Day dessert.

The Boathouse Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a four-course dinner at The Boathouse, overlooking the Stanley waterfront. On the menu is panseared foie gras, lobster ravioli and a choice of slow-cooked wild salmon with caviar or beef tenderloin. Dessert is a chocolate bar with raspberry tube and candy orange. The menu is $1,188 for two. The Boathouse, 88 Stanley Main Street, 2813 4467.

The Pickled Pelican For something a little less fancy, Pickled

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Prompt Prompt is offering a sunset Valentine’s dinner ($1,688 for two) including seafood soup with garlic bread, Angus beef tenderloin with red wine sauce or pan-fried cod fillet. A highlight is the dessert sampler of Hokkaido milk strawberry compote, gold-leaf berry cheesecake, passionfruit-curd tart and petit fours. A vegetarian version is available. 4/F, Le Meridien Cyberport, 100 Cyberport Road, Pok Fu Lam, 2980 7417, prompt.lmc@lemeridien.com Cococabana Enjoy a beachside dinner at Cococabana, surely one of the most romantic venues in town.

The Mediterranean menu includes marinated scallops, cream of oyster soup, pan-fried duck

Le Boudoir

liver, herb fettuccine with crabmeat, slowroasted lamb rump, lemon tart and melting chocolate cake. $580 a head. G/F Shek O Beach Building, Shek O Beach, 2812 1826, cocobay@biznetvigator.com.

Le Boudoir Single and fabulous? Sexy Central venue Le Boudoir is holding the “I Love Me” party just for you. Held on February 14, the singles party features an open bar (10pm-2am), DJ and a lucky draw with gifts for everybody.

Sounds more fun than a sappy dinner.

Register at www.hongkongmadame.com for $400, or $500 on the door. Basement, 65 Wyndham Street, Central, 2530 3870.

education

new kid on the block

New preschool for Tai Tam

Hannah Grogan peeks inside EtonHouse, Southside’s latest preschool.

New preschool EtonHouse opened in Tai Tam last month offering playgroup and kindergarten programmes for children aged one to six years.

It is part of the EtonHouse International Education Group, which was established in Singapore in 1995, inspired by the early childhood education programme in Britain.

Today, the group runs 71 schools in Singapore, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and now Hong Kong, ranging from preschool to high school. It offers the International Baccalaureate programmes and diploma in Singapore and China, and is a member of the Council of International Schools.

EtonHouse follows a child-responsive “Inquire, Think, Learn” curriculum that focuses on inquiry-based integrated learning. It is based on the renowned early education system used in Reggio Emilia, northern Italy, hailed by Newsweek as the world’s best. Each space and learning environment is referred to as the “third teacher” and the school pays great attention to the look and feel of its classrooms.

Its new Hong Kong campus in Red Hill Plaza, next to Hong Kong International School, was chosen for its beauty and serene environment away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It has spectacular views and plenty

How do you feel about school fees? Tell us by voting in our Readers’ Choice Awards. Vote now at www.southside.hk.

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Fast facts Year founded: 1995 (EtonHouse Group).

Number of pupils: 200 (once full).

Number of places offered this year: 150.

Campus: 1/F, 102 Redhill Plaza, 3 Red Hill Road, Tai Tam. PTSA contact: enquiry@etonhouse.com. hk, www.etonhouse.com.hk.

Teacher-pupil ratio: 1:6 to 1:15, depending on age group.

of natural light, an indoor garden, tree house, community spaces and facilities that engage and encourage learning.

All the teachers are internationally qualified with a degree in early childhood education. Principal Allison Banbury has 25 years’ experience in early-years education and previously worked at ESF’s Tsing Yi kindergarten as the primary-years programme (PYP) coordinator and as head teacher at a London school for nine years.

There are still places available for 2014. The group plans to open more preschools in Hong Kong and establish an international school up to secondary level in the near future.

For details, visit www.etonhouse.com.hk or email enquiry@etonhouse.com.hk.

education

How to choose a school ITS School Placements offers advice on the right choice for your child.

Choosing a school is an important decision, and making the right choice for your child involves research and planning. When faced with such a large number of schools and curricula to choose from, many parents opt for the perceived “best school”. But this may not take into account important factors that can directly affect a child.

Each child’s learning situation is unique, so deciding what your child’s needs are, along with what matters most to you as a parent, are key steps in choosing the school that best matches your child. It may not be necessarily the best school for another child. It is vital to choose a school that suits your child’s character, personality and learning style.

Understanding your child and how to make the most of who they are is a good start in identifying a happy and rewarding education system for them. In terms of academic success, parents need to consider how their child learns and what curriculum best supports that type of learning. Knowing your child’s learning style will help you make an informed choice when visiting prospective schools by asking relevant questions about their teaching styles, the school’s teaching philosophy, and how these are articulated within the classroom.

The right school will not only allow your child to thrive and develop a passion for learning, but

will also equip him or her with the skills to rise to whatever challenges life brings.

There is no substitute for spending time, money and effort investigating the various options and matching them to your family’s needs. This process is more of an art than a science and you should always remember that factors such as a new principal might make a school different in a year’s time.

Visiting a school is essential as it will give you a general impression of its ethos and let you feel confident about what the school offers. Ignore pretentious mission statements and trust your instinct.

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, 3188 3940 or www.itseducationasisa.com.

