Around DB October 2022

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O c tO b e r 2 0 2 2 | A R O U N D D B.CO M

MEET AND MINGLE

Get ready to trick or treat on Halloween!

Go Team

OPENING UP

Action Asia vets Magdalena Cvetkovic and Chris Davis

FORGET STAYCATIONS Spend the weekend in Malacca

LORD!

DB BAKING COMPETITION WINNERS EVIE AND CHRIS

NO LIMITS Find a top-notch sports programme for your kids

Dine with us for a charming culinary e x p e r i e n c e i n s p i re d by i n te r n a t i o n a l c u i s i n e a n d M e d i te r ra n e a n f l a vo u r s .

Enjoy delightful cocktails and the magic hours at our outdoor seaside terrace.

Shop Unit G51 B - G52, G/ F, Block C , DB Plaza , Discovery Bay , Lantau, HK

+ 8 5 2 370 9 6 4 5 1 Facebook

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Online reservations

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Beach Village 碧濤 - 海蜂徑

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1,282 SF (S)

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3 BEDS | 2 BATHS

$22M

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Ref: #38004

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Siena One 海澄湖畔一段

Midvale Village 畔峰

1,146 SF (S) 3 BEDS | 2 BATHS Ref: #293432

$17.6M $55K incl.

4 BEDS | 3 BATHS

$18.5M

$14.9M $39.8K incl.

Ref: #303818

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$16.8M $60K incl.

876 SF (S)

3 BEDS | 2 BATHS Ref: #9508

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Greenvale Village 頤峰 - 韶山閣

1,010 SF (S)

1,138 SF (S) Ref: #64855

1,462 SF (S)

4 BEDS | 2 BATHS

La Serene 海藍居

Parkvale Village 寶峰 3 BEDS | 2 BATHS

Amalfi 津堤

1,519 SF (S) Ref: #37157

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3 BEDS | 2 BATHS

$12M

Ref: #294945

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OC TOBER 2022 W W W. A R O U N D D B .CO M

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FEATURES 20

PROFILE Action Asia vets Magdalena Cvetkovic and Chris Davis

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COMMUNITY Why DB’s after-school sports programmes are second to none

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DINING OUT Enjoy a Mediterranean mezze at The Rink All Day Lounge

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PARENTING Teaching kids to handle fear through the pages of a book

DB Baking Competition 2022

32 ACROSS HK Halloween Quiz

48 ESCAPES Malaysia’s best-kept secret

60 OUT THERE

Peter Sherwood talks back

C O M M U N I T Y

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PA R E N T I N G

O c tO b e r 2 0 2 2 | A R O U N D D B.CO M

DB BAKING COMPETITION WINNERS EVIE AND CHRIS

NO LIMITS Find a top-notch sports programme for your kids

LOCAL INFLUENCERS

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L ANTAU DESTINATIONS

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COMMUNIT Y SNAPS

YOUR GUIDE TO HONG KONG’S ‘GREEN JEWEL’

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Spend the weekend in Malacca

LORD!

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FORGET STAYCATIONS

ISL AND -WIDE NEWS

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Evie and Chris Lord, winners of the DB Baking Competition 2022

WE AL S O P UB L IS H RU

Action Asia vets Magdalena Cvetkovic and Chris Davis

57 LOCAL NUMBERS

2 8 O N T H E C OVE R

Go Team

OPENING UP

54 CLASSIFIEDS

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Get ready to trick or treat on Halloween!

52 DB FACES

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MEET AND MINGLE

18 GIVEAWAYS

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AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

08 DB NEWS

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Smart ways to combine alcohol use with a wellness-focused lifestyle

28 RECIPES

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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2 022

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Celebrate your freedom on Lantau’s beautiful hills

PHOTO BY Beatrix Malan www.atscollective.com

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FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF FOOD & DRINK • LIVING • PETS • SPORTS • PASTIMES • EDUCATION • HEALTH • BEAUTY • SERVICES • TRAVEL & EXCURSIONS • COMMUNITY

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3A Norfolk Road, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

info@aishk.edu.hk +852 2304 6078

www.aishk.edu.hk

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CONTACT US @ B AY ME D IA GROU P P:

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_ PH IL I P JAY

Publisher/ Owner

philip@baymedia.com.hk RACH E L AI N S L E Y Managing editor

rachel@baymedia.com.hk RAPH AE L BL E T Assistant editor

raphael@baymedia.com.hk BEAT R I X M AL A N Digital manager

beatrix@baymedia.com.hk

ACTION ASIA EVENTS NEEDS YOU!

Action Asia Events is looking for sponsors in the hopes of bringing back its full roster of races in 2023, including the ever-popular Sprints and DB’s own Kayak ‘n’ Run. Meanwhile, runners across Hong Kong are in training for the Lantau 50 – 16/27/54km, which is scheduled for December 10. To find out more and sign up to race, visit www.actionasiaevents.com.

[PHOTO COURTESY OF Action Asia Events.]

s g in n e Happ

S ARIN AL E Art director

sarin@baymedia.com.hk

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RAY AU, I M OG EN CLY DE, ELIZA B E TH K ER R , P ET ER S HE R WOO D

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HALLOWEEN NIGHT MARKET

RICHA R D GO R D O N

www.richardgordonphotography.com

Wannabe witches, vampires and goblins can head to Handmade Hong Kong’s Halloween Night Market on October 30 to stock up on scary costumes, Jack-o-lanterns and more.

The market is open from 2.30pm to 9.30pm in DB Plaza, so you can get ready to trick or treat! To test your knowledge about the traditions surrounding Halloween, turn to this month’s trivia quiz on page 32.

P RI NTI NG

C HA M PI O N DESI G N & PROD U CTI ON CO LT D Flat C & D, 9/F Sing Teck Factory Bldg, 44 Wong Chuk Hang Rd, Hong Kong

B AY M EDI A GRO UP

Flat 6E Elegance Court, Hillgrove Village, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island

HALLOWEEN AT EPICLAND

D I S CL AIME R 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. © BAY MEDIA GROUP 2022

When it comes to celebrating Halloween, EpicLand in DB North Plaza never settles for less. This whole month, the 14,000 square-feet, indoor playground is specially decked out for the occasion, and visitors are welcome to wear Halloween costumes.

Spooktacular weekend activities include The Haunted House, Lights Out and Face Mask Painting. For a chance to win a monthly pass for one child accompanied by one adult, turn to page 18. To find out more, visit www.epiclandhk.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF EpicLand.]

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DB NEWS

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DB BAKING COMPETITION

DRAGON BOAT RACE DAY

October 9 sees the long-awaited return of the DB Dragon Boat Races. Paddlers are competing in five different categories – men’s, ladies’, mixed, open and youth – off Tai Pak Wan from 8.30am to 3.30pm. There is no carnival this year due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions but the event neatly coincides with the monthly Discovery Bay Sunday Market in DB Plaza. [PHOTO COURTESY OF DB Pirates.]

! s t n e v E &

The results are in! The finalists of the DB Baking Competition 2022 have been chosen by an online community vote on Facebook @Around DB running September 1 to 18. The three finalists have won cash coupons to spend at Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong: 1st-prize winners, Evie and Chris Lord, HK$ 3,500; 1st runners-up, Selene and Alex, HK$2,500; and 2nd runners-up Cristal and Matthew Mills, HK$1,500. You can turn to page 28 to try out the prize-winning recipes. [PHOTOS BY Beatrix Malan - www.atscollective.com.]

PAELLA WEDNESDAY’S AT SOLERA

KNOW IN OCTOBER!

Solera Spanish Restaurant, in DB Plaza, is offering a new promotion: Paella Wednesday. For HK$299, you can enjoy one of four home-made paellas with either two pints of Stella or a bottle of house wine (white or red). Choose from Paella Negra (squid and garlic aoli), Paella Con Pollo Y Chorizo (chicken, chorizo and green beans), Paella Con Setas (wild mushroom) and Paella Marinara (prawns, mussels and baby squid).

To book a table, call 2555 0772. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Solera.]

BAY MEDIA REWARDS CLUB

STYROFOAM RECYCLING AT CHIANTI Did you know your expanded polystyrene is recycled right here in DB at the compression machine in Chianti? Any polystyrene you place in the communal plastics recycling bins is collected by Wilson Cleaning Corporation, DBSML’s cleaning contractor, and then brought to Chianti for compression. The compressed material is then sent to O-PARK1, Hong Kong’s first organic resources recovery centre. To book a tour of the North Lantau plant, visit booking.opark.hk/en/ booking/individual.

Bay Media, the publisher of Around DB, is proud to announce that it will soon be launching Bay Media Rewards Club. Connecting readers with business operators, the scheme offers exciting benefits to its members. “Open to all, the club will be actively promoted on our platforms and create an excellent addition to our existing community outreach,” says Philip Jay, Publisher and Owner of Bay Media. To register, visit www.baymediarewards.com.

If you would like to promote your business, email info@baymedia.com.hk.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY THROUGH OCTOBER | DONATE PRELOVED FURNITURE to people in need through DB Mothers & Friends. To arrange for pickup, visit Facebook @dbmf.collection.

OCTOBER 2 | GATHER AT THE PLANT MARKET in DB Community Green Square from 2pm to 4pm. Visit Facebook @DynamicDBers.

OCTOBER 9 | SHOP THE DISCOVERY BAY SUNDAY MARKET in DB Plaza from 11am to 6pm. Visit www.handmadehongkong.com.

AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

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DB NEWS

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HLG KART RACE: NEW DATE

The HLG Kart Race returns to DB on October 15 with a 16-foot-long ramp set up on Discovery Bay Road cycle lane. While standard karts are provided, kids (and adults) also have the opportunity to compete in their own kitmade karts. There’s no enrolment fee for participants (aged seven and up) in the freestyle category. For those competing in HLG karts, the entrance fee is HK$250 per person with all proceeds going to charity. Register to race

by October 7 at www.hlgkartrace.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Harvey Law Group.]

