Expat Parent Magazine May 2015

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Hong Kong Edition May 2015

Plus: Junk-trip guide • Kung-fu classes • Mother’s Day ideas • Hiking Tai Tam

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Contents What’s on

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4 Editor’s Letter Taking a breather.

6 Calendar Happening in May. 10 News Need to know.

14 Must haves Mother’s Day gifts that mum will cherish.

16 Baby Pak Choi Sarah Fung makes her parenting vows.

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Family

18 Meet the parents Same-sex couples with kids.

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22 Feature Junk season sorted.

Education

28 Open day Inside the Discovery Mind Primary School.

32 Principal’s office Quizzing DMPS principal Sarah McCormack.

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Contents Activities

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36 After school Put ’em up... martial arts for little fighters.

40 Me and my hobby On being Kurt in The Sound of Music.

Food

42 In season Buns in the oven (and in your tummy).

44 Table for four French food en famille.

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Adventures 48 The home front Living with asthma.

50 Big day out Walking the waterworks in Tai Tam.

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54 Travel Five world festivals.

Resources

58 Money & Me With Spacebox co-founder Lewis Cerne.

64 The bald truths of fatherhood Simon Parry updates his FB DP.

Spotted Expat Parent spotted at the Butchers Club’s Southside Market Long Lunch.

Have you seen the magazine around town?

Share your photos with us on social media: #expatparenthk @ExpatParentHK

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Editor’s letter Editorial

Sales & Marketing

editorial@fastmedia.com.hk

ads@fastmedia.com.hk

Editor Adele Brunner

Head of Sales & Marketing Karman So

Senior Consultant Editor Jane Steer

Business Development Manager Tristan Watkins

Managing Editor Hannah Grogan

Sales Manager Oliver Simons

Editorial Assistant Cherrie Yu

Sales & Marketing Executive Alastair Grigg

Staff Writer Callum Wiggins

Sales & Marketing Executive John Lee

Acting Digital Editor Annie Wong

Sales & Marketing Executive Sara Tomovic

Design

design@fastmedia.com.hk Art Director Kelvin Lau Graphic Design Setareh Parvin

Accounts Manager Connie Lam connie@fastmedia.com.hk

Publisher Tom Hilditch tom@fastmedia.com.hk

Graphic Design Evy Cheung

Contributors Simon Parry Sarah Fung Carolynne Dear Kristen Tadrous

Published by Fast Media Ltd LG1 Kai Wong Commercial Building, 222 Queens Road Central, Hong Kong

Contact us Admin: 3568 3722 Editorial: 2776 2773 Advertising: 2776 2772

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

www.fastmedia .com . h k Expat Parent is published by Fast Media Limited. 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. Expat Parent 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 publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Expatparenthk

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I

’ve been thinking about what to say about May and I’ve realised it is wonderfully, gloriously devoid of major events. February was all about Lunar New Year, March was the rugby sevens, April was Easter, school holidays and chocolate, but May… nothing. I’m sure it will fill up with all sorts of children’s activities and mind-boggling logistics to work out (Me? Social life?). But right now it feels like the calm before the storm of June and the end of the school year.

May also heralds the arrival of the hot weather and junk-trip season, Hong Kong’s quintessential summer outing. Get lucky with a clear, sunny day and there’s nothing like being out on the water, cocktail in hand, friends to chat to and children gainfully occupied with endless swimming, inventive beach games and leaping off the top deck, not a screen in sight. We have compiled the definitive guide to junk tripping – the do’s and don’ts, boat rental, where to go for lunch if you can’t be bothered to make your own – just bring a healthy appetite for some nautical fun in the sun.

We also check out some family-friendly restaurants serving French cuisine, festivals around the globe plus all sorts of other articles to excite, interest and hopefully inspire you to get out and about.

Expat Parent turns one this month. Like most babies, the first year brought a few teething problems but we think we’ve evolved quite successfully and are up and running. Let’s hope we don’t hit the Terrible Twos!

Did I say there was nothing doing in May? I apologise. It’s Mother’s Day on May 10. Mums, you’re all doing a fantastic job.

Give yourself a pat on the back, relax and enjoy the calm before the onslaught of June.

Registration No: No: 591840 591840 Registration

Early Intervention Early Intervention Programme Programme

Children Children First First

Age 3 – 5 years Class starts 3 August, 2015.

Application Deadline 6 June, 2015.

Bebegarten Education Centre Unit 301-305, Level 3, One Island South 2 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong +852 3487 2255 www.bebegarten.com

The best possible start.

Be inspired.

Our unique programme allows each child with special needs to reach their fullest potential.

We provide intensive and individualised support to children and families who would benefit from frequent interdisciplinary therapies in educational, psychological, language and occupational areas.

Our children can build solid developmental foundations and increase their ability to integrate in future social and educational environments.

In partnership with

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What’s on?

MAY 1-10 Jekyll & Hyde The horror classic by Robert Louis Stevenson, performed by the Chung Ying Theatre. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai.