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family

nurturing potential

Teaching children with autism Carolyn Martin looks at the progress being made in Hong Kong.

As a mother of a child – now a thriving adult – with Asperger’s Syndrome, I have learned a few things about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Each person living with ASD is an individual with personal skills and challenges. It takes the support of a village to achieve those skills and meet the challenges. That support comes in multiple layers, starting with the education of parents, caregivers, the individual him- or herself and the wider community. To tap into an individual’s needs, it is important to have the collaboration of the full spectrum of support agencies and therapists.

As awareness and understanding of ASD increases, the number of children in Hong Kong being correctly diagnosed with the condition is rising. Discovering your son or daughter has ASD can be emotional and difficult, often accompanied by a form of grieving. But with early intervention and the right support, children with ASD can make great progress.

The nature of the autistic spectrum is that it encompasses a wide range of people, from those with mild difficulties to the severely impaired. Generally speaking, children with ASD need access to a multi-disciplinary team that can address any potential language, social, cognitive, behavioural and occupational difficulties that arise.

Unfortunately, Hong Kong still lags behind countries such as Britain, the US, Australia and Canada in this respect. While it’s rapidly

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Schools... are taking steps to include [autistic children] in mainstream classes improving, most support, especially for nonChinese speakers, is through private practices or privately funded organizations whose quality of service and ethos ranges substantially.

However, over the past five years or so, local and international schools have made great progress in recognizing the difficulties experienced by individuals with ASD and are taking steps to include them in mainstream classes. The Education Department is also making strides towards a more inclusive educational environment.

One example of change in Hong Kong is the advancement in training and capacity in English Schools Foundation (ESF) schools over the past three years. These efforts aim to develop layers of provision for ASD students at all levels of difficulty and move towards an inclusive style of teaching.

Students at the severe end of the spectrum are accommodated at Jockey Club Sarah Roe School in Kowloon. With class sizes of eight-10 students and additional adults in the classroom, ASD children are closely supported to move towards greater independence through

the use of TEACCH workstations and targeted reinforcement. For example, children at a workstation are supported to work through a series of tasks, moving them from a “to do” tray to a “done” tray.

Learning support classes in mainstream schools use Social Thinking strategies to support the development of perspective, flexibility and the thinking that underlies social skills. One activity with young children might be watching excerpts of Disney movies, with their exaggerated eye movements, to teach the idea that people “think with their eyes” and that eye movements give clues about another person’s thoughts and intentions.

In mainstream classes, students learn about expected and unexpected social behaviours, and how to use “whole-body listening” strategies. Classes with younger children use visual timetables to support children with ASD, who find processing verbal language difficult.

In April, ESF will be a partner at the 2014 Hong Kong Inaugural ASD Conference. ESF’s director of education, Pam Ryan, says: “We are committed to developing our provisions for those students with autism and partnering the inaugural ASD conference is another major step in making sure we give our children the best opportunities to achieve.”

Keynote speakers will include clinical psychologists Dr Tony Attwood and Dr Isabelle Hénault, who specialise in Asperger’s and autism. I have personally experienced the immeasurable positive impact these two have had on countless families and believe their contribution will greatly facilitate the progress being made by Hong Kong’s professionals.

Equally important in training our village, the ASD conference is open to parents, caregivers and individuals with ASD. Contributors: Tim Conroy-Stocker, ESF’s senior educational psychologist, and John Shanahan, a clinical psychologist specialising in children and adolescents.

The 2014 Hong Kong Inaugural ASD Conference will be held on April 3-4 at the Cyberport Conference & Exhibition Center, Pok Fu Lam. Please register, by March 14 at www.esfeducation.com/ asd-conference-2014 or by emailing ASDconference@esfc.edu.hk.

For 35 years Woodland has set the standard in Hong Kong for quality early years education. With ten schools, Woodland offers the only accredited early years education in Hong Kong.

Seven of our pre-schools use ‘Traditional’ teaching methods in line with the UK National Curriculum’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). These schools are fully accredited by the Pre-School Learning Alliance, London. Three of our pre-schools offer ‘Montessori’ teaching methods that are fully approved and accredited by the Montessori Centre International (London). At Woodlands we recognise the benefits to children of learning Mandarin, and offer the option of bilingual classes.

Tai Tam Montessori Repulse Bay Montessori Mid Levels Montessori The Peak Pre-School Repulse Bay Beachside Happy Valley Pre-School

Tel: 2525 1655 Tel: 2803 1885 Tel: 2549 1211 Tel: 2849 6192 Tel: 2812 0274 Tel: 2575 0042

Pokfulam Pre-School Woodland Waterfall (Pokfulam) Woodland Harbourside (Aberdeen) Sai Kung Pre-School

www.woodlandschools.com

Tel: 2551 7177 Tel: 2872 6138 Tel: 2559 1377 Tel: 2813 0290

outdoors Cliffhangers and boulder holders Hong Kong is one of Asia’s finest climbing destinations.

Olivia Lai reaches new heights. indoor wall is also available for private groups and parties. Try it out at the Family Fun Day on February 23 ($65 for children under 13, $80 for the over-14s). 41 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2268 7099, www.ymcahk.org.hk.

