Around DB May Issue 2019

Discovery Bay’s original community magazine

MAY 2019

Where to grow your own How Zhuhai is a great escape What to do when your child is the bully

K C O R D KI Saxon and Jarvis Whittaker mean business ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

FREE

Ladies 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

EXPAT SERVICE WITH LOCAL KNOWLEDGE HOT PROPERTIES

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS IN DB We are proud to celebrate 30 years in DB! After 3 decades, we know that our specialty is matching the right properties to DB residents.

To see our property portfolio, visit our website or call the team on:

2987 2088

www.headlandhomes.hk

Scan to view more exciting properties EAA LIC C-033418

Rachel 9265 7555 S-598613

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Visit us: 7 Floor, Lansing House 41-47 Queen’s Road, Central Tel: 23111048 WhatsApp: 64649023

CONTENTS May 2019

Join your community online

PROFILE - 36 Rock out with Saxon and Jarvis Whittaker

IN FOCUS - 40 Ethical childrenswear on our doorstep

EDUCATION - 52 Putting a stop to bullying

TOP TIPS - 57 How to grow your own

ESCAPES - 60 Family fun in Zhuhai

40 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 corinne@baymedia.com.hk For graphic design, email andrew@baymedia.com.hk Call 2987 0577/ 2787 0886 Fax 2987 0533

AGENDA

45

WISH LIST May must-haves

10

DB EVENTS

48

UPDATE The new bus terminal

31

GIVEAWAYS

68

RECIPES Mighty mussels

73

HK HAPPENINGS

76

DB FACES In and around the plaza

78

CLASSIFIEDS

80

PROPERTY

84

OUT THERE Peter Sherwood talks back

81

LOCAL NUMBERS

INSIDER > 65 D ragon Fire and Safety promotes the use of smoke detectors

ON THE COVER

> 66 OKAY.com provides tips for first-time property buyers

The Whittaker boys, aka Case Sensitive To read the cover story, turn to page 36

Discovery Bay’s original community magazine

We also publish…

FREE April / May 2019

MAY 2019

2018 / 2019 WIN! Children's clothing from felix & mina, a spa treatment at Om Spa for two, and a space on a Treasure Island adventure camp

Where to grow your own

Publishers in Lantau since 2002

How Zhuhai is a great escape What to do when your child is the bully

JENNY QUINTON LOOKING BEYOND ARK EDEN

BUN SNATCHING AND FLOATING KIDS IN CHEUNG CHAU

K I D RO C K Saxon and Jarvis Whittaker mean business ISLAND-WIDE EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

FREE

LANTAU REAL ESTATE ALREADY SET TO REBOUND

Photo by Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com

ROCK ‘N’ ROLLER

FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF

MEET TUNG CHUNG SINGER-SONGWRITER GLEN ALFRED NEWS & EVENTS * PRIZES * COMMUNITY SNAPS * CLASSIFIEDS * THOUGHTS ON ISLAND LIFE

Publishers in Lantau since 2002

www.arounddb.com

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 SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Andrew Spires andrew@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 Maxine Parry maxine@baymedia.com.hk PHOTOGRAPHER Baljit Gidwani www.evoqueportraits.com INTERN Lea Mahoudeau-Campoyer production@baymedia.com.hk CONTRIBUTORS Jason Broderick Claire Severn Peter Sherwood Dorothy Veitch Samantha Wong PRINTING Champion Design & Production Company Ltd. Flat D, 18/F, Sing Teck Factory Building, 44 Wong Chuk Hang Road, 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.colsimphotography.com and www.evoqueportraits.com

PIRATICAL FUN AT THE RUGBY SEVENS

Dressed to impress, the DB community turned out to support the DB Pirates’ mini rugby players at the Rugby Sevens, April 5 to 8. U6 players showcased on Friday morning before the Women’s Sevens. Players, aged four to 11, took part in the Rugby Sevens Showcase on all three days prior to the main games commencing. Youth players (U14, U16 and U19) took part in the Hong Kong Rugby Union National Age Grade matches on Sunday.

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

THE HOTTEST

IN DISCOVERY BAY

www.arounddb.com May 2019

11

DB EVENTS

DBRC EASTER CARNIVAL At the Discovery Bay Recreation Club’s Easter Carnival on April 19, kids enjoyed entertainment stalls, game booths and an egg hunt.

Photos courtesy of DBRC

CAPS FOR A CURE Students from Discovery College and Bayview House of Children organised an event to create awareness for childhood cancer on April 11. Caps for a Cure raised HK$26,000 and all proceeds were donated to the Children’s Cancer Foundation of Hong Kong.

Photos courtesy of Bayview House of Children

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May 2019 www.arounddb.com

DB EVENTS

HOLI DAY CELEBRATIONS The DB community celebrated Holi on April 7 on DB North Plaza beach with goodnatured water fights. Holi, a Hindu spring festival, is also known as the Festival of Colours or the Festival of Love.

www.evoqueportraits.com

NEW BUS TERMINUS OPENING The new Discovery Bay Plaza bus terminus opened on April 13. The first bus was welcomed in at 12pm and there was lion dancing and a ribbon-cutting at the opening-day ceremony.

For more information, turn to page 48.

Photos courtesy of HKR

Photos courtesy of HKR

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May 2019 www.arounddb.com

DB EVENTS

DISCO BAY BALL The Rotary Club of Discovery Bay danced the night away at its third annual charity ball on March 30 at the Auberge Discovery Bay. The event, which raised HK$185,000, was a full house with 160 guests.

Photos courtesy of the Rotary Club of Discovery Bay

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN RACE On April 13, 420 runners, representing over 20 countries, competed in the 30-kilometre Country of Origin race around Lantau. With checkpoints at Nam Shan, Pak Mong and DB, team members – all of the same nationality – had to start, run and finish the race together.

Photos by Lucien Chan

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May 2019 www.arounddb.com

SPONSORED CONTENT

Star-studded concert experiences: More international rock stars host concerts at

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

T

here’s a lot more to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) these days than Mickey Mouse and theme park rides. The resort’s MICE (Meetings Incentives Conventions and Exhibitions) team organises an average of 600 events a year and is placing an emphasis on big-name concert experiences.

Grammy Award winner Ed Sheeran staged his first large-scale concert at HKDL’s Fantasy Road Outdoor Venue on April 17. The outdoor performance on the internationalstandard stage drew more than 20,000 people – almost all in standing zones.

Photo courtesy of www.hongkongdisneyland.com

“We planned a full day trip to enjoy the theme-park experience before going on to enjoy the concert. My family and I are huge fans, and it was wonderful entertainment for us at a one-stop location,” says Dave Chung.

Many Ed Sheeran fans travelled from Macau to enjoy an extended entertainment experience. Newlywed Prisca Ho even postponed her honeymoon to be at the concert.

“We were surprised that it took only 45 minutes to travel from Macau to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort via the Hong Kong-Macau Bridge, and we stayed a night at Disney Explorers Lodge,” she says.

“Hearing live music under the stars at an outdoor concert makes you feel so free,” Prisca adds. “The atmosphere is simply fantastic! Finally we can enjoy large-scale outdoor shows like those in the West.”

Karen Kwan, MICE & event business director of HKDL, and her

Ed Sheeran on stage at HKDL on April 17

team communicate and collaborate with concert organisers to bring in world-class concert performances to the resort. “We hope to provide one-stop hotel-park-concert resort experiences for our guests,” says Karen. “The Fantasy Road Outdoor Venue could attract more international and regional event organisers and artists to stage concerts in Hong Kong, which would reinforce the city’s position as an ‘event capital of Asia’ and provide a new engine of growth for the local tourism industry.”

The success of the Ed Sheeran concert demonstrates the demand for outdoor concert experiences in Hong Kong, a demand that HKDL is well positioned to fulfil. “Our unique open-air venue is ideal for staging large-scale concerts and sports events,” Karen says.

“It gives event organisers another valid Hong Kong venue for their shows and it helps to develop concert-resort experiences for music lovers.”

Karen Kwan, MICE & event business director of HKDL

Moreover, HKDL is eager to promote the concept of green mega events in Hong Kong. For the Ed Sheeran concert, it partnered with the concert organiser and NGO Green Earth to launch a series of environmental initiatives. “Water stations were set up at the concert venue and the resort offered recyclable cups for concert-goers to use during the shows. Recycling bins were also provided,” says Karen.

At the start of this month, May 3 to 5 and 10 to 12, Taiwanese rockers Mayday are performing six concerts at HKDL’s Fantasy Road Outdoor Venue. In 2018, Mayday’s HKDL shows were attended by over 120,000 people.

“Bundle packages for concert tickets, hotel stay, park admission and dining were introduced and sold out within a short period of time,” says Karen. “Events like these attract mainland Chinese and overseas concert-goers, as well as local fans.”

FIND IT •

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, www.hongkongdisneyland.com www.arounddb.com May 2019

17

DB EVENTS

GREEN SENSE CHARITY HIKE Over 200 people turned out on March 24 for the 10-kilometre Green Sense Charity Hike. Starting in DB Plaza, they followed the Lo Fu Tau and Olympic trails before descending to the finish at Silvermine Waterfall.

Photos courtesy of Green Sense

MEET AND GREET FOR RUGBY FANS Photos courtesy of Andrew Tasker and www.evoqueportraits.com

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Rugby fans had the chance to meet and chat with Manu Tuilagi of the Leicester Tigers on March 31 at Zak’s. Supporters and fans of the Zimbabwe Cheetahs gathered on April 3 to meet members of the team before cheering them on several days later at the Rugby Sevens. Both events were organised and sponsored by Impact Prowear.

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

DB EVENTS

L A I T N E S UPCOMING ES

YOUR GUIDE

E H T TO

COMMUNITY EVENTS

HELPER APPRECIATION MONTH

THE CRAYON RUN

Throughout DB

Tai Pak Wan The third edition of the annual DB Crayon Run offers four categories: adult and child (up to five years, six to eight years, www.evoqueportraits.com and nine years and up) and helper and child (any age). All proceeds go to charity, with a presentation at the Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital at Sandy Bay at the end of the month. For more details and registration, visit www.thecrayonrun.com.

Throughout May

May 4

AUSKICK/ AFL WITH LANTAU LIZARDS Photo courtesy of Myriam Bartu

May is Helper Appreciation Month and there are numerous activities lined up for DB helpers. To stay updated on the free classes and events on offer, visit www.arounddb.com.

SILVERMINE BAY CHALLENGE Across Lantau May 4-5

DB North Plaza and Discovery College pitches May 4 & May 26 DB-based Australian rules football club, Lantau Lizards is holding a trial session on May 4 at the DB North Plaza pitch to introduce kids to the basics. Trials for the U6s, U8s, U12s and U15s are at 8am; U10s and All Girls www.auskickhk.com (U10s and above) are up at 9.30am. You can catch the Lantau Lizards playing the Kowloon Cobras on May 26. For more information, call Rebecca Williams at 6846 1200 or visit www.auskickhk.com.

PIZZA MAKING WORKSHOP Pizza Express, D’Deck

Unleash your child’s inner chef at the Pizza Express pizza making workshop from 3pm to 5pm. Kids get to make and eat www.pizzaexpress.com.hk one complimentary pizza, and the usual food and drink charges apply to accompanying parents or friends. Enjoy a 10% discount if you stay for dinner after the workshop. To reserve your spot, call Christopher Vong at 2465 2426.

May 11

www.lantauboatclub.com

Lantau Boat Club (LBC) is hosting a weekend of racing and social activities, with racing from DB to Mui Wo on Saturday, followed by lunch and afternoon races. Sunday’s races finish at the LBC on Tai Pak Wan. For more information, visit www.lantauboatclub.com.

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May 2019 www.arounddb.com

COMPETITIONS LOVE IS ALL AROUND DB A big thank you goes to all the DB residents who participated in the Love is all around DB competition by submitting photos of and descriptions about their mums and dads. You can turn to page 34 to find the Mother’s Day winners; Father’s Day winners will be published in the June issue of Around DB. The competition is sponsored by Love.Together@DB. For more information, head to the Around DB Facebook page or www.arounddb.com.

LOVE YOUR BODY! LOVE YOUR COZZIE! The winners of the Love Your Body Love Your Cozzie competition got their glam on at a photo shoot on Tai Pak Wan on March 30. From May 1 to 10, readers are invited to check out the photos on the www.arounddb.com Around DB Facebook page and try to correctly match the individual photos of the five mums and five daughters. Guess correctly and you have the chance to win a voucher worth HK$1,000 to spend at Ozzie Cozzie. For more information, head to the Around DB Facebook page or www.arounddb.com.

HAVE YOUR PRELOVED IT EMS COLLECTED at your home on Ma y 2, 7, 9, 14, 16,

21, 23, 28 and 30 from 2pm to 4pm. WhatsApp Nikki Boot at 9677 6676.