Tickets $260-$420 from www.hkticketing. com, 3128 8288.

MAY 1-2 Katy Perry Prismatic World Tour Hear her roar. Cotai Arena, The Venetian, Macau. Tickets $380-$1,680 from www.cotaiticketing.com.

MAY 15-JUN 21 The Sound of Music A few of your favourite things, direct from the West End. Be on the lookout for Hong Kong kids in the cast. Lyric Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $395-$995 at www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

MAY 3 Sai Kung Sunday Market

UNTIL MAY 9 Mega Ice Hockey 5s

MAY 1 Labour Day

Youth and adult ice-hockey tournament.

L10, Ice Rink, Mega Box, Kowloon Bay, www.megaice.com.hk.

Put your feet up, it’s a public holiday.

MAY 1-JUN 30 Le French May Ooh la la! The annual celebration of French arts, opera, music, theatre and more, www.frenchmay.com.

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The monthly indoor farmers’ and craft market that champions all things local.

11am-5pm. Hong Kong Academy, Wai Man Road, Sai Kung, www.saikungmarkets.com.

MAY 6-10 Showstopper! The Improvised Musical Top-class musical comedy that changes every night. Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $295-$595 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

MAY 5 World Asthma Day Check out our feature on p.48.

MAY 9,10 The Fantastical Story Factory Fun improvised musical adventure for children, based on ideas shouted out by the audience. Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai.

Tickets $195-$435 from www.hkticketing. com, 3128 8288.

MAY 10 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.

MAY 22 - 26 Cheung Chau Bun Festival One of Hong Kong’s most unusual, noisy and colourful festivals involves scrambling up Bun Towers, Chinese opera, lion and unicorn dances and a parade on May 25, with small children balanced on parasols and other unlikely objects. Pak Tai Temple, Cheung Chau, www.cheungchau.org.

MAY 10 Mother’s Day Mums, we salute you. (See p.14 for gift ideas.)

MAY 17 Mother Earth Groove Family beach party with live music, kids’ games and fundraising for Lantau environmental charity Ark Eden. Entry $100.

2pm-6pm, Cheung Sha Lower Beach, Lantau, 9861 6657.

MAY 10, 31 Splash ’n’ Dash Aquathons Southside swimming and running races for kids and adults. Entry $200-$500 at www.revolution-asia.com.

MAY 23 Stanley Dragon Boat Warm-Up Races Get into the spirit at the 250m preraces, 8am-5pm. Stanley Main Beach, www.dragonboat.org.hk, 2813 0564 | 2813 2586.

MAY 22-24 Affordable Art Fair Showcasing young, emerging and recognised artists from all over the globe, plus a childen’s art studio, Art After Dark evening (6pm-10pm, Fri 22), talks and workshops, www.affordableartfair.com.

Tickets $150 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

MAY 23-25 HKFC International Soccer Sevens See the soccer stars of tomorrow – and yesterday – play for Kitchee, Atletico Madrid, Aston Villa and more. Hong Kong Football Club, Happy Valley, www.hksoccersevens. com. Tickets $160-$300 from www.cityline. com, 2111 5333, and Tom Lee Music.

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MAY 25 Buddha’s Birthday

MAY 27- JUN 11 Asia Week Hong Kong

Public holiday.

A new showcase for Asian art with exhibitions, lectures, auctions and special events at venues across Hong Kong, www.asiaweekhk.com.

MAY 26-JUN 21 The Faust Festival Hong Kong’s junior performers take to the stage in a series of shows put on by Faust International Youth Theatre. McAulay Studio, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. Tickets $80-$120 from 2111 5999, www.urbtix.hk.

MAY 29-31 The Incredible Book Eating Boy Musical fun and a cracking story for children aged three and up. Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $195-$435 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

MAY 30 Hidden Truffles Pop-Up Bazaar Great shopping with more than 35 vendors, plus entertainment for children and food.

11am-6.30pm, The Space, 210 Hollywood Road, www.hiddentruffles.com.

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MAY 30, JUN 6 Summer Garage Sale Shop for new and interesting items as well as pre-loved goodies at bargain prices at this incredibly popular secondhand sale. Tables are going fast. LG3 Car Park, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clearwater Bay, 9045 5942, gujean@ust.hk.

Book now

JUL 22 Blur Live in Hong Kong Britpop lives. Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, Tickets $480-$1,080 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

SEP 23 Robbie Williams Live in Hong Kong JUN 13-JUL 26 Beauty and the Beast

Let him entertain you. AsiaWorld-Arena, Lantau. Tickets $880-$1,480 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

A tale as old as time... re-told with original Disney music. The Venetian Theatre, Macao $280-$680 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

JUN 5-7 The Wind in the Willows Mole, Badger and Mr Toad come to life in a new production by Britain’s Talking Scarlet. Drama Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets $195-$435 at www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

SEP 25-OCT 11 Singin’ in the Rain What a glorious feeling. Lyric Theatre, HKAPA, Wan Chai. Tickets go on public sale on May 7 at www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

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news

All at sea The latest family adventure race to hit Hong Kong’s shores is Keen Paddle/Splash in Sai Kung.

