Southside Magazine July 2012

July 2012

Boys’ weekends Man-sized fun

Splashing around Hong Kong’s cool pools

Ocean Park goes polar How to buy a speedboat

Oh, Samui

The top villa in Thailand?

JULY 2012

PLANNER 4 Happenings in July The Olympics plus art for the kids.

LETTERS 8 Tell us all about it Why does it always rain on me?

NEWS 10 All the gossip Life at The Pulse and the next Mark Zuckerberg?

LOCAL 14 Cold front The Arctic comes to Ocean Park.

INTERVIEW 16 The future of China Former SCMP editor reveals all.

FEATURE 19 It’s a man’s world Fun and games while the family’s overseas.

EATING 24 Man-size bites Take-out for one.

LIVING 28 Lie back and relax Best buys for your outdoor space.

EDUCATION 30 Giant strides Bigfoot Kindergarten opens up.

FAMILY 32 In the swim Best pools for family fun.

HEALTH & BEAUTY 34 Something for the weekend Makeovers for men.

OUTDOORS 36 Scream for speed Buying your own speedboat.

HIKES 38 Getting high Lunch (and walking) on High Island.

TRAVEL 40 Oh Samui Luxe living in Thailand.

PETS 42 Bow-vows Why animals shouldn’t say “I do”.

GARDENING 44 Bright and beautiful Add a splash of colour to your backyard.

Marketplace 46 Your exclusive guide to shops and services BIRD AT MY WINDOW 49 The crested myna David Diskin on Hong Kong birds.

Classifieds 50 Local property and holiday lets Plus where to pick-up Southside.

BACK PAGE 54 My Southside Sandy Burgess on volunteering for CNCF.

"replace fear of the unknown with curiosity"

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planner

happening in july

Jul 27-Aug 12

Olympic Games

The biggest sporting event of the year – expect plenty of late nights and early mornings if you watch live. For details, visit www.london2012.com.

Ends Aug 5 Chinese Opera Festival

JUL 4 American Independence Day

Performances, exhibitions, meet-the-artist sessions and more, featuring different opera styles from all over China. For details, visit www.cof.gov.hk.

Stars and stripes all the way.

Jul 1-2 SAR Establishment Day As the public holiday falls on a Sunday, we all get Monday off too. So you can join the annual demonstration and go on that junk trip.

JUL 2 EURO 2012 final The culmination of UEFA’s month-long European football competition in Kiev, Ukraine. Catch it live at 12.45am at Le Meridien’s PSI Bar. Le Meridien, 100 Cyberport Road, Cyberport.

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Jul 4, 16 Craft workshops Air-conditioned fun for kids at Mirth. 10am11am, $100. Bookings essential. Mezzanine, BT Centre, 23 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen (access from Yip Kan Street), 2553 9811, www.mirthhome.com.

Jul 5-Aug 16 Art workshops for littlies Pre-schoolers enjoy crafty fun decorating photo albums at Baby Central. Available for under-threes (with a parent/helper) and over-fours. $150, or $500 for five sessions, including snack and art materials; bring your own photos. Thursdays, 4pm-5pm. 7/F, BT Centre, 23 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, 2553 8000, www.babycentral.com.hk.

Jul 6-Aug 19 International Arts Carnival A packed programme of family-friendly shows, including the Estonian National Ballet performing “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves”, the Edinburgh Fringe best children’s show “White”, JapaneseCanadian puppet show “Harmony”, US clown “Mr YooWho’s Holiday” and more. For details, visit www.hkiac. gov.hk.

Tickets from www.urbtix.hk.

Jul 8 Beach clean-up, Repulse Bay Sweep the sand, 10am-11am. Meet at the Seaview Building kiosk on Repulse Bay. Cancelled if raining.

For details, email bays.area@gmail.com.

july Jul 8 Kids’ Henna

Jul 14 Bastille Day

Jul 18-24 Hong Kong Book Fair

Get in the mood for summer with “Sara’s Henna” tattoos. Choose from 50-plus designs in 10 vibrantly coloured gels or natural Henna, $60-$100, noon-5pm. Stanley Amphitheatre, Stanley Plaza, www.sarashenna.com, 6900 8961.

Allez les bleus! For French-themed fun, contact Stan Cafe, 5/F, Stanley Plaza, 2324 9008.

Exhibition, public seminars, meet-the-author sessions and children’s events. Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. For full details, visit hkbookfair.hktdc.com.

Jul 11-12, 18, 24-25 Chinese Cooking Camp

Jul 16-22 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow An entire stand-up comedy festival stuffed into one show – “all killer, no filler”. Over-15s only.

Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central.

Tickets $250-$350 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Cantonese cooking classes for helpers in Deepwater Bay. Spaces limited. Enrol at www.superhelper.org, 2812 0446.

Jul 21 W Pool Party Non-stop entertainment on the Wet Deck, plus an after-party at Woobar. 8pm-3am, W Hotel, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon. Tickets $300$850 (including free-flowing champagne) from wetparties.hk@whotels.com, 3717 2783.

Jul 12-22 Saltimbanco Cirque du Soleil’s whimsical, fantastical modern circus.

AsiaWorld-Arena, Lantau.

Tickets $349-$788 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Jul 12-13 Harvard Din & Tonics Ivy League a cappella. Fringe Theatre, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central. Tickets $120-$180 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Jul 17-31 Ani-Com & Games Fair Animation, comics, toys, collectibles and teenagers in cosplay costumes.

Fun and games at the Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

For details, visit www.ani-com.hk.

Jul 24 The Stone Roses Reunion Tour The Manchester Sound returns. Is it what the world is waiting for? AsiaWorld-Arena, Lantau.

Tickets $388-$988 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288, and Tom Lee branches.

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

Book now

Sep 18-30 Potted Potter Treat the kids to the unauthorised Harry experience. All seven Harry Potter books and a quidditch game squished into 70 minutes. Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $395-$550 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

AUG 4 SNOW PATROL LIVE The Northern Irish alt rock band plays AsiaWorld-Expo, Lantau. Standing tickets only, $580-$780 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Aug 22-26 DisneyLive! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and co put on a talent show. Star Hall, KITEC, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $150-$600 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Aug 25 The Beach Boys Yes, those Beach Boys – still touring after 50 years. Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. Tickets $588$1,888 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

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Sep 20 The Pretenders Chrissie Hynde and the “Brass in Pocket” boys perform live. Star Hall, KITEC, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $590-$990 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Sep 21 Maroon 5 Adam Levine leaves the spinning chair and takes the stage. AsiaWorld-Arena, Lantau.

Tickets $888 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Sep 25 Noel Gallagher’s Flying Birds Songs from Gallagher’s latest album, plus some arena numbers from his Oasis days. Star Hall, KITEC, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $888 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

letters

have your say

Go east, young mag Could we have more coverage of Shek O and Deepwater Bay? Pok Fu Lam and Stanley get all the glory – there’s lots going on over this side, too!

Anon, Shek O Dear Fast Media Limited I would like to say thank you for letting me work for a week and for the opportunity to gain work experience. I enjoyed it very much, it was really fun. I now understand the fact that creating magazines is not as easy as it looks as it require a lot of effort. I wish you all the best and continue to create the best magazine!

I would like to say thank you to Michelle, Coco, Sai, Sammy and Clara for making me feel comfortable in an unfamiliar environment, through the process; and I would like to say thank you to Tom for giving me such opportunity. I hope to see you soon.

Love, Clarice

Please email your letters to letters@southside.hk. We may edit for length.

Teepee-ing down!

I loved reading about the summer camp activities on offer. I’d already been recommended the Palm Beach Teepee Village on Lantau so we gave it a go.

It all started out so well – blue skies, a nice hot day, a relaxing boat trip, and we were pleased with the campsite. It was really well-organised with a nice green lawn and right on the beach.

We booked an evening meal at The Stoep and had a lovely pre-dinner stroll along the beach to the restaurant. Unfortunately, that’s when it all started going wrong. Halfway through the meal it began pelting with rain, a scenario that lasted all night. And we’d left the tent flaps open.

We awoke the next morning to a very soggy campsite, soggier children and an unappetizing breakfast of damp croissants from the cooler box.

Fortunately, $300 in a cab from Tung Chung had us recovering with a skinny latte and eggs benedict in Classified by 9am. But, hey, thanks for the recommendation!

Jennifer, Stanley

Five minutes with Francesca Brill

the scars that morally ambiguous experiences leave us with?

The author’s debut novel “The Harbour”, set in wartime Hong Kong, is available this month.

Why Hong Kong?

This is my first novel but I’ve been writing screenplays for a living for a while, so the weirdness of spending my working life alone in a room with made-up people for company wasn’t entirely new to me. I was inspired to write it by a fortuitous meeting with a fascinating woman whose life story kind of obsessed me. Her story took place in Hong Kong, so that was my starting point. Then I had the opportunity to come here and, apart from falling under its spell, I poked around for research and the rest, as they say, is historical fiction.

Why this period in history?

There’s no shortage of books both factual and fictional set during the second world war. And it seems to me there’s an important reason for that. As the writer Emily Hahn, who inspired “The Harbour”, said, “The war may have shown up a lot of people in a shocking way so that I still blush for them when

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I think of it, but it brought out the most surprising heroism in others.

It proved to me that I had been wrong in my opinions of practically everybody from the beginning.” For me there’s no greater drama than following a character through the crucible of war. So, villains aplenty but also surprising heroes.

How did you go about researching the book?

I read everything I could get my hands on that dealt with the period.

Contemporary journalism, eyewitness reports, war diaries, military debriefings and many copies of the South China Morning Post. As I was researching, it seemed to me that this period in Hong Kong was under-explored in mainstream fiction and I became passionate about making people more aware of the courage shown by both the Chinese and BrItish citizens in those times. I hope my book is an opportunity to shine a light into a certain historical darkness.

What sort of talking points would you like the book to raise?

I suppose I’d like people to think about what choices they might make if faced by such terrifying dilemmas as Stevie (a young American journalist), Jishang (the Chinese publisher and owner of a politically controversial magazine) and Harry (a British spy) have to endure. Does Stevie make good, or at least understandable decisions?

Would I go or would I stay? Would I sacrifice one for many?

Would I risk my child’s life? Would I put political differences to one side for the sake of helping another human being? And most crucially – is it possible to love and be loved with all

How long did it take you to write?

The writing probably took about a year. But I lived with the idea of the book for a very long time before I started writing. I first wrote it as a screenplay that, luckily, didn’t get made into a film. I say luckily because the story stayed with me and sort of niggled at the back of my mind and in the end, when it became the book, it was a hugely different and much more complex narrative. Also I knew the characters so well by then that they were like old friends.

Do you have any ideas for your next novel?

I’m getting quietly very excited about the next book but I’m not ready to talk about it...