Just Climb Just Climb offers climbing classes for children and adults, plus a choice of day, monthly and annual passes for non-coached climbing sessions ($70-$98 a day; $1,600-$3,200 a year). One-hour beginners’ classes ($198) teach basic climbing and bouldering skills. Children’s classes (ages 5-15) are $120, including a certificate at the end of the course. Shoe hire available ($40). G/F, Prince Industrial Building, 706 Prince Edward Road East, San Po Kong, 3561 7868, www.justclimb.hk.

Rockstars Rockstars specialises in after-school climbing for kids at Hong Kong International School’s climbing wall in Tai Tam. The sessions are open to children over five years old from any school and are available as 12-week courses ($4,500), including two weekend bouldering trips to Shek O, equipment and wall fees. Rockstars can also organise birthday parties and family climbing outings at HKIS or Shek O – a popular bouldering destination for experienced climbers – including up to two hours of climbing (from $3,000, depending on numbers and

Get the gear Climbing in Shek O with Rockstars.

Indoors Da Verm Run by experienced climbers, Da Verm is one of the few indoor climbing gyms in Hong Kong and the only one on the island with two climbing walls. Routes change monthly to keep things interesting. Packages of four classes start at $1,100 for two, or there’s a one-hour teaser class for those who aren’t quite ready to commit. G/F, 419G Queen's Road West, Sai Ying Pun, 2803 0567, www.da-verm.com.

Go Nature With arguably the finest indoor bouldering wall in town, Go Nature is a popular spot with

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serious local climbers and a good place to look for a climbing buddy. It offers courses for children, parent-and-child ($1,400 for four 75-min sessions), plus outdoor bouldering and abseiling. G/F Wing Hing Industrial Building, 14 Hing Yip Street, Kwun Tong, 3563 7156, www. gonaturehk.com.

YMCA The YMCA has 266 sqm of indoor climbing wall. Learn the basics of rope work and climbing techniques at indoor climbing courses for children, introductory classes for adults or through private tuition. Classes are about $600 for members or $700 for non-members, and the

• Climbing shoes: shoes with special rubber soles for maximum friction are available in Mong Kok at Chamonix Alpine Equipment, Hong Kong Mountaineering Training Centre (both at www.chamonix.com.hk), RC Outfitters (www.rcoutfitters.net) and The Overlander (www.overlander.com.hk).

• Comfortable harness: Black Diamond & Petzl are recommended brands.

• Chalk bags: chalk keeps hands sweat free and allows better grip, especially in humid Hong Kong.

• A climbing partner: join a club.

• Know-how: visit www.hongkongclimbing. com for climbing sites and route tips.

it rocks experience). For details, contact Andy Cumming at 9484 3060, rockstarshk@hotmail.com.

Outdoors YMCA King’s Park The YMCA’s outdoor climbing wall at King’s Park is the biggest in Hong Kong at 18m high and 16m wide. It can host up to 30 climbers at one time on 15 different routes with varying degrees of difficulty, including some tricky overhangs. Sessions start at $70 and courses are $230-$260 an hour in English or Cantonese.

Monthly passes available. 22 Gascoigne Road, Yau Ma Tei (Jordan MTR), 2782 6682, www. kpcc.ymcahk.org.hk.

Tung Lung Chau Little Tung Lung Chau island is a mecca for local climbers with routes for all levels of experience. It’s a tranquil destination at the eastern entrance to Victoria Harbour reached

Learning the ropes at Da Verm.

by ferry on weekends only. On arrival, follow the signposts towards Tung Lung Fort to a large boulder atop a small hillock. Kite Rock has half a dozen short bolted routes of varying difficulty.

Other popular sites (for the experienced)

Best outdoor activity for kids? Tell us by voting in our Readers’ Choice Awards. Vote now at www.southside.hk.

include Technical Wall, a 20m sea cliff, the nearvertical Sea Gully and the atmospheric, 60m Big Wall. To get there, kaito ferries leave every 90 minutes from Shau Kei Wan Typhoon Shelter (Sai Wan Ho MTR, $40 return), or every one or two hours from Sam Ka Tsuen ($36 return). First ferries depart Saturdays 9am, Sundays and public holidays 8.30am. For timetables, visit www.td.gov.hk.

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 43

NEW

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ENTRANCE OFF STANLEY PLAZA

• Genuine Montessori Learning Environment – Enquiry-Based Learning Through Doing – Curriculum Prepares Students for IB/International Schools • Dual-language Immersion (English/Putonghua) • Toddler through Primary Program (2-12 years) • Four campuses on Hong Kong Island FIRST ACCREDITED MONTESSORI PRIMARY SCHOOL IN GREATER CHINA Admissions Enquires: email: info@montessori.edu.hk

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Stanley · Tin Hau · South Horizons · Mid-levels

big day out

now and zen

The Pavilion of Absolute Perfection at the heart of Nan Lian Garden.

Step back in time Hannah Grogan takes time out in Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden.

Tripadvisor ranks Chi Lin Nunnery as the fourth most popular tourist attraction in Hong Kong, but it’s never been at the top of my to-do list – probably because it attracts all those tourists.

However, with Lunar New Year on the horizon, it seemed like a good time to drop in.

What a revelation! The Chi Lin Nunnery and neighbouring Nan Lian Garden form an oasis in the middle of the city. Visiting feels like stepping back in time into a different world.