The event involves teams of one adult and one child aged nine-15, some swimming and stand-up paddling (SUP).

The race starts with both teammates paddling 300 metres on one SUP, then the child slides off the board, swims 200 metres around a buoy and returns to the board to paddle back to the beach.

Don’t have your own SUP? Blue Sky Sports Club will provide boards for those who need them. Participants must be competent swimmers.

Saturday, June 13, 7am-10am. Sha Ha Beach, Sai Kung. Entry is $220 a team. Register at sksplashes@gmail.com or call Michelle at Basecamp, 9160 0504.

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Ladies of the dance Congratulations to Irish dance school Echoes of Erin, which represented Hong Kong at the European and World Irish Dancing championships and Feis 2015 in Germany last month. The group took part in a string of solo and team performances. Together the group of sprightly girls took home an impressive 150 awards, including second place in the World Dance Drama competition for the second year in a row. Well done, girls!

Echoes of Erin runs classes across Hong Kong. For details, visit www.echoesirishdance.com.

news

Childcare and maternity clinic for Aberdeen

Letters to the editor Special needs support for all After reading the April 2015 issue, I would like to share a few thoughts about special educational needs (SEN) in Hong Kong. SEN school places for English-speaking children are definitely insufficient, but the Chinese community is not as well served in this area as some people might think.

The government has cut the number of special schools and the so-called inclusive education in mainstream Chinese schools in Hong Kong is often not well planned or resourced. And if English- and Chinesespeaking families with SEN children are not provided with sufficient assistance by the government and society as a whole, the situation for families with low-income and

South Asian ethnic origins is even worse. I hope people of different linguistic, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds could (sometimes) work together to push the government to improve its overall SEN education policy.

Expat Parent reader Thumbs up I thought your April issue was outstanding, perhaps your best yet. I commend you on the articles by parents of children with special needs. We are also parents of a 15-year-old with special needs and there is often not much in magazines such as yours to which we can relate. This issue was an exception. Thank you for publishing it.

David Dickhudt

Maternity-focused healthcare centre The Round Clinic opens on May 4 in One Island South, Aberdeen. The centre hopes to provides a one-stop solution for fertility, maternity and child-related health services and treatments.

It will provide natural treatments, including osteopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture treatments, pre- and post-natal midwifery consultations, psychotherapy and sophrology.

12/F, One Island South, Suite 1227-28, 2 Heung Yip Road, Aberdeen, 2648 2612, www.roundclinic.com.

Urban wellness evening On May 12, local wellness group Mayya + Movement is teaming up with The Oriental Spa to create an “urban wellscape”. For one night only, the experience includes a workout, yoga and meditation, a carefully curated bento dinner and drinks, as well as a talk by international adventurer and activist Annabelle Bond. Expect a few extras thrown in and a raffle too. The evening is $1,650 per person. For reservations, please call The Oriental Spa at 2132 0011 or visit www.mandarinoriental.com/landmark/spa.

Jump for joy South Island School (SIS) has set a new Guinness World Record for the most people simultaneously doing jumping jacks.

The record-breaking event took place at the ESF secondary school’s campus in Shouson Hill on Tuesday, March 24 and was also a fundraiser for the International Care Ministries (ICM) and the Free to Dream Kindergarten in Bacolod, Philippines.

Of the 1,449 SIS students that participated, 1,364 successfully completed the required two minutes of simultaneous star jumps, and the school raised $80,000 for its nominated charities.

EtonHouse plans Tai Po kindergarten International kindergarten EtonHouse will open a new campus in Pak Shek Kok in Tai Po in the second half of this year. The new campus will feature bilingual classrooms and the school’s “Inquire Think Learn” programme. For those eager for a sneak peak, two open days are scheduled in June (from 9.30am-4pm). To attend, please RSVP at www.etonhouse.com.hk.

Paper trail Stationery addicts, and anyone stuck for a Mother’s Day gift, will be pleased to know niche brand kikki.K has opened its first shop in Hong Kong. Set up by Swedish-born Kristina “Kikki” Karlsson when she couldn’t find stationery she liked, the ranges of pens, paper, notebooks, homeware and organisational solutions are stylish, practical, inspirational and absolutely gorgeous. We defy you not to love them. Level 4, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, www.kikki-k.com.

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free stuff

WIN!

Monster Kid play kitchen Win a enchanting wooden play kitchen worth $990. Made in Germany by toy company Monster Kid (www.facebook.com/monsterkidhk), the childsized pink kitchen encourages imaginative play with 12 colourful wooden accessories.

Deadline: May 22.

Two martial-arts passes Learn self defence while improving your fitness at Epic MMA & Fitness (www.epicmma.com).