The Harbour, Bloomsbury Press, is available from Dymocks, Repulse Bay Shopping Arcade, Repulse Bay.

news Wanted! Summer activities for refugees Local charity Vision First is looking for help and donations for its summer programme. It is hoping to provide the refugee children in its care with some fun over the school holidays, from July 16 to August 10, and urgently needs donations of money, free activities and volunteers’ time.

Life at The Pulse?

Following a lengthy legal battle and months of appeals and negotiations, The Pulse shopping mall on Repulse Bay promenade is finally to be opened.

Complications began when the original Lido changing-room complex was bought by The Emperor Group and demolished to make way for a retail mall.

Owing to the change in land use, the Emperor Group was asked to fill in the relevant paperwork and pay a land premium. However, it refused to do so on the grounds that the Lido complex already contained a number of retail outlets, including a McDonald’s restaurant, arguing there was no change in land use.

Legal wranglings ensued and The Pulse remained empty until a compromise was reached in May. The government has given the building’s owners three months to open, which means it should be up and running in August.

However, a spokesperson for The Emperor Group could not confirm an official opening date, stating The Pulse would open “hopefully sometime this year”. At this stage, there are no confirmed tenants and the Group had no information about who will be taking leases in the mall.

Tendering has also opened on Repulse Bay promenade’s second shamefully vacant lot, the Seaview Building (behind the beach volleyball nets). Watch this space.

Meanwhile, local councillor Fergus Fung met government officials last month to discuss the improvement of traffic-choked Beach Road. Fung is appealing to have walkways, railings, rubbish bins and street lamps upgraded, and unsightly fences removed.

If you have any suggestions for improving traffic flow on Beach Road, please email your views to Fung at bays.area@gmail.com.

Vision First provides humanitarian services for people trapped in Hong Kong awaiting refugee status and third-country resettlement. If you have a donation, contact danielle@visionfirstnow.org.

Vision First has also placed donation bins in all TREE stores throughout Hong Kong, inviting the public to donate art and craft materials for the Vision First Women’s Support Group in the SAR. The women turn the materials into saleable products to raise money for the charity. The project also provides a social activity for often isolated refugee women.

See www.visionfirstnow.org for more info.

Volunteers needed The Heep Hong Society Catherine Lo Centre in Sandy Bay, which provides specialist education for children with autism and special needs, is looking for volunteers for its two summer programmes. Duties include looking after children during activities and helping them to complete tasks.

Cantonese speakers and volunteers who can join for at least three whole days are preferred. Contact info@paulzimmerman.hk or call 9096 3070.

Stars & stripes

Help for parents The Orton-Gillingham Centre, which specialises in therapies for children with learning difficulties, is holding a training course for parents on August 28 - September 1.

The course will be held at the Singapore International School, Aberdeen, and claims to help parents deal with learning difficulties. See www.msl-orton.com for more info.

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Get the kids glammed up for American Independence Day with cute stars and stripes themed beads.

The boxes cost $80 and come with beads, charms, cord and all the bits you’ll need to make bracelets,

necklaces and bag charms. They are available from Beads and Butterflies, run by Southside mum-trepreneur Fiona Elliott. Visit www.beadsandbutterflies.net for loads more beading ideas.

in the know

On the Southside scene Lots of fun was had at the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF) charity drinks reception with the BGC APBs rugby team last month. More than 120 generous guests mingled with the rugby players prior to the Chartis Cup, when the BGC APBs players – from New Zealand, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and England – went head to head with English Premiership team Saracens.

As well as enjoying a few drinks with the rugby stars, guests gained further insight into how far their charity dollar goes in the

hands of CNCF, which supports at-risk children in Mongolia and Vietnam. The evening raised more than $20,000 for the charity.

Pictured (from left) are Southsiders Melinda Mak (Chung Hom Kok), Sandra Burgess, Cheryl Fender and Sam Fender (all Pok Fu Lam) with BGC APBs players Martyn and Shayne Williams.

Have an event you’d like to share with Southside? Email details plus photos to editor@ southside.hk and see yourself on these pages.

In brief Beach report Worried about water quality?

The government’s Environmental Protection Department has been working to improve water cleanliness. See www.epd.gov.hk to find out how your local beach ranks.

Standing-room only Stanley Plaza management is in discussions with the government

over seating at the plaza, following the removal of all seats in the outdoor amphitheatre, including the benches by the children’s pirate ship. “We are seeking clarification and approval from the relevant department on having outdoor seating at appropriate locations,” said a spokesperson for The Link Management, the plaza’s property management company.

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news extra The next Mark Zuckerberg?

Refer.me founder David Beatty (left) with partner Andrew Primrose.

Refer.me.com: You name it

Guests put the site to the test at last month's invitation-only launch.

From left: Natalie Beatty with friend; Neil Morgan, Elliott and Melissa Shadworth; and David Beatty.

It’s late. I’m tired. It’s baking hot and the air conditioning’s on the blink. The helper has no experience of these things, the doorman’s knocked off for the night and my husband’s somewhere in Sheung Wan. Who do I call?

At the moment, either my good friend Sam across the corridor, or Mrs Yeung in Tower 5.

They’re my “old” Hong Kong friends and can probably recommend someone, or point me in the direction of another friend who can help. Or I could put out a Facebook cry for help. But as it’s 11.30pm, I might just have to grin and bear it until the morning.

This is where new referral website refer. me.com comes in. The brainchild of David Beatty and Andrew Primrose, refer.me launches this month in a bid to become the missing link between people like me and the services we need.

The website has been nine months in the making but Beatty says he has been tossing around the idea for a while. Having talked through the concept with family and friends, he was so convinced the idea had legs he jumped

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ship from corporate life (“slightly nail-biting”) and joined forces with Primrose.

While a referral website is big news for the revolving door that is expat life, Beatty is convinced it will work for everyone.

“Even if you are a local, you may still be sailing unchartered waters. Perhaps you’re expecting your first baby, are renovating a

People are constantly seeking tried-and-tested recommendations — locals and newcomers alike. property for the first time, or need a venue for a one-off special occasion. People are constantly looking for recommendations,” he says.

The site is categorised by professions and services – accountants, restaurants, hairdressers, and so forth – as well as geographical area. And the more it’s used, the more useful it becomes. If you’re stuck for childfriendly, gluten-free lunch venues on a two-day

layover in Singapore, for example, the site might conjure up some useful information.

And you can also choose who you seek referrals from. “We think this might be useful as ‘this is a really cheap restaurant’ can be an entirely subjective referral. So you can handpick referrals from friends that you know work to a similar budget,” Beatty explains.

If you want to recommend something, the site is direct, with space for contact information and a one-line comment.

“We want to avoid the verbose nature of other expat-oriented sites,” Beatty says.

“I’m working on the premise that if someone wants a referral, they don’t necessarily want a discussion. Just a quick email or phone number, plus a few words suggesting that, for example, this particular restaurant is shut on Mondays.

We’re not looking for negative comments – it’s not a site for reviews.”

The site is launching simultaneously this month in Hong Kong, several Australian cities, California and London. And after that, well, the sky’s the limit.

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local Editorial Carolynne Dear Carolynne@southside.hk Jane Steer Jane@southside.hk Coco Marett Coco@southside.hk Design & Production Sammy Ko design@fastmedia.com.hk Heidi Lai Heidi@fastmedia.com.hk Sales Director Heung Sai ads@fastmedia.com.hk Online Marketing & Distribution Michelle Lee Michelle@fastmedia.com.hk Ad traffic & Classifieds Executive Nick Chong ads@fastmedia.com.hk Accounts Manager Clara Chan accounts@fastmedia.com.hk CEO Tom Hilditch Tom@fastmedia.com.hk Contributors Dr Carmel Taylor MVB Jackie Peers David Diskin Jane Ram Laura Tysan Printer Gear Printing 1/F, Express Industrial Bldg 43 Heung Yip Road 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 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 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.

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Chill zone Carolynne Dear gets a sneak peek at Ocean Park’s newest – and coolest – attraction, The Polar Adventure.

I t might be hot in the city, but Ocean Park is rugging up for the opening of its latest attraction.

The Polar Adventure will feature animals from the Arctic and Antarctic and will be chilled to a teeth-chattering 8 deg C (we’ve been assured coats will be available for hire) to make them feel right at home.

In preparation for the July 15 opening, the park has welcomed a 12-year-old female Pacific walrus, Miru, from the Aquamarine facility in Fukushima, Japan. Following the earthquake and tsunami in 2011, Miru was temporarily held at Kamogawa Sea World in Japan before being transported to Ocean Park, where she has been joined by an eight-year-old male walrus, Rock.

The walruses will be part of the North Pole Encounter attraction, which will also include

Arctic foxes, snowy owls, spotted seals and huge northern sea lions.

Another attraction, the South Pole Spectacular, features gentoo, southern rockhopper and king penguins in a chilled pool. The penguins can be viewed from balconies, walkways and through glass-panelled floors.

Providing cool facilities in a hot country poses environmental questions. Ocean Park has worked closely with local “green” architectural practice Leigh & Orange to minimize the Polar Adventure’s carbon footprint.

According to Leigh & Orange’s managing director, Dominic Lam, the design will use 30 per cent less electricity than conventional technology. Green solutions include the world’s first ventilation system that recycles chilled air to cool machinery in the plant room before being discharged, reducing

the demand for air conditioning. A water-cooled chiller system uses half the electricity of traditional aircooled chillers, and carbon dioxide sensors cleverly control the fresh air flow to match guest occupancy, conserving energy.

Other energy-saving measures include roof and wall insulation 80 per cent thicker than that of public buildings, six air locks to prevent cooled air escaping and advanced filtering systems in the pools to reduce the need for water changes and re-chilling.

“We’ve adopted an ecofriendly approach to every design aspect of Polar Adventure,” said Ocean Park’s executive director of engineering, George Tso. “For example, we’ve used LEDs (light-emitting diodes) to reduce heat production and energy consumption in the guest areas, but have retained incandescent

shivers

Meet the animals

Tuxedos restaurant with views into the penguin pool.

(Above and below) Arists' impressions of the new zone. lighting in the animal exhibits to provide the necessary UVA and UVB for the animals’ well-being.”

The Polar Adventure is in the upper section of the park, accessed by cable car or train, and aims to be a conservation and “edutainment” platform to inform the public of the threat to polar wildlife from global warming.

A fun element is provided by the Arctic Blast family rollercoaster and Tuxedos, a themed restaurant with views into the penguin pool.

“We hope that through presenting these adorable animals, the public will better appreciate the importance of conservation,” said Suzanne Gendron, Ocean Park’s executive director of zoological operations and education.

Ocean Park’s Polar Adventure opens on July 15.

For details, visit www.oceanpark.com.hk.

Miru Miru is a 12-year-old Pacific walrus, who should live to around 30 years.

