Around DB September Issue 2019

SEPTEMBER 2019

Aim for all-round fitness Say goodbye to stress

Master the art of compromise Take time out in Ishigaki

JUST DO IT! ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

FREE

EAA LIC C-033418

We are proud to celebrate 30 years in DB! After three decades, we know that our specialty is matching the right properties to DB residents.

17M

3

CAPERIDGE

Gross: 1600sqft’ Saleable: 1359sqft

PROP 751

2

HOT PROPERTY COLLECTION 2

CHIANTI

Gross: 1022sqft’ Saleable: 780sqft

1

BEACH

3

Gross: 1368sqft’ Saleable: 1295sqft

Charles 6140 7971

Katie 9150 7319

2

9.6M

PROP 3882

70K

PROP 393

Rachel 9265 7555

2

HILLGROVE

Gross: 699sqft’ Saleable: 591sqft

Meeta 9047 7252

info@headlandhomes.hk

Sue 9700 2399

www.headlandhomes.hk

1

20K

PROP 6226

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

facebook.com/progressivesportsasia

CONTENTS

Join your community online

September 2019

PROFILE - 32 Alan Chung and Andrew Spires of Rotten Head Music & Craft Beer Festival

IN FOCUS - 36 How to achieve all-round fitness

EDUCATION - 48 Teaching kids to resolve conflict

TOP TIPS - 53 Simple stress-busting techniques

ESCAPES - 56 Why everyone’s talking about Ishigaki

12 REGULARS

If you have a story idea, email rachel@baymedia.com.hk To publicise a local event, email elizabeth@baymedia.com.hk For general enquiries, email info@baymedia.com.hk To advertise, email monika@baymedia.com.hk For graphic design, email corinne@baymedia.com.hk Call 2987 0577/ 2787 0886 Fax 2987 0533

AGENDA

27

SUCCESS STORY Han Gao

12

DB EVENTS

46

WISH LIST September must-haves

30

GIVEAWAYS

60

RECIPES Green juices

65

HK HAPPENINGS

DB FACES In and around the plaza

74

CLASSIFIEDS

70

76

PROPERTY

80

OUT THERE Peter Sherwood talks back

77

LOCAL NUMBERS

ON THE COVER Fit and fabulous: DMR School of Ballet’s Sienna Bertamini with Daniel Panckhurst of the Hong Kong Dragons

We also publish…

FREE August / September 2019

SEPTEMBER 2019

Aim for all-round fitness Say goodbye to stress

Master the art of compromise

To read the cover story, turn to page 36

ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

FREE

BOOST THE FENG SHUI ON YOUR BALCONY OR TERRACE

Photo by Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com

www.arounddb.com Publishers in Lantau since 2002

TAKE A GUIDED TOUR OF THE ISLAND’S BEST BEACHES

Take time out in Ishigaki

JUST DO IT!

2018 / 2019 WIN! Day passes to Hong Kong Disneyland

HIKE THE LANTAU TRAIL (SECTIONS 10 TO 12)

Remarkable Renee

FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF

2 01 9 YO U N G W R IT E RS C OM P E T I T I O N W I N N E R NEWS & EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

Publishers in Lantau since 2002

FOOD & DRINK • LIVING • PETS • SPORTS • PASTIMES • EDUCATION • HEALTH • BEAUTY • SERVICES • TRAVEL & EXCURSIONS • COMMUNITY

PUBLISHER Corinne Jedwood corinne@baymedia.com.hk MANAGING EDITOR Rachel Ainsley rachel@baymedia.com.hk PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Elizabeth Jerabek elizabeth@baymedia.com.hk ART DIRECTION Terry Chow terry@baymedia.com.hk ASSISTANT GRAPHIC DESIGNER Duey Tam duey@baymedia.com.hk DIGITAL & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Alexander Grasic alexander@baymedia.com.hk SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER Monika Carruthers monika@baymedia.com.hk OFFICE MANAGER Nikki-Ann Yee nikki@baymedia.com.hk PHOTOGRAPHERS Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com Col Sim www.colsimphotography.com CONTRIBUTORS Jason Broderick Tim Hall Elizabeth Kerr Claire Severn Peter Sherwood Dorothy Veitch PRINTING Champion Design & Production Co. Ltd Flat C & D 9/F Sing Teck Factory Bldg 44 Wong Chuk Hang Rd Hong Kong

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in AroundDB 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 LTD

www.evoqueportraits.com

AFTER-SCHOOL AND WELLNESS FAIR

Residents had a chance to discover what’s on offer within the community at the After-School and Wellness Fair at Zak’s on August 24. The fair featured many of DB’s local businesses and education providers. To learn more about a particular provider that interested you on the day, view the local business directories at www.arounddb.com.

s t n e v e y t i n u rece nt c om m

THE HOTTEST

IN DISCOVERY BAY

www.arounddb.com September 2019

13

DB EVENTS

HEALTHY CHICKEN

New to DB, Healthy Chicken celebrated its grand opening in DB North Plaza on July 21 with all day free-flow prosecco and free mini burritos.

Photos courtesy of Healthy Chicken

OPEN STUDIO ART EXHIBITION

DB-based artist Alicia van Thiel hosted an open studio art exhibition, Secret Gardens and Hidden Paths: A Journey Through Plein-Air,, at her studio in DB North Plaza on August 17.

www.evoqueportraits.com

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September 2019 www.arounddb.com

DB EVENTS

MOONTREKKER MANGROVE CLEANUP

Barclays MoonTrekker and The Nature Conservancy organised a joint clean-up of the shoreline and mangroves at Tung Chung Bay on August 17.

Photos by Terry Chow

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September 2019 www.arounddb.com

SPONSORED CONTENT

HEADLAND HOMES

HELPING THE COMMUNITY GROW AND PROSPER FOR 30 YEARS

O

Photos courtesy of Headland Homes

ne of the first businesses to open in Discovery Bay, Headland Homes is celebrating 30 years at the forefront of the local property market. The family-run business, headed up by director Christine King, has grown exponentially over the years, surviving both the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and SARS in 2003, and the team is looking confidently to the future.

“We believe DB will continue to expand,” says Rachel Nicholson, Christine’s daughter and partner in the business. “We are geographically located in the heart of Lantau yet close to Central, the airport, Shenzhen and Macau. The fact that we remain still slightly off the beaten track is what makes DB what it is today – special, peaceful and a thriving multicultural community far from the madding crowd.”

To keep up with the times, Headland Homes is marking its 30th anniversary with a big rebranding project, which sees the introduction of a new website and a new corporate colour.

The soon-to-relaunch website will be easier to navigate, have better search functionality, and will let people save and share property listings. There’s an eco-angle too, thanks to the introduction of an e-flyer that cuts down on paper usage.

“Our new slogan is ‘Your DB agent,’” Rachel says. “We started off doing Headland Drive when it was the first phase built but since then we have expanded and cater to all of DB and to all budgets.”

Ask Christine why Headland Homes continues to play a significant part in the DB property market, and she cites her years of solid experience – and all the personal referrals and recommendations provided by satisfied clients. “We are the kings of designer deals,” she says with a smile. “We specialise in luxury residential properties, and we pride ourselves on our first-class personal service, expertise and honesty.”

There’s also the fact that Headland Homes is a welcoming family-run business – three of Christine’s four children are on board, and even husband Brian plays a part. “If you look at the successful companies in Hong Kong; most are run by families,” Christine says. “So, I took a leaf out of their book and it’s definitely a recipe for success.”

It turns out each family member has something unique to bring to the table. “Katie [Jepson] has a knack for renovation and investment projects, Charlie [King] has a reputation for getting you the best deal, and I’ve specialised in the marketing for the business,” Rachel explains.

“Mixing your personal life with business can get tricky, especially when you are trying to enjoy some family time and can’t stop talking shop. But then again, it’s our personal involvement with what we do that has got us where we are today.”

FIND IT • Headland Homes, headlandhomes.hk

www.arounddb.com September 2019

19

DB EVENTS

YOUR GUIDE

E H T TO

L A I T N E S UPCOMING ES COMMUNITY EVENTS

TWILIGHT GOLF PACKAGE

MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL FUN!

Discovery Bay Golf Club

Across DB

Through October 15

The Auberge is offering residents 15% off festive lunch and dinner buffets from September 13 to 15, starting at HK$348 for lunch www.aubergediscoverybay.com and HK$468 for dinner. You can expect lantern-making activities and lantern riddling at Café bord de Mer & Lounge in the evening, plus mooncake-making workshops at Café Lounge in the afternoon. Discovery Bay Recreation Club is also hosting a mid-autumn celebration on the evening of September 13, complete with an arts-andcrafts workshop and lantern riddle games, plus Chinese tea and mooncakes.

September 13

www.pexels.com

Discovery Bay Golf Club (DBGC) is offering golfers a special twilight package, starting at HK$2,285, which includes an overnight stay at the club and breakfast. On the first day, you tee off after 4pm and enjoy nine holes of golf by twilight. On the second day, you get an early start on a full 18 holes on or before 8.30am. For more information, visit www.dbgc.hk.

TARAVANA RACE Tai Pak Wan

September 7

LANTERNS ON THE BEACH Tai Pak Wan

Pick up your lanterns and a blanket, and join the DB community for some harvest-moon gazing on the evening of September 13. And a reminder from DB www.evoqueportraits.com Green and Plastic Free Seas – be environmentally conscious on the night by avoiding glowsticks and single-use plastic.

September 13

DC UNIVERSITY FAIR Discovery College Students and parents interested in higher education opportunities are invited to attend the Discovery College (DC) www.discovery.edu.hk University and Careers Fair. DC, in conjunction with the British Council, welcomes representatives from over 120 colleges and universities from the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Asia and Europe. Admission is free. The event runs from 8.30am to 11.40am. For more information, visit www.discovery.edu.hk.

September 19

Photo courtesy of Sabine Fischer

Lantau Boat Club outrigger coach Thierry Tematuanui Delamare is the organiser of the Taravana Race, an Outrigger & Surfski Change Race of single and double craft that’s completely new to Hong Kong. While elite paddlers from across the territory race 68 kilometres around Lantau, land lubbers can enjoy a Polynesian Beach Festival on Tai Pak Wan. The family-focused event, running from 10am to 8pm, offers up live bands, dance performances, food stalls, tattoo booths and a paddling clinic. For more information, visit www.lantauboatclub.com.

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September 2019 www.arounddb.com

TRISHA HUGHES BOOK LAUNCH Bookazine Join DB resident Trisha Hughes from 5pm to 6pm at her latest book launch and signing. Victoria To Vikings: The Circle of Blood is the third instalment of her V2V trilogy, which traces 1,500 years of British www.trishahughesauthor.com monarchy all the way up to Elizabeth II, the longest reigning female monarch in history. To find out more and RSVP, email enquiries@bookazine.com.hk, or call 2987 1373.

September 21

CONGRATULATIONS PETER SANDHAM

Photo by Terry Chow

DB resident Peter Sandham has released Porphyry and Ash, the first book in his historical fiction series The Porphyry Novels. The novel is set in 1452 on the eve of the fall of what was then Constantinople, with a rich cast of characters navigating seas of change in the Byzantine court. Peter has lived in DB since 2014, and this is his first novel. To get hold of a copy, visit www.amazon.com.

LULU LAI DB’s first full-service nail salon, Nailed It, is celebrating its eighth anniversary. DB resident Lulu Lai opened the business in 2011 with the goal of providing a wide range of professional and creative nail services. Lulu later branched out with Head to Toe, to offer a range of professional massage services for a full pampering experience. For more information, visit the Nailed It and Head to Toe Facebook pages.

ENJOY FREE YOGA FOR

classes at Yoga Bay, DB North HELPERS Plaza on September 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 from 7am to 8am.

