Southside Magazine November 2012

November 2012

Lorette E. Roberts

Opens her sketchbook

The Ladies’ Hash Running is for girls

Snow patrol

Where to ski in Asia

Vive La Southside Here come the French

198 things to do

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The really useful magazine NOVEMBER 2012

THE PLANNER

EATING

4 Happening in November Fairs, bazaars and other experiences.

24 Angeletti review Stanley’s friendly neighbourhood Italian.

WINE

LETTERS

26 Great white In defence of chardonnay.

8 Have your say NEWS 9 What’s going on?

Boxes of Hope, danger for dogs, beach babes and Santa’s chopper.

LOCAL 14 Saving energy now Home truths about going green.

INTERVIEW 16 Lorette E. Roberts The artist and her sketchbooks.

FEATURE 18 Vive la Southside Why the French are coming our way.

INTERIORS 30 Glam slam Putting the pizazz into Stanley.

IN MY ELEMENT 32 Studio tour At work with Richard Winkworth.

EDUCATION 34 Morningstar rises Talking pre-school philosophy.

Plus interview tips.

FAMILY 36 The estate you’re in Why you should write a will. Plus Four kids & a life.

HEALTH & BEAUTY 40 The long run Ready for a marathon.

Plus homeopathy in Southside.

HIKES 42 Island circuit Around Tung Lung Chau.

TRAVEL 44 The ski’s the limit Asian winter resorts.

MOTORING 46 Crossing oceans How to import a classic car.

PETS 48 In the litter tray Plus a new column from Hong Kong Dog Rescue’s Sally Andersen.

GARDENING 50 Cutting remarks Jane Ram wields the secateurs.

OUTDOORS 52 Running is for girls Welcome to the Ladies Hash.

MARKETPLACE 54 Your guide to shops and services Cool stuff to buy and do.

BIRD AT MY WINDOW 55 Japanese white-eye David Diskin on Hong Kong birds.

CLASSIFIEDS 57 Local property, holiday lets And loads of other random stuff.

ULTIMATE GUIDE 60 All you need to know Numbers that make life easier.

PEOPLE 65 Out and about One day in Stanley.

MY SOUTHSIDE 58 Kamla Hiranand The resort-wear diva.

"Decide you want it more than you ARE AFRAID OF it." — BILL COSBY

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planner

NOV 16

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

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

Nov 1-4 The Bootleg Beatles The next best thing to the Fab Four. Lyric Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $350-$850 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Nov 1-4 Wine & Dine Festival Four nights of foodie heaven with 280 F&B stalls from all over the world. West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade. Nov 1, 8.30pm11.30pm. Nov 2-4, 2pm-midnight. Details at www.discoverhongkong.com.

Nov 2 Ladies' Circle Christmas Gift Fair Gifts galore. Tickets $100 including buffet and raffle. 7pm-10pm, Aberdeen Boat Club, 20 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen, hklcfundraising@gmail.com.

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Nov 2 Halloween Barbecue

Nov 4 Chicago Live

Annual fundraiser packed with spooky fun and games. 6pm-9pm, Kennedy School, 19 Sha Wan Drive, Pok Fu Lam, www.kennedy.edu.hk.

Old rockers unite. AsiaWorld-Expo, Lantau. Tickets $588-$1,088 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Nov 2 Melbourne Cup Celebrate the race that stops a nation. Happy Valley racecourse. Details from the Australian Association, www.ozhongkong.com.

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

HKCEC, Wan Chai.

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

Nov 3 Sandy Bay Charity Fair Bargains a-plenty as well as yummy food.

10am-5pm, Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital, Sandy Bay, Pok Fu Lam.

Nov 6-18 Nutcracker on Ice By the Imperial Ice Stars. Lyric Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai.

Tickets $350-$850 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Nov 6 Canadian International School Christmas Fair Pony rides, clowns, BBQ pit and vendors.

11am-4pm, 36 Nam Long Shan Road, Aberdeen.

happening in november Nov 7 American Club Bazaar Shopping, food and more. American Club, 28 Tai Tam Road, Tai Tam, shoppinghongkong@gmail.com.

Nov 9 Redfoo of LMFAO and the Party Rock Crew

Nov 11 French pop-up sale

They’re sexy and they know it.

AsiaWorld-Arena, Lantau. Tickets $580-$780 at www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Lingerie, tasty treats, clothing, leather goods, homeware and more. House B8, Burnside Villas, 9 South Bay Road, Repulse Bay, www.zestofasia.com.

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

Nov 13 Diwali Nov 10 Steelcase Dragon Run Hardy surfski and outrigger races from Clearwater Bay to Stanley; the short course is a 9km circle from the Hong Kong Sea School. Details at www.thedragonrun.com.hk.

Shine a light.

Nov 15 Dirty Pig Party Join Stan Cafe’s Manu and Sophie for a French party.

From 7pm. Tickets $350, Stan Cafe, Stanley Plaza, 2334 9008.

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

For details and enrollment, visit www.orbis.org.hk.

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november Nov 15 HKCC Holiday Bazaar Christmas gifts a go-go. 10am-8pm, Function Suites, Hong Kong Cricket Club, 137 Wong Nai Chung Gap Road.

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

Nov 17 HKCC Christmas Wine and Food Fair Christmas tipples and nibbles. Hong Kong Cricket Club members and guests only, 6.30pm10pm, 137 Wong Nai Chung Gap Road. Tickets $100-$120.

Until Nov 17 New Vision Arts Festival A packed programme of Asian art and culture, www.newvisionfestival.gov.hk.

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

Nov 17-18 Cyberport Weekend Market An irresistible mix of stalls, food and games.

11am-6pm. The Podium, Cyberport 2, 100 Cyberport Road, Pok Fu Lam.

Nov 17-18 Arts in the Park Mardi Gras The Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation festival packs in a crowd of 70,000. 10am-5pm. Parade of giant puppets at 3pm, Nov 18. Central Lawn, Victoria Park, Causeway Bay, www.hkyaf.com.

Nov 22 Thanksgiving Turkey time for Americans.

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

Nov 24 Lamma Fun Day 2012 Live bands, food and games on the beach.

Proceeds to the Child Welfare Scheme in Nepal. Details from Zein at zein@cwshk.org, 2526 8810.

Nov 24 The Repulse Bay Christmas Fair Great seasonal shopping. 11am-6pm, 109 Repulse Bay Road, 2292 2883.

Nov 24 Marche de Noel French International School Christmas fair, 34 Price Road, Jardine’s Lookout, Chai Wan.

Nov 24-25 World of Food & Music in Stanley Festival of food and performance in Stanley Plaza, plus Junior Master Chef. 10am-7pm, www.stanleyplaza.com.hk, 2813 4623.

Nov 27 Adventure Jam Great Adventure Race, a 7m climbing wall and a rope challenge, plus food, games and stalls. 11am-4pm, ISF Academy, 1 Kong Sin Wan Road, Pok Fu Lam.

Nov 28 Jennifer Lopez Live J-Lo does her thing.

AsiaWorld-Arena, Lantau. Tickets $480$1,580 from Urbtix, www.urbtix.hk.

Until Nov 30 Hong Kong International Photo Festival See the city through fresh eyes with works by local and international photographers.

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

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

Book now

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Dec 1-2 Clockenflap

Dec 4 Elton John

Hong Kong’s homegrown music festival features De La Soul, Sneaky Sound System and Azealia Banks, and local acts such as Dan F and Uptown Rockers. West Kowloon Cultural District, www.clockenflap.com.

It’s been a long, long time... the Rocket Man cometh. HKCEC, Wan Chai. Tickets $488-$1,888 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Dec 2 Sting: Back to Bass Tour

Dec 10 Macy Gray Live

Sting performs with a stripped-down five-man band. HKCEC, Wan Chai. Tickets $488-$1,388 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

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

letters

have your say

Harbour School admissions Southside Magazine is a terrific source of information for residents on the southern and western parts of Hong Kong Island. I love it and I am recommending it to my neighbours.

In the October issue, there was a sponsored column written by ITS School Placements titled "Admission day" that listed a few international schools in a report on deadlines for applications for the 2013-14 academic year. The article missed several members of the international school community including The Harbour School (THS) in Kennedy Town.

THS was founded in 2007, has approximately 160 students from about 30 countries in grades Pre-K through Grade 8, and offers a best practices curriculum based on the US and British curriculum standards.

THS accepts applications all year. Although most classes are full, there are still a few places available this year, and we anticipate have space next year as well because of a recent expansion. Interested parents should contact the school at 2819 0233.

Craig Blurton

Praising Back Beach Ben Just wanted to say that I loved the interview with Ben Lau (Southside Magazine, October 2012). He’s a real local character. It’s no wonder he has so many regulars. How nice that someone so iconic has time for other people. Keep up the good work!

Thomas Carly

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

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news

in the know

Pack a Box of Hope Charity organization Box of Hope is asking for gift donations to be distributed to children in poverty throughout Asia.

The charity was launched in 2008 by Tai Tam resident Nicole Woolhouse and asks Hong Kong children to decorate and donate a shoebox filled with Christmas gifts.