YOUNG WRITERS COMPETITION

ADOPT A PET through Hong Ko ng Paws Foundation (PAWS) in DB Plaza on May 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 2pm to 6pm. Call Kat Ch eung on 9485 5188.

Submission date: May 3 This is your last chance to enter the Young Writers Competition (YWC) 2019 – all secondary school students living and/ or studying in Lantau are eligible.

Students are asked to submit a 600- to 700-word ghost story by May 3 to rachel@baymedia.com.hk. From the articles submitted, our three mentors each select a winning story and work on improving it with the author.

The three finished articles are posted on the Around DB and Life on Lantau Facebook pages for an online vote. The winning story is published in both magazines, and the finalists and runners-up are presented with HK$2,300-worth of vouchers from Bookazine, the competition sponsor, at an award ceremony at Discovery Bay International School. Young writers can check the YWC guidelines on the Around DB and Life on Lantau Facebook pages or at www.arounddb.com.

STOCK UP AT

THE PLAN from Haven Court on May 4 fromT MARKET across 2pm to 4.45pm.

Call 2238 3617.

ENJOY FREE YO

GA FOR at Yoga Bay, DB North Plaza on HELPERS classes May 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 7am to 8am. Call 6704 985 1/ 9150 7019 or visit yogabay.hk.

CONNECT AT THE DB ENTR NETWORKING BREAKFAS EPRENEURS T at Zak’s on May

9

at 8am. To register, visit www.t8ev ents.com.

SHOP THE DISCOVERY BA Y SUNDAY MARKET in DB Plaza on May 12 from 11am

Visit www.handmadehongkong.c om.

to 6pm.

JOIN A BEAC

H CLEAN-UP at Sam Pak Wan on May 12 at 9am with DB Green and Plastic Free Seas.

Visit plasticfreeseas.org.

HELP YOUR

HELPER! Enrich HK workshops equip helpers with the tools to save, budget and plan for a future with greater financi al security. Visit www.enrichhk.org. www.arounddb.com

www.arounddb.com May 2019

21

DB EVENTS

MOTHER’S DAY SPECIALS

DBFC AT HKFC CITI SOCCER SEVENS

Across DB

Hong Kong Football Club, Happy Valley

Mother’s Day specials are available at restaurants throughout DB, including the Auberge Discovery Bay, Club Siena and Discovery Bay Recreation Club.

Also on offer at the www.aubergediscoverybay.com Auberge – a Mother’s Day Room Package (starting at HK$2,188) and a Mommy & Princess Spa Treat (starting at HK$2,590, with 20% discount this month). To make a booking, call 2295 8288 (Auberge), 2500 1942 (D’Café) or 3156 7426 (Café Siena).

May 12

WELSH MALE VOICE CHOIR Discovery College Theatre

May 17-19

www.discoverybayfc.com

Cheer on the Discovery Bay Football Club (DBFC) in the Master’s tournament of the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens alongside clubs from Europe and Asia. In 2018, DBFC beat Notts Forest Mobsters 2-0 to take home the Masters Cup; DB’s Daniel Lins-Cortez was named Player of the Tournament.

To purchase tickets and find more event information, visit www.hksoccersevens.com.

ROTARY CLUB MEET AND GREET

May 19

Hemingway’s, D’Deck May 24

www.discovery.edu.hk

The Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir is teaming up with Discovery College’s Primary Cobra Choir and the Unsung Heroes to give families a musical treat. The show starts at 2pm and tickets are available at HK$100 for adults and HK$50 for children and domestic workers. To find out more and to purchase tickets, email pta@dc.edu.hk.

Freelance or Part-time Fitting MODEL(S) A well-known USA Lingerie brand is currently looking for fitting models based in Hong Kong Office.The person should have a positive attitude and able to give feedback during fitting process.

Lingerie - US Size 38C — *Full Bust - 40 1/2" - 41" / *Underbust - 33" Lingerie - US Size 38D — *Full Bust - 42" / *Underbust - 33" Lingerie - US Size 38DD — *Full Bust - 43" / *Underbust - 33" Lingerie - US Size 38F — *Full Bust - 43 1/2" / *Underbust - 33" *** Other Sizes are also welcome ***

Interested parties, please call 2372 8428 & email personal's measurement to christina.ma@fotlinc.com Please provide an identity proof for legally working at HK for casting.

rotaryclubdiscoverybay.org

Join members of the Rotary Club of Discovery Bay at their community fellowship event, starting at 6.45pm. All non-Rotarian guests, partners and friends are welcome to mix and mingle and learn about the club’s mission and its activities in DB and beyond.

For more information, visit rotaryclubdiscoverybay.org.

AROUND DB AND LIFE ON LANTAU

LAST CHANCE TO ENTER!

YOUNG WRITERS COMPETITION 2019 THE CHALLENGE

THE REWARD

Write a 600- to 700-word

The winning article is published in the July issue of Around DB and the August issue of Life on Lantau. HK$2,300-worth of book vouchers is presented to the finalists and runners-up by Bookazine, the competition sponsor, at an award ceremony at DBIS.

ghost story.

The three finalists are chosen during an online vote, June 7 to 14.

Open to all secondary school students living and/ or studying in Lantau.

Check the YWC guidelines on the Around DB and Life on Lantau Facebook pages or at www.arounddb.com.

Submit your article by May 3 to rachel@baymedia.com.hk.

The deadline is May 3

Last year’s finalists: Kayla Adara Lee (YHKCC) Serena Wong (DC) Eleanor Lambert (DBIS)

BAY MEDIA publishing and design studio

www.arounddb.com May 2019

23

DB EVENTS

CONGRATULATIONS DB GOLD

JANE ENGELMANN

Photo courtesy of Jane Engelmann Photo courtesy of Rebecca Williams

DB Gold has just been crowned 2018/ 19 Hong Kong Ladies Tennis League Premier League champions. This is the first time a DBRC tennis team has come top of the league in any Hong Kong tennis competition. To find out more, email Rebecca Williams at rkwilliams76@gmail.com.

At the Women Empowerment Forum – Hong Kong on March 30, DBer Jane Engelmann won the Mrs Shroff Women of Inspiration Award in the performing arts category for her work with the Unsung Heroes, a choir composed of domestic helpers. To find out more, visit kitkateventz.com or www.unsungheroeshk.com.

DBFC LEGAL LEAGUE TEAM

www.discoverybayfc.com

The DBFC Legal League team has just been named 2018/ 19 Royale International Legal League Hong Kong First Division champions.

This is the third time the DBFC Legal League has brought home this trophy. For more information, visit www.discoverybayfc.com.

NEW in DB BUMPS TO BUDDIES

MANDARIN TIME SCHOOL

www.pexels.com

www.bumpstobuddies.club

Bumps to Buddies organises free events for mums throughout Hong Kong, with a new weekly gathering in DB North Plaza on May 8. At these events, mums-to-be and mums of babies up to five months old get to share and connect. To register, visit www.bumpstobuddies.club.

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Central-based Mandarin Time School is now offering Mandarin classes and tailor-made Chinese-culture workshops in DB. Mandarin Morning PlayTime classes are available at EpicLand for children aged 18 months to three-and-a-half years. Private and group Mandarin classes for adults are available in students’ homes. To book a class, email Lydia Yang at lydia@mandarintimeschool.com or visit www.mandarintimeschool.com.

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

TWINKLE DANCE

www.twinkledance.com

Twinkle Dance Company is now offering ballet and jazz classes every Monday afternoon out of the Yoga Up studio space in DB North Plaza.

To win a full term of dance classes for your child (18 months to age 13), turn to page 32; to discover Twinkle Dance Project HK, turn to page 50. For more information email info@twinkledance.com or visit www.twinkledance.com.

Lantau International School

Open Day 15th June 2 019 12:00 - 14:0 0 at Tong Fuk

Reception and Primary 1 - 6 places still available

Enquiries: 2980 3676 / 2984 0302 Website: www.lis.edu.hk E-Mail: lisadmin@lis.edu.hk FB: lantauinternationalschool

DB EVENTS

LANTAU HIGHLIGHTS ROTTEN HEAD QUIZ AND SILENT DISCO

MOONTREKKER REGISTRATION

MAYDAY

Resto, Tung Chung

Across Lantau

Hong Kong Disneyland

May 3

May 3

June 6

soundoffexperience.com

Get your groove on at a Sound Off silent disco at 10pm. The pre-party starts at 7pm with Rotten Head Craft Beer and Music Festival’s monthly pub quiz. Tickets for the quiz night (HK$250) include four Yardley Brothers craft beers and food. Tickets for the silent disco, plus two beers, cost HK$190. To book both, for a combined price of HK$350, email Andrew Spires at andrew@rottenheadfest.com or visit www.rottenheadfest.com.

www.barclaysmoontrekker.com

Register on June 6 to compete in the overnight Barclays MoonTrekker, October 18 to 19. Participants run or hike 30, 40 or 50 kilometres across Lantau for this year’s nominated charity, The Nature Conservancy. To find out more and to register, visit barclaysmoontrekker.com.

www.wikipedia.org

Taiwanese rock band Mayday is back at Hong Kong Disneyland for a series of six outdoor concerts on the Hong Kong leg of its Just Rock It 2019 Blue tour.

For tickets, starting at HK$480, head to www.hongkongdisneyland.com.

SAVE the DATE DB PIRATES BALL

DB ARTISTS’ GROUP SHOW Auberge Discovery Bay

June 1

Auberge Discovery Bay

June 1

Photo courtesy of Carolina Kollmann

Top DB artists including Assia Bennani, Carolina Kollmann, Eleanor McColl, Ginny Malbon, Yulia Shautsukova, Alicia van Thiel and Fan Yan are showing their work at a one-day-only art exhibit from 10am to 7pm. To find out more, email Carolina Kollmann at carolinakollmannart@gmail.com.

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May 2019 www.arounddb.com

www.dbpirates.com

Join members of the DB Pirates at their end-ofseason celebration for dinner, drinks and dancing. For more information, visit www.dbpirates.com or email events@dbpirates.com.

the flower club DB HAPPY. AFFORDABLE. FLOWERS ay ers D Moth ecial Sp on ities Activ and 11th ! now 4th May ur space o y Book

Our Services Wednesday lilies 150hkd/5stems Friday flowers 130-150hkd/bunch Bouquets for gifting 250hkd onwards Subscriptions 130-150hkd/bunch Bespoke services as per customer budget 15hkd delivery fee (non members only)

Make us a friend on Facebook , Follow us on Instagram , WhatsApp 97060783

SPONSORED CONTENT

C I P E s ’ d n a L c i Ep ! g n i n e Reop Family fun for all on Epicland’s signature slides

N

Photos by Duey Tam

ot many people get to play for a living. But EpicLand’s Karina Aswani and Koren Thomas are living the dream.

The pair opened EpicLand – the largest indoor family entertainment centre in Hong Kong – in 2014, and five years on, they have just revved up the fun factor through a major revamp.

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“We always have so many ideas of how we can continually improve the playground,” Koren and Karina say. “You need to keep things fresh in Hong Kong and our ‘adventurers’ love to be

constantly challenged.”

After closing in January, EpicLand reopened on April 18, and is hosting an exclusive celebratory party, for invited guests and VIP members, this month to coincide with its fifth anniversary. Karina and Koren are excited to see their bigger, bolder dreams for EpicLand become a reality after a four-month long renovation project.

Five years of watching the flow of play and how kids interact and explore the centre helped the partners know which attractions needed to be expanded and which

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

needed to be adapted. They have also introduced new experiences like the Warrior Zone.

But the bottom line is that every EpicLand attraction has to fulfil their philosophy of learning through play and physical activity. “The beauty of play isn’t just in the environment but also in the imagination that is ignited through play,” say Koren and Karina. “It can never be just one thing. Our goal is to keep inspiring, keep the excitement going and keep giving everyone the wow factor that they love.”

The renovation project first began

Jumping for joy on the trampolines

have taken the opportunity to grow the attractions for older children and teens still further. There are also more activities on offer for professional team-building events.

Scaling new heights on Epicland’s renovated and expanded climbing wall

with 12 months of research, which included visiting different countries and talking to different playground manufacturers.

“We wanted someone who would work with us out of the box,” Karina and Koren say. “We are quite happy with the way it has turned out.”

Prior to the renovation, EpicLand already boasted the largest indoor slides in Asia, trampolines, an airtrek obstacle course, virtual reality rides, laser tag and mini golf. By expanding the Rock Climbing Arena (the climbing structure now covers four floors) and the Nerf gun Ballistics Area, the partners

Hugely popular with young children thanks to its Kids Zone playground and toddler area, EpicLand is also known for its comprehensive party packages.

