Southside Magazine March 2015

FAMILY | FOOD | HOME | SPORT | LIVING

March 2015

ts o p s t o h g n i Din lse Bay &

pu Stanley, Re Hang k Wong Chu

188 Things to do

Quidditch in Aberdeen Broomst

icks and bludgers

Your guide to the Beach Fives WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 1

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The really useful magazine MARCH 2015

PEOPLE 2 Snapped!

Southside’s social life.

THE PLANNER 6 Happening in March What’s on in your neighborhood.

NEWS 10 What’s going on?

In your backyard.

LETTERS 12 Have your say From our readers.

INTERVIEW 14 Theadora Whittington The Southside illustrator gets ready for a solo exhibition.

FIVE MINUTES WITH...

16 On the grill Prompt’s sous chef Holden Lau cooks up a storm.

NEWS FROM THE GREENS 17 Road rage If we can fix the slopes, why not the roads?

READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 18 Vote to win Have your say in our annual Southside awards.

FEATURE 20 Dining hotspots The new, the old and the artisan.

EATING 26 Nibbles From the dining scene.

EDUCATION 28 EtonHouse turns one What’s new at the Tai Tam preschool.

FAMILY 32 Fun ideas for dull days Places to go, things to do.

OUTDOORS 34 Beach fives turn five A sandy start to Rugby Week.

BIG DAY OUT 38 Lamma, no drama Hong Kong’s most laidback island.

HOME 44 Mooi moves Vintage finds on Ap Lei Chau.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

PETS 54 Stay social, stay healthy Balance the two.

HONG KONG CREATURES 55 Wild boar Feral pigs in a bush near you.

MARKETPLACE 56 Your guide to shops and services Cool stuff to buy and do.

SOUTHSIDE SECRETS 64 The ghost of Eucliffe Truth behind Repulse Bay’s spooky demolished castle.

48 Happy feet Tips for top toes.

TRAVEL 50 Vietnam calling A fun family holiday in Lang Co.

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“ALL HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON A LEISURELY BREAKFAST.” – JOHN GUNTHER

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people Snaps from Southside

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say cheese

Photos: Damien Michelini and Elden Cheung

Snaps from Southside

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Share your event photos with us at photo@fastmedia.com.hk. Get snapping!

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planner

Rugby Week

Nine days of top-class rugby action.

MAR 21-22 Beach 5s

MAR 25-26 HKFC 10s

MAR 27-29 Hong Kong Rugby Sevens

The biggest beach festival in Asia – rugby, netball, football, dodgeball and great entertainment. Free, with free shuttle every 30 mins from Admiralty. 9am-7.30pm. Repulse Bay Beach, www.hkbeach5s.com.

The world’s best rugby 10s competition.

10.15am-9pm, Hong Kong Football Club, Happy Valley, www.hongkongtens.com.

The big one: three days of beer, singing, dodgy dancing, fancy dress and, oh yes, world-class rugby. Don’t miss the Village People performing on Saturday. Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, www.hksevens.com.

MAR 25 Kowloon RugbyFest

Cheer on the future Sevens stars. 9am-5pm, King’s Park, Kowloon, www.hkrugby.com.

Social tournament with 24 teams followed by a riotous dinner. King’s Park, Kowloon, www. rugbyfest.org.

MAR 26 Youth Sevens

MAR 26-27 Women’s Sevens Twelve women’s teams compete. 8.30am5.30pm, King’s Park, Kowloon, www.hkrugby.com.

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MAR 27-29 Sevens Live Broadcast Don’t have a ticket? Catch all the action live on a huge outdoor TV, with snacks and beer available. From 11am. The Arcade, Cyberport, Pok Fu Lam, 3166 3111, www.cyberport.hk.

happening in march UNTIL MAR 2 Paper Cinema’s Odyssey

MAR 4-7 Medea

MAR 7 Practical Parenting workshop

Charming retelling of Homer’s epic using paper cutouts and live music. HKAPA, Wan Chai.

Tickets $80-$300 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

The ancient Greek tragedy performed by South African actress Tammany Barton. McAulay Studio, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. Tickets $180-$220 from www. urbtix.hk, 2111 5999.

Parenting author Ann Law has tips for communicating with kids, computer use and modifying behaviour. 10.30am-noon. 23/F, The Pemberton, 22-26 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan. Tickets $180 from www. parentingteenstips.com, 6893 7736, tinst.co@ gmail.com.

MAR 5-15 Pride and Prejudice The Gate Theatre presents the Bennet sisters’ hunt for husbands. Lyric Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $180-$500 from www.hk.artsfestival.org.

UNTIL MAR 8 Restaurant Week

MAR 7-8, 14-15, 22 Feel Good Film Festival Pull up a deck chair for outdoor screenings (in date order) of Notting Hill, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Wayne’s World, Frozen and Pretty Woman.

8pm. Rooftop, The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay. Tickets $160, including one beer, cider or cocktail, from www.hushup.hk.

Some of the finest food in Hong Kong at discount prices. Book at www. restaurantweek.hk.

UNTIL MAR 29 Hong Kong Arts Festival The city’s annual cultural bonanza, with worldclass performers from Asia and beyond. For details, visit www.hk.artsfestival.org.

MAR 1 Cyberport Lion Dance

MAR 6-15 CATS Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s feline masterpiece comes to The Venetian Macao. Tickets $280$680 from www.cotaiticketing.com, 6333 6660.

Catch the lion dance at noon and enjoy all-day cultural demonstrations. 11am-5pm, Ocean View Court, The Arcade, Cyberport, Pok Fu Lam, 3166 3111, www.cyberport.hk.

Find out why chemistry matters and how to make your own bath bomb, courtesy of the British Council. Free. Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2732 3232, www.britishcouncil.hk.

MAR 1 Southside Market Long Lunch Unlimited food, drink, music and entertainment from noon to 5pm. Tickets $550 (free for undereights) from www.ticketflap.com. The Butchers Club Deli Rooftop, 16/F, 18 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, 2884 0768.

MAR 7-20 Science Alive

MAR 7 CWS City Challenge Adults and children join a creative and physical charity race through Wan Chai organised by the Child Welfare Scheme, which rescues children from corrupt orphanages. 2pm, Hong Kong Park. Details at www.cwshk.org, 2526 8810.

MAR 8 Discovery Bay Sunday Market Shop till you drop for original handmade crafts, creative ideas, vintage clothes and organic goods. Free entry. 11am-6pm, Discovery Bay Plaza, 3651 2345, www.ddeck.com.hk.

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planner MAR 8 Outward Bound Adventure Race

MAR 28 Earth Hour

Teams of four take part in a 13km-19km race across some lumpy bits of Hong Kong Island.

7am-4pm. Register at www.outwardbound. org.hk/ar.

Lights out 8.30pm9.30pm.

MAR 28-APR 19 Ocean Art Walk MAR 18 One Direction On The Road Again

Weekend art exhibition in support of the oceans by Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation, www.hkyaf.com. Free. Stanley Plaza, Stanley, 2214 0177.

Shriek! The world’s biggest boys’ band is in town. AsiaWorld-Arena, Lantau. Tickets $998$3,488 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

MAR 9-20 International Young Readers’ Festival Annual literary festival with workshops and talks by leading local and international children’s authors. Details at www. youngreadersfestival.org.hk.

MAR 21 Pitbull Live in Hong Kong Woof. AsiaWorld-Expo, Lantau. Tickets $880$1,080 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

MAR 22-23 Weekend Harvest Bazaar Belly dancers, market and food. 11.30am-6pm, Ocean View Court, The Arcade, Cyberport, Pok Fu Lam, 3166 3111, www.cyberport.hk.

MAR 27 Jason Mraz and Raining Jane An acoustic night. AsiaWorld-Expo Arena, Lantau. Tickets $388-$888 from www. hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

MAR 29 Walk for Sight Join the sponsored walk through Tai Tam Country Park in aid of Orbis. The 6km family walk, 10km or 14km routes, followed by performances, games and lunch at HKIS. Hong Kong International School, Tai Tam. Register by March 4 at hkg.orbis.org.

MAR 10 Ed Sheeran Live in Hong Kong Yay! AsiaWorld-Arena, Lantau. Tickets $680 at www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

MAR 15 Mothers Day (UK) We love you, mums! (Moms, international Mother’s Day is May 10.)

MAR 29-30 Cyberport Spring Mega Sale Carnival

MAR 15-17 Art Basel Hong Kong The giant international art fair returns. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai. Tickets $150-$850 from www. artbasel.com.

MAR 17 St Patrick’s Day Wear green, drink Guinness, say “begorrah”.

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Bag a bargain. 11am-7pm, Ocean View Court, The Arcade, Cyberport, 3166 3111, www. cyberport.hk.

MAR 27 CNCF Ladies’ Long Lunch

MAR 31-APR 12 Cavalia

Food, drink, fun and games with handsome rugby players in aid of the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation. Hong Kong Jockey Club, Happy Valley, www.cncf.org.hk, 2832 2186.

Brought to you by the people behind Cirque de Soleil, Cavalia is a modern circus on horseback.

Big Top, Central Harbourfront. Tickets $245$1,195 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

BOOK NOW APR 2-5 Smurfs Save Spring

APR 20 Charli XCX

The Smurfs on stage. Lyric Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Smurfy seats $688 (including gifts), other seats $250-$588 from www. hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Boom clap! Music Zone, KITEC, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $490 from www.ticketflap.com.

MAY 1-2 Katy Perry Prismatic World Tour Hear her roar.

Cotai Arena, The Venetian, Macau. Tickets $380-$1,680 from www. cotaiticketing. com.

APRIL 3-6 Sesame Street Live Elmo, Big Bird and friends take the stage.