The Central martial-arts specialist is giving away two passes: a one-month Little Ninja child’s pass (worth $3,600), plus a one-week adult’s pass (worth $1,200). Deadline: May 15.

Coconut water package We’re giving away a 36-pack mixed-flavour box of Jax Coco Kidz coconut water. It will include six packs in all six flavours: original coconut, banana, chocolate, grape, calamansi and guyabano. Jax Coco Kidz (www.jaxcoco.com) is made with 100 percent pure coconut water with no artificial colours or flavourings.

Each mixed-flavour box of 36 retails at $318.

Deadline: May 11.

To enter, click the Giveaways tab on our website, www.expat-parent.com

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must have xoxo Blue Bouquet Silk Scarf $1,250 from Louella Odié, www.louellaodie.com.

Urban Rituelle fragrance diffuser $349 from Inside, 2/F, Prince's Building, Central, www.inside.com.hk.

Fowler jar candle $280 from Mirth, M/F 23 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen; 66 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, www.mirthhome.com

Just for mum

Put a smile on her face with these Mother’s Day gifts.

Bumble bee pouch $1,500 from Louella Odié, www.louellaodie.com.

Pomfret Bag $1,250 from Louella Odié.

Chinese dining set gift box

By Mariko Jesse for Faux, $980 from TREE, www.tree.com.hk.

Hong Kong charm bracelet $850 from G.O.D, www.god.com.hk.

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must have xoxo Fingerprint charm Handcrafted silver charms featuring your child's fingerprint.

From $700, Smallprint, www.smallprint.com.

Mother’s Day cards $31.85 (plus $2 postage) by Nocturnal Paper from www.etsy.com.

Tu Textile organic cotton cushions $695 from TREE, www.tree.com.hk.

Hong Kong word map $700 by Bold & Noble from Creative Designs Asia, www.creativedesignsasia.com.

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baby pak choi

I will never…

Sarah Fung breaks some parenting pledges.

When I was pregnant, I spent a lot of time thinking about what kind of mum I’d be. I set myself all sorts of ridiculous “I-will-nevers” that I went on to break almost immediately.

Looking back at those self-imposed rules that seemed so important at the time, they really didn’t matter at all. Five minutes of TV? A little bit of store-bought purée? Bringing baby into bed first thing in the morning for a cuddle with a sleepy mum? As far as I’m concerned, those moments of guilty rule-breaking are all part and parcel of being a parent.

I will never… allow my child to co-sleep Yes, I know. Experts say co-sleeping is dangerous and you should never do it. In the first few weeks, I was so paranoid about bed-sharing I would wake up in the night hallucinating that Baby Pak Choi was tangled up in the blankets. I can’t be the only one to have been so knackered that I brought my baby into bed for a cuddle just before dawn and accidentally drifted off? But safety first – which is why I’ve spent many a night teetering on six inches of mattress with my head on the night stand and Daddy Pak Choi banished to the spare room, leaving plenty of room for Baby Pak Choi to luxuriate on the rest of our queen-sized bed. You know those rockclimbers who pitch their tents on sheer cliff faces and sleep there? They ain’t got nothing on anxious co-sleeping mums.

I will never… feed my store-bought purée It is 100 per cent fact that store-bought purée is made entirely of corn syrup and shards of glass. So rather than feed this “junk” to your child, you spend hours making and freezing batches of baby food from scratch, only for

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feeding time to come around and for it to end up all over the high chair, on the floor, in your baby’s eyebrows, in your eyebrows –everywhere but in your baby’s mouth. After a few cycles of this I gave up and decided Child Protective Services probably has better things to do than investigate mothers who buy just-add-water baby cereal.

I will never… be a paranoid parent Is she getting enough solids? Why can’t she crawl yet? Does my baby even like me?

Thanks Doctor Google for turning us all into nervous wrecks. No matter how laid back you are, everyone has their moments of madness.

My own favourite anxiety-ridden internet search to date has to be, “Is a baby dolphin noise normal?”

I will never… let my house get taken over by children’s stuff.

Oh yes, my home will be a pristine oasis of Scandinavian good taste, with a tiny, discreet nook assigned to a few classic wooden toys. Dream on. My apartment is a brightly coloured Petri dish of board books, teddies and plastic junk that multiplies like bacteria. I may as well give up and lay down those hideous multicoloured interlocking foam tiles in the middle of my living room right now.

Writer and editor Sarah Fung is the firsttime mum to a baby girl. She blogs about parenthood at babypakchoi.tumblr.com, twitter @sarahefung.

I will never… let my child watch TV before the age of two.

That’s fine and dandy, until you’re home alone one weekend and need a shower and there’s no one to hold the baby for you. Thanks, Elmo, for distracting the Pak Choi long enough for me to wash and get dressed, which these days is about three minutes and 26 seconds.

I will never… allow my child anywhere near flashing electronic toys.

How I abhor those toys that flash and play irritating music all day and all night.

