WILD CAMPING
Where to pitch your tent in Lantau (for free)
In Tune with the Times!
RAYMING LAN IS PUTTING THE COOL BACK INTO CLASSICAL MUSIC, ONE ROCKIN’ PIANO
EYES ON THE PRIZE
Ampcontrol DB at the Soccer Sevens
Club Siena, Discovery Bay
Daily Programme: Saturdays only, June 30 - August 15
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OFFICE ADDRESS
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CARBON HOUSE TOUR
City Management is organising a tour of kNOw Carbon House on May 10 with a free round-trip coach service from DB North. Situated in the Old Wanchai Post Office, kNOw Carbon House aims to raise public awareness on carbon neutrality through interactive experiences and educational activities, including games, talks and environmental workshops. The EPD’s popular Big Waster mascot is on hand to guide visitors on making small lifestyle adjustments to lower their carbon footprint. To find out more and enrol, call 5469 1748 or visit Facebook @DynamicDBers.
DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in Around DB are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or contributors. The publisher and editor cannot be held responsible for differences of opinion or statements published in good faith. The publisher, contributors, their employees and partners are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors or omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication and expressly disclaim all and any liability for any such action of any person. The mention of specific companies or products in articles or advertisements does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by this magazine or its publisher in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without permission.
© AROUND DB 2025
WORLD IRISH DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Congratulations to Sofia Brantingham, Fiadh Rose Howlin and Molly Whitehead: three Lantau-based dancers who headed to Dublin, Ireland from April 13 to 20 to compete in the 53rd World Irish Dance Championships. The girls competed in the 20-21, 12-13 and 16-17 age categories and represented McGahan Lees Academy of Irish Dance (Instagram @irishdance_ hongkong). For more on the championships, visit www.clrgoireachtas.com.
Happenings STUFF TO
HARRY WRIGHT INTERNATIONAL: MAKING WAVES FOR 50 YEARS
This year, Harry Wright International (HWI) celebrates 50 years of empowering young swimmers and shaping Hong Kong’s aquatic culture. Founded in 1975 by coach captain Harry Wright, a pioneer of swimming in the region, the school has grown into a Hong Kong institution – touching thousands of lives across the territory. From parent-and-child lessons to elite swim squads and adult classes, HWI offers something for every age, every ability, and every ambition.
HWI has been a trusted swim partner for families in DB for decades, offering expert-led lessons at Club Siena, with a structured progression system, small group sizes and professional coaching that meets international standards. HWI’s community-driven values resonate with DB families, and the elite coaches ensure swimmers build skills with confidence.
Over the past five decades,18 Olympians, 22 Asian Games and 12 Commonwealth athletes have trained with HWI, representing Hong Kong and countries around the globe on the world’s biggest stage. Recent notable alumni include Siobhán Haughey and Ian Ho.
To celebrate 50 years, HWI is launching a series of community events to bring swimmers past and present together. There’s a Charity Swim Meet on May 18, with participants of the HWI Learn To Swim programme; a Talk of the Champions on June 4, with guest speaker Arno Kamminga; a 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner on June 21, and a Year-End Charity Swim Meet in December.
For more on HWI’s 50th anniversary celebrations, visit www.harrywright.com.hk and watch this space.
COMMUNITY GALA BALL
DBIS PTSA and DC PTA have come together to organise a joint-school gala ball themed ‘A Night in Old Hong Kong’. Dust off your cheongsams and Tang suits for a night of dancing and fine dining at Auberge Discovery Bay on May 24. This glitzy parent-driven, parent-organised event is open to the whole community and kicks off with performances by students. Scan the QR code for tickets, priced at HK$950.
& Events! KNOW IN MAY!
DB SPORT-A-THON
The DB Sport-A-Thon – your opportunity to experience fun, newly emerged sports – continues this month at DB North Plaza Pitch for residents aged six years and up. On May 10, you can try your hand at Mölkky, a game where players throw a pin to knock over numbered pins and score points. And on May 24, it’s all about Cornhole: players take turns throwing fabric bean bags at an inclined board with a hole in its far end. You score points by landing a bag on the board or putting a bag through the hole. To find out more and enrol, call 5469 1748 or visit Facebook @DynamicDBers.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
MAY 03 | GATHER AT THE PLANT MARKET in Community Green Square from 2pm to 4pm. Visit Facebook @DynamicDBers.
MAY 11 | SHOP THE DB MARKET in DB Plaza from 11am to 6pm. Visit www.handmadehongkong.com.
MAY 24 | JOIN A BEACH CLEAN-UP! Meet at the Nim Shue Wan gate at 2.10pm. Email dana@plasticfreeseas.org.
ALL MONTH | DONATE PRELOVED FURNITURE to people in need through DB Mothers & Friends. To arrange for pick-up, visit Facebook @dbmf.collection.
AMPCONTROL DB AT THE SOCCER SEVENS
Ampcontrol Discovery Bay has been invited to participate in the masters section of the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens 2025, which is being held from May 16 to 18 at Hong Kong Football Club. Since 2017, the team has reached the final in every year of the tournament and they won the masters in 2018 without conceding a goal. This year, they’re back looking for another title win. Sponsors for 2025 are Ampcontrol, CTC, Marvelsoft, Tanner de Witt, The Chippy and Kelme. To find out more, turn to page 22, visit www.hksoccersevens.com and www.discoverybayfc.com.
[PHOTO BY Nigel Baillie.]
MAY IS HELPER MONTH
Launched back in 2015, Helper Appreciation Month enables all of us in the community – individuals, schools and businesses – to give of our time to ensure that DB helpers feel the love and have some welldeserved fun. A series of informative and empowering free events are being planned. For details and to get involved, visit Facebook @MayHelperAppreciation.