Last year, Woolhouse and her team collected and delivered about 10,000 boxes from more than 50 schools throughout the SAR. “I think, for some people, Box of Hope signifies the beginning of Christmas,” Woolhouse says. “It’s a nice way to kick off the festive season.”

Collection week runs from November 5 to 9, with the Box of Hope team picking up from schools and pre-schools and taking the boxes to a central sorting office where they are individually checked by a team of volunteers.

Then they will be distributed to children in Hong Kong, Macau, China, Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Woolhouse suggests filling a box with such items as a small toy; crayons, books and stickers; practical items such as toothpaste, soap, hair clips or combs; or dress-up accessories. She is also looking for volunteers to help with the boxes.

“We have had a lot of enthusiasm from companies that run the project as an in-house employee event,” she says. “We have had a lot of boxes from corporates as well as much-needed extra funding.”

Woolhouse is also inviting children to submit a short paragraph, poem or picture of their box, telling Box of Hope why they would like to go on a trip to help deliver boxes to recipients around Hong Kong. Age categories are four to seven years, and over-eights. All entries should be emailed to Woolhouse or posted to 10 Villa Rosa, 88 Redhill Road, Tai Tam, Hong Kong.

Sign up at www.boxofhope. org or contact Woolhouse at nicole@boxofhope.org.

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

John is also six and lives with his parents and two siblings near the coast in a bamboo house in the Philippines. The house has no electricity and John’s father, a fisherman, earns just HK$372 a month. Last December, John was thrilled to receive a Box of Hope. It was the first gift he had even been given. Among all the toys, his favourites were a truck and a blue cap, which he wears when he walks to school, rain or shine. John says his toys are so precious to him that he worries about sharing them in case they get broken or lost. Sometimes he lets his best friend, Rey, play with his truck.

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

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

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

Where the boxes go Six-year-old Rose is the eldest child in her family, which lives in the Philippines. Her father is a fisherman and her mother, who is pregnant with her fourth child, runs a small store. They live on around HK$560 a month. Rose lives in a bamboo house with an electricity supply, but only a manual pump for water.

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news

Indigo Kids

Hold onto your hats: Father Christmas will be swooping into Stanley by helicopter this year as part of the St Stephen’s Chapel annual Christmas fete. Santa will be making a dramatic appearance alongside all the usual fun and games. The fete boasts bouncy castles, charity stalls, a coconut shy, games, bands, dancers, tipples and nibbles, plus Chinese lion dancers and acrobats.

The event is a major fundraiser for the Chapel and a great day out for all the family. It runs from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, December 1, on the sports ground of St Stephen’s College, Wong Ma Kok Road, Stanley. There is no parking, so pick up a bus headed to Stanley. For details, visit www.ststephen.org.hk.

Picture: Tessa Walker

Christmas cards Furniture and homeware specialist Indigo Kids is looking for budding artists to design the store’s Christmas card. Southside children are being invited to submit their ideas to Indigo’s Christmas card design contest before November 8 and the winners will be announced at www.indigo-living. com on November 12. The winning design will be sold in stores this Christmas, with profits donated to the Children’s Cancer Foundation.

Send submissions to Suites 1813-16, 18/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau.

St. Stephen’s charity chopper

The Pulse quickens The hotly anticipated opening of The Pulse in Repulse Bay has been slated for April, according to the office of Bays Area district councillor Fergus Fung. After years of legal wrangling while the property lay vacant, building owner The Emperor Group has now obtained the relevant building permits to proceed with the development. Shopping and alfresco dining will be key elements.

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Dog poisoner strikes Shek O The notorious Bowen Road dog poisoner seems to have a copycat in Shek O and Big Wave Bay, where three or four dogs have died after eating contaminated meat. One of the latest victims, Cheeky, belonged to local resident Allison Whittle.

She said the dog had fallen ill after coming into contact with discoloured chicken that possibly contained the poison Paraquat.

However, vets say it is hard to diagnose the precise cause from a large range of possible poisons, and even if the substance is correctly identified it does not guarantee successful treatment.

“It’s non-specific,” explained Dr Paul Essey of Wanchai Animal Clinic.

“Paraquat is a possibility, but there are many different types [of poisons], like herbicides and pesticides. A common category is organophosphate poisoning, which is treatable with atrophy antidote.”

Symptoms include vomiting and respiratory difficulties.

“Paraquat is a very toxic substance for which there is no antidote. It often leads to death despite treatment as it accumulates in lung tissue and causes respiratory failure. Rapid or abnormal breathing is one of the more telling signs of poisoning by this substance,” according to a spokesperson at Stanley Veterinary Centre.

The SPCA advises dog owners in the area to use a lead and carry bicarbonate of soda – if you suspect your dog has been poisoned, splash its tongue with the soda to induce vomiting. Essey also advised using basket muzzles.

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news

American Club Holiday Bazaar Shop 'til you drop at the American Club’s annual Holiday Bazaar. Supplying the goodies are the likes of jeweller Boho Betty, House of Fine Wines, Empire Silk Store, children’s outfitter Juliet & The Band, frock designers Poppy & Jules, The Trunk Group Gift Hampers and lots, lots more. The shopping day runs from 10am to 6pm in Vista Ballroom, 28 Tai Tam Road, Tai Tam. For details, email shoppinghongkong@gmail.com or visit www.shoppinghongkong.com. The bazaar is open to members and guests only.

Ceramic art from Attic Lifestyle Attic Lifestyle has a gorgeous new range of Danish ceramics. According to store owner Simone Daly, the Bloomingville collection is inspired by French brocante with a Scandinavian twist. It includes smoky glass vases, cute dipping bowls, large salad bowls and a teapot and cups. At reasonable prices ($390 for six cups), the line is likely to quickly find its way into groovy Southside kitchens. Shop online at www.attic-lifestyle.com or in store at 12/F, Sungib Industrial Building, 53 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, 10am-5pm, Monday-Saturday.

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Beach babes An English-speaking toddler group is starting up on Repulse Bay Beach this month for children aged one to two years.

The group has been organized by the team behind the established Swedish-style playgroup that meets on Chung Hom Kok Beach, and will run every Tuesday from 9.30am-11am.

This is a pilot programme to establish demand, with the last session being held on December 18. It is a parent- or careraccompanied class and will be led by a Swedish-certified pre-school teacher who has taught in ESF schools around Hong Kong.

For details, visit www.dagishk.org.

local Editorial Jane Steer jane@southside.hk William Whitaker william@southside.hk

How to go green Eight things you can do today to reduce your carbon footprint.

Art Director Sammy Ko sammy@fastmedia.com.hk

Recycle. As well as using recycling bins, pass unwanted items onto others instead of leaving them for landfill, think gifts or lending.

Buying something new not only means money wasted, but it also requires energy and materials to produce. If there are no recycling bins in your area, contact HK Recycles (www.hkrecycles.com), which will collect your waste glass, plastic, paper and other recyclables once a week for just $25. That’s less than a cup of coffee.

Graphic Designer Carly Tonna carly@fastmedia.com.hk Sales Manager Nobel Cho ads@southside.hk

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Accounts Manager Clara Chan accounts@fastmedia.com.hk Publisher Tom Hilditch tom@fastmedia.com.hk Contributors Coco Marett Carolynne Dear Graham Uden Kevin Yeung Cynthia Smillie David Diskin Jane Ram Aaron Lai Sally Andersen Carla Schael Christine Or Timmy Lee 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

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Grow houseplants. Earth’s natural air filters absorb toxic particles from the air more effectively and far more cheaply than air conditioners.

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Clean air-con filters. This not only means cleaner air, but also reduces electricity and maintenance costs. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and dirt, then wash the filters in warm soapy water and allow them to dry before re-inserting.

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Give us a call!

Editorial: 2776 2773 Advertising: 2776 2772

Southside Magazine is published by Fast Media Ltd. This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Southside 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.

www.fastmedia.com.hk

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– Professor L.S. Chan

Replace your lightbulbs with energy-saving models.

Incandescent lightbulbs use more energy, which not only increases your fuel bills but requires more electricity production, increasing greenhouse-gas emissions and adding to global warming. If you’re still not convinced, try energyefficient bulbs and compare your before-and-after electricity bills.

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Go public. Transportation, that is.

A busload of commuters uses a lot less fuel than a traffic jam of private cars. If you must drive, carpool with neighbours and consider buying a hybrid or an electric car.

get eco-friendly

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Get rid of gadgets. Recycle batteries and electronics at the St James’ Settlement division Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (tel: 2795 7038, www. wastereduction.gov.hk). It collects, repairs and recycles electronic equipment at centres across Hong Kong, donating items or dismantling them for parts. Either way, they don't end up as landfill.

The University of Hong Kong works closely with the group, and is a collection centre.

Shop sustainably. Choose free-range meat, locally grown produce and go organic where possible. Food produced without added chemicals is not only healthier, but requires less use of gas-guzzling machinery, such as pesticide sprayers. Look for meat that is labelled free of antibiotics and hormones – additives that are stored in the fat and flesh and then passed onto you. Organic meat comes from animals that were fed pesticide-free food.