Additional party options now on offer include ‘Epic Slime’ and ‘Bubble Football.’

In a perfect world, the partners would have loved to add another 20,000 square feet to the 14,000-square-foot venue. “If we could just move all the restaurants around us to the waterfront, then we would turn the whole of DB North Plaza into an adventure

play zone,” say Koren and Karina.

They are constantly being asked to open EpicLand in more locations and this may well be in the cards because they have finally found a manufacturer that they work well with.

In any case, the job of maintaining a play centre is never done. Even after five years of operation, they are still astounded by the amount of destruction children can wreak.

“The maintenance is never ending,” say Karina and Koren.

“And if there is the remotest chance of children exploring every inch of our playground, then you can bet they will try it! We just have to make safety our first priority and be one step ahead of them at all times.”

FIND IT •

EpicLand, DB North Plaza, 2441 0098, events@epiclandhk.com, epiclandhk.com www.arounddb.com May 2019

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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 a place on a Faust summer programme Faust International Youth Theatre is offering one reader a place at either its Summer Theatre or Summer Creative Writing programme (worth HK$2,980). The five-day programmes are held over the summer, from June 24 to August 23, in Sheung Wan (Faust studio), Discovery Bay (Discovery Bay International School), Kowloon (King George V School) and Tai Wai (Island School).

www.faustworld.com

Win children’s clothes from felix & mina

Faust International’s Summer Theatre Programme empowers children, aged three to 14, through drama and performance skills, with plenty of fun and action encouraging creativity and expression. The Creative Writing Programme helps children, aged six to 13, develop their writing skills and creativity in a fun and relaxed environment. For more information, visit www.faustworld.com.

Win free tickets to Affordable Art Fair’s #ArtHappy event

affordableartfair.com/fairs/hong-kong www.felixmina.com

Online Peng Chau-based children’s clothing company ‘felix & mina’ is offering one reader a voucher for children’s clothing (worth HK$1,000).

Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong is offering five readers a pair of tickets (worth HK$200 each) to its #ArtHappy charity event on May 17 that aims to raise awareness of mental wellbeing. The tickets also provide free access to the art fair on May 18 and 19.

The felix & mina range is ‘fun, fine and functional’ enabling children to live in the moment. The stylish, comfortable range, for girls and boys aged one to seven, is made from stretchy and breathable ecofriendly textiles. To find out more, turn to page 40, or visit www.felixmina.com.

Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong is returning for its seventh edition with over 115 local and international galleries showcasing a collection of contemporary artworks and large-scale installations. Prices range from HK$1,000 to HK$100,000. For tickets, starting at HK$165, visit affordableartfair.com/fairs/hong-kong. www.arounddb.com May 2019

31

GIVEAWAYS

Win a full term of dance classes from Twinkle Dance Company

www.twinkledance.com

Twinkle Dance Company is offering one child, aged 18 months to 13 years, a full term of dance classes (worth HK$2,170) at its new studio location in DB North Plaza, this month and next.

Through its partnership with Yoga Up, Twinkle Dance is now offering a range of dance classes in DB on Monday afternoons.

From locations across Hong Kong, Twinkle Dance provides a variety of classes including ballet, jazz and contemporary for children and adults, from 18 months and up. Call 6608 6689 or visit www.twinkledance.com.

Win a free massage at Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel’s Quan Spa Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel is offering one reader a voucher for a 90-minute Aroma Fusion Massage (worth HK$1,380) at its Quan Spa. Quan Spa is renowned for its treatments drawing on the restorative properties of water, complemented by premium products from Thalgo. Trained and certified therapists perform a full spectrum of body massages and face therapies. Spa guests can enjoy complimentary access to the hotel’s health club facilities including the gym, 25-metre heated indoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi. For more information, call 3969 2188 or visit www.skycitymarriott.com. www.skycitymarriott.com

Congratulations to last month’s winner Victor Tsai for a place at a Treasure Island spring adventure camp

Let US help YOU!

•

HK Visas

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HK Company Incorporation

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Accounting & Taxation

info@prismvisas.com | +852-3464-5200

www.prismvisas.com

SUMMER DANCE 2019

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT 30% enroll on/before April 24th 20% enroll on/before May 15th 10% enroll on/before June 5th

6608 6689 info@twinkledance.com www.twinkledance.com

LOVE IS ALL

Mother’s Day

Few experiences compare to that first moment of connection between a parent and a child – whether it be the squeeze of a baby’s fist just after birth, a baby’s first smile, or the first time a child says “I love you.” In family-focused Discovery Bay, residents are often privileged to witness moments of familial love both large and small. From happy reunions at the ferry pier at the end of day when children meet their parents coming home from work, to comforting hugs and kisses after knees get skinned in the plaza, family life is at the heart of the DB community.

Three Mother’s Day finalists have been selected from those who entered the Love is all around DB competition in April. In honour of Mother’s Day on May 12, Around DB has the pleasure of sharing the finalists’ photos and stories through which they reveal what makes their mum so special.

Photos courtesy of Tracy Fleming, Madison Ong and Rod Adrianne

1st prize: 99 roses for home delivery in DB

Tracy Fleming

The organiser has the discretion to use the designs for promotion purposes and reserves the right of the final decision in the event of any disputes.

Terms and conditions apply.

My Mom, the comet. I am eternally grateful for my unique, spectacular one-in-a-million Mom Carolyn Nelson. She brightens up every room she enters and can enthrall you with historical facts while line dancing to Bruno Mars. She has never met a stranger and enjoys talking with everyone who is lucky enough to sit by her on the bus. She can make you feel like a king or a queen and would give you her last coin if you needed it. Fiercely loving and loyal; I wish I was more like my Mom.

AROUND DB

Winners!

2nd prize: Dinner buffet (weekend) for

ning The win entries y a D Father’s pear in p a l wil of e issue the Jun B D Around

two adults and two kids at the Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong

Madison Ong

My mother is the most solicitous mother I have ever seen. She has a calm personality and consistently tries her best to control her emotions.

She’s an impeccably caring woman who looks after me at all costs.

She tells me stories nearly every day and does a tremendous amount of research about children’s education and development. She sometimes even gets sick for taking care of me. My mother wants me to find learning gratifying so she registered me in several extra curriculums I enjoy. In conclusion, my mother takes outstanding care of me and she’s always the wind beneath my wings.

3rd prize: Spa package for two adults at the Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong

My mom, Nery Palic, is a helper in Discovery Bay. She is a single mom who is raising me, her 10-year-old son by herself. I know it is hard for her as a single mom to be away from me, especially without any financial or moral support from my father. But she wants to give me a better future, to give me what I want and need, and that’s all that matters. And I know she will do anything for me as long as I live.

Rod Adrianne 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 co-organising 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.

Photo by Andrew Spires

PROFILE

36

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

Rock ‘n’ roll stars Young DB duo Case Sensitive sits down with Claire Severn to discuss influences, ambitions and their passion for performing

I

t’s late Friday evening, and Tung Chung’s Seaview Cafe is packed to the rafters with people chilling out to the sound of one of Lantau’s hottest bands. To listen to them, you’d think the musicians on stage were seasoned professionals – and they are – but take a closer look at the duo playing and you realise these guys are actually something really special.

Fast forward a few weeks, and Saxon and Jarvis Whittaker – otherwise known as Case Sensitive – are sitting in the DB sunshine, talking enthusiastically about their favourite subject – music, or, to be more precise, rock music.

“We first got into music when we heard Back in Black by AC/DC,” says 11-year-old Jarvis, a Year 7 student at Discovery College (DC).

“We started researching the band and became obsessed with them.”

“Completely obsessed,” agrees Saxon, Jarvis’ 13-year-old brother, who also attends DC, currently in Year 9. “We used to play a game where I was Malcolm, the rhythm guitarist, and Jarvis was Angus, the lead guitarist, and we’d just rock out to their songs like we were part of the band.”

All about the music Originally from Sydney, Australia, Saxon and Jarvis moved to DB in 2009 with their parents, Gillian and Blaine. Gillian teaches at DC, while Blaine is one of the most sought-after saxophonists in Asia both with his band and as a studio and touring musician. “Our house is always full of music,” says Jarvis. “We get a lot of inspiration from Dad. He helps us with our music – with songwriting tips and stuff like that.”

The pair cite a number of other musicians and bands as inspirations too: Kurt Cobain, 

Saxon and Jarvis Whittaker of Case Sensitive

www.arounddb.com May 2019

37

PROFILE

Keith Urban, Guns N’ Roses, Green Day, David Bowie, Queen, The Beatles. “Anything under that umbrella,” says Jarvis.

“We just love that whole sound,” says Saxon. “We don’t really listen to the modern music that other kids would. We listen to older stuff from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.”

The rock vibe certainly suits the pair, who already boast an impressive Instagram following – @casesensitive_hk. They’ve made a name for themselves on Hong Kong’s live music scene too, having played venues across Lantau and Hong Kong Island.

“We played our first gig at The Venue [the former restaurant in DB North Plaza],” says Saxon, explaining that the opportunity came about through Y Rock, the community organisation which provides young performers in Hong Kong with a platform to express themselves.

“Since then, we’ve gone on to play at places including 1563 in Central, the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, The BIG Picnic and Clockenflap, and in October we’ll be playing at the Rotten Head Music & Craft Beer Festival in Tung Chung,” adds Saxon. (The Rotten Head organisers offered the boys a slot after seeing them play at a recent Dream Chasers concert in DB North Plaza.)

School of rock “Being part of Y Rock has given us some fantastic performance opportunities. We’ve also had lessons off [Y Rock’s music director] Chris Collins, as well as Jay Apungan, who plays at Hemingway’s, which has been

great,” adds Saxon.

The boys have clearly been taking note in their lessons, because as anyone who’s seen them play will tell you, their performances are spot on – they nail every riff, every note sung is pitch perfect.

But the thing that strikes you most when talking to them is their complete passion for performing.

“We love it when we’re up there,” shares Jarvis. “We see people’s faces when we’re on stage, and after the shows they come up to us and tell us, ‘That was fantastic!’”

“When they start singing along it makes us feel great,” adds Saxon.

“We just love playing to people.”

The other thing that’s clearly evident as the boys chat is how much they enjoy working together.

“We get along really well when we play music,” says Saxon. “When Jarvis does something really cool, I think, ‘Oh, nice one!’ We love playing together, and we love the music that we play. It’s the bond we have.”

“Saxon is more rhythm and I’m lead guitar,” continues Jarvis.

“He’s the singer and I do backup vocals, and he backs me up in the solos. We complement each other well – we use each other’s strengths to make it work together.”

Of course, the pair’s success hasn’t come overnight – it’s the result of years of practice, day in, day out. “We practise whenever we get free time,” says Jarvis. “We try to get school stuff out of the way first.” “Then we go, ‘OK, let’s play guitar now!’” adds Saxon. “I have to practise singing as well as guitar, so I do vocal warm-ups and online singing classes.”

“While he’s doing singing practice, I’ll be doing my scales and practising soloing,” says Jarvis. “Then we’ll come together and start practising songs.”

“Or thinking of a set for the next gig and learning new songs to make it a bit more interesting,” adds Saxon.

The boys don’t miss out while they’re on holiday either. “We have guitars at our grandpa’s place in Australia,” explains Saxon. “So when we go there we play. It’s good to keep our playing up to date – if we stop our fingers stop being used to it and they become soft again.”

On the case And what of the band name?

Where did that come from? “Case Sensitive came to me while I was trying to buy a song on my computer,” explains Saxon. “‘Case Sensitive’ kept blinking on the screen, and I figured it would be a really cool band or duo name. I also like how it can have more than one meaning, so we decided to go with it!”

And what does the future hold for the pair? Where do the boys see themselves in a few years’ time? “We want to put together a band with a bassist and a drummer,” says Saxon.

“And we want to perform and record our own songs, write our own albums.”

“And do tours around the world,” says Jarvis.

“Yeah, we want to travel the world and play to people,” agrees Saxon. “That’s what we love to do, and that’s what we want to keep doing.”

Find more local heroes @ www.arounddb.com

38

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

IN FOCUS

Fas

g n i n hio

A H C

E NG

Darren Counsell of Eureka Bamboo Socks with his son Finley

Photos by Baljit Gidwani and Duey Tam, and courtesy of Sarah Garner

Claire Severn talks to three local entrepreneurs who are trying to make a difference in the world of children’s fashion

40

T

here aren’t many among us who can say they don’t like a good bargain. It’s a natural instinct to want to get the best bang for your buck.

So when low-cost fashion started to take over the high street back in the 1990s, shoppers were in their element. Now they could update their wardrobes on an almost weekly basis and simply discard items when they (quickly) went out of fashion.