Star Hall, KITEC, Kowloon Bay. Tickets $150$450 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

MAY 15-JUN 7 The Sound of Music A few of your favourite things, direct from the West End. Lyric Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $395-$995, family packages available, at www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Got an event? We can publish the details for free. Email editor@southside.hk.

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news Stanley Cave parties with the homeless Stanley Cave helped the Society for Community Organisation (SoCO) organise a party for the homeless in Sham Shui Po last month, using donations collected in a jar at the Stanley bakery and cafe.

Stanley Cave owner Ricky Yuen has been involved with the charity event since 2010, collecting donations for parties held at Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Lunar New Year.

Last month’s event was held under a flyover near the Jade Market, with a violinist playing festive tunes and volunteers handing out roses.

Each street dweller was given a box of siu mei rice, pizza, an orange, a drink and snacks.

Stanley Cave would like to thank all those who contributed to the donations. The jar is back in place on the counter (left) for future parties, so please give generously. Basement, 25 Stanley Market Road, Stanley, 2677 7007.

For details about SoCO, visit www.soco.org.hk.

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Southside’s arty night To coincide with Art Basel Hong Kong, local galleries are throwing open their doors for the third annual South Island Art Night on March 15. Organized by South Island Cultural District, more than 25 galleries and art spaces in Wong Chuk Hang, Tin Wan and Ap Lei Chau will be open from 5pm-10pm. As well as art exhibitions, different galleries will be offering food and drink, live dance and music performances and a chance to meet local and international artists.

Billed as Hong Kong’s new destination for contemporary art, Southside is hoping to welcome more than 2,000 local and international art lovers and collectors.

A free shuttle bus will operate between Art Basel at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Wong Chuk Hang, Tin Wan and Ap Lei Chau. For details, call 2696 2300 or email contact@sicd.com.hk.

in your backyard

New stores for Repulse Bay

Two new venues are opening on the ground floor of The Repulse Bay Arcade. Bookazine has opened a bookstore in the former Dymocks space (Shop G107 C-D, www.bookazine.com.hk). And Sense of Touch is to open a large luxury beauty bar.

Beauty Nest (Shop G115-116, 2592 9559, www.beautynest.com.hk) will specialise in mani-pedis, makeup and brow-sculpting services and will sell premium and organic beauty products.

Specialist veterinary clinic opens California-based Veterinary Speciality Hospital (VSH) has opened its first Hong Kong location offering specialist services to the city’s veterinarian practices.

VSH Hong Kong will specialise initially in surgery and ophthalmology, with internal medicine, 24-hour emergency and critical care services to start soon. Surgeon Dr Alane Cahalane and ophthalmologist Dr Derek Wai

Yee-chow will be based permanently in Hong Kong, with support from US-based specialists who work in VSH’s sister clinics in North County and San Diego, California.

Able to deal with complex specialist problems, VSH will see only emergencies or animals referred by a primary veterinarian.

1/F, Lucky Centre, 165-171 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai, 2408 2588, www.vsh.com.hk.

Free deliveries by Secret Ingredient Ready-to-cook meal-delivery company Secret Ingredient is offering free deliveries on all orders this month. The company specialises in healthy, restaurant-quality meals that arrive with the ingredients chopped, marinated and able to be cooked within minutes for minimum-effort gourmet home dining. In March, get the children involved with the cooking by ordering its family-

oriented meals online. The “Kids Pizza” set comes with pre-made pizza dough, homemade tomato sauce and various toppings to make two pizzas ($175). And look out for the roast free-range chicken with corn bread and sweet potato wedges to feed a family of four ($500).

For details, call 2108 4000 or visit www.secretingredient.com.hk.

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Headline letters

have your say “Spent the day at the carnival with the whole family thanks to your magazine’s recommendation.

Love it!”

– Susan Davies

“On reflection, a strange thing happened above Tai Tam Reservoir.”

– Brady Brewer

“Look out for Matt aka Rumples interview in the recent edition of Southside Magazine!”

– @Rumpleandfriends via instagram

A fresh look at Stanley Loving the February issue of Southside Magazine. It was so great to see you guys interviewing all the fascinating faces inside Stanley Market.

There were an amazing amount of stories I had no

idea about, even after living in Stanley for more than 20 years. I enjoyed seeing you writing about more than just the expats in the area – good change of pace.

PS. Love the lucky cat.

Roger Matthews, Stanley

Email your photos or letters to editorial@fastmedia.com.hk. We may edit for length. Or tag us, #southsidemag on social media!

Free Seminar: Saturday, 14th March 1st session: 12-2pm 2nd session: 3-5pm Private meetings: Fri 13th - Mon 16th March

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LONDON PROPERTY

SPECIALISTS FREE Benham and Reeves Residential Lettings is London’s Investors largest independent property rentals company.

Seminar For over 50 years we’ve been looking after properties providing a full leasing LONDON PROPERTY service for landlords worldwide.

From our Hong Kong office we provide: n Full leasing and property management service n Professional referenced tenants n Post completion handover/snagging service n UK tax assistance n Affordable furnishing packages n ARLA UK registered agent

- Is this the time to panic?

Free Seminar: Sat 14th March 1st session: 12-2pm 2nd session: 3-5pm Private meetings: Fri 13th - Mon 16th March With the capital gains tax changes and UK General Election around the corner, Anita and Marc will answer the question: “Should we, as London property professionals and private landlords, be looking to buy, sell or hold?”

Anita Mehra, Managing Director and Marc von Grundherr, Lettings Director, Benhams & Reeves Lettings

London’s largest independent leasing agency. 60 years experience. 11 London branches. Hong Kong office since 1995.

BOOK NOW! Call LOUISE NG, Manager on 2537 5443 or email hongkong@brlets.com | www.brlets.com 703 Chinachem Hollywood Centre, 1-13 Hollywood Road, Central

local

art on her sleeve

Editorial

Senior Consultant Editor Jane Steer jane@fastmedia.com.hk Managing Editor Hannah Grogan hannah@fastmedia.com.hk Editorial Assistant Cherrie Yu cherrie@fastmedia.com.hk Staff Writer Callum Wiggins callum@fastmedia.com.hk

Design

Art Director Kelvin Lau kelvin@fastmedia.com.hk Graphic Design Setareh Parvin setareh@fastmedia.com.hk Evy Cheung evy@fastmedia.com.hk

Thanks to Adele Brunner Carolynne Dear Sally Andersen Paul Zimmerman Nigel Griffiths Steffi Yuen Mikael Levin Annie Wong

Publisher Tom Hilditch tom@fastmedia.com.hk

Published by

Fast Media Floor LG1, 222 Queens Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

The artist in residence.

Theadora Whittington The Southside illustrator tells Carolynne Dear about her upcoming first solo exhibition.

Stanley-based artist and children’s book illustrator Theadora Whittington is holding her first solo exhibition this month, with the theme festivals, people and celebration.

To be shown in Stanley and at St John’s Cathedral, Central, the exhibition is a colourful and fascinating celebration of Hong Kong through sketches, watercolours and Whittington’s signature intricate prints using collagraphy and chine-colle techniques, a combination of textured materials, watercolours and oil-based inks.

There’s a distinctly Chinese influence in her work, a legacy of her training. After graduating in illustration at Cambridge School of Art in England, Whittington joined the Gainsborough House Printmakers in Suffolk, then moved

to Beijing in the 1990s to work under Professor Liu Dawei at the PLA Arts School.

“He taught in the traditional, 20th-century method of Chinese painting, using brushstrokes rather than pencil on Chinese paper,” she says.

Whittington still uses the technique, finding it quicker and easier to “brush out” a sketch than using a pencil.

“I used to do a lot of sketching at the Hong Kong Zoological Gardens, and I had to be quick to catch the movement of the animals. My big challenge has always been how to carry my gear, with water jars slung around my neck and so forth,” she laughs.

Whittington uses photos, sketches and a bit of poetic licence in her work.

“I add bits,” she confesses. “I

make bits up. I’m a strong believer in the role of the imagination in a narrative.”

Her studio is in a listed colonial cottage in Stanley, set in a jungle between ocean and mountain, and she says the environment is a huge influence on her work, particularly her three children’s books, The Dragon’s Back, The Sand Turtle and The Mermaid and the Pink Dolphin.

“I feel it’s very much ‘man versus nature’ living here,” she says. “We think we have mastered the environment, but we haven’t really. We’re still very much at its mercy. We’ve had snakes in the house and the pool, swooping kites attack my husband during nesting season, the house cordoned off because of wild boar and typhoons raging through. Last year a falling flame tree very nearly took out the studio. The Chinese knew how dangerous it could be – just look at the reverence they held for Tin Hau (goddess of the sea).”

Her other major influences are religion and festival, perhaps not surprising as she has a theology degree and is married to a reverend. Images of Lunar New Year and the Hungry Ghost, Lantern and Dragon Boat festivals occur frequently in her work.

“I am extremely interested in the symbolic values of religions.

I just love the colour and the vibrancy of the festivals here and I think they are so important to a culture,” she says. “I love Hong Kong for celebrating them all.”

“Hong Kong Festivals, Hong Kong People: A Celebration of 10 years in Hong Kong” opens March 7-8, 11am-6pm, The Studio, Bungalow 5, St Stephen’s College, 22 Tung Tau Wan Road, Stanley. And on March 19-22 at the Li Hall, St John’s Cathedral, Garden Road, Central. For details, visit www.theadorawhittington.com.

What Southside issues do you care about most? Tell us by voting in our Readers’ Choice Awards. Vote now at www.southside.hk.

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five minutes with...