Hit the off switch. If you leave a room, the lights are no longer required and neither are the airconditioning, the TV, the computer or anything else that requires power.

Put timers on electronics. Don’t run the air con or heater all night.

Instead, set a timer so it runs just 10 minutes or so every hour. This saves a lot of power, comparatively.

7 – Chinese proverb

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interview Lorette E. Roberts The illustrator tells Carolynne Dear how her iconic sketchbooks started as a leaving present.

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

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

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

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

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

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

sketches to give to my husband as a sort of leaving present.”

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

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

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

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

“I’m trying to capture the traditional aspect of the country, elements of which are quickly disappearing. For instance, I love the traditional dress, but I don’t

and we have a really fun night.”

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

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

think it will be worn forever. Of course, the Vietnamese should be able to dress as the rest of the world does, but it just seems a bit of a shame to see these beautiful costumes disappearing from the streets,” she says.

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

“I love to watch people at work.

S&S_p01-84.indd 55

There are so many craftsmen in Hong Kong, like the lantern makers, many of which are becoming lost skills.”

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

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

Every picture tells a tale, and one with a interesting story is the old Police Station in Stanley, scene of the last tiger shooting in Hong Kong in the 1940s. Roberts was amazed to receive a letter from a reader about the shooting.

quick draw

Mandarin Immersion Programme

Scenes from Sketches of Hong Kong.

8/31/11 3:26 PM

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

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

“In the New Territories, you can still find villages that grow fields of

watercress. I find this fascinating.”

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

“I think he worries about me, disappearing off on my own into rural China, but I’ve enjoyed such lovely hospitality from local people who see me sketching. It’s funny, people often object to being photographed, but don’t seem to mind being sketched.”

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

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

Be inspired Weight Watchers fits around your life, not the other way around! Find out how flexible our weight loss plan really is. ®

Join Weight Watchers today!

Meeting locations in Hong Kong Pok Fu Lam – Kennedy School Monday at 4:30pm (when school is in session) Repulse Bay/Happy Valley Hong Kong Cricket Club Thursdays – (check website for time) Visit www.weightwatchers.com.hk or call 2813 0814 for meeting details and current schedules.

HONG KONG WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 17

feature

La vie en rose Hong Kong’s French community is coming south.

William Whitaker finds out why.

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feature

Wild Grass

“I did not want to leave Paris,” says Manon Tiano from her window office in Sheung Wan. The co-founder of fashionable French internet magazine Hong Kong Madame, Tiano dabbles in fashion and the visual arts – she and partner Clémence Trancart recently launched a collection called Móts-à-Móts in collaboration with French interior design studio Marguerite & Gribouill.

She was initially less than enthused about this Chinese city of glass and steel. “I made my husband promise – not London and, please, not Hong Kong,” she says.

Just as she knew she would hate the storied English capital (which she did, at first), so she knew she would hate Hong Kong. “Which I did,” she says. At first.

Because, as everyone we spoke to agreed, there’s something about Hong Kong – its convenience, its dynamism, its variety.

Opportunity, they say, lies at every intersection.

Which is why so many foreign nationals from all over the world call Hong Kong home.

Particularly the French. Particularly Southside.

According to the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, about 13,000 French nationals live in the city. That’s an increase of more than 60 per cent in six years.

And that’s not counting the estimated 5,000 French who have not yet registered with the consulate. These expats are also scattered across the city, from Shek O and Pok Fu Lam to Kowloon.

“It all depends on what you’re looking for,” says House Hunters property consultant Beatrice Debevere. “Younger people looking for an experience head for Central and Mid-Levels – they want to be in it.”

Families, she says, tend to head to Southside. “They want the larger spaces Southside properties can offer and they tend to have the incomes necessary to afford it.”

Indeed, French expats are doing well in Hong Kong. While the city has not been immune to shockwaves from the global recession, it remains a nexus for trade throughout the region, despite the rise of mega-cities such as Shanghai. There is money to be made here, which makes it ideal for curious people with big ideas.

People like Tiano. She speaks no

Cantonese and isn’t entirely comfortable speaking English, which made it complicated for her to discover Hong Kong. So, over (French) wine two years ago, Tiano and Trancart decided to do something about it.

Enter Hong Kong Madame. Launched in 2010, it is a “webzine” designed to help Hong Kong’s French-speaking community get the most out of the city.

“At the beginning it was just for fun,” Tiano says, a way for her to use her talents and get to know the city better. But nearly three years later, business is solid, and they are proud of what they’ve accomplished.

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feature

– Laurice Denison

– Jean Paul Gauci

“When I arrived there was no magazine like that,” she says. Now, they own the market and are expanding their brand.

French chef and restaurateur Jean Paul Gauci tells a similar story. His Corsican father owned a bakery and Gauci was in the kitchen from a young age. This sparked a passion that would take him to Marseilles, Spain, Taiwan, Japan and ultimately Hong Kong. That was 22 years ago.

“Back then, I didn’t really think about Hong Kong,” he says. “I really wanted to work in Japan. But once I got to Taiwan, I started to see Hong Kong as well because you couldn’t fly direct between the two.”

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Hong Kong, he says, fell between the “very consistent, very perfect” nature of Japan and the relative chaos of Taiwan. He could not stay away. Since arriving in Hong Kong in 1990, he has helped put SoHo on the map through restaurants such as Casa Lisboa, Cubana and Bistro Manchu, before discovering the more laidback pleasures of Deep Water Bay and Lamma, where he opened branches of Mediterranean restaurant Cococabana. Today, Gauci owns Southside restaurants Coco Thai and Bistro Jinli, as well as newcomer Wild Grass, which is soon to open in Central.

“I haven’t really found anywhere in the world I truly disliked, but I just feel very solid here,”

he says. “It’s a lot to do with business. But also to do with the people. The whole thing comes together quite well.”

Shek O, the land of bikinis, blue skies and bare-foot strolls, is a veritable hub of French activity. On Sundays, says longtime Shek O resident and corporate sales manager Julie Dabadie, the famous Shek O Chinese & Thai is full of French expats. However, only about five French families live permanently in the village.

“No 7-Eleven, no Wellcome, no Starbucks.

The closest ATM is Siu Sai Wan. Here, it’s just our village, our community,” she says.

“Anything you do elsewhere takes an hour.”

feature

And that includes ferrying children to the French International School of Hong Kong’s four campuses in Happy Valley, Jardine’s Lookout and the east of Hong Kong Island.

“I love Shek O, but I couldn’t live here with children,” Dabadie says.

Which raises another challenge French expats face: the language barrier.

“French people are generally bad at foreign languages,” Debevere notes with a laugh. “You don’t get very much practice in France.”

In Hong Kong, she says, English is the only way to get around for those who don’t have time to learn Cantonese. It’s another reason French expats like to spend time so much time around one another.

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Ultimately, however, not everyone is able to take the strain. Dabadie says she knows several families who have left Hong Kong because of it.

And she doesn’t blame them. “Making this type of transition is never easy,” she says.

Still, the French connection is strong.

And growing stronger. French-language websites such as Bienvenue A Hong Kong and Hong Kong Accueil (both of which translate as “welcome to Hong Kong”) offer practical information and networking services with the expressed purpose of facilitating integration into life here. As well as lists of baby-sitting services, schools and tutor information and a classifieds section, both host regular gatherings for the Francophone community. On the docket last month for HKA were several mahjong nights, a dragon-boat race, and a welcoming event for new arrivals.

So why do so many French seem to head south? Strolling on Stanley Promenade in sunglasses with her yellow labrador, French expat and Stanley resident Laurice Denison thinks she knows. Southside Hong Kong is like the south of France. She says: “It has the promenade, the sun, the sea... Comme le Midi.”

Beatrice Debevere goes so far as to suggest Southside may be even better.

“Life here is different from what you find in Europe,” she says. “Living Southside, you have the impression you’re constantly on vacation.

But a big and active city with lots of opportunity for work and great quality of life is just over the mountain. It’s the best of both worlds.”

And Tiano, who initially hated the city?

“I’m really, really happy here,” she says.

“I don’t want to go back to Paris.”

Anne-Christine Martin What do you like most about Hong Kong?

For my part, I like that everything is so easy. Things are close by. You can set up a business pretty easily.

You can spend a day on a mountain trail and still end with a dip in the sea. Friendships are formed easily.

And, most importantly, schools are excellent, and you can raise children without worry for their safety.

What do you know now that you wish you had known before?

I have lived in Hong Kong for four-anda-half years. What I wish I had known before I moved here was how I would love this place! Nobody told me (or at least I did not believe at the time) that Hong Kong was more than just a dense concentration of tall buildings.

Anne-Christine Martin created and manages Bienvenue A Hong Kong www.bienvenueahk.com.

eating Inside Angeletti William Whitaker tries Stanley's friendly neighbourhood Italian.

Residents may laugh. But really, if you don’t live there, it’s easy to get lost in Stanley Market. Competing awnings block the sky overhead making it hard to get your bearings. And the streets, already narrow and crowded, follow a gentle curve that keeps you from seeing the end. However, hidden within this warren are gems – certain painters, crafts people and cafés that pull you back in. One such is Italian restaurant Angeletti.