Call 6704 9851/ 9150 7019 or visi t yogabay.hk.

HAVE YOUR PRELOVED IT EMS COLLECTED at your home on Sep tember

3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24 & 26 from 2pm WhatsApp Nikki Boot at 9677 667 to 4pm.

6.

CONNECT AT THE DB ENTREPRENEURS NETWOR KING BREAKFAST at Zak’s on September 5

at 8 am. To register, visit www.t 8events.com.

ADOPT A PET through Hong Ko ng Paws Foundation (PAWS) in DB Plaza on September 7, 14, 21 & 28 from 2pm to 6pm.

Call Kat Cheung on 9485 5188.

STOCK UP AT THE PLAN

across from Haven Court on Sep T MARKET tember 7 from 2pm to 4.45pm. Call 2238 3617.

JOIN A DB GREEN/ PLASTI C FREE SEAS BEACH CLEAN-UP at Nim

Shue Wan on September 8 from 9am to 11am, and a joint clean-up with DB Green and Discovery Bay International School at Sam Pak Wan on September 21 from 9am to 11a m.

SHOP THE DISCOVERY BA SUNDAY MARKET in DB PlazaYon

September 8 from 11am to 6pm . Visit www.handmadehongkong.com .

RECYCLE YOUR CLEAN

and Tetra Pak-style drink carton POLYFOAM s by dropping them with a DB Green represent ative outside Hemingway’s on Septem ber 15 from 9am to 11am.

BUY LI

GHTLY USED GO DB Flea Market in DB Plaza on ODS at the September 29 from 12pm to 5pm.

HELP YOUR HELPER! Enrich HK workshops equip helpers with the tools to save, budget and plan for a future wit h greater financial security. Visit www.enrichhk.org .

www.arounddb.com

www.arounddb.com September 2019

21

DB EVENTS

COMPETITION #BEAUTIFULDB2019

Submission date: September 18

FOR A GOOD CAUSE HANNAH’S HEROES

THE AMBER FOUNDATION

www.timdraperphotography.com

Love.Together@DB, the community caring platform initiated by Hong Kong Resort Company, invites all DB residents of any age to celebrate the beauty of Discovery Bay. To enter the competition, simply tag and upload a photo of DB to Instagram (hashtag #beautifuldb2019) before September 18. The finalists’ photos will be published in Around DB and the community can vote for their favourite photograph on Facebook from October 8 to 15. To find out more, turn to page 29, or visit www.arounddb.com.

Photo courtesy of Gaylene Meeson

In her bid to raise funds for childhood cancer research, DBer Gaylene Meeson is shaving her head for the seventh time on September 20. Gaylene’s daughter Hannah is a brain cancer survivor and she attends Hong Kong International Learning Academy. Over the past six years, Hannah’s Heroes has provided St Baldrick’s Foundation with over US$2 million for childhood cancer research around the world. To make a donation, visit www.stbaldricks.org/participants/gaylene.

stock.adobe.com

Is your bathroom cabinet bulging with airline and hotel travel-and-toiletry kits you’re unlikely to use? The Amber Foundation collects and repurposes these kits for distribution amongst the homeless, women in shelters, refugees and the elderly. To get these kits where they’re needed most, drop them at Bookazine in DB Plaza. To find out more, visit The Amber Foundation Facebook page.

NEWinDB HABITAT PLAYGROUP

CLUB SIENA BUCKET POOL

THE FLOWER CLUB

habitatdb.com

Conveniently located near DB Plaza, Habitat Playgroup opened at the end of August, providing a fresh and exciting play space for children aged one to three years. “My children are my most precious possessions and I treat them like the treasures they are – let me extend the same care to yours,” says DB owner Sarah Knight. To find out more, email habitat.dbay@gmail.com or visit habitatdb.com.

22

www.dbrc.hk

Closed for renovation since October 2018, the bucket pool at Club Siena is reopening this month.

Expect new slides, a splash pad and waterplay features. For more information, call 2987 7382 or email dbrc-enquiries@dbrc.hk.

September 2019 www.arounddb.com

www.pexels.com

At online florist The Flower Club, DB resident Charu Dutt provides bouquets, weekly specials, bespoke services and delivery within DB. For more information and to subscribe, visit The Flower Club Facebook page, or WhatsApp 9706 0783.

S alsa Night

Li V E B anD

Great drinks, great food and great company.

Tel: 2321 5500 www.atavola.hk Follow us on Facebook for upcoming events

atavolahk

Shop E&F G/F, Seaview Crescent Plaza Tung Chung, Lantau Island

DB EVENTS

FAREWELL

LANTAU HIGHLIGHTS

EARLY ADVENTURES TO CLOSE

CITYGATE EXTENSION

www.novotelcitygate.com Photo courtesy of Sarah Overington

After 14 years, DB resident Sarah Overington has announced that she is closing Early Adventures Playgroup on September 20. “Sarah is a fantastic and nurturing playgroup teacher, who has positively touched the lives of so many families,” says Sina Smith, mum of a former pupil. “I have spoken to many fellow parents who are so heartbroken to hear that she is closing, which is a true testimony to the impact she has had on our community.”

Citygate Outlets in Tung Chung has doubled its size, thanks to a new extension delivering more shops, more restaurants and a four-theatre UA Cinema. Brands newly represented include Versace, Ermenegildo Zegna, BA&SH, Gap, Superdry, Jack Wills, Maje, Pinko, Reiss, Ted Baker and Theory. There’s also a new outdoor area for weekend markets and exhibitions, plus a large atrium for seasonal events. A five-star boutique hotel, The Silveri Hong Kong – MGallery by Sofitel, is coming soon. Visit www.citygateoutlets.com.hk.

SAVE the DATE HOKA ONE ONE LANTAU 2 PEAKS Start: Citygate, Tung Chung

ROTTEN HEAD FESTIVAL Tat Tung Road Park, Tung Chung

October 26

October 6

www.kevinku.com www.actionasiaevents.com

Lantau trail race season kicks into gear with Action Asia Event’s HOKA ONE ONE Lantau 2 Peaks. Participants choose between the 23-kilometre (two peaks) course tackling Hong Kong’s second and third highest peaks – Sunset and Lantau, and the 15-kilometre (half peak). Both courses deliver splendid sea views and challenging climbs. To register, starting at HK$420, visit www.actionasiaevents.com.

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September 2019 www.arounddb.com

The all-new family-friendly Rotten Head Music & Craft Beer Festival is set to deliver pop-up shows, the Handmade Hong Kong market, food stalls, dance performances, a baby disco and kids’ area. There are 11 music acts on the bill and 10 local craft breweries are showcasing 30 of their labels. It’s HK$300 for advanced admission and HK$350 on the door. Kids under 12 get in for free, and 12 to 17-year-olds pay HK$100. To find out more, visit www.rottenheadfest.com, or turn to page 32.

TEA

Rosy Rooibos

Premium Zhuyeqing

Peach Oolong

Strawberry Rooibos

Passion Fruit Ceylon

Jasmine Flower

Sweet Potato & Egg

Orange

CAKES

Black Sesame

Rose

Mocha

Grape

We are a garden-themed teahouse providing assorted organic tea paired with delicate and healthy tea-cakes.

Afternoon-tea Set for 2, $250/person 4 pcs of sweet-tasting tea-cakes 3 pcs of flaky pastries 8 pcs of sandwiches 2 Greek yogurt with freeze-dried fruits 2 pots of any tea hot/iced *No Flavourings/additives/added sugar or any nonsense in our tea. *We either use fresh fruits or freeze-dried fruits for our food and drinks.

DB North G10 (right next to T4/T9 bus stop) 2322 8558

info@hanmadetea.com

Facebook: HanMade Teahouse Cakes Flowers Instagram: hanmade_teahouse

BUS STOP AUBERGE HOTEL

Han Made

NORTH PLAZA

SUCCESS STORY

DB

Entrepreneur of the Month Han Gao, Founder of HanMade Teahouse

Photo by Baljit Gidwani- www.evoqueportraits.com

M

y business is centred around tea, cakes and fresh flowers. But it is more than that, it’s about the whole therapeutic experience we try to offer. We want people to feel refreshed and pampered after spending time in our store, after trying our healthy, carefully blended tea and delicate and delicious teacakes. In setting up HanMade Teahouse, I handpicked every little detail myself, everything from the teas to the furnishings and accessories. I also created every blended tea on the menu. I wanted to create something healthier and better, something pleasantly surprising, and in so doing inspire healthier and happier living. The thing that interests me most about my business is the way we innovate. I take much pride in the top-quality teas I create and I never compromise. For instance, to preserve the aroma and nutrients, I use freeze-dried fruits. Most of the other blended teas on the market rely on dried fruits, artificial flavourings and additives. Likewise, I use fruit or vegetable powders in the cakes instead of colourings and additives. To succeed in business, you need to constantly remember the original driving force that got you started in the first place. My aim was to surprise people and improve their quality of life, by providing unique, top-quality teas and cakes. To achieve this goal, I need to stay original, focus on the product and be patient. I feel absolutely thrilled when customers recognise my efforts and passion to excel. To start up my business, the greatest challenge I faced was that I was new to Discovery Bay and had no idea what resources were available. But it’s been fun because the more I find out, the more I like this place. I’ve lived here now for a year and a half, I’m very proud to say that our community is very friendly and supportive. My greatest achievement is that almost everyone who has been to our store has given us positive feedback. But it’s too early to talk about achievement at this stage, staying humble and dedicated is very important. My plan for the future is to take things one step at a time! I believe there is a lot of potential for the business to grow and expand, but I don’t want to get too carried away. The most important thing now is to keep finetuning the products. The concept is very new, so I am constantly dreaming up new products and ways to improve existing ones. I intend to always listen to our customers and act on their feedback. When hiring staff, I always look for people who are kind, warm and customer-focused, with a positive attitude. Having the right staff is essential to the success of the business and to the community as a whole, after all, positive vibes are contagious. My favourite social media platform is Instagram because I find it aesthetically pleasing and it can be used to convey ideas directly and easily.

FIND IT •

HanMade Teahouse, Shop G10 DB North Plaza, 2322 8558, info@hanmadetea.com, HanMade Teahouse Cakes Flowers Facebook page, Instagram: hanmade_teahouse Find more local heroes @ www.arounddb.com www.arounddb.com September 2019

27

BEAUTIFUL

DB

2019

PHOTOGR APHY COMPETITION

Enter to win prizes by posting your best shot of DB on Instagram with the hashtag

#beautifuldb2019

Entry method Post to Instagram using

#beautifuldb2019

• All DB residents, of any age, can enter to win by tagging and uploading a photo to Instagram, #beautifuldb2019, before September 18 • First prize: A stay at the Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong, including a dinner buffet for two • Runners-up prizes: A dinner buffet for four, a lunch buffet for two, and more • Finalists’ photos are published in the October issue of Around DB, followed by online voting on Facebook, October 8-15, to pick the winner • The winner and runners-up are announced and published in the November issue of Around DB • Visit www.arounddb.com for more competition information Love.Together@DB is a community-caring platform initiated by Hong Kong Resort Company 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.

GIVEAWAYS

HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES! Around DB prizes are incredibly easy to get your hands on, and you have until the 10th of the month to apply.

Scan the QR code, or go to www.arounddb.com/giveaways, select the giveaway you want, and enter your details into the online form

Win tickets to see James and the Giant Peach Faust International Youth Theatre is offering two readers two tickets (worth HK$290 each) to the opening night of its upcoming production of James and the Giant Peach on November 7, at 7.30pm at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Wanchai.

www.faustworld.com

Performed by young and talented actors and actresses aged eight to 18, James and the Giant Peach is Faust International Youth Theatre’s first production of the 2019 to 2020 season. This gigantic reimagining of Roald Dahl’s first novel, running from November 7 to 10, is suitable for kids aged four and above. For tickets, starting at HK$250, visit www.hkticketing.com.