Sales & Marketing Head of Sales & Marketing Karman So karman@fastmedia.com.hk

healthy appetite

On the grill Sous chef Holden Lau cooks up a (veggie) storm at Prompt in Le Meridien.

Business Development Manager Tristan Watkins tristan@fastmedia.com.hk Marketing & Comm. Manager Sharon Wong sharon@fastmedia.com.hk Sales Manager Oliver Simons oliver@fastmedia.com.hk Sales & Marketing Executive John Lee john@fastmedia.com.hk Sara Tomovic sara@fastmedia.com.hk

Accounts Manager Connie Lam connie@fastmedia.com.hk

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Apex Print 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong

www.southside.hk ads@fastmedia.com.hk

Holden Lau at Prompt.

@southsidemag facebook.com/SouthsideMagazineHK

GIVE US A CALL! Admin: 3568 3722 Editorial: 2776 2773 Advertising: 2776 2772, 3563 9755 Southside Magazine is published by Fast Media Ltd. This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication.

The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Southside Magazine cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or pubishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

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I have worked in the food industry for 10 years since secondary school, and I have been with Le Meridien for a year.

When I was a kid, I had to cook for myself. I enjoyed it and wanted to learn more, so I did a Western culinary course at the Vocational Training Centre.

My first job was at The Excelsior, on the breakfast shift. Then I requested to work at a steakhouse to indulge my love for western cooking, and I was invited to work in Macau before joining Le Meridien.

One woman comes to Le Meridien most Sundays just for my dishes. She’s in her 70s and asks her children to bring her. Because of her special dietary needs, she can’t eat garlic, onion or other

ingredients, so on her first visit, I cooked something specially for her.

She enjoyed it so much she kept coming back.

We grow our own herbs – Italian parsley, rosemary, Thai basil – it is quite easy. We have a herb garden near the hotel swimming pool where guests can get the menu and recipes from the QR codes for each herb.

We are experimenting with healthy dishes, creating new dishes including some with quinoa and a special mushroom burger.

I am creating a vegetarian menu and also training the other cooks, quite a challenge. It will be constantly altered in response to feedback.

One woman comes to Le Meridien most Sundays just for my dishes

We have a baby, 11 months old.

I live in Chai Wan with my family.

They sometimes pick me up from work.

At weekends, we like to walk around malls. I enjoy going to Shek O to swim and sunbathe because it’s quite close to Chai Wan. Whenever I get time off, I go swimming. It’s my favourite.

4/F, 100 Cyberport Road, Telegraph Bay, 2980 7417.

news from the greens

narrow minded

Road rage Why do so many dangerous roads have brand new slopes? Paul Zimmerman asks.

It’s behind you!

“Roads where there is room for improvement” is government speak for roads that are simply dangerous. On Hong Kong Island, narrow mountain routes such as Island Road, Mount Davis Road, Shek O Road, Tai Tam Road and Stubbs Road are substandard for several reasons: they lack footpaths, the downhill barriers are incapable of stopping the doubledecker buses that ply these routes, long

vehicles have difficulty passing at tight corners and the growing number of cyclists is yet another need for upgrading these roads.

The Transport Department has long been reluctant to commit to road improvements as topography and land ownership issues would make them expensive and cumbersome.

Unfortunately, the department never asks geotechnical engineers to enhance the roads when slope works are undertaken. Shockingly, the government has spent close to $20 billion of public money on slope stabilisation since 1970, mostly on slopes along roads, but the roads have not been widened at the same time.

Every Hong Kong road-user is familiar with dreaded slope works and the jams caused by blocked lanes, temporary traffic lights or hooded staff. When the hoardings are removed and the roads re-opened, often vegetation has been replaced with concrete but the roads have simply been reinstated to their original condition. When I point this out, the geotechs

say they are only responsible for slope stability and adding further objectives would risk the progress of their programme.

Most of us would recognise the bureaucratic stupidity here. With the design life of slope projects at 30-50 years, cutting back slopes for road widening separately is abortively expensive. Yet even where road improvement works have been decided on, such as Hiram’s Highway in Sai Kung, foot and cycle paths are not always included, with transport planners rolling out the old excuses of topography and land ownership complications.

Unless we get angry about this, substandard and unsafe vehicle-only roads will be here to stay.

Paul Zimmerman is the CEO of Designing Hong Kong, a Southern District Councillor and the co-convenor of Save Our Country Parks alliance.

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VOTE TO WIN

Readers’ Choice Awards Venture Photography package Valued $14,500 Prize includes a one hour photography session, a one hour exclusive review, and one framed image to take home. www.venturephotography.com.hk

One-night stay and dinner at L’hotel Island South Valued at $10,819 www.lhotelislandsouth.com 16 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

Six-month contract at Pure South - The Pulse Valued at $7,600 www.pure-yoga.com www.pure-fitness.com

Vote now!

Go to www.southside.hk, vote for your favourite things in Southside, and win great prizes.

Six-months of top quality meat from Farmers Kitchen Valued at $6,000 www.farmerskitchen.com.hk

Feine Cashmere gift voucher Valued at $5,000 www.feinecashmere.com

Secret Ingredient private dinner for eight

Valued at $5,200 www.secretingredient.com.hk

Limewood dining voucher Valued at $5,000 www.limewood.hk

Entry deadline: March 15

Five dining vouchers for The Verandah and Spices Valued at $1,000 each www.therepulsebay.com

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 17

feature

Clockwise from top: Classified at The Pulse; GCX in One Island South; Classified’s freerange chicken salad.

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what’s for dinner?

New restaurants, old favourites and artisanal food suppliers in your neighbourhood.

Stanley Stanley’s restaurants have been feeding the bodies and souls of Southsiders for decades.

As well as tried-and-tested old favourites, there are several new additions that bring something extra to the plate.

Despite recent crackdowns on alfresco dining, plenty of destinations have outdoor tables on the waterfront promenade. But it’s not all about location. Belying its prime position, heritage looks, enviable spaces and alfresco terraces, Murray House sits nearly empty with all but two restaurants closed or relocated. Left standing are King Ludwig Beerhall and Mijas Spanish Restaurant, both operated by the King Parrot Group. Word is that uncertain rent terms and the expense of renovating the large space has deterred at least one new tenant.

While it remains to be seen what the latest shakeup in the dining scene will bring, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourite new, old and artisanal restaurants that make the cut not because they dazzle us with ocean views, but because of their atmosphere, service and good food.

New: Pinot Duck New kid on the plaza, concept restaurant Pinot Duck does what it says on the sign, specialising

in duck and wine pairing. But it’s mostly duck.

Menu options include duck stew ($138), duck brioche ($88), crispy duck skin ($68) and duck salads (starts at $68). With few poultry-free dishes, it’s not the wisest option for vegetarians.

Put together by the folks behind Nha Trang Vietnamese, Pinot Duck is an ambitious concept with a way to go before becoming a must-eat destination, but we give them a thumbs up for being bold and bringing

Prime position is on the two swinging sofas facing the sea something different to the area. Plus it has a killer selection of cocktails and locally brewed beers. Shop G07, G/F, Stanley Plaza, 23 Carmel Road, Stanley, 2772 0060, www. pinotduck.com.

Old favourite: Lucy’s Having recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, Lucy’s shows no sign of going anywhere. An all-time favourite with residents and tourists alike, this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant is

tucked away inside Stanley Market. (For those who have yet to discover it, the yellow entrance is halfway up the steps next to Delifrance.)

What Lucy’s lacks in views, it makes up for in good, hearty food. The menu is filled with customers’ fave raves: cauliflower soup with crispy parma ham and truffle oil; char-grilled lamb fillet with roast pumpkin, goat’s cheese tart and pinenut rocket salad; and seared scallop with spiced sweetcorn, avocado and tomato salsa. It’s all good, but if you really can’t decide ask owner and chef, Lucy Humbert, for her recommendations of the day. G/F, 64 Stanley Main Street, Stanley, 2813 9055 Artisanal: Stanley Cave For good-quality bread and even better vibes, head down the stairs next to Paisanos and enter through the stone-effect door. This cafe and bakery is a good option for those looking for a quick bite, whether it’s the popular Cavemen’s All-day Breakfast, a yummy sandwich, freshly made crepe or frozen yoghurt with toppings from the yoghurt bar. Takeaway items include a selection of pastries, salads and desserts. We recommend the farmer’s bread and olive focaccia, which comes sealed in an airtight bag for freshness. Basement, 25 Stanley Market Road, Stanley, 2677 7007.

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feature

C

M

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Zingy flavours and fresh decor set a summery mood at Limewood in The Pulse.

Repulse Bay Eating out in Repulse Bay is all about the view and proximity to the beach. We’re still mourning the old Seaview Restaurant, which served reasonably priced Cantonese seafood on tables set up on the sand under trees lit by twinkling fairylights. But with The Pulse finally opened, several new restaurant options are helping put the area back on the dining map.

New: Limewood A double-sized space on the ground floor at The Pulse, Limewood is a colourful restaurant specialising in barbecue, seafood and

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margaritas. Part of the Maximal Concepts group, which also runs Fish and Meat, Blue Butcher and Stockton, the menu was devised by culinary director Malcolm Wood and executive chef Russell Doctrove. The pair drew on influences from Southeast Asia, Hawaii, South America and the Caribbean for dishes bursting with bright, fresh flavours.

The space is organised as a main dining room with a separate bar, perfect for sipping a pomegranate, watermelon and jalapeño margarita or charred coconut pina colada. Sit in cushion-loaded booths, next to the window looking out to Repulse Bay beach or at larger

tables for groups. Feast on charred whole sea bass with charred limes, chimichurri, nuoc cham and tamarind sauce; Hawaiian roasted pig leg with ginger, orange marinade and pineapple salsa; pork skin chicharron with guacamole, uni, ikura and charred jalapeño; or Vietnamese fish taco with lime aioli and Asian slaw. We can’t wait to try it. Shops 103 & 104, 1/F, The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay, 2866 8668, www.limewood.hk.