Walruses are under threat as a result of commercial hunting over the past 300 years, which has severely depleted their numbers, and from the loss of sea ice owing to climate change, particularly in the Pacific Ocean. The loss of sea ice may open commercial sea-lanes in previously isolated and undisturbed parts of the walruses’ environment.

Ai and Ashita, Beach (pictured left) and Mirai These mother-son pairs of northern sea lions arrived at the park last month from Japan. Northern sea lions are the world’s largest eared-seal species, around three times larger than the park’s California sea lions. They communicate by “grumbling” rather than barking and Ocean Park visitors will be able to view them swimming through large viewing windows above and below water. The park is hoping to breed the sea lions in the future.

Hong Kong’s first snowy owls Ocean Park welcomed four snowy owls last month, all born into captivity in the Netherlands and Belgium and all about a year old.

They are the first of their species to be displayed in Hong Kong.

Chillaxing with a diet of cold mice, quail meat and beef, the owls will be taking part in regular meet-andgreet sessions with the public.

Snowy owls are under threat because the frozen tundra where they nest is disappearing as a result of climate change.

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interview Jonathan Fenby The editor of South China Morning Post during the handover years talks to Carolynne Dear about the future of China and his latest book, “Tiger Head Snake Tails”.

How long did you live in Hong Kong?

I lived in Hong Kong from 1995-2000, editing the South China Morning Post.

one can seek to make it an objective view.

Whether one — or in this case, I — succeeds is a matter for others to judge. The important thing in this case is not to expect China to function as a Western state does. That does not mean one cannot reach conclusions about China simply because one is not Chinese, but one has to make such judgments with a grasp of the context within which China works. One may approve of the Chinese system or not, but it does constitute a reality against which the last major nation ruled by a Communist Party should be viewed.

What do you enjoy most about Hong Kong culture?

Its liveliness and openness.

What can Hong Kong teach the British?

The energy here is stimulating. For me, writing about China, the geographical proximity is also obviously important, together with the knowledge and understanding of mainland China and the freedom to express views.

How do you feel Hong Kong has changed since the handover?

I do not think the essence of Hong Kong has changed.

However, the transition from British to Chinese rule has obviously brought changes with Beijing’s oversight of the SAR and the increased economic links as well as the rise in the number of visitors from mainland China.

Honestly now, when you were running the SCMP before the handover did you think the idea of the British being in charge was wrong?

The British had political control but then political life in Hong Kong, in a formal sense, was quite limited until the last years of British rule. On the other hand the administration and business

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What were the most memorable stories you worked on at the SCMP? The handover in 1997, the end of British rule and the first years of the SAR, and the economic development of China in the late 20th century.

China needs a lot of changes... If not, the snake tails risk throttling the tiger head.

were largely run by Hong Kong Chinese people so British control was more superficial than it appeared to be.

When did you last run into Hong Kong’s last governor, Chris Patten?

I have seen him several times in Britain, for instance at a talk he gave on China and at an Oxford graduates’ dinner. He reviewed my latest book for the Financial Times.

Do you feel your opinion about China is compromised because you are Western?

No. I think one can have a view on any subject, including China, wherever one hails from and

Looking back to the handover, do you feel the concern about freedom of the press was valid?

Of course there was a concern, but I always felt the Hong Kong media would retain a lot of freedom if it made sure itself that it did so. The pressure came from owners and managers rather than directly from Beijing. As was the case at the SCMP, it was up to the newspapers themselves to ensure they did not change course. Of course, the relationship between editors and owners varied.

What motivated you to write “Tiger Head Snake Tails”?

I realized that though there are many excellent books on specific aspects of China — the Communist Party, the economy, the environment, migrant workers etc — there was

tiger tales

no single book which brought together all the interlocking elements that make up today’s China: politics economy, society, demographics, ecology, foreign relations, history and so on and to put that all in a present-day setting.

That is what my book does. I even included a foretaste of the fall of Bo Xilai.

What is the meaning behind the title?

It means something or somebody which is big and impressive at first sight but contains a lot of smaller, less impressive elements down below.

So where is China heading?

As I lay out in the book, China needs a lot of changes – economic, political and social – if it is to continue the extraordinary progress it has made in the past 34 years. If it can resolve those issues it has a bright future. If not, the snake tails risk throttling the tiger head.

Why do expats love Hong Kong so much?

Because it offers an advanced standard of living (including a low

tax rate) in an ever-interesting region of the world, with easy access to other interesting places, and it has a buzz that is invigorating to those from more static parts of the world.

Any favourite spots on Southside?

Walking round the Peak is a familiar but constant pleasure and I love taking a boat to the outlying islands.

What has been your proudest achievement to date?

Family, a dozen books (six on China) and some excellent newspapers.

Any plans for your next project?

My next book will be a biography of Ferdinand de Lesseps, the Frenchman who built the Suez Canal and then ran a disastrous project to build a canal at Panama that ended in a huge financial scandal. I am also involved in two films for television plus my ongoing day job with the research service Trusted Sources, which covers the big emerging economies and where I head the China team.

Career highlights 1973-77: editor of Reuters World Service 1981-86: chief correspondent for The Economist in France & Germany 1986-88: home editor of the newly launched Independent newspaper, UK 1988-93: deputy editor of The Guardian newspaper, UK 1993-95: editor of the The Observer newspaper, UK 1995-2000: editor of South China Morning Post 1998-2008: published 10 books, including five on China 2000: named a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) Currently: a founding partner of Trusted Sources, an emergingmarkets research and consultancy firm headquartered in London, where Fenby is managing director of the China team, focusing on China’s policy interpretation and politics.

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dad town

FOR THE

BOYS

While the family’s away, dad can play. Here’s how to spend a men’s weekend.

It was this big... Tail Chasers catch of the day.

Deep-sea fishing

It doesn’t get much more macho than this: battling a mahi mahi, black marlin or bluefin tuna from the deck of a 46ft sports fishing boat.

Live out the Hemingway dream by hauling aboard a sailfish or barracuda for the regulation fisherman’s picture – and, no doubt, tall story about your catch’s true size. The waters south of Hong Kong have a surprising population of large pelagic fish within 10-40 miles of the coast, depending on rainfall.

From April to October, Tail Chasers runs one-day, deep-sea fishing trips from Aberdeen for anglers of all levels of experience, including all fishing gear, and hire of the Bertram Sport Fisher under the expert guidance of Captain Kim Stuart. Trips usually depart from Aberdeen Boat Club at 7.30am and cost $2,300 per fisherman, or $20,000 for a group of up to 10. Bring your own lunch, drinks, hats and sunscreen. For details, visit www.hongkongfishings.com.

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dad town

Put your pedal to the metal at Zhuhai International Circuit.

Drift-racing

Ever wanted to drift-race a car like Jeremy Clarkson on “Top Gear” – all squealing tyres, clouds of smoke and ridiculous boyish enthusiasm?

It’s harder than it looks, apparently, but Zhuhai International Circuit in China has drivers lined up to show you how. Those with mainlandregistered cars can mangle their

own wheels on the racing circuit, while the rest of us can learn the skill in its “partner vehicles” in four different classes.

While you’re there, take a spin on the 110cc mini-bikes (RMB60 for 10 minutes) or the 1km karting track. Or challenge your mates to a karting race day, which includes

warm-ups, practice laps, a 12lap preliminary race and 15-lap final race (from RMB500/person, depending on size of kart booked).

For details and reservations, visit www.zic.com.cn and click on Fans Club.

Scuba scooters

007 eat your heart out — underwater boys’ toys in Sai Kung.

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Fulfill those James Bond fantasies with Splash Hong Kong’s irresistible toy: the diver propulsion vehicle (DPV). This underwater scooter is designed to enable divers to increase their range, but what it really does is provide a huge amount of fun.

Learn to use one in the waters off Sai Kung, while exploring the area’s coral reefs. Qualified PADI open-water divers can have a go by opting for the DPV course as part of Splash Hong Kong’s advanced open-water diving course (five dives over two days). Novices will have to complete the open-water diving course first (five pool dives and four open-water dives, plus theory sessions) and can then go immediately into the advanced course.

Splash Hong Kong also sells Sea Doo Seascooters. For details, call 2792 4495 or visit www.splashhk.com.

dad town

Golf

Stag golfing weekends are a perennial favourite, whether you choose to play a round just across the bay at Kau Sai Chau public course, or take a luxury break at the world’s biggest golf resort just across the border in Mission Hills, Shenzhen.

Fifteen minutes from Sai Kung by solar-powered ferry, Kau Sai Chau has three challenging 18-hole courses (two designed by Gary Player) set in beautiful island scenery and available to anyone with a handicap card. There’s also

The 19th is up next. Take time for a round at Kau Sai Chau or over the border at Mission Hills (left).

a 60-bay driving range (just rock up with your clubs), instructors, and a clubhouse open to the public. For reservations and bookings, visit www.kscgolf.org.hk.

Mission Hills is a much ritzier option, with 10 18-hole courses across two sister resorts in Shenzhen and Dongguan designed by world tour players such as Ernie

Els, Nick Faldo, Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki and Vijay Singh. Tee off in the footsteps of Tiger Woods and other championship players on the World Cup Course designed by Jack Nicklaus. As well as golf, the Shenzhen-Dongguan sites have five-star hotels, spas and finedining restaurants.

Over summer, Mission Hills

Dongguan resort is offering two-day, one-night golf and spa packages, including a round of golf, a 90-minute After Golf Soothing Ritual treatment and a night in a Grand Deluxe room for RMB2,388 per person (RMB3,088 weekends and public holidays). For details and reservations, visit www.missionhillschina.com.

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dad town

Keelboat training

Keelboats are not dinghies. These are bigger boats for bigger boys, with solid keels (the boats, that is) and lots of rigging to play with. In July, Hebe Haven Yacht Club is running an adults-only (over-18s) five-day course spread across four weekends and public holidays covering the basics of keelboat sailing. It will include hands-on training in helming a boat at different points of sail, rigging and boat parts, tacking and jibing, handling a boat under power

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for docking and mooring, manoverboard drills, safety, knots and more. Get salty, seadogs.

The course is $5,500 ($4,800 for members); some sailing experience is an advantage but not essential. Additional training with an instructor is available for $900/day ($800 for members), for those who have already completed the course. Keen sailors may be invited to crew on the club’s racing boat. For details and reservations, visit www.hhyc.org.hk.

dad town

Hunting, shooting and fishing

For the best of all worlds, book a weekend at the Pine Valley Golf & Country Club in Zhuhai, where you can go hunting, shooting and fishing – or play golf.

Sprawling across 800 acres outside Zhuhai, and boasting what the club claims is some of the freshest air in the delta, Pine Valley has country lodge-style rooms, a swimming pool and decent restaurant featuring game and produce raised on the estate.