Tucked away in an alley off Stanley Main Street, it’s a nice reprieve from the bustle of shoppers shopping. Warm pumpkin-orange walls are hung with assorted famous 20th-century cubist paintings, and several speakers embedded in the ceiling whisper jazz classics. All these elements combine to create an inviting, calmly sophisticated atmosphere.

The service is friendly rather than overwhelming, and the food is good without being fancy. But the best part about Angeletti is the money value.

Bought individually, dishes run anywhere from a $38 mushroom cream soup to a $118 braised lamb. However, the $60 set lunch includes garlic bread, minestrone soup, a drink and your main dish. And they do not short the proportions. Which makes this a perfect way to prepare for either lazing on the beach or hiking in the sun.

Angeletti takes cash or credit and EPS, and it delivers – free!

Shop C&D, 126 Stanley Main Street, Stanley, 2813 9090.

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ciao bella

Must try....

Spaghetti carbonara: It’s a staple of Italian restaurants because, when done right, it just makes you smile. Angeletti does it right. With a lightly salted cream that’s not too thick and bacon bits galore, you cannot go wrong.

Shrimp and tomato risotto: No one is reinventing the wheel here, but that’s because the wheel is great as it is. With its light and puffy steamed shrimp, this dish is a great blend of salt, sweet and savoury.

Order and be happy.

Pork knuckle: Between this and the duck breast, we suggest the pork. Not because the duck is poor but because the pork is that good, with juicy melt-in-the-mouth meat and delightfully crispy skin. Enjoy.

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 25

wine

it's crisp

Great white

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

West Kowloon Cultural Area.

Free entrance. Details at www.discoverhongkong.com.

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

ABC? That’s so last century.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The dreaded Aussie chardonnay is no longer to be feared. There are some fantastic wines coming from the country’s slightly cooler areas. Chardonnays from Margaret River in Western Australia are a little more feminine, while those from Adelaide Hills in South Australia benefit from being grown at a higher altitude.

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

this on the label. Unwooded chardonnay is crisp and clean, refreshing to the max, perfect for our climate and pairs excellently with Hong Kong’s seafood dishes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Admission on the door $200.

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

recipe

How to cook a Thanksgiving bird

By South Stream Seafoods

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

Which turkey to buy?

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

Buy Online!

Fast

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

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

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

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

Is any additional preparation needed?

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

How long should the turkey be cooked?

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

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

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

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

Amish turkeys?

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

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

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

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

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

Fresh Fantastic

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

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

promotion

Keeping it real Interior design house COMODO proves simple is beautiful.

Chic, simple and sophisticated is what they're all about.

After studying Interior Design in the USA, Alain Wong returned to Hong Kong with a dream of creating graceful and timeless design.

With more than 10 years of experience under his belt and backed by a team of talented designers and world-class construction professionals, Alain has brought his dream to life with COMODO, an interior design company set to remould the boundaries of contemporary and minimalist design.

A testament to COMODO’s quality is their multi-award-winning designs. The design house has scooped a number of prestigious design awards including the Golden A Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design Category in 2011-2012 for their office in Tsim Sha Tsui and a Silver A Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design Category in 2011-2012 for their work on the residential Deerhill Bay apartment. Other awards include the 2012 Interior Beaute Residential Design and Home Products Brand Award — Best In Concept (Lighting) and 2011 Top 10 Interior Design Awards. Clearly, COMODO are doing something very right.

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promotion More recent designs include the Braemar Hill Mansions in North Point. Crafted in a deliciously simple style, COMODO’s signature palette of black, white and grey dominate the home, leaving a nuanced and sophisticated feel. The clean minimalist tone is warmed by the addition of dark wooden floorboards to give the house a richer, more comfortable feel while unique furnishings such as the dining room’s light shade inject a personal and fresh pop.

All boasting aside, it’s important to note that COMODO also take great pride in their service and customer satisfaction. COMODO know what Hong Kong people want: space. Self-proclaimed space management specialists, their renovation of the Braemar Hill property is a perfect example of their expertise. By tearing down unnecessary wall partitions, the home went from dull to flooded with natural light and COMODO’s fail-proof palette of grey and white reflected light, making the space appear bigger and brighter.

Another innovation from COMODO is their work on the Kuppersbusch Showroom in Happy Valley. Tailor-making their designs based on Kuppersbusch signature product, a honeycombshaped electric hob, by employing angled pieces and delicate, clean lines. Oversized hexagons punctuate the ceiling, perfectly complementing Kuppersbusch’ leading product. This showroom’s bespoke interior reflects the care and personal touch unique to COMODO.

Real winner’s don’t need to boast.

They don’t need to show off with ostentatious displays of success or parade past achievements time after time. Real winners are quiet and sophisticated. Their accomplishments will silently prove testament to their worth and will effortlessly sing their merit. COMODO’s style embodies this. When you choose a designer, don’t choose the loud, the brash. Choose the calm, the suave.

Choose the winner. Choose COMODO.

Braemar Hill Mansions

Clever design by COMODO at Braemar Hill Mansions turned this once stuffy space into a spacious home.

Kuppersbusch Showroom

Geometric shapes and lines create an awe-inspiring space at Kuppersbusch Showroom in Happy Valley.

Contact www.comododesign.com, 2808 0991, info@comododesign.com

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 29

interiors

Amp up the glam Luxurious colours and materials give this Stanley house the wow factor. By Timmy Lee.

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sponsored column Glamour was the order of the day for this sumptuous modern home in Stanley. But working with a colour palette that includes jet black, gold and marble requires a deft touch to ensure the overall look stays the right side of the class barrier.

It’s a juggling act managed with aplomb by interior designers The XSS, which brings together elements of fung shui and contemporary Western design in this two-storey east-meets-west house.

The living areas ooze sophistication. A grand chandelier, chrome side table and shimmering upholstery bring bling to the space, tempered by warm tones of deep brown and beige and plenty of wood and other natural materials.

Sweeping windows ensure plenty of sunshine glinting around the space by day, while a well thought-out lighting scheme sets a sexier mood by night.

In the master suite, a spiral staircase curves sexily in one corner. The bathroom is just the right side of decadent, with rich, luxurious colours and an abundance of materials, including complementary marble and stone tiles in the rain shower. Classically patterned mosaic tiling draws attention to the flooring, but it’s the bathtub that really captures the imagination. Lit by blue LEDs, it’s a place that invites you to linger.

For details, visit www.thexss.com.

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in my element

Richard Winkworth Creating art in Ap Lei Chau.

You've lived in several places, what makes Hong Kong home?

I love it. I first saw Hong Kong as a child at Chinese New Year, 1968, and never forgot it. I had been living in India and Hong Kong was so dazzling, I had never seen anything like Nathan Road. It was the first time I had experienced cold weather so it was very memorable How would you like to see Hong Kong's art scene grow?

With integrity. That would set it apart from most other cities' art industries.

What art or artists inspire the way you live?

I am interested in religious art from Asia: Byzantine icons, thousand Buddha images, Hindu sculpture, tantric painting. It's aweinspiringly beautiful, has a tangible presence and energy born of incredible talent, frequently anonymous. A far cry from the celebrity-driven, globalised, hyped and homogenised art and

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culture we are being fed by the contemporary market at the moment.

Why do many of your paintings feature jars, bowls and cups?

I paint what I want to paint and that is it. All the justification of art by artists and curators has grown out of the art education system's need to prove or measure research in order to grant BA, MA and, latterly, PhD degrees. The first educational qualifications were sciencebased, arts came later but the same quantitative evaluations were placed on them. Now it seems we need an entire industry to explain art for us.

Tell us about favourite pieces in the studio.

Some of my favourite work comes from time I spent in Varanasi. I love the goddess Kali, the Destroyer of Ignorance. Other favourites are some of the first pieces I made in this studio on wood and cardboard I found in the loading bay.

The work I am making always interests me most.

Are you a creature of habit?

We all are in some way, it's part of the human condition. Societies have to rely on collectively agreed and repeated behaviours to create the culture that binds them together. Artists have to step away from that in order to make what they make. In my work life a pattern has emerged.

I paint when I want to paint and eating and sleeping fit around that. Gradually the eating and sleeping gets squeezed into smaller and smaller time spaces. I can pretty much keep going for 24 hours before heading home to bed. Sometimes I feel very lonely. I don't see people, work through the night, eat from tins and packets, live on coffee, nicotine and sugar and don't bother to shave or shower until I'm heading out again, sometimes 72 hours later.

It's like living through a combination of war and ecstasy. After a while the work gains a life of its own and eventually I am sharing my studio with a living energy coming off the canvas. I don't answer the phone or interact with technology.

studio album

From left: Winkworth stops for tea; floor work; tools of the trade.

anxieties. I spent a lot of time at sea as a kid so it's kind of grounding. The building doesn't have distractions around it, no bars or 7-Elevens. I don't want people banging on the door.

Unless I go into this space I cannot make work that means anything to me.

Your kitchen is well equipped, what do you whip up in there?