ACTION SPRINT TRAILS SERIES, DB
The DB leg of Action Asia Events’ Action Sprint Trails Series heads out from DB Plaza on May 18. Competitors choose between two distances – 9km or 12km – and the 12km course includes the climb over Tiger’s Head. The Sprints have been part of the Hong Kong trail running scene since 2003 with fair cut-offs for all runners and hikers on well-marked, picturesque courses. To find out more and enrol, visit www.actionasiaevents.com.
HONG KONG MOMENTS
This is your last chance to catch DB-based artist Richard Crosbie’s first solo exhibition showing through May 17 at KC100 Art Space, Kwai Hing. Hong Kong Moments marks an important milestone in Richard’s artistic career with the 50+ paintings on show illustrating his creative journey so far. For more on Richard and his work, visit www.richardcrosbieart.com.
Out & About! WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO!
AT THE INTERNATIONAL BEACH TENNIS TOURNAMENT
The Hong Kong leg of the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour took place on Tai Pak Wan from April 4 to 6 with top players from 28 countries competing for US$4,000 in prize money. Maksimilians Niklass Andersons of Latvia and Sergey Gvardeitsev of Malta won the men’s doubles, while Eri Homma and Erina Otsuka of Japan triumphed in the women’s final. [PHOTOS BY Andrew Spires.]
AT THE EASTER EGG HUNT AND CARNIVAL
Tai Pak Wan was packed out on April 18 and 19 for the eighteenth edition of the annual Discovery Bay Easter Egg Hunt and Carnival. Children aged three to 10 years had a blast searching for colourful Easter eggs hidden along the shore. There was also an Easter Carnival with giant bouncy inflatables and game booths at DB Plaza. [PHOTOS BY Andrew Spires.]
AT DB RUNNERS’ BACKYARD ULTRA
DB Runners (www.drbrunners.com) organised a backyard ultra race on April 19 with 22 participants doing twice hourly loops around DB North, until there was only one person left ‘standing’. The winner was local pole instructor Loïc Le Jannou, who perfectly executed his strategy of power hiking/ running, completing 13 laps (over 87km). Thanks go to Bayside Dental, a fantastic supporter of community events, who allowed the runners to use their terrace as basecamp. [PHOTOS BY Andrew Spires & Michael Gay.]
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He's Keyed In!
STAR OF THE SHOW
Rayming Lan is making classical music cool again, one rockin’ piano performance at a time. Elizabeth Kerr reports
PHOTOS BY Andrew Spires & George Wong
For lack of a better descriptor, 18-year-old classical pianist Rayming Lan looks like a rock star. It’s a mild spring day in Discovery Bay, still not so humid as to be uncomfortable, definitely terrace weather… and Rayming is dressed entirely in black, medium-length wavy hair still bearing orange tips from a quick-fading dye job. He’s perplexed by the persistent notion that anyone into classical music should be neat and tidy, and sporting elbow patches on their tweed jacket.
“What’s with the academic image?” begins the soft-spoken Rayming. “I mean, look at Beethoven. He drank too much, he was a mess, and just look at his hair. It looks like mine.” Fair point, and entirely accurate given classical composers were often the rock stars of their time.
For now, Rayming is neither a rock star nor a working performer though he has played at various prestige venues, and taken part in numerous events and competitions both internationally and closer to home. He just finished Year 13 at Discovery College, which he attended on a full music scholarship, and is readying for final exams before he heads off to the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in September to study piano performance on yet another scholarship.
Rayming, born and bred in Hong Kong, relocated to DB from Island East with the family when he started school at DC three years ago; he’s got a younger brother at school in Western District. Besides flourishing at DC, Rayming has embraced DB, noting that the community vibe has bolstered his musicianship. “I like the overall atmosphere in DB,” he says. “Whenever I have a concert, my neighbours come out and support me but they’re truly there for
the music, not just because they know me. They’re there because they love music. I think that’s great.”
Mum Yuki Wong is parked quietly on a bench next to Rayming, and she agrees that the move to DB was a good one. “We’ve always been supportive of Rayming’s choices, and we’re thrilled he can do what he likes and be good at it,” she says. “I enjoy life here, and it’s wonderful that the neighbours are so supportive. When Rayming performs, they often mention hearing such-and-such by so-and-so from the apartment.”
Rayming has been playing piano for “as long as [he] can remember,” and his academic career started in 2015 when he joined HKAPA’s Junior Music Program, where he studied under Dr Amy Sze and later with Professor Gabriel Kwok. But it wasn’t until a few years ago he really found a passion for classical music. “The reason why I came to DB and DC is that I wanted to change my environment, and view the world differently,” Rayming explains. He’s less certain of a single moment that put him on his path as he is of the general broadening of his horizons that underpinned it. “I don’t listen to music. I just play. It wasn’t until I started to listen more, and learn more about classical music culture that I had an epiphany.”
Here Rayming backtracks a bit, admitting he’s exaggerating about not listening to music. It’s more that he’s begun finding new composers and genres that have lit a fire under him.
“Recently, I started to listen to a lot of composers I didn’t like, and eventually I found the beauty in their pieces. Sergei Prokofiev is one. He’s a 20th century Russian composer whose music sounds like noise at first. Just slamming the keyboard and stuff, but eventually you start looking closer and finding the
meaning behind it, the beauty behind it. That’s not the case with most music.”
Alongside Prokofiev, Rayming’s taken a shine to Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar and jazz, which he calls “the closest thing on, let’s say, the pop scale to classical for its complexity, technicality and also meaning.” Those may be pretty heady and wildly divergent influences, but Rayming cherishes the diversity, acknowledging the enormity of the musical pantheon – and that he knows only a fraction of it. “I think discovering more artists, not just classical ones, helps you in developing and maturing your craft,” he adds.
In another bit of maverick thinking, Rayming likens watching a film and watching a YouTube reel about a film to classical music and four-chord pop music. “It’s a different process of enjoyment. One instantly gets you what you want. The other takes time.”
