JUN - JUL 2013 ISSUE 32
26
Š 2013 MINISTRY OF TOURISM Tonga Tourism Authority
08
05
The Pearl South Pacific
06
Island of the Black Pearl
07
Club Med
08
Heart of the Yaeyamas
Okinawa's Kabira Bay
Kabira Beach
Ishigaki Island's Tours
JUN - JUL 2013 ISSUE 32
10
There Be Giants
20
Silence Please
26
Swim with Whales
12
Back to Island Time
22
Utimate English Escapes
36
An Interview with
Tortoises of Curieuse Island Seychelles
Fiji's History and Culture
Typically Finnish Summer Activities
10 Outdoor Ideas in England
Swimming in Tonga
Trail Runner Charlotte Rees and Hong Kong National Hockey Player Kieran Smith © www.fiji.travel
12
20
© Visit Finland
07
REGULARS 03
Publisher's Note
18
16
Gear Guide
30
Snapshot
World Festivals
Travel News
31
Travel Tips
Publisher's Note
03
© Matteo Zanga
Dear Fellow Travellers, This issue, you may notice it’s all about islands. When people hear that, not surprisingly they tend to think of idyllic beaches, palm trees and coconuts. And we’ve certainly got those, from the distant Seychelles to nearby Okinawa, where unique destinations like Ishigaki and Iriomote are just a short flight from Hong Kong. We also take time to tour the South Pacific, split between already well-known Fiji, and decidedly remote and rugged Tonga – both with something interesting to offer – whether it’s Fiji’s diving and sea kayaks or Tonga’s traditional Polynesian culture and once in a life time experience – swimming with the whales. That said it’s not all sandy beaches, as we also visit a very different island - merry old England. Not your classic “island destination”, it’s still a classic nonetheless from walking Hadrian’s Wall, to rock climbing in stunning Cheddar Gorge (namesake of the famous cheese). But the cheesiness doesn’t stop there – as we also visit a very different type of cheese-themed event, Gloucester’s famously foolhardy annual Cheese Rolling race where runners risk near
certain injury all in the name of rolling downhill after a runaway wheel. Certainly not an island, we also visit Finland. Home to lakes, forests, and the Northern Lights – and with direct flights from Hong Kong going over the Pole, it’s also closer than you think in terms of flight time. Then there’s this issue’s interviews with Hong Kong's noted trail runner Charlotte Rees, and National Hockey Player Kieran Smith, as well as our full round-up of regional and local events. If this gets you thinking it’s time to hit the road, drop us a line and let us know. If you’ve got feedback or ideas for us, we’d love to hear them. In the meantime, happy trails!
Mario Rosario Publisher
OUR TEAM PUBLISHER
Sports and Travel Limited Mario Rosario mrosario@sportsandtravel.com.hk
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Aaron K. Stewart astewart@sportsandtravel.com.hk
CREATIVE DIRECTOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER FINANCE & ADMIN
Lynn Ooi Marilyn Wong mwong@sportsandtravel.com.hk Hylda Low hlow@sportsandtravel.com.hk
ADVERTISING SALES ADVERTISING SALES AUSTRALIA HONG KONG INDONESIA MALAYSIA PHILIPPINES
advertise@sportsandtravel.com.hk Sabine Senne ssenne@sportsandtravel.com.hk Chris Ng cng@sportsandtravel.com.hk Akram Razak arazak@sportsandtravel.com.hk Sukdev Gill sgill@sportsandtravel.com.hk Jil North jnorth@sportsandtravel.com.hk
CONTRIBUTORS
SPECIAL THANKS
Ken Berg Richard Cowley Lindsay Varty
Club Med Hong Kong Fiji.travel Hirata Kanko, Japan Tonga Tourism Authority Visit Britain Visit Finland
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Events Calendar 7 August 2 June
Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset www.ultramongolia.com 42K/100K Trail Run Mongolia
AL REGION
If you have an event that you feel should be included on this page, please email us at events@sportsandtravel.com.hk
30 August - 7 September
Genco Mongolia Bike Challenge www.mongoliabikechallenge.com Mountain Bike Mongolia
Mongolia Marathon www.mongoliamarathon.info Full and Half Marathon Mongolia
5-7 July
China Genghis Khan MTB Adventure www.genghiskhanmtbadventure.com/ Mountain Bike Inner Mongolia
6 July
China Genghis Khan Grassland Extreme Marathon www.grasslandextrememarathon.com 42K Trail Run Inner Mongolia
29 June - 1 July
Mongolia Action Asia 3 day Ultra Marathon 2013 www.actionasiaevents.com 3 days Trail Run Mongolia
23 June
Vasa Cross Country Running Festival www.nordicways.com Trail Run China
2-8 June
25 August
Gobi March 2013- Racing the Planet www.racingtheplanet.com Trail Run China
Xterra Japan www.xterrajapan.net Swim/MTB/Trail Run Japan
22-24 September
4-7 September
Taining Outdoor Challenge www.cmasports.cn 3 Days Adventure Race China
Wulong Mountain Quest www.cmasports.cn 4 days Adventure Race China
11-15 September
14 September
Tenggeli Challenge www.xtechallenge.com Adventure Race China
OtterBox Action Asia X-Trail TAIWAN www.actionasiaevents.com 9/17K Trail Run Taiwan
13 July
9 September
La Ultra - The High www.thehigh.in 222K Trail Run India
Yuntai Mountain Ultra Trail Running www.cmasports.cn Trail Run China
11-12 September Zunyi Outdoor Challenge www.cmasports.cn Adventure Race China
16 June
21 September
The Krabi Trophy www.ama-events.com Adventure Race Thailand
The Columbia Trail Masters 2013 http://www.ama-events.com 10/25/50K Trail Run Thailand
1 September
Danang Marathon - Vietnam www.rundanang.com Full & Half Marathon Vietnam
24 September 31 August
Metaman (Bintan Indonesia) www.metamanbintan.com Bike/Swim/Run Bintan, Indonesia
The Most Beautiful Thing www.sabahadventurechallenge.com 25/50/100K Trail Run in Sabah Malaysia
2 June
New Zealand 3D Australian Multisport Championship www.3drotorua.co.nz Adventure Race New Zealand
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Events Calendar
HONG KONG
If you have an event that you feel should be included on this page, please email us on events@sportsandtravel.com.hk
1 June
British & Irish Lions vs Barbarians
12 June
Olympic Day Run
12 June
Sun Life Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships
15 June
Teva Julbo Kayak n Run www.actionasiaevents.com
30 June
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Short Course Race www.dragonboat.org.hk
30 June
Pacers @ Miller Summer Challenge
7 July
HKSAR Boxing Establishment Day Championships www.boxing.org.hk
13 July
Teva Julbo Kayak n Run
11 August
Southern District Cross Country Marathon www.hkrunners.com
11-18 August
UCI Cycle-ball World Cup
29 September
Outward Bound Multi Race
18 October
Barclays Moon Trekker
27 October
MSIG HK50
www.lionsrugby.com.hk
www.hkrunners.com
Running 5.6km race www.dragonboat.org.hk
Dragon Boat 270 mtr
Run & Kayak 11km
Boxing
Run & Kayak 10km
www.hkopen2013.hk-icycling.net www.outwardbound.org.hk/mr
www.barclaysmoontrekker.com 23km & 50km race
Dragon Boat 200 mtr
2 x 2 mile relay
www.sportssoho.cm
www.actionasiaevents.com
www.hkrunners.com
Rugby
Running 10.55km
Round Robin 12 km
27km & 40km race