I make curries from specific regions in India.

Mixing up dishes from the north and south is a bit like pouring Irish stew over fish and chips.

Also I like baking. Day to day cooking bores me rigid. I tend to make a large amount of dahl and eat it with rice or chapatti until I'm bored of it.

Why did you choose Ap Lei Chau?

I look out over the East Lamma Straits. When I am locked into painting mode and I feel like my mental health is falling apart, I turn around, face the water and it carries away my fears and

Is there a community vibe among the artists and designers?

There are a lot of talented people working around here. One of my hubs is Faux design company; Louis (Papachristou) and Hugh (Zimmern) are brilliant at getting artists around a table. There is a strong feeling of community.

Found any hidden gems on Ap Lei Chau?

There's an excellent Thai cafe, ALC, on Main Street. I love the ships’ chandlers and boat yards, walking around the harbour and catching a sampan to Aberdeen to eat at the cooked food market there. The waters around Po Toi are the deepest, cleanest waters in Hong Kong, and the seafood cooked there comes from these waters.

It's noisy, busy, very friendly.

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education

Making connections Morningstar Preschool director Marian Shiua talks educational philosophy with Timmy Lee. Tell us about Morningstar.

At Morningstar Preschool we believe we all learn through making connections between things, concepts and experiences. We do this by interacting with other people and with our environment. So we give participation a key role at every level both within and outside the school.

Projects provide the backbone of the children’s and teachers’ learning experiences.

We believe learning by doing is of great importance and group discussion and revisiting ideas and experiences are the best ways to gain knowledge and understanding. During project work, teachers observe children closely to gain an understanding of what interests the children and to create strategies that allow them to build on these interests. Learning always takes place within a group setting because Morningstar sees interaction and the consideration of differing points of view to be fundamental to the learning process.

What are the core elements of your curriculum?

Aside from the core subjects, children learn life skills, including autonomy, problem identification and problem solving, and introspection.

Autonomy: We believe children are intelligent, capable individuals who should be entrusted with the responsibility of problem solving. Through daily shared chores and project work, children demonstrate their autonomy by using their initiative and selfcontrol. Self-regulation takes precedence over rule enforcement at our school.

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Problem identification and solving: Children solve problems every day. Often, we encourage children to step back from the problem and think about what goals they want to accomplish – to identify the problem before tackling it blindly.

Introspection: with simple or complex tasks, children are empowered to think deeply about their community and how their actions affect the people around them.

What is a “Reggioinspired environment”?

Our approach is to learn and relearn together with the children. We do not wish the children to be shaped by experience, but to be the ones who shape it. Morningstar’s education system is based on interrelationships. A network of communication exists between the child, parents and teachers. The three protagonists work closely together in a spirit of co-operation, collaboration and co-construction of knowledge.

How does Morningstar prepare children for primary school?

It is difficult to hold a child’s attention if the topic is not interesting to him or her. However, if we can engage a child by wrapping core subjects around the child’s interests, their knowledge of those subjects – arts, science, history, language – will have a greater depth and breadth than in a traditional environment.

Our teachers not only view their

responsibilities as preparing the children for their next academic progression, but to provide them with the tools required into adulthood – analytical skills, divergent thinking skills, conflict resolution skills, social skills, resourcefulness.

What goals does Morningstar set for its students?

We aim to equip our children with the cognitive abilities and mental elasticity to identify problems, hypothesize and test theories, investigate concepts and ideas, and reflect on solutions and outcomes. Our goal is to ensure our children know their voices are important and their ideas are worthy of sharing. We also aim to instill in them a love for learning and to challenge their own ideas and the ideas of others.

Tell us about your teaching staff.

At Morningstar, you will find passionate and qualified early-childhood educators who have the children’s and parents’ best interests at heart. We believe deeply in the Reggio approach and continuously develop professionally.

How do you make your students “fall in love with the joy of learning”?

Children inherently love to learn – as long as what they are learning is relevant and meaningful to their lives in a supportive and thought-provoking environment. That is why Morningstar’s curriculum is child-initiated and teacher-supported.

sponsored column

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

Our teachers have to be on their toes and to think on their feet. How can learning be boring when children are exploring, experimenting, building, drawing, planning and hypothesizing on their own terms? When children feel they are valued and important members of the school, they become engaged, joyful learners.

How does play contribute to early learning?

Play is at the heart of children’s learning because that is how children communicate what they know. Young children haven’t honed their language skills so if educators solely seek a child’s level of understanding based on their linguistic skills, we would miss opportunities to find out how much the children actually knows.

Expressive arts can give children the opportunity to look at and experience their world in many different ways, encouraging children to use all their senses to seek a greater understanding.

Any new projects in the works?

One of our long-term projects is about seeds. We ask our children to remove the skin from fruit and dissect it, enriching their understanding of the fruit’s structure. Each child chose a favourite seed to plant. Next we read a book, The Carrot Seed, and thought about what would happen to our seeds.

The children hypothesized through different materials and formats. Now we are waiting for the seeds to sprout so we can transfer them to our vertical garden.

On a macro level, children are making a connection from soil to plate. They are also learning about delayed gratification and their responsibility in ensuring the health of their seeds. We’ve gone through both joyful and disappointing moments.

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

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

Your child’s English or Mandarin skills are not tested formally but through conversation. Neither are children asked to demonstrate skills and knowledge beyond their school age, such as reading or solving arithmetic problems above age-appropriate levels.

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

Instill “etiquette”. Children are expected to greet teachers formally and to thank them at the end. They should make good eye contact with the teacher.

Make sure your child is willing to respond and communicate. Teachers often toss out a question to a group of children to see who will respond. Children are typically asked

their names and about other family members, where they live or when their birthday is.

Teachers may ask children about the activity and expect children to answer in complete sentences rather than one-word responses.

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

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

Primary-level children may be tested on phonics, numbers and basic reading skills.

Fluency in English is essential for most international schools.

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

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

ITS School Placements provides an education consulting service that works with families and employers to find the right schools for individual children in Hong Kong, from nursery to secondary schools. ITS also offers research, policy and advisory services for corporations. For more details, contact es@tuition.com.hk or 3188 3940.

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family

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

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

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

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

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

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

But what many parents may not know is that

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pallett is addressing the issue of legal guardianship in free seminars on November 21 and 24 at Baby Central, BT Centre, Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen. To reserve a place, email support@babycentral.com.hk or call 2553 8000. Pallett can be contacted at EXS Capital Group, 3752 8802, wealth@exscapital.com.

forward planning

Kids camp PlayTent learning centre opens.

PlayTent is a new learning centre in Stanley it is an important foundation; we wish them founded by high-school best friends, principal a positive head start.”

Juliet Chan and architect Kyna So. It offers a wide Chan has assembled a team of experienced range of language and interest-based classes for educators who aim to “bring out the greatness children aged from 12 months to seven years. in every child” by instilling confidence, For babies and toddlers, it runs fun sessions independence, creativity and analytical skills, in both English and Mandarin to help kick-start while underlining the value of individuality. language abilities. Older children can benefit from age-appropriate classes in phonics, Shop B1, M/F, 18 Stanley Main Street, English, Mandarin, art and even cooking. Oxford 2276 0488, info@playtent.com.hk, Reading Tree’s Buddy classes aim to help teach www.playtent.com.hk. children to read and write using the renowned reading scheme used in 80 per cent of British primary schools.

“The classes are based on children’s interests,” Chan explains. “I’m proud of Oxford Reading Tree’s Buddy, Little Chefs and our language classes taught by experienced and qualified language teachers.”

She says, “I felt children were being pressured to get into this or that school. We try Whizz to relieve that pressure by introducing a relaxed Around environment. We teach young ages because

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four kids & a life

and so to bed

A day off Carolynne Dear takes to the king-size.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Excitement about the event can cause runners to tackle longer runs than their bodies are ready for and can lead to injury and burnout.

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

Running too fast Training for a marathon

5:44 PM

involves building and progressing throughout the season. It’s important to vary your effort level as you train.

If you can talk while you're running the long run, you're at the right effort.

If you can't, you're running too fast.

Avoid training by pace or with a target time as this can set you up for what is known as race pact training disaster, where you feel great for about four to six weeks, then things start to deteriorate – your energy levels decline, your body aches, and performance suffers.

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

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far and away harder on the body. Other factors that can affect training are lack of sleep, stress and training fatigue from other workouts.

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

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

running too quickly or too slowly, both of which can have negative effects on your performance.

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

Catching up on mileage when you have a set back The training plan is a blueprint that will evolve and change through the season. In the event you get sick, miss a training run while on vacation or get off track for another reason, it is better to merge back into a modified plan than try to catch up.

Should you miss a week owing to illness, try a few test runs of 30 minutes or so to remind your body that you're a runner. From there, build back up in mileage while keeping it at an easy effort for the return week.

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

Homeopathy to health To a skeptic, alternative medicine practices are curiously unproven at best, mystic “quackery” at worst.

But for those they have touched, such as homeopath Mina Weight, these are practices to swear by.