It’s a 30,000 sqm Buddhist temple complex that houses 15 elegant cedar halls, plus gardens, lotus ponds, rockeries and statues designed around three courtyards, only two of which are open to the public. The complex dates back to

1934 but it was rebuilt in the 1990s in the style of the Tang Dynasty – without using a single iron nail. The only buildings of their kind in Hong Kong, the nunnery is still home to about 60 nuns (according to Mr Google) and it feels appropriately tranquil – particularly if you take a stroll through the adjacent 3.5-hectare Nan Lian Garden.

This beautifully manicured garden is a sanctuary of quiet in the hubbub of Kowloon, thanks to a series of noise barriers. Even the air feels cleaner under all those trees. It’s designed in Tang style, like the nunnery, with artificial hillocks, water features, poetically named bridges and pavilions, rare old trees and

ornamental rocks imported from China. Take a book and find a bench under a tree, or perch in a pagoda facing the pond and watch the koi swimming. It’s all very zen.

There’s a vegetarian restaurant in the garden serving tasty food at tasty prices ($100$150 a head) in a stunning location behind a waterfall. Ask for a window seat. Alternatively, try the traditional teahouse next to the pond, which is a bit more expensive and insists you wear slippers that, I’m guessing, have been on thousands of other feet. (Ick.) While you’re in the area, make a pilgrimage to Wong Tai Sin Temple, just one MTR stop away. Serving three religions (Taoism, Buddhism

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 45

big day out

Clockwise from top: The Tang Dynasty-style Chi Lin Nunnery; Nan Lian Garden; a lotus pond at Chi Lin.

Take a book and find a bench under a tree or perch in a pagoda – it’s all very zen

and Confucianism), it’s beautifully ornamented and a great place to people watch. Famous for making wishes come true, tens of thousands of people descend at midnight on Lunar New Year to pray for good fortune. The temple also houses a host of fortune tellers (including several who speak English), who can tell you what the Year of the Horse holds in store.

Fascinating and easy to get to by MTR,

What is Southside’s best-kept secret? Tell us by voting in our Readers’ Choice Awards. Vote now at www.southside.hk.

46 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

it’s a perfect outing for even the most nervous houseguest. This time of year, head first to the temple to beat the crowds (the earlier the better), then walk or take the MTR one stop to Diamond Hill to the nunnery and garden.

Getting there Take the MTR to Diamond Hill, exit C2 for Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden. For the temple, take the MTR to Wong Tai Sin, exit B2, and walk three minutes. Hollywood Plaza above Diamond Hill MTR has a public car park. The temple halls and garden are open daily, free of charge. Chi Lin Nunnery closes at 4.30pm; Nan Lian Garden closes at 9pm.

Southside Readers’ Choice Awards 2014 Go to www.southside.hk, vote for your favourite things in Southside, and win great prizes.

VOTE TO WIN Entry Deadline:

March 15

$12,300 GRAND PRIZE

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Three-Course Dinner for Two at Cococabana Valued at $2,000 www.toptables.com.hk/coco

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health & beauty

The A-list facial BE INSPIRED kick start your weight loss Today! come along to find out about simple start — an easy 2 week meal plan designed to kick start weight loss!

MEETING LOCATIONS Central YWCA NOTE NEW TIMES Mondays 12pm, 6pm, (weigh in until 7pm) Kowloon USRC Mondays 6.30pm Pokfulam Kennedy School Tuesdays 3.45pm (open to public) Sai Kung/Clearwater Bay – Hebe Haven Yacht Club Wednesdays 6pm Southside – Hong Kong Cricket Club Thursdays 10am Please check www.weightwatchers.com.hk for meeting details before visiting a meeting **Show your Australian Association, America Women’s Association or YWCA membership cards for registration discounts!** Bring this advertisement in and receive a Weight Watchers® cookbook (while supplies last)

Cherrie Yu is ready for her closeup after a Hollywood-style HydraFacial.

HydraFacials are big news in Hollywood. Celebrities such as Beyonce, Kate Winslet, Eva Mendez, Paris Hilton and even Marie Osmond (remember her?) use HydraFacials to get red-carpet ready, tweeting enthusiastically about their post-treatment glows.

The results are supposed to be remarkable. So when I heard therapists at Sense of Touch MediSpa in Central were wielding the magic HydraFacial wand, I had to give it a go.

HydraFacial is a US technique that uses a machine with a vacuumbased skin abrasion tip to deliver a series of serums in a five-step process: cleansing and exfoliation, acid peel, extractions, hydration and protection. Don’t be put off by the term “acid peel”, this is a gentle, non-invasive technique. The tip

works by removing dead skin cells while delivering the serums directly to the underlying skin where they can best take effect.

The Medi-Spa is small but intimate. Over a pot of tea, a therapist runs through my health conditions then leads me to the treatment room. With wood furnishings, wafting floral aroma and cosy white bathrobe hanging on the back of the door, it looks like a swanky hotel suite.

Best beauty treatment on Southside? Tell us by voting in our Readers’ Choice Awards. Vote now at www.southside.hk.

48 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

red-carpet ready

The machine is switched on with a slight sucking sound, then the process starts by exfoliating the skin. This is followed by a stronger suction to remove any pimples and blackheads, then the application of deep cleansing and moisturising serums. There is the

occasional ticklish feeling from the suction, but it beats leaving with patches of redness from manual needle cleaning.