Unsurprisingly, our conversation turns to the looming impact of AI, something Rayming’s not overly bothered about. For him, AI is a useful tool but as a creative instrument it’s missing a key ingredient – and will never learn it. “The connection between the composer and the audience,” he states flatly. “AI cannot replicate the emotion of an actual composer, which is why we listen to music.” He acknowledges that AI will continue developing, and perhaps one day it will be able to compose an emotionally rich piece, but in the end “that’s not the point of art”.
Ask Rayming what he’ll be doing in five years and he
shrugs, noting he has plenty in mind but that in reality it could take some time. He’s a fan of collaborating with other artists in other media – he’s already scored a few short films for friends – and he’s had a few moments in the spotlight. Standing out in his memory are one of his first solo recitals at K11’s Steinway & Sons Gallery, and most recently a performance as featured pianist in A Late Summer Night’s Dream at S’way in Tsim Sha Tsui, part of its Young Artist Series. Rayming enjoyed S’Way’s chic studio feel and cosy vibe – and would love to see a classical club in Hong Kong alongside other “traditional” live music venues that cater to jazz, rock and pop.
“I would love to have a place where people just go have a drink and hear some classical like they do for other types of music. It would be great to have that kind of lifestyle in Hong Kong,” says Rayming, and he’s sure it’s an attainable concept, citing today’s vintagefocused teens as future consumers of all thing classic.
“I think that’s what we’re lacking in classical music. In future, I hope to foster a stronger community of just enjoying music and supporting the local scene.”
Rayming’s also confident he’ll be able to make a living doing what’s he’s destined to. “What is rich, what is successful?” he boggles. “You don’t need to be the richest man on earth to be happy. I think you just need to find meaning in your life.” Ask Rayming if he finds that meaning in any other arts – prose, photography, filmmaking – he cracks a little smile and shakes his head.
“I make music.” Can you drop a mic off a piano?
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Amped Up! BEST SEVENS TOURNAMENT IN ASIA
The HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens will again have a distinct local flavour as Ampcontrol Discovery Bay looks to make an impact at this year’s event. Mervyn Black reports
Managed this year by local residents Tim Bredbury and Mike Collier, who runs the Discovery Bay Football Club over45s team, Ampcontrol Discovery Bay will take part in the masters section of the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens next month and will look to continue a strong run that included a tournament victory in 2018 and Plate success 12 months ago.
“Looking at the potential players we’ve got – if we get them all in – I think this will be our strongest team,” says Tim, who represented Hong Kong at international level as a player and has had a long managerial career in the city. “In terms of the quality of the players overall, I think it will be our strongest.”
Ampcontrol DB is expected to be one of eight teams in this year’s masters tournament, while the Soccer Sevens also features a women’s competition and a main men’s draw boasting teams from English Premier League clubs Aston Villa, West Ham United, Leicester City and Brighton & Hove Albion. The tournament has been running in its current format since 1999 and will take place from May 16 to 18 at Hong Kong Football Club.
In the masters draw, where teams can have five players aged from 35 to 40 with the rest over 40,
PHOTOS BY Nigel Baillie & courtesy of Tim Bredbury
HONG
the top four after the minor round will battle it out for the Cup, while the bottom four will lock horns for the Plate. Squads are made up of 12 players, with seven in action at any one time on a playing field a touch smaller than a traditional 11-a-side pitch.
It’s an event that holds a place close to Tim’s heart after decades of involvement and plenty of success for teams like the Waikiki Wanderers and the Liverpool Legends, alongside superstar names like John Barnes, Alan Kennedy, David Fairclough, Paul Walsh, Gary Gillespie, Bob Bolder and John Wark.
“It’s been a great experience for me playing in the tournament with and against some of the legends of the game,” he says. “It’s a great tournament and it’s got a lot of potential to grow.”
While Tim, a DB resident of almost 40 years, is acutely aware of the importance of being competitive, the tournament is about far more than just winning and losing. “It’s just fun. It’s the best Sevens tournament in Asia and you get to play against some of the best players,” he says. “It’s also got a great community feel. The football scene in DB is pretty strong, especially up at DBIS of an evening. Every night of the week there is a football game of some description going on, plus there is Sunday morning football.”
While the team will feature a string of DB residents, the sponsors are also a major part of Ampcontrol DB’s fabric and boast strong local connections through Lippmann Lee (Ampcontrol), Ben and Bonnie Chan (CTC), Matija Maretic (Marvelsoft), Tim Drew (Tanner De Witt) and Craig Barnett (The Chippy). Kit sponsor Kelme is part of the family through the team’s strong connection with Hong Kong Premier League powerhouse Kitchee.
Sponsorship is crucial to ensuring Ampcontrol DB can compete in a tournament expected to feature teams from the likes of hosts Hong Kong Football Club and Singapore Football Club, with Tim assembling a well-curated mix of local talent and big-name recruits.
Oli Rendall and Nick Light are among the DB residents who will be lining up for the team’s first game on May 16, while Tim will also field a host of players who used to strut their stuff for Kitchee. Also suiting up for DB is former resident Michael Campion, who represented Hong Kong at junior level and was a regular fixture in the HKPL in the 2010s.
While Michael is now based in Singapore, it’s his strong connection to DB and its people that are
WHILE THE TEAM WILL FEATURE A STRING OF DB RESIDENTS, THE SPONSORS ARE ALSO A MAJOR PART OF AMPCONTROL
DB’S FABRIC
drawing him back. “DB, for our family, feels like home,” he says. “We know every single inch of it so intimately, and my mum and dad are still there. So it’s nice to come back, meet up with some mates and represent.”
It’s also something of a football homecoming for Michael, who has known Tim for decades and is also itching to line up alongside a couple of longtime friends in a tournament he holds dear. “I watched the first Soccer Sevens as a 15-year-old and I played in the second-ever edition in 2000 for the Yau Yee League Select, against the likes of the Arsenal and Chelsea youth teams. That was an awesome experience.