Win tickets to see The Gruffalo at KidsFest 2020 ABA Productions is offering two readers two tickets (worth HK$435 each) to see The Gruffalo on January 16, 2020, at 5pm at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Wanchai. Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in this magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

www.aba-productions.com

KidsFest 2020 performances are showing from January 15 to February 23, and tickets are now on sale. Further highlights include the all-new Mr Men and Little Miss, and return visits to Hong Kong for classics like Dinosaur Zoo and Dr Bunhead’s Blast Off! For tickets, visit www.hkticketing.com.

Win tickets to Sake Walk Jebsen Fine Wines is offering four readers a pair of tickets (worth HK$280 each) to enjoy Sake Walk 2019 at House 1881, Canton Road Tsim Sha Tsui, on September 21, from 12pm to 10pm.

www.jebsenfinewines.com

Hong Kong’s largest sake consumer event showcases over 80 sakes from 14 breweries across Japan, offering guests the opportunity to discover, try and buy. Jebsen has partnered with Asia Wine Service & Education Centre to host 60-minute masterclasses, that you can sign up for online or on the day. Each masterclass is followed by a guided tasting of four sake varieties. For tickets, starting at HK$100, visit www.jebsenfinewines.com/sake-walk-hk.

Congratulations to last month’s winners Marion Udall, Yuet Tung Fu and Rhys Kendall for a children’s haircut at Afflatus Hair Workshop; and Lyndsay McKenzie and Daniel Ashcroft for day passes to Hong Kong Disneyland.

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September 2019 www.arounddb.com

PROFILE

Cheers to the

music

Photos by Duey Tam

Alan Chung and Andrew Spires are throwing their hats into the local music ring with the upcoming Rotten Head Music & Craft Beer Festival in Tung Chung. Elizabeth Kerr reports

32

T

o say that Hong Kong-born marketing executive Alan Chung is fond of beer is an understatement, but one that also makes him seem like an out-ofcontrol Wanchai lad when taken out of context. He’s not. He’s just sat down at the Starbucks in ifc mall after a long day a short MTR

ride away in Olympic, taking time out of his already truncated evening. It’s nearly 8pm and he has two young children. He’s not the irresponsible type.

But ask Alan what he’s looking forward to most about the upcoming Rotten Head Music & Craft Beer Festival in Tung Chung,

September 2019 www.arounddb.com

that he’s co-organising with best mate Andrew Spires, and he doesn’t hesitate. “For me it’s about the beer. You know where I’m going,” he says with a laugh.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to sample all the beers.”

That could be a challenge given Alan hopes to have upwards of

The duo met through their children; Andrew is also father to two toddlers. “Alan’s wife and [my wife] Nancy had a baby around the same time, so coffee mornings led to beers. Just sitting in the park, watching the kids running around and realising there’s nothing to do in Tung Chung… that’s where the idea for the festival was born,” he recalls.

Police in London” working in the graphic studio, where evidence was visualised for trial. He met his Hongkonger wife in the UK, and the two settled in Tung Chung four years ago. “I was supposed to be doing with the Hong Kong police what I did in London but it never happened. That was my Plan A,” Andrew says. “I didn’t have a Plan B.”

“It started because we both wanted to do something on our own that was fun,” adds Alan.

“We were talking about what was happening in and around Lantau and we thought there was room for something like this.”

Alan was born and raised in Hong Kong, returning in 2009 after studying market research – “Technically ‘management science,’ but I still don’t know what it means,” he quips – in London.

He met his wife Rebecca here, and like Andrew and Nancy they’ve put down roots in Tung Chung.

After a quick couple of messages the next morning to confirm each was committed to the idea, the pair fleshed out a plan. Initially considerably more ambitious – Alan admits he flirted with multiple, spread out, themed shows – they settled on a one-day event in Tat Tung Road Park, right beside the cable car station.

Andrew Spires and Alan Chung with their kids at Tat Tung Road Park

30 local suds available at Rotten Head on October 26, and that Alan and Andrew are running the event. They’ll likely have a million little things to do on festival day.

But Alan lives in perpetual hope.

Co-chief festival dudes As co-chief festival dudes – “Director sounds so dry. We have no idea how this ‘should’ be done,” says Andrew of the pair’s unconventional title – Alan and Andrew hatched the idea of Rotten Head in much the same way most creative entrepreneurs in Hong Kong do. They wanted something that didn’t exist, so they made it.

It helped that the bureaucracy, cost and logistics forced them to keep the first year’s event a modest one.

After all, they both worked full time, though Andrew recently resigned (from his senior graphic designer role here at Around DB) to be a freelancer, ‘househusband’ and chief festival dude.

Securing the location and endless permits, and then cosying up with local brewers and bands was plenty to deal with. Regardless, they were undaunted. “All these factors mean it doesn’t make sense to organise something like this unless you’re as mad as we are,” chuckles Alan.

Of his background, Surreyborn Andrew says he “went to university for 12 weeks, studying rural resource management, and then dabbled in 17 careers before landing at the Metropolitan

A winning combination Alan and Andrew struck upon the idea of Rotten Head – whose name comes from the literal translation of Lantau Peak – not only due to Alan’s fondness for beer (he’s an amateur micro brewer) but because live music could use a boost in the SAR, and local business (breweries) could use the exposure.

They were heartened by the response they got after floating the idea on Facebook, and by the reaction of the artists they wanted on board. “What’s inspired us is how helpful other festival organisers have been with advice,” Andrew says. “We spoke to the guys at Clockenflap about the inner workings of festival organising and their help has been invaluable.”

Mix music, beer and a Handmade Hong Kong market, food vendors, a kids’ zone and an effort to go single-use plastic-free and the attention comes naturally.

Yes, the idea is to make Rotten Head a low-impact festival with zero single-use plastic. “We’re working with Dana Winograd of 

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33

PROFILE

For Andrew, it’s all about the music

Plastic Free Seas to create the best eco-festival possible,” Andrew says. “Dana introduced us to lots of people who are also trying to be green. She is realistic about the expense and effort involved but has urged us to either try and find alternatives to plastic or to reuse.

We’ll be serving beer in cups that were used at the Hong Kong Sevens. The aim is for Rotten Head to give to the community, without taking from the environment.”

Despite how solid the idea is – craft beer producers Moonzen, Gweilo, Hong Kong Whistle, Yardley, Water Buffalo and Brew Commons are among the 10 local craft breweries who will be showcasing 30 of their labels – Alan and Andrew know they have their work cut out for them at a busy time of year. Rotten Head (October 26) will be swiftly followed by The Big Picnic (TBP) here in Discovery Bay (November 9) and Central’s big ticket Clockenflap (November 22).

More music is never a bad thing but Andrew admits to a certain amount of anxiety.

“I have anxious dreams about this. I had kind of a nightmare the other day where there were just 200 people milling about looking a bit disappointed,” he jokes with a nervous laugh. He’s over-reacting.

Rotten Head was early bird priced at HK$250 – for the record that’s less than the cost of one adult ticket to see Avengers: Endgame in 3D IMAX on a Saturday night or a standard Ngong Ping cable car ride – and it’s HK$300 for advanced admission and HK$350 on the door. Kids under 12 get in for free, and 12 to 17-year-olds pay HK$100. Alan and Andrew are looking for sponsors, and hope their green credentials go some way to support this. And the call is out for volunteers – in exchange for a five-and-a-half-hour shift, you get free park entrance, food and drink.

Alan’s focused on the 30 craft beers

On the bill are 11 music acts, including The Pistons, The Sleeves and headliner Ari Clan from Macau. DB musos will be happy to see TBP regulars Glen Alfred, 852, Jack Rabbit Slim, Case Sensitive and The Taken on the Rotten Head line-up, as well as Powerful Moss, a DB-based band that has yet to play at TBP. “You can’t always find all this talent in one spot, on one day in Lantau,” says Alan. “We’re sticking to local too, and people are responding to that.”

If things go their way, the duo may expand Rotten Head in the coming years into a year-round event, and ultimately turn it into a second (or 18th) career. But for now, they’re sticking to their single location, focusing on music and malt, and bringing a little of that festival culture to Tung Chung. All that’s missing is the grass.

Find more local heroes @ www.arounddb.com

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September 2019 www.arounddb.com

503 Tak Woo House 1-3 Wo On Lane, LKF Central, HK Tel: +852 2810 1356 Email: info@ozziecozzieco.com

IN FOCUS

Fancy

Photos by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

A

36

s pastimes go, ballet and football would seem to be at polar ends of the spectrum – one is considered primarily an art and the other a fast-paced sport.

There’s the typical gender split too. Of course, both are open to all, however even in today’s more enlightened times, the old traditions often still hold true.

But what if I told you that some professional footballers, and indeed athletes from many other disciplines, practise ballet as part of their training routine and that ballet dancers look to enhance their skills by partaking in a variety of other sports.

Surprised? It actually perfect sense.

makes

All-round fitness

Consider both disciplines – both require a certain level of fitness to perform well. Sure, ballerinas don’t spend their time running up and down a 100-metre-plus pitch week-in, week-out, but what they do requires strength and endurance, which is exactly what a footballer needs too.

“Ballet exercises boost strength throughout your body, from the small, intrinsic muscles of your feet to the larger muscles of your legs, abs and back,” explains Dawnna Wayburne, 36-year DB resident and founder of DMR School of Ballet (DMR). “Glutes and calves definitely get a workout during class too.”

Equally, on the face of it, footballers don’t appear to focus on poise and elegance, but take a closer look at what they get up to on the pitch, and the best of the best are nimble, precise and demonstrate incredible balance and agility.

Another key muscle group that ballerinas rely on is the core. In order to make those moves look so effortless, dancers need balance – when your arms and legs are going in different directions, you need to keep your abs switched

September 2019 www.arounddb.com

footwork

positively affect the body through what we call ‘football-specific’ strength and conditioning.”

Wayne says the list of health benefits that football offers is endless, from agility, balance and coordination – “the most vital components in my opinion at a younger age” – to power, speed, reaction time, strength, endurance, cardiovascular fitness and body composition. And it can be enjoyed by all.

The feel-good factor

Addressing the topic of fitness for all, Claire Severn speaks to experts from the worlds of ballet and football and discovers a surprising degree of overlap

HK Dragons player Daniel Panckhurst

on at all times. Whether it’s a slow, delicate movement or a fast-paced leap, that centre is all important.

But what of aerobic fitness? Ballet dancers need a great deal of stamina, but are barre classes alone enough? According to Dawnna, the answer is to balance dance training with other physical activities, such as targeted cardio and weight training.

“A typical ballet class involves short bursts of high-energy combinations that can leave a dancer feeling winded,” she says.

“Those cardio moments in class are interspersed with slower, adagio movement combinations.

As a result, ballet dancers can demonstrate lower levels of cardiovascular fitness, however this is offset by other significant benefits, such as muscle toning, which helps with increased resting metabolism.”

As it turns out, football offers a mixed bag too, and while cardio plays a significant part, it’s not the only area of fitness the sport develops. “Football is generally made up of lots of high-intensity actions,” says Wayne Thomas, ex-Premier League player and director of coaching at HK Dragons Football Club. “These improve anaerobic fitness on top of aerobic improvement and

Which brings us on to a different aspect of health – that of mental wellbeing. “All too often in youth football, the social and psychological benefits are overlooked,” says Wayne. “At Dragons, we aim to provide the best possible environment for young players to develop. By tailoring sessions to individuals and not just groups, participants can enjoy all sorts of benefits, such as increased confidence, self-esteem and concentration, stress relief, learning how to manage and deal with mistakes, humility, respect, teamwork, leadership, empathy… the list is endless.”