The last step is to soothe the face with HydraFacial’s awardwinning enhancer, an all-in-one anti-ageing product that works to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and overall skin tone and texture. Then the therapist turns off the machine and gives my face a manual massage.

All the muck the vacuum sucks from your complexion is collected by the machine, and at the end of the treatment the therapist examines and explains the impurities, which is a little gross but strangely satisfying. The entire treatment took about 50 minutes, including 20 minutes with the HydraFacial probe.

While less relaxing than a therapist’s soothing hands, the HydraFacial lived up to its reputation, delivering long-lasting effects without redness or enlarged pores. My skin felt soft and plump with moisture – heck, I looked positively radiant and my skin was so clean I was HD ready.

The HydraFacial is $1,200. Sense of Touch Medi-Spa, 2/F, Yu Yuet Lai Building, 43-55 Wyndham Street, Central, 2861 1800.

Treatments for two Love is… being pampered together. Here’s where.

Sense of Touch The award-winning spa offers the two-hour Love is a Many Splendoured Thing package ($3,490 for two), including a steam shower, body exfoliation and skin revitalization treatments, followed by a fragrant serum and oil massage. 1/F, The Repulse Bay Arcade, 109 Repulse Bay Road, 2592 9668.

Mandarin Oriental The two-hour Time Together package ($3,800-$4,200 for two)

includes a soothing body scrub and relaxing customized body massage. 5 Connaught Road, Central, 2903 1637.

Spa at Four Seasons Hotel The Double Serenity pampering session for two ($4,500 for two hours or $5,400 for three) starts with champagne and a cleansing bubble bath, followed by the fullbody scrub of your choice, and signature Four Seasons Fusion Massage. 8 Finance Street, Central, 3196 8888.

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 49

pets First came Freddie

Sally Andersen recalls her first pup rescue, 30 years ago.

This year is the 30th anniversary of my arrival in Hong Kong. I left London in January 1984 bound for Taiwan as the first stop on a planned round-the-world adventure.

Thinking back, I suppose my dog rescuing started the day I picked up an injured puppy from a Taipei gutter and took it back to the apartment where I was staying.

I called the pup Freddie and somehow found someone to set his broken bones, although I suspect calling him a vet would have been stretching it a bit.

Freddie healed, and moved with me to the Ta Chao shipyard where the yacht I would later sail to Hong Kong was being built. Freddie enjoyed his life there, I think. I fed him and took care of him as best I could. There were several other dogs around the place and puppies were born on a regular basis, but the shipyard was on a heavily polluted river and most of them died quickly: one lap of that chemical-laden water

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Today I would fight tooth and nail to make sure Freddie was safe was all it took. When it was time to sail away I had to leave poor Freddie to his fate.

Today I would fight tooth and nail to make sure Freddie was safe, but at the time I had no idea where I would be going or what I would be doing. And, in any case, I didn’t know anything about animal rescue.

Later, when I moved to Lamma after living aboard boats for two years I agreed to take in a dog someone had picked up from “Dog Island” (as it would later become known), but I didn’t really appreciate the commitment that having a dog meant. Luckily, Bruno was tough, independent and a bit of a rogue, so he coped with living outside and not really being a pet.

puppy love

creature feature Reeves’ turtle Chinemys reevesii Found in: Ponds, streams and Mong Kok pet stores.

It was only after I had him castrated on the advice of a vet because of his tendency to fight other dogs, and started keeping him in the house because he (and, by then, my two other dogs) became infected with heartworm, that I began to understand that having a dog meant more than just feeding it once a day and making sure it had water to drink.

Now that I share not just my house, but my sofa, bed and life with so many dogs, I can’t imagine not wanting it that way. As far as I’m concerned, dogs are part of the family and, unless they’re real working dogs, that’s the way it should be.

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

Reeves’ turtle, also known as the Chinese pond turtle or Chinese three-keeled pond turtle, is found in China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, and is widespread in most Hong Kong reservoirs.

It is a small turtle that grows to about 12.5cm long, with yellow stripes or blotches on the head and neck. The shell varies from yellowish-brown to black, and the skin from olive to black. Males and females are relatively easy to tell apart: males have bumps on the base of the tail that are absent in females. Males also tend to be darker with an unpleasant odour, longer, thicker tails and a vent beyond the carapacial rim.

They darken as they age and lose their neck stripes, until they are almost entirely black.

Reeves’ turtles are omnivorous, feeding on aquatic plants and fruit as well as worms,

insects, fish and meat. To attract a mate, a male follows a female, biting her legs or neck, and prodding her with his head. After breeding, the female lays two or three eggs in a shallow pit of moist dirt or sand.

Once common, sightings have been rare in recent years. While the turtles breed well in captivity, wild animals are at risk in China owing to overhunting. The “plastron” – the flattest part of the turtle’s shell – is used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Steffi Yuen

the really useful newsletter

WANT FREE STUFF? Southside Magazine has gone digital with The Southsider.

Packed with deals and discounts, the weekly newsletter is designed especially for you, our readers, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday.

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distribution

where to find us

Southside Magazine continues to extend its reach in our community, here is the latest in distribution news.