“For me personally with Tim, our relationship goes back a long time,” Michael adds. “He was one of my first ever football coaches. I never actually got to play for Tim during my professional career – we were always at different teams – but we played together on Thursday nights [at DBIS]. It will be nice to play in a proper tournament with him and for him.
“I guess the final stroke is a lot of the guys on the team are ex-international teammates of mine. The two Hong Kong superstars, Lo Kwan-yee and Lam Ka-wai – we played together as 15- and 16-yearolds, which is pretty cool. We represented the Hong Kong national team and to play with them 25 years later at the age of 40 is pretty cool as well.”
A WORD FROM THE SPONSORS
“As proud sponsors of the DBFC, we at Ampcontrol believe in the power of community and the vital role that sports play in bringing people together. Our journey started as a humble family business, and we understand the importance of supporting local initiatives that foster teamwork, discipline and camaraderie among the youth. By sponsoring the team, we are giving back to the community that has supported us throughout the years, ensuring that the spirit of sportsmanship and community pride continues to thrive in DB. Together, we can inspire the next generation and create lasting memories on and off the field!”
Lippmann Lee – Ampcontrol
“At Tanner De Witt, we believe in community, teamwork and the spirit of sports! That’s why we are proud to sponsor the DBFC. By partnering with the club, we are helping to engage with our local community and create unforgettable memories both on and off the field. Together, we celebrate the values of dedication, perseverance and sportsmanship that football embodies. We look forward to cheering on the players as they strive for greatness at the upcoming Soccer Sevens.”
Tim Drew – Tanner De Witt
Sponsoring the Soccer Sevens has always been more than just a corporate gesture for Marvelsoft – it’s personal. I’ve had the privilege of playing for DBFC and taking part in this tournament for years, so I’ve experienced firsthand the bonds, passion and community spirit that makes this event so special. Even though I’m not on the pitch this year, we are proud to continue our sponsorship and support. For us, it’s about backing a tradition that brings people together and celebrates the game in its purest form. It’s our way of staying connected to a community that’s given me so much, both personally and professionally.
Ma tija Maretic – Marvelsoft
“With The Chippy being the most authentic British pub in DB, which hosts weekly live sports at the request of our customers, we are delighted to sponsor Ampcontrol DB at the Soccer Sevens for a second consecutive year. We can offer all supporters, who can present a Soccer Sevens ticket, a 10% discount on all F&B purchased at The Chippy during the three days of the tournament. Enjoy the finest fish and chips in Hong Kong, washed down with classic British beers, ciders and soft drinks.”
Craig Barnett – The Chippy
MICHAEL CAMPION
OLI RENDALL
ANDY ARCHER, TIM BREDBURY AND MIKE COLLIER
A Little Bit of Trivia! 20 QUESTIONS
How much do you know about the month of May?
BY Kayli Liebenberg
1. I n which country do people traditionally d ance round a May Pole on May 1?
A. F rance
B. Germany
C. E ngland
2. W hen is Mother’s Day celebrated in H ong Kong?
A. T hree weeks before Easter Sunday
B. F irst Sunday in May
C. S econd Sunday in May
3. W ho is often credited as the “mother of M other’s Day”?
A. M other Teresa
B. A nna Jarvis
C. C arrie Lam
4. W hat is May’s birthstone?
A. Sa pphire
B. Ruby
C. Em erald
5. W hat are May’s zodiac signs?
A. Taurus and Gemini
B. C apricorn and Scorpio
C. L eo and Cancer
6. W hich English crime author was born on M ay 22, 1859?
A. Ag atha Christie
B. S ir Arthur Conan Doyle
C. W ilkie Collins
7. W hich Wiccan festival falls in May?
A. Beltane
B. Litha
C. Mabon
8. Which famous sci-fi film franchise celebrates “May the Fourth” as a fan holiday?
A. Star Wars
B. Star Trek
C. Doctor Who
9. I n ancient Roman mythology, May was n amed after which goddess?
A. Aurora
B. Minerva
C. Maia
10 W hich American aviator completed the f irst solo nonstop transatlantic flight on M ay 21, 1927?
A. A melia Earhart
B. C harles Lindbergh
C. O rville Wright
11. Wh ich album did Billie Eilish release on May 17, 2024?
A. Hit Me Hard and Soft
B. Happier than Ever
C. Guitar Songs
12. W hat is May’s birth flower?
A. Lilly
B. Honeysuckle
C. Sunflower
13. Which major American sports league usually s tarts its playoffs in May?
A. T he MLB
B. T he NFL
C. T he NBA
14. W hat is the name of May’s full moon?
A. Bi rd Moon
B. Tree Moon
C. F lower Moon
15. Tuen Ng Festival falls on May 31 this y ear: which sport is it associated with?
A. D ragon boating
B. K ung fu
C. Table tennis
16. I n Norse mythology, which creature i s said to appear in May, signifying the a rrival of summer?
A. Dr agon
B. Kraken
C. P hoenix
17. W hich international film festival is held a nnually in May?
A. C annes
B. Sundance
C. A cademy Awards
18. W hose birthday, falling on May 5, is c elebrated with a holiday in Hong Kong?
A. A ndy Lau’s
B. B ruce Lee’s
C. T he Buddha’s
19. W ho inspired Henry Cavill, born on May 5, 1983, to take up acting?
A. G uy Ritchie
B. Ru ssell Crowe
C. Da niel Craig
20. W hich competition is held at the C heung Chau Bun Festival, May 3 to 6?
A. Bu n scrambling
B. B un eating
C. Bu n throwing
I Love my Mum! MAY BOUQUET
Ahead of May 11, Sharon Lesley Le Roux reflects on the reasons we celebrate Mother’s Day, and why they are as relevant today as ever
As a child growing up in the UK, Mother’s Day was all about a handful of daffodils (my mother’s favourite flower) picked from the garden, a handmade card containing a message of love, and a Mother’s Day breakfast that consisted of my mother’s favourite marmalade, with toast and coffee, all delivered on a tray to my mother in bed.