New: Classified Now with nine branches across Hong Kong, this Classified location is less urban than the others,

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feature

New French Club in Term 2 Learn French the FUN and FRIENDLY way!

Held at the Woodland Montessori Academy.

Key features: • Carefully structured and progressive language programme • Primary emphasis on FUN! Children learn through: fast-paced games, interactive activities, stories, rhymes, music and movement, role play etc.

• Introduction to France and French culture • Small classes Venez apprendre le français tout en s’amusant.

Nous offrons un environnement idéal pour découvrir cette merveilleuse langue à travers l’art, la peinture, la cuisine, les jeux et les histoires.

Le French Club permet aux enfants de s’enrichir d’une nouvelle culture et de se familiariser avec les chansons françaises traditionnelles.

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feature in a nod to the area’s beach vibe. The interior design is softer and more laidback: prime position is on the two swinging sofas facing the sea. The menu features all your favourites, from burgers to charcuterie platters, as well as a good selection of wine, breads and its famous artisanal cheeses to eat in or takeaway. This is a perfect spot to unwind with a cup of coffee and a slice of cake after a day at the beach. Shop 107, 1/F, The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay, 2351 3454, www.classifiedfood.com.

Old favourite: Spices Opened in 1987, Spices serves authentic Southeast Asian food in a gorgeous setting with an airy dining room and a celebrated terrace overlooking beautiful Repulse Bay. It’s a big restaurant, able to seat 168 diners, and was renovated in January 2010 with bamboo, teak and lots of baskets to give it a more distinctly Asian identity. It is famed for dishes such as salt and pepper squid and grilled naan with minced garlic. The Repulse Bay, 109 Repulse Bay Road, 2292 2821.

Wong Chuk Hang Once a rundown industrial area, Wong Chuk Hang is being reborn as a funky destination for shopping and dining, with innovative private kitchens and independent food businesses

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blossoming within the industrial buildings. For that it can thank the MTR, which is due to roll into the area late next year. One Island South and Ovolo Southside hotel have also brought smart new dining options into the area.

New: Cirqle Cirqle is a modern Mediterranean restaurant in Ovolo Southside with wonderful views of Deep Water Bay, Ocean Park, Aberdeen Harbour and urban Wong Chuk Hang. It’s bright and open, with long canteen tables and a huge terrace.

Executive chef Krzysztof Bandel takes Mediterranean classics in new directions with Southeast Asian and Arabic twists. The menu features lighter, tapas-style dishes at lunch with more formal dining in the evening with signatures such as Alaskan cod ($235), Galician pork ($348) and Scottish salmon ($230). At Sunday brunch the terrace comes into its own.

4/F, Ovolo Southside, 64 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, 3460 8100, www.cirqle.hk.

New: GCX A fun combo of café, restaurant and shop. Near the entrance, a coffee corner is furnished with a few high chairs positioned to make the most of the view and there’s cheese and charcuterie to take home. On the other side, a retail wall

feature Coming soon to The Pulse Three new eateries are opening this month on the ground-floor waterfront at The Pulse.

Hotshot is a hip surf-themed Western restaurant (tel: 2151 1661). Like its chic Central sister, French restaurant Bibo, it will be chock-full of covetable works of art by the likes of New York street artist Kaws.

Its neighbours will include Meen and Rice (Shop 113, 2566 8886), a casual Chinese cafe serving congee, noodles and other Cantonese delicacies. And a branch of fast-food joint Chicken on the Run (tel: 2537 8285) will also open selling its succulent Australian-style rotisserie chicken.

The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay, www.thepulse.com.hk.

is stocked with pasta, Italian wine, sauces, olive oil and other Italian delicacies. There’s also a cosy dining area that invites you to settle down for a long lunch or dinner featuring prawn spaghetti ($128), speck risotto ($138) or zucchini and pecorino cheese pizza ($120), perhaps. G/F, One Island South, 2 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, 2528 0772.

Artisanal: Butchers Club Deli The Butchers Club boys know a thing or two about turning a premium product – in this case dry-aged prime beef – into a business empire.

Ever since the first Butchers Club opened in Aberdeen with a butcher’s counter that doubled as a tiny private kitchen in the evenings, the city has been buzzing about the incredible quality of the beef. The group has no shortage of great ideas and now has several restaurants and stores across the Island, including a burger joint and steak frites specialist.

A great example of how an industrial space can be transformed, the Butchers Club Deli is located within ED1TUS men’s fashion and lifestyle store. It operates as a deli by day and moonlights at night as a private kitchen for parties from 14-300. In addition, the rooftop is a private event space that can cater for up to 1,000 people, and is the venue for regular Southside Market Long Lunches. During the day, dishes include the popular dry-aged angus burger with a side of duck fat fries ($120) and daily special such as bangers and mash or buttermilk-fried chicken.

16/F Shui Ki Industrial Building, 18 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, www. butchersclub.com.hk.

Duck comes with (almost) everything at Pinot Duck.

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eating

Nibbles born Eddie McDougall, an award-winning winemaker and star of Discovery Channel’s The Flying Winemaker. The wine will also be available at 22 Ships and other restaurants.

6/F, Yu Yuet Lai Building, 43-55 Wyndham Street, Central, www.flyingwinemaker.asia.

Wine from the 852 Fermented and bottled in Ap Lei Chau, Eddie McDougall Fine Wines has released a new wine called The Urban Project Sampan.

Available through McDougall’s wineshop, The Flying Winemaker, Sampan ($190 a bottle) is a dry, fruity red made from snap-frozen French cabernet franc and merlot grapes with aromas of blackcurrant and black tea leaves.

The company recommends pairing it with beef ho fun noodles. It’s the first of four new Urban Project wines that will be released this year. The label was started by Hong Kong-

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Delaney’s Irish craic Delaney’s is promising a good craic for St Patrick’s Day. On March 15 and 17, Irish band Dargle will be performing live, with flautist Alan Doherty, who features as a soloist on the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, playing from 3pm on the outside terrace overlooking Telegraph Bay. The Spire at The Arcade, 100 Cyberport Road, Pok Fu Lam, 2677 1126, www.delaneys.com.hk.

Tapas in Sai Ying Pun Chef Willy from Fofo by el Willy is behind a new tapas bar in Sai Ying Pun. La Paloma seats 85 diners in a colourful space inspired

by Barcelona’s famous “chiringuitos”, simple open-sided tapas bars usually on the beach.

An open kitchen with a traditional clay oven

prepares roast suckling pig, pigeon and lechazo, as well as classics such as huevos and paella. There’s also a great selection of Spanish wine and beer. Until March 31, enjoy a 15 per cent discount by giving feedback or comments. Open Tue-Fri for dinner, and for lunch and dinner on weekends and holidays.

1/F, SoHo 189, 198 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun, info@lapaloma.hk, 2291 61611, www.elwillygroup.com.

eating

items on the menu include roasted French spring chicken, stone oven-roasted salmon, pasta and seafood.

52 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, 2947 3866.

Hot stone pizza New Causeway Bay pizza and pasta place The Point is receiving the thumbs up for its pizzas. Sleek and contemporary, the real highlight of the 1,100 sq ft restaurant is its stone-hearth oven, which can cook pizzas in less than three minutes. Go for one of its signatures, such as a nine-inch margherita, kids’ favourite roasted marshmallow and banana pizza ($68), or the mushroom, potato, rocket and cheese pizza ($118).

Or get creative at the pizza topping station with more than 15 toppings available. Other

Burritos to your door Get made-to-order burritos and quesadillas delivered straight to your door with new online food service, Cali-Mex. Fill out the online form and have your choice of Californian-style Mexican dishes – tacos, salads, nachos and churros – delivered or pick up from your nearest shop. Deliveries are made daily from noon to 10pm daily, and guaranteed to arrive within an hour. Free delivery with orders over $130 or more. For details, visit www.cali-mex.com.

It’s the wurst Berliner’s German brunch is back with a buy three-get-one-free deal until March 29.

Tuck into unlimited German nibbles including assorted cold cuts and seasonal German delicacies that change every week. Main course choices include salmon sausage with creamy leeks, green asparagus and roasted potatoes, or Nürnberger sausages with two scrambled eggs. There’s a pancake station, unlimited Häagen-Dazs and free-flowing juices, soda, coffee and tea. Brunch is $278 per adult and $158 for children aged 11 and under. Available noon-4pm, Sundays and public holidays. 4/F, W Square, 314-324 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, 2891 8689, www.cafedecogroup.com.

Sevens on the lawn Watch the Hong Kong Sevens live from the lawn at Cyberport. Pull up a beanbag and catch all the action on the huge outdoor TV, with snacks and drinks – yes, that includes beers – available at F&B stalls. From 11am, March 2729, The Arcade, Cyberport, Pok Fu Lam, 3166 3111, www.cyberport.hk.

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education

Natural materials are incorporated into teaching.

EtonHouse Tai Tam As EtonHouse Tai Tam turns one, Callum Wiggins visits a preschool with a difference.

Entering EtonHouse International preschool, I was expecting a morning of sticky hands and raucous playtime. But walking through the doors, it feels remarkably calm. Classrooms hum gently with activity and there’s not a spilled juice box or tear-stained face in sight.

Established in Singapore in 1995, the EtonHouse Group now has almost 100 schools across Asia, including China, India, Korea and Japan. Inspired by innovative educational practices in Reggio Emilia, Italy, it encourages young children to construct an understanding of their world while developing social, cognitive, emotional, physical and creative skills.