“Homeopathy is complementary medicine based on providing personalized remedies to an individual’s ailment,” Weight explains. “Established in 18thcentury Europe, it is the second most-used complementary medical practice in the West, and the first most-used in India.”

Homeopathic remedies are created by a process of serial dilution, which Weight says makes them safe for pregnant women and infants. Furthermore, she says, homeopathy is a holistic practice.

Weight considers an individual’s acute and chronic ailments, temperament and eating habits to give her remedies the utmost

healing potential.

And she is hopeful that modern medicine will soon recognize homeopathic practices.

“No one wants to practice something many others believe is quackery,” she says. “More and more, practitioners in Britain are trying to get homeopathic remedies into peer-reviewed trials. I’m hoping in my lifetime that it’ll be recognized.”

Mina Weight has a degree from the London School of Classical Homeopathy and offers home visits across Southside.

Her clinic is at Room 2001, White Lotus Centre, Car Po Commercial Building, Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, 2851 9684, www.homeopathytohealth.org.

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 41

hikes

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

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

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

A kaido (village ferry service) sails to Tung Lung on Saturdays and Sundays from the typhoon shelter at Sai Wan Ho, a short walk from the MTR. It is a different location from the nearby Sai Wan Ho ferry pier: the departure point is marked by a red-and-white painted board that lists the sailing schedule in Chinese.

There are four departures on Saturdays and six on Sundays and public holidays, the earliest at 8.30am. A return ticket is $30. (Call 2560 9929 to confirm the times.)

If you are early for a sailing, there is a pleasant park opposite the typhoon shelter where you can sit and eat your breakfast.

It’s a 40-minute journey by boat, passing through the narrow Lei Yue Mun strait then

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striking out east into the open sea. Shek O lies far off to the right, and the Clearwater Bay peninsula to the left. Floating fish farms herald the island.

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

Pass a pair of cafés – very friendly, with photos of hikers and rock climbers decorating the walls – then the path turns right towards a campsite. Beyond, on a bluff overlooking the east coast, stand the ruins of Tung Lung Fort. Built at some point between 1662 and 1722, in the reign of Emperor Kangxi, it was intended to control coastal piracy and was equipped with eight cannons. It was abandoned in 1810, lay in ruins for 160 years, and was restored in the 1970s.

There is not a lot to see, but a small exhibition hall gives details about Qing dynasty artefacts found during restoration. It must have been a remote, lonely place to be posted.

Cliffs on the far side of the fort are popular with climbing groups. Enjoy the views but take care around here; don’t let children or dogs run free near the edges.

On the way back, detour right after the South Garden Store to find a quiet, sandy beach. Or from the village with the main ferry pier, follow the red arrow painted on the path beside the upper café to a hillside lookout point 20 minutes’ walk to the south. From

island life

Rugged scenery, peaceful fish farms and a small temple on tranquil Tung Lung Chau.

here, descend to the coastline to see Hong Kong’s largest (and possibly oldest) prehistoric rock carving. The swirling patterns are thought to represent a dragon. Perhaps Tung Lung (“Eastern Dragon”) took its name from this ancient carving?

The last ferry of the day returns to town at 5.30pm. Don’t miss it, or be prepared to spend a few nights with the villagers.

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

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 43

travel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wanaka, New Zealand

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 45

motoring

Pictures: Aaron Lai

legal immigrant

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

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

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

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

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

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

It is the last of the iconic 911s styled

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

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

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

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

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

Thankfully, importing one is a pretty straightforward process.

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

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

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

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

Kevin Yeung is a Southside resident and entrepreneur.

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

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 47

pets

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

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

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

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

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

These days the shoe is on the other foot.

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

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

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

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

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

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menagerie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For example, if marks are confined to locations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Favourite rider: Lottie (Farrar).

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

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

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

Word that best describes you: “Svelte”.

What annoys you: Cold showers in the winter.

Why can’t we horses have warm showers?

BFF: Anthony, who lives in the next stable.

He “gets” me.

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

Bedtime reading: Horse & Hound.

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

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 49

gardening

Cutting remarks Jane Ram becomes obsessional about creating new plants.

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

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

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

growth spurts also add coarse vermiculite for good measure.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 51

outdoors

hash on heels

On on!

Harriet Fletcher laces up her running shoes for the Ladies Hash.

When a friend first mentioned the Ladies’ Hash – or, as it’s officially known, the Ladies of the Hong Kong Hash House Harriers – I had visions of jogging through Pacific Place and barrelling through the shoppers in downtown Central. No runner’s idea of fun. As a newcomer to Hong Kong I had no idea what hash running was. So I Googled it: hashing, I learned, was a noncompetitive running, social and drinking club. I couldn’t ask for more.

Nevertheless I had butterflies in my stomach before my first run. I hadn’t done any exercise for about three months and since moving to Hong Kong I had embraced the local cuisine.

Which meant I had been living on dim sum and fried noodles. So I wasn’t exactly in peak physical fitness.

“Don’t worry!” cried my supportive new friends. “That’s what so perfect about hash

52 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

running, it is for all fitness levels!”

I was dubious, but I turned up armed with a torch, mosquito spray and water – essentials for any hash run. When we began the run, I quickly recognised why this was different to any other running groups I had been in. Hash running is designed to keep the runners together.

Each week, a different trail is set during the day by a member of the club. Most trails are set in chalk or flour, using arrows to guide the runners in the general direction. Occasional checkpoints have three arrows pointing in different directions. The runners who reach the checkpoint first – usually the fittest and fastest – split up and check each route to find the correct path, giving the less fit a chance to catch up and take a breather. When the lead runners have found the right route, they call “On on!” and off we go.

After each run, we go for dinner, perhaps at a local Chinese restaurant, takeaway curry in a park, or if we’re lucky at a fellow hasher’s house.

Once we’ve eaten all the calories we have just burned off, the “down downs” begin. Each week, members of the group are singled out for saying or doing something during the run and expected to down a drink in one. It is a fun and traditional way to end the run – but not mandatory.

Hash running is a fun and easy way to stay fit. Each week an email is sent out about up-coming runs and events. It’s a great way to meet new people and to see different parts of Hong Kong’s amazing countryside.

Men and women are all welcome to join the hash. For details, visit www.hkladieshash.com.

marketplace

To advertise, email: ads@southside.hk

STRESSED BY YOUR PET?!!!

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

Not all behavioural problems are simply training issues.

Dr. Cynthia Smillie BVM&S PG Dip CABC MRCVS

Tel: 9618 2475 cynthia@petbehaviourhk.com

www.petbehaviourhk.com

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 53

wellness & birth pre & postnatal homecare

Sleep well!

Martina Freyer

baby sleep consultant phone 6621 0040

www.wellnessandbirth.com

54 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

bird at my window

The Japanese white-eye aka Zosterops japonica The Japanese white-eye is one of the most abundant and widespread birds in Hong Kong. It is easily identified by its small size, bright green upper parts, yellow throat and white rings around the eyes that gives the family its English name. It is a popular cage bird.

It breeds in woodland, tall shrubland, urban parks and gardens – almost anywhere there are trees. The only habitat where it is scarce or absent in the breeding season is montane grassland.

Its nest is a cup of fine grasses in small forks in bushes or trees, including Chinese banyans. The breeding cycle from egg-laying to the young birds leaving the nest takes three to four weeks. Three to four eggs are usually laid and two broods may be raised in a season.

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

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

David Diskin is a writer and photographer based in the New Territories. His latest book is Hong Kong Nature Walks: Kowloon, Hong Kong & Outlying Islands (October 2012). Details at www.accipiterpress.com.

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 55

56 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

classifieds

random but interesting

LOCAL Property

OVERSEAS Property

ATTRACTIVELY RENOVATED HK$ 16. 3 M - Sai Kung- Ref-SK406 SOLE AGENT - 4 Bedrooms, Fabulous Walk-in-Closet, Huge Fully Fitted & Equipped Open Plan Kitchen.

Terrace & Roof Garden. Open & Sea Views. Well Managed Development. www.thepropertyshop.com.hk 27193977 C-027656

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

NEED A HOLIDAY? PHUKET VILLA FOR RENT! Luxury 5 beds villa with swimming pool located in Surin area. Walking distance to beaches. Reasonable rates! Website: www.phuketvilla4rent.com Email the owner: info@phuketvilla4rent.com

SILVERSTRAND GARDEN HSE HK$110 K- Clearwater Bay Detached 4 Bed Family Home with Separate Family Room, Open-plan Kitchen, Helpers Q, 3000 sf Garden, Mountain Vistas, 2 c/p Stroll to MTR, Shops & Beach. Ref-CWB412 www.thepropertyshop.com.hk 27193977 C-027656

Classified

Luxury villa in Phuket available for rent.

3 double bed with ensuite bathrooms plus maid's room and 1 extra bed. Private pool. 7 min walk to Bangtao Beach.

US$250-350 per night.