But somewhere at the back of our minds we knew it was too good to be true. There had to be a flipside. And there was, but while reports started to emerge about poor conditions for factory workers and environmental concerns, still we kept on buying, trapped in a

throw-away culture – surely our individual purchases weren’t part of the problem?

wasn’t pumped into the rivers remained in the fabrics, ready for us to wear.

Then came the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh in 2013, in which over 1,100 people died and another 2,500 were injured when a factory building collapsed. The world started to sit up and take note. The human cost was real; fast fashion had a dark side.

All in all, it makes for a pretty depressing read, but the good news is that the publicity has put pressure on the big-name brands to clean up their acts. The Bangladesh Accord, which aims to help ready-made garment factories in Bangladesh become – and stay – safe for millions of workers was brought into effect in April 2013 and was signed by major organisations such as H&M, Primark and Arcadia Group.

Jump forward to 2016 and another shocking side to the story came to light with the release of Canadian documentary RiverBlue. This time, for Hong Kong, it was even closer to home. Those cheap jeans we’d all been buying were polluting rivers, like the Pearl River in China with chemicals and dyes. What

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

Here in DB, we’re pretty aware of the impact humans are having on the planet. We see the trash in the sea and the smog in the air, and we

Jun Li-Friese of felix & mina with her son Felix

want things to change. Not only do we want a better tomorrow for our children, we want a better today.

It’s this drive that is behind a rise in ethical childrenswear retailers across Hong Kong. In fact, as it turns out, we have some great online options right here on our doorstep.

Healthy, sustainable socks First up is Eureka Bamboo Socks – a DB-based eco-conscious company dedicated to creating fashionable socks that are not only produced ethically but are also healthy to wear.

According to co-owner and twoyear resident Darren Counsell choice of fabric should be one of the key considerations for parents when selecting clothes for their children.

“Much like you are conscious about the food that you eat and the water you drink, you need to be conscious about clothing fabric – it can contain lots of harmful chemicals and toxins,” he explains. “So, try to ensure the products that spend a lot of time against your children’s skin – most importantly socks and underwear – are ‘health friendly.’

“Eureka uses bamboo as its main material because it is hypoallergenic. The eco-friendly fibres are much gentler on the skin than man-made fibres, and they are also antibacterial, antifungal and odour resistant.

Furthermore, bamboo can be 100% organically grown, so there are no traces of pesticides. Our manufacturing partners all have the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certificate – this is the best known, independent, global certification for textiles tested for harmful substances.”

Darren goes on to explain that bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet – it’s an easily renewable resource, and it can withstand water shortages, requiring two thirds less water than cotton to grow. “Importantly too, bamboo releases 30% more oxygen into the atmosphere and absorbs more carbon dioxide than other plants, so it decreases greenhouse gases whilst cleaning the air.”

Organic ready-to-wear Another local label leading the way for sustainable kids’ fashion is ‘felix & mina,’ owned by Peng Chaubased mum Jun Li-Friese. Catering to girls and boys aged one to six, the brand is named after Jun’s son, Felix, and his cousin, Mina.

Driven by its motto of ‘Live the moment, live with consciousness,’ 

www.arounddb.com May 2019

41

IN FOCUS

came from her astonishment at how fast her first child, Henry, was outgrowing his clothing, and she wanted to find a solution.

Sarah Garner of Retykle with her ‘little tykes’ Harry and Olympia

the brand idea was dreamt up in 2002 with the aim of creating stylish childrenswear that is also safe for kids and the environment. The range includes fun, functional pieces made from stretchy, breathable fabrics in designs that appeal to parents and kids alike.

A reusable wardrobe

Jun says that the way the clothes are produced is a key element of felix & mina’s ethos. “We use a lot of Turkish cotton, which is incredibly soft,” she says. “This ensures that the clothes are lightweight, fastdrying and super versatile. It’s also completely organic, which helps to avoid issues with skin allergies.

Ours is a very strict production method. All of our organic cotton series meet the European Union’s Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) regulations.”

According to non-profit organisation Remake, most of our discarded clothes end up being incinerated or sent to landfills, and they estimate that items made of nonbiodegradable fabrics, which is most of the clothing we own, can sit in landfills for up to 200 years.

Jun says that the organic element doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style either. “Usually materials that are eco-friendly are not very colourful, however we use organic dyes, so we are able to provide bright products that are still safe for the environment. We offer free delivery within DB too, so it’s super convenient for DBers to shop with us.”

Of course, one of the problems about making kids’ fashion sustainable is how quickly they grow out of things.

Sure, you can make an effort to shop responsibly, but what do you do with the things that no longer fit?

That was the issue Sarah Garner had in mind when she set up her clothing business Retykle, which offers a reselling service for midto high-end childrenswear. A regular at the Handmade Hong Kong markets in DB, Sarah says the inspiration for the business

FIND IT

• • • • • •

The concept behind Retykle is simple: parents fill a bag with clothes that are either new (we’ve all got those items at the back of the wardrobe somewhere) or in ‘gently used’ condition and either arrange a free pick up from home or drop them at the Retykle studio in Wong Chuk Hang. Sarah’s team then adds the items to their catalogue and sells them online, with 50% of the revenue going to the seller.

It’s a win-win, removing the hassle for the sellers, while giving buyers the opportunity to enjoy big savings on quality brands. And once the items have been outgrown once more, if they still meet the Retykle standards, they can go back into the cycle.

According to UK charity WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Plan), organisations across the supply chain could cut up to 3% of their carbon, water and waste impact by making clothes that last just three months longer.

“The biggest issues we are facing in fashion are cheaper and faster clothing production and overconsumption,” says Sarah.

“The single biggest solution to our fashion crisis is to keep our items in circulation for longer and buy less new stuff.”

Eureka Bamboo Socks, eurekasocks.com felix & mina, www.felixmina.com Remake, remake.world Retykle, retykle.com RiverBlue, riverbluethemovie.eco WRAP, www.wrap.org.uk

Find more topical local topics @ www.arounddb.com

42

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

www.felixmina.com

talk@felixmina.com

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WISH LIST

Make Mother’s Day!

Pick out any one of these gifts to make mum feel special on May 12

Photos courtesy of Amaranthine Blooms, Bookazine, Partytime, Red Velvet, The Flower Club DB, Wine Brothers and Zaha et Cetera

GREEN TOURMALINE, RUBY & DIAMOND EARRINGS, ZAHA ET CETERA, HK$8,500

STRAWBERRIES & CREAM FLORAL DREAM (LARGE BOUQUET), AMARANTHINE BLOOMS, HK$1,898

BESPOKE BOUQUET, THE FLOWER CLUB DB, Starting at HK$250

WINE TUMBLER, BOOKAZINE,

HK$250

LOVE YOU MOM FOIL BALLOON WITH RAINBOW, PARTYTIME, HK$150

SOARING KITE BLANC DE BLANC SPARKLING WINE, WINE BROTHERS, HK$180

HIGH-GLOSS LACQUER JEWELLERY BOX, WITH VELVET INTERIOR, RED VELVET, HK$1,100 CERAMIC JAR, RED VELVET, HK$650

FIND IT

MOTHER’S DAY SIXPACK OF WINE, WINE BROTHERS, HK$900

• • • • • • •

Amaranthine Blooms, www.amaranthineblooms.com Bookazine, www.bookazine.com.hk Partytime, www.partytime.com.hk Red Velvet Facebook page The Flower Club DB, 9706 0783 Wine Brothers, www.winebrothers.com.hk Zaha et Cetera, zahaetcetera.com

www.arounddb.com May 2019

45

WISH LIST

Survival Kit

New Mum

Check out the cute and practical range at Baby Basics HK – everything a new mum might want or need DREAMGENII PREGNANCY PILLOW, WOODLANDS MULTI, HK$599

AROMABABY MOTHER & CHILD MASSAGE OIL, 100ML,

SHNUGGLE BATH, HK$299

HK$135

KOKOSO NB ESSENTIALS KIT, HK$289

BATH & ROOM THERMOMETER,

HK$180

Photos courtesy of www.babybasicshk.com

MILESTONE PREGNANCY CARDS, HK$135

46

MAINFRAME WIDE OPEN DIAPER BACKPACK, BLACK, HK$599

UMBRELLA SLEEPSUITS (SET OF 3), 0-3 MONTHS,

FIND IT

HK$275

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

• Baby Basics HK, 7/F, Unit 01-03 Lansing House, 41-47 Queen’s Road Central, 2311 1048, 6464 9023 (WhatsApp), customerservice@babybasicshk.com, www.babybasicshk.com

Resizing Rings (14KT & up) Recycling Old Jewelry Replacement of Missing Diamonds Re-design Jewelry Jewelry Engraving Services Testing on Gemstones Diamond, Gemstones & Jewelry Consultations Handling Diamonds with GIA/IGI certificates from 0.08 ct size & up

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Mother’s day special from HK$8,000 & up with GIA certificates

UPDATE

All aboard The first bus arrives at 12pm on April 13

With Discovery Bay Plaza bus terminus now open for business and expanded retail opportunities coming soon, Elizabeth Jerabek looks into the motivation behind the new development and what residents can expect

T

wo years in the making, the new Discovery Bay Plaza bus terminus opened on April 13.

Celebrations at the opening day ceremony included lion dances and a ribbon-cutting, and the first bus was welcomed in at 12pm.

As part of the opening day celebrations – and to thank residents for their support during the new terminus’ construction – Hong Kong Resort (HKR) offered free rides to all passengers on all internal bus routes departing between 5.30am and 11.59pm.

Photos courtesy of HKR and by Jesse Pyeatt

A bigger bus terminus

48

The construction of the new bus terminus was proposed in 2016, and work began in 2017 with the contentious relocation of the old golf cart parking lot to the new lot at the Discovery Bay Recreation Club. The old bus terminus closed at the end of February 2017, and the project is scheduled to finish at the end of this year when the shops open in the expanded retail arcade under the newly raised terminus.

“The goal of the new bus terminus is to enhance the DB bus service and improve overall traffic safety (since it’s now on the same level

as the main road), with the added benefit of expanding the shopping arcade to provide better retail facilities,” says Vincent Chua, general manager, DB Operations.

“The new bus terminus marks a new chapter for the Discovery Bay bus services,” Vincent adds.

“The terminus is more spacious and enhances traffic safety for both passengers and bus drivers.

Such a big project requires close communication with residents.

Together we made it happen and I would like to thank residents for their support and patience.”

New safety features implemented include pedestrian crossings on the main road by the terminus, and barrier-free facilities, such as dropped kerbs at every bus bay for wheelchair and pram users. New lifts and escalators are scheduled to open later this year.

The new bus terminus sees an increase in the number of bus bays [from 16 to 22], and residents have expressed concerns that this, alongside the provision of more space for double-decker buses, means that more buses will be introduced to internal routes, something that could negatively impact the safety of DB’s roads.

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

But Vincent assures that this is not the case. “The old bus terminus was not designed to accommodate the larger buses (which were added in 2015),” he says. ‘The additional capacity will support the deployment of existing double-decker buses on the external bus routes to Tung Chung and Sunny Bay. We currently have no plans to deploy doubledecker buses on internal routes.”

Construction of the new bus terminus and expanded retail arcade began in March 2017, and Vincent stresses that throughout the construction period HKR worked hard to minimise disruption to existing services, most of which remain in place.

“With the new bus terminus in use, the only change to existing internal bus routes is a new en-route stop at the terminus,” says Vincent. “All bus stops remain the same, except the pair of bus stops at Discovery Bay Road near La Costa Two and at the access road to La Vista near Discovery Bay Road, which are no longer operational. The three external routes (DB01R, DB02R and DB03R) will continue to operate with the same routes and bus stop arrangements for the moment.

Further changes to both internal and external bus routes will be

The new bus terminus provides space for more bus bays

The project has created 3,000 square-feet of landscaped space

discussed at the Passenger Liaison Group meeting in June.

“The pick-up and drop-off points for hire cars and all hotel and club shuttle buses have already been relocated to the new bus terminus, and the footpath along Discovery Bay Road has been reopened for public use.”

Expanded retail opportunities HKR is now in the process of recruiting tenants for the expanded retail arcade – and according to a HKR spokesperson, “It will include an international standard ice-skating rink and diversified food and beverage offerings and leisure choices.”

Speculating about future retail openings, some DBers fear that larger chain operators will displace local businesses. (DCH Foods and Salt & Pepper both closed in January when their shop spaces were displaced by the construction works in the plaza.)

It’s also rumoured that the new stores will be too high-end (think Gucci) for the majority of residents to shop at.

HKR, however, is confident that its enhancement works will improve residents’ living standards and maintain the resort’s sustainability.

“Over the past 30-plus years, every decade, we have introduced some new elements to the community.

We are trying to uplift and add more energy to the overall DB community.

“We are a green community and the project has added 3,000 squarefeet of landscaped space around the bus terminus. The waterfront promenade near the ferry pier is also undergoing a facelift.”