Pok Fu Lam - Kellett School - Kennedy School - Mount Davis - Safari Kid - The Merton - Sunshine House Chi Fu - Sunshine House Pokfulam - Woodland Pokfulam Pre-School

Cyberport - Baguio Villas - Bel-Air Clubhouse - Cyberport Arcade - Delaney’s - Indigo Kids - Indigo Living - International (Park N Shop) - Le Meridien Hotel Cyberport - Scenic Villas - Starbucks - Thaima-V

Larvotto Due to popular demand, we’ve increased distribution to Larvotto by 30%. This marine-themed luxury residential complex offers unmatched waterfront views and is only 5 minutes from upscale shopping at Horizon Plaza.

Southside Magazine can be found at the Larvotto clubhouse and on the coffee tables of many of its residents.

Ap Lei Chau - Bumps to Babes - Chapin House - Everything Under The Sun - Indigo - Indigo Kids - Indigo Outlet - Larvotto - Little Picasso Studio - Mothercare - Okooko - Pacific Gourmet - Tequila Kola - Rimba Rhyme - Shambala Cafe - Toof Contemporary - Tree

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Aberdeen - Aberdeen Marina Club - Brain Child - Colour My World - Elite PT Studio - Flex Studio - GCX - Golden Goose Gourmet - MUM - One Island South - Park N Shop - Sift Patisserie - South Island School - Woodland Harbourside Pre-School

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Manhattan Tower

Stanley

- Biva - The Boathouse Deep Water Bay - Cafe Groucho’s - Beach Club - Chez Patrick - Coco Thai - Cheers Real Estate Limited - Hong Kong Country Club - The Chocolate Room - Park N Shop - Classified - Lucy’s on the Front - Mayarya - Mijas - Pacific Pets - Pickled Pelican - Paisono’s Pizzeria - Pizza Club Pok Fu Lam - Pizza Express - Ricacorp Properties Chi Fu The Peak Parkview - Saigon in Stanley Tai Tam Cyberport - Smuggler’s Inn Shouson Hill - Spiaggia Big Wave Bay Aberdeen Bel-Air - Stan Cafe Deep Water Bay - Stanley Cave - Stanley Main Street Bar & Cafe Repulse Bay Red Hill - Stanley Veterinary Centre Ap Lei Chau Wong Chuk Hang - Starbucks The Manhattan - Taste Supermarket - Vern’s Beach Bar Shek O Chung Hom Kok This exclusive residential building, tucked away in a lush country park setting, houses some of the most stunning apartments on the Southside.

All 40 units are 2,400 square feet with fully fitted kitchens and bathrooms, teak floors and best of all, large balconies to soak up the breathtaking views of Deep Water Bay and the South China Sea. Southside Magazine is now conveniently placed in the Manhattan Tower reception.

One Island South Located in the elegant surrounding of Wong Chuk Hang, this highly prestigious office building with spacious design offers a fresh new world of unlimited potential for work, life and innovation. One Island South is ideally located with inspiring sea views of Deep Water Bay and lush greenery of Shouson Hill. Employees at One Island South can now find Southside Magazine located in the lobby.

Sheung Wan & Central - ITS Educational Services - Seasons Fitness - Starlit Art Space

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Repulse Bay - Anastassia’s Art House - Bayley & Jackson Dental Surgeons - HS Modern Art - Indigo - Manhattan Tower - Sense of Touch - Spices - The Club - The Lily - The Somerset - The Verandah - Woodland Beachside Pre-School - The Woodland Montessori Pre-School Repulse Bay

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To advertise, email: ads@southside.hk or call 2776 2772

marketplace

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marketplace

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To advertise, email: ads@southside.hk or call 2776 2772

marketplace

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Our Tin Wan, Aberdeen location

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14/1/14 am To advertise, email: ads@southside.hk or call 277610:11 2772

TUITION & COURSES

classifieds

Mandarin / Cantonese speaking nanny — can play with your kids, read them stories and guide them to discover the daily life.

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To advertise, email: ads@southside.com or call 2776 2772.

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Detached House with Huge Terrace. $85K Clearwater Bay Ref~CWB540 Newly Renovated • Light & Bright • Elevated House with Stunning Sea Views • 4 Bedrooms, Family Room, Study • Fabulous Open-plan Fully Fitted & Equipped Kitchen • 2 Helpers Q • 2c/p • 2,000ft Terrace www.thepropertyshop.com.hk 27193977

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OVERSEAS PROPERTY Phuket - Modern Thai villa in secure compound with private pool (not overlooked). 3 ensuite double bedrooms • Fully equipped kitchen, tastefully furnished, wi-fi, TV, DVD • Short walk to unspoilt Bangtao beach and bars, restaurants • Daily maid service and airport transfers included Contact British owners: madcat73@hotmail.com +852 6184 8910 NEED A HOLIDAY? PHUKET VILLA FOR RENT! Luxury 5 beds villa with swimming pool located in Surin • Walking distance to beaches • Reasonable rates! • Personnel Available. www.phuketvilla4rent.com Email the owner: info@phuketvilla4rent.com

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NATIONAL HARBOUR RENOVATIONS Home and office reno upgrades.

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EMPLOYMENT/RECRUITMENT

Restaurant manager Candidates must have strong communication and customer relations skills and maintain a professional air • Applicants must be hardworking and passionate about Restaurants • 2+ Years Restaurant management experience required • The position is suitable for individuals that can work under pressure.