Shoot your own dinner with a guided hunting expedition into the surrounding woods, or, for the less bloodthirsty, take aim at the skeet and trap (clay pigeon) shooting range.

Fishing enthusiasts assure us the lake is stuffed with several species of carp – common, grass and golden – making it a fun rather than frustrating day out. And because the lake water is pollution-

Clay-pigeon shooting is available at Pine Valley Golf & Country Club, Zhuhai.

free, says the club, successful fishermen get to eat their catch.

The golf course is beautiful, with many holes laid out around a large reservoir. While the holes may not be quite up to the Mission Hills par, this is an enjoyable course, and a great place to kick back with the chaps.

For details and reservations, visit www.pinevalleyclub.com.

Sale Sale starts starts 6th 6th July July up up to to 50% 50% off off

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B2B12 12_07 JUL SALE SS.indd 1

15/6/12 3:52 PM

eating Macho meals Southside’s man-sized takeaways.

Pizza: Pizza Q Stanley’s new kid on the block, Pizza Q is on Main Beach where the Beach Club used to be. It delivers 10-, 13- or 16-inch pizzas with unusual toppings such as shrimps and duck, as well as pasta dishes, desserts and beer.

Specials include mussels in white wine sauce and barbecued pork spare ribs. Or duck into

the new venue and eat under the stars. To order, call 2818 9877 or visit www.pizza-q.com to view the menu.

Pizza Club in Stanley Market also offers a great menu, but it’s pick-up only. 10-12 Main Street, Stanley, 2813 5005.

Asian: Spices For something more upmarket, Spices in Repulse Bay offers a smorgasbord of takeaway Asian-inspired dishes.

If you can handle the heat, try the Indonesian rendang padang – spicy braised beef curry with lemongrass and coconut milk – or Indian lamb masala, with top-quality Australian lamb. The deliciously hot Malaysian kerie ay am (chicken curry in coconut sauce) is best with an ice-cold beer. For something a little lighter, try Vietnamese spicy crabmeat and pomelo salad. Pick up only. Email spicestrb@peninsula.com for a full menu and to order.

Chinese: Chung’s Cuisine Another Stanley newbie, Chung’s Cuisine is one of the few Chinese restaurants on Southside. Boasting

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great quality Cantonese food with a modern twist, it’s worth dropping in for takeout. It serves more than 40 different dim sum items, including siu mai and prawn dumplings with scallop toppings, baked barbecued-pork buns with pineapple and deep-fried mini spring rolls.

Also recommended is crispy skin chicken with lotus roots. If you’re eating in, bag a seat by the floor-to-ceiling windows and watch the world go by. Chung’s Cuisine, 3/F Stanley Plaza, Stanley, 8300 8006.

Western: Hong Kong Personal Chef Top up your freezer with quality eats prepared by Hong Kong chef Tom Burney. From fisherman’s pie bursting with salmon, sole and prawns, to roast chicken, New Zealand beef, Australian lamb and good old English bangers and mash, Burney delivers to Hong Kong Island on Mondays. Single-sized portions are available at $110/dish. For details, visit www.hongkongpersonalchef.com.

take that

Further afield New York-style pizza is a concept many have tried but few have succeeded with in Hong Kong. Now IHM, the group behind Posto Pubblico and Linguini Fini, may have finally got it right with its latest venture, Pizzeria Pubblico.

Charismatic Sicilian chef Vinny keeps the menu simple with just five pies on offer: plain cheese, homemade pepperoni, homemade sweet Italian sausage, Pubblico (mozzarella, tomato sauce, ricotta, basil, extra-virgin olive oil) or the Brooklyn Special (mozzarella, fried eggplant, tomato sauce, roasted pepper and garlic). Slices start at $30

and whole pies cost $200 to $260.

Pizza bases are made fresh daily, and stretched and pulled right on site. The result is a perfectly balanced base – crispy but still a little chewy. Don’t leave without trying the meatball sub, too.

Hidden in discreet Tsun Wing Lane between Hollywood Road and Staunton Street, the shop’s exposed brick walls, retro black-and-white tiled floor and rustic chairs and tables that spill out into the laneway create a deceptively New York vibe. Pizzeria Pubblico, Tsun Wing, Lane, SoHo, 2530 2779, www.pizzeriapubblico.com.

Stock the cellar Have wine delivered to your door.

Watson’s Wine Cellar Trusty Watson’s guarantees next-day delivery on its New and Old World wines. Free delivery on orders of more than $1,200. 22-40 Fuk Man Road, Sai Kung, 2792 6233, www.watsonswine.com.

Essential Fine Wines The best vintages from wine-making regions of Italy, France, Australia and Chile have been carefully selected by a team of experts. Daily deliveries. www.efw.com.hk Winerack Some of the most reasonably priced wines in town, plus boutique beers and cider.

Delivers on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; free delivery with 12 bottles or more. www.winerack.com.hk

Football fever Le Meridien in Cyberport will be showing the EURO 2012 football final live from Kiev, Ukraine, at 12.45am on Monday, July 2 (Sunday night).

Despite the unsociable hour, gather your friends at the PSI Bar (pictured below), which will be serving 14 different beers and party food platters.

Le Meridien, 100 Cyberport Road, Cyberport, 2980 7788.

Book a table at Stan Cafe and owner Manu says he will happily show the game live on a large screen and serve bar snacks and food from a menu stacked with mouthwatering shared platters. Call soon to reserve the 12-seat “table des amis” or “table of friends”. Allez les bleus! Stan Cafe, 5/F Stanley Plaza, Stanley, 2324 9008, manu@k-element.hk.

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eating

Cafe culture Stan Cafe, Stanley Plaza This month we head over to Stanley and pull up a pew with Manu Vallier, owner of the French inspired Stan Cafe.

Best-selling beverages?

Top sellers include Illy coffee and fresh juice, such as orange, mango, apple and strawberry.

Snacks and cakes to go with morning coffee?

I recommend a chocolate or coffee eclair, lemon tart or brioche. We also have breadloving regulars who come for tartine, butter and homemade jam on a half baguette.

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Best-selling lunches?

Eggs Benedict, cod with saffron risotto, and heirloom tomatoes with burrata cheese.

Best seat in the house?

People enjoy our booths, which have a nice sea view. For groups, our “friends table” can fit 12 to 14 people around a large table. It can get wild!

Best time to visit?

Come during the day to enjoy the sea view – the best in Stanley, people say.

Any other good things?

We have the best cheeses and wonderful homemade bread and pastries made with organic French flour imported by us. As well

a being a pleasant, casual spot, we import the best daily food available in France – the sort of things you might find in a French village market. It’s not luxurious but authentic, produced by artisans who have a great respect for their product. And we import all our wines from small wineries, mostly organic. I’m very involved in sourcing all our products to ensure we have the best in each category.

Opening hours and contact details?

The shop is open daily from 8am to late evening. The restaurant is open TuesdayFriday 11.30am-2.30pm and 6.30pm-9.30pm; weekend brunch from 11am-5pm and dinner from 6.30pm-10pm. We are closed on Mondays. Stan Cafe, 5/F Stanley Plaza, Stanley, 2324 9008, manu@k-element.hk.

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living When the living is easy

Acapulco chair Retro chic Acapulco chair from Mirth Home, Mezzanine level, BT Centre, 23 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen.

Make your outdoor space the place to be this summer.

Director's chair French-designed canvas director’s chair. Great for watching Saturday afternoon cricket — a pocket for everything.

Wicka Designs, BT Centre, 23 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen.

Loungers Lie back and relax with a Mermaid — a handwoven lounger with adjustable reclining back.

Ovo, 20/F, Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau.

Red jug Woven Chair

Rapunzel chair and footstool from designer Kenneth Cobonpue at Ovo, 20/F, Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau.

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Keeps the Pimm's close to hand. Retro Collection red jug, Wicka Designs, BT Centre, 23 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen.

relax

Pots Grow your own in these cute pots from Australian company Steadysticks.

Wicka Designs, BT Centre, 23 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen

Day bed Dining chair Deauville dining chair from the new Vincent Sheppard Outdoor Collection at TREE. TREE, 28/F, Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau.

Bamboo lanterns Brighten the evening with a bamboo lantern from Rice. Attic Lifestyle, Unit 4, 12/F, Sungib Building, 53 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, or online from attic-lifestyle.com.

Watch the world go by from a Kettal Cottage. These luxurious Spanish designed daybeds are available from Everything Under The Sun, 9/F, Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau.

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education Big boots Steve Ellison of Bigfoot Kindergarten shows us around the Pok Fu Lam pre-school.

Tell us a bit about Bigfoot Kindergarten.

We opened in December 2011 in Pok Fu Lam since we liked the atmosphere and the environment.

The school is located near the ocean and right next to beautiful mountains full of trails. With magnificent views and greenery, we have fresh air, peace and quiet.

Trails from the back of the school lead to Pok Fu Lam Reservoir and up to The Peak. We also have a koi pond next to the school stocked with lucky goldfish and turtles.

What curriculum do you follow?

We use international thematic teaching, with a theme every two weeks and lots of activities that relate to the theme. We also provide Montessori materials with a trained Montessori teacher. Our students have gone on to German Swiss International School, French International School, Hong Kong International School and other top local schools.

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What ages do you cater for?

We have 32 students in our school at the moment. We have a playgroup for children aged six months to two years and a nursery class for two- to threeyear-olds, both conducted in English. Kindergarten is for three- to six-year-olds, and is bilingual in English and Mandarin. We also have a trilingual French, English and Mandarin class for two- to sixyear-olds.

What are your hours, and what extra-curricular activities do you offer?

Our morning session starts at 9am and finishes at noon, and the afternoon session is from 1pm to 4pm. The whole-day programme is from 9am to 4pm, with lunch from noon to 1pm.

Extra-curricular activities include English lessons (maximum of six children a class) conducted by our native English teacher on Monday, Wednesday and Friday

little steps

2pm-3 pm and 4pm-5pm, (there’s a waiting list for this class). We offer additional English classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2pm3pm, from September. We are offering half- and full-day summer camps from July 7 to August 31. And we have a Kindermusik programme by a licensed instructor.

Keep an eye on our website, Bigfootkindergarten.com, for more extra-curricular activities.

What are the school’s core values?

Our teachers love and care about the children they teach. We are optimistic about solving any problem we face. We know that if children like school they will learn faster and are more interested, so we make lessons fun and exciting. The school acts with high standards, safety, and a long-term view. We inspire, challenge, and support each other to be our best and sustain our effort.

Do you have an outdoor play space?

We have open spaces and we use the outdoor playground at Chi Fu Fa Yuen once a week. We also have an indoor playroom.

What are your entry requirements?

We invite parents and child for an interview before enrolment, and we have open school visits for interested parents as well as by appointment.

Do you cater for primary one students unable to secure a school space?