Led by principal Allison Banbury, EtonHouse Tai Tam has enjoyed a successful first year and is establishing itself as a strong choice for international families.

In the EtonHouse philosophy the environment is the “third” teacher and the school’s campus maximises its proximity to nature, with large bay windows offering magnificent views of Tai Tam harbour and the

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surrounding countryside. The connection with nature continues through the choice of natural and sustainable materials for furniture, fittings and toys. Children are encouraged to use their own imagination during playtimes rather than play with toys that offer little chance for exploration and creative thinking.

EtonHouse follows an enquiry-based curriculum. But rather than teaching an established curriculum, teachers observe and listen to each child’s interests then plan lessons that allow children to explore their own thinking and solve problems.

“The curriculum gives me a chance to observe individual children, which enables me to make sure the next steps are put in place for their development,” Banbury explains.

Teachers are there to facilitate learning rather than just impart knowledge, which requires sophisticated interaction with the children and asking pertinent, thoughtprovoking questions. Children then have opportunities to find the information.

Each child at EtonHouse has his or her progress recorded in a portfolio regularly updated by the teachers and available for parents to view and make comments. This better involves parents in their child’s learning and reinforces the school’s open-door policy.

Each class has native English- and Mandarin-speaking teachers, providing children with an immersive bilingual learning experience.

“I’ve always believed that learning a language comes through context and with hands-on experience,” Banbury says. “Already at age five and six children have very developed thinking. Those children may find it harder to communicate and to start learning another language.”

In a competitive international-school environment, Banbury recognises prospective parents are faced with a sometimes overwhelming choice of preschools following different teaching practices.

“I have always been a big believer that early-years education should make children

one and fun

Children are encouraged to use their own imagination rather than play with toys

In EtonHouse philosophy the environment is the “third” teacher.

How do you feel about school fees? Tell us by voting in our Readers’ Choice Awards. Vote now at www.southside.hk.

interested in wanting to learn more. I want them to have an education that values them and their ideas and sees them as competent and confident. As a graduate from EtonHouse school, I want children to feel good about themselves and to feel part of a community.”

However, Banbury recognises with a wry smile that all the good work and happy moments shared by the teachers and young children may not always be remembered as the child grows up.

“Because the children that I teach are so young, often it’s the parents that remember me years later when they see me on the street. I’m not sure the children really remember me. But when you see a child who has transformed into a gregarious, sociable and intelligent child ready to embrace the world, I think that is what is wonderful about early-years education. I always saw the growth of the child as the gift that I needed.”

EtonHouse Tai Tam, 1/F Red Hill Plaza, 3 Red Hill, Tai Tam, 2353 5223, www.etonhouse.com.hk.

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sponsored column

Applying to British universities ITS Educational Services explains how UCAS works.

All applications for full-time courses at British universities are made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Hong Kong is its second largest international market after mainland China and UCAS advisers visit twice a year. Regular university fairs in Hong Kong can be an excellent way of finding out more about individual courses.

What to consider Candidates may apply to up to five university courses. They write one personal statement that is submitted to all five choices, so it is important the courses are broadly similar.

Try to establish whether chosen courses have any requirements other than grades that will need to be fulfilled prior to applying.

These might include International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Law Aptitude Test (LNAT), BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) or UK Clinical Aptitude Test.

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Subject choices at school will have an impact on the likelihood of being accepted. For example, many economics courses require a good pass in maths. They will accept A level, but not IB standard level.

Making a UCAS application Students at international schools and some local syllabus schools in Hong Kong will use their school as a UCAS centre. If students are unable to use their school, there are other UCAS centres, including ITS Education Asia (www.itseducation.asia/online/choosinguniversity.htm). UCAS centres help guide the student through the process, offering advice about choices and personal statements and processing replies to offers.

Personal statement A personal statement is designed to showcase the student to the universities he or she is

applying to, explain the candidate’s reasons for choosing a particular course and show how his or her choice of academic subjects contribute to making the student a good candidate. A carefully prepared personal statement can contribute a great deal to the student’s success with his or her application and for this reason some guidance and input from experienced counsellors, such as those at ITS Education Asia, can be very valuable.

For details, visit www.ucas.com.

ITS School Placements provides an education consulting service that works with families and employers to find the right schools for individual children in Hong Kong, from nursery to secondary schools. ITS also offers research, policy and advisory services for corporations. For more details, contact es@itseducation.asia, 3188 3940 or www.itseducation.asia.

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 31

family

Quidditch at Hyperspace comes with broomsticks, a quaffle, bludger and a golden snitch (above). Hoverboards optional.

Fun ideas for dull days Places to go, things to do.

Quidditch in Aberdeen Yes, really! Hyperspace is a new centre in Aberdeen that is offering Hong Kong’s first quidditch pitch. There are two versions available. In the hi-tech game, teams of three make like Harry Potter and “fly” on hoverboards – 30 minutes of training required – while clutching a broomstick between their legs and trying to score by throwing a quaffle (that’s a ball to non-Potter fans) through suspended hoops while dodging the bludger (another ball). There’s even a drone-style snitch for a seeker to catch. Players must wear padding and be aged 12 or over. For the under-12s, the low-tech version involves no hoverboards and can be played by teams of up to five. As well as quidditch, the centre offers bubble soccer, played by eight-20 players with their bodies and arms encased in large plastic zorbs.

There’s also glow-in-the-dark, neon bubble

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Teams of three make like Harry Potter and “fly” on hoverboards while clutching a broomstick soccer and archery tag, which involves shooting arrows at targets and each other (protective clothing required). The space and equipment cost $2,500 for the first hour, $1,500 for each subsequent hour. 5/F, Remex Centre, 42 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, 3462 3318, www. hyperspace.hk.

Science Alive Make your own bath bomb at this interactive exhibition that explores why chemistry matters.

The programme is sponsored by the British Council and runs from March 7 to 20. Free

admission. Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2732 3232, www.britishcouncil.hk.

Glow in The Dark 3-D Museum Be part of the exhibits at the new Glow in The Dark 3-D museum in Mong Kok. The first of its kind in Hong Kong, the museum invites visitors to interact with its luminescent 3-D pictures of fairy tales, movies and natural scenes. Join Alice at the Mad Hatter’s tea party, perch on a rock in a jungle river or drift down a Venetian canal in a gondola. It’s surreal, but fun. Open Monday to Saturday, 11am-10pm. Tickets $98, or $68 through Groupon until April. 3/F, 689 Nathan Road, Mong Kok, 2319 5628, www. doyougetit3d.com.

Cinema City Langham Place With a state-of-the-art 4DX projector and

rainy days and mondays seating, movies take on an extra dimension at this revamped cinema. The 116 new seats have audiences literally rolling in the aisles by heaving and pitching in synch with the action on the screen, as well as employing wind, water and even smell-o-vision effects. Brace yourselves for a whole new experience. L8-11, Langham Place, 8 Argyle Street, Mong Kok, www.cinemacity.com.hk.

Hong Kong Space Museum Play among the stars at the Hong Kong Space Museum. Learn more about astronomy and humankind’s explorations of space, then take in a movie at the Stanley Ho Space Theatre: this month the dome screen is showing Dream to Fly 3-D and the Omnimax theatre has Pandas: The Journey Home or Mysteries of the Unseen World. Not suitable for children under three.

Cinema tickets are $12-$32 and museum admission is $5-$10. Open 1pm-9pm during the week and 10am-9pm on weekends and public holidays. 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2721 0226, www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/ Space.

Get snapping at the Glow in The Dark 3-D museum.

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outdoors

get sandy

Going fast and furious on Repulse Bay Beach.

Beach 5s turns five Kick off Rugby Week at the Beach 5s weekend sports party in Repulse Bay, writes Callum Wiggins.

One of our favourite weekends, this year’s Beach 5s promises to be bigger and better than ever. Taking place on Repulse Bay Beach on March 21-22, 9am-6pm, the two-day sporting fiesta celebrates its fifth anniversary with new sports and interactive zones (yoga, anyone?) as well as the much-loved Kids Zone, food and drink areas and party atmosphere. A record number of visitors is expected, topping last year’s turnout of 12,000 people.

Established as a prelude to the mighty Hong Kong Sevens held a week later, the Beach 5s has become an anticipated event in its own right. This year, 26 men’s and women’s rugby teams will battle to be crowned champions on one of Hong Kong’s favourite beaches.

What’s new?

Beach football, beach yoga and a fitness zone have been added to the roster for 2015.

Football teams from across Hong Kong will compete in a five-a-side tournament on purpose-built pitches, while novices and experienced yogis alike are invited to join the

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Join a mini-rugby club Mini-rugby clubs run teams for boys and girls aged four-18, with training and tournaments on Sunday mornings from September to April.

HKU Sandy Bay This busy, friendly club has one of the largest mini-rugby sections in Hong Kong. Training is in English at the ocean-side Stanley Ho playing fields in Pok Fu Lam. For details, visit www. hkusandybayrfc.org Hong Kong Football Club Not surprisingly for a club with such a successful adult rugby division, HKFC has friendly but competitive mini-rugby and colts sections. Training is in English at HKFC facilities in Happy Valley. Some teams tour internationally. For details, visit www. hkfcyouthrugby.com.

Valley Fort Established in the 1970s, the Stanley Fort Rugby Club combined with Valley RFU in 2002 to form Valley Fort minis and colts, which now has 650 members. Training is in English at a variety of grounds including St Stephen’s, Stanley Fort and HKIS at Tai Tam. For details, visit www.valleyfort.com.