Some

residents,

however,

are

concerned that HKR’s plans for improvement and expansion will damage the quality of life in DB. From the beginning, when HKR announced the proposal for the new bus terminus in 2016, Amy Yung, DB’s representative on the Islands District Council, has been concerned about the impact it will have on the number of tourists visiting DB. “The commercial area underneath the new bus terminus will bring along yet more tourists,” she says. “I don’t know whether this will affect the tranquillity of our life.”

Meanwhile, HKR is adamant that the developments are planned purely to benefit residents: “The primary focus is to enhance the overall environment of the DB community. Visitors are not a key target for us.”

To contact Hong Kong Resort, email info@hongkongresort.com; to contact Amy Yung, Islands District Council member for DB, email awsyung@netvigator.com. www.arounddb.com May 2019

49

SPONSORED CONTENT

Bright Lights, Big City : A

Twinkle Dance Project HK

s a dancer, teacher and the owner of Twinkle Dance Company, Twinkle Lam spends a lot of time in dance studios. So it’s no surprise that when she came across New York City-based photographer Dane Shitagi’s Ballerina Project – in which he photographs ballerinas not in their ‘natural habitat’ but on location – the images caught her eye.

In 2018, Twinkle realised that the growth of Twinkle Dance Company, now with a studio in DB North Plaza, had set her up with a unique opportunity to showcase dance using Hong Kong’s vibrant cityscape.

“We have all the resources – many talented students and spectacular costumes from performances,” she says. “So, it motivated me to get started on my own version of Shitagi’s Ballerina Project – Twinkle Dance Project HK. It is so refreshing to see dance pictures outside of a studio setting.”

Photo by Manuel Wong

Eight locations are featured in Project HK to date: Montane Mansion in Quarry Bay; Central MTR Station, Graham Street Market, Pottinger Street and Pedder Street in Central; the Ladies Market and Sai Yeung Choi Street in Mongkok; and the Bamboo Theatre in Tsing Yi.

50

“In the photos, you’ll find familiar everyday city scenes, ranging from something local, such as the Graham Street Market to something like Montane Mansion, which has become a tourist hotspot since being featured in the Hollywood blockbuster Transformers: Age of

At Montane Mansion in Quarry Bay

Extinction,” Twinkle explains.

“While displaying the talent of our students, we also wanted to present Hong Kong – its beauty, dynamism and spirit – to audiences across the globe.”

Project HK ingeniously combines performance art and visual art, with each shot cleverly connecting the dancers with their location, but the logistics of each shoot presented unique challenges.

“Shooting at busy locations is very different from a stage or studio setting. It often draws a crowd, causing a small commotion. Thus, our dancers needed to be very focused, with the photographer capturing just the right moment,” says Twinkle.

The costumes – created by Twinkle’s dance clothing company Tutulamb – are also all-important and inspired by each location’s theme. As an example, the theme for the Pedder Street location is ‘Busy transit,’ so we see three dancers in the middle of the street, in costumes designed to represent a taxi, a tram and a mini bus.

With Project HK, the Twinkle Dance Company dancers were entrusted with creating the right mood – and complementing the location – through their poses. “For the Tsing Yi Bamboo Theatre shoot, our student wore a costume inspired by traditional Chinese Opera, so she struck a strong Chinese dancer-like pose,” says Twinkle.

“It was just perfect.”

FIND IT • •

Twinkle Dance Company, 1/F, Unit 6 , Block 2, DB North Plaza, info@twinkledance.com, www.twinkledance.com Twinkle Dance Project HK, www.instagram.com/twinkledanceprojecthk

Twinkle Dance Company has partnered with Yoga Up for its new Discovery Bay studio location in DB North Plaza.

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

EDUCATION

Spelling out the B-word Parents and teachers need to know the signs of bullying and familiarise themselves with the various ways to tackle it, writes Jason Broderick, wellbeing coach and counselling psychologist at Discovery Bay International School

M

Photo by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com

ichelle, 13, was horrified when she was told about her parents’ transfer to the Hong Kong branch. Having to leave her friends, her life – nothing could be worse. But it had been a few months now and all the nightmarish scenarios she had pictured in her head had turned out to be, as her mum always said, ‘blown out of proportion!’ She had thought that making new friends was going to be difficult but the other students were being so nice to her. She thought going to friends’ houses or being asked to sleepovers would be a thing of the past but, once again, she was wrong. It all seemed to be very pleasant. Then, overnight her world changed.

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The group of friends who seemed so nice, no longer wanted to eat lunch together. She wasn’t invited to the usual after-school trip to the local coffee shop. Michelle began to cry herself to sleep every night. Rumours about her began to develop and the pattern of behaviour from her peers continued for the next two months.

It was obvious that certain peers were going above and beyond to torment Michelle regularly.

Academic decline and a loss in appetite finally got the attention of her busy parents and her school.

Fortunately, it wasn’t too late and Michelle’s parents and school were proactive in supporting her through a rather unpleasant time in her life.

Unfortunately, the kind of bullying that Michelle experienced does happen. In national surveys, most

Bullying is intentional tormenting in physical, verbal, or psychological ways

kids and teens say that they have been affected by bullying either directly or as a bystander. Bullying can turn everyday tasks like going to the bus stop to get to school, or having to buy lunch at the canteen into a living nightmare for some kids. As many adults know, bullying can leave deep emotional scars and, in extreme situations, it can involve violent threats or someone getting seriously hurt.

Fortunately, most schools are equipped with the resources and knowledge to assist students who experience bullying. But it is not always easy to identify a victim or a bully as many young people

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

choose not to ‘speak up.’ Do you have the skills and appropriate actions to assist your child, if they were involved in such behaviours?

Bullying or teasing?

Most young people have been teased by a sibling or a friend at some point. It is often carried out in a playful, friendly and mutual way, and both parties find it funny.

However, when teasing becomes hurtful, unkind and constant, it crosses the line into bullying and needs to stop.

Bullying is intentional tormenting in physical, verbal, or psychological

ways. It can range from hitting, shoving, name calling, threats and mocking, to extorting money and possessions. Some kids bully by manipulation, shunning others and spreading rumours about them. More so now, social media is used as a tool to taunt, ostracise or hurt others through direct or indirect messaging.

It is important to take bullying seriously and not just brush it off as something that kids have to ‘tough out.’ The effects can be serious and can affect kids’ sense of safety and self-worth. In severe cases, bullying has contributed to tragedies, such as suicides and school shootings.

With adolescents, we need to continually let them know that if they’re being bullied or harassed or see it happening to someone else, they need to talk to someone about it. They may choose to look like they’re not interested but they will be listening, and it’s that comfort of knowing you are there which will allow a conversation to happen.

Sometimes kids feel like it’s their own fault, that if they looked or acted differently it wouldn’t be happening, and some kids worry that if the bully finds out that they ‘told,’ the bullying will get worse

Signs of bullying

Assisting your child

Unless your child tells you, it is difficult to know if he/ she is suffering from bullying. You may notice your child acting differently, seeming anxious, not eating and experiencing broken sleep. If your child seems moodier or more easily upset than usual, or he/ she starts avoiding certain situations like an extracurricular club or anything that used to bring enjoyment, it might be time to delve deeper.

If your child tells you about being bullied, listen calmly and offer comfort and support. Young people are often reluctant to open up because they feel embarrassed and ashamed, or worry that their parents will be disappointed, upset, angry, or reactive.

If you suspect bullying but your child is reluctant to open up, find opportunities to broach the issue in an everyday conversation.

For a younger child using social stories or picture books is a helpful starter and can lead to questions like, “Have you ever seen this happen?” or “Have you ever experienced this?” You might want to talk about any experiences you or another family member had at that age. It is much harder with adolescents but that is why an open communicative relationship is integral during the years of seven to 11. As parents, we need to be friendly and guiding – and there to advise.

as his/ her teacher, know about the situation. There is often someone in a position to monitor the situation and take steps which can prevent further problems. If the problem isn’t occurring at school then inform the similar person in charge of that context, for instance the coach of a sports team.

Sometimes kids feel like it’s their own fault, that if they looked or acted differently it wouldn’t be happening, and some kids worry that if the bully finds out that they ‘told,’ the bullying will get worse.

Others are worried that their parents won’t believe them, or do anything about it. Still more worry that their parents will urge them to fight back when they’re scared to.

In the first instance, praise your child for doing the right thing by talking to you. Remind your child that he/ she isn’t alone now.

Emphasise that it’s the bully who is behaving badly not him. Reassure your child that you will figure out a solution together.

Once you have the details, begin the process. Let someone at your child’s school, such

As a parent, you can help your child learn how to deal with bullying, and it may be tempting to tell him/ her to fight back. After all, you’re angry that your child is suffering and maybe you were told to ‘stand up for yourself’ when you were young.

Or you may worry that your child will continue to suffer at the hands of the bully, and think that fighting back is the only way to put a bully in his/ her place.

But it’s important to advise kids not to respond to bullying by fighting or bullying back. Go down that route and the situation can quickly escalate into violence, trouble, and someone getting injured. Instead, children need to firmly and clearly tell the bully to stop, then walk away. They need to tell an adult and ask them to help stop the bullying.

What’s vital is that children talk about what they’re experiencing with someone they trust. Parents, teachers, siblings, or friends may offer some helpful suggestions, and even if they can’t fix the situation, the child being bullied  will feel a little less alone.

www.arounddb.com May 2019

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EDUCATION

What to do when your child is the bully

Y

By Jason Broderick, wellbeing coach and counselling psychologist at Discovery Bay International School

oung people bully for a variety of reasons.

Sometimes they bully others because they need to feel more important, popular, or seem in control (to others and also to themselves). Some kids torment others because that’s what they know. This is what they see, so that is how they act. They may think their behaviour is normal because it is their normal.

Popular TV shows and characters these days even seem to promote meanness.

Quite often the subliminal messages experienced from TV shows can be reinforcing to inappropriate social behaviour, for instance people are ‘laughed off’ and shunned for their appearance or lack of talent.

Bullying behaviours

Illustration courtesy of www.pexels.com

When looking for the influences on your child’s behaviour, look first at what’s happening at home and also within his/ her immediate friendship groups. Young people who view yelling, name calling, put downs, harsh criticism, or physical anger from a sibling, friend or parent may act that out in other settings.

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It’s natural, and common, for kids to fight with their siblings at home.

And unless there’s a risk of physical violence, I would suggest you don’t get involved. Importantly, monitor the name-calling and any physical altercations and be sure to talk to each child regularly about what’s acceptable and what is not. This will be dependent upon context and family agreements.

It’s important to keep your own behaviour in check too. Watch how

Teaching kids not to bully • Ask them about it. Are they aware of what they’re doing and that it’s unacceptable? Try and get them to do the talking. Listen carefully and try not to jump to conclusions or judgements • Show your concern for the person who is being bullied, and support your children to ‘take a walk in his/ her shoes.’ Ask them to imagine how it would feel if one of their friends acted like that towards them, and talk through that without shaming them Bully

you talk to your kids, and how you react to your own strong emotions when they’re around. There will be situations that warrant discipline and constructive criticism but take care not to let that slip into name calling and accusations.

If you’re not pleased with your child’s behaviour, stress that it’s the behaviour that you’d like your child to change, and you have confidence that he/ she can do it.

If your family is going through a stressful life event that you feel may have contributed to your child’s behaviour, reach out for help from the resources at school and in your community. Guidance counsellors, religious advisors, therapists and your doctor can help.

• Ask them what they would like to do next. If they can’t come up with anything, ask whether they think starting with an apology might be helpful. Figure out how that apology will happen – in person, via email or through a meeting with a teacher • Report the problem to the school, and work with teachers to develop a plan to prevent it from happening again

Don’t forget: • Don’t chat when tensions are running high • Do set expectations at home by role-modelling respectful behaviour

• Discovery Bay International School, www.dbis.edu.hk To follow Jason Broderick on Instagram head to @wellbeingcoach101

Find more on education @ www.arounddb.com May 2019 www.arounddb.com

STAMFORD NURTURES INQUIRERS READY FOR LIFE BEYOND THE IBDP*

BOOK A TOUR TODAY! Applications open for 2019/20 Pre-Primary to Grade 9 For more info or to apply go to: www.sais.edu.hk

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CONTACT ADMISSIONS

+852 2500 8688 admissions@sais.edu.hk

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*Stamford American School is a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme and pursuing authorization as an IB World School.

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TOP TIPS

GR W Y UR OWN

By Samantha Wong

H

ave you noticed how everyone is suddenly talking about food cultivation? The world and her husband are learning how to grow food on balconies, rooftops and in community allocated allotments – just about anywhere they can get their hands in the soil.