Yes, in special cases.

What sets you apart from other preschools?

We offer an international curriculum taught by qualified teachers, who are all native speakers with many years of experience. We have a low teacher to student ratio of 1 : 6 with a maximum size class of 10-14 students. We have open spaces for the children to explore.

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family

in the swim

Splashdown Jump into Hong Kong’s most fun public swimming pools.

Hong Kong Island Pau Yue Kong, Aberdeen (entrance on Shum Wan Road) Aberdeen boasts an Olympic-size lane pool that serious swimmers can really stretch out in and two play pools to keep the kids happy, complete with water cannons, a climbing frame and small water slides.

The complex also has two 25m shallow pools for those with “L” plates, a 50m unlaned pool, plus a dive pool with diving board that’s hours of fun for the kids (“Look at me, Mum!”).

The pools are well patrolled by firm but fair lifeguards, and children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. All that’s missing is a snack kiosk, so load up at the ParknShop on Shum Wan Road.

Park at the Aberdeen Marina Club, 300m past the pool entrance, or the multi-storey car park on Welfare Road (parallel to Shum Wan Road).

Open 6.30am-noon, 1pm-6pm, 7pm-10pm.

Closed Tuesdays. Entrance is $19, $9 for under-14s, free for under-threes.

New Territories Tseung Kwan O (entrance on Wan Lung Road) The mighty Tseung Kwan O swimming pool is worth the effort. The children’s pool is huge, with climbing frames, toddler slides, over-sized buckets of water slooshing down and four big water slides (height restrictions apply). The Olympic-sized pool is generously proportioned

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if you want to get some laps under your belt and there are two leisure pools and two training pools, too.

There is a small designated car-park at the entrance. The pool is located mid-way between Hang Hau and Po Lam MTR stations, so catching a train and then a short taxi ride is also a good option. Opposite the pool on the other side of Wan Lung Road is Po Hong Park with plenty of children’s play equipment.

Open 6.30am-noon, 1pm-6.30pm, 7.30pm10pm. Closed Mondays. Entrance is $17, $8 for under-14s, free for under-threes.

Kowloon Hammer Hill (entrance on Lung Cheung Road) One for the kids. While there is an indoor lap pool (open year-round), this large indoor-outdoor complex is basically a huge wading-depth water park filled with climbing frames, slides and water cannons. Sure to be a hit are the giant inflatable lilypads, turtle and snake, as well as a fountain pool and mushroom pool. And reopening on July 1 is a covered water park with pirate ship and slides, water jets and more gear for clambering all over. Water toys, pistols, and small inflatables are permitted (not always the case in regulation-laden Hong Kong pools), and are available in a shop at the entrance.

There is also a patio area by the kiosk with outdoor tables and chairs for a mid-afternoon pit stop. All the usual ice creams, sweets, crisps and drinks are on sale. Afterwards, take a walk through neighbouring Nan Liang Garden, a

beautiful formal garden next to Chi Lin Nunnery.

It’s midway between Diamond Hill and Choi Hung MTR stations on Lung Cheung Road, with parking at Choi Hung MTR Park and Ride or Plaza Hollywood shopping mall.

Open 6.30am-noon, 1pm-6.30pm, 7.30pm10pm. Closed Mondays. Entrance $17, $8 for under-14, free for under-threes.

CLOSER TO HOME Kennedy Town pool: Secondary pool, leisure pool. Sai Cheung Street North. Open 6.30am-noon, 1pm-5pm, 6pm-10pm. Closed Wednesdays.

Morrison Hill pool: Large indoor pool, limited outdoor facilities. Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai, 6.30am-noon, 1pm-5pm, 6pm10pm. Closed Thursdays.

Victoria Park pool: Lap pool, training pool, dive pool, children’s pool. Hing Fat Street, Causeway Bay, 6.30-noon, 1pm-5pm, 6pm10pm. Closed Mondays.

DON'T FORGET...

Octopus cards. $5 coins for the lockers.

To avoid noon to 1pm, when pools are closed.

Toiletries for the shower.

Check the pool schedule; public pools can be hired for swim galas – usually Fridays.

See www.lcsd.gov.hk for contact details.

the stop

all the gossip from the school bus stop

Social scrapbooking?

I have been overwhelmed at The Stop by the chat about Pinterest, the latest “big thing” on the social networking scene. So I came home one afternoon, threw a few bags of Doritos and a packet of Jaffa Cakes at the kids, and tried it out for myself.

I am usually the last to hear about most things, so I was unsurprised to discover Pinterest has been around for a couple of years. But I was surprised to learn it is the third most used social networking site after Facebook and Twitter. So I was expecting great things.

Boy, was I disappointed.

It’s a social scrapbooking site.

I don’t understand it at all. To me, scrapbooking conjures up images of matronly, 1950s housewives, cups of tea and, frankly, social death. I can’t think of anyone, apart from Martha Stewart, who would admit to liking scrapbooking.

Yet here were some of my most fun friends talking it up like it was the latest bar to open on Lan Kwai Fong.

And unlike “normal” social sites, you have to be invited to join. It’s not that I’m averse to queuing – two hours in the rain for an LV sample sale? I’m there.

Lining up at 5am for Lady Gaga tickets? Well, we sent the everpatient helper with a fat bonus, but my heart was in it. Queuing to scrapbook? I don’t think so.

Under extreme circumstances Pinterest might be vaguely useful. Big, high-pressure events

like weddings or the boss’ posh children’s parties spring to mind.

It’s a quick and easy way to nick ideas without having to splash out on expensive magazines. But apart from that, I’m struggling to understand the attraction.

I’ve never been a window shopper – cutting to the chase and buying stuff is much more me. Websites such as etsy.com are much more up my street (tons of stuff to search and buy online from companies that ship overseas). Or net-a-porter.com, or shopbop.com, or theoutnet.com, or notonthehighstreet.com. You get the picture.

But despite having an empty pinboard, I weirdly still have people “following” me. I was contacted

by Pinterest the other day to see if I would like to “stick” a picture of underwater phosphorescence onto my blank board.

Having got over the randomness of this suggestion, I had to agree – phosphorescence is beautiful. But why on earth would I want to spend time sticking it to a cyber-pinboard?

I have more interesting things to do. I have a social life. Call me wild, but why be stuck at home with a virtual bottle of glue when you could be knocking back a real bottle of Veuve with the girls at Oolaa?

I can only think of one situation recently where I might have persevered with my pinboard – during the two and a half hours I had to wait to process my daughter’s passport application at the British Consulate.

Unfortunately all technical equipment had to be handed in at security, otherwise I might have got a pinboard underway. I might even have become a convert.

Quick, book me that table at Oolaa.

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health & beauty Close shaves And other tales of male grooming.

Gone are the days when being a “real man” meant dirty fingernails, Chewbacca-inspired facial hair and the ability to bust a beer bottle open with an eyelid. While impressive, those attributes are hardly likely to land that sixfigure contract and certainly won’t get the girl.

More and more men are cleaning up their act, thanks in part to nostalgic traditional barbers and groomers. A quick cocktail and old-fashioned hot-towel shave during Central’s lunch rush — what’s not to love?

blades for more than 20 years.

But that’s not to say it lacks modern indulgences, such as in-mirror televisions at every station so you can watch the game during your treatment.

The same goes for the treatment menu. Its most popular service is the legendary Mandarin Shave ($320), a traditional wet shave with

Mandarin Barber Mandarin Barber has set the bar for men’s grooming since it opened in 1963. When the Mandarin Oriental underwent a makeover in the early noughties, the revered barbershop was spruced up too, but much of the original 1930s Shanghai-chic decor remains, including dark wood veneers and Chinese screen-printed glass. Many of the discreet, professional staff have been stropping

For details, visit www.mandarinoriental. com/hongkong or call 2825 4088.

Gentlemen’s Tonic

Staff at the Mandarin Barber have kept Hong Kong men groomed since 1963 (left); pop in early for a drink at the gentlemen's club-inspired waiting room (above).

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badger-hair brushes, blades (not safety razors) and hot towels. More modern treatments have found their way on the menu including facials, massages and the famous Shanghainese pedicure ($700).

Clients are advised to come early to enjoy the gentlemen’s club-style waiting room, where they can relax with a drink and browse the private library. Private VIP rooms are also available.

Like every gentlemen’s club, it has a long list of loyal customers, some who have been regulars for decades – testament to Mandarin Barber’s unmatched service.

London barber Gentlemen’s Tonic has spread its wings, moving from Mayfair to Central and opening its first international branch in the basement of The Landmark in June 2011. It quickly became a hotspot for Central’s bankers, traders and lawyers, popping in for a traditional wet shave ($375), with hot towels, blades and a whole range of products.

Or for a more indulgent haircut and express hand treatment ($825 for a wash, scalp massage, haircut, hand treatment and hand massage).

While the Mandarin Barber reflects the heyday of Shanghai, Gentlemen’s Tonic channels vintage London – all wood, leather and marble, with hidden techie goodies such as flat-screen TVs and free wifi. Private rooms

dapper gents It’s all about laid-back London style at Gentlemen’s Tonic, which has private rooms available (below).

are available for a truly peaceful and relaxed experience.

Look for the signature packages, named after some of the world’s greatest men. A specially designed hangover relief package, for example, is appropriately named “The Hemingway” and includes a Bloody Mary,

aromatherapy facial and massage ($1,800).

We struggle to think of a better way to spend Saturday morning – or Friday afternoon.

Gentlemen’s Tonic, B47-B48, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, 2525 2455, www.gentlemenstonic.com.

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outdoors How to buy a speedboat

Picture: Graham Uden

Laura Tyson lives the dream.

With 236 islands to play on, Hong Kong is loaded with idyllic destinations from the Geopark and long swathes of golden sand in Sai Kung to the green turtle nesting site at Sham Wan, Lamma. And one of the best ways to get out there and explore is aboard your very own speedboat. Load the kids, a couple of friends and a cool box filled with drinks and off you go.

Kristy and Jeremy Carr of Clearwater Bay have owned a speedboat for three years and use it almost every weekend for nine months of the year.

“We usually take it to one the nearby beaches, Millionaires or Whisky. The kids love riding the mini-ski rider behind the boat,” they say.

Edward Coebergh of marine brokerage Boats and Yachts recommends a 24-foot speedboat for the average Hong Kong family.

Usually licenced for eight passengers, a 24ft boat is ideal for getting from A to B, towing wakeboarders and able to withstand the sometimes choppy waters beyond Port Shelter.

Broker Martin Laidler of Saffron Marina agrees on the boat size, but suggests buying one with a small cabin. “That way the kids can have a nap if they need it and you can even spend the night out on the water,” he says.

The price of a 24ft speedboat can range from about $80,000 for an old secondhand boat to $800,000 for a new top-brand model.