For my mother, I’m certain it wasn’t about any of these gifts at all. It was knowing the pleasure that bringing them all together had given me, her child. It was understanding the excitement I felt about being able to ‘surprise’ her on her special day. And, because she was my mother, she would have overlooked the soil I’d brought in on my shoes, not seen where I’d coloured outside the lines, not cared
one jot about the burnt bits I hadn’t managed to scrape off.
Whoever, and wherever, we are in the world, we all observe Mother’s Day. The same day my mother and I were busy celebrating, so were mothers and their children in Ireland, Nigeria and Bangladesh. Mother’s Day is one of only a handful of celebrations observed by families all around the world; each nation setting aside a date once a year – the second Sunday of May in Hong Kong – to celebrate the relationship of mother and child.
Mother’s Day has been observed, in some way or other, throughout history. The Greeks and Romans held annual festivals to honour their mother goddesses. In 17th century England, Mothering Sunday – the fourth Sunday of Lent – was the day faithful people returned to their ‘mother church,’ the church they were baptised in. After a prayer service to honour Mary, Mother of Jesus, children of the parish would give the gifts and flowers they’d brought for their own mothers. On Mothering Sunday in Victorian times, girls working in service as housemaids went home to visit their mothers.
In early-20th century America, one daughter’s successful campaign for a national day to celebrate and honour the sacrifices mothers make for their children is why today millions of people around the world, celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May.
In Hong Kong, as in the US, children celebrate their mothers by giving them a card and a bouquet of flowers. Carnations are a popular choice. Schools encourage children to dedicate poems to their mothers and to help out in special ways at home. As it is a holiday, families often mark the occasion with a big get together.
In the 21st century, what is Mother’s Day about? Is it just another of those ‘Hallmark’ occasions which businesses cash in on? I don’t think so. Handmade cards made by small hands still beat shop-bought ones, just as they did when I was a child. Phone conversations with mothers and grandmothers abroad are priceless compared to flowers, chocolates or gifts ordered online.
Mother’s Day isn’t just one special day in the year when children get to show their awareness of, and appreciation for, the things their mothers do for them; of course this happens in households all over the world every day. For children, Mother’s Day acts as a reminder to stop and think what their relationships with their mothers mean.
Similarly, for mothers, Mother’s Day is a time when we are reminded to pause a while in our busy lives,
and reflect on just how absolutely awesome it is for us to be able to bring life into the world. It’s for us to remember there was a time when our little people didn’t exist, and to acknowledge how much richer, as a result, our lives are for having them.
It’s a time for us to look back and see how, as each year goes by, we are changed by the act of motherhood. We are changed by the sacrifices we make daily, simply to put our children before ourselves. And we are changed by feelings of protection and empathy and joy and more, the depths of which we didn’t experience before we had children. In creating our children we, in turn, have evolved and grown.
We appreciate the blessing and the privilege that comes with the role of motherhood. We send messages of love to our own mothers, understanding only now the sacrifices they made for us when we were children. And, we send our friends who are mothers Happy Mother’s Day messages, acknowledging our shared membership of one of the most rewarding clubs in the world.
Not so long ago, my mother sent me a Helen Exley collection of quotes and poems: In Praise and Celebration of Daughters . On one of the pages of the book I found this: ‘I even love her bones. We are so close. She is my very best friend.’
Mother’s Day isn’t just the time to celebrate the mother figures we are to our children, but also the friends we are to them – and they to us. Mother’s Day is the perfect time to leave our separate interests aside, and do something together we enjoy. Growing up in Hong Kong, my children had two mother figures – myself and Mama Ruth, our family’s domestic helper who my kids have known, and loved, all their lives. Years ago, on the day before Mother’s Day, I remember my girls, Mama Ruth and I watched Beauty and the Beast . We enjoyed the movie – one of our favourites – and each other, as we laughed and cried together.
There’s a Filipino saying that translates as: ‘Even with the food all ready for her to eat, the mother will always find the need to give every last morsel to her children.’ This is true of all mothers, but here in Hong Kong especially, mothers like Ruth are a perfect example of just how far mothers will go for their children. A few years before she joined our family, Ruth had come from the Philippines to Hong Kong, leaving her two-year-old son in the care of her brother. She came because working here meant she would be able to put her son through school, and put food on his table.
Ruth is in no way unique. In Hong Kong thousands of women have given up that precious relationship
THERE’S A FILIPINO SAYING THAT TRANSLATES AS: ‘EVEN WITH THE FOOD ALL READY FOR HER TO EAT, THE MOTHER WILL ALWAYS FIND THE NEED TO GIVE
EVERY LAST MORSEL TO HER CHILDREN
with their children we western mothers take for granted, so they can give them a better life. Ruth’s boy ended up graduating from nursing college. His mother is justifiably proud of him, as we are of her, knowing those sacrifices she has made to get him to where he is today.
Be it as children or as mothers, the meaning and traditions we each attach to Mother’s Day are rooted in love and honour and respect. Though it may well have become a commercialised event in recent years, still it remains a celebration – of motherhood and of the relationship between mother and child. Mother’s Day is the recognition of the protection, nurture, sacrifice and unconditional love that mothers give their children, and the happiness and love their children give in return.
For those of you who are celebrating this year on May 11, I wish you a Happy Mother’s Day – and a Happy Helper Appreciation Month to boot.