SCAA Causeway Bay In 2011, Causeway Bay RFC became the rugby arm of the long-established South China Athletics Association with adult’s, colts’ and new mini-rugby teams. It is a bilingual club with training at So Kon Po Recreation Ground in Caroline Hill. For details, visit www.scaacwbrugby.com.

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outdoors

Clockwise from left: HKU Sandy Bay pose for a pre-match team shot; the minis hit the sand; it gets intense in the stands.

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outdoors

mass participation yoga session on the beach (bring your own yoga mats).

In the Fitness Zone, developed in conjunction with PURE, sign-ups will compete against one another in a challenge that tests strength, stamina, cardio-vascular fitness and athleticism. The only bruises inflicted may be to your ego.

Besides all the sporting action, a Kids Zone will keep little ones amused with face painting, bouncy castles and scalextric car racing. A resident DJ and abundant food and beverage stands will keep the carnival atmosphere alive.

Sean Rach, Chief Marketing Officer for title sponsor Prudential, is anticipating another fun weekend at the beach.

“The Prudential Beach 5s has become one of Hong Kong’s favourite outdoor events for families and athletes alike,” he says. “The addition of beach fitness and yoga brings a new dimension to the event. We look forward to a great event with sport, food, and fun.”

What is your favourite annual event on Southside? Tell us by voting in our Readers’ Choice Awards. Vote now at www.southside.hk.

Getting there Complimentary shuttle buses will run from 9am to 8pm between Admiralty (Drake Street) and Repulse Bay. Visit www.hkbeach5s.com.

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big day out

not just hippies

No drama in Lamma’s Yung Shue Wan Harbour.

Lamma panorama Nigel Griffiths hikes across Hong Kong’s most laidback island.

Lamma is one of Hong Kong’s best-known outlying islands, with a rep for superb seafood, pretty beaches and hippies. The last is a little out-dated, because while some of the 5,000 residents on the 13 sq km island embrace an “alternative lifestyle”, a fast ferry service to Central means it is also home to plenty of professionals seeking a close-knit community and a laid-back, car-free environment. For the rest of us, it’s a great place to take a breather from the frantic pace of Hong Kong life.

Located southwest of Hong Kong Island, life on the territory’s third-largest island revolves around two relaxed villages – Yung Shue Wan (Banyan Tree Bay) in the north and Sok Kwu Wan (Picnic Bay) in the east. Few people live on the southern part of Lamma and access is only by hiking or private boat. The south’s biggest beach, Sham Wan, is an important breeding site for sea turtles.

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Catch a ferry from Central or Aberdeen to Yung Shue Wan. From the pier, the fishing harbour of O Tsai lies to the left with the smallest Tin Hau Temple I have seen in Hong Kong. To the right, the main harbour also serves as a typhoon shelter. Head along the harbour side to the main street. As well as various restaurants, from Cantonese seafood to organic vegetarian, there are two bars and the main Tin Hau Temple, built in 1876 and guarded by peculiar western lions. Apparently, when the temple’s original Chinese-style lions were damaged in 1960, the mason hired to replace them specialised in Western-style stone lions.

The result is a fitting motif for this east-meetswest community.

Halfway down the street, a well signposted left turn leads to Sok Kwu Wan. The signpost suggests a hiking time of an hour and 20 minutes, but I suggest allowing at least two

hours to take in the views.

Follow the footpath through Tai Yuen and Wang Long villages to Hung Shing Yeh Beach.

The going is flat and beautiful orange flowers and purple grasses attract butterflies and many species of birds. The golden beach is peaceful during the week, but it gets busy at weekends, with shower and changing facilities, and a barrestaurant in season.

From here the path heads uphill, curling around the headland to give a great view over the beach and beyond to the power station.

The sunsets are magnificent. There are plenty of sidetracks for those wishing to venture off the concrete path and a pavilion shelter that makes a good place for a rest. From there are views of the hard-to-reach Tit Sha Long Beach and the island’s mountains, including imposing Mount Stenhouse.

The trail is up and down. When the sea

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big day out appears on the left, the hardest part of the hike is over and it’s downhill the rest of the way. Pass a cement works jutting out to sea, another pavilion overlooking Picnic Bay and some beehives. At Lo So Shing Village is a graffiti mural painted in 2013 by Hong Kong Smilemakers. Walk through the village to Lo So Shing Beach with its barbecue pits, changing facilities and rock pools on the headland.

Returning from the barbecue pits, before the LCSD block, stairs ascend and a footpath beckons through green vegetation and past the defunct Lo Shing Village School. If you did not turn off through the village to the beach but continued straight, it is here that the footpaths meet again. Walk around Picnic Bay past a sandy shoreline with egrets stalking fresh fish and the Kamikaze Caves, dug by the Japanese during the wartime occupation to hide boats filled with explosives to destroy British ships should they come near. Be brave and walk inside: there are no bats or other wildlife, just a stone face at the end.

Soon Sok Kwu Wan’s seafood restaurants appear across the inlet. Cross a bridge past a few houses and pathways leading left and right. The right track heads to a fenced-off pool teeming with wildlife. There are birds in the trees and frogs call at dusk. This is where John D. Romer discovered the rare and endangered

From top left: sailing through Yung Shue Wan harbour; Tit Sha Long Beach; fish drying

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Sham Wan Beach is an important breeding site for sea turtles Romer’s tree frog in 1952. Keep your eyes open for a frog 2.5cm-3cm long with has a brown snake-like pattern on its back.

Carry on the footpath and past another Tin Hau Temple, built after 1826, and into the strip of restaurants. The only one that doesn’t sell seafood is Lo So Kitchen, which has a vast selection of beers and German-style sausages.

From here, take a ferry back to Aberdeen or Central. The path leads to Mo Tat Wan, which has a beach fronted by The Bay Mediterranean restaurant. The Cheun Kee Ferry calls there between Sok Kwu Wan and Aberdeen.

From Sok Kwu Wan or Mo Tat Wan, keen hikers can set out to climb Mount Stenhouse (Shan Tei Tong) Lamma’s highest at 353 metres.

Not for the faint-hearted.

From top: Tin Hau temple in Sok Kwu Wan; Hung Shing Yeh Beach; a firecracker vine in Tai Yuen Village.

Ferries to Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan depart from Central Pier 4. For the timetable, visit www.td.gov.hk. The Chuen Kee Ferry (www.ferry.com.hk/eng/service.htm) departs from Aberdeen harbour, near the fish market.

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living & home

Mooi moves An Aladdin’s Cave of vintage homeware, Mooishop has relocated to Ap Lei Chau. Owner Erika Chan tells Anji Connell why she made the move.

What sets Mooishop apart?

We handpick all the pieces ourselves, so we love every piece we sell here. If you like odd and unusual pieces of furniture that you normally don’t see in Hong Kong, we have it here. Plus pieces are usually quite reasonably priced... and good quality.

Tell us about your day job.

I’ve been in advertising for 15 years with various 4As agencies. It’s always a good challenge, apart from the long hours.

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How long have you been collecting vintage pieces?

Ever since university, studying graphic design.

I like the handcraftsmanship and all the history and stories behind each piece.

What made you open a vintage store?

By chance, I met a Taiwanese vintage furniture shop owner, Mingfu, and it was with his help that I started Mooishop with my partner, Arthur Yung, eight years ago.

I like all the history and stories behind each piece Why did you move Mooishop from Causeway Bay? The ever-increasing rental fee in the city.

Harbour Industrial Centre is a building that I

golden oldies

Erika Chan and some of her vintage treasures.

always liked, plus the sea view is fabulous. My family always lived around the Southside area, so this is a community I’m familiar with.

What furniture and periods do you specialise in?

We specialise in mid-century furniture, but we are broadening our range to cover pieces from 1900 to 1930s brocante and industrial furniture.

What are your best-selling items?

Probably 50s cocktail chairs. Ours are from Germany and Denmark in original fabrics. The low chairs were designed for the new openplan living rooms of the 1950s, often with curved “hugging” backs and tapered legs and usually displayed in pairs. They come in a full spectrum of colours in man-made textiles, bouclé, velvet,

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 45

living & home

Items for sale include Danish credenzas, cocktail chairs and anything in between.

wools, sometimes with contrasting colours on the front and back, sometimes with mid-century modern patterns. They were always playful but rarely what we now would call kitsch. They were a bright, bold and exciting way to introduce the new design aesthetic to the households of Europe and the US in the 1950s. They are one-of-a-kind vintage pieces that suit today’s consumers.

What vintage pieces would you like to find?

We are still trying to get an affordable dental cabinet, which my colleague adores.

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Why are some items marked “not for sale”?

There are some mid-century dolls that I collect.

I also have a Chinese sign that reads, ‘無憂⽶, which means “don’t have to worry about rice”.

It’s kind of a good luck slogan to us. I salvaged the sign from an abolished building.

Do you search for specific items for customers?

Yes, we have contacts in Europe, North America and Japan. We buy directly from dealers and go to their warehouses to pick our items.

What are your favourite items?

One of our new favourites is the 50s anatomical model. And mid-century pieces by Kem Weber (1889-1963) – a furniture and industrial designer, architect, art director and teacher who created iconic industrial designs known as Streamline Moderne.

Have you noticed changes in what is popular?

Industrial furniture is all the rage right now. The next trend will be one-of-a-kind re-purposed vintage industrial pieces. Hopefully, the trend

living & home

The next trend will be one-of-a-kind, re-purposed, vintage industrial pieces for cheap knock-offs from China and India will go away.

Is it hard to find stock?

It’s not hard, but it’s a challenge to find things that are affordable…

What items are the most popular?

1930s steamer trunks usually sell out quickly.

Mid-century plastic chairs are least popular.

Best buys?