Someone gave Baby Pak Choi a toy telephone that sings and talks, and do you know what I do now? When the ridiculous “let’s phone our friends” song comes on, I drop whatever I’m doing, leap out in front of the Pak Choi and start dancing. I have officially gone mad.

I will never… judge other parents I was doing well with this one… until I joined the rabbit hole that is the Hong Kong Moms Facebook group.

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meet the parents

Modern families

Pictures by Laura Simonsen Photography

Callum Wiggins meets two same-sex couples raising children.

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meet the parents

Walter Jennings and Santo Rizzuto have a son, Ethan RizzutoJennings, 12.

We met on the dancefloor at the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney. There were more than 14,000 people at that party. Six months later, we had moved in together.

Over the years we spoke about adoption and eventually we were both ready to make that step. We were living in Michigan, USA, when we started the adoption process but we relocated to New York as it allowed both partners in same-sex couples to adopt. If we had stayed in Michigan only one of us could have been the legal parent.

Adoption is difficult in many countries and we’re disappointed with that because there are so many children who would benefit. We had Walter and Santo with their son, Ethan.

Every September 15 we celebrate “Gotcha” day, which is the day we adopted Ethan decided we wanted a girl and so we looked to adopt a child from China as so many of orphans there are baby girls.

We got a call on a Monday afternoon to tell us we had been matched with a baby boy in China and had 24 hours to pick a name. We had worked for two years on a good name for a girl and then suddenly we had 24 hours to pick a boy’s name. From the time of that phone call to the time Ethan was collected from China was only 10 days. Ethan was nine months old when we met him and in total the whole adoption process took about two years.

The first few days were a little strange as it’s not like we had gone through Ethan’s birth. He was very quiet and slept twice a day.

On top of that, he had been very sick. He had contracted giardia and whooping cough and was also teething.

It’s funny to think back on that whole journey as now we feel like any other parents raising a boy. Daily life consists of worrying

about his school schedule, sports practice, sleepovers and noticing him start to pay more attention to girls…

Ethan spent six to seven years living in Australia and we moved to Hong Kong as a family about three-and-a-half years ago. If you ask Ethan his national identity, he would probably say Australian. The first couple of months after moving to Hong Kong was a bit tough for him as he had all his friends back in Australia. However, he has adjusted well and he’s got some wonderful friends here. One of the things we love about Hong Kong is the exposure and worldliness he is gaining. He has friends from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds and that has helped him to fit in.

Being two gay men with an Asian child, it would be pretty hard for us not to talk about his adoption with him. Every September 15 we celebrate “Gotcha” day, which is the day we first met and adopted him, and we have friends and family over to celebrate. Some of his friends get a bit jealous that he has a birthday and a gotcha day, they ask their parents why can’t they be adopted!

We have spoken to him about going to visit Guangzhou, where he was born, but his reaction is that he doesn’t want or need to go.

He doesn’t have any curiosity at all. We’re not going to force him, but when he is ready, if he does ever express a wish to go, we are happy to do that.

We haven’t encountered any problems or discrimination being same-sex parents in Hong Kong. Although the Hong Kong government only tacitly acknowledges our relationship. Our marriage is not recognised in Hong Kong and so Santo can only stay in Hong Kong on a sixmonth tourist visa, which renews but does not allow him to work or do any kind of business.

It’s a very Hong Kong solution in that they’re not going to recognise your relationship but they’re not going to disrespect it either – you end up stuck in no-man’s land.

We have friends who have been together for less time than us, but because they are a man and a woman their marriage is recognised and the spouse gets full residency and working rights. We’ve been together 24 years and married for 12, but our marriage isn’t of the same status. That being said, coming to Hong Kong has been the most wonderful and welcoming experience we could have imagined. We would like to stay here permanently but nothing is ever set in stone.

However, for now, Hong Kong is home.

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meet the parents Patrick Henigan and John Hatton have a daughter, Julianne Hatton-Henigan, 10.

We have been together since 1992. We always talked about maybe having kids or adopting but nothing too seriously for the first few years. I think in the early 2000s, when we moved to the suburbs in Maplewood, New Jersey, we started to research it more.

We contacted Growing Generations, which is one of the biggest surrogacy and eggdonor agencies in the world. They helped us to decide on surrogacy. The organisation did a great job and we were matched with Julianne’s eventual surrogate, Patti. Very quickly a lunch was arranged where we met the potential surrogate without the staff from Growing Generations.

We clicked immediately in terms of our senses of humour and how we felt about bringing a baby into the world. From there we started the process of choosing an egg donor as Patti would be the gestational surrogate.

We were living in New Jersey and she was in California. The laws at the time meant the only place where this would be possible was

I don’t think we’ve had one instance where someone has blinked about the fact we are two dads raising Julianne California, which had the most progressive legal structure. We as intended parents and our surrogate signed contractual documents that released parental rights to us. Our names went directly onto the birth certificate.