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WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 59

business directory Events Boeing Boeing April 9-13 3128 8288 | www.hkticketing.com Giselle Feb 18 - 22 Grand Theatre, HK Cultural Centre 2111 5999 | www.urbtix.hk Hairy Maclary & Friends April 4-6 3128 8288 | www.hkticketing.com Hong Kong Arts Festival Feb 18 - March 22 2111 5999 | www.hk.artsfestival.org The Kidsfest Hong Kong 2014 The Drama Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts | From Jan 15th 2014 3128 8288 | www.hkticketing.com

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2014 Hong Kong Inaugural ASD Conference April 3 - 4 3762 2523 www.esfeducation.com/asd-conference-2014

Box Design

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Beauty Bronze Mobile Spray Tanning 6234 8594 bronzemobilespraytanning@yahoo.com.au Sabai Day Spa — Stanley 2104 0566 | www.sabaidayspa.com

Shopping Centres The Arcade, Cyberport 3166 3111 | arcade@cyberport.hk www.arcade.cyberport.hk

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2812 3888 www.hongkongparkview.com

Sino Group 8207 7608 | www.sino-homes.com

Savills 2842 4411 www.search.savils.asia/hk Casa Travella Ltd lindatravella@hotmail.co.uk www.casatravella.com

Hotels & Private Clubs Le Meridien Cyberport Club Horizon 2155 0489 | www.clubhorizon.com.hk

Fink - The Art of Living

Shop Online Now! www.fink-shop. com 3520 2526 | 2001, Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau | 2919 2311 156-164 Queen’s Rd E, Wan Chai Modulnova Hong Kong Ltd 3741 2095 | info@modulnova.hk www.modulnova.hk

Sports & Fitness Adventure Sports Academy Tel: 3568 8157 info@adventuresportsacademy.com

Hong Kong Parkview

Habitat Property 2869 9069 | www.habitat-property.co

Home & Interiors

Il Divo - A Musical Affair | March 23 31 188 188 | www.hkticketing.com Ivan Fischer & the Budapest Festival Orchestra March 6 - 7 Concert Hall, HK Cultural Centre 2111 5999| www.urbtix.hk

Real-Estate

Modulnova Hong Kong Ltd

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Le Meridien Cyberport Hotel 2980 7788

Food & Beverage South Stream Seafoods

Units 202-204, Lai Sun Yuen Long Centre, 27 Wang Yip St East, Yuen Long, N.T. Hong Kong 2555 6200 fish@south-stream-seafoods.com www.south-stream-seafoods.com

The Australian Shop www.theaustralianshop.hk

JCAW Consultants 2524 9988 | jcawltd@biznetvigator.com

Castello del Vino - Wine 2866 0587/77 info@castellodelvino.com.hk

Life Solutions 2778 3282 | www.lifesolutions.com.hk

Jett Foods 24287832 | www.jettfoods.com

National Harbour Renovations 90851886 | charles@nationalharbour.com.hk www.nationalharbour.hk

Jireh International Health Ltd. 2838 8902 | www.jirehhealthhk.com

Opus Design Ltd www.opusdesign.com.hk Pantry Magic 2504 0688 | info@pantry-magic.com www.pantry-magic.com/hongkong

Secret Ingredient www.secretingredient.com.hk The South African Shop www.thesouthafricanshop.com Wine n Things www.winenthingshk.com

Rimba Rhyme 2544 4011 | www.rimbarhyme.com TREE 2870 1582 | www.tree.com.hk

Multimedia

Wofu Deco 2768 8428 | info@wofudeco.com.hk www.wofudeco.com.hk

ABA Productions 2547 7150 | www.aba-productions.com

handy Education

Education Colour My World

2580 5028 info@colour-my-world.com www.colour-my-world.com

ITS Education Asia

2116 3916 es@tuition.com.hk www.itseducationasia.com

Morningstar Preschool

Learning through imagination, inquiry, integration and reflection

Morningstar Preschool and Kindergarten 9736 5241 | info@MorningstarSchools.com www.morningstarschools.com

Children’s Toys & Supplies

Southside Mandarin 3427 9619 www.southsidemandarin.com The International Montessori School 2861 0339 info@montessori.edu.hk www.montessori.edu.hk The Studio www.thestudio.hk Tutortime http://www.tutortime.com.hk/ Woodland Pre-Schools 2803 1885 | 2551 7177 www.woodlandschools.com

Bumps to Babes 2552 5000 (Ap Lei Chau Main Store) 2522 7112 (Pedder Building Branch) www.bumpstobabes.com Daily 7/ Daily 10 2543 8262 |customerservice@kidsdailies.com www.daily7-daily10.com Rumple and Friends www.rumpleandfriends.com

Professional Services HARVEY LAW GROUP 2116 1333 | contact@harveylawcorporation.com

Community & Health Mentorhood Learning Center

5160 1828 | enquiry@mentorhood.com.hk www.mentorhood.com.hk Sylvan Learning Center 2873 0662 | info@sylvan.edu.hk www.educate.com