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Various financing options are available depending on the condition and age of the boat.

For speedboats in good condition, brokers say an engine check by a professional should be sufficient. If the condition is questionable, then a full survey is recommended, at a cost of around $140 a foot, plus shipyard charges. Once you’re happy with the condition it is essential you take the boat for a test drive, ideally in open waters.

Finding a mooring is the trickiest part of buying a speedboat in Hong Kong. The government has halted the transfer of mooring ownership in some marinas, resulting in price increases and long waiting lists. Renting a mooring or a hard stand (storage out of the water, often in multistory racks) from a marina — Clearwater Bay Marina, Hebe Haven Yacht Club, Hong Kong Marina, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club – is your best bet, although you will usually have to join the club first. Costs vary, but Hebe Haven Yacht Club, for example, has published rates for members of $880 a month for a 24ft swing mooring (accessed via a sampan service) or $1,875 for a 24ft hardstand.

Coebergh strongly recommends securing the mooring before buying a boat. “The

ideal scenario is to obtain the rented mooring rights from the boat vendor, which saves you having to wait for a marina or government mooring to become available,” he says.

However, not all marinas allow this so please check with the club’s marine office first.

Before you can drive your speedboat, you will need the relevant license – a Pleasure Vessel Certificate of Competency. To drive a 24ft boat, the skipper requires Grade II master and Grade II engineer certificates.

(Grade II master

iron wind

covers leisure craft up to 15m in length, Grade I covers leisure craft of any length; Grade II engineer covers inboard diesel engines up to 120kW, or you can choose to do a restricted Grade II engineer that covers outboard engines only.) The Marine Department Seafarers’ Certification Section in Central holds regular multiple choice exams for both master and engineer certificates (www. mardep.gov.hk).

Many brokers and marinas offer classes to get you up to speed. If exams are not your thing, and there is a fairly high failure rate, freelance captains can be hired for about $800 a day.

There’s an old adage that owning a boat is like standing in a cold shower ripping up bank notes. While owning a boat is fun, it's not cheap. Speedboat engines require servicing every 200 hours of usage. And if your boat is on a swing mooring (in the sea), it will require dry-docking twice a year for anti-fouling: scraping barnacles and other growth off the keel and propeller and reapplying anti-foul paint. Maintenance costs average $15,000-$20,000 annually, although they can be significantly lower if the boat is kept on a hardstand.

It sounds like hassle, but when you take the wheel, with the wind in your hair and a gin and tonic on ice, it’s worth every second and cent it cost to get there.

Where to buy a boat Boats and Yachts (www.boatsandyachts. com.hk) sells boats of all descriptions and will guide you through the buying process.

Saffron Marina (www.saffron-marina. com) offers similar services and will even hook you up with a potential boat-sharer if you want to stretch your budget.

Check the noticeboards at marinas and boat clubs for secondhand deals, or visit the Hong Kong International Boat Show at Club Marina Cove in Sai Kung in November to see what sort of vessel tickles your fancy.

And if the prospect of exams, moorings and maintenance seem overwhelming, Saffron Cruises (www.saffron-cruises.com) rents speedboats for $8,000-$10,0000 a day.

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 37

hikes

A sampan out and about on Inner Port Shelter.

Drop anchor Jackie Peers enjoys a summer ritual at High Island.

Walking optional.

You’ve probably seen them on Sunday evenings, glassy-eyed and sunburned. Mum, having enjoyed maybe one glass of white wine too many, struggles along with a tired dog draped over one shoulder, and a sleeping child on the other. Dad, with a tum full of fried pepper squid and Tsing Tao, herds the rest of the family and hums a favourite tune from his youth.

Chances are they’re returning from a seafood lunch at one of the villages in Leung Shuen Wan, High Island, an established Sai Kung ritual.

It’s an outing ideally undertaken on a fine sunny day, with a bunch of friends and perhaps some newcomers or out-of-towners. They’re bound to be impressed. Ours always are. Leung Shuen Wan is best approached by sea. Take a junk or head to the Sai Kung waterfront where you can hire a sampan, though the redoubtable sampan ladies will certainly put your bargaining skills to the test. (I’ve managed $450 return mid-week, but it's more on a Sunday.)

First, chug out past the pretty islands of Inner Port Shelter and head for the southern end of Kau Sai Chau (the golf-course island) where you can

38 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

visit the Unesco World Heritage temple to Hung Shing, once a mortal Tang dynasty government official and now revered as the God of the Southern Ocean. Pay your respects and ask for a safe journey. Due east from here across the water is our destination and as you enter the bay you can see to the left some of the Geopark’s wonderful hexagonal columnar jointing, and in the bay itself large clumps of fish farms.

To the right is the village of Tung A, where you can alight at the small pier in front of the Yau Ley Restaurant, a firm favourite with yachties.

Immediately south of the restaurant is a pretty beach where kids build sandcastles and pooches knock them down, before happily swimming around some of the anchored boats together. Adults can keep a lookout while applying themselves to the serious business of consuming vast quantities of seafood and cold beverages, and entertaining each other with tall stories and true.

If it’s not too hot, there’s a very pleasant walk around the bay to the village of Pak A, now all but deserted except for Jaspas Beach Club,

the high life

Fishing boats moored at Tung A.

possibly the most chilled of the group’s restaurants, which offers Western dishes as well as Chinese seafood. En route you’ll pass Hong Kong’s smallest school – now abandoned – and a Qing dynasty Tin Hau temple with a sedan chair and 200kg copper bell. Modern fishermen still pay homage there, in more or less the same way as they have since Sai Kung’s sheltered inlets were first settled in the 14th century.

There are a few choices for your return. You can retain your sampan, and make a round trip of Kau Sai Chau, with its spectacular public golf courses, the fishermen’s cemetery island and the towering wall of the High Island reservoir.

Alternatively, dedicated walkers can hike for 30 minutes up to the reservoir road, and catch a taxi to Pak Tam Chung (and the 94 bus to Sai Kung) or walk 8km along the road, stage one of the MacLehose Trail and, to my puzzlement, more popular than some of the more natural stages.

Enjoy yourselves on what is arguably one of the New Territories' best days out.

Sail past fish farms on your way to High Island.

Jackie Peers is a director of Walk Hong Kong, a unique company offering guided hikes to areas such as Tai Po Kau. She also runs photography courses in the Sai Kung area.

Details at www.walkhongkong.com.

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 39

travel

Oh Samui Suralai private villa is a stylish contemporary oasis in the jungle-clad hills of Koh Samui.

Far from Koh Samui’s singletclad, fluorescent paint-splattered party crowd is Suralai, a peaceful paradise in the mountains above Bophut on the island’s quiet northern coast.

Stylish and luxurious, Suralai is crafted from natural materials, with Thai-style pitched, wooden-tiled roofs and stonework elements that make the villa seem an effortless addition to its jungle surroundings.

All furniture, fittings and artwork have been custommade to the highest quality, with a contemporary aesthetic that

40 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

manages to be both minimal yet cosy. Think low-slung sofas, cool stone coffee tables, reflecting pools and cutting-edge technology.

The huge living room with its wood-lined vaulted ceiling is applause-worthy. One entire wall opens to a large stone balcony, with spectacular views of Bophut Bay and the neighbouring island of Koh Phang Ngan, home to the world-famous full-moon parties.

We recommend you take it all in from the red-leather chaise longue, near the polished white breakfast island, while kicking back with a

lap of luxury

minty mojito prepared by the villa’s resident chefs.

Like the interiors, Suralai’s outdoor areas are elegant and modern, with stylish deck chairs, circular daybeds and alfresco dining areas. The infinity pool is a thing of beauty: a 20-metre rectangle of crystal blue that spills into the surrounding jungle, with a swim-up bar (because it wouldn’t be a holiday without one) and a large sala pavilion at one end.

The house’s Bose sound system extends to outdoor speakers so you can throw on some Cafe Del Mar while topping up your tan.

It’s a place made for indulging whims, not least because there’s a full team of staff at your beck and call. The chefs work with you daily to dream up menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you’re dining in.

They’ll take care of the shopping

and will have meals ready when you are, paired with wine from the villa’s own cellar. Next morning, you can work it off at the fitness centre on site. Or opt for an inhouse spa treatment.

There are six en-suite bedrooms, including two master suites with terrazzo bathtubs, three king-size bedrooms and a twin room. Each is fitted with a 30-inch plasma TV, DVD player, iPod dock, surroundsound system and bed sheets made from 300 thread count cotton.

Suralai’s villa manager acts as an in-house concierge. She knows the island like the back of her hand and will help you plan your days. For a day at the beach, for example, the villa has access to the private beach at the five-star Sala Samui Resort, along with exclusive discounts on food and drink at the hotel’s restaurants.

With accommodation set over several levels, and large private balconies and daybeds in some rooms, the villa is intimate enough for families and offers enough privacy for groups of friends,

making it a good value option compared with five-star hotels. Lay down on a sunbed, try to find the horizon between pool and the ocean beyond, and reflect. It doesn’t get much better than this.

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WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 41

pets

Animal lovers Every pet deserves your devotion, writes Dr Carmel Taylor, just keep it appropriate people.

42 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

Kelvin clasped his hands over Coco’s innocent feline ears so she would not be traumatised by hearing me mention a fourlettered word (spay), and kept them there through my impassioned monologue about the benefits of early desexing. These include avoiding fatal conditions such as

uterine infections, ovarian and mammary cancer.

The IT professional divulged he had spent hours perusing “pet dating” sites hoping to find Coco a handsome suitor.

“She is so beautiful. I want her to have a good husband and I think she will be a great mother,”

the cat’s meow

he argued. “And before you ask, I know there are already many homeless cats in Hong Kong, so I will keep her kittens.”

“And what about their kittens?

And the kittens’ kittens?” I asked. “One female cat can be responsible for 420,000 offspring over seven years.”

I even mentioned the risk of nasty, immune system-chomping STDs, but Kelvin was undeterred.

He blinked impassively as he mentally pressed the delete button, and went home to endure more monthly bouts of insomnia induced by a frustrated hormonal cat howling and launching herself at the windows.

Kelvin might be naïve in

believing his pet has any concept of romance or parenthood, but he’s not in the same league as dog-owner Joe Guiso, whose “muttrimonials” with his Labrador made global headlines. This barking mad Australian is not the only one who has exchanged vows for bow-wows. Marrymypet. com offers (for a fee) marriage certificates for sad individuals who have given up on their own species and proudly profess their undying love for their dogs, hamsters or parrots. Although the people who run the site claim this does not entitle anyone to conjugal rights, it’s not clear what the benefits are.

OK, so the guys may end up with a partner that doesn’t sulk

if he forgets an anniversary and limits her time in the bathroom to a quick drink, but she won’t be much of a cook. Ladies may be delighted to find someone who doesn’t leave the toilet seat up and will snuggle up on the sofa to watch a chick flick, but dancing will be a problem.