Photos by Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com and courtesy of Ark Eden

Ask around and you’ll find that health, and the desire to eat local and organic, is what’s behind this craze. Grow your own vegetables and you are in control of what goes into them – you can avoid chemical fertilisers and pesticides. And there’s the financial aspect too, you are able to make healthy food choices without paying exorbitant prices for imported organic products at local supermarkets.

The joy of gardening is, of course, another reason so many of us now grow our own food. For some tending a garden, however small, is a meditative experience; for others, it’s more about the energy they get to release, and the physical labour involved. There’s the pleasure of watching your seedlings grow to mature plants, slowly, overtime; and there’s the opportunity to be outdoors, getting the job done at your own pace.

Last but not least, few things beat the sense of achievement you get as you begin to harvest and share the fruits of your labours.

Get growing So how do you get started? Happily, there are any number of options in DB and beyond, so simply decide

Fresh, healthy and great for the whole family

how much space you need, and how much time you want to invest.

If you are fortunate enough to have a balcony, rooftop or even a garden, consider setting up a micro-garden. The advantage of micro-gardening is that it allows you to grow all sorts of vegetables, herbs and fruit in a compact space (in insulated containers) and it enables food production all year round.

Note that David Sanders of The Green Patch, who has been supplying and designing microgardens in Hong Kong since 2006, is a great local teacher, incredibly generous with his time and knowledge.

Micro-gardening is, of course, also

a great way in to permaculture, allowing you to try out your green fingers before deciding to take the next step, which is renting an allotment.

Here, residents are at an advantage since DB has more than its fair share of community allocated gardening plots.

Many of the DB villages, including Peninsula Village, Chianti and Siena Two B, have shared allotments, where you can rent a plot for six months for around HK$300. Check with your Village Owners Committee for availability.

DB Family Farm, comprising 44, 1-metre by 3-metre plots, is also thriving in Siena Park. All DBers are welcome to enrol to tend a

www.arounddb.com May 2019

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TOP TIPS

plot for four months at a time, and the good news is that there are no rental costs involved since the scheme is sponsored by Hong Kong Resort. Planting workshops are on offer, and a watering service is available for a minimal fee, which is paid directly to the gardening service company.

For those on the waiting list for a DB allotment, Grandpa’s Garden in Nim Shue Wan has plots for rent. The staff look after your garden during the week and provide seedlings when available.

There are also a growing number of rental plots on the rooftops of industrial buildings across Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, and on organic farms throughout the New Territories.

The beauty of these ventures is the sense of community they engender, whether it is helping take care of each other’s plots, or sharing food and knowledge.

If you’re looking to get serious about permaculture, take a course with Jenny Quinton at Ark Eden, the ecoeducation community in Mui Wo. In addition to learning practical, handson skills that enable abundant gardening and sustainable gardendesign planning, participants discover how communities can live and thrive alongside the natural environment.

Consider the Hong Kong climate It may seem obvious but the most important lesson newbie gardeners need to learn is what to plant and when. Don’t fall into the trap of attempting to grow what you want to eat even though it’s not in season or can’t survive the Hong Kong climate. Listen to the experts, however, and you can

Thrive at Ark Eden

have a flourishing crop of seasonal produce all year round.

A good resource on planting, fertilising and when to harvest is Growing Food in the City Microgardening: A Practical Guide by David and Bing Sanders.

Growing Your Own Food in Hong Kong by Arthur van Langenberg is another invaluable, wellresearched gardener’s tool.

This month, for instance, according to the Sanders, you can start planting Chinese leafy greens and winter vegetables, like choi sum, kai lan, carrots, broccoli, beetroots, tomatoes, lettuce and peas.

Note too that while parsley and coriander suffer in the summer heat, you can grow most herbs year-round in Hong Kong, inside or on window sills.

Make your own compost Growing your own does involve getting your hands dirty, and there’s no getting away from the

FIND IT

• • • •

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

Do a little research and you’ll find that you basically have two composting methods to choose from – Bokashi and Vermiculture.

With Bokashi, you place layers of uncooked food waste (except meat) in a sealed container and cover them with an inoculated bran-like substance. The liquid that collects at the bottom of the Bokashi bin, after about eight weeks, is a powerful liquid fertiliser.

Vermiculture, on the other hand, relies on worms to decompose the food waste – their droppings form the fertiliser which collects at the bottom of the container.

It’s important to know that food cultivation requires a lot of time and effort upfront, but once everything is doing nicely – and you have a scarecrow in place to keep the birds off – there isn’t too much to do. Just add water.

Ark Eden, www.arkedenonlantau.org DB Family Farm, 2238 3601 Grandpa’s Garden, 9137 0640 The Green Patch Facebook page

Find more top tips @ www.arounddb.com

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fact that you’ll need plenty of wholesome organic compost.

Making your own compost is your best bet, and it’s fairly easy to do even in small, confined spaces.

ESCAPES

A weekend in

Zhuhai

Photos courtesy of www.wikimedia.org

So you’ve crossed the HZMB and made it to Zhuhai.

What is there to do when you get there? Dorothy Veitch finds out

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I

have to say, on this, my first visit, I wasn’t expecting to be seduced

by Zhuhai. But, as it turns out, it’s a quiet and picturesque city with enough of its own attractions and charms to justify a weekend away. If you’re like me and find it hard to spend more than a day in Macau without getting frustrated by the crowds, Zhuhai offers a slower pace, delicious seafood and plenty to see and do.

A Special Economic Zone established in the 1980s, Zhuhai

is a bustling industrial hub, but it’s also one of China’s premier tourist destinations, known for its ‘tropical island’ resorts, golf clubs and theme parks. For this reason, there’s plenty of top-notch accommodation available in both international and Chinese hotel chains.

Top attractions Zhuhai’s most famous landmark is the Fisher Girl Statue on the promenade at Xianglu Bay, which boasts a good view of the Pearl

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

River Delta. The statue drapes a fishing net and holds a pearl high in the air with both hands. It symbolises a vigorous and lively Zhuhai, welcoming visitors from all over the world.

Zhuhai’s balmy promenade starts at Gongbei, at the border with Macau, and sweeps north for 28 kilometres along the coast, passing some of the city’s most coveted real estate.

The section near Tangjia Public Garden is the most beautiful. There are kite and bicycle rentals along

Fisher Girl Statue

Zhuhai Opera House

Zhuhai Observation Tower

New Yuanming Palace

the way, and snack booths at night.

At the centre of the new promenade development, you’ll find the 100-metre Zhuhai Observation Tower, which has been built to resemble a fish leaping out of the water.

You’ll also want to visit Zhuhai Opera House on Yeli Island to catch a performance, or simply marvel at the graceful modern architecture.

Two giant clam-like structures, referencing the moon, the sea and

its tides (not Boticelli’s Venus), house a 1,550-seat opera house and a 550-seat multi-function theatre, and are connected by a 350-seat outdoor theatre.

And of course, when in Zhuhai, you’ll want to shop (and not just for duty-free treats in the malls of Jingshan Road). You know all that lovely restored Chinese furniture on sale in Macau? It’s all made in Zhuhai – its shops and warehouses have been shipping internationally for decades.

Make your way to Zhongshan, approximately 30 minutes by taxi from the HZMB Zhuhai Port, and you’ll find vast warehouses filled to the rafters with ornate wedding cabinets, Ming-style chairs, reconstructed pillow boxes and everything in between.

Good surprises Right in the centre of town, near the extravagant modern malls, the old Beishan District is gradually morphing into hipster

www.arounddb.com May 2019

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ESCAPES

reading rooms and art galleries.

Over summer especially, Beishan boasts a programme of shows, concerts and even a yearly jazz festival launched in 2010.

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom

central. As you wander the labyrinthine alleyways, you’ll find old temples, ancestral halls and theatres rubbing shoulders with rather more westernised hangouts.

Hip noodle bars, cafés and even a tattoo shop add modern charm to the oldest district in central Zhuhai, marking the transition from timeworn to gentrified-traditional.

Make your way to Beishan Hall, whose decaying grey walls belie the modern East-meets-West interiors within. The hall’s inner courtyards are framed with red lanterns and bonsai trees, while the sparsely decorated rooms hold

Zhuhai International Circuit

Last but not least, every visitor to Zhuhai should spend a couple of hours at New Yuanming Palace.

On a regular weekend, however, the hall’s art café is a draw in itself – somewhere to hunker down, drink quality coffee or pu’er tea, and flip through the beautiful art and photography books.

Surprisingly too, Zhuhai is home to China’s first permanent motor-race track.

The Zhuhai International Circuit (ZIC) hosts numerous races throughout the year and provides a base for professional racing teams from Hong Kong and Macau, as well as the mainland. At the weekends, you can sign up for a coaching session and have your own personal race-track experience.

Family entertainment For a complete change of pace, head to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, touted as the biggest aquariumbased theme park in the world, or to Ocean Spring Resort, reputably the number one ocean hot-spring facility in all of China.

Zhuhai is an outdoorsy, garden city with plenty of verdant downtown parks, notably Seaside Park and Bailian Cave Park.

Denglongsha Waterside Folk Custom Scenic Spot is also well worth a visit. It’s a delightful green lung, a short bus ride from central Zhuhai, where locals rent garden plots.

Here, you can cruise the waterways by boat, cycle along the riverbanks or simply soak up the pastoral setting.

Beishan Hall

A scenic complex, spanning 1.4 square kilometres, it’s fashioned after Yuanming Yuan (the Summer Palace) in Beijing. There are imperial gardens to explore, pavilions and palaces around Fuhai Lake, and the quirky western section of the garden, which homes Gothic architecture and Romanesque fountains.

While you can learn a lot about Chinese history at New Yuanming Palace, it’s essentially a vast amusement park with a cable car, roller coaster, water rides, boating opportunities and a maze. Here, should the mood take you, you can dress up as an emperor or empress.

A make-up artist helps you perfect your look, and a manservant holds up your elaborate robes as you pose for a photograph.

Who would have thought a weekend in Zhuhai could be so much fun?

Find more exciting holiday destinations @ www.arounddb.com

62

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

Wh a t you n e e d t o k n ow

INSIDER

Founding director of Dragon Fire and Safety David Scott reveals that smoke detectors save lives across the world – but not so much in Hong Kong

I

n November last year, Hong Kong Fire Services Department (HKFSD) adopted a faceless, blue-suited, new mascot called ‘Anyone’ to introduce the public to basic fire-safety skills, including cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of a fire extinguisher. The idea being that ‘anyone’ can save a life and ‘anyone’ can use a fire extinguisher.

Showing the people of Hong Kong how to save someone else’s life is laudable – and the HKFSD’s online Anyone campaign in fact went viral – but HongKongers also need to know how to save their own lives. What’s needed is an HKFSD campaign informing people how important it is that they have at least one smoke detector in their home.

Photo courtesy of www.facebook.com/hkfsd.gov.hk

Despite Hong Kong being one of the most densely populated cities in the world, there is still no legal requirement to have smoke detection in the majority of homes.

You may be surprised to hear that it’s not a requirement in new-build housing, in private housing, in social housing, in rented housing, in renovated housing or in subdivided flats.

The only exception is in new-build apartments with kitchens that open directly into the living room. In such homes, the developer must provide a smoke detector connected to the building’s main fire-alarm system and a single sprinkler head.

This lack of legislation in Hong Kong seems strange when compared to requirements across the world, especially when you consider that residential smokedetector ownership is over 90% in some countries.

The HKFSD’s online Anyone campaign

Around the world, fire-safety professionals recommend having at least one working smoke detector in your home. This simple and straightforward fire-safety message is vital to saving lives and it is at the forefront of almost every national and regional fire service in the world.

Fire-safety professionals worldwide recommend the installation of smoke alarms in people’s homes due to the historical correlation between increased levels of smoke-detector ownership and the corresponding reduction in deaths resulting from fires in the home.

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•

A smoke detector in the home increases your chance of survival since it notifies you of a possible fire risk. Of course, this is particularly important at night when occupants are asleep.

There is no disputing the professionalism and bravery of the HKFSD firefighters who have some of the fastest response times to 999 calls in the world.

But in a day and age where even homes made with tin roofs in shanty towns in South Africa have smoke detectors installed, perhaps it’s time to educate the people of Hong Kong on how to save their own lives.

Dragon Fire and Safety, 5286 1812, enquiries@dragonfireandsafety.com, dragonfireandsafety.com

Dragon Fire and Safety carries out fire-safety training, fire-safety management and fire-risk assessment services for corporate clients throughout Hong Kong. The company also retails its own smoke detector for the home under the trademarked Dragon FireEye brand at www.dragonfireeye.com. www.arounddb.com May 2019

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Wha t you n e e d t o k n ow

INSIDER

OKAY.com’s Tips for First-Time Property Buyers DB-based Thorsten Allenstein advises on investing fundamentals

T

he Economist released the rankings of the most expensive cities in the world this March and Hong Kong topped the list, tying for first place with Singapore and Paris. Most Hong Kongers feel the pinch in the high cost of rent, and it only takes a few months before the idea of buying real estate seems like a good idea. So where should you begin?