Dawnna says that ballet offers similar benefits. “The intense physical workout of ballet releases endorphins, giving participants a real feel-good factor, both during and after class.

“In addition, classical music has been shown to have positive, calming influences on the brain and aids focus and concentration, all of which helps to create happy ballet dancers. Students at DMR feel like they’re part of a team; they have common goals and are committed to their own success, as well as that of their peers.”

It’s not just the young who can benefit either. “Popular right now  is the Silver Swan programme

www.arounddb.com September 2019

37

IN FOCUS

in the UK, aimed at over 60s,” explains Dawnna.

“Research has positioned dance ahead of other physical activities for this age group in terms of the health benefits it offers, such as improved balance, minimised falls and increased cognitive abilities.

Likewise, the social benefits of dance amongst this age group have also been well documented.”

Dawnna also points out findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which suggest getting footloose on a regular basis is linked with a 76% reduction in dementia risk.

Compete against yourself But just how much exercise – ballet, football or otherwise – should we be doing to improve our fitness? Is there an optimal level? “With any sport or activity, the more you do, the better/ more conditioned you’ll become and the greater the gains will be,” says Wayne.

“However, it’s important to understand that rest and recovery periods are vital in terms of fitness development, especially in the maturation of younger players, where we must take into consideration the fact that their bodies are going through changes in physiology at different rates.

“There is also lots of evidence out there to suggest that early sports specialisation is detrimental to the development of younger athletes, therefore I would advocate that the more sports and activities a young player is involved in, the better.”

Dawnna says that listening to your body is important too, as is concentrating on form. “A great way to stay fit and to keep your body in its optimal state is to work on improving your technique,” she

DMR School of Ballet student Sienna Bertamini

imparts. “The more you focus on this, the less likely you are to get badly injured.” Any other advice?

“Get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of water and eat nutritional meals.”

“Enjoy the process of learning through both success and failure,” adds Wayne. “Be proud

of your achievements. All players will develop at different rates – physically, psychologically, socially, technically and tactically – so rather than competing against others, compete against yourself. Ask yourself ‘Can I be better today than I was yesterday?’”

FIND IT • Based in DB Plaza, Hang Hau and Clearwater Bay, DMR School of Ballet offers students, from the age of three to adult, the opportunity to learn to dance in a professional and enjoyable environment. In addition to ballet, tap and modern, there are creative non-syllabus classes such as Fun Ballet and Tots in Tutus. Visit www.dmr-hk.com • HK Dragons Football Club offers year-round coaching in DB, Pui O and Stanley for girls and boys of all abilities, aged three to 18 years. Coaches aim to motivate players to try new things, develop their game skills and realise their full potential, both on and off the pitch. Visit dragons.hk

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September 2019 www.arounddb.com

More than just dance

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G/F Natuzzi Stylish selection of exclusive home furniture G/F Roche Bobois Celebrating the French Art De Vivre around the world 2/F Sonder Living Premium home furnishings and lifestyle products 5/F OvoHome Exquisite custom-made furniture 6/F Indigo Stylish and eclectic furniture 7/F Garden Gallery Quality European outdoor and landscape supplies 7/F MOD High-end furniture and stylish home accessories 7/F Nook Living Stylish Italian furniture design at competitive prices 8/F Bowerbird Home Thoughtfully curated furniture, accessories and homeware 8/F Harbour 1976 Uniquely designed outdoor furniture with incredible durability 8/F Organic Modernism Fine and functional home and office furniture 9/F Barbecue in All Wide range of barbecue and living gear 9/F Everything Under The Sun The latest quality outdoor furniture for high-end homes 10/F Areahome Indoor and decorative items for the home 11/F Flexa Eco-friendly kids’ furniture 11/F Spaceman Space-saving furniture 12/F Infurniti Homes Sophisticated classical furniture with a contemporary twist 12/F Sun Garden Premium Quality outdoor and barbecue supplies 15/F Irony Home Top-grade indoor and outdoor furniture 16/F Patio Mart Quality outdoor lifestyle products at reasonable prices 16/F Phoenix Curtains Fine classic and modern curtains, plus custom-made sofas and upholstery

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Nook Living offers modernstyle designer furniture and accessories. It also specialises in custom-made wardrobes.

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Phoenix Curtains is a onestop shop for curtains, blinds, custom-made sofas and upholstery.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Style up your home with a visit to Horizon Plaza in Ap Lei Chau!

W

ith the entire internet at your fingertips these days, it has never been easier to decorate your home. But despite the endless options online, there is often no substitute for shopping in person in the store to get a sense of how different elements – rugs, curtains, furniture, art and lighting – can come together in harmony to make your space a welcoming and comforting refuge.

If you are looking to break out of the Ikea rut, Horizon Plaza in Ap Lei Chau is worth the trip.

Converted from a factory building and packed to the rafters with home furnishing stores, it covers more than 500,000 square-feet over 25 floors, meaning there’s a good chance you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for. And whether you’re furnishing your nest from scratch, or just looking to add a new design element or a bit of flair, here are some decorating tips to keep in mind.

Photo by Jens Lindner - unsplash.com

Live with it

44

When moving into a new apartment, resist the urge to decorate everything all at once. Not only can this be overwhelming, but you also don’t know enough about your new home to know what you will actually need. A better strategy is to start with some basic essentials (a place to eat, a place to sleep, a

place to sit), and then live with the space for a while.

Over time, you’ll figure out what works best for the space, and for your lifestyle. For instance, if you’re the outdoorsy type and lucky enough to have a patio or balcony, you might find you want to use your outdoor area as a second living room. You’ll find many specialist stores at Horizon Plaza, including some of the big guns, like Everything Under The Sun. Garden Gallery is definitely worth a look; it specialises in all kinds of outdoor and landscape supplies ranging from al fresco furniture and gardening equipment to lighting, storage and grills.

At Harbour 1976, meanwhile, you’ll find both outdoor and indoor furniture collections, all of which are premium in design and durability, with a great sense of culture derived from Australia’s beautiful coastline. Organic Modernism is also big on nature-inspired pieces, many of which are made from American walnut and bronze.

Frame your space When decorating, it’s a good idea to start by framing a room and looking to the floors and windows.

Figuring out what you want and need underfoot and at your windows can set the tone for an entire space.

September 2019 www.arounddb.com

You’ll want to find the right balance of texture, colour and function, and a good solution can be to talk to the experts at Carpet Buyer in Horizon Plaza. Asia’s largest rug warehouse, stocking 5,000 discounted handmade rugs, Carpet Buyer specialises in fine, Persian, old and antique rugs but also stocks a stylish contemporary range.

Phoenix Curtains, meanwhile, is your one-stop shop for curtains and blinds, as well as custommade sofas and upholstery.

Establish zones Another helpful strategy is to break up a room or open-plan living space into different functional zones, allowing it to serve many purposes. Once you work out how you’re going to use the space, you can add furniture, rugs and lighting to organise and delineate the different zones. Place a desk in a corner and you’ve created a

home office. Feel you’d benefit from an indoor conservatory? Line the opposite wall with plant pots and hanging baskets.

Not only is Horizon Plaza a onestop shop in itself, many of the stores within it provide furniture for every room. Choosing key pieces, like the dining table, sofa and lamps, from one store not only makes life easy, it helps you create a cohesive look by ensuring that different rooms, or zones within rooms complement one another.

Nook Living offers modern Italian furniture and accessories, and provides a design service to custom-make key pieces, which can be incredibly useful in a hardworking living space.

Mix and match There’s no better way to bring personality to a space than by combining interesting pieces from different times and places. It’s about mixing and matching trophy

items that are both functional and design-forward. Which is not to say anything goes, but if you pay careful attention to what appeals to your design aesthetic you can find a way to combine different influences and styles.

Living in Hong Kong, it’s likely you’re a fan of the East meets West look, and here again many Horizon Plaza stores deliver. For timeless, quality Japanese and Malaysian furniture, make your way to Takumi.

FIND IT When you’re exploring all there is on offer at Horizon Plaza, be sure to stop by: • Carpet Buyer, www.carpetbuyer.com • Everything Under The Sun, www.everythingunderthesun.com.hk • Garden Gallery, www.gardengallery.com.hk • Harbour 1976, www.harbouroutdoor.com.au • Nook Living, www.nookliving.com.hk • Organic Modernism, www.organicmodernism.com • Phoenix Curtains, 2866 6686 • Takumi, 2517 2000 To check out the 100+ Horizon Plaza stores, visit www.horizonplazahk.com. www.arounddb.com September 2019

45

WISH LIST

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EDUCATION

SORT IT OUT!

Photo courtesy of St David’s College

Once children learn how to mediate, they can discover a way forward that will work for all concerned and at the same time take ownership of the outcome. Tim Hall reports

48

G

iving children lifelong skills is an essential part of education, and having peaceful learning and working environments and peaceful homes and communities is something we strive for and need to prepare our young people to achieve for themselves. This is why children need to be taught conflict-resolution skills – and become familiar with restorative processes – at a young age. The ability to mediate takes time to learn, and it’s important that

children not only take this skill into life after school but that they master it in the classroom, where it can be useful on a daily basis.

The essential conflict-resolution skills are active listening, asking open questions and negotiation.

‘Active listening’ enables both parties in the dispute to really hear the issues, ‘open questions’ allow each person to tell their side of the story, and ‘negotiation’ facilitates the individuals to discover a way forward

September 2019 www.arounddb.com

that will work for all concerned. The art of negotiation has to be seen as a process comprising a series of stepping stones. Try to jump any, and crossing to the other side is put in jeopardy.

Restorative processes are very similar in that they give young people the ability to listen to each other, understand mutual feelings and find a way they can move their lives forwards. Restorative justice focuses on reconciliation between

victim and perpetrator, perhaps bully and bullied. In such situations, giving the young people the opportunity to take ownership of the outcome is what we are aiming for.

A case study “Sir, it works! Listening and mediation, it works!” Dan, an older pupil in the St David’s College boarding house, was helping me, as the duty member of staff, supervise bedtime for the younger pupils. He went on to tell me the story.

For several months, two boys had not been getting along and all sorts of arguments had been breaking out. No one could really get to the bottom of the problem and it was just assumed that it was a bit of a personality issue. Dan had been doing the sixth form conflictresolution skills training course and he thought he would try out his skills for real.

He told me how he sat the two boys down and explained to them what he was going to do, and that it was about helping them find their own solution. He got each of them, in turn, to explain what had been going on, and give their side of the story. He asked the boys to provide a detailed account, pausing every now and then, so he could repeat back to them what he thought he was hearing. In this way, both boys would know they had been listened to.

Dan dug a little deeper around the stories so he could see what was really behind the conflict. He then asked each of the boys how they were feeling. This was quite a powerful moment, Dan told me.

Both boys were clearly upset and began to be able to empathise with each other. This seemed to Dan to be the turning point in this ‘mediation’ session.

Dan then went on to ask the question that he was certain was the key to resolving the conflict and that he was confident would mean the arguments would stop. “What do you need?”

The twist in the story of both boys was that it was nothing to do with any of the fairly trivial arguments that had been happening incessantly, but it was about how they slept at night in the shared dormitory. John couldn’t sleep with the curtains closed as he hated the dark and

Steven couldn’t sleep with the curtains open because one of the outside lights shone too brightly in his face and kept him awake.

What each boy needed was the room to be changed around, so the curtains could be kept open to provide some light, but with Steven’s bed on the other, darker side of the room. It all seems so simple, but it took someone with the necessary skills to discover what the real issue was and thereby implement the right solution.

Resolving conflict The essential skills are: • Active listening to ensure both parties in the dispute feel heard • Asking open questions to allow each person to tell their side of the story • Negotiation to enable the individuals to discover a way forward

Are you a mediator?