Each time we travelled to California for the major medical appointments, we got to know Patti better and really bonded. We read and recorded stories and messages and she would play them every day to her belly. It was a big leap of faith and it was difficult at times to be so far away from our surrogate and child.

You have to have a lot of trust.

At the time, I was in a law firm and I could work in the LA office. Patti’s due date was October 14, 2004, so I flew out in late September. She went into labour early but the doctors delayed the birth to give John time to arrive. Luckily we were all present at the birth.

After the birth, as we were so close to Patti, we stayed with her for 48 hours in the hospital and at her home for three or four days. We flew back to the east coast when Julianne was

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John and Patrick with their daughter, Julianne.

about 10 days old.

The decision about how to inform Julianne about her birth story was made very early on.

By the time she went to preschool she knew how we came to be her dads and was able to articulate all these things about surrogacy to her classmates and anyone who would listen.

Maplewood was very diverse. In her classes there would usually be one or two other kids who had same-sex parents.

Coming to Hong Kong, things are certainly different. There aren’t as many same-sex parent families. We joined the Rainbow Families group, which has allowed us to meet lots of different couples with kids.

Same-sex parent families are much less visible in Hong Kong and it was a concern before we relocated. We wanted to make sure that we as a family would be comfortable living here. However, we’ve found people very welcoming. I don’t think we’ve had one instance where someone has blinked an eye about the fact that we are two dads raising Julianne. The friends we have met here feel very much like the friends we had back in the US. Our day-to-day lives are not affected by being same-sex parents, but we know the legal structure isn’t as supportive or welcoming to gay parents.

Morgan Stanley, where I work, has been

extremely supportive in helping us to relocate to Hong Kong and they helped us to secure visas and insurance. I know other couples in a similar situation have had a much harder time arranging these kind of matters. The only option available to a partner in a same-sex relationship is a special prolonged visitor visa, which automatically renews every six months.

It’s almost become a “gay” visa. Same-sex couples have to go through a few extra hoops in terms of visas and it was certainly more of a struggle than it would have been for a straight couple.

We joke that since becoming parents we’ve given up our gay card. All we do now is parent, family stuff, whether it’s with other same-sex parents or straight parents.

It can be a really powerful thing that people we meet in our day-to-day lives can attach us and our faces to the concept of gay parents. The topic of gay marriage or gay parents is way up there in the political sphere, but when people see the real thing, it becomes normal. In small ways, the more visible you are and just matter of fact about things then the more accepting that people become. We become the family, not just the “gay” family.

The reality is you have to get through the day; get school stuff ready, get her to the soccer game, put dinner on the table... The last thing we think of is being gay parents.

We see options.

As an IB World School, Hong Kong Academy challenges all students to reach their potential and prepares them for life in a dynamic and diverse world. Please visit Hong Kong Academy to learn about Secondary School options for:

• Coursework

• Graduation

• Financial Assistance

Admissions and Enrolment Manager Angela Reilly will be happy to answer any of your questions and arrange a tour of the school.

Email angela.reilly@hkacademy.edu.hk for more information.

learning, growing, understanding

w w w . h k a c a d e m y. e d u . h k expat-parent.com | 21

feature junk-trip guide

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feature south china morning coast

Your guide to getting out on the water. By Carolynne Dear.

There are two universally acknowledged truths about summer in Hong Kong: they are extremely hot and drivers stand virtually no chance of parking anywhere near a beach at the weekend. The solution? Hire a junk.

Probably the most fun you can have on a hot day, a junk trip combines lots of laughs, great food (and drink) and healthy activity for the children. Tech is forgotten and Minecraft left in your wake as the younger generation hurl themselves into the South China Sea and run riot with flotsam on the beach.

It’s also a great way to get out of the city and explore Hong Kong’s backyard, with a cruise through Sai Kung’s remote waterways, a seafood lunch on an island, or hanging with the “in” crowd on Southside’s worldrenowned beaches.

If a swim and a beer aren’t enough, junk companies now lay on all sorts of bells and whistles – floating bars, banana boats, wakeboarding, waterslides, action mats, or just good old free-flowing booze and a beanbag.

The small print for most junk rentals states you are responsible for the safety of yourself, your children and your property, from beach towels to a top-of-the-range GoPro. You’re also responsible for children on a banana or wakeboarding boat, so make sure lifejackets are zipped up.

Under Hong Kong law, all children aged 12 and under should wear a lifejacket while a vessel is underway. To avoid sizing issues, invest in your own. Good retailers include the Ship Shop (Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Kellett Island, Causeway Bay; open to nonmembers) and Harry Lo Co marine chandlers at Pak Sha Wan Pier, Sai Kung, and Island Wake (Shop 111, 1/F, Stanley Plaza, Stanley, and 19 Man Nin Street, Sai Kung). Wetsuits and water-shoes can be found in markets all over Hong Kong.

The number of passengers cannot exceed the licensed capacity of the boat, so don’t try and slide in “extras” on the day, even if you’re prepared to pay for them.