1

Familiarise yourself with the MIP. Due to the loan-to-value (LTV) caps put in place by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), buyers must have up to 50% of the property valuation in cash (for properties of HK$10 million or more). Fortunately, the Mortgage Insurance Programme (MIP), launched by the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation (HKMC) in March 1999, is there to help buyers with this downpayment burden.

Photos courtesy of OKAY.com

The MIP provides mortgage insurance to banks, so that banks can provide mortgage loans with a higher LTV ratio without incurring additional credit risk. If an application meets the relevant eligibility criteria, the bank can provide a mortgage loan of up to 80% LTV ratio under the MIP.

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2

Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Before you start looking for a home you should understand your credit history and how your bank will assess you as a borrower. In Hong Kong, properties can move extremely quickly, sometimes in a matter of days. So, when you find a great property, you want to be prepared to submit an

Tasteful Greenvale Village unit for sale

offer with the deposit cheque during the negotiations. Being unprepared can lead to you losing the property or worse, submitting a deposit and then discovering your bank won’t lend what you had assumed.

3

Choose an ‘affordable’ location. Discovery Bay is consistently popular for families and pet owners, and the prices per square foot typically lag Hong Kong Island by 10-15%. However, the Planning Department has designated DB as a low-density residential suburb, limiting the overall population to 25,000 upon full development. With a growing current population that is quickly approaching the limit, we are expecting demand to exceed supply in the short- to mid-term.

New developments in Tai Po and Tseung Kwan O are becoming popular for the relatively low price per square foot. Sufficient supply of ‘affordable’ new units ensures

FIND IT

•

first-time buyers have options to consider.

4

Limit your renovations budget. When renovating an apartment that you’ll live in, don’t forget that it is also an investment.

The purpose of the renovation is both to tailor the unit to your desires and to increase its value.

Over-investing in a renovation can lead to a loss of capital, if the investment isn’t realised when the unit is sold. A good rule of thumb is to budget 3-5% of the property price for renovation.

5

Consider investing overseas.

Property prices in Hong Kong are higher than virtually every other country and that, combined with the government’s LTV caps, can make the idea of investing overseas appealing. Property investment yields overseas (typically 4-6+%) are also higher than in Hong Kong (2-3%), albeit with lower long-term upside potential.

OKAY.com, www.okay.com

You can contact Thorsten Allenstein at 6016 1061, thorsten.allenstein@okay.com

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

RECIPES If you would like to see your favourite recipes featured in this section, email rachel@baymedia.com.hk

Cream of mussel soup Serves 4

s l e s s u m Pulling l l e h s e h from t

Deliciously sweet and nutty, mussels are also one of the most sustainable types of shellfish you can buy.

Try these classic French recipes

• 750 g mussels, washed and debearded • 4 tbsp dry white wine • 50 g butter • 225 g celeriac, peeled and chopped • 120 g leek, sliced • 1 garlic clove, chopped • 750 ml fish stock • 3 saffron strands • 175 g tomatoes, chopped

Photos courtesy of www.wikimedia.org

• 4 tbsp crème fraiche

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Cook the mussels in 2 tablespoons of wine over a high heat for 3 minutes until open. (As with any mussel recipe, throw away any mussels that remain closed after cooking.) Sieve the mussels and collect the cooking juices. Remove the meat from three quarters of the shells. Melt the butter in a separate pan, then add the celeriac, leek, garlic and remaining wine. Cover and cook gently for 5 minutes. Put the reserved mussel water in a measuring jug and make up to 900 millilitres with the fish stock. Add to the pan of vegetables, along with the saffron and tomatoes. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Cool, and blend until smooth. Bring to the boil, then stir in the crème fraiche.

Stir in the mussels to warm them.

Serve garnished with the mussels still in their shells.

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

Mussel pasta Serves 2

• 2 garlic cloves, sliced • 1-2 pinches of dried chilli • 1 anchovy fillet • 15 g butter • 12 cherry tomatoes, halved • 250 g spaghetti • 1 kg mussels, washed and debearded • Parsley leaves, chopped

Fry the garlic, dried chilli and anchovy in the butter. Add the tomatoes, crushing them as you do so. In a separate pot, boil the pasta until al denté. Meanwhile, add the mussels to the tomato sauce. Then place a lid on top and cook for 3 minutes, shaking the pan every now and then until the mussels have opened.

Add a handful of parsley. Drain the pasta, saving a little of the cooking water, and mix in the mussel sauce.

Drizzle over with olive oil and season to taste.

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LISTING ALL FLOORS

YOUR GUIDE TO

HORIZON PLAZA AP LEI CHAU

2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, 2554 9089 About a 15-minute walk from South Horizon MTR Station Exit C Show this to your taxi driver: 香港鴨脷洲利榮街2號新海怡廣場

26/F CARPET BUYER

Scan the barcode for further directions

7/F GARDEN GALLERY

www.carpetbuyer.com

www.gardengallery.com.hk

CARPET BUYER 50% Discount Outlet

Asia’s largest rug warehouse stocks 5,000 handmade rugs.

A discount outlet with 50% off fine, tribal, modern and shaggys.

2850 5508 sales@carpetbuyer.com

8/F HARBOUR 1976 www.harbouroutdoor.com.au

Established in 1996, Garden Gallery specialises in outdoor and landscape supplies, ranging from outdoor furniture and gardening equipment to lighting, storage, tents and all kinds of barbecue stoves.

2553 3251 info@gardengallery.com.hk

16/F MARC JAMES www.marcjames.com

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Harbour 1976 offers premium indoor and outdoor furniture collections designed to withstand the great outdoors.

The lifestyle brand focuses on unique design, incredible durability, and a deep sense of culture derived from Australia's beautiful coastline.

Mark James provides stylish, modern furniture, lighting, accessories and flooring.

2754 6188

2517 2000

info@harbouroutdoor.com.au

info@marcjamesdesign.com

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

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 11/F The Red Cabinet Upscale beautifully finished one-of-akind and contemporary pieces 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 Marc James Design Stylish furniture, lighting, accessories and flooring

7/F NOOK LIVING www.nookliving.com.hk

16/F

8/F ORGANIC MODERNISM

PHOENIX CURTAINS

www.organicmodernism.com

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

2276 4315/ 2698 0937

Organic Modernism is a Brooklyn-based company specialising in nature-inspired pieces made from bronze and American walnut.

info@nookliving.com.hk

2556 9499

TAKUMI www.takumi.com.hk

Takumi offers timeless-looking, quality Japanese furniture.

2517 2000 info@takumi.com.hk

2866 6691 5242 9369 (WhatsApp) info@phoenixcurtains.com.hk

horizonplaza@ organicmodernism.com

16/F

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

11/F THE RED CABINET

19/F TOYS CLUB

red-cabinet.com.hk

www.itoysclub.com

The Red Cabinet is a unique furniture store offering one-ofa-kind designs in furniture and decorative accessories, plus bespoke custom-made items.

Toys Club provides the trendiest and the hottest toys in Hong Kong.

2868 0681/ 2536 0123

2836 0875 toysclub@hotmail.com

enquiries@red-cabinet.com.hk

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 16/F Takumi Stylish and timeless Japanese furniture and accessories 19/F Toys Club Quality toys for kids of all ages

20/F Fink - The Art of Living Unique decorative items for the home 20/F Oriental Home Chinese, Mongolian and Tibetan antiques and bespoke furniture in different styles 26/F Ad Lib Oriental antiques, vintage Western lights and decorative arts 26/F Carpet Buyer Hand-made Persian rugs (antique), tribal carpets and contemporary rugs

26/F PAIDI Kids World Quality eco-friendly children’s furniture and beds 26/F Zzue Creation Outdoor furniture of all types by wellknown international brands 28/F Tree Traditionally crafted, sustainable furniture in contemporary designs

www.arounddb.com May 2019

71

OZZIE COZZIE

www.ozziecozzieco.com Enquiries: 9462 0352 503 Tak Woo House, 1-3 Wo On Lane, LKF, Central, HK Tel: +852 2810 1356 Email: info@ozziecozzieco.com

The

Dream

Ns cEo v eWr y B a y

in Di

YOGA & AERIAL YOGA STUDIO OPEN EVERYDAY

$500 2 WEEKS UNLIMITED CLASSES Vinyasa Hatha Yin Yoga Power Flow Body Sculpt Yoga Therapy Meditative Flow Aerial Yoga Kids Yoga Kids Aerial

A traditional DMR story ballet based on Shakespeare’s famous play

7th June 2019 YouthSquare, Hong Kong Ticket information: info@dmr-hk.com

KINGSK FOR BOTO YOGABAY.H

PLEASE VISI AND OFFERS HEDULE, EVENTS S SC

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For information please contact us

Email: namaste@yogabay.hk Phone: 6704 9851 Studio address: Unit 10, LG, Block 2, North Plaza

HK HAPPENINGS

10 FUN THINGS TO DO IN HK THIS MONTH!

LE FRENCH MAY Across Hong Kong

Throughout May

Like the Around DB Facebook page for event reminders SERVE-A-THON Across Hong Kong

www.pexels.com

One of the largest cultural events in Asia, Le French May brings over 120 programmes of music, dance, opera, theatre, film and art. For the line-up, tickets and venues, visit www.frenchmay.com.

May 4-12

SHI FU MIZ FESTIVAL Cheung Chau

May 4-5

www.serveathonhk.org.hk

This year, HandsOn Hong Kong, the organisers of Serve-athon, have lined up 150 volunteer activities to support over 50 local non-profits. Volunteers engage in direct service in support of causes such as feeding the poor and homeless, caring for the elderly and children from low-income families, empowering people with disabilities, and supporting animal welfare and environmental conservation. To get involved, register at www.serveathonhk.org.hk and select your preferred activity. asialive365.com

Shi Fu Miz Festival is a two-day celebration of music, art and wellness. Enjoy underground electronic music and choose from activities including yoga, gong bath meditation, drumming, silent disco and street art. For more event information, visit www.shifumiz.com. Tickets, starting at HK$509, are available at www.eventbrite.fr.

DARKNESS INTO LIGHT WALK Start: Sun Yat Sen Plaza, Sheung Wan

May 11

CHEUNG CHAU BUN FESTIVAL Cheung Chau

May 9-13

www.wikimedia.org

The annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival offers up Taoist ceremonies, a parade, lion dances and the exciting Bun Scrambling Competition. At midnight on the final day, 12 trained athletes climb a 60-foot tower and scramble to collect as many lucky buns as possible. To know more, visit www.discoverhongkong.com.

www.darknessintolight.ie

Help raise awareness and funds for the prevention of suicide and self-harm by joining the Darkness into Light walk, a global event held across five continents. Last year 777 Hong Kongers participated to raise HK$422,849. The proceeds from this year’s Hong Kong walk go to KELY Support Group, Mind HK and Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong. Registration starts at HK$180 and is open until May 11. Visit www.darknessintolight.ie.  www.arounddb.com May 2019

73

HK HAPPENINGS

ANDY PARSONS Grappa’s Cellar and Eaton Club, Central Punchline Comedy Club is bringing Andy Parsons, one of the UK’s funniest comedians to Hong Kong. Best known for his role on the hit show Mock the Week, Andy has won multiple awards www.ticketflap.com and was one of the main writers on the ground-breaking Spitting Image. For tickets, starting at HK$488, visit www.ticketflap.com.

May 16-18

Get your events listed @ www.arounddb.com

AFFORDABLE ART FAIR

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wanchai May 17-19

DISTRICT RACE

Central Harbourfront Event Space May 19

affordableartfair.com

Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong returns for its seventh edition with over 115 local and international galleries showcasing a collection of contemporary artworks, priced between HK$1,000 and HK$100,000. This year’s programme includes interactive workshops and children’s art tours. For tickets, starting at HK$165, visit affordableartfair.com/fairs/hong-kong. www.exploredistrict.com

With no set route or distance, navigation of the District Race is guided by mobile app. This year there are three different categories – Elite, Open and the family-friendly Explorer. Participants explore Hong Kong via a series of virtual checkpoints and challenges, and can run in teams or individually. For tickets, starting at HK$250, visit www.eventbrite.com.

THE RITE OF SPRING Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui May 31-June 2

FAUST FESTIVAL

Hong Kong Arts Centre, Wanchai & Youth Square, Chai Wan May 21-June 16 www.hkballet.com

www.faustworld.com

One of the biggest youth-theatre festivals in Hong Kong, the Faust Festival showcases budding actors aged four to 18. The four-week festival features 23 show-stopping extravaganzas.