The Southside Kindergarten 2592 7527 | info@southside.edu.hk www.southside.edu.hk Beijing Mandarin 2528 9319 | www.beijingmandarin.com Brain Child D.I.Y Workshop 2528 6862, 91840848 jimchoy@netvigator.com www.mysolarbor.com Bricks 4 Kids 8102 2433 | info@bricks4kidz.hk English for Asia 2392 2746 | bianca@englishforasia.com www.englishforasia.com Les Club Des Cinq 2575 4555 | contact@clubdes5.hk www.clubdes5.hk Little Dalton Kindergarten Nursery School 2792 2566 | www.littledalton.com Eton House International Pre-School 64821729 | enquiry@etonhouse.com.hk www.etonhouse.com.hk Faust International Youth Theatre 2547 9114 | info@faustworld.com www.faustworld.com Golden Path Education 2164 4888 | www.goldenpatheducation.com

Weight Watchers

2813 0814 kmahjoubian@weightwatchers.com.hk www.weightwatchers.com.hk Annerley – Maternity and Early Childhood Professionals www.annerley.com.hk Body Awakening www.bodyawakening.net James Chan Chinese Medicine 9876 9925 | chankowjames@gmail.com The Clean 9 Detox 9211 3322 | monica.pswong@gmail.com www.foreverlivinghk.weebly.com Watermark Community Church 2857 6160 | wow@watermarkchurch.hk www.watermarkchurch.hk Stanley Wellness Centre 2372 9700 | info@stanleywellnesscentre.com www.stanleywellnesscentre.com SPOT Centre 2807 2992 | contact@spot.com.hk www.spot.com.hk

Gail Turner Photography 5662 3630 www.cloonaveel.com www.hongkongdogs.hk Heliservices www.heliservices.com Indo Handyman 2578 1865 | sales@indohandyman.hk Mulan Florist 2521 8889 | 2110 3461 info@mulan.com.hk | www.facebook.com/ mulanfloristhk Professional Wills 2561 9031 | www.profwills.com Sum Hing Carton Box Factory info@boxx.hk | www.boxx.hk Sunkoshi Gurkha Security Ltd 2199 7774 | www.sunkochigurkha.com

Charity Girl Guides englishspeakingdivision@gmail.com Helping Hand 2522 4494 | www.helpinghand.org.hk

Pets & Vets Homevet 9860 5522 | pets@homevet.com.hk www.homevet.com.hk Animal Behaviour Vet Practice 9618 2475 | cynthia@petbehaviourhk.com www.petbehaviourhk.com

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Animal Emergency Centre 2915 7979 www.animalemergency.com.hk

Safari Kid 2177 0001 | info@safarikid.com.hk www.safarikid.com.hk

Pacific Pets @ Stanley Veterinary Centre / Pet shop 2813 7979 | retail@stanleyvetcentre.com

Shark Savers www.FinishedWithFins.org

Travel & Relocation Expert-Transport & Relocations Warehouse 2566 4799 | www.expertmover.hk

Get listed call 2776 2772 email marketing@southside.hk WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 61

my southside

untangled

Richard X. Zawitz The sculptor, inventor and creator of the Tangle toys talks to Hannah Grogan. separated from the main business district. It attracts artists. Of course, I love the beaches and mountains as well.

It has changed immensely since I first came here, with many new businesses, restaurants and, most importantly, more than 20 art galleries.

There is a group called South Island Cultural District (SICD) that is making a big difference and is becoming a cultural district on its own.

Richard X. Zawitz (left) and his Tanglelike sculptures Infinity Man (far left) and Touch (above).

I am a sculptor, inventor and “Tangle master”.

My work involves creating both sculptures and playthings, including the Tangle, which is used by adults and children worldwide. My studio, Infinity Gallery, contains both businesses.

My background is in Asian arts and Asian philosophy, specifically the Chinese philosophy of Tao. After graduating from the University of Hawaii in 1971, I developed a lifelong interest in Asian arts, which took me to Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Nepal and Tibet.

My love affair with Hong Kong began with my first visit in 1973. I came to Southside in 1988 to work with a plastics factory in Wong Chuk Hang Road. Five years ago I discovered a beautiful industrial space in the Yally Building on Yip Fat Street, now my studio.

Southside is the most attractive district in Hong Kong, without doubt. It is the only place I would live and work in Hong Kong. What makes it attractive for me is the weather, the convenience of reaching Central, yet being

photo competiton Submit your shot Here at the Southside Magazine office, we love receiving beautiful pictures of Southside from our readers. Each month we publish our favourite. To enter, simply email your best shots of Southside, along with a brief description, to photo@fastmedia.com.hk.

This month’s winner: Fiona Cummings.

“Gorgeous end to another gorgeous day in Hong Kong – taken from the sky garden at Larvotto, Ap Lei Chau.”

62 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

You can view my sculptures in the lobby of the JW Marriott in Pacific Place, at Le Pinnacle restaurant in the Western district and in several cities in China. Tangle Creations products are available at Bookazine.

I am always working. As an artist and inventor, there are not enough hours in a day. But I also enjoy mountain biking all around the Southside.

I love Aberdeen marina and hiking in the hills above and around the harbour. My favourite mountain biking tracks are to the top of Nam Long Shan Road and Dragon’s Back.

Mums in One Island South is my favourite local restaurant. It’s vegetarian. As a Californian, I favour organic and all-natural foods. Food is fuel. A body needs good fuel to perform to our optimum levels.

Infinity Gallery, Room 3B, Yally Building, 6 Yip Fat Street, Wang Chuk Hang, info@ infinitygallery.asia, www.richardxzawitz.com, www.tanglecreations.com.

shoot for it