And take your litter home. Although the Hong Kong Government operates refuse collection on even the further-flung beaches, it is not good form to throw litter into the water or on the beaches. Take bin liners, bag it up and take it home. It’s not hard.

Children hurl themselves into the South China Sea and run riot on the beach Junk hire Hong Kong Yachting Party boat Jungle Jane was the envy of all sea-faring youngsters in Hong Kong last summer, as children and adults alike bounced down the waterslide and clambered over the inflatable obstacle course. It has been joined this year by Tarzan, complete with monstersized swimming platforms, state-of-the-art sound systems and beanbags for lounging.

Boats: As well as the party boats, Hong Kong Yachting hires out four traditional junks, six sailing boats, and six Western-style cruisers and speedboats.

Cost: From $8,000 for junks (30-40 people) and sailing boats (nine-18 people), from $19,800 for Jungle Jane (50 people) and from $25,000 for Tarzan (60 people). Food and drinks packages start at $350.

Extras: Waterslides and obstacle mats (Jungle Jane and Tarzan), sound systems.

Pickup: Central and Aberdeen are standard but other pick-up locations are possible.

Contact: 2526 0151, www.hongkongyachting.com.

Island Junks Flexibility is the name of the game with this well-established junk company, whether you want to self cater, stop for a land-based lunch, or pre-order a food and drinks on board. This summer, all drinks packages come with complimentary Prosecco. Onboard Thai massage is available for $1,500

Back to nature Sharks There aren’t any – well, there probably are, but sightings are rare and there hasn’t been an attack in Hong Kong waters for 20 years.

If you spot a shark, don’t jump in. And inform other passengers and boats in the area.

Jellyfish Jellyfish in Hong Kong waters can have painful stings, leaving raised red welts on the skin.

Remove the tentacle with gloved hands, tweezers or a stick and rinse the skin with vinegar for at least 30 seconds. (Contrary to popular belief, urine does not relieve the pain but makes it worse.) Shark nets are also effective against jellyfish, so if in doubt, head for a netted beach.

Coral There are an astonishing 84 species of hard coral in Hong Kong waters. Junk-trippers can visit a small reef off Bluff Island in Sai Kung, complete with sunken jeep for extra appeal.

The reef is marked by buoys (no anchoring) to the left side of the bay. Don’t forget your snorkel and treat it with care: no touching or taking coral souvenirs.

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feature junk-trip guide per masseuse. It also runs special roundtrips from Aberdeen to Stanley, with lunch at Lamma or Po Toi Island, for $570 a person.

Boats: Teak junks, capacity 50 people.

Pickup: Central, Aberdeen or Pak Sha Wan, Sai Kung.

Cost: Varies according to package; minimum charge from $4,900.

Extras: Sea kayaks, snorkels, iPod compatible sound systems, sunscreen.

Contact: 2877 5222, www.islandjunks.com.hk.

Jaspa’s Junks Happy days if you’re organising a Jaspa’s Junk: all you and your guests need to bring is a towel and leave the rest up to the crew.

This perennial favourite serves a winning package of free-flowing Sea Breeze cocktails, beer and wine (plus an icebox filled with soft drinks and water) and serves generous quantities of nibbles as you sail to your destination. After dropping anchor, staff keep swimmers topped up with drinks in plastic bottles, then it’s a barbecue lunch, and homemade pizza and brownies for the homeward stretch. It’s a no-brainer.

Boats: Six teak junks, 40 people.

Pickup: Causeway Bay or Pak Sha Wan, Sai Kung.

Cost: $700, $250 per child under 12, $150 per child under five. Minimum 14 adults, or $9,800.

Extras: Four-hour speedboat hire with banana boat, waterskiing or wakeboarding at $3,200, iPod-compatible sound systems.

Contact: 2792 6001, www.casteloconcepts.com.

watching (both for a small surcharge).

Boats: Teak junks and Western-style cruisers, with a capacity of 30 or 40 people.

Pickup: Central, Aberdeen, Tsim Sha Tsui, Stanley, with a $700 surcharge for Sai Kung.

Cost: $600 per person for Thai food (including drinks and boat), $750 for Western barbecue; half price for under 12s. Minimum 20 adults.

Contact: 6014 8460, www.kohthai.com.hk.

Lazy Days Offering the Nirvana of food packages, Lazy Days’ cruiser comes with floating loungers and inflatable drinks stations that are as much fun as they sound. The drinks’ package includes gin and tonic, Pimms and vodka,

A junk trip combines lots of laughs, great food (and drink) and healthy activity for the children

as well as the usual bubbly, wine and beer.

(Watch your bikini tops clambering onto that lounger, ladies – just saying.) Children are not forgotten, with a host of inflatables, noodles and snorkels for amphibious fun. There’s even a DVD player in the air-conditioned interior for the smalls. Rather brilliantly, they even supply towels. Look out for its Champagne and canapé harbour cruises and seafood dinner tours to Peng Chau and Lamma.

Boats: 60ft Western cruiser (32 people).