For more event information, visit www.faustworld.com.

Tickets, starting at HK$135, are available at www.urbtix.hk.

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May 2019 www.arounddb.com

Hong Kong Ballet and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra are celebrating the best of music and ballet with a unique collaboration of international talent. Catch Chroma, which won the coveted Laurence Olivier Award for best new dance production in 2007; The Year of the Rabbit, set to a live orchestral adaptation of Sufjan Stevens’s electronic score; and a new production of The Rite of Spring commissioned from Hong Kong Ballet choreographers, Yuh Egami and Ricky Hu Song-wei. For tickets, starting at HK$140, visit www.hkphil.org.

OFFICE 3483 5003

www.homesolutions.hk

Sharon Riley 9664 4749 (E-413823) Misako Takato 9757 0927 (S-287062) Tanja Gelderblom 9764 7832 (S-590669) Camilla Larsson 9037 0394 (S-599678) Kelly Merrick 9331 8141 (S-365384)

SOUTH LANTAU AND TUNG CHUNG PROPERTIES

SALE $8.7M

SALE $2.5M

SIENA TWO FLAT - DISCOVERY BAY 593’ Net + 46’ Net Bay Window

G/F PUI O VILLAGE HOUSE 350’

Newly renovated flat. 2 Beds & 1 Baths. Separate modern kitchen, with featuring wooden floors throughout. Great location. Ref: 4834 (05.04.19)

Lovely contemporary renovated studio flat. 1 Bath. Spacious living / dining area. Close to beach and schools. Ref: 4561 (01.03.19)

RENTAL $60K VILLA IN CHEUNG SHA + GARDEN 1500’ Net + 1572’ Garden Luxuriously renovated villa. 3 Beds, 2.5 Baths. Spacious split living / dining area with separate kitchen. Beautifully landscaped vast garden with decked area. Ref: 4970 (14.04.19)

RENTAL $19.8K G/F PALOMA BAY – PENG CHAU 628’ Net + 312’ Garden Gorgeous gated complex placed on the peaceful island of Peng Chau. 2 Beds, 1 Bath. Spacious open plan kitchen. Short ferry ride to Discovery Bay, Mui Wo and Central. Ref: 4950 (11.04.19)

RENTAL $13.5K CHEUNG SHA – LEYBURN VILLA + BALCONY 339’ Net + Balcony Beautifully renovated studio apartment in popular complex. 1 Bath. Stylish fitted kitchen. Large shared swimming pool and tennis courts. Ref: 4753 (22.03.19)

MAKING YOU FEEL AT HOME IS OUR BUSINESS

Call us any time at 3483 5003 or Email PROPERTY@HOMESOLUTIONS.HK

C-044849

BayMediaStudio

Wonderful Websites!

Need a website or a website refresh?

“I contacted Bay Media to help me in redesigning the website for my business. I am extremely happy with what they have done. They quickly understood the nature of the business and was able to represent it visually in a newly beautifully designed website. I also appreciated the fact that they came up with several good ideas, and were always happy to address any technical questions I had.

Everything was done promptly and in a very professional way.

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www.baymediastudio.com/websites Sylvie Lopardi: www.sl-lightingdesign.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: Melanie Dowd (@melanie.dowd)

Win prizes from Uncle Russ Coffee and The Pier Bar!

he best snap wins! Your mission this month is to share a photo taken in DB or Lantau on our @around-db Instagram page and hashtag it #arounddb. You have until the 10th of this month to enter – so get tagging.

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!

WORSHIP SERVICE Discovery College Sundays @ 10am 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

HOME SERVICES

DELIVERY PERSON/ MESSENGER

THE SKIN THERAPY CENTRE

AKASH MOVING & HANDYMAN SERVICES

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

Professional beauty services provided in DB by a qualified, internationally certified beauty therapist with over 20 years' experience. Treatments include facials, CACI (non-surgical facelifts), glycolic (peals & pigmentation treatments), energy healing & more.

Contact Gillian on 6022 4190

• 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

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

SPORTS

PRIVATE MARTIAL ARTS COACHING

Well known in the Hong Kong MMA community, Marc Guyon guides you through your journey to become a martial artist. As a former white-collarturned-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

LIFE COACHING & FACIAL REFLEXOLOGY

LEARN SPANISH

Tina at Tina’s AAA Practice in DB provides • One-on-one online Quantum Life Coaching to help you achieve your goals • Quantum Facial Reflexology for a better looking face & whole-body relaxation & wellness Contact Tina at vatyh@netvigator.com

• Native speaker

FTC RELOCATIONS

• Local & international moves • Long/ short-term storage • Handyman services • World-class service – competitive rates • Operating on DB & Lantau Contact 2814 1658, sales@ftc.hk, www.ftc.hk

• 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:

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

Ark Eden’s Summer 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 tree-house building, campfire cooking, carpentry, Visit www.arkedenonlantau.org, scavenger hunts, overnight email info@arkedenonlantau.org, camp and Nature play. or call 2988 5355

• 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

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

For info please call Thomas 9871 0771 or Baguio 6776 8400 Email: baguiowong@hotmail.com THE WATCH BUTLER Jan Hofstede m«tc.K £.r«taft4t

I :S,

• Antique watch and clock restoration • Auction & Appreciation service • 2nd hand watch broker

Tel: 9464 7107 jan@thewatchbutler.com

EnjoyEnjoy the the lastlast promotion! promotion!

PEUGEOT OPEN EUROPE HOLIDAYS BY CAR

Best duty-free Car Rental in Europe!

- for short & long durations info@eurocardrives.com www.eurocardrives.com

Yoga Therapy Class for Senior Citizens

Tuesday mornings 11:30am at DB North Plaza.

Slow and gentle yoga, taught by a qualified yoga instructor.

English-speaking and easily accessible from Sunny Bay MTR station.

9685 8366 www.g reenwi ch- v i nyas a.com.hk

Find short-term rentals @ www.arounddb.com 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

FULLY FURNISHED DB 1-BED

Smart apartment on a high floor with sea view.

Close to pier & DB Plaza. Available fully furnished.

Call Tiareti on 9732 8985

LUXURY APARTMENTS IN SIENA 2, DB

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

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

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

2321 5500 2286 6668 3602 8828 2286 6238 2286 6898 2960 1977 3520 0848 3602 8808 2626 0181 2886 3646 2109 1927 2338 2338 2988 8129 3602 8838 2907 6918 3602 8818 2297 3588 2330 0000 2286 6618 2886 3156 2286 6868 3969 2500 2466 1010 2802 8000

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

2185 6550 9099 9959 2109 9396 2109 2288 2194 0020 2988 1534 2328 7282 3575 8370 2403 6613 2403 6623 2261 2626 5178 5658

2421 8088 2109 2330 9343 3718 2988 1488

HOT EL S

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

3969 1888 3602 8888 2286 8888

L E A RNING CEN T RES Clement Art School Discovery Mind International Play Centre Greenfield International Kindergarten Kidznjoy Sakura Kids Salala Kids House Soundwaves English Education Centre Sun Island Education Foundation Sunshine House International Preschool Tung Chung Catholic School (Yat Tung) YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College

9021 1502 2987 8070 2162 5538 6273 7347 6674 6194 2611 9193 2164 7210 2420 1068 2109 3873 2121 0884 2988 8123

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

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

2984 0222 2504 4788 2984 0498 2470 1966 2984 9720 3484 3095 6429 3507 2984 8933 5465 5511 2997 9070 2320 2001 6422 5009 9193 2937 2980 2699 2983 8931 2980 2582 5991 6292 2109 3331 5236 7013

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

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

Jumping Castles SPCA Miriam Safadi Photography Parteezi Phoenix Wills

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

2988 8282 2988 1898 3661 1999

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

2984 2268 2984 8494 2984 8255 2984 9848

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

3102 2977 2987 8460

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

LEARNING CENTRES

FOOD & BEVERAGE, HOTELS

2987 2987 2448 2987 2947 2366

4401 7486 1180 4089 9092 6534

Peony Chinese Restaurant PizzaExpress Solera Starbucks DB North Plaza Subway The Pier Bar Three Sheet Marquee Bar TigerLily Uncle Russ, North Plaza Zak’s

2500 1950 2465 2426 2555 0772 2246 8372 2914 0005 2520 2166 2987 0966 2997 8688 2840 1188 2987 6232

HOME 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

LEARNING CENTRES

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Future Stars Dance Academy

Parsons White Wealth Management Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management. An expert financial service of distinct quality, integrity & excellence at DB North Plaza.

Contact 2433 6981, 5664 7614, www.sjpp.asia/pwwm

The Stephen Putnam Practice Private Client Wealth Management.

Contact 2914 0388, www.sjpp.asia/tspp

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

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

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

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

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

PapyrusEDU Bank of China HSBC

2160 8585 2233 3000

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 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

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2987 2298 2295 8288 2295 8299 2591 1426 2904 7698 2987 2848 2987 0036 2172 6111 2987 2915 2987 9123 2662 9168 2987 8855 2987 0202 2987 9311 2987 0767 2987 1829 2987 8280 2987 1337 2987 6318 2987 1662 2673 4445

May 2019 www.arounddb.com

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

The Beat Dance & Fitness Studio BODYPUMP, BODYBALANCE, GRIT, BODYSTEP & Zumba (fitness, toning & kids). Piloxing, yoga & Pilates, plus Latin, Irish, belly & wedding dance. Classes for adults & children, & personal training.

Contact 5194 9630, info@thebeat.com.hk, www.thebeat.com.hk

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 DB Party Time Gillian florist, North Plaza P-Solution Pen’n Paper The Optical House Well Supreme Laundry Services

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

9502 2529 2987 2987 2987 2987

2381 8256 1777 8898 1368 5151

6201 2987 2987 5721

7749 8873 0428 6181

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

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 NUMBERS SOCIAL, SPORTS & EQUIPMENT

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

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

TOYS & KIDS’ PARTIES Bo Bo House Toysland

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

WELLBEING

@ www.arounddb.com

Bay Spa

ay Spa

VIEW THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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 2987 4230 2987 7859

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

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

2914 2987 5303 2987 2987

2727 7351 3489 0208 9368

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

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

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

www.arounddb.com

www.arounddb.com May 2019

83

OUT THERE

T

here’s a conspiracy afoot.

In fact, two. Both aimed at gullible, tech-savvy, knowit-all, social-media crazed millennials. First, they bought into the farce called the gig economy, a revolutionary 21st century employment plan offering infinite free time and more flexibility than a hot yoga class. The only thing they found missing was enough money to pay the rent. Which drags on to conspiracy number two, accommodation to die for, sold on the premise of a latte-sipping lifestyle in the city centre.

It’s the clever work of an industry that down the years has stuck it to generations of gullible fools. Property developers sell, not a place to live, but a fantasy. The rest is just so many square feet of concrete and a mortgage that requires working until you’re 97, just to pay the deposit.

Hip designers and architects leap aboard to present cutting-edge accommodation in the form of super-cool micro apartments; old buildings made new with the living space of a beehive and as much sting in the price.

Photo courtesy of stock.adobe.com

Wedged into your fashionable abode with enough room to lie down if you close the door, you get the convenience of having the kitchen, shower and toilet just inches from your pillow. But with the elegant sophistication of trendy bars and coffee shops a dozen floors below.

84

We’re talking about a walk-up, naturally, sold on the promise of daily fitness for free. Unable to bear the thought of more than one perpendicular hike each day, you sit and contemplate

Marvellous

micro

mansions

Modern apartments really are to die for, writes Peter Sherwood. After trudging up 150 stairs you won’t feel like leaving the same day – until you spend 10 minutes inside and experience an overwhelming urge to be anywhere else

Not all that glitters is gold

the claustrophobia of what is really a coffin in the sky, but light years from heaven. You realise, your apartment’s a miniature mausoleum when you understand you’d be better off dead.

Millions are convinced that tiny is tremendous and renovating romantic, that squeezing their brief stay on the planet into an area the size of a car-parking space is avant-garde. It didn’t use to be.

What we used to term ‘unliveable’ is now ‘ergonomically spectacular and award winning.’ I don’t care how many inventive ways you fold a moveable interior to make a kitchen and bed disappear or how

many mirrors you install to ‘stretch out the space,’ 100 square feet is pretty much a prison cell. Then there’s the oh-so-smart raised floor to create storage space and a wine cellar. All that this achieves is a higher floor, making it more likely you’ll smash your scone on the torturously low ceiling.

Taking a shower is probably not all that desirable if you’re fussy about washing with one foot in the toilet bowl. Best of all you can tell your friends you live in a cool part of town. What the hell. No one is ever likely to visit, after plodding up to their own marvellous micro mansions, they’ll sit tight... in a pool of sweat.

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 May 2019 www.arounddb.com