RED VELVET DESIGNS: FAREWELL

In mid-September, Red Velvet Designs’ owner Kavita Mahtur made the difficult decision to shut up shop, after seven years serving the local community. Born and bred in DB, Red Velvet Designs was the go-to place for exceptional homeware and accessories. Kavita and her team always went the extra mile by providing customers tailored advice on how to best decorate their living space. We wish Kavita all the best in her new journey and look forward to hearing all about her future projects. To find out more, visit Facebook @Redvelvetdesignshk. [PHOTO BY Richard Gordon – www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH Every October, Hong Kong Cancer Fund joins organisations around the world to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of breast awareness, education and care services. With over 4,000 newly diagnosed breast cancer cases a year, there are more women than ever requiring the charity’s support.

As part of this month-long campaign, you are asked to wear pink on October 21 to raise vital awareness and support for the charity’s free breast cancer services. Another way to do your bit? Create your own personalised fundraising page for a special event or activity through which you can invite friends, family or colleagues to donate directly to Hong Kong Cancer Fund.

Hong Kong Cancer Fund’s services are free. Its work encompasses counselling, nursing consultations and home care, plus public education and funding of hospital equipment and cancer research. The charity has actively developed wellness programmes since 2011, aiming at helping people touched by cancer to develop a positive and healthy attitude towards life and promote self-healing. To get involved this month, visit www.cancer-fund.org.

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PORTUGAL GOLDEN VISA WE ADVISE ON CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT SCHEMES INTO PORTUGAL Many countries offer Citizenship by Investment programs to attract much needed foreign direct investment to help drive economic growth. However, few if any provide the ease of access, affordability, and attractive benefits of Portugal.

• Live and work in Portugal and anywhere in the EU • 4th best passport in the World for Digital Nomads and Global Citizens • Low minimum stay requirements, averaging 7 days per year over first 5 years • Visa free travel within all 26 Schengen countries • Qualify for citizenship or permanent residency after 5 years • Establish a business within all 26 Schengen countries • 10 years non-habitual residency tax exemption • Invest in one of the fastest growing property markets in Europe

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We are a dedicated online grocery supermarket in Hong Kong and a completely independent business affiliated with some of the biggest grocery distributors in UK. In addition, we are the official online retailer of Morrisons own label groceries in Hong Kong giving you a complete wealth of choice between branded British groceries and Morrisons own label range. Morrisons is one of UK’s leading grocery retailer with over 500 stores and an online home delivery service in UK. You will be spoilt for choice. We give you the “Best British Brands” at the best prices in Hong Kong.

Visit us today AT

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DB NEWS

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FREESPACE JAZZ FEST

Been missing outdoor music events? Make your way to West Kowloon Cultural District to enjoy the fourth Freespace Jazz Fest, running from October 26 to 30. You can expect a mix of ticketed and free live music stages, with over 50 performances encompassing classical and modern jazz, world music, choir, big bands, funk and more. Guaranteeing a fun-filled weekend for families, there’s also a handicrafts market on the Great Lawn with over 40 booths, cultural workshops and screenings of world-music short films by director Vincent Moon. To purchase tickets, visit www.westkowloon.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF West Kowloon Cultural District Authority.]

THE CHOPIN SOCIETY’S JOY OF MUSIC FESTIVAL

WMA EXHIBITION ON ISLANDS Island(ed) features the lens-based works of four Hong Kong artists Simon Wan, Chan Long Hei, Lo Yin Shan and Wong Wei-Him, as they focus on the geographical features of islands – and their duality of isolation and connection. Simon Wan’s broadcast is based on footage he took during a 24-hour stay on Wu Ying Pai, an uninhabited island located just across from Hong Kong Disneyland. You can catch Island(ed) at WMA Space in Central through Oc tober 16. To find out more, visit www.wma.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF WMA Space.]

The Hong Kong Joy of Music Festival/ 6th Hong Kong International Piano Competition is being streamed live from Austria this month for local audiences to enjoy at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall. Organised by the Chopin Society of Hong Kong and University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, the finals and semi-finals are being played out at Esterhazy Palace, Eisenstadt, Austria from October 10 to 27, and will be streamed live and at point to point at City Hall. For tickets, visit www.urbtix.hk.

Founded by Annabella and Andrew Freris in 1995, the Chopin Society of Hong Kong gives local concert-goers a chance to listen to some of the world’s most talented classical musicians, through master-classes, competitions, recitals and concerts. The society is known for its Winners Series, which brings the first-prize winners of major international music competitions to Hong Kong, and its Masters Series, which brings master teachers to Hong Kong to run workshops for local music students. The success of these series hinges on the notion that Hong Kong audiences deserve nothing but the highest quality that the international music scene can offer.

The society also has its own recording label, the Alpha Omega Sound, which is releasing a varied and unusual series of archival CDs, re-mastered at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, as well as recordings made specifically for its label. To find out more, visit www.chopinsocietyhk.org.

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AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

t & About!

OuWHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO!

DB EVENTS

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LATIN DANCE AT THE MARKET

Shoppers at the Discovery Bay Sunday Market on September 11 were treated to a Latin dance show by young dancers from DanceHype by Henry & Yanise. Free Latin dance trial sessions were also provided by the Kwun Tong-based dance school. [PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon -www.richardgordonphotography.com & Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com.]

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WISH LIST

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DB EVENTS

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FUN UNDER THE MOON

Under 12 Finalists

As residents headed outdoors with their lanterns to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, two talented buskers, Ice and Aufei, wowed the crowd at DB North Amphitheatre. The free music event was organised by Hong Kong Resort.

[PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon www.richardgordonphotography.com.]

DBIS STUDENTS’ AMAZING RACE

Discovery Bay International School Year 12 students kicked off the new school year with an action-packed Amazing Race around Discovery Bay on September 2.

Students were tasked with tracking down their teachers and Head Prefects at different locations around DB to take part in challenges that focused on teamwork, leadership skills and developing the DBIS Learner Attributes. [PHOTOS COURTESY OF DBIS.]

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AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

DMR School of Ballet

t D a i e s c n n e y! a D

DMR is excited to announce that they will be dancing at ‘Hong Kong Disneyland’!

Who can apply: DMR students age 6 and above Performance Day: Sunday 15th January 2023 *Terms and conditions apply.

If you wish to take part in this exciting opportunity, enroll now!

Scan me!

Disney 2019

Classes in Ballet, Modern (Jazz) and Tap Private and Adult classes available upon request. info@dmr-hk.com

DMR School of Ballet

www.dmr-hk.com

+852 5210 7208

dmr_school_of_ballet

Unit 21, 1/F, Discovery Bay North Plaza

GIVEAWAYS

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EPICLAND

IS OFFERING TWO READERS A MONTHLY PASS (WORTH HK$1,200 EACH) EpicLand’s monthly pass for one child (under nine years) accompanied by an adult opens up endless possibilities. Whether your child is into slides, trampolines, ball pits, rock climbing, zip-lining or mini golf, EpicLand in DB North Plaza is quite simply the place to be. Billed as Hong Kong’s tallest indoor entertainment centre, EpicLand is home to Hong Kong’s first ‘air-trek,’ complete with eight sky-high obstacles.

For special occasions, EpicLand offers party and group packages designed to keep kids of all ages – and adults – active and entertained. EpicLand is also the go-to place for team building activities and school trips. All adventurers are required to use the vaccine pass and show a photo of a negative rapid antigen test before admission. To learn more about the 14,000 square-feet venue and the different packages available, visit www.epiclandhk.com.

CONGRATUL ATIONS TO L AST ISSUE’S WINNERS

Zoe Heggie and Rachel Mellado for four tickets to see The Gruffalo Live on Stage; and Karen Boag for two Alice tea towels from 852 Fabric.

HOW TO WIN!

Around DB prizes are incredibly easy to get your hands on, and you have until the 15th of the month to apply. Simply scan the QR code or go to www.arounddb.com/giveaways, select the giveaway you want, and enter your details into the online form. (Terms and Conditions apply.)

BOOK NOW: 2987 2266 FLAT 426, 4/F, BLOCK D, DB PLAZA 18

AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

ALL ITEMS EX-STOCK

DELIVERY WITHIN 3 DAYS

現貨供應 3天送到

PROFILE

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are trails that go " There absolutely everywhere.

The more you see, the more you want to see.

And it’s a great antidote to being stuck in the city - CHRIS DAVIS

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PROFILE

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! s it r i p S d e r d Kin RUNNING UP THAT HILL

Maggie Cvetkovic and Chris Davis found their running groove in Hong Kong and a reason to live in Discovery Bay. Now the Action Asia vets are taking aim at Spartan. Elizabeth Kerr reports PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon - www.richardgordonphotography.com

M

agdalena – Maggie – Cvetkovic and Chris Davis are a well-matched pair. Slight and sinew y, the Discover y Bay bankers (she’s with Société Générale, he’s at UBS) look remarkably cool, sit ting sipping decaf on a Tuesday af ternoon in the height of the year ’s last heat wave.

“I like it warm. This is my dream. I love the heat. I like going for a run at lunchtime when it’s 34 degrees,” Maggie says, without a hint of irony. “I love stepping out of the flat and sweating without even doing anything. That’s how it needs to be,” she finishes with a chuckle.

Chris sits quietly, not quite throwing a side-eye, but close. He’s not as into the swelter as Maggie is, but if that’s the way it is in DB, he’s OK with it. For the Devon native, DB’s small town vibe is ideal. “This suits me,” he says, entirely low-key.

Both avid trail runners, the pair have just come off a 14-kilometre Action Asia Events Sprint on September 14, where he placed fifth and she placed third, and are currently training for a series of races in Hong Kong and around the region. They’ve come a long way in the 15 (for Maggie) and 11 (for Chris) years they’ve lived in Hong Kong, where they both picked up trail running in their thir ties.

AT HOME ON THE TRAILS Maggie and Chris have been living in DB for under a year, though Maggie did a stint here in 2008.

She arrived first, fresh from her native Zurich after accepting a hedge fund job in Hong Kong. “I had two job offers, one in New York and one in Hong Kong. I always wanted to tr y living in Asia and, really, what’s the worst that can happen? I don’t like it and I go home,” she recalls.