Have a look at the photograph of the boys fighting over the orange. The two children came in from school in a bad mood for different reasons, and an argument broke out over the one remaining orange. Can you think of how you can resolve this dispute and allow both children to have exactly what they want? In this case it can be a win/win, sometimes compromise on both sides is needed.

Tim Hall is the chaplain at St David’s College, a boarding school in North Wales that specialises in whole-person education. Registration is open for September 2020 and beyond. For more information, visit www.stdavidscollege.co.uk.

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49

EDUCATION

MEET IN THE MIDDLE To teach kids the ability to compromise, be sure to lead by example

W

hen a battle of wills ensues with your child, do you dig your heels in to win, capitulate for the sake of peace, or take a moment to consider whether the battle is an important one in the overall war?

will help them know the value of principles, as well as their own value as individuals.

Kids also learn how to negotiate and compromise by watching the way you interact with other people.

They are much more likely to grow up treating others with respect if they see you doing so.

Photo by John Mark Smith - unsplash.com

Compromise is the ability to make concessions or adjust your position to reach an agreement. Some parents don’t compromise with their kids, ever. But kids become adults, and adults need to know how, and when, to compromise.

Just think of all the things you do because you ‘should,’ or how hard you find it to say ‘no’ to someone else’s requests. Or think of the pushy people you dislike because they are unbending in their demands. That’s why teaching a healthy approach to compromise is essential.

50

At home, rules should be negotiable. Afterall, if your rules are fair, and you are fair, you won’t mind talking about them.

The willingness to negotiate comes not from weakness, but from your being comfortable with your position. Remember, it’s the rule that is being negotiated, not your parental authority. Insecure parents shout, “Just do it because I say so!” A better response is always, “Convince me.” If a child can actually put together some good reasons why your rules could be revised, then why not agree and modify those rules.

Instead of yelling and name calling and digging in your heels when fighting with your spouse, show your children that you can disagree respectfully, and can agree to differ if need be. This way, they will realise that an argument is in fact a debate.

Debate involves understanding all sides of an issue and responding to an opponent in a logical, nonemotional way. This takes self-control and, with practice, can help children learn to remove their emotional response to a conflict so it can be resolved in a calm and mature way.

This doesn’t mean that everything is up for negotiation. Being adaptable about bedtimes, screen time, homework schedules or having friends stay over is fine, but values and principles, like whether it’s OK to lie, steal or swear, should be sacrosanct.

In other words, kids need to learn that compromise does not mean surrendering something that’s important just to obtain peace. The way that you model compromise in your relationship with them

If kids see you ‘arguing’ in a productive way, they will learn not only the art of negotiation but also the importance of empathy.

When children understand how to view a situation from the other person’s position, compromise becomes much more likely. They will also begin to develop a ‘winwin’ attitude rather than a ‘loselose’ or ‘win-lose’ attitude. Thinking win-win means seeking solutions where everyone involved comes out happy. After all, compromise is impossible if we go in with a ‘take it or leave it’ mindset.

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TOP TIPS

Let it go!

Stress is now so commonplace that for many of us it has become a way of life. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Jason Broderick has some quick fixes and life-altering solutions

Photo by Mubariz Mehdizadeh - unsplash.com

I

f you find yourself wanting to manage stress in your life but you’re stuck on the treadmill then you’re in luck. Here are some well-known stress relievers for busy people that you can fit into your life schedule with very little fuss.

When moments like these get hold of even the most resilient of us, it’s important to be ready and armed with coping strategies.

Many of these take little to no time and have great benefits when implemented into your daily routine.

Being flexible, accurate and a thorough thinker under stress and pressure is a foundational skill for life. However, even with the best intentions, thinking traps, core beliefs, runaway thinking and catastrophising can knock us about when we’re not performing at our best and sabotage even those with a ‘suck it up,’ ‘shoulders back’ and ‘move on’ attitude.

Try this technique The S.T.O.P technique is great when you feel stuck, frustrated or stressed out but need to remain focused on a task. The steps are as follows: • Stop. Stand or sit still and pay attention to how you’re feeling and what you’re thinking

• Take a breath. Breathing in quickly and then taking a long, slow breath out allows you to recentre and re-focus • Observe. Make a mental note of where you feel tension in your muscles. Are your shoulders tight? Is your jaw clenched?

What are you thinking, and are those thoughts productive or counterproductive?

• Proceed. Now that you have a little additional information about the sources of stress in your environment, proceed with what you were doing The goal is to be aware of your

www.arounddb.com September 2019

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TOP TIPS

wellbeing. This assists towards preventing the stress from becoming a trigger for conflict and negative spiralling.

Rethink your thinking

and it’s something that’s so easy to do. Even if you have a packed schedule, you can play music as you get ready for work, thus relieving stress as you go about your daily activities.

While it takes a little practice to develop a more positive frame of mind, it’s worth the effort because it can really change your whole experience of life and how you live it.

Boosting your mood through music is quick and it’s simple. With some pre-planning, you can even have a playlist to put you in a particular upbeat or meditative mood.

When we reframe an experience or event, we can change the effect it has on us emotionally and physically. After some initial learning and a bit of habitual practice, positive reframing can assist you to experience better health and less stress. Remember your glass is half full.

Take your vitamins

Remember to breathe Breathing exercises are a great way to relieve stress anytime, anywhere. They’re simple to learn, simple to use and can be done on the spot, immediately helping you to feel better.

One very effective exercise is to ‘inhale’ and ‘exhale’ your stress.

Repeat two to three times and focus on your breath.

Alternatively, to immediately interrupt your body’s stress response, try ‘four-seveneight breathing.’ Unlike normal, unconscious breathing, this technique has you breathing in for a count of four, holding for a count of seven, and slowly releasing your breath to a count of eight. Practise four-seveneight breathing for just a few minutes and you will immediately feel more relaxed.

Let music lift you Listening to music has proven health and stress-relief benefits

Taking your vitamins in the morning really can help you feel less stressed throughout the day.

In particular, you may want to take a Vitamin B complex, Calcium and Magnesium, and Vitamin C. You should always talk to your doctor before beginning any new vitamin regimen to ensure you take a mix that is safe for you and your particular situation, but vitamins are a quick and beneficial way to relieve stress if taken appropriately.

Start saying no It’s sometimes hard to say no, especially if you’re concerned about disappointing or offending people. And it can be hard to accept that it’s even OK to say no.

Learning to diplomatically say no is a quick and simple way to lighten your schedule. It allows you to put yourself first and that’s OK as well.

Prioritise wellness Eating

healthily

and

sleeping

Exercise of any sort helps to relax your mind and release tension. Being active can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from daily worries.

Yoga, tai chi, Pilates, gardening, kickboxing and dancing all provide an excellent workout for stress relief. If you’re not an athlete or if you’re out of shape, you can still make a little exercise go a long way toward stress management.

Meditation can calm your mind and by extension your stressedout system. Just as fitness is an approach to training the body, meditation is an approach to training the mind. Simply put, you train your mind to give you some peace and quiet.

One of the easiest ways to begin meditating is by focusing on your breathing or repeating a single word or mantra. You then refocus your awareness each time you notice your mind wandering. Rather than pursuing random thoughts and worries, you simply let them go. Through this process, you find yourself better able to cope, having freed yourself of worries even just for a short time.

Jason Broderick is a wellbeing coach and counselling psychologist at Discovery Bay International School (DBIS). To follow him on Instagram, head to @wellbeingcoach101. For more on DBIS, visit www.dbis.edu.hk.

Find more top tips @ www.arounddb.com

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on a regular schedule ensures that you are less vulnerable to anxiety. You may have to resort to drastic measures to make this happen – like quitting Facebook and turning off all electronic devices a few hours before you plan to sleep. Give yourself time to unwind before bed, so you can get the rest you need.

September 2019 www.arounddb.com

ESCAPES

8 reasons to visit Ishigaki Ishigaki Island in Okinawa prefecture, the southernmost part of Japan, has long been a beach holiday favourite with Japanese tourists, and the rest of the world is slowly catching on. Dorothy Veitch reports

Photos courtesy of www.wikimedia.org

1 Beach culture

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TripAdvisor’s number one travel destination for 2018, Ishigaki’s white sand beaches and rich mangrove forests give Hawaii a run for its money. Yonehara Beach is the most popular, but I’d recommend you base yourself in nearby Kabira Bay, which is famed for its beautiful blue water, white boats and small islands near the shore. You can’t swim in the bay but you can head out in a dive boat, or hire a glass-bottomed

boat and witness the underwater world below.

2 Sunflower fields The best way to get around Ishigaki is to rent a car (the speed limit is 40 kilometres) and if you’re based in Kabira Bay in the northeast, you’re a short drive from most of the island’s main sights. Drive a kilometre or so from the coast and you’ll be surprised to find yourself surrounded by fields of sunflowers.

Ishigaki Town, where you’ll find

September 2019 www.arounddb.com

the port, and larger shops and restaurants, is just 40 minutes’ drive south from Kabira Bay.

3 Rainforest adventure Be sure to find time to visit Maetake, a rainforest hideout located right on the island’s north-western shore.

Well-maintained walking trails line the mountain face, so you don’t have to be an experienced hiker to explore the waterfall-draped jungle. To round off your day trip, head to Cape Hirakubozaki on the

Kabira Bay

Sunflower fields

Yaeyama-yashi Palm Grove

Maetake Rainforest

island’s northernmost tip. Beautiful at sunset, there’s a charming little lighthouse overlooking a stunning vista of endless blue ocean.

4 Island hopping Ishigaki is the gateway to the Yaeyama Islands archipelago, the remotest part of Japan, covering 590 square kilometres. While Ishigaki is a known quantity (at least with Japanese tourists) and even boasts a Club Med, the other islands are genuinely off the

beaten track. Nearby Taketomi Island is inhabited and is worth a visit, particularly if you’re a keen diver. Just be prepared to rough it a bit if you decide to stay the night.

5 Wild food Ishigaki serves up some of the most unique dishes in all of Japan.

Flour-based Yaeyama soba is the area’s signature dish. Very different from classic buckwheat soba, it tastes more like ramen. The broth is made from skipjack tuna, pork-

bone broth and seaweed, and it’s traditionally served with strips of pork, green onion and fishcake.

Umi budo (a type of seaweed) is another must try – connoisseurs call it green caviar for a reason.

6 Palm groves After a day’s sun-worshipping at beautiful Yonehara Beach, stop off at Yaeyama-yashi Palm Colony.

It’s easy to find as it’s opposite the beach at the end of a dead-  end road. A stroll through the

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ESCAPES

Ibaruma Sabichi Cave

rainforest setting to admire a grove of famously tall palm trees is a great way to cool off. There’s free parking out front and a little shop next to the car park where you can buy freshly squeezed juice.

7 Shisa statues Yoneko-yaki Craft Center, also near Yonehara Beach, is worth a look if you’re interested in shisas, Okinawa’s lion-like deities that are believed to protect homes. Shisa statues line the road outside the store and, in the garden out back, you’ll find many more, dotted around a pretty carp-filled pond.

Umi budo

8 Caves and falls Ibaruma Sabichi Cave and Arakawa Falls are two must-visits, both a short drive from Kabira Bay. Ibaruma is a limestone cave, dripping with stalactites, that leads onto a beautiful, often completely deserted beach. Arakawa Falls feels remote but it’s just off the main road; to reach it, you take a short walk through yet more dazzling rainforest.

Find more exciting escapes @ www.arounddb.com

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September 2019 www.arounddb.com

Po Nagar Cham Towers Shisa statues

RECIPES

Cool as a cucumber These clean green juices are guaranteed to help you chill out and stay healthy!

Cucumber Juice Serves 2

• 1 large cucumber • 500 ml water • 2 tbsp sugar • 2 tbsp honey

Photos courtesy of www.wikimedia.org

Peel, slice, and cube the cucumber, then grate fine. Pour the water and sugar into a pan.

Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Add the grated cucumber, turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

Remove the cucumber mixture from the heat and leave to cool.

Place in a blender with the honey and purée until pulpy. Strain the mixture, pressing down with a spoon until no more juice comes out. Season to taste. Pour the cucumber juice into glasses, chill and serve. Store any extra in a sealed glass jar in the fridge for up to a week. Shake before drinking.

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September 2019 www.arounddb.com

The Mix Serves 2

• 2 green apples • 1 cucumber • 6 kale leaves • 4 celery stalks, leaves removed • ½ lemon, peeled • 1-inch piece fresh ginger Finely chop the fruit and vegetables, including the ginger.

Place in a blender and purée until smooth. Adjust the fruit and vegetable amounts to suit your personal taste – more apple equals a sweeter drink. Add water or smashed ice as desired. Blend again. Pour the green juice into glasses, chill and serve. Store any extra in a sealed glass jar in the fridge for up to a day. Shake  before drinking.

www.arounddb.com September 2019

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RECIPES

Avocado Lemonade Serves 2

• 1 avocado • 1 lemon, peeled • ½ pineapple • 1 pear • 1 cucumber • 175 g broccoli florets • 6 kale leaves • 6 spinach leaves • 4 celery stalks, leaves removed • 1-inch piece fresh ginger Take the pulp out of the avocado, and finely chop the fruit and vegetables, including the ginger.

Place in a blender and purée until smooth. Adjust the fruit and vegetable amounts to suit your personal taste – more lemon equals a tarter drink. Add water or smashed ice as desired. Blend again. Pour the avocado lemonade into glasses, chill and serve. Note that this juice does not keep well, so drink immediately.

Find more deliciously simple recipes @ www.arounddb.com

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September 2019 www.arounddb.com

HK HAPPENINGS

TEA HOUSE THEATRE EXPERIENCE Xiqu Centre Tea House Theatre, Tsim Sha Tsui

Experience one of the most unique art forms in the city, while enjoying fine dim sum and Chinese tea.

Tea House Theatre Experience provides a narrated 90-minute introduction to www.westkowloon.hk/TeaHouse Cantonese opera, that’s fun, informative and perfect for newcomers. A selection of short excerpts demonstrates a range of vocal and music styles. All performances are surtitled in Chinese and English, and run from Wednesday to Sunday. For tickets, starting at HK$318, visit www.westkowloon.hk/TeaHouse.

Through October 31

10 FUN THINGS TO DO IN HK THIS MONTH! Like the Around DB Facebook page for event reminders

MADAGASCAR THE MUSICAL

Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wanchai September 12-15

PINK REVOLUTION LAUNCH Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong

Hong Kong Cancer Fund (HKCF) is kicking off Breast Cancer Awareness Month early this year with a special event hosted by Hong Kong singer www.cancer-fund.org/pink and actress – and 2019 Pink Ambassador – Sammi Cheng. The launch party is the first of a series of Pink Revolution events scheduled for September and October that aim to promote breast cancer awareness and prevention, and raise funds for HKCF’s free breast cancer support services. To get involved, visit www.cancer-fund.org/pink.

September 3

www.markdawsonphotos.co.uk

Based on DreamWorks’ hit animated motion picture, Madagascar The Musical follows Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra and their pals as they escape from New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to an exotic island off the coast of East Africa. For tickets, starting at HK$395, visit www.hkticketing.com.

MID-AUTUMN CELEBRATIONS Across Hong Kong September 13

CENTRESTAGE FASHION SHOWCASE

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wanchai Now in its fourth edition, Centrestage continues to lure elites of the fashion industry with its four-day programme of fashion showcases, runways, trend talks, seminars and networking www.wikimedia.org opportunities.

This year’s Centrestage Elites Opening Gala spotlights Anais Mak of Anaïs Jourden and Joseph Altuzarra of Altuzarra, as they present their Pre-Spring 2020 collections for the first time in Asia. To find out more, visit centrestage.com.hk.

September 4-7

www.wikimedia.org

There are lantern parades and carnivals all over Hong Kong on the evening of September 13, before the public holiday on the 14th. The biggest of these events is held in Victoria Park, where you can enjoy traditional stage shows, lion dances, palm readings and game stalls, while paying homage to the moon goddess  Chang’e. Find out more at www.discoverhongkong.com. www.arounddb.com September 2019

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HK HAPPENINGS

MATILDA THE MUSICAL

Get your events listed @ www.arounddb.com

Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Wanchai

First performed in 2010, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and challenge those above her. www.lunchbox-productions.com Based on the 1988 children’s novel of the same name by Roald Dahl, the musical is a delight for audiences of all ages. For tickets, starting at HK$445, visit www.hkticketing.com.

September 20 to October 5

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS FESTIVAL Island Shangri-La Hong Kong, Central

September 21

SAKE WALK House 1881, Tsim Sha Tsui At Sake Walk 2019, you have the opportunity to discover, try and buy over 80 sakes from 14 breweries across Japan.

Highlights include unpasteurised www.wikimedia.org sake, sparkling sake and Juyondai, the world’s most famous sake. The event also delivers a number of masterclasses where you can learn more about sake, including how it’s made and which foods to pair it with. For tickets, starting at HK$100, head to www.jebsenfinewines.com/sake-walk-hk.

September 21

IMMORTALS RACE

www.scmp.com

With 60+ exhibitors and 30+ speakers, South China Morning Post’s International Schools Festival is a must-attend for parents looking to learn about international schools, evaluate curricula and obtain crucial admission tips. For tickets, starting at HK$25, and more event information, head to www.eventbrite.hk.

LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui

September 22, 24 & 25

Pat Sin Leng Country Park, New Territories September 21

www.msigtrailseries.com

Run solo or in pairs, with categories ranging from 16+ years to 55+ years, the Immortals is the third race in the MSIG Trail Running Series, each of which showcases one of Hong Kong’s spectacular country parks. There are two distances to choose from – 34 kilometres and 19 kilometres – with runners going over the Pat Sin Leng mountain range. To register through September 19, visit msig.tgr.run/immortals.

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September 2019 www.arounddb.com

unsplash.com

London Symphony Orchestra is back in Hong Kong for three concerts under the baton of its music director Sir Simon Rattle. The performances, which feature talented local pianists Colleen Lee and Aristo Sham, and Grammy award-winning pianist Emanuel Ax, are part of the celebratory events marking the 30th anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. For tickets, starting at HK$380, visit ticket.urbtix.hk.

The Flower Club DB Bouquets Wednesday Lilies Friday Specials Subscriptions Delivered within DB

www.instagram.com/ theflowerclubdb www.facebook.com/ TheFlowerClub

97060783

HAPPY. AFFORDABLE. FLOWERS

From the publishers of Around DB and Life on Lantau magazines

Wonderful Websites!

Need a website or a website refresh?

“Bay Media helped me on a project to create a full website. They have that rare ability to speak in layman’s terms, have oodles of patience for us non-digital folk and have created a fantastic site which has been complimented by peers and clients alike.”

Paul Redmayne-Mourad BayMediaStudio

www.baymediastudio.com

DB FACES

Snaps COMMUNITY

Find more familiar DB faces @ www.arounddb.com

Photos by Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com

T Congratulations to last month’s winner: Estelle Davies (@estellerdavies)

70

Win prizes from Uncle Russ Coffee and The Pier Bar!

he 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 this month to enter.

This is your chance to win a complimentary coffee from Uncle Russ, or a beer from The Pier Bar every day for a week. We will contact the winner via Instagram. Good luck!

September 2019 www.arounddb.com

Assistant Sales Executive Business development Requirements: • • • •

Fluent English (written and spoken), Chinese not needed.

Familiar with MS office, ideally also Lotus Notes.

Able to work independently - Problem Solver - Self Starter.

No prior shipping or container knowledge required, we will teach you.

Responsibilities:

• Supporting the Sales Manager in all aspects of sales to ANZ & UK including: • Seeking new business opportunities • Building on our already established customer database, responsible for managing a selection of existing clients • Conducting end to end sales transactions.

• Admin in connection with sales transactions.

The right candidate should be organized, self-motivated, have good attention to detail, data discipline, strong communication skills, and be an overall team player. Ideally, with a HK work permit but for the right person, we will apply for one.

Interested applicants should forward their resume to

hr@flex-box.com

CAREY, SUEN WILL SERVICES

tel: +852 9160 7855 email: annette@careysuen.com website: www.careysuen.com

ANNETTE M HOULIHAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CAREY, SUEN WILL SERVICES, SHARES A REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE OF THE DANGERS OF HAVING AN OUT-OF-DATE WILL If you die without making a will, or if your existing will is not current, your assets will be distributed according to the law (or your outdated will) and not necessarily according to your wishes. There are many things to consider, but with a little preparation the process can be less painful and expensive than you might think – and certainly preferable to the chaos and confusion that can happen if there is no will in place or if it’s not up to date.

One area that shouldn’t be delayed, is ensuring that the list of people named as beneficiaries in your will (and exactly what they will inherit) is up to date.

A good friend of mine ran a business in Hong Kong from Australia, so he had assets in both countries.

Although he had named his wife (whom he had just remarried) and sister as joint beneficiaries of his life insurance, he did not have a current will to cover the distribution of his assets, which he wanted divided equally between them. Before he could make a new will, my friend passed away.

My friend’s wife eventually inherited all his assets, as only your spouse or descendants can inherit in Hong Kong if you don’t have a will to specify otherwise. If he hadn’t remarried his ex-wife, she would only have inherited half his life insurance, as it was, she became his only legal heir.

Having inherited just 50% of his life insurance, and because her brother had promised her his shares in his Hong Kong business, my friend’s sister entered into a legal battle with the other shareholders.

In this she was unsuccessful. There was no will or shareholder protection documents naming her as beneficiary, so there was nothing to prevent the shareholders from restructuring the business and taking it over.

If my friend had died with an up-to-date will and shareholder protection documentation in place, his sister would have inherited half his assets, plus his shares in his Hong Kong business.

Email Annette M. Houlihan at annette@careysuen.com for a free consultation Carey, Suen Will Services 8B Wing Yee Commercial Building, 5 Wing Kut Street, Central

tel: +852 9160 7855 email: annette@careysuen.com website: www.careysuen.com

CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP PRACTICAL BIBLE TEACHING KIDS CHURCH & TEENS

Alcoholics Anonymous

If you want to drink, that’s your business.

If you want to stop, we can help.

Alcoholics No dues or fees.

Anonymous

24hr hotline:9073 6922

Church Office: 2987 7061 www.dbicc.org

www.aa-hk.org

View local business directories @ www.arounddb.com EMPLOYMENT

HEALTH & WELLBEING

DELIVERY PERSON/ MESSENGER

FACIAL REFLEXOLOGY IN DB

Michael, a HK resident, is available to deliver documents & small parcels around HK. Available full- or part-time.

Call 9145 6731 to leave a message

HEALTH & WELLBEING

VR, HYPNOSIS: INDIVIDUAL &/ OR COUPLES THERAPY Virtual-reality programmes for PTSD, addictions, phobias (fear of flying/ public speaking/ bridges/ enclosed spaces/ storms) • Couples’ conflicts • Overeating • Career/relationship stress • Anger management • Nail biting • Exam jitters Divorce/ post-divorce/ career coaching • Quit smoking quickly.

Dr Melanie Bryan, Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist, Hypnotherapist.