I’d say Danish credenzas and cabinets are the best buys, simply because their craftsmanship and attention to detail is impeccable.

Open weekends noon-7pm and weekdays by appointment only. 16/F Harbour Industrial Centre, 10 Lee Hing Street, Ap Lei Chau, www.mooishop.com.hk.

Mooishop specialises in vintage chairs.

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 47

health & beauty

Make sure you put your best feet forward for summer.

Happy feet It’s nearly sandal season. Podiatrist Lisa Milliner has top tips for toes, writes Carolynne Dear.

Pedicures Pedicures are for basic skin issues such as smoothing skin, nail shaping and polishing.

All instruments should be one-use only or “autoclaved” (cleaned in high temperature, pressure steam sterilisers) to reduce fungal infections, viruses and infections. If you’re a mani-pedi regular, consider buying your own instruments from your podiatrist or Fanda has great German-made instruments.

As a general rule, manicurists should not file the surface of the nail, cut cuticles or use razors or blades to cut away dead skin. Thick callous, corns and cracked heels should be treated by a trained podiatrist using properly sterilised equipment.

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Going barefoot is important for balance and strengthening but watch what you’re walking on And beware shellac or gel nail polishes, which can damage the surface of the nails.

Because they are occlusive, they also increase the risk of fungal infections, especially in Hong Kong’s hot and humid climate. Give your nails a break between polishes and during winter.

At home, soak your feet and use a pedipaddle (sandpaper paddle) or pumice to

smooth away dead skin, followed by a foot cream. For more stubborn dead skin, use a daily foot cream with urea or lactic acid as an active ingredient.

Shoes Make sure shoes are fitted correctly for length and width. Women’s shoes are notorious for being too narrow at the toes, which can encourage bunions and corns.

Whipping off socks and shoes and going barefoot is important for balance and strengthening, but watch what you’re walking on. Grass is the ideal surface but you should avoid going barefoot on hard surfaces such as concrete or tiles.

peep toes

Birkenstock-style shoes are ideal. They provide great support and are cool in the heat Save flip-flops for the pool or beach as they offer no support and encourage flat feet. Ballet flats also offer little support and cause the toes to “claw”, which can result in corns and toe deformities.

I call Fit Flops a “compromise shoe” – they make great house shoes and are better than flip-flops as they provide some support to the foot. Choose a pair without platform soles to avoid ankle sprains.

Birkenstock-style shoes are ideal, especially if you have flat feet. They’re easy to get on and off, provide great support and are cool in the heat. Otherwise, trainers are one of the best forms of footwear, providing both support and cushioning.

Ladies, stick to heels of an inch or less.

Higher heels increase pressure on the ball of the foot and can cause contracture of the calf muscles, leading to lower back pain and even sciatica.

Warts and all Verrucae (plantar warts on the soles of the feet) are notoriously difficult to treat. There are lots of therapies, including acid, freezing, over-thecounter applications and various old wives’ tales. No treatment is completely effective, most are 70-80 per cent effective. Verrucae usually disappear on their own within two years.

They are highly contagious so ensure you cover them with heavy-duty tape at the pool or in public showers.

Sports injuries Foot injuries often arise from wearing incorrect trainers and can be treated with orthotics or insoles. However, it’s best to get a thorough biomechanical assessment from a podiatrist to find out what’s going wrong.

The most common complaints are ankle sprains, shin splints and plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs from the heel to the toes under the arch of the foot. When inflamed, it can cause a bruise-like feeling under the heel. Flat feet, an increase in activity, weightgain, or simply the wrong type of footwear are common triggers. Get it checked out by a professional.

Lisa Milliner works at OT&P in Razor Hill, 2719 6366, podiatry@otandp.com.

For a full list of registered podiatrists in Hong Kong, visit www.ipahk.com.

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 49

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travel

good morning, vietnam

The Angsana Lang Co offers contemporary family suites, delicious Vietnamese cuisine and a huge kids’ club.

Nam calling

For a fun family holiday, Vietnam’s Lang Co is hard to beat, writes Cherrie Yu.

On Vietnam’s South Central coast, Lang Co is fast turning into a hotspot for family holidays.

Just two hours’ flight from Hong Kong, it has miles of golden sand, blue sea and surf within striking distance of Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue. Once known as China Beach, the area has been discovered by the hotel industry and luxury resorts are moving in.

When to go Warm year round, the peak season to visit is the dry season, February to May, before the crowds descend during the heat of June to August.

Avoid the wet season, when the rain thunders down from September to November.

Where to stay We stayed at Angsana Lang Co, a contemporary new resort with an excellent kids’ programme, nestled between Truong Son Mountain and a 3km beach. It shares the sand only with its sister resort, Banyan Tree Lang Co,

and the 18-hole Laguna Lang Co golf course designed by Sir Nick Faldo, both of which Angsana guests are welcome to use.

The resort’s family focus kicks in even before you arrive, with wi-fi in the car ideal for the two-hour airport shuttle and a driver happy to stop en route to let you take photos of the mountains or stroll through the charming old towns and fishing villages.

The hotel has 229 rooms and suites, including two-bedroom family lofts and suites, overlooking a 300m free-form pool that snakes river-like through the grounds. Go for one of the ground-floor suites, each with a private pool, deck and direct access to the beach. Other facilities include a huge kids’ club, beach club, gymnasium, water sports centre and an awardwinning spa.

Things to do About half an hour’s drive from the nearest village, Lang Co is a peaceful place to kick back

Children can get busy at the kids’ club with a host of indoor and outdoor toys and activities and enjoy sun, sand and sea. There’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained, however.

Children can get busy at the kids’ club, with a host of indoor and outdoor toys and activities, including arts and crafts, swimming lessons, sandcastle-building, canal trips and more. The beach club also has inflatables, board games and even iPads and ebook readers available.

With the little ones happily occupied, parents can join the morning yoga sessions, bliss out with a spa treatment, play a round of golf, or go quad biking along the beach. A huge range of watersports includes surfing,

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 51

travel windsurfing, jetskis and banana boats. Or join the cultural workshops and learn to make spring rolls, lanterns or paper lotuses.

Explore beyond the resort, with active trips such as cycling up the famed Hai Van Pass or trekking on Marble Mountain, as well as visits to local markets and fishing villages. The resort also organises trips further afield. Make a day of it with a trip to the three nearby Unesco World Heritage sites: the charming old city of Hoi An with its picturesque riverfront and multitude of tailors, the palaces and shrines of the imperial city of Hue and the historic ruins and Hindu temples of the Cham dynasty capital, My Son. Hoi An is particularly beautiful during the monthly lantern festival, on the 14th day of each lunar month, when all the electric lights are switched off and the old city is lit only by candles. Take a rickshaw ride, watch the world go by from the cafés, visit a tailor. And don’t miss out on a nightly river cruise. Drifting downstream among thousands of flickering, floating lanterns is a unique experience and one of the loveliest spectacles in Asia.

Guests can travel from the Angsana to the Banyan Tree Lang Co via a private canal.

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

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

Learn more at www.amnesty.org.hk.

© Anna Kari

52 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

good morning, vietnam

FREE

Places to eat Between Angsana and Banyan Tree, guests can choose from eight restaurants at the resort offering a wide range of food, including Vietnamese, Thai and Italian cuisine as well as international dishes. Restaurants in Hoi An offer cheap and tasty food such as cao lau (rice noodles with pork, herbs and veggies), “white roses” shrimp dumplings and wonton noodles.

Southside Magazine is giving away a two night stay for two persons at the luxury resort Angsana Lang Co’s Deluxe Room, worth $3,230.

To enter, like our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SouthsideMagazineHK), tag three friends in the comment box, and send us a private message with your name, email and phone number.

The nitty gritty Visitors to Vietnam are required to have a visa, which can be organised beforehand through the Vietnamese Consulate in Hong Kong.

Alternatively, apply online for an Approval Letter, which will be emailed to you, then get a visa on arrival. For details, visit www.vnconsulhongkong.gov.vn. Available until March 31, the Absolute Angsana Lang Co package starts at $1,783 a night for two people sharing (with a minimum stay of two nights), including unlimited spa and golf, daily breakfast for two, airport transfers, trips to Hoi An and Hue, and a 6pm checkout.

For details, visit www.angsana.com.

Learn to make spring rolls and experience Hoi An’s lantern festival.

WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK | 53

pets Stay social, stay healthy

For happy puppies, balance socialising and vaccines, Sally Andersen says.

With so many unvaccinated pet dogs and strays wandering the streets in Hong Kong, adopters are faced with a real dilemma about introducing puppies to the sights and sounds of everyday life outside the home.

Socialisation is essential for puppies to grow into well-balanced and happy adults.

Puppies have two critical “fear periods” during their development: at two to three months old and as “teenagers”, or doglets as I call them, at six months to a year. Puppies that are not exposed to the day-to-day normality of modern life, which includes meeting strangers and unknown dogs, risk becoming fearful and aggressive later.

While owners should be careful not to expose an unvaccinated puppy to dog parks or the street owing to the risk of catching diseases such as parvovirus or distemper, nor should it be so isolated that it is so terrified of

54 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

Socialisation is essential for puppies to grow into well-balanced adults the noise and unfamiliar surroundings that all it wants to do is hide.

To get a puppy used to going out, hearing traffic and seeing lots of people, it can be carried around to become familiar with everything that will probably be part of its daily adult life. Alternatively, meet up with friends with fully vaccinated dogs or puppies in the same situation, and let them play together. This allows the puppy to learn to interact with other dogs, which is important if you are going to be welcomed by other dog owners into a “walking class”.

puppy love

hong kong creatures Wild boar aka Sus scrofa

Depending on the age of the puppy when it is adopted, it will need two or three vaccinations against the five most common infectious diseases. However, the regular five-in-one vaccine doesn’t protect against the deadly strains of leptospirosis, which have become fairly common. Additional vaccines can be given for this particularly horrible disease.