The duo relocated from Sai Ying Pun and credit DB’s wide open spaces, water views and trails for keeping them sane during the last 30 months. After taking up running and then getting used to flying all over the world to compete, the last couple of years have been practically sedentar y.

“Last year in December we wanted to go to Mui Wo and we took the wrong ferr y,” begins Maggie, describing the move. “We ended up in DB and thought no problem, we’ll just go over Tiger’s Head and do whatever we were planning to do. And just going up the stairs we looked around and thought, it’s time to move back here.”

“We were quite happy with our two dogs in Sai Ying Pun,” adds Chris. “But lockdown was star ting again and we came here and it was just so relaxing. We have a bigger flat, a view of the sea, and it’s really not that far away. The dogs love it. The trails all have water along the way and they’re so happy to just go and go and go. That’s the beauty of living here. And I do not miss the constant noise, the constant hum of the city. It’s so peaceful here.”

“Ever y morning I wake up and I see the sea and hear the birds,” Maggie interjects. “It’s so beautiful.

There’s no reason to leave.”

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“She loves the sound of seagulls,” Chris shoots back.

“For me, that’s the worst.” Spoken like a true West Countr y man.

A WAY INTO HONG KONG Still. Peace is important for a couple that’s usually up at around 5am for a morning run. In their words, when they’re not working, they’re training. Next up is Action Asia’s Lantau 2 Peaks on October 3, and the Lantau 50 in January. Lantau 50 (Maggie and Chris have opted for the toughest 54km course) takes runners up and over both Lantau and Sunset peaks, with an elevation gain of 3,130m and a 12-hour cut-off… No easy feat. All this begs the question: How did they get into this?

The short answer is by getting a look at Hong Kong.

For Maggie, the longer version comes down to a hike she went on around Sunset Peak shortly after arriving all those years ago. “It was mind-blowing,” she recalls.

“I just remember people running up the stairs, and I was super-unfit at the time, and I asked them what they were doing. They told me they were not hikers, that they were trail runners, training for an Action Asia race.

That was it.”

The combination of the view from the top and watching these runners flit up the hill was enough to get her started. The story is similar for Chris, involving just a bit more curiosity. He’d never been to Hong Kong before getting transferred for work, and knew next to nothing about it. The trails were his way in.

“I wanted to explore,” he says simply. “Once you start looking at trail maps it becomes, ‘I want to see Repulse Bay but I don’t want to just get in a taxi. How do I run there?’ So I started doing that, and there are trails that go absolutely everywhere. The more you see, the more you want to see. And it’s a great antidote to being stuck in the city.”

A splash-n-dash race soon followed, and after placing fairly well on his first try, Chris started looking for more events. One thing led to another and by the time they met – on the UBS Dragon Boating squad – they were ready to be kindred running spirits.

ON THE BUCKET LIST With quarantine restrictions lifted, Maggie and Chris will be off to Spar tan Asia Pacific Championship Weekend in Thailand this November, and the World Championship in December in Abu Dhabi. Spar tan, for those not in the know, is an obstacle coursebased race series, akin to Iron Man (which Maggie has done).

The couple ran their first Spartan race in 2016 and it’s since become their niche, with both eventually earning spots on the pro tour. Maggie still ranks. “I 22

AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

THE COUPLE ON THE DB TRAILS WITH THEIR DOGS

got dropped last year,” Chris says sheepishly. For the record, Maggie currently ranks 7,853 on Spartan’s 186,000-strong global leader board.

Maggie and Chris hope to star t tackling their personal trail running bucket lists sooner rather than later, which include running up Kota Kinabalu (again), perhaps Kilimanjaro, the London Marathon, Spar tan Hawaii – it’s held where Jurassic Park was shot, over a long weekend – and hitting the bottom of the Grand Canyon. But until then they plan to keep in fighting form with Ac tion Asia’s events, and even casual local races.

“There’s always a race somewhere,” says Chris. “And we just do as much as possible. We came to trail running relatively late in our lives. I’m 41. Maggie’s… younger,” he trails off. “Forty!” she jumps in, loud and proud. “Finding a sport we’re excelling at makes us just want to maximise the time we have left. We’re still quite keen,” he finishes. Now if only they could remember how to pack.

FEES FROZEN for 2022–23

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! t o Just D I

SPORTING EXCELLENCE Whether your child wants to be the next Minjee Lee or Novak Djokovic, DB’s after-school sports programmes have you covered REPORTING BY Raphael Blet PHOTOS COURTESY OF HKR & by Raphael Blet

H

abits formed in childhood often last a lifetime, which is one of the reasons we encourage our kids to get into spor t at an early age. A passion for spor t (any spor t) can set children up for a bright future as it helps with both physical and social development, while encouraging the individual to learn essential life skills.

Whatever spor ts your kids are into, you can find a top-notch coaching programme for them right here in DB. There are plenty of classes available both after school and at weekends. This issue we’re focusing on two ver y different spor ts – golf and tennis – and the tuition provided at Discover y Bay Golf Club (DBGC) and Discover y Bay Residents Club (DBRC).

WHERE GOLF LEGENDS ARE MADE For the past 12 years, Discover y Bay Golf Club (www.dbgc.hk) has been making golf available to DB kids through its Junior Nur turing Programme. “Our club has long been dedicated to nur turing young and talented golfers,” opens General Manager Eddie Chan. “In 2010, we adjusted the minimum age for on-course playing from 10 years to six, to promote golf to the next generation.”

DBGC’s Junior Nur turing Programme gives young players an oppor tunity to make it to the next level through weekly practices and golf clinics. Lessons for children aged six years and above are led by PGA professional Michael Stewar t Long, who is currently celebrating 15 years at the club. After-school classes run Monday through Friday on the DBGC’s covered range, bunker and practice putting greens.

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Similarly, DBGC’s annual summer golf camp is open to kids aged six to 16, with beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons provided. Kids star t out by learning golf etiquette, safety and swing techniques, and get to play shor t games.

While young players benefit from DBGC’s tailored coaching programme and world-class facilities (there are three, nine-hole golf courses, Diamond, Jade and Ruby), they also benefit from the club’s strong ties to the local golfing community. “DBGC collaborates with various golf professional bodies to offer opportunities for the juniors to participate in tournaments, thereby growing their skills by practical experience,” Eddie says. “Through these initiatives, DBGC has nurtured a talented junior team, and the team members have obtained outstanding results in local tournaments organised by the Hong Kong Golf Association.”

Exemplifying the success of DBGC’s Junior Nur turing Programme are award-winning, homegrown golfers Taichi Kho and Shinichi Mizuno, both of whom got their first taste of golf at the club.

DBGC has witnessed the professional development of Taichi and Shinichi from junior golfers to elite national team players. Indeed, Taichi is now the highest ranked amateur golfer in Hong Kong. As the runner-up in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship 2021, Taichi earned a ber th in the qualifying series of The Open in July this year; he was the first Hong Kong golfer to do so.

“What I have accomplished is truly a whole team effor t; I am grateful because I got the privileges and facilities and the suppor t from ever yone at DBGC,” says Taichi, whose first memor y of golf is playing

COMMUNITY

DBGC’s Junior Nurt

Shinichi Mizu

no and Taichi

nine holes on Ruby. “Being able to play in these professional tournaments has given me a great sense of belonging. It is such an honour to be representing Hong Kong and I look for ward to more tournaments in the future.”

“When I first star ted playing golf in DB, we were the only two juniors: Taichi and me,” Shinichi adds.

“Nowadays, you see so many young talents at the club. I feel like DBGC helps young talents develop their game – the coaches are great; the facilities are great. It motivates me to see these kids look up to us. As one of the seniors, it’s now my duty to help them succeed.”

HOME OF TENNIS ACES Discover y Bay Residents Club (www.dbrc.hk) is well-known for its Junior Tennis Programme, which provides kids aged age three to 11+ with toplevel coaching and access to 11 cour ts (eight hard cour ts and three ar tificial glass cour ts). Morning and afternoon sessions are on offer Monday to Friday, with additional Saturday morning classes. The smallgroup lessons last from 30 minutes to one hour, and kids are taught by the same coach each week.

When teaching young children, DBRC coaches use a ‘Learn to Play, Play to Learn’ philosophy. The priority

/

uring Programme

Kho

is that children have fun playing tennis, as they are more likely to succeed and commit to the spor t if they enjoy it.

Following the International Tennis Federation minitennis guidelines, DBRC coaches use modified tennis equipment, such as decompressed balls, smaller rackets and smaller cour ts for youngsters in order to make tennis more ‘playable’ for them. As they develop and grow, kids move through the junior coaching pathway from red ball to orange, green and finally yellow-ball tennis. This ensures that players develop a good foundation, both technically and emotionally, to allow them to thrive and enjoy the spor t for life.

The Junior Tennis Programme is an impor tant conduit for kids who aspire to play for DBRC in the Hong Kong Tennis Association (HKTA) Junior Leagues. Entr y is based on ability so there is no lower age limit – the youngest player currently playing for DBRC in the HKTA Autumn Junior League is just 10 years old.

DBRC habitually fields three teams in both the HKTA Spring and Autumn Junior Leagues: Division A (18 and Under), Division B (14 and Under) and Division C (12 and Under). In recent years, DBRC has won both the Autumn 2020 Junior League (Division C) and Spring 2021 Junior League (Division C).

Given the standard of coaching available, it ’s no AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

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WHATEVER SPORTS YOUR KIDS ARE INTO, YOU CAN FIND A TOP-NOTCH COACHING PROGRAMME FOR THEM HERE IN DB surprise that many DBRC Junior Team players go on to play for the club in the big adult leagues organised

by HKTA and Hong Kong Ladies Tennis League (HKLTL). Such players include Anderson Chan, and siblings Florian and Alexandra Hedreul, and Huber t and Adrian Leung.