Most pet owners don’t require a certificate to take our pets for better or for worse.

Showing we care for our pets does not involve pushing them

around in prams or dressing them in tuxedos and tiaras. Loving your pet is about respecting them as sentient beings, allowing them to display their natural behaviours, ensuring they are healthy (which means listening to your vet) and by giving them more of that they crave most – your time. If you’re lucky, they may lavish on you a token of affection, such as a soggy tennis ball in your lap or a fishy-breathed lick at 5am.

Dr Carmel Taylor MVB MRCVS DipAiCVD is a veterinary dermatologist and consults at many different clinics around the territory. For appointments please call 9251 9588 or visit www.cutaneous.com.hk

Wellness exams & vaccinations Diagnostic testing & imaging Dental & surgical procedures Health certificate for pet travel New pet products!

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 43

gardening Colourful coleus Brighten up the greenery with these easy-to-grow plants. Jane Ram explains how.

For quick colour in pots or in the ground it’s hard to beat coleus. Popular since Victorian times, there’s not much to dislike about these long-suffering plants except their new name, bestowed by botanists, Solenostemon scutellariodes. Like most people, I still call the plants by their more familiar name.

I have just been dealing with assorted trimmings from a friend’s extensive collection.

The leaves are jewel bright for the most part with a few in acid yellow, green and dark purple for variety; some have jagged edges while others are more like oak leaves. En masse they

make a great splash in the shady spot where I have placed them while new roots develop. If they perform as usual, I will soon need to find more permanent homes for these beauties.

When I started gardening I had so many coleus disasters caused by mealy bug and other pests that I stopped growing them for a long time. However, modern varieties seem better able to resist the predators and diseases to which the plants succumbed in the past.

And perhaps I have become better at spotting problems before they become serious. A landscape consultant friend says she always

tries to include a few coleus in mixed beds and troughs because they act as watering alarms, showing signs of stress before most other plants and indicating a good soak is overdue.

Native to Southeast Asia, coleus thrive in good filtered light. Their sappy stems and soft leaves suffer in full summer sun, but they don’t like conditions that are too shady. You might need to try different locations to see where the colours are most intense. They need space to

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a new leaf

develop into good-looking bushy plants and they must be pinched back regularly to stimulate new shoots from the base. Feed them with an all-round fertiliser, remove flowering spikes and they should continue to please you for years.

But they are readily available and inexpensive, so you can almost regard them as expendable.

Coleus is almost too easy to propagate and after a while you may find yourself throwing away pieces or begging friends and neighbours to foster them. This is a good plant on which to practise making softwood cuttings, if you have never tried before. A cut stem will develop

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roots in water within a week or two, but these are easily broken and weaker than roots that develop in soil.

When you trim your plants, prepare a small bucket or a plastic bag with a few centimetres of water to hold the cut ends until you can deal with the next stage. Fill pots with potting mix containing plenty of sharp sand or vermiculite for good drainage.

With a sharp knife or secateurs make a clean cut about 1cm below a leaf growing point.

Remove the next one or two pairs of leaves. Cut off most of the top growth to avoid overtaxing the new roots, use a chopstick or pencil to make a hole in the potting mix and pop in the cutting.

You can put lots of cuttings in the same pot, spacing them about 3cm apart. Tap the pot gently to get rid of air pockets and water gently, leave in a sheltered spot for a couple of weeks. Don’t over-water and healthy new leaves should appear within weeks. As the cuttings thrive you can separate them and then start looking for homes for your new acquisitions. If you try growing coleus from seed, wait until the second pair of leaves develop so you can see the colours and forms before you decide which to keep. Good luck!

July garden tasks 1. As I write, typhoon signal no.1 is hoisted and there is talk of no.3 soon. It’s a timely reminder to take precautions to minimise damage by hurricane-force winds. If you have been thinking about pruning big shrubs and trees, now is a good time for some quick cutting.

A strong gust can topple substantial pots, doing considerable damage. Turn top-heavy pots on their sides and move precious small pots to a safe place.

2. Once the storm is past, check for anything that needs horticultural first aid. A plant that has been uprooted can usually be successfully set back into the soil without too much damage, although you might need to trim some top growth to compensate for torn roots.

3. Look out for pots that are not draining well – sometimes you will find overgrown roots blocking the holes, which means you need to re-pot. As an interim measure, tip out as much surplus water as possible to prevent rot.

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

e:info@everythingunderthesun.com.hk t: 2554 9088

www.everythingunderthesun.com.hk

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 45

marketplace To advertise, email: ads@southside.hk Your guide to shops and services CARPET CLEANING Oriental Rugs 2543-4565 rugshop@biznetvigator.com DINNING Prompt (international Buffet) 2980-47417 prompt.LMC@lemeridien.com www.lemeridien.com/hongkong Restaurant & Bar Umami (Japanese) 2980-47406 www.lemeridien.com/hongkong ESTATE AGENTS Habitat Property Limited 2869-9069 info@habitat-property.com www.habitat-property.com Hong Kong Sotheby’s International Realty info@hksothebysrealty.com www.hksothebysrealty.com House Hunters Tel: 28691001 info@househunters.com.hk Jones Lang LaSalle International Properties Limited 3759-0918 mei.wong@ap.jll.com www.jllresidential.com/hk_beta/ GARDENS & LANDSCAPE Leisure Turf and Landscape Limited 2579-0323 / 9487-4710 LTL@netvigator.com www.leisureturf.asia FOOD & WINE Laithwaites Wine 3071 5085 info@laithwaiteswine.hk http://www.laithwaiteswine.hk Lucy's 2813-9055 Wine Store Info@winestore.com.hk www.winestore.com.hk HAIR & BEAUTY Sabai Day Spa- Stanley 2104-40566 www.sabaidayspa.com HEALTH & FITNESS Allegro Pilates Studio 6295-7881 info@pilatesinstanley.com www.pilatesinstanley.com Cambridge Weight Plan 2525-7165 info@cambridgeweightplan.hk www.cambridgeweightplan.hk Integrated Medicine Institute 2523-7121 reception@imi.com.hk www.imi.com.hk

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Holistic Fitness & Therapy 9667-0940 nareshkumar62@hotmail.com www.holisticnaresh.com HIKING Adventure-Escape-Explore with Kayak and Hike Ltd 93005197 paul@kayak-and-hike.com www.kayak-and-hike.com HOME FURNISHINGS Attic Lifestyle 2580-8552 info@attic-lifestyle.com www.attic-lifestyle.com Chez Uno 2791-9662/ 2723-8990 www.chezuno.com Everything Under The Sun 2554-9088 info@everythingunderthesun.com.hk www.everythingunderthesun.com.hk Life's A Breeze 2572-4000 www.lifesabreexehk.com INSURANCE Pacific Prime (Kiwisure) 3113 1331 emailchristian@kwiksure.com www.kwiksure.com INTERIOR DESIGN Box Design 2573-3323 info@boxdesign.com.hk www.boxdesign.com.hk JCAW Consultants 2524-9988 jcawltd@biznetvigator.com LLS Design & Associates Ltd 852-21178983 www.llsdesign.com.hk / sales@llsdesign.com.hk Studio Annetta 9849-1216 suzy@studioannetta.com www.studioannetta.com JUNK CHARTERS Island Junks 2877-5222 www.islandjunks.com.hk info@islandjunks.com.hk MOVERS Expert-Transport & Relocations Warehouse 2566-4799 www.expertmover.hk MUM & BABIES Bumps to Babes 2552-5000 www.bumpstobabes.com sales@bumpstobabes.com Cosmo Beebies 2905-1188 cosmo-beebies@byinvest.com www.cosmobeebies.com Wellness & birth, pre & postnatal home care 9022-1779 www.wellnessandbirth.com info@wellnessandbirth.com PETS & VETS Ferndale Kennels & Cattery 2792-4642 www.ferndalekennels.com Pets Central North Point Hospital 2811-8907 info@pets-central.com Vet2Pet 6999-1003 vet2pet@yahoo.com www.vet2pet.com.hk

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 47

Stanley Veterinary Centre 2813-2030 info@stanleyvetcentre.com www.stanleyvvetcentre.com Pacific Pets @ Stanley Veterinary Centre / Pet shop 2813-7979 info@pacificpets.com.hk PRE-SCHOOLS Montessori for Children 2813-9589 hongkong@montessori.edu.sg www.montessori.edu.sg Woodland Pre-Schools 2559-4855 enquiry@woodlandschools.com www.woodlandschools.com Morningstar Preschool and Kindergarten 852 9736 5241 info@MorningstarSchools.com www.morningstarschools.com SHOPPING MALL The Arcade, Cyberport 3166-3111 arcade@cyberport.hk arcade.cyberport.hk TOYS Hong Kong Toy Club 8216-3870 support@HongKongToyClub.com www.HongKongToyClub.com TUTION Australian International School Hong Kong www.AISHK.edu.hk Craft Box 9014-3262 simone@craftbox.asia www.craftbox.asia Orton-Gillingham Centre for Different Learners 25258998 eric@msl-orton.com www.msl-orton.com.hk TRAVEL Peugeot Open Europe fm@netvigator.com www.eurocardrives.com Webjet HK Onlinetravel@webjet.com.hk www.webjet.com.hk WORSHIP Watermark Community Church 2857-6160 info@watermarkchurch.hk www.watermarkchurch.hk To list your business in our new directory, or to guarantee a listing every month, please email ads@southside.hk

48 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

bird at my window

The crested myna aka Acridotheres cristatellus This dark grey bird is widespread throughout Hong Kong although it avoids mountainous and forested areas. It will be familiar to most readers as it tends to live in close proximity to man in villages and urban parks. It gets its name from the small untidy tuft of feathers on its forehead, just above the pink bill. Its yellow eyes and legs contrast with the dark plumage, and it has a conspicuous white wing patch when it flies.

The crested myna is a member of the starling family and, like other starlings, nests in holes in natural sites such as rocky cliffs, quarries and trees, and more commonly in artificial sites including air-conditioning units and drainpipes. The nest is an untidy mass of dried grasses and other material available in the immediate environment such as discarded paper. Nest sites can be used for years and there is evidence that mates are monogamous and form a long-term pairbond. The female lays four to seven eggs that hatch after two weeks, and the chicks leave the nest after three weeks.

The crested myna is a sociable species.

Outside the breeding season it forms feeding and roosting flocks. The largest flock recorded in Hong Kong in recent years was of 400 birds roosting at Ta Kwu Ling in August 2008.

David Diskin is the author of Hong Kong Nature Walks: The New Territories.

Visit www.hknaturewalks.com or www. accipiterpress.com for more information.