And consider vaccinating against bordatella, or kennel cough, which is not regularly given unless you are going to board your dog and it’s a condition of the kennels.

Keeping your dog naturally healthy through good, high-quality food and lots of exercise is the best way to avoid illness, just as it is for humans.

Sally Andersen is the founder of Hong Kong Dog Rescue, a charity that rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes unwanted or abandoned dogs.

The wild boar, or Eurasian wild pig, is the largest native terrestrial mammal in Hong Kong. The adult’s body is covered in greyblack hair and the male has long tusks used for fighting. Young boars have light stripes on the torso, which fade within six months and achieve adult colouration at a year old.

Wild boars are common across Hong Kong and have one of the widest ranges in the world, covering Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and many oceanic islands. They are omnivores, using their good sense of smell to sniff out food, such as roots, insects and earthworms.

As the ancestor of most domestic pig breeds, wild boars have a long history of association with humans, but they are wary of human contact and may attack if threatened.

There have been incidents of wild boars intruding into villages for crops and food,

causing damage and disturbing villagers.

Preventative measures include installing sturdy fences and even infrared auto-trigger lighting to protect crops and deter the wild boars.

Where to find them in Hong Kong: rural areas including Sai Kung, Tai Lam Chung and Sha Tau Kok. Steffi Yuen

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marketplace

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marketplace

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marketplace

distribution

where to find us

Southside Magazine continues to extend its reach in our community, here is the latest in distribution news.

Pok Fu Lam

- Kellett School - Kennedy School - Mount Davis - Safari Kid - The Merton - Sunshine House Chi Fu - Sunshine House Pokfulam - Woodland Pokfulam Pre-School

Cyberport

- Baguio Villas - Bel-Air Clubhouse - Cyberport Arcade - Delaney’s - Indigo Kids - Indigo Living - International (Park N Shop) - Le Meridien Hotel Cyberport - Scenic Villas - Starbucks - Strive Fitness - Thaima-V

Larvotto

Due to popular demand, we’ve increased distribution to Larvotto by 30%. This marine-themed luxury residential complex offers unmatched waterfront views and is only 5 minutes from upscale shopping at Horizon Plaza.

Southside Magazine can be found at the Larvotto clubhouse and on the coffee tables of many of its residents.

Ap Lei Chau

- Bumps to Babes - Chapin House - Everything Under The Sun - Indigo - Indigo Kids - Indigo Outlet - Larvotto - Little Picasso Studio - Mothercare - Okooko - Pacific Gourmet - Tequila Kola - Rimba Rhyme - Shambala Cafe - Toof Contemporary - TREE

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Aberdeen

- Aberdeen Marina Club - Brain Child - Canadian International School of Hong Kong - Colour My World - Elite PT Studio - Flex Studio - GCX - Golden Goose Gourmet - MUM - One Island South - Ovolo Southside - Park N Shop - Sift Patisserie - South Island School - The Mirth - Woodland Harbourside Pre-School

The Peak

- Cafe Deco The Peak - Delifrance - Glenealy School - Haagen-Dazs - International (Park N Shop) - Pho Yummee - Starbucks - Sunshine House The Peak - The Peak Lookout Café - Woodland Pre-School The Peak

Manhattan Tower

This exclusive residential building, tucked away in a lush country park setting, houses some of the most stunning apartments on the Southside.

All 40 units are 2,400 square feet with fully fitted kitchens and bathrooms, teak floors and best of all, large balconies to soak up the breathtaking views of Deep Water Bay and the South China Sea. Southside Magazine is now conveniently placed in the Manhattan Tower reception.

Stanley

- Biva - The Boathouse Deep Water Bay - Cafe Groucho’s - O Thai Restaurant and Beach Bar - Chez Patrick - Hong Kong Country Club - Cheers Real Estate Limited - Park N Shop - The Chocolate Room - Victoria Recreation Club - Classified - Core Fitness - Lucy’s on the Front - Mayarya - Mijas - Pacific Pets - Pickled Pelican Pok Fu Lam - Paisono’s Pizzeria Chi Fu The Peak Parkview - Pizza Club Tai Tam - Pizza Express Cyberport Shouson Hill - Print House Big Wave Bay Aberdeen - Ricacorp Properties Bel-Air Deep Water Bay - Saigon in Stanley - Smuggler’s Inn - Spiaggia Repulse Bay Red Hill Ap Lei Chau Wong Chuk Hang - Stan Cafe - Stanley Cave The Manhattan - Stanley Main Street Bar & Cafe Shek O Chung Hom Kok - Stanley Veterinary Centre One Island - Starbucks - Taste Supermarket South - Vern’s Beach Bar Located in Stanley the elegant surrounding of Wong Chuk Hang, this highly prestigious office building with spacious design offers a fresh new world of unlimited potential for work, life and innovation. One Island South is ideally located with inspiring sea views of Deep Water Bay and lush greenery of Shouson Hill. Employees at One Island South can now find Southside Magazine located in the lobby.

Sheung Wan & Central

- Epic MMA - Escapade Sports - ITS Educational Services - Pets Central - Seasons Fitness - Sense of Touch - Starlit Art Space - Wynd Co-Working Space

Tai Tam / Shek O

Repulse Bay

- Anastassia’s Art House - Bayley & Jackson Dental Surgeons - Dymocks - HS Modern Art - Indigo - Manhattan Tower - Miles International School - Sense of Touch - Spices - The Club - The Lily - The Pulse - The Somerset - The Verandah - Woodland Beachside Pre-School - The Woodland Montessori Pre-School

- American Club - Black Sheep - Ben’s Back Beach Bar - Cococabana - Craigengower Cricket Club - Eton House International Pre-School - Fusion (Park'N Shop) - Happy Garden Restaurant - Hong Kong Cricket Club - Hong Kong International School - Hong Kong Parkview - Lulu Shop - The Manhattan - Ming’s Cafe - Pacific View Residential Clubhouse - PIPS Kindergarten - Redhill Clubhouse - Shining Stone Restaurant - Soma Spa - Sunshine House Tai Tam - Wellcome, Red Hill Plaza - Woodland Tai Tam Montessori Pre-School

To advertise, email: marketing@fastmedia.com.hk or call 2776 2772

southside secrets

battlements and bayonets

England’s 14th-century castles. It had stainedglass windows and an impressive collection of armour and weaponry, as well as a tennis court, swimming pool, greenhouse and lawns with dazzling views of Repulse Bay. Its opulence attracted Hong Kong’s social elite. The castle was renowned for its exceptional hospitality, sublime food and access to the most popular beach in Hong Kong.

But by 1940, the world was a vastly different place. Europe was in turmoil and the Japanese were on the march. Eu died before the Battle of Hong Kong and subsequent Japanese occupation, so he didn’t witness the abuse of his beloved Eucliffe in 1941.

According to Tony Banham’s book, Not the Slightest Chance, the Japanese executed prisoners of war there, binding their hands and lining them up along the cliff edge.

The ghost of Eucliffe Mikael Levin discovers the truth behind Repulse Bay’s spooky demolished castle.

Eucliffe was an eccentric, rambling, stone-built castle built in the 1930s that loomed over the western end of Repulse Bay. Demolished in the 1980s, the legacy of this once-revered house is shrouded in mystery and obfuscated by hearsay.

It was the home of multi-millionaire businessman Eu Tong Sen, a 19th-century Penang-born tin and rubber tycoon who moved to Hong Kong in 1928 and diversified into traditional Chinese medicine (there’s still a branch of his company, Eu Yan Sang, in Sheung Wan) and banking.

Rumour has it that the house grew so large because of a prophecy Eu once received from a fortune-teller who warned he would die if he did not keep building. However, with five wives, at least 34 children and an unknown number of concubines, there is a theory that Eu wanted to leave enough assets to keep family discord at bay. His precautions didn’t work. Eu survived several heart attacks before suffering a fatal cardiac arrest in 1941. After his death, the

lawsuits flew; the last was settled only in 1996.

Eu had three homes in Hong Kong: Eucliffe, Euston in Bonham Road – another crenellated castle – and Sirmio on Ting Kok Road, near Tai Po, which resembled a fairy-tale German schloss. All three were demolished in the 1980s, but in their heyday they were as colourful as their owner.

With its towers, crenellations and battlements, Eucliffe was built in homage to

What is your Southside secret? Tell us by voting in our Readers’ Choice Awards. Vote now at www.southside.hk.

64 | WWW.SOUTHSIDE.HK

A fortune-teller warned Eu he would die if he did not keep building “We knew that we were going to be shot because on top of the bank were pools of blood and at the bottom of the cliff there were dozens of bodies,” stated Company Sergeant Major Hamlon of the Royal Rifles at the post-war War Crimes Trial. “Then a firing squad came forward and we were all shot. Owing to the fact that I turned my head to the left as I was being fired at, the bullet passed through my neck and came out of my right cheek. I did not lose consciousness and the force of the bullet hitting me knocked me free from the others and I rolled down the cliff.”

Banham records that Hamlon lay at the foot of the cliff all day before crawling into a cave for shelter. Later 54 bodies were found, shot, bayoneted or decapitated.

Eucliffe fell into disrepair, shunned as a place of death and misery, its antebellum reputation supplanted by wartime atrocities.

Its sole use during this period was as a stereotypical mise-en-scène in television and film productions calling for derelict mansions.

After it was demolished in the early 1980s, the prime real estate was portioned off to property developers. Today it is an area of expensive low-rise apartments.

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