That DBRC’s Junior Tennis Programme has spawned star club players is exemplified by the Loeffler family: Bruno Loeffler played on the DBRC Men’s A+ team and has been the DBRC Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles Champion. Carl Loeffler played on the DBRC Men’s A team and has been the DBRC Men’s Singles Champion and Men’s Doubles Runner Up. Emma Loeffler played on the DBRC Ladies Premier and A teams and has been the DBRC Ladies’ Singles Champion and Ladies’ Doubles Runner Up. Fur ther success stories include DBRC Junior Team players who have been selected to join the Hong Kong national programme and/ or play for the national team. Sisters Erica and Naomi Hagi are both in the

DBRC Junior

Team train

ing

Naomi and Erica Hagi Hong Kong tennis team and Hong Kong National Programme. Par th Sane and Carl Loeffler are also currently in the Hong Kong National Programme.

Meanwhile, former Junior Team players Sean Walter and Natalia Peyon have gone on to train at prestigious tennis schools overseas. Sean attends the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Natalia the Altitude Academies in Florida, where she trains with Coach Gabe Jaramillo, who has honed the talents of worldclass players like Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, Pete Sampras, Monica Seles and Anna Kournikova.

DBRC’s Spring 2021 HKTA Division C winners 26

AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

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Love to Bake! Bake to Love!

PHOTOS BY Beatrix Malan - www.atscollective.com

In this year’s DB Baking Competition, decided last month by an online community vote, bakers were asked to share a favourite family recipe that speaks to them of happy times. Here’s your chance to meet the finalists and try their prize-winning bakes.

The three finalists have won cash coupons to spend at Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong:

1st-prize winner: CHRIS AND EVIE LORD, HK$3,500

Cu

rly Bis Wur cui ly ts

1st runner-up:

2nd runner-up:

SELENE AND ALEX, HK$2,500

CRISTAL AND MATTHEW MILLS, HK$1,500

Th a i G re e n n C u rr y C h ic ke P ie s

Famil y Cupc akes

Love.Together@DB is a community-caring platform initiated by Hong Kong Resort Company Limited dedicated to serving the Discovery Bay community. The platform has been supporting and coorganising diversified corporate social responsibility initiatives with NGOs, community leaders and volunteers to promote the loving and caring culture in the sustainable and multicultural DB community.

Curly Wurly Biscuits DADDY AND DAUGHTER DUO, CHRIS AND EVIE LORD

Makes 10 to 12 300g plain flour 100g sugar 150g softened butter 1 egg + 1 egg yolk 1tsp vanilla extract 1tbsp cocoa powder 50g Nutella or 2tbsp cocoa powder + 2tbsp milk

Preheat the oven to 170˚C. Mix the flour, sugar, butter, egg and vanilla together until fully combined. Wrap half the mixture in cling film and chill. To the remaining mixture, add the Nutella (or cocoa powder and milk) and mix to combine. Then wrap in cling film and chill.

Once chilled, roll the two sets of dough into equal sized rectangles about 1cm think. Place the chocolate rectangle on top of the vanilla rectangle and then roll tightly into a log. Wrap in cling film and chill. Once chilled, cut into 1cm discs and place on a baking tray. Bake for 15 minutes.

AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

1

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Thai Green Curry Chicken Pies HU SB AN D AN D W IFE TEAM, S ELENE AND ALEX Makes 12 400g soft flour 200g unsalted butter 1 egg + 2 egg yolks ½kg chicken thigh 100g Thai green curry paste 200g coconut milk 2 stalks lemongrass, chopped fine 3 bird’s eye chillies, chopped fine 20 leaves Thai basil, chopped

Preheat the oven to 180˚C. Mix and knead the flour, butter, 2 egg yolks and 4 teaspoons cold water into a dough. Wrap the dough in cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Then cook the chicken with the Thai green curry paste, coconut milk, lemongrass, bird’s eye chillies and Thai basil leaves.

Roll out the dough, and cut/ shape it into individual pie moulds which have been greased with oil. Add the cooked chicken curry. Cover each with a dough lid, brushed with an egg yolk wash. Bake for 30 minutes.

Family Cupcakes

MOT HER AN D SON T EAM, CRISTAL AND MATTHEW MILLS Makes 12 200g butter 200g sugar ¼tsp salt 3 eggs 200g plain flour

Preheat the oven to 180˚C. Cream the butter, sugar and salt together until pale in colour. Add 1 egg and a third of the flour alternately until all the ingredients are combined. Divide the batter into three, colour as desired. Distribute the batter across 12 cupcake liners. Use a toothpick to create a ‘marbled’ effect.

Bake for 20 minutes rotating the tray once, halfway through. Leave to cool, then decorate with icing and sprinkles.

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AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

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HALLOWEEN QUIZ

In the lead-up to October 31, test your knowledge of the scariest night of the year PHOTOS COURTESY OF Flickr & Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

1. Halloween has its origins in which ancient Celtic festival?

A. Samhain B. Beltane C. Fright Night 2. What did the Celts believe spirits could do on Halloween?

A. Grant wishes B. Get reincarnated C. Visit the land of the living 3. What were Jack-o-lanterns originally made from?

A. Gourds B. Jackfruit C. Turnips 4. Who were they named after?

A. Jack Black B. A lost soul named Jack C. Jack the Ripper 5. Every Halloween, Charlie Brown and Sally help Linus wait for what to appear?

A. The Great Pumpkin B. Damien Thorn C. Chucky 32

AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

ACROSS HONG KONG

/

6. Which country celebrates the Day of the Dead starting at midnight on October 31?

14. What’s the body count for the movie Halloween?

A. Mexico

A. Five people and a dog

B. France

B. Thirteen people and a cat

C. Haiti

C. Thirteen people

7.

15. In 2004, Hollywood banned the use of what party item on Halloween?

Which of the following is not another word for ghost?

A. Shade

A. Candy cauldrons

B. Spook

B. Silly string

C. Spy

C. Piñatas

8. What horror movie features the quote, “They’re coming to get you, Barbara?”

16. What Halloween costume does Lindsay Lohan’s character wear in the movie Mean Girls?

A. The Conjuring B. Night of the Living Dead C. The Shining

A. Sexy kitten B. Scary witch C. Bride of Frankenstein

9.

What did witches originally do at Halloween?

A. Give prophecies

17. What’s the colour order of a piece of candy corn, from base to point?

B. Provide exorcisms

A. Yellow, orange, white

C. Make poisoned apples

B. Yellow, white, orange C. Orange, white, yellow

10. If you stare into a mirror at midnight on Halloween, what will you see?

A. Your grandmother

18. What do you catch apples with when apple bobbing?

B. Your alter ego

A. A fishing rod

C. Your future spouse

B. Your teeth C. Your hands

11. A person born on Halloween is believed to have what particular ability?

19. What’s the trick in trick or treating?

A. Astral projection

A. Playing a prank on homeowners

B. Claircognizance

B. Pulling a rabbit from a hat

C. Clairvoyance

C. A bag of sweets

12. What can Cole Sear do in The Sixth Sense?

20. Where do DB kids typically trick or treat?

A. Ride a broomstick

A. Tai Pak Wan

B. Walk on water

B. Headland Drive

C. See dead people

C. On the ferry

13. What did Bram Stoker think the word Dracula meant?

You can check your score at

A. King of the Vampires

www.arounddb.com/

B. Devil (in Romanian)

across-hk/halloween-quiz.

C. Vampire Hunter AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

33

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE

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HARVEY L AW GROUP REPORTS ON PILOTS SUCCESSFULLY APPLYING FOR NATIONAL INTERES T WAIVERS TO OBTAIN GREEN C ARDS IN THE US Last year, Jean-François Harvey, Global Managing Partner of leading business immigration law firm Harvey Law Group (HLG), reported on an historic opportunity for pilots to obtain US green cards through the EB2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) programme.

The EB2 NIW programme is one of immigration i n t e n t , re s u l t i n g i n t h e s u c c e s s f u l a p p l i c a n t s receiving green card and permanent residence status in the US. Unlike employment-based visas, a green card allows the pilot to live and work in the US anywhere and for any airline of their choosing. We see this being an attractive option for experienced pilots who usually wish to safeguard their independence and do not wish to be tied to an employer simply to maintain their visa.

A year on and HLG can now count over 20+ pilots, who have successfully secured their National Interest Waivers, and will now go on to obtain green cards and permanent residence in the US for themselves and their families, without the need to obtain a job offer or labour certification.

What some may have considered an impossible outcome has become reality.

Approved pilots have varied backgrounds (various nationalities; various ranks, such as captain and first officers; and various educational levels, some holding a high school degrees but not a university diploma). This indicates that the US authorities are conducting a case-by-case individualised and holistic review of each applicant, rather than taking a broad-brush approach.

This reinforces why these EB2 NIW applications require very careful and detailed consideration, which will certainly differ from one pilot to another.

It also involves a combination of strong legal arguments with the specificities of the industry.

As the pilot shortage in the US continues to grow, we expect to see many more pilots benefiting from the programme, particularly as the US administration is getting more used to processing pilot applications and therefore is being educated on the national impact of their presence in the US. A s a re s i d e n t o f D i s c o v e r y B a y, J e a n - F r a n ç o i s has made it a personal mission to broaden the opportunities of the pilots of our community and worldwide.

“We understand that some of our pilots are under tremendous pressure, but we still take the time needed to prepare submissions that are as strong as possible,” Jean-François explains. “The world of immigration is not all sunshine and roses. A few pilots’ applications have unfortunately been denied over the past year. Still, these few pilots had good profiles and we are not simply closing their files.

We continue to work with them towards a better outcome. We need to be innovative, adaptable and patient to help our clients through the process and, where necessary, to educate the services receiving their petitions.”

If you are an experienced pilot and would like further advice on the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) programme, contact DB resident Laure Cochet, HLG Senior Associate, at lcochet@harveylawcorporation.com.

Harvey Law Group (HLG) is a leading international law firm specialised in residency and citizenship by investment programmes since 1992. We currently operate in over 24 offices worldwide and represent over 25 countries for their respective programmes. The HLG team provides legal and advisory services to individuals and families on immigration, residency and citizenship, as well as a comprehensive range of business services for international corporations across multiple jurisdictions in Asia, North and South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. You can see the portfolio of countries we represent at www.harveylawcorporation.com/residence-citizenship-programmes.