Contact 2575 7707, www.mindmatters.hk

• Natural face rejuvenation & massage with facial reflexology • Mind & body deep relaxation & healing with facial reflexology

HOME SERVICES

PRIVATE MARTIAL ARTS COACHING

FTC RELOCATIONS

• Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s & dementia prevention & improvement with facial reflex therapy

• Local & international moves • Long/ short-term storage • Handyman services • World-class service – competitive rates • Operating on DB & Lantau

• Children’s learning support with (face, hand & feet) reflex therapy

Contact 2814 1658, sales@ftc.hk, www.ftc.hk

Contact Tina at vatyh@netvigator.com, 9855 7086 (WhatsApp)

SPORTS

Well known in the Hong Kong MMA community, Marc Guyon guides you through your journey to become a martial artist. As a former whitecollar-turned-professional fighter, Marc’s understanding of looking for peak performance in all your occupations & activities is like nothing in Hong Kong.

Contact 9303 2996, marcguyonkungfu@gmail.com, www.marcguyon.com

TUITION & COURSES

HOME SERVICES AKASH MOVING & HANDYMAN SERVICES

• Local packing, moving, storage & handyman service • All kinds of transport services • Inbound shipment clearance • Having stuff delivered from China? They are not delivering to DB Or Lantau? Have it sent to the Akash office in Kwai Chung & delivered to your home.

Contact 2421 8088, info@akash.hk, www.akash.hk

TRIMCO HK LIMITED • Painting • Decorating • Renovation • Cladding • Tiling Contact Steve Donovan at 6149 0894 (call or WhatsApp), trimcohk@gmail.com

LEARN SPANISH • Native speaker • Experienced teacher & DELE examiner • IB, IGCSE, A-levels & HKDSE • Business Spanish & courses for adults • Flexible schedule & locations • Special offers for students who live in DB & Tung Chung Contact Erik at 9666 9511, rerikm@hotmail.com

MATHEMAGIC IS AT DB PLAZA

Support classes in mathematics & sciences now available for: • Year 7 to Year 13 • IGCSE • IB (SL or HL) • A level (Standard & Further Modules) • SATs/ PSATs/ LSATs • UKCEE Home tuition available as well as online classes.

Contact Karim Arditi on 9135 4724 (call or WhatsApp), mathemagicMD@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/HLmathemagic, www.hlmathemagic.com

If you’re reading this, so is everyone else To advertise in print or online, email monika@baymedia.com.hk

www.arounddb.com

環悅設計工程公司一心致力於您們快樂 及自由的頤年生活。 我們將提供專業家居護理評估來改裝您 們的家，使您們能享受家居安老。 聯絡我們 Contact Us

Tel / WhatsApp: 9710 5728 E-mail: joyceworldco@gmail .com joyceworld_creation

At Joyce World Creation Ltd, we remodel homes so they are safe for the elderly.

We provide a medical assessment on which you can base your home’s reconstruction and we source suitable equipment for assisted living.

joyceworldcreation @joyceworldcreation

Scan QR code to see our video https://youtu.be/nuZ_sPeIrKw

Greenland Pest Control Tailored ailored Pest Control Solutions for Rodent, Cockroaches, Fleas, Mosquitoes, Termites, ermites, Ants, Ticks etc…

For info please call Thomas 9871 0771 or Baguio 6776 8400 Email: baguiowong@hotmail.com

half term holiday camps 2019 Ark Eden’s Half Term Holiday Camps bring out the adventurous, curious and compassionate side of children and provide outdoor fun for children, aged 5-11 years. Camps are held deep in the forests of Lantau, with different accviies each day. Accviies include treeshouse building, campfire cooking, carpentry, beach me, playing in rock pools, dramaac story--me adventures, overnight camp and nature play.

Visit www.arkedenonlantau.org, email info@arkedenonlantau.org, or call 2988 5355

Yoga Therapy Classes for Senior Citizens

Every Tuesday 11:30am

Located at DB North Plaza

Every Thursday 2:30pm

Slow and gentle flow yoga, taught by a qualified yoga instructor. English-speaking and easily accessible from Sunny Bay MTR station. t!

Stay Briiian

likegreenwich@gmail.com

9685 8366

www.greenwich-vinyasa.com.hk

Find short-term rentals @ www.arounddb.com

PROPERTY

DB PROPERTY FOR RENT STYLISH APARTMENT IN GREAT LOCATION

Bright, beautifully decorated apartment with every modern luxury. Sleeps one couple & one child. Conveniently located in walking distance of DB Plaza, the bus terminus & ferry. Available for short or long stay. Contact the owner at corinhk@yahoo.com

LUXURY APARTMENTS IN SIENA 2

Spacious 600 square-foot apartments – quiet with sea views over park, near Club Siena & DB Tunnel. Fully furnished with washer/ drier, bed linen, kitchenware, 55” TVs, wi-fi, NOW TV & sound bar. Contact the owner on 9317 0624, nialady2011@gmail.com

TWO-BED IN CHERISH COURT

Fully furnished, 2-bedroom flat with wi-fi & Now TV. Full sea view & Disneyland-firework view. Photos available.

Contact Jacqueline on 9811 0718, jacquelinedb@gmail.com

GIVING LIFE SHOULDN’T BE SO DEADLY Ramatoulaye, who lives in Burkina Faso, was about to give birth to her fourth child, but the boatman was nowhere to be found. Unable to get to the health centre across the river, she gave birth alone on the river banks.

Maternal health is a human right — join Amnesty International to defend human rights for women like Ramatoulaye.

Learn more at www.amnesty.org.hk.

FULLY FURNISHED 1-BED

Smart apartment on a high floor with sea view.

Close to pier & DB Plaza. Available fully furnished.

Call Tiareti on 9732 8985

ONE BEDROOM FLAT FOR RENT

Lovely 645 square-foot flat, great location, one bedroom, spacious office & over-sized Western kitchen. Available fully furnished, for short- or long-term rental. Contact the owner at justinsmith3333rental@gmail.com

If you are looking to rent or sell a property and would like to see it listed on this page, email monika@baymedia.com.hk

© Anna Kari

CLOT HING & ACCESSORIES

FTC Apparel

2428 2566 FOOD, RES TAUR A N T S & BA RS

A Tavola Bar & Grill Airport Izakaya Andante Café Aficionado China Coast Bar & Grill Curry Lounge Dosirak House Essence Restaurant - Novotel Citygate Federal Palace Restaurant Kimos Mansarover Indian Cuisine McDonald’s Delivery Melody Thai Moccato Coffee Shop My Thai Olea Restaurant - Novotel Citygate PizzaExpress Pizza Hut Delivery Regala Café & Dessert Bar Resto Restaurant Rouge - Regal Airport Hotel Skycity Bistro Tung Chung Pizza Zentro Garden

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HE A LT H & W EL L BEING

Bayside Dental Bon’s Mobile Pet Grooming Essential Health Family Clinic Human Health Medical Centre North Lantau Physiotherapy Tung Chung Animal Clinic Tung Chung Vet Centre Tung Chung Maternal & Child Health Centre Quality Health Dental Quality Health Medical Raffles Medical Rainbow Voice and Soundhealing

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HOT EL S

Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel Novotel Citygate Hong Kong Regal Airport Hotel

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SOCI A L , SP OR T S & EQUIPMEN T

Asia Pacific Soccer Schools Caribbean Coast Club House Coastal Skyline Club House Dance for Joy Edge ’n Pointe Dance Centre Jumping Castles Perun Fitness Seaview Crescent Club House Smash Cricket Tung Chung Crescent Club House

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FI T NESS, SP OR T S & W EL L BEING

Pause by the Banyan South Lantau Paddle Club Thai Palin Massage Thai Sa Baai Treasure Island Group

9708 0187 9688 9112 9062 0148 5228 6552 2546 3543 HOME & REPA IRS

Findley Leung Group Koon Wah Hardware Lee Wo Construction Engineering Man Shun Construction & Engineering New Look Design

2984 8334 2984 8487 2984 1802 2984 9833 9783 5840

HOT EL S

Mui Wo Inn Silvermine Beach Resort Tai O Heritage Hotel

2984 7225 6810 0111 2985 8383

Kind Hing Trinity International Kindergarten & Nursery Lantau International Kindergarten Lantau International School Lao Shi Lantau Mandarin lessons Little Lantau Montessori Kindergarten Mui Wo Owls School & Kindergarten Mui Wo Language Cafe

2109 9886 2984 0302 2980 3676 5197 4647 3689 6709 2984 0006 5511 6107

PROPER T Y AGENCIES

Findley Leung Real Estate Home Solutions Real Estate Proper Trip Real Estate

2984 8334 3483 5003 2984 1666 RE TA IL

Friendly Bike Shop Greenstyle Organic & Healthcare INSIDE Island Wines Lantau Base Camp Lantau Grocer Quay House Red Hall Chinese Antiques Tony’s Salon Value Vigilantes VIBE Book & Music Shop ZenvarA

2385 9677 2109 9277 2179 6678 9264 8597 6688 2167 9662 1747 6443 6597 3473 8700 5400 4109 2403 6770

Jumping Castles SPCA Miriam Safadi Photography Parteezi Phoenix Wills

2988 8282 2988 1898 3661 1999

Lee Hing Loong Hon Kee Transportation Company Lantau Tours New Lantao Bus Company

2984 2278 9802 0553 2890 8606 9521 8481 2983 8428 2702 0050 2882 8710 2988 1368 2984 0990 6132 9120 9088 2370 9586 3459

SERV ICES & OT HERS

9662 1747 2984 0060 5145 0227 6112 9842 6108 8471 T R A NSP OR TAT ION

U T IL I T Y, SERV ICES & E MERGENC Y HOT L INES

Tung Chung Ambulance Depot Tung Chung Fire Station Tung Chung Police Station

FOOD, RES TAUR A N T S & BA RS

Bahce - Turkish Restaurant Café Bar Bathers Caffe Paradiso (Tom’s Café) Cafe Isara China Bear Deer Horn Restaurant & Bar Kebab Korner La Pizzeria Lantana Italian Bistro Le Jardin de Sophie Long Island Mucho Gusto Robert’s Market Stoep @ High Tide Restaurant The China Beach Club The Gallery The Kitchen The Water Buffalo Treasure Island Restaurant

L E A RNING CEN T RES

HOME & REPA IRS

Akash Removals Mega Power Engineering/Locksmiths Mr. Chan 24-hours Handyman Shun Yu Engineering

SOUTH LANTAU

TUNG CHUNG

LANTAU NUMBERS

2984 2268 2984 8494 2984 8255 2984 9848

www.arounddb.com September 2019

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DB NUMBERS COMMUNITY & HEALTH Bayside Dental Practice, North Plaza BMSE, North Plaza DB Alliance Church Community Centre DB Anglican Church DB International Community Church Discovery Bay Medical Centre Health & Care Dental Clinic Herbal Health Care Island Health Island Veterinary Services The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council, North Plaza Trinity Chapel

2987 2259 2987 2987 2987 2987 2666 2834 2987 2987 2259 2987

0855 3422 8136 4210 7061 5633 6183 7276 7575 9003 3422 9909

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES Action X, North Plaza Nomadic

DAILY NECESSITIES 2987 2987 2448 2987 2947 2366

4401 7486 1180 4089 9092 6534

FINANCIAL SERVICES Bank of China HSBC Parsons White Wealth Management The Stephen Putnam Practice

2160 8585 2233 3000 2433 6981 2914 0388

FOOD & BEVERAGE, HOTELS 22º North Auberge Discovery Bay (Hotel), North Plaza Café Bord de Mer & Lounge, North Plaza Caffe Pascucci Cali-Mex, North Plaza Coyote Mexican Cantina Ebeneezer’s Epic Foods, North Plaza Figos Seaside Café First Korean Restaurant Gilmore’s by the Golden Pig Healthy Chicken, North Plaza Hemingway’s il Bel Paese Island Café Koh Tomyums La Creation & Châteraisé McSorley’s Ale House Mirch Masala, North Plaza Moofish, North Plaza Pacific Coffee Paisano’s, North Plaza Peony Chinese Restaurant PizzaExpress Solera Starbucks DB North Plaza Subway The Pier Bar Three Sheet Marquee Bar TigerLily Uncle Russ, North Plaza Zak’s

d-clutter DRS Company Good Luck Engineering Hoi Yu Transportation Hung Kee Co Japan Home Centre May’s furniture & curtain design Rapee-living Rich Point Hardware Materials Tai Fat Hardware Store Wing On Department Store Yours Electrical Centre