Owner 91946630.

classifieds@southside.hk 2776 2772 WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 57

classifieds Health and Well Being

BOAT

“MONTE FINO PRICED TO SELL. With acres of space, this 1993 66 ft classic luxury cruiser (refitted 2011) is great for sharing, chartering, or as a live-aboard. Beautiful teak floors throughout, blending perfectly with sophisticated neutral tones inside & out. Hull, all paneling, soft furnishing, heads, galley restored/repaired/refitted to a high standard. New swim platform and custom made Austral Props installed. 2 x 805.68 kW Detroit Diesel engines in good condition with only 17xx hours and 2 x Kohler diesel generators. Capacity for 28, 6 berths, 1 crew cabin, 3 heads & 1 crew head. Sound & TV system, plus hoist for tender. Asking 3.5 mil. 1.75 mil for half share. Enquiries for up to 8 syndicate members at 430k welcome. To view, call Mark 9664 8934/Joanna 9318 8736.

Liveaboard in Aberdeen swing mooring, 2003 Bondway, 55ft with 3 bedrooms, office convertible to bedroom, 2 bathrooms, big lounge with balcony, fully furnished with appliances. Power & water available.

HK$2.1m and mooring fee HK$6k/mth. Call Ian 91694246.

STUNNING 20 ft CHRIS CRAFT for sale.

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

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

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

Services NATIONAL HARBOUR RENOVATIONS Home and office reno upgrades.

Plumbing, electrical and handyman services.

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

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

Franki (90362128) happyday2128@netvigator.com

Liveaboard package in Discovery Bay Marina, 2010 Paceboat, 60ft with 4 bedrooms, 2 offices, laundry, 3 bathrooms, big lounge with balcony, top deck function room, fully furnished with appliances and furniture. HK$6.7m including debenture. Call Ian 91694246.

Insurance Insurance: Home, Motor, Medical We are HK’s leading general insurance broker.

Call for an instant quote or visit the website www.kwiksure.com. Call Christian on +852 3113 1331 or emailchristian@kwiksure.com

No need to go to Central....

Cambridge Weight Plan has experienced consultants on the Southside and in Pokfulam. We help you create an easy-tomanage flexible weight loss plan and provide motivation and support every step of the way. Call our friendly local consultants today!

Paula 92760911 and Laila 98209592 info@cambridgeweightplan.hk www.cambridgeweightplan.hk

Autotoll – Car insurance specialist Special offer Up to $500 Fuel Coupon Call Benny or Michael at 26278811 or insurance@autotoll.com.hk Autotoll Insurance Agent Ltd

Full time / Part time Domestic Helper Wanted Job Description: · Provide domestic help to a family of six (couple, 18 years old son & 3 dogs); · 3 storey house with garden in Chung Hom Kok ·to work with another helper Requirements: · Age 30-40 Must be good in English, cleanliness; · Good in ironing & cooking, like pets; and · Finish contract with good references.

Please call Anita Shum at 25377170 for enquiry and application.

Email classifieds@southside.hk 58 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

classifieds

Advertise your business and get great results!

Email classifieds@southside.hk for classifieds booking or call 2776 2772

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

E: info@entertainingasia.com T: 2815-7919. www.entertainingasia.com

If both parents die together, children become Wards of Court. A HK orphanage would likely be their new home! For quick, simple and affordable Wills, call Phoenix Wills 3100 0101 Email: Bradley@WheresTheWill.com

Private Party Perfect Location available for all party themes, located at Central Lan Kwai Fong with open balcony, capacity up to 90 pax ,we provide food catering and open bar package www.ottolounge.com to get the quote online T:6627 7499 info@ottolounge.com

Classified classifieds@southside.hk

2776 2772

Tuition and Courses LIVE BAND SCHOOL WANT TO PLAY IN A BAND ?

Calling all singers, guitarists, bass players and drummers. Join our Band Workshops in Causeway Bay. Ages from 12 to 18 Contact: Patrick_larbier@yahoo.fr 67182585

Piano Lesson @ HOME in English/ Cantonese by professional and qualified teachers. Annual Recital in Cityhall. Trial lessons available, visit www.grandpiano.hk for details.

NATIVE SPANISH TEACHER. Spanish for all levels, IB, I/GCSE. Experienced teacher.

Private and group lessons. Flexible hours.

Kids, teenagers and adults. ilsabeth@hotmail.com 9043 5105.

ENGLISH TEACHER 20 yrs solid experience. K1-S6 TOEFL IELTS Cambridge HKDSE. Kids Fun Reading Programs. New immigrant English, TOEIC. Dyslexia and Phonics Clinic. Numerous successful graduates. Ms. Lau 81034686

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

The cost is $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!

REGISTER AS A VOLUNTEER Give a few hours of your time to Sai Kung Stray Friends. If you want to do something worthwhile come and help at our holding facility in Sai Kung. Any day or time suitable to you. Various tasks, sweeping, cleaning, dog walking, paddock Mum or just providing some love to the dogs. Dads are welcome too for mowing duty!

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

VOLUNTARY POSITIONS NEEDED Sai Kung Stray Friends *Kennel Carer - 1 or 2 days per week *Weekend Sai Kung Homing Team *Fundraising Director *Website director *Daily Meals on Wheels delivery roster *Rescue & Desexing Join us in our local community initiative to help our beautiful animals.

Email: saikungstrayfriendshk@gmail.com Call Narelle: 9199.2340 (English) Jessie: 9097.4591 (Chinese) DONATE OLD BABY CLOTHES, toys and equipment to mothers in need. Small toys, wraps, bottles and teething toys are desperately needed by Pathfinders, a charity that helps migrant mothers find a safe and legal home. Call Kylie: 9460 1450 or Luna (Chinese speaking): 5135 3015.

Charities / Community 2896 0000 The Samaritans 24 hour Multilingual Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Samaritans offer non-judgemental, confidential emotional support 24/7, 365 days/year to anyone going through a crisis or who just needs to talk something through. Please call 2896 0000 or email: jo@samaritans.org.hk .

For more information: www.samaritans.org.hk

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. Website: www. christian-action.org.hk Blog: http://siewmei. cahk.org Email: ca@christian-action.org.hk

for classifieds booking or call 2776 2772 WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 59

the ultimate guide to southside COMMUNITY & HEALTH Elite Nursing Ltd.

2566 0630 info@elitenursing.com.hk www.elitenursing.com.hk The American Club Hong Kong 2842 7400 | membership@americanclubhk.com www.americanclubhk.com Caritas-HK 2538 7777 / 2550 7620 Feeding HK 2205 6568 http://feedinghk.org German-Speaking Evangelical-Lutheran Congregation 9573 2977 | info@egdshk.org Watermark Community Church 2857 6160 | info@watermarkchurch.hk www.watermarkchurch.hk

DAILY NECESSITIES 7-Eleven 2299 1110 Circle K Convenience Stores (HK) Limited 2294 9164 City Lifestyle 2856 1817 (Stanley) 2580 1314 (Aberdeen) Mannings 2553 3244 Market Place by Jasons 2812 0340 ParknShop 2294 9327 Taste 2813 9521 Wellcome 2813 9363

FASHION & BEAUTY

HOME Box Design

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

AA Mini Store 3483 1693 / 6977 6107 www.aa-aquarium.com Attic Lifestyle 2580 8552 info@attic-lifestyle.com www.attic-lifestyle.com Calcite Indoor Environment 3428 5441 | info@calcitegroup.com www.calcitegroup.com Chez Uno 2791 9662 / 2723-8990 www.chezuno.com COMODO Interior & Furniture Design 2808 0991 | info@comododesign.com www.comododesign.com Eco Living 2792 7998 | askus@ecoliving.hk | www.ecoliving.hk Indigo Living Ltd. 2552 3500 | info@indigo-living.com www.indigo-living.com JCAW Consultants 2524 9988 jcawltd@biznetvigator.com Pakpersian Carpets Hong Kong 2549 012 / 9192 9594 pakpersian@netvigator.com www.pakersiancarpet.com Studio Annetta 9849 1216 | suzy@studioannetta.com www.studioannetta.com The XSS 2739 8893 enquiry@thexss.com | www.thexss.com

MULTIMEDIA Itsie Bitsie Boutique 2565 0818

Homeopathy to Health 6908 3234 | www.homeopathytohealth.org Kaprice 2509 1133 | kaprice@biznetvigator.com www.kapriceonline.com Nuan Cashmere sales@nuancashmere.com | www.nuancashmere.com Repulse Bay Family Practice info@veritas-medical.com Sabai Day Spa — Stanley 2104 0566 | www.sabaidayspa.com Sense of Touch 2517 0939 | ask@senseoftouchhk.com www.senseoftouch.com.hk Wellness & birth, pre & postnatal home care 9022 1779 | www.wellnessandbirth.com info@wellnessandbirth.com

60 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

Asian Artworks Gallery 2812 0850 Broadway Circuit 2529 3898 Dymocks 2803 1623 Four Dimensional Book Centre 2555 9528 HJ Seich Photography 9229 2407 | heidi@hjselchphotography.com www.hjselchphotography.com HS modernart 2812 9123 The Commercial Press (Hong Kong) Limited 2552 3621 Light Jar Photography 6274 1362 | info@lightjarphotography.com www.lightjarphotography.com