34

AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

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DINING OUT

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! h t n o m e h t f o t n a r u a Rest THE RINK ALL DAY LOUNGE REPORTING BY Raphael Blet PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon www.richardgordonphotography.com

O

pened in April 2022, The Rink All Day Lounge is the flagship and most recent restaurant addition from Il Bel Paese Group.

Well located in DB Plaza extension with a capacity of up to 120 guests, the restaurant abuts the sea on one side and DB Ice Rink on the other. It specialises in international cuisine with a Mediterranean influence, offering diners a wellness-focused journey through Southern Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and Northern Africa.

Aiming to provide an elevated dining experience for guests, The Rink boasts a classic contemporary decor, complete with elegant chandeliers, rustic brick walls, a sleek ‘long’ bar and eye-catching wine wall. The design draws on the restaurant’s proximity to DB Ice Rink through a Swiss chaletinspired ceiling, artificial fireplace and faux cow-hide upholstery. Upon entering, diners are welcomed by an open kitchen, where they can watch the chefs at work before settling into the stylish main dining hall or spacious, pet-friendly outdoor area.

At the helm of the kitchen is Executive Chef Maged Makram, an Egyptian-born chef with 30 years of experience working for renowned hotel chains across the world including Sheraton, Le Méridien 36

AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

and Fairmont. “Travelling helped me gain different skills and diversify my cooking skills,” opens Maged, adding that the use of spices gives his dishes a distinct character.

BESTSELLERS The Rink’s menu focuses on natural and organic produce of the finest quality, with seasonal ingredients used as much as possible. There are currently five bestsellers: the Hokkaido Scallops, Plain Hummus, Fresh Garden Vegetable Salad, Braised Angus Beef Short-Ribs and Signature Lamb Shank.

Pan-seared and juicy, the Hokkaido scallops come with a creamy parsnip mash with spinach. “Parsnip mash has an earthy flavour that goes well with the scallops,” says Maged, adding that the use of traceable seafood contributes to the restaurant’s sustainable practices.

The Rink’s homemade hummus comes in four different varieties – plain, avocado, truffle and Beiruti – all served with homemade pita bread. “People love the hummus as it’s known to be very healthy, packed with essential vitamins and minerals,” Maged explains proudly. “And our cuisine is all about freshness, so instead of re-heating the pita bread, we freshly bake it as we receive an order.”

DINING OUT

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Wellness-minded diners also love The Rink’s garden vegetable salad Naxos, which combines cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, mint and parsley. “We want our food to be authentic,” Maged says, drawing attention to the salad’s refreshing and tangy pomegranate dressing.

Interestingly the restaurant’s two bestselling meat dishes – the beef short-ribs and lamb shank – are both slow cooked. “Our chefs adopt a range of healthy cooking methods, for example, slow cooking,” says Maged. “Cooking at low temperatures allows the food to retain its nutrients, and at the same time flavours are evenly distributed which enhances the dish further.”

THE STYLISH MAIN DINING HALL

The Rink also makes sure that vegetarian diners are not left out; there is an extensive selection of non-meat dishes. Then of course, there are the desserts, including Kunafeh, a delicious filo-dough pastry that is ubiquitous across the Eastern Mediterranean.

SUSTAINABILITY The Rink understands that restaurants and sustainability now go hand in hand. Green practices include the use of energy-efficient equipment, LED lights and eco-friendly cleaning products. Recycling of glass, plastic and cans is a given, and biodegradable food packaging is used for takeouts.

A MEDITERRANEAN MEZZE

Furthermore, The Rink has implemented a zero-waste policy that staff must adhere to, which includes minimising food wastage through effective sales forecasting and using an efficient inventory system.

DRINKS In addition to its worldc l a s s f o o d o ff e r i n g s , T h e Rink offers an extensive selection of wine – 11 sparkling, 16 white and 27 red. The beer selection is more limited – two draught and three bottled. Cocktails and signature drinks are a speciality.

THE OPEN KITCHEN

The Rink All Day Lounge, in DB Plaza extension, is open six days a week, Tuesday to Sunday, for lunch and dinner.

To reserve a table, book the space for an event or order takeout, call 3709 6451.

Seeking a refreshing option? Try the homemade fruity Sangria, red or white.

Or the classic Smoked Negroni, which is made inhouse and barrelled for up t o t h re e m o n t h s t o b r i n g out the flavour.

THE SMOKED NEGRONI

SPECIAL OCCASIONS Needless to say, The Rink has positioned itself as a place to celebrate.

On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day this year, the restaurant provided complimentary specially designed cocktails and desserts for families. And there’s more to come, with plans for monthly food and wine pairing events, and special themed menus for festivals and holidays.

“We are currently preparing our Halloween festivities. We will decorate the venue and welcome kids to trick-or-treat at our door,” Maged concludes with a smile.

AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

37

PARENTING

/

! e v a r b r Find you

DEALING WITH CHILDREN’S FEARS To become brave, children need to experience fear and learn to tolerate it.

Reading scary stories together can help them with that. Ray Robertson reports PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels 38

AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

PARENTING

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their homes and with the attention of their parents.

It’s impor tant that children learn to handle feeing afraid, and one of the best places for them to do that is in the pages of a book.

ONCE UPON A TIME The first scar y books most kids read, or have read to them are fair y tales. Our children are weaned on versions of the Brothers Grimm’s medieval morality tales, in which beasts and innocents face off in dark forests or forbidding castles. The consequences of these clashes aren’t always pretty, and there’s a lot of fear to get through before the ‘happily ever after’.

Classic fair y stories from Sleeping Beauty to Snow White are big on dark supernatural forces – wicked witches cast cruel spells that mess with fair maiden.

These stories have some really tough life lessons to impar t (that have nothing to do with magic), and this is one of the reasons we continue to read them to our kids. But we also continue to read them to our kids simply because kids love them.

Of course, kids love all the good magic that’s expressed in fair y stories – fair y godmothers turn rags into ballgowns, animals talk and ever ything ends happily. So, is it that which makes them love fair y stories, that prevents them from simply being scared witless by them? In par t. But it’s impor tant to know that children learn to make the distinction between fantasy and reality ver y early on. By age seven, most kids know the difference between what is real and what is not and, once they are able to do this, most can cope with the scares they experience in the make-believe world of a book.

H

alloween is a strange sor t of festival, one that cuts with a double-edged sword.

Despite all the treats, sinister tricks lurk in the shadows. Children revel in the dressingup and love eating all the candy, but the supernatural element of things that go bump in the night is never far from their minds. And yet, or perhaps because of this, children love All Hallows' Eve. As parents, we have a responsibility to know the limits of what our children can handle. We don’t want to force them to hear a scar y stor y, if they’re not ready for it. On the other hand, we can’t protect them from their own developing emotions, emotions that are best explored and managed in the safety of

It’s true that scar y stories can cause nightmares (none of us has ever really come to terms with the horror of Bambi’s mother’s death) but generally speaking, the fears children experience in made-up stories are manageable. Kids can handle the fears they face in Neverland because Neverland doesn’t actually exist.

Kids are instinctively drawn to scar y things because they rely on the continuing safety of the real world.

And in the real world, ghosts and witches and evil fairies don’t exist. Reading scar y stories means visiting places where impossible things are suddenly, temporarily, possible.

In this way, scar y stories play an impor tant role in children’s emotional education, allowing them to identify and control their fears. They give them the chance to experience a really potent fantasy and almost live it, without any of the consequences. They get to experience fear in a controlled environment (in the fantastical world of the book) in the safety of their own homes.

The best children’s books are written in such a way as to help kids differentiate between what is real and AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

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PARENTING

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IT BECOMES EASIER TO STAND UP TO A BULLY AT SCHOOL ONCE YOU HAVE FOUGHT GHOSTS, MONSTERS OR ZOMBIES WITHIN THE PAGES OF A BOOK

and then stepping away is what makes them return for more. It’s exciting for them to discover that they can get through the fear, and that they can put the book down whenever they choose.

Children benefit from all this because they learn to grapple with the range of emotions – anxiety, sorrow, confusion, surprise, anger – that fear invites.

They come away from a scar y stor y with new tools for managing or controlling their reactions to fear.

Call it a new confidence or self-awareness, but it becomes par t of how they deal with trauma going for ward. Essentially, what children learn is courage.

It becomes easier to stand up to a bully at school once you have fought ghosts, monsters or zombies within the pages of a book.

There are multiple reasons why book series like Harr y Potter and Twilight captivate young readers. Children connect to the vulnerability of the characters, they live vicariously through their potentially fatal challenges and, when the last page is turned, they return to their real lives having sur vived Voldemor t or the Volturi.

Vampires are scar y. Dementors are too. Kids love to be scared, but not too scared. A parent’s job is to understand this, to invite discussion and make a variety of stories available. And to leave the night light on.

FEARS ARE MANAGEABLE IN MAKE-BELIEVE

what is not. A common device sees a book open in the real world, one with which young readers are familiar, that is populated by characters not unlike themselves.

Then, after a page or two, something happens to these characters, which means they transition into a world of make-believe. The Pevensies walk through a wardrobe and find themselves in Narnia, Max goes to sleep before sailing through night and day to meet the Wild Things. Children know when the bridge between reality and fantasy has been crossed, and they adjust their fear threshold accordingly.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER The other side of it is that kids, like adults, actually like to suspend disbelief ever y now and then, and really feel the fear. It’s fun for them to get so caught up in a scar y book that they scream when the flying monkeys swoop down on Dorothy, or when James attacks Bella in the dance studio. What they are enjoying is the thrill, the hyperarousal of the fightor-flight response within safe parameters.

Essentially then, kids are turned on by fear and their ability, through reading, to confront it and cast it aside. They find a way to control how scared they want to be. Scar y stories help turn children into readers; the adrenaline rush of seeking out danger 40

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HELPING KIDS MOVE PA ST FE AR 1. Recognise that your child’s fear is real, even if you think it is irrational. By acknowledging the fear, you validate your child’s feelings. View fear as an important opportunity for teaching, not as a character flaw.