6323 9156 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987 2987

1417 0360 1313 4488 5087 1041 0222 7082 0789 0789 9268 4428

Tree of Joy A fun, engaging & supportive environment in which children play & learn. Programmes include drop-off nursery class, parent-toddler class, afternoon camp & a cooking class Contact 9787 2755, info@treeofjoydb.com, www.treeofjoydb.com

Woodentots Woodentots is a Montessori playgroup providing a caring & nurturing environment in DB Plaza. Run by a qualified Montessori teacher for children aged 18 months to 6 years. Contact 6108 9131, woodentotsdb@gmail.com

LEARNING CENTRES 3102 2977 2987 8460

7-Eleven Convenience Store Fusion by PARKnSHOP Just Green Watson’s Pharmacy Wellcome, North Plaza Star Mart, North Plaza

LEARNING CENTRES

HOME

2987 2298 2295 8288 2295 8299 2591 1426 2904 7698 2987 2848 2987 0036 2172 6111 2987 2915 2987 9123 2662 9168 6933 6990 2987 8855 2987 0202 2987 9311 2987 0767 2987 1829 2987 8280 2987 1337 2987 6318 2987 1662 2673 4445 2500 1950 2465 2426 2555 0772 2246 8372 2914 0005 2520 2166 2987 0966 2997 8688 2840 1188 2987 6232

Discovery Mandarin Tutoring Service Certified native Chinese teachers.

Experienced in supporting IB & IGCSE learners to excel in all aspects of Mandarin: listening, speaking, reading & writing. Contact 9801 1055 to book a 20 minutes free trial lesson

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 (15 years+ experience). Contact 2987 1201, enquiry@dms.edu.hk, www.dms.edu.hk

Future Stars Dance Academy Dance classes based on the ISTD requirements conducted in a fun, disciplined & safe environment. Contact melissa@futurestarsdanceacademy.com, Futurestars Dance Academy Hong Kong Facebook page, Instagram: @futurestarsHk

Island Dance ISTD Freestyle, ISTD Hip Hop, RAD Ballet, tap & Bollywood 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

Little Explorers The longest running playgroup in DB, Little Explorers eases the transition between home play and kindergarten for children, aged 18 months and up. Contact 9327 0507, littleexplorers@team-fear.com

PapyrusEDU A family-friendly centre offering 3D Modelling & Printing, LEGO Education After School, Junior Food Art. Lifestyle morning programmes: Decoupage, Porcelart, Food Artist. Contact 6360 1715, info@papyrusedu.com, www.papyrusedu.com

Bayview House of Children DB International School (Kindergarten) DB International School (Pri / Sec) Discovery College Discovery Mind International Play Centre Discovery Mind Kindergarten Discovery Mind Primary School, North Plaza Discovery Montessori Academy, North Plaza Discovery Montessori School, North Plaza DMR School of Ballet Dr. Bear Education Centre Early Adventures Playgroup Epic Adventurers Eye Level Education Learning Centre Funfit HK International Learning Academy, North Plaza Kumon, North Plaza La Petite Enfance Kindergarten L’Ecole Pierre et Marie Curie Education centre Les Petits Pois Links Parenting, North Plaza Little Explorers English For Kids Mandarin for Munchkins, North Plaza Mathemagic – home tutoring Mathnasium SKH Wei Lun Primary School Treasure House Zhi Zhi Chinese

September 2019 www.arounddb.com

2436 2142 7331 1000 8088 8088 2202 9206 1201 4338 6264 9644 0098 0000 6327 3198 8808 0813 0813 0813 2436 0507 3909 4724 3362 8608 4217 2966

MULTIMEDIA Bookazine Fotomax (F.E.) Ltd

2987 1373 2914 2378

OTHER SERVICES

Harvey Law Group International law firm offering a wide range of commercial & personal legal services. Meeting facilities available in DB. Contact 2416 8618, dboffice@harveylawcorporation.com, www.harveylawcorporation.com

Martina Stevens Photography Photographer based in Discovery Bay specialising in small and exclusive projects. Newborns, Maternity, Family and Lifestyle photography.Contact 9487 5242, martina@martinastevensphotography.com, www.martinastevensphotography.com Gillian florist, North Plaza P-Solution The Optical House Well Supreme Laundry Services

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6114 2914 2987 3969 2987 2987 2914 2812 2987 2987 6762 2987 2441 9366 6302 2416 2459 8191 8191 8191 6114 9327 2480 9135 2628 2987 2987 9648

2529 2987 2987 2987

8256 1777 1368 5151

DB NUMBERS PETS Kristy’s Paradise - Cat Sitter in Discovery Bay Mypetshop, North Plaza Pets Gallery Ready, Pet, Go!

TOYS & KIDS’ PARTIES 6201 2987 2987 5721

7749 8873 0428 6181

Bo Bo House DB Party Time Toysland

2987 4230 9502 2381 2987 7859

TRANSPORT SERVICES

PROPERTY LISTINGS & BOATS EPS Property Consultants Headland Homes Kingsland DB Land Master Property OKAY.COM

2987 2987 2987 2987 2102

2023 2088 2987 6238 0829

DB Golf Cart Services DB Transportation Services Limousine Rental Passenger Telephone Hotline Wiselink Golf Cart Services

2914 2987 5303 2987 2987

2727 7351 3489 0208 9368

UTILITIES, SERVICES & EMERGENCY HOTLINES

SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT 24-hour Customer Service Hotline China Light & Power Emergency China Light & Power Information Line Discovery Bay Commercial Services Discovery Bay Fire & Ambulance Discovery Bay Lost & Found Discovery Bay Management Discovery Bay Office Centre Discovery Bay Post Office Gas Leakage Emergency Hotline Lantau North Report Room North Lantau Hospital San Hing Gas Co Typhoon Signal Enquiries Water Fault Reports Water Supplies Department

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

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

Action X, North Plaza Club Siena, North Plaza DBees Ice Hockey DB Pirates Rugby, Netball, Hockey & Dragonboat Discovery Bay Marina Club Discovery Bay Golf Club Discovery Bay Recreation Club Embody EpicLand, North Plaza FIT 852 Greenwich Yoga School, North Plaza Kapuhala Train-in-Space, North Plaza MAS FIT MGK Fight Club Nutrition and Fitness with Emilie YogaBay, North Plaza YogaUp, North Plaza

To add your own directory listing box, call the Bay Media office on 2987 0577, or email info@baymedia.com.hk

2911 2987 6473 9255 2987 2987 2987 6624 2441 9680 9685 6101 9387 9303 6385 6704 8197

4833 7382 4277 6133 9591 7273 7381 8712 0098 7665 8366 8434 0735 2996 5425 9851 5591

2345 8333 2678 4242 7502 2345 3601 3388 6046 4511 1694 7000 6738 1473 0788 5000

@ www.arounddb.com

WELLBEING

The Beat Dance & Fitness Studio BODYPUMP, BODYBALANCE, GRIT, BODYSTEP & Zumba (fitness, toning & kids). Piloxing, yoga & Pilates, RPM (indoor cycling), plus Latin, belly & wedding dance. Classes for adults & children, & personal training. Contact 5194 9630, info@thebeat.com.hk, www.thebeat.com.hk

3651 2728 2678 2987 2987 3651 2238 2238 2987 2435 3661 3467 2987 2835 2811 2824

VIEW THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Bay Spa

ay Spa a

Massage, facials & nail services in DB Plaza. Contact 9837 0969 (Tel/ WhatsApp)

Elly House of Beauty

Highly skilled skincare specialist committed to providing the most effective skincare services to the DB community. Also postnatal abdominal binding & jamu massage.

Contact 6131 9039, Elly House of Beauty Facebook Page, www.ellyhouseofbeauty.com

Ingredients of Wellness Mindfulness training for children, teens and 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

Nail Spa: 2987 2266

Afflatus Hair Workshop, North Plaza DB Pure Spa Elly House of Beauty Freedas Maximum Care Nest Care, North Plaza Salon De Coiffure

Massage: 2988 1111

2987 9794 6131 2987 2987 2499 2987

0283 0918 9039 4555 2060 8826 4112

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www.arounddb.com September 2019

79

OUT THERE

Fabulous fads of today

I

Our coffees are full of adjectives and we’re into weird workouts with even weirder names. Despite being a wordsmith, Peter Sherwood can’t fathom it

read this in the Great Almanac of Unproven Trivia:: “Some ancients believed we are born with a finite number of heartbeats and when we use them up, it’s adios.”

Which may help explain yoga. But why indulge in extremes when you could stay in bed? Or just struggle out for some tai chi.

Exercise used to be simple.

I jogged, ran, hiked, climbed mountains and biked the bus route, while a frenzied upper-body workout included lifting a pint of ale and pulling tennis balls from the can. Now we need to write a cheque to achieve similar dubious benefits – indoors.

As soon as it was discovered we’d queue to swap cash for some revolutionary exercise, the world became awash with chic contortion classes, the supply of which is as infinite as stuff at Zara.

Dreaming up new names for old workouts parallels the onslaught of hot new names for coffee, a rapacious art form that seems inexhaustible. Coffee and cardio are the flimsy fiascos of the age, if you don’t count bottled water.

Coffee and cardio

Illustration by Terry Chow

In the gym there’s Spinning, Hot Yoga, Tepid Yoga, Zumba and Sumo (for serious fat-fighters).

There’s Boot Camp, Flip Flop Camp (what?), Jazz Dancing, Operatic Prancing, Pilates and

80

Brew. I did not make that up; a major international franchise did.

If it’s a shoulder-shaking chuckle from your local barista you seek, request something simple, like a coffee with no adjectives.

Costly? A decade ago, I asked a friend why we met for coffee every day. She didn’t know. Neither did I. Particularly when I found out that coffee is all about aroma: hold your nose and all you get is a sour taste. So, we started bringing our own instant from home. We have saved an estimated HK$100,000 on coffee we didn’t much like. Not too shabby.

Piloxing (your guess is as good as mine), plus Babywearing Dance Class (seriously) and Private Stretching. As opposed to being publicly hung?

There’s even Virtual Fitness – and that’s the one for me. We’ll buy into anything vogueish. Try these joyless inventions: Blue glasses that will help you diet because blue is an unappetising colour.

Wrong. Air shorts designed to make you sweat, so that you lose unwanted pounds. Wrong again.

And electronic ab belts, the ultimate waste of time and money.

And on to a mesmerising selection of coffees, including Toffee Nut Crunch Latte, Ristretto Bianco (double the price for a Latin name) and Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold

Since then they’ve invented Toffee Nut Crunch Latte; I haven’t indulged because I thought they were kidding. They’re not. Last year, a Starbucks’ spokeswoman proudly told the Wall Street Journal, “If you take all of our core beverages, multiply them by the modifiers and the customisation options, you get more than 87,000 combinations.”

And it’s all in the smell. If someone invents small capsules with coffee aromas, we’ll just need a cup of hot water – and sniff.

As for trying a toffee nut crunch thingamajig, I envisage a theatrical explosion of lights, cameras and applause. This would be followed by the symphonic roar of Verdi’s Triumphal March as a TV reality show declares me Sucker of the Month.

Peter Sherwood has lived in DB for 20 years. The former head of an international public relations firm, Peter is the author of 15 books and has written around 400 satirical columns for the South China Morning Post.

Find more from Peter @ www.arounddb.com September 2019 www.arounddb.com