Top Tips! WILD CAMPING
Andrew Spires reveals the best
and worst places to pitch a tent in Lantau
PHOTOS BY Andrew Spires
The AFCD has 41 designated campsites dotted throughout Hong Kong’s country parks, interesting because they’re off the beaten track (some more than others) and you can stay at them for free. Many provide basic facilities such as barbecue pits, toilets and sports areas; some have showers. But that’s about it. Don’t expect fancy restaurants and onsite yurts; wild camping isn’t five-star, it’s in tents (geddit?!) and well worth experiencing.
Without doubt, our nearest government-allotted free campsite – Ngong Ping, promisingly situated at the foot of Hong Kong’s second highest mountain, Lantau Peak – has to be the roughest my family and I have stayed at. Partly our fault, I admit. In an attempt to pack light, we didn't bring a stove, pans, plates or cutlery. We didn't bring any towels (there are no showers), pillows, music, snacks or enough sleeping bags. TripAdvisor would have rated our set-up 1* with a health warning.
The campsite is a 25-minute schlep from the cable car terminal. Rather aptly, you have to turn off before the Wisdom Trail. Although illegal, we saw groups choosing to camp in ‘non-designated’ flat wooded areas as opposed to the site to which we were headed, and in about five minutes, we were to find out why.
Ngong Ping Campsite is small, aimed more at the thru-hiker than the weekend reveller. There are six to seven flattened out pitches fitted with a picnic bench and barbecue pit. The middle of the site, for reasons unfathomable, has been left rock-pitted and sloping – almost unusable. This, of course, was where we slept the night. The word
'slept’ is carrying an awful lot of weight here. You need to show up very early, perhaps mid-week, if you’re to secure a spot at one of the flat pitches and don’t leave your tent for too long unattended or the lovely people at the AFCD will take it away.
Pitching the tent was a struggle. Imagine assembling an IKEA wardrobe on the north face of Mount Eiger. We spent five minutes discussing whether it was better to align the door with the top of the hill, so that we wouldn’t slowly slide out of the tent in the night. This wasn't so much a campsite as a test of balance.
Ngong Ping village is a strange place. It’s an entirely fake shopping street built over the remains of a once vibrant and entirely real village. That community still exists, but only to run the retail outlets selling oversized incense sticks and badly translated fridge magnets. I deplore the retail choices Ngong Ping 360 has chosen to occupy this ‘Disney’ high street to enlightenment. Last time I checked, Buddhism was about the absence of stuff – the quest for inner meaning through the abandonment of self. Ngong Ping has a Subway, a Starbucks and a shop called The Wisdom Trail Souvenir Shop. The monks must find it hard to be at peace.
Shopping at Ngong Ping revolves around the cable car times, with the final ride back to Tung Chung leaving at 6pm. If you’re not on it, you risk a twoand-a-half hour walk down the hill or a ride on the vomit comet, A.K.A. the number 11 bus. I’ve ridden a tiny ferry through the Irish sea during a violent storm and not felt as queasy as I did on the number 11 bus. Be mindful if you're using these
CAMPING OUT AT NGONG PING
DARK TOILETS
HILLY CAMPSITE
restaurants for food that they all close at 6pm. Everything closes at 6pm, even the enlightened one, the Big Buddha himself.
After dinner we headed back to the tent. The site was now nearing capacity and we had new neighbours. In the time it had taken us to eat our ramen, they had set up a festoon of fairy lights, a fully stocked kitchenette and a projector with full Dolby 5.1 surround sound. It was like pitching your tent next to a drive-in cinema.
The Ngong Ping Campsite toilet is a three-minute walk from your tent. That’s fine in the daylight, but at night, in the rain, it feels like a very long way. I can’t have been alone in this conclusion, as there are mounds of tissue dotted about in the treeline surrounding the camp. I’d love to be left alone in a room with whoever decided to build the toilets at the end of a long, dark and snakeinfested walk.
Wearing everything we owned to stave off the chill in the air and having enjoyed half a box of value Cab Sav, (the wife and I, not the kids), the four of us nestled down under the three sleeping bags we had brought. Due to a technical error, we only had three between the four of us. Being the man of the family and incredibly brave, I insisted we share them and opened them up like duvets. Within half an hour, I was handed the leaking air bed and stripped of any covers. Cold and literally deflated, I donned my 20-year-old hoodie and lay down for an uncomfortable and bone-crippling night’s sleep, only to immediately need the toilet. I had broken the seal, and it had started to rain.
In stark contrast to the unlevel chaos that is Ngong Ping Campsite, Pui O boasts a 54-berth beauty with even, well-spaced pitches, barbecue pits, showers, clean toilets and the most wonderful view. Pui O Campsite looks out over the Chai Ma Wan Peninsula and its beautiful beach. Apart from public holidays and a few other special dates in the year, booking is not allowed and it’s run on a first-come, first-served basis, which is great if they have space, and inconvenient if not, having dragged all your kit there. It’s recommended to call ahead to check availability.
Of course, everything in life is about balance, and where Ngong Ping has rocks and a hill, Pui O Campsite has sand – direct access to a 260-metrelong beach. I recommend having a multi-layered towel system at the entrance to your tent or you’ll be exfoliating your skin into your sleeping bag. Errant sand is this site’s only drawback.
In case you get peckish or can’t light the barbecue, there is a small but well-stocked convenience
that serves fish balls and noodles. There’s also (drumroll) Treasure Island Beach Club, open Friday night to Sunday. The restaurant provides a lovely chilled vibe and tasty food which can be enjoyed on the terrace looking at the sea or at your tent, as they do takeaways.
There are always great nature finds on Pui O Beach, from little hermit crabs swapping cone shells to big hairy water buffalo rolling in the sand. More recently, pink dolphins have been repeatedly sighted frolicking in the bay.
Pui O has some excellent clam beds that can be harvested in the summer. Simply dig your heel into the sand to about 4 inches and wiggle it about. Remember to leave any clam under 5cm where you found it to preserve the population, and be sure to soak the clams in water overnight to remove any grit and sand before smothering them in white wine and cream sauce.