2. Don’t pretend you are not afraid of things you fear. Better to tell a child you have a silly fear and you are working on it.

3. Emphasise your child’s strengths. Reminding a child of fears they have already overcome, helps them deal with new fears.

4. Provide reassuring touch. When a small child’s fears are activated, calming words alone probably won’t solve the problem.

Physical contact lets the child know that you are offering protection.

5. Don’t rush to reassure if you are sure that the child won’t be harmed. If you panic, the child will believe there is something to panic about.

PROTECT WHAT MATTERS SOLUTIONS FOR: ; Life Insurance ; Critical Illness Insurance ; Private Medical Insurance ; Income Protection Insurance www.lfsinsurance.com | info@lfsinsurance.com | +852 3115 7620

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE

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DEALING WITH BUSINESS INTERESTS IN DIVORCE SETTLEMENTS – HOW IT WORKS IN HONG KONG PHOTOS COURTESY OF Withers

Polly Chu and Jocelyn Tsao, Partners in the Corporate and Family Teams at Withers, outline what you need to know M a n y c o u p l e s i n H o n g K o n g h o l d i n t e re s t s i n companies that own landed properties or other investments. When the couples divorce, there are various ways in which corporate interests can be dealt with.

This article highlights some key considerations that divorcing couples should note if they desire to transfer their corporate interests in divorce proceedings.

METHODS OF DIVISION Rearranging corporate interests for a divorcing couple is not as simple as transferring one spouse’s shares to another.

There are many factors that need to be carefully considered before making such re-arrangement to prevent contentious issues from arising. The most effective way for such re-arrangement very often depends on the specific situation on a case-bycase basis. For example, if a company is jointly owned by a divorcing couple and each spouse wishes to keep a certain part of the business postdivorce, then it would be advisable to incorporate a new company, and transfer part of the business to the newly set-up company.

Alternatively, where a spouse does not wish to keep an interest in the company, then the spouse who elects to keep it should opt to pay the other spouse equality monies for there to be a fair division, either by making a lump sum payment or through periodic payment to the other from the company’s assets and/ or profits. If the paying spouse has liquidity issues, he or she could consider obtaining a director’s loan from the company or seek other forms of financing in order to pay the lump sum.

L a s t l y, i f n e i t h e r s p o u s e w i s h e s t o k e e p t h e corporate interest, it can be sold. It can be stated in the divorce settlement that the sale proceeds will be held by the solicitors who are appointed in the sale process and will distribute the proceeds (in the desired proportion) to the parties directly in order to avoid argument. If no sale of business is possible, parties may dissolve the company and distribute the remaining assets.

VALUATION Determining a company’s value is often an important aspect when negotiating settlement in divorce proceedings. It is important to know the 42

AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

value of the company in order to ascertain the size of the matrimonial pot for division. The divorcing couples should try to agree on a valuation of the spouse’s shareholding in the company, failing which they should appoint a single joint expert, usually an accountant or surveyor, to make a formal valuation.

However, there may be difficulties in evaluating a spouse’s shareholding if the spouse holding the shares is not concurrently a director of the company, or if other shareholders in the company do not wish to allow the company to be valued. As such, in order to inspect the books and accounts of the company for valuation purposes, it may be necessary to apply to the court for an inspection order.

CONTINUED CO-OPERATION In some instances, divorcing spouses may wish to continue co-owning or running their company together despite their divorce. We would recommend that these couples enter into a shareholders’ agreement to clearly delineate each of their shareholders’ rights and responsibilities in relation to the company. Doing so would help facilitate future co-operation and avoid arguments or deadlock situations regarding the management of the company.

Withers’ teams of matrimonial and real estate lawyers have extensive experience in dealing with Hong Kong family and property law. For enquiries, contact Polly Chu at polly.chu@withersworldwide.com or Jocelyn Tsao at jocelyn.tsao@withersworldwide.com.

Withers, 30/F United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty, 3711 1600, www.withersworldwide.com.com.

10th 27th October 2022 - SEMI FINALS＆FINALS LIVE at the Esterhazy Palace, Eisenstadt, Austria STREAMED LIVE, in real time and point to point at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall

who have made this Festival possible.

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Tickets for the events part of the 6th Hong Kong International Piano Competition / The Hong Kong Joy of Music Festival - 2022 will be available for sale at all URBTIX outlets starting on the 13th Sep 2022.

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INSIDER

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Top Tips!

ALCOHOL USE

While low to moderate alcohol use may offer some health benefits, heavy drinking – including binge drinking – upends a wellness-focused lifestyle. Samantha Wong takes a look PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels

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INSIDER

W

/

e all love to unwind at the end of the day… sometimes through a great yoga session or trail run, and sometimes in the plaza with the help of a few glasses of wine. Everything in moderation, right?

Or not? Do we know what alcohol actually does to our bodies? Do we know how drinking impacts our health? And just how much alcohol is too much alcohol?

IMPACT ON HEALTH First, the bad news. Moderate to heavy drinking brings a long list of potential health problems with it, such as cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes), liver and kidney dysfunction, diabetes, pancreatitis and osteoporosis. It is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, including breast, oesophageal and liver.

Furthermore, even moderate drinking messes with our hormones. It lowers testosterone, increases oestrogen and elevates cortisol (through poor sleeping patterns).

Both sexes are affected in terms of fertility. And perhaps most profoundly, heavy drinkers and their families tend to have decreased quality of life.

Now, the good news. Medically speaking, it’s fairly wellaccepted that low to moderate drinkers may actually be healthier as a group than people who don’t drink at all.

Studies show that low to moderate alcohol consumption (particularly red wine) may improve immunity, reduce cardiovascular disease and stave off Alzheimer’s.

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? So how much alcohol is too much? As with most health issues, the answer is different for each individual.

It also depends on our age and gender. Men can drink more because they have higher levels of alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme in the stomach that digests alcohol, meaning less alcohol actually enters their blood stream when they have a drink.

Low to moderate alcohol consumption is typically defined as five to eight drinks per week for men, two to six drinks per week for women. Moderate to high alcohol consumption is defined as 10 or more drinks per week for men, seven or more for women. Binge drinking is defined as five or more drinks at one sitting for men, and four or more drinks at one sitting for women.

Now consider that a ‘standard drink’ contains around 0.6fl oz pure alcohol. That’s about 12fl oz beer, 9fl oz malt liquor, 5fl oz wine and 1.5fl oz 80-proof distilled spirits.

DRINK YOUR SPIRITS WITH NATURAL LOW-SUGAR MIXERS

BETTER TO STAY ALCOHOL-FREE FOR THREE TO FOUR DAYS EACH WEEK, AND AVOID DRINKING IN EXCESS ALL TOGETHER...

WHAT’S YOUR POISON? If we’ve got a handle on our drinking and we’re drinking in moderation, which type of alcohol should we choose?

Are some drinks ‘better’ for us than others?

When it comes to spirits, the ‘cleanest,’ least inflammatory choices are low on sugar. Vodka and tequila are ‘good’ picks. And always drink your spirits without sugary mixers, which add extra calories. Try carbonated or soda water, with a splash of fresh lemon or lime juice.

And what of tonic? It doesn’t taste especially sweet (thanks to the bitter quinine), but it’s there on the label – 8g sugar per 100ml. This means that when you settle down to drink two modest gin and tonics, you consume at least four teaspoons of sugar. One AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

45

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alternative is to play around with soda and natural sweeteners – muddle some berries in the bottom of your glass or slip in an orange peel. But if you can’t imagine G or V without T, here’s a hot tip. Pay that little bit extra for Fever-Tree Naturally Light Tonic Water – it contains just 2.9g sugar per 100ml and has no nasty, artificially sweetened end flavour.

And so, to wine. Red is your best choice because it’s lower in sugar than white or sparkling. If you have gut issues, avoid beer and whisky as they often contain gluten and wheat.

THE DAY AFTER So does a big night out cancel out all the progress we’ve been making at the gym and with our diets? What’s the story behind alcohol consumption and fitness?

The first thing to consider is the way alcohol dysregulates hormones. These changes will increase fat mass, decrease muscle mass, increase muscle soreness and decrease your energy levels.

Alcohol metabolism also inhibits nutrient absorption, so that what you are eating doesn’t necessarily make it to the tissues and organs that need to recover. If you are an exercise enthusiast (three or more sessions weekly) and a moderate alcohol consumer, you are well advised to bolster your body’s post-fitness recovery with a couple of supplements. Take a quality multivitamin, fish oil and branched-chain amino acid on the days that you choose to have a drink.

BOLSTER YOUR BODY’S RECOVERY WITH A COUPLE OF SUPPLEMENTS

ESSENTIAL CHASERS Take Liver Support – a potent clinicalgrade formula containing milk thistle and other effective herbs – before you go out drinking. Our livers need additional nutrients to detoxify the alcohol and boost our immune systems.

And what of alcohol and weight gain? After you drink alcohol, your body diverts all of its resources to getting it out of your system, so it stops processing other forms of energy, storing them for later. A recent study suggests that it’s not alcohol itself that makes the waistline grow, but the food eaten after drinking that ends up on your love handles. Next time you have a drink, consider that everything you eat for the following hour will likely end up being stored, not burned.

Boost your intake of vitamin C (it restores cellular health damaged by alcohol consumption) and B-vitamins, which are highly depleted by alcohol and necessary for energy, a good mood and cognition.

Take magnesium (it supports relaxation, sleep and nervous system functioning) and zinc, which restores hormonal balance and the immune system after drinking.

As well as packing on the calories, alcohol can get in the way of our wellness goals, simply because of the way it makes us feel the day after. We’re grumpy and lethargic, and in the mood for nothing that can’t be achieved from the couch. Simply put, drinking is a demotivator. Why work hard on your diet and fitness goals all week, only to blow it all with a heavy drinking session on Friday night?

Ola Loa provides active vitamin B, vitamin D, magnesium and zinc, along with electrolytes and 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C. It’s an easy-to-take rehydrating drink, and provides a stronger detox than the popular Berocca or Emergen C.