Get listed

call 2776 2772 email marketing@southside.hk

LEARNING CENTRES Anastassia's Art House 2719 5533 arthouse.hk@gmail.com www.arthouse-hk.com Craft Box 9014 3262 simone@craftbox.asia www.craftbox.asia Grand Piano www.grandpiano.hk ITS 3188 3946 jennifer.c@tuition.com.hk International Academy of Flim & Television 5808 3440 info@iaft.hk iaft.hk Montessori for Children 2813 9589 hongkong@montessori.edu.sg www.montessori.edu.sg Morningstar Preschool and Kindergarten 9736 5241 info@MorningstarSchools.com www.morningstarschools.com My Happy Sunflower 2511 2538 reginia@myhappysunflower.com www.myhappysunflower.com Orton-Gillingham Centre for Different Learners 2525 8998 eric@msl-orton.com www.msl-orton.com.hk QUEST Study Skills 2690 9117 www.queststudyskills.com The Southside Kindergarten 2592 7527 info@southside.edu.hk | www.southside.edu.hk Sunshine House Pre-schools Hong Kong 2813 0713 taitam@sunshinehouse.com.hk Sylvan Learning 2873 0662 info@sylvan.edu.hk www.educate.com

UTILITIES, SERVICES & EMERGENCY China Light & Power Emergency Services 2728 8333 China Light & Power Customer Info Line 2678 2678 Electrical Appliance Repair Hong Kong Mr Ho 9846 8082 St John Ambulance Assn & Brigade Dist Hq 2555 0119 Tung Wah Group Of Hospitals 2538 5867 Typhoon Emergency Centre 2773 2222 Water Fault Reports 2811 0788 Water Supplies Department 2824 5000

directory PETS & VETS Animal Behaviour Vet Practice 9618 2475 cynthia@petbehaviourhk.com www.petbehaviourhk.com Animal Emergency Centre 2915 7979 trilby@animalemergency.com.hk Ferndale Kennels & Cattery 2792 4642 www.ferndalekennels.com Pacific Pets @ Stanley Veterinary Centre / Pet shop 2813 7979 info@pacificpets.com.hk Pets Central North Point Hospital 2811 8907 info@pets-central.com Stanley Veterinary Centre 2813 2030 info@stanleyvetcentre.com www.stanleyvvetcentre.com Vet2Pet 6999 1003 vet2pet@yahoo.com | www.vet2pet.com.hk The Vet 88 Dr med. vet. Kerstin Meyer 9388 6756 | thevet88@gmail.com

SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

Weight Watcher

2813 0814 | kmahjoubian@weightwatchers.com.hk www.weightwatchers.com.hk Allegro Pilates Studio 6295 7881 info@pilatesinstanley.com | www.pilatesinstanley.com Holistic Fitness & Therapy 9667 0940 | nareshkumar62@hotmail.com www.holisticnaresh.com Nonie Studio Ms Nonie Yung 2333 2027 / 5198 9903 Power Fit Studio 3621 0180 | www.powerfitstudio.com.hk Primal Strength 5305 6323 | enquiries@primalstrength.com.hk www.primalstrength.com.hk

OTHER SERVICES Everfine Membership Services Limited 2174 7880 | enquiry@evergolf.com.hk www.evergolf.com.hk Sum Hing Carton Box Factory info@boxx.hk | www.boxx.hk Truly Care Pest Control Services 2458 8378 info@trulycare.com.hk | www.trulycare.com.hk Tai Pan Valet Shop tplhkc@netvigator.com

REAL-ESTATE AND HOTELS

Food Delivery South Stream Seafoods

Jones Lang LaSalle

2846 5000 www.joneslanglasalle.com.hk The Telo’s Group LCC www.telosgroupllc.com Grand Hyatt Hong Kong 2956 1234 | http://hongkong.grand.hyatt.com Le Meridien Cyberport Hotel 2980 7788 One Island South 2118 2992 | cs@oneislandsouth.com The Arcade, Cyberport 3166 3111 | arcade@cyberport.hk | arcade.cyberport.hk Stanley Plaza 2296 9634 | www.thelinkreit.com

TRANSPORT SERVICES Webjet HK

Unit 1706, BEA Tower, Millennium City 5, 418 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kln, Hong Kong 2313 9779 Onlinetravel@webjet.com.hk www.webjet.com.hk Crown Relocations 2636 8388 | hongkong@crownrelo.com www.crownrelo.com/hongkong Expert-Transport & Relocations Warehouse 2566 4799 | www.expertmover.hk Scorpion RIBS Hong Kong 2511 8337 | scorpionribshk@gmail.com www.scorpionribs.com

Units 202-204, Lai Sun Yuen Long Centre, 27 Wang Yip St East, Yuen Long, N.T. Hong Kong 2555 6200 sh@south-stream-seafoods.com www.south-stream-seafoods.com Laithwaites Wine 3071 5085 | info@laithwaiteswine.hk www.laithwaiteswine.hk Lucy's 2813 9055 Prompt (international Buffet) 2980-47417 prompt.LMC@lemeridien.com www.lemeridien.com/hongkong Restaurant & Bar Umami (Japanese) 2980 47406 www.lemeridien.com/hongkong Saffron Bakery 2813 0270 (Stanley) 2812 2016 (Repulse Bay) 2818 3233 (The Peak) Organic Experience Management Group 2981 2888 www.organicxp.com Winerack www.winerack.com.hk

TOYS, ACCESSORIES & KIDS' PARTIES

Apple & Pie Ltd.

Unit# 206, One Island South, 2 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong (near Ocean Park) 3102 0853 | info@appleandpie.com www.appleandpie.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited 2553 4165 / 2553 0135 Bank Of Communications 2553 6281 / 2553 8282 Chi Yu Banking Corp 2233 3000 Hang Seng Bank Ltd 2822 0228 FONGS Lawyers 3693 2800 / 6688 1023 info@fongslawyers.com.hk www.fongslawyers.com.hk Show Security Home Property Management Shares Co Ltd 2384 2208 Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited 2814 0845 Skymade Premiums Company 2352 7398 The Bank of East Asia Limited 3609 1651/ 3609 1637/ 3609 1636 Wing Lung Bank Ltd 2552 7688

Bouncy Kids 9228 5772 cs@bouncykids.hk www.bouncykids.hk Bumps to Babes 2552 5000 (Ap Lei Chau Main Store) 2522 7112 (Pedder Building Branch) www.bumpstobabes.com Cosmo Beebies 2905 1188 cosmo-beebies@byinvest.com www.cosmobeebies.com Hong Kong Toy Club 8216 3870 support@HongKongToyClub.com www.HongKongToyClub.com Le Petite Bazaar (Stanley) 2407 1892 contact@petit-bazaar.com www.facebook.com/petitbazaar UrbanDiscovery 2214 0011 challenge@urbandiscovery.asia

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 61

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 - 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 Studio - 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 Wong Chuk Hang 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.

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

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Stanley

Stanley One Island South Located in the elegant surrounding of Wong Chuk Hang, this highly prestigious office building with spacious design offers a fresh new world of unlimited potential for work, life and innovation.

One Island South is ideally located with inspiring sea views of Deep Water Bay and lush greenery of Shouson Hill.

Employees at One Island South can now find Southside Magazine located at the lobby.

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

Repulse Bay - Anastassia’s Art House - Bauhinia Beach Club - Bayley & Jackson Dental Surgeons - 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 - Ricacorp Properties - Rocksalt - Saigon in Stanley - Smuggler’s Inn - Spiaggia - Stan Cafe - 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

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people

snap!

Around the town Happy faces from across the Southside.

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my southside

Mother and daughter Priya and Kamla Hiranand with friends Elisabetta Gregoraci and Flavio Briatore.

Kamla Hiranand The co-founder of Kaprice talks fashion.

What gave you the idea for Kaprice?

My father-in-law, Manghanmal Hiranand, was the first to recognise my design sensibilities and inspired me to create something that would showcase my eye for design. In 2008, Kaprice was born as a designdriven resort-wear brand. The kaftans and jewellery we create are one-of-a-kind – we want our customers to feel special.

Any advice for someone planning to launch a startup company?

It’s important to engage in something you are passionate about. Before you can convince the world about your products or services, you must believe in them yourself. Also think of the long term. You must see yourself working in this field for decades, or feel that your business is something that you can pass on to your children or generations to come.

How would you define Hong Kong fashion?

Hong Kong fashion is eclectic yet trendy.

Women are very open to experiment, they like to mix and match clothes and wear statement jewellery. Southside fashion has a more relaxed look and feel, which reflects the less-busy atmosphere of the area.

What makes Hong Kong home?

Hong Kong inspires me in many ways, but more than anything else, this is where I discovered my passion for design and established my business.

I have lived in many cities around the world, but Hong Kong is where I realised my potential.

What do you like most about the fashion industry?

I like the dynamism. It’s impossible to get bored in this industry.

Why did you choose to live in Southside?

It’s got amazing scenery and is very relaxing.

It would be nice to see some exclusive luxury shops on the Southside.

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Kamla and Priya Hiranand with a model at the Billionaire Club, Monte Carlo.