The party piece for Pui O Campsite is the sunset; one of my favourites in Hong Kong. There’s nothing better after a play at the beach than enjoying a cold glass of wine, sitting in a folding camping chair after a hot shower and watching the sun go down over another busy day.
store
VIEW FROM PUI O CAMPSITE
Vacation Time! PORT LOUIS
SOAK UP THE HISTORY
THE VIBRANT CAPITAL
Port Louis provides a powerful entrée into the real Mauritius, two steps removed from all the picture-perfect, luxury beach resorts. Here on the island nation’s north-west coast, you find a spicy mix of beautiful landscapes, bustling city life and diverse cultures, as well as the option to sail out to near-perfect islets in the surrounding Indian Ocean.
of the island’s exploration, settlement and colonial period at the Blue Penny Museum. Explore galleries dedicated to Mauritius’ diverse population, indigenous flora and fauna and the pivotal role it played in Indian Ocean trade. Two of the world’s rarest stamps – the red onepenny and blue two-penny issued in 1847 – are central to the collection.
COLONIAL LANDMARKS
CROP UP throughout the city, notably Government House, Fort Adelaide, St James Cathedral and a statue of King Edward VII within the grounds of Champ de Mars Racecourse. There’s also Aapravasi Ghat, which served as an immigration depot for indentured labourers in the 19th century.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF Unsplash
Your entrée to Mauritius
HEAD TO THE CENTRAL MARKET
come nightfall, where you can browse stalls selling everything from fresh produce to herbal medicines and aphrodisiacs. Take a seat and sample traditional Mauritian street food like dholl puri (split pea-stuffed flatbread), Gateau Piment (chilli cake) and alouda , a refreshing milky drink laced with agaragar and basil seeds.
VISIT THE OLDEST BOTANICAL
GARDEN in the Southern Hemisphere, located a 15-minute drive from Port Louis. SSR Botanic Garden, commonly known as the Pamplemousses Botanic Garden, is must-visit for nature enthusiasts. Lose yourself amidst the lush greenery and vibrant blooms, and grab a photo of the famous giant water lilies.
GLORIOUS TAMARIND BEACH has one of the most spectacular backdrops in the country. Just a 10-minute drive from Port Louis, it once offered wave hunters some of the best surfing on the planet. Today, it provides something of a Robinson Crusoe experience, as the currents have changed and the surfing diehards have moved down the coast to Le Morne.
PORT LOUIS IS THE ONLY NATURAL HARBOUR
in Mauritius and one of the deepest in the Indian Ocean. Take a leisurely stroll along Caudan Waterfront, the city’s main commercial and entertainment hub to shop for local crafts, or simply soak up the lively local vibe. The waterfront is home to many shops, restaurants and bars, as well as a casino and a cinema.
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Andrew Spires' COMMUNITY SNAPS
PHOTOS BY Andrew Spiresandrew.j.c.spires@gmail.com
Surprise your mum with one of her favourite fruity desserts on Mother’s Day
PAVLOVA
Serves 6
3 large egg whites
175g caster sugar
275g whipped cream
350g raspberries, strawberries and redcurrants
Preheat the oven to 150˚C. Whisk the egg whites in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Then whisk in the sugar 25g at a time. Take a metal tablespoon and spoon the meringue mix on to a lightly oiled baking sheet, forming a circle about 20cm in diameter. Spoon round blobs next to each other so they join up and form a circle all around the edge. Place in the oven, turn down the heat to 140˚C and cook for one hour. Turn the heat off but leave the meringue in the oven until completely cold.
Place the meringue on a serving dish, spread the whipped cream on top and put the fruit on the cream.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF Adobe Stock
CHERRY SORBET
Serves 6
750g cherries
140g caster sugar
1 lemon, juice only
½tsp almond extract
½tsp salt
Destalk, pit and dice the cherries. Place the cherries and all the other ingredients in a bowl; pour over 300 millilitres of boiling water. Leave to macerate until cool, then blitz until smooth. Push the purée through a sieve. Clear a shelf in the freezer and place a sided metal tray in to chill. Pour the mix into the tray and cover with cling film. Freeze the liquid until it’s icy around the edges and slushy in the middle. Use a fork to break up the ice into smaller crystals. Return the tray to the freezer.
Repeat the process every half hour (at least three times) until you have a completely frozen sorbet that’s the texture of snow. Scoop into individual dishes and serve with a sprig of mint.