Many of us are programmed to think of drinking as a reward, something we get to do after a tough day. But we need to rethink this. Better to stay alcohol-free for three to four days each week, and avoid drinking in excess all together. When we do drink, we need to be mindful about how much alcohol is going into our drinks and alternate them with a glass of water to stay hydrated.

See you Friday in the plaza!

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Nux Vomica 30 is another popular homeopathic remedy. It helps relieve the digestive stress and acidity caused by too much alcohol. You can also take a probiotic to restore the gut’s microbial balance after drinking.

ESCAPES

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! n a C u o Y Because CITY OF FUSION

Discover Malacca, Malaysia’s best-kept secret PHOTOS COURTESY OF Pexels

AT THE SOUTHERN TIP OF THE MALAY Peninsula, Malacca is known for its rich history, UNESCO World Heritage status and inspiring colonial architecture. It’s also a great walking town. The riverside promenade is the place to start, where former spice warehouses, some covered with colourful graffiti, reflect in the calm water.

COLONISED BY THE PORTUGUESE,

the Dutch and then the Brits, Malacca is awash with ‘European’ landmarks. There’s Red Square, built by the Dutch, which houses Christ Church, the oldest Protestant church in the country; there’s the 500-year-old, Portuguese-built Santiago Gate; and there’s the ultra-British Queen Victoria’s Fountain.

THE NIGHT MARKET ON JONKER STREET is a great place

to hang out on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. The centre of Chinatown, it used to be all about antique shops but now you find stalls selling everything from food and souvenirs to Studio Ghibli merchandise. Take a cute, ‘only in Malacca’ rickshaw back to your hotel.

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MALACCA BOTANICAL GARDEN is the city’s beautiful

ESCAPES

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green lung, part jungle and part landscaped park. There are paved trails along which you can walk, cycle or ride an electric buggy. The garden is also the base for the thrilling Skytrex Adventure, where you can zip-line, sky-bike, tree climb and bungee swing.

AT 153M, THE SHORE SKY TOWER is Malacca’s

highest viewpoint. From the 43rd floor, you can catch panoramic city views that stretch 50 kilometres in every direction. The perimeter wall is made out of glass so as not to impede the view and if you dare, you can walk out on to the vertigo-inducing glassfloored sky deck.

EATING IS THE NATIONAL SPORT in Malacca. Look out

for specialities like assam pedas (spicy, slightly sour fish curry) and satay celup (skewers of pretty much anything cooked in a boiling vat of soupy satay sauce). Of course, the authentic Indian curries are wonderful, and the rich and spicy laksa proves totally addictive.

MALAY, CHINESE AND INDIAN cultures meet and mingle throughout

the city. Jalan Tokong, aka Harmony Street, strings together the centres of worship of the three main faiths: Kampung Kling Mosque, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple and Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple.

AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

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B E N E F I T F RO M C LO U D AC C O U N T I N G Sharon McEneff, director of DB-based T8 Corporate & Business Services, explains the value of banking on the go

If you want your business to work smarter and faster, cloud accounting software is a wise investment.

The way we work is changing every year and cloud accounting systems are changing the way businesses operate and manage their financial information. If you haven’t looked into upgrading your processes to include cloud accounting systems, you might want to consider the following 10 benefits:

10. Integration with other systems: Some of the popular accounting systems integrate with HR and Sales systems, which streamlines the processes and increases the efficiency of the business over time.

1. Access from anywhere: The biggest benefit of cloud accounting is that you can access your bank account from anywhere and at any time from any device.

Because of its many benefits, high security standards and accessibility, cloud accounting is suitable for virtually every business, from sole proprietorships to multinational enterprises.

2. Data flow from the bank: The data flow from the bank is directly connected to the software so you only need to reconcile the payments, you don’t have to enter them.

3. Automated backup: Data is backed up automatically so you don’t have to worry about physical damage.

4 . S e c u re a c c e s s : C l o u d a c c o u n t i n g i s a s e c u re way to do business because even if your laptop is stolen no one can access your records without a secure login which is protected by a multi- factor authentication system.

IS IT SUITABLE FOR ME?

Finance and accounting are at the root of every b u s i n e s s . W i t h o u t t h e s e , y o u c a n ’t m o n i t o r the financial health of your business and you can’t make informed decisions. Therefore, an accounting solution that is efficient, reliable and up-to-date makes life easier.

Many new companies use a cloud accounting solution from the start, partly due to its low upfront costs. But even if you currently are on a traditional accounting system, you can switch to cloud accounting.

5. Quick decision making: With your financial numbers at your fingertips, you can make certain decisions quickly. After all, time is money.

6. Automated reports: There are several reports that you can download, including the cash flow statement, balance sheet and profit and loss statement, which reduces your workload.

Partner

7 . P a p e r- l e s s r e c o r d s : Tr a d i t i o n a l a c c o u n t i n g systems are supported by a lot of paperwork.

Digitised records save a lot of paper, as well as time and space.

8. Centralised database: With the accounts on cloud, it is easy to share them with any colleagues and auditors to whom you have given online access, which makes it easy to work across a team.

9. A c c u r a c y o f re c o rd s : T h e c l o u d a c c o u n t i n g software enables you to make edits and changes in the records online. These changes go live instantly so the accuracy of your digital records is much higher.

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At T8 Corporate & Business Services, we pride ourselves on delivering a comprehensive and dedicated service that is guaranteed to help you take your business to the next level and get your IRD filings completed on time. As Xero partners we can also offer a discount on an annual subscription.

Contact us today at info@t8corporate.com or visit www.t8corporate.com.

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Want to be part of our hospitality group in Discovery Bay where we operate 3 restaurants, 1 supermarket and 2 grocery stores?

Join us at The Rink All Day Lounge and attend our Recruitment Day Partner

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UNCLERUSS RUSSINSTAGRAM INSTAGRAMCOMPETITION COMPETITION UNCLE

WIN PRIZES FROM UNCLE RUSS COFFEE AND THE PIER BAR! The best snap wins! Your mission this month is to share your favourite photo of DB on Instagram, hashtag #arounddb. You have until the 10th of the month to enter.

This is your chance to win four complimentary coffees from Uncle Russ, or four beers from The Pier Bar. We will contact the winner via Instagram. Good luck!

Taken on Mid-Autumn Festival

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST MONTH’S WINNER: Albert Tsang @alberthktsang

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6314 9887 2988 1534 2328 7282

WELLBEING & BEAUTY Max Beauty Spa OM Spa, Regal Airport Hotel Tung Chung Nail Ninjas Quan Spa, Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott

2162 5752 2286 6266 9551 6468 969 21888

SOUTH LANTAU EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 Lantau South Police Mui Wo Fire Department

MEDICAL 3661 1696 North Lantau Hospital 2984 1570

HOME & REPAIRS Koon Wah Hardware Lee Wo Construction Engineering Man Shun Construction & Engineering New Look Design Papabo

2984 8487 2984 1802 2984 9833 9783 5840 5541 1502

HOTELS Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel

6810 0111 2985 8383

LEARNING CENTRES Ashville International Kindergarten & Nursery Buddhist Fat Ho College Lantau International Kindergarten Lantau International School, Reception, Lantau International School, Lower Primary Lantau International School, Upper Primary Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten Mui Wo Language Cafe Silvermine Bay School

2109 9886 2985 5365 2984 0302 2984 0302 2980 3676 2984 0302 3689 7033 5511 6107 2984 0006

The China Beach Club 3467 7000 The Gallery The Kitchen Treasure Island Beach Club REALTORS Findley Leung 2984 8334 HomeSolutions 3483 5003 RETAIL Friendly Bike Shop Garden Plus REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals 2421 8088 Island Wines FTC Relocations 2814 1658 Loi Chan Frozen Meat Co. Lee Hing Loong 2984 2268 Lantau Base Camp ReloSmart 2561 3030 Lantau Grocer SwiftRelo 2363 4008 Red Hall Chinese Antiques Tony’s Salon Value Vigilantes RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY Bahçe Turkish Restaurant 2984 0222 VIBE Book & Music Shop Bathers 2504 4788 Cafe Isara 2470 1966 Caffe Paradiso 2984 0498 China Bear 2984 9720 La Pizzeria 2984 8933 Lantana Italian Bistro 5465 5511 Long Island 2320 2001 Pause Cafe 5267 5549

2983 8931 2980 2582 5991 6292 5236 7013 2984 2278 2980 2233 9521 8481 2984 8346 9889 4375 2702 0050 2988 1368 2984 0990 6132 9120 9088 2370

SPORT & RECREATION Long Coast Seasports South Lantau Paddle Club Treasure Island Beach Club

5545 5625 6058 8843 2546 3543

WELLBEING & BEAUTY Pause by the Banyan Spa Ambiance

9708 0187 2984 2488

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LOCAL NUMBERS

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DISCOVERY BAY BUSINESS SERVICES T8 Consulting Ltd

2517 8248

EMERGENCY SERVICES 999 China Light & Power Emergency DB Fire & Ambulance Gas Leakage Emergency Hotline Lantau North Police Report Room

2728 8333 2987 7502 2435 4511 3661 1694

FINANCIAL SERVICES Bank of China 2160 8585 HSBC 2233 3000 HOME & REPAIRS China Light & Power Information DRS Company Good Luck Engineering Hung Kee Co May’s Furniture & Curtain Design Rich Point Hardware Materials Water Fault Reports Water Supplies Department Well Supreme Laundry

2678 2678 9156 0360 2987 1313 2987 5087 2987 0222 2987 0789 2811 0788 2824 5000 2987 5151

HOTELS Auberge Discovery Bay

2295 8288

LAWYERS & INSURANCE 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,

Manulife 9172 9152 LEARNING CENTRES 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 EpicLand Billed as Hong Kong’s tallest indoor entertainment centre, EpicLand is home to the city's first ‘air trek’, complete with eight sky-high obstacles, trampolines, slides and more. Contact 2441 0098, reception@epiclandhk.com, www.epiclandhk.com Tree of Joy A fun, engaging & supportive environment in which children play & learn. Programmes include a drop-off nursery class, parent-toddler class, afternoon camp & cooking class. Contact 3742 8772, info@treeofjoydb.com, www.treeofjoydb.com