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 49

classified Local Property

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Local Property

Overseas Property

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Entertainment and Events Services Bespoke, all inclusive consultancy providing customized entertainment services and event solutions. Corporate / Birthdays / Private Events / Entertainment / Creative / Photo & Event Filming Services.

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URGENT! DOG FOOD SPONSORS Sai Kung Stray Friends We have approximately 35 dogs are on our daily "meal supply".

The cost $2,222 every 8 days.

If you would like to donate to help please deposit directly into our a/c: HSBC 004640085486001 Receipts can be issued.

Much appreciated!

DONATE CLOTHES, SHOES, BOOKS, toys and electrical appliances in good condition.

Reach out to help the poor and disadvantaged men, women and children in our communities. All profits help the needy in Hong Kong and mainland China.

Collection hotline: 2716 8778.

Donation hotline: 2716 8862.

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REGISTER AS A VOLUNTEER Give a few hours of your time to Sai Kung Stray Friends.

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Email: saikungstrayfriendshk@ gmail.com Call Narelle: 9199.2340 (English) Jessie: 9097.4591 (Chinese)

People Bereaved by Suicide (PBS) An English-speaking support group meets first Wednesday each month, 8pm, at the Mariners’ Club, TST. Free, confidential.

Further information, tel 28960000 or check http://www.Samaritans.org.hk

The Samaritans’ Support Group for People Bereaved by Suicide An English-speaking support group meets on the first Wednesday of each month, 8 pm, The Mariners’ Club, TST. Free & confidential. For further information, please tel 2896 0000 or check http://www. samaritans.org.hk

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Domestic Help Experienced Cantonese-speaking and Mandarin-speaking nanny .

Good moral character and childcare knowledge . Qualified teaching background .

Available to start in September.

Please call 6181 3365 or email : eviefan@hellokitty.com

Are u looking for Driver, Gardener?

ADONIS CANEDO, 33 years old, working in Hongkong for 2 years.

Pls contact 51339984.

PART TIME HELPER AVAILABLE. I am a happy and helpful domestic helper with 8 years broad experience.

I have a pleasant demeanor and get along well with babies, children and parents alike. I am available for several times a week or every day part time.

Sarah 6715 3093, lady_g2010@yahoo.com

DOMESTIC HELPER SEEKS FULLTIME EMPLOYER. Jacqueline Liagon, 44yrs old, filipino (married with 2 children ).

Experience in household chores, children, pets, elderly, baby sitting.

I'm hardworking, flexible, can work independently. experience in expat family and chinese family.pls.call me in my mobile no.92478937.

References from previous employers are available on hand.thanks

employment

Craft Teachers We are looking for people to teach crafts at schools around Hong Kong. This is a part time role.

Please email us info@craftbox.asia for more information

PILATES INSTRUCTOR WANTED Small friendly studio in Stanley is looking for qualified Allegro and Mat Pilates Instructors.

Contact Louise at: ALLEGRO PILATES STUDIO Ph: 62957881 or visit: www.pilatesinstanley.com

for classifieds booking or call 2776 2772 WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 51

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

Pok Fu Lam

The Peak

- Kellet School - Kennedy School - Stanley Ho Sports Centre - Sunshine House Chi Fu - Sunshine House Pokfulam - Woodland Pokfulam Pre-School - Woodland Tree House

- Cafe Deco The Peak - Delifrance - German Swiss International School - Haagen-Dazs - Oliver’s Super Sandwiches - Pho Yummee - Starbucks - Sunshine House The Peak - The Peak Lookout Café - Villa Verde - Woodland Pre-School The Peak

Cyberport - Bagiou Villas - Bel-Air Clubhouse - Bobo Klolo Crystal - Bobo Klolo Gems & Arts - Cyberport Arcade - GoGym - International (Park N Shop) - Kosmo Plus Wellness Cafe - Le Meridien Hotel Cyberport - Oh Sushi & Tappas - Om World - Scenic Villas - Starbucks - Thaima-V - Tutti Bar & Restaurantt

Aberdeen - Aberdeen Marina Club - Burnt Orange - Elect Sekki - Elite Personal Training - Flex - Hong Kong Country Club - Mirth - Leader Golf Training Centre - One Island South - Ovolo, Shek Pai Wan - Park N Shop - Singapore International School - Sure Steps - Top Deck - Wicka Designs - Woodland Harbourside Pre-School

Manhattan Tower 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 at the Manhattan Tower reception.

Tai Tam / Shek O

- American Club - Beach Front Kiosk - Ben’s Garden - Black Sheep - Craigengower Cricket Club - Fusion (Park'N Shop) - Happy Garden Restaurant - Hong Kong Cricket Club - Hong Kong International School - Hong Kong Parkview Resort & Spa - Hong Kong Parkview Suites - Lulu Shop - Pacific View Residential Clubhouse - PIPS Kindergarten Pok Fu Lam - Redhill Clubhouse Chi Fu The Peak - Shek O Chinese & Thai Restaurant Parkview - Shining Stone Restaurant Tai Tam Cyberport Shouson Hill - Soma Spa Big Wave Bay - Sunshine House Tai Tam Aberdeen Bel-Air Deep Water Bay - Wellcome, Red Hill Plaza - Woodland Tai Tam Montessori Pre-School Repulse Bay Red Hill Ap Lei Chau

The Manhattan Chung Hom Kok

Shek O

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 on the coffee tables of many of its residents.

Stanley

Stanley Repulse Bay

Ap Lei Chau - Bumps to Babes - Chapin House - Everything Under The Sun - Homestyle - Indigo - Indigo Kids - Indigo Outlet - Larvotto - Limestone Wine & Spirits - Little Picasso Studio - Okooko - Pacific Gourmet - Tequila Kola - Shambala Cafe - Tree - Zense

52 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

The Somerset With panoramic sea views of Deep Water Bay coupled with spacious living, The Somerset is the epitome of the laid back luxury that people love about Southside. Residents of The Somerset can now pick up their free copy of Southside Magazine at reception.

Deep Water Bay - Coco Thai - Crown Wine Cellars - Hong Kong Country Club - Park N Shop

- Anastassia’s Art House - Bauhinia Beach Club - HS Modern Art - Ice Cream Gallery - Indigo - Manhattan Tower - Sense of Touch - Southside Kindergarten - OT & P - South Bay Beach Club - Spices - The Club - The Lily - The Somerset - The Verandah - Woodland Beachside Pre-School - The Woodland Montessori Pre-School Repulse Bay

- Boathouse - Cafe De Paris - Chez Patrick - Cheers Real Estate Limited - Classifieds - Haagen Dazs - Lucy’s - Lucy’s on the Front - Mijas - Pickled Pelican - Pizza Express - Rocksalt - Saigon in Stanley - Smuggler’s Inn - Spiaggia - Stanley Main Street Bar & Cafe - Stanley Pet Centre - Starbucks - Taste Supermarket - Watson’s Wine - Wildfire

where to find us

Redhill Peninsula

The Manhattan

Pacific View

Hong Kong Parkview

Join our community Want Southside Magazine in your residential building’s reception or clubhouse? Want to distribute Southside Magazine in your restaurant or store?

The Repulse Bay

Bel-Air

It’s easy as pie and best of all, completely free of charge.

Send all enquiries to vip@southside.hk or call (852) 2776 2772

Hey Mr. Postman Join our free mailing service to have your copy of Southside Magazine delivered straight to your mailbox. It's Free and exclusive for residents living in Southside or the Peak.

Sign up here www.southside.hk/subscribe

Cyberport Arcade

Le Meridien Cyberport

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 53

my southside

Sandra Burgess The events director and board member for Christina Noble Children’s Foundation Hong Kong explains how the branch raises funds for children in Vietnam and Mongolia.

and histories. I’m a big fan of Southside beaches, especially Big Wave Bay. I also love to put my feet up with a cappuccino and gossip with friends.

How did you get involved with Christina Noble?

In 2002 I met the only CNCF employee in Hong Kong. We got chatting and I offered to help organize a fancy-dress party to raise funds.

I’ve probably got the biggest dressing-up box on Southside so it wasn’t difficult. After that I volunteered regularly, doing anything and everything from sorting out clothes and donated items (I’m still shocked people would give us worn-out, unwashed clothes), liaising with child sponsors and fundraising. Jump forward 10 years and the office has grown into an incredible group of almost 40 volunteers. I’m now events director and a member of the board – where does the time go? As a mother, it’s hugely satisfying to work with an organization helping children, yet equally rewarding are the wonderful friends I get to work with every day.

We organize or support at least six events a year in Hong Kong and our most successful event to date, the Hong Kong Rugby 7s Ladies Long Lunch, raised HK$1 million this year.

Tell us about your latest project.

The events team and I are working on a new concept for a ladies event in November. Watch this space! We are already planning the 2013 Hong Kong Rugby 7s Ladies Long Lunch – with seat requests already past the 500 mark we

54 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

need a new venue. We’re always looking for novel and exciting auction prizes, so if readers or companies would be interested in donating, please get in touch.

How can readers get involved with the charity?

We are always looking for volunteers, and we’re also seeking people for roles in corporate liaison and website and social media content management. Get in touch with our director of development, Mai Ling Turner, at ml.turner@ cncf.org.

Tell us about your relationship with Southside.

After almost 10 years in Mid-Levels and Jardine’s Lookout (or “Sardine’s Cookout” as a letter was once addressed) we moved to Pok Fu Lam and have never looked back. It’s a great community, our boys walk to school and lots of friends are neighbours.

What do you do in your spare time?

Spare time? See above. Joking aside, I play hockey for the Hong Kong Cricket Club and Ladies Vets. I also like to walk around Pok Fu Lam, especially up through the cemetery on Victoria Road. I’m fascinated by the old gravestones and I love the faded photographs

What are your Southside bugbears?

I’m frustrated by government attempts to pour more concrete in Pok Fu Lam. Currently the Residents’ Alliance is working hard to stop land reclamation for more high-rise buildings on the waterfront as well as trying to reduce the height of a proposed 10-storey columbarium, which will add 36,900 more burial niches to the area and create a traffic nightmare as well as being an eyesore.

Do you have a favourite Southside hike?

Depends how energetic I’m feeling. I’ve just had a knee ligament reconstructed, so I can’t hike anywhere at the moment, but it would have to be the Dragon’s Back, ending up at Shek O. It would not be the “make it up as you go” jungle route my husband took me on at Stanley.

What is your favourite Southside restaurant or cafe?

The little café on the beach at Big Wave Bay. What is your most romantic Southside spot?

Anywhere with a sunset and a glass of bubbles.

How will you be spending the summer?

Partly in Hong Kong, partly in the UK. Teenagers are less amenable to spending the whole summer away from their friends.

CNCF is urgently looking for volunteers.

For more information, or to make a donation, email Mai Ling Turner at mlturner@cncf.org or visit www.cncf.org.hk/volunteer.hk.