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Discovery Bay Anglican Church
Daughter Church of St John's Cathedral
SKH Wei Lun Primary School, Discovery Bay Road
Sung Eucharist (English) at 10:00am Sundays
LOCAL NUMBERS TUNG CHUNG
EMERGENCY SERVICES 999
Tung Chung Ambulance Depot 2988 8282
Tung Chung Fire Station 2988 1898
Tung Chung Police Station 3661 1999
HOME & REPAIRS
Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths 2109 2330
Mr Chan 24-Hour Handyman 9343 3718
Papabo 5541 1502
Shun Yu Engineering 2988 1488
So Nice Technologies 6206 3497
HOTELS
Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott 3969 1888
Novotel Citygate Hong Kong 3602 8888
Regal Airport Hotel 2286 8888
Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0000
The Silveri Hong Kong - MGallery 3602 8989
LEARNING CENTRES
Discovery Mind International Play Centre 2987 8070
Discovery Mind Primary School 2915 0666
Greenfield International Kindergarten 2162 5538
Sun Island Education Foundation 2420 1068
Tung Chung Catholic School 2121 0884
YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College 2988 8123
MEDICAL
Bayside Dental 2185 6550
Essential Health Family Clinic 2109 9396
Human Health Medical Centre 2109 2288
North Lantau Hospital 3467 7000
Quality Health Dental 2403 6613
Quality Health Care Medical 2403 6623
REMOVALS & RELOCATION
Akash Moving 2421 8088
Crown Relocations 2636 8399
FTC Relocations 2814 1658
ReloSmart 2561 3030
Rocket Movers 5134 0044
SwiftRelo 2363 4008
RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
Caribbean Coast Clubhouse 2109 9277
Caribbean Coast Management Office 2109 9288
Coastal Skyline Clubhouse 2179 6678
Coastal Skyline Management Office 2179 6621
Seaview Crescent Clubhouse 3473 8700
Seaview Crescent Management Office 3473 8833
Tung Chung Crescent Clubhouse 2403 6770
Tung Chung Crescent Management Office 2109 1222
RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY
3 Italiani 5182 7646
A Tavola Bar & Grill 2321 5500
Andante, Novotel Citygate 3602 8828
Basic Bistro 2305 5508
Cabana Breeze 2777 8982
Café Aficionado 2286 6238
Café Lantau, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0021
Handi Indian Resturant 2988 8674
Jasmine Tung Chung 2162 8018
La Rosabelle Bar & Grill 2881 8788
La Vista 2368 6866
Lobby Lounge, Sheraton Tung Chung 2535 0023
Maison Du Mezze 2330 0131
Man Mano Italian Restaurant 3500 5885 Mint & Basil 2762 8077 Moon Lok Chiu Chow 2116 8149
My Thai 2907 6918
Nha Trang Vietnamese Cuisine 2234 9199
PizzaExpress 2297 3588
Regala Café & Dessert Bar, Regal Airport Hotel 2286 6618 Rouge, Regal Airport Hotel 2286 6868
Skycity Bistro, SkyCity Marriott 3969 2500
SOUTH LANTAU
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DISCOVERY BAY
Harvey Law Group
International law firm offering a wide range of commercial & personal legal services. Meeting facilities available in DB. Contact 24168618, dboffice@harveylawcorporation.com,
Discovery Montessori School
A reputable & well-known international school for authentic Montessori bilingual (English & Chinese) education for children aged 1 to 12 years. Beautiful campus & highly qualified teachers. Contact 2987 1201, enquiry@dms.edu.hk, www.dms.edu.hk
Discovery Mind Kindergarten
Discovery Montessori Academy
Dr Bear Education Centre
Elevate English Centre
Funfit
8088
Guidepost Montessori (DB) 2185 6134
HKILA
Jungle School Discovery Day 9095 7250
La Petite Enfance Kindergarten 8191 0813
Mandarin for Munchkins 2480 3909
Mathemagic (home tutoring) 9135 4724
Rigolo comme la vie 5495 8810
SKH Wei Lun Primary School 2987 8608
Treasure House 2987 4217
Woodentots 6108 9131
Yifan Mandarin 9208 7611
Zhi Zhi Chinese 9648 2966
The Rink Italian Kitchen
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Pachanga
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Freestyle, ISTD Hip Hop, RAD Ballet, Tap & AcroDance classes at DBRC, Club Siena & DB Plaza. Five professional instructors, teaching six days a week. Contact 2987 1571/ 9159 0663, info@islanddance.com.hk, www.islanddance.com.hk Tekkerz Football programmes for boys & girls for age groups U5 up to U14. Contact 9770 4548, train@tekkerzfootball.com, www.tekkerzfootball.com
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ADVENTURES IN ADOPTION
Adopting a child takes guts and a whole lot of heart, says Peter Sherwood . Invest the love and you’ll get it back in spades
Iam a bit of an authority on adoption and one thing’s for certain, like my awe-inspiring investment strategies, it can leave you in the red. Stony broke but rich in something far more important. If you’re looking for a reason to adopt, the answer really is that simple: love.
Driven by passion, obsession, love and a hint of madness (“A man needs a little madness” – Zorba the Greek), the impossibility of my adopting children was achieved with extraordinary luck, naivety and help from a couple of complete strangers; an accomplishment in seemingly hopeless circumstances that would be unattainable today. But Hong Kong in the 1980s was a very different place. As Goethe wrote, “Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
It was so intensely a made-for-movies experience, I have trouble believing it myself. I get weird looks relating the story, the curious not quite believing I was the first single man in Hong Kong to adopt a boy, and probably the only one allowed to adopt a girl. Removing a child from a life of poverty is as good as it gets, and I can’t understand why everyone doesn’t do it.
Having natural children, must be wonderful, and it’s the most selfish thing we can do. No criticism implied, but simply the way nature works. ‘Wanting’ a child is, by definition, in the modern era, a selfish act. The only ones rescued are the parents, and possibly a marriage. (Just kidding,
folks! I’m grateful: no selfishness, no human race, more importantly, no Sherwood).
Adoption was a shot of heroin straight into my brain’s pleasure centre; the mesocorticolimbic circuit (to be precise). The same system that reacts with a good feeling any time we give. Unlike hard narcotics, it’s a one-hit stimulant. And yet… the craving continues. With a few friends, I’m fortunate to have been caring for families in Nepal since 2008; a powerful connection I view as a privilege. Giving is a selfish pleasure that works both ways, and were we zapped with a bolt of lightning for every selfless act, only masochists would do it. Adoption is a wild challenge, but as Helen Keller wrote, “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all.”
My advice? If you feel passionate, do it. If you don’t, no amount of intellectualising will get you there: you need to get out of your head and into your heart. If you’re looking for certainties with adoption, forget it, there aren’t any, and none with natural children either, just a giant leap of faith.
I’ve spoken to parents with both natural and adopted kids and they all say the love and depth of caring is no different. For myself, I don’t understand those who say they are ‘thinking about’ adoption if all else fails, as if a child in desperate need is second best. But then I’ve never seen much point in reproducing myself, when I hear on a regular basis that one of me is more than enough.
Peter Sherwood has lived in DB for 20+ years. The former head of an international public relations firm, he is the author of 15 books and has written around 400 satirical columns for the South China Morning Post.
PHOTO COURTESY OF Adobe Stock
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