Bayview House of Children DBIS DBIS Kindergarten Discovery College Discovery Mind International Play Centre Discovery Mind Kindergarten Discovery Mind Primary School Discovery Montessori Academy Dr Bear Education Centre Epic Adventurers Eye Level Education Learning Centre Funfit HKILA

La Petite Enfance Kindergarten Mandarin for Munchkins Mathemagic (home tutoring) SKH Wei Lun Primary School Sunshine House International Preschool Treasure House Woodentots Zhi Zhi Chinese 58

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6114 2436 2987 7331 2914 2142 3969 1000 2987 8088 2987 8088 2914 2202 2812 9206 9685 7856 2441 0098 9366 0000 6302 6327 2416 3198 8191 0813 2480 3909 9135 4724 2987 8608 2987 8143 2987 4217 6108 9131 9648 2966

MEDICAL Bayside Dental Practice 2987 0855 DB Medical Centre 2987 5633 Health & Care Dental Clinic 2666 6183 Island Health 2987 7575 North Lantau Hospital 3467 7000 Quality Health Medical Centre 2987 5633 Quality Health Physiotherapy 2473 6200 Lok Kwan Home Care Service 2803 2103 Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Lok Kwan District Support Centre (Islands) 2548 0060/ 2546 3739 Yulana Stynder Physiotherapy 5514 1008 PLACES OF WORSHIP DB Alliance Church Community Centre DB Anglican Church DB International Community Church Trinity Chapel

2987 8136 2987 4210 2987 7061 3590 8017

REALTORS Headland Homes Kingsland Land Master Property Okay.com Savills

2987 2088 2987 2987 2987 6238 2102 0888 2987 1919

REMOVALS & RELOCATION Akash Removals FTC Relocations ReloSmart SwiftRelo

2421 8088 2814 1658 2561 3030 2363 4008

RESIDENTIAL SERVICES DB Office Centre DB Lost & Found DB Management The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Typhoon Signal Enquiries

2238 3388 3651 2345 2238 3601 2259 3422 2835 1473

RESTAURANTS & FOOD DELIVERY The Rink All Day Lounge Located in DB Plaza Extension, the The Rink All Day Lounge specialises in international cuisine with a Mediterranean influence, offering guests a superior dining experience. To reserve a table, call 3709 6451.

101 Tasty House 22º North Bones & Blades Café Bord de Mer & Lounge Caffe Pascucci Cali-Mex Coffee Academics Coyote Mexican Cantina Ebeneezer’s Epic Foods Figos Seaside Café First Korean Restaurant HanMade Teahouse il Bel Paese Island Café Koh Tomyums La Creation & Châteraisé Levain Bakery Lekker Laa McDonald’s & McCafe Mirch Masala Moofish by Zak’s Osmanbey Turkish Restaurant Pacific Coffee Paisano’s Pascucci Italian Caffe & Fine Food Peony

2658 9696 2987 2298 2383 0792 2295 8299 2591 1426 2904 7698 2882 2280 2987 2848 2987 0036 2172 6111 2987 2995 2987 9123 2322 8858 2987 0202 2987 9311 2987 0767 2987 1829 2726 4922 6857 1620 2987 1033 2987 1387 2987 6318 5401 8350 2987 1662 2673 4445 2591 1426 2215 0833

LOCAL NUMBERS

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DISCOVERY BAY PizzaExpress Raf & Sons/The Rink Robata Master Shanghai Breeze Solera Starbucks Subway Sushi No En Taste of Thai The Pier Bar Three Sheets Marquee Bar Uncle Russ Viet Bu Tong Kitchen & Bar Zak’s

3164 1340 3611 8369 6636 3303 2987 7808 2555 0772 2246 8172 2914 0005 3705 9984 2987 2010 2520 2166 2987 0966 2840 1188 2338 8970 2987 6232

RETAIL & DAILY NECESSITIES 7-Eleven 2299 1110 Bloom 6117 7653 Bones & Blades Butcher 2383 0683 Bookazine 2987 1373 Circle K 2991 6337 DB Post Office 2987 6046 european touch 2918 0868 felix and mina

2130 7013 Fusion by PARKnSHOP 2987 7486 Garden A rtemis 9137 4833 Gillian Florist 2529 8256 Havana@ DBay 2918 0868 Island Wake 2636 0601 Japan Home Centre 2987 1041 Market Place and IKEA 2947 9092 Nomadic

2987 8460 Open Kitchen 2987 8720 P-Solution 2987 1777 Polishfood.hk 9546 0374 Rapee-living 2557 9233 She Creates Stories 9166 8077 Slowood 2944 5189 Star Mart 2366 6534 Tai Fat Hardware Store 2987 0789 The Dog’s Garden 2987 2077 The Optical House 2987 1368 Red Velvet 9010 5832 Toysland 2987 7859 Watson’s Pharmacy 2987 4089 Watson’s Wine 2987 0268 Wing On Department Store 2987 9268 YOPE 2185 6044

DB Golf Club DB Recreation Club DMR Embody EpicLand Future Stars Dance Academy Gallery Jeeum Greenwich Yoga School Harry Wright International HK Yoga Kapuhala Train-in-Space Korea Taekwondo Cheung Do Kwan Lantau Yacht Club MGK Fight Club Yoga Bay Yogika YogaUP

2987 7273 2987 7381 5210 7208 6624 8712 2441 0098 2987 6867 9819 7176 9685 8366 2575 6279 6113 6770 6101 8434 9663 8077 2987 9591 9688 4744 6704 9851 6749 7836 6805 4996

TRANSPORTATION DB Golf Cart Services DB Transportation Services Limousine Rental Wiselink Golf Cart Services

2914 2727 2987 7351 5303 3489 2987 9368

VETERINARY SERVICES & PETS Island Veterinary Services

My Pet Shop Pets Gallery Pet Space Club Ready, Pet, Go! The Dog's Garden

2987 9003 2987 8873 2987 0428 2788 1599 5721 6181 2987 2077

WELLBEING & BEAUTY Ingredients of Wellness Mindfulness training for children, teens & their parents and teachers. Offering Mindfulness Matters, Mindfulness in Education (for adults), AMT Mindfulness Teacher Training.

Contact 9048 5425, angie@ingredientsofwellness.com, www.ingredientsofwellness.com

Afflatus Hair Workshop Bay Spa DB Pure Spa Head to Toe Spa By Nailed it Herbal Health Care Nailed It! Salon De Coiffure Sophia Essentials Spa Botanica, Auberge Discovery Bay

2987 0283 9837 0969 9794 0918 2988 1188 2834 7276 2987 2266 2987 4112 2527 0118 2295 8129

SPORT & RECREATION HK Dragons Football Club Football for girls & boys aged 2.5 years to 14 years. Contact 2987 4274, dragons.hk

Island Dance ISTD 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

VIEW THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY @ www.arounddb.com

Tekkerz Football programmes for boys & girls for age groups U5 up to U14. Contact 9770 4548, train@tekkerzfootball.com, www.prosportsasia.com

BMSE Community Centre Club Siena

DBees

DB Ice Rink DB Pirates

2259 3422 2987 7382 9867 9240 2234 0187 9255 6133

To add your own directory listing box, call the Bay Media office on 2987 0167, or email info@baymedia.com.hk

AROUND DB / OCTOBER 2022

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OUT THERE

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Over the past 15 years, government printing presses have churned out trillions, cheered on by a generation for whom a serious downturn is Man U losing at home.

According to Howard Marks, head of Oaktree Capital (US$158 billion under management), one trillion dollars is US$10 per second for… 3,000 years. Read that again. And Apple is worth three trillion dollars.

Those who have tried to rationalise multi trillions have had their frontal lobes, cerebellum and basal ganglia burst into flames. We try to process these numbing figures with detachment, unable and unwilling to envision a vast doom machine built of laughable valuations. The property company China Evergrande has debts of US$300 billion. So what? say the financial markets, it’s only a third of a trillion (whatever that is).

US NATIONAL DEBT IS AT A PUNISHING US$36 TRILLION

! on o p m a L B D

AWAITING THE CRASH As we prepare for Farmageddon (Financial Armageddon), Peter Sherwood translates trivial trillions PHOTO COURTESY OF Pexels

I

n Philipp Dettmer’s book Immune, this jumped off the page: “There are about 10 million viruses in a single drop of seawater… for every grain of sand on Earth there are trillions of viruses.” Then there’s money. Not long ago a million dollars was a lot. Soon the world’s financial system went into billions, and before I could get my feeble mind around it, along came trillions, an incomprehensible number unless you’re talking Trump lies.

If masochism is your thing, then contemplate the world debt: US$250…trillion. The online debt clocks by country are racing around in a blur. Our logical next step is to sell everything and move to a well-stocked bunker to await the crash – and fend off starving Wall Street managers trying to sell their children. Compared to what’s going on in the world, China Evergrande is the place to stick your pension fund.

As we prepare for Farmageddon (Financial Armageddon), I have this for the ‘not many people know this’ crowd: One trillion in US pennies would weigh 3,125,000 tons. Vast debt doesn’t mean much until it’s your own. It seems, for example, that Americans sleep soundly in their beds knowing they are US$36 trillion in the hole. I’m betting they don’t know what a trillion is. And if they had that amount to spend at the rate of US$40 per second, it would take 792.5 years before they went broke.

While I’m on to crazy comparisons, did you know that dollar notes end to end would reach the moon and back 3.76 times. Piled up you’re looking at 10,921 kilometres skyward. Billions or trillions, does it make much difference? Yes. A billion seconds is 32 years. A trillion seconds is 32,000 years. A trillion is an idiotic sum. In 2000, the word ‘trillion’ appeared in the New York Times 856 times. In the first three months of 2021, it had already appeared 723 times. And in terms of insane national debt, we still don’t know what it means. But I can rent you a room in my bunker.

Note: The odds of you being born are close to impossible, although some scientists put it at 700 trillion to one. Buddhists think it’s like throwing a lifebuoy into the ocean at random and a turtle sticking its head through it – first try.

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.

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