Pickup: Aberdeen, Central and Causeway Bay, with Sai Kung at additional charge.

Cost: From $890 per adult; $250 per child aged four-12 years; under-fours go free.

Extras: Bose sound system, inflatables, noodles, snorkels, towels and shower gel.

Contact: 3488 1534, www.lazydays.com.hk.

Michelangelo Be the envy of all you survey aboard the super-stylish Michelangelo, a meticulously restored 80ft luxury junk. All curved lines, sleek mahogany panelling and shiny brass, it features gorgeous teak sun decks with loungers (and we’re not talking waterproof mats on the deck, but proper sunbeds), cosy sofas in the chic lounge, a fully equipped

Jubilee Choose from a teak sailing junk, top-of-therange sleek white cruisers, huge ferries and a host of classic junks. Most boats come with an audio system and karaoke machine as well as an option to hire a speedboat with a banana and wakeboarding equipment.

Boats: Fleet of 45 boats.

Cost: Varies. $1,000 surcharge for trips to Tai Long Wan. Pickup: Aberdeen, Causeway Bay, Central, TST, Aberdeen, $500 additional charge for pick up and for drop off in Sai Kung.

Contact: 3555 5666, www.jubilee.com.hk.

Koh Thai Junks Spice up your next boat trip with yummy Thai snacks, curries and fruit platters on Koh Thai Junks. As well as beaches in Sai Kung, Clearwater Bay and Hong Kong Island, its boats will sail further afield to beautiful Tai Long Wan or even Tai O, Lantau, for dolphin-

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Fun in the sun involves a water slide and pontoon aboard Hong Kong Yachting’s Jungle Jane.

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feature junk-trip guide

galley, formal dining room, and multi-zone air conditioning. Up to 59 guests can party by day, its sumptuous cabins can sleep up to nine, or staff can arrange a formal dinner for up to 12.

Pickup: Anywhere (surcharge for Sai Kung).

Cost: From $24,000.

Contact: 6621 1691, www.luxuryjunk.com.hk.

Saffron Cruises With a large and varied fleet that includes Hong Kong’s only tall ship, The Bounty, Saffron Cruises can cater for any budget, party size (from six to 150) or event. It has teamed up with caterers Shamrock and The Dutch Cheese to create menus, but it’s just as happy to moor up at a seafood restaurant if you’d rather lunch on terra firma.

Boats: 29 boats including two junks, Westernstyle cruisers, sailing boats and a ferry.

Pickup: Aberdeen, Stanley, Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, North Point and Sai Kung (surcharge of $3,000). The Bounty also departs from Discovery Bay. Cost: From $8,000 for teak junk Saffron (30 people), from $42,000 for The Bounty (60 people).

Contact: 2857 1311, www.saffron-cruises.com.

Escape and explore with Kayak and Hike’s Geopark tours.

Junk food Pick up a picnic to eat onboard.

Chicken on the Run: Barbecue chicken and salads, 2537 4563, www.chickenontherun.com.

Delicious: Specialises in junk catering and will even organise the boat for you, 2559 0144, www.delicious-hk.com.

Gingers: Imaginative contemporary menus including DIY barbecue buffet and canapés, 2964 9160, www.gingers.com.hk.

Mr Bing: Beijing-style pancakes, jianbing, cooked fresh onboard, 2568 8248, www.mr-bing.com.

Pomegranate Kitchen: Eastern Mediterranean food fused with Asian flavours, 2580 0663, www.pomegranate.com.hk.

Shamrock Catering: Finger, party and full buffet menus, 2547 8155, shamrock.com.hk.

Wilfred Catering: Chinese buffet, 2870 0535, www.catering.com.hk.

Lunch on land Yau Ley, High Island, Sai Kung Laid-back Yau Ley with its fish farms, beach and piers is a firm favourite with Sai Kungers.

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Relax with a beer and Cantonese seafood – we recommend the steamed fish and curry crab – while the children plunge off the pier or play in the sand. If you’re not junking, the restaurant can organise a speedboat pickup from Sai Kung. Sha Kiu Tsui, High Island, 2791 1822.

Rainbow, Lamma Island The famous Rainbow is one of the most popular restaurants on the Sok Kwu Wan seafood strip, serving good black-pepper prawns. It runs its own ferry service between Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Cyberport, Aberdeen and Sok Kwu Wan. 24 First Street, Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island, 2982 8100.

Ming Kee Seafood, Po Toi Island This laid-back, beachside restaurant is just 30 minutes’ sail from Stanley and a favourite with children and adults. Not only does it serve some of the best black-pepper squid in Hong Kong, it also has a freezer full of Haagen-Dazs ice cream. It gets busy so don’t forget to book. Call 2849 7038.

Vikings Charter With a fleet of sleek pleasure cruisers and wooden junks, Vikings Charter offers all the usual junk options plus a good-value special weekday package (see below). It also offers speedboats for a variety of watersports.

Pickups: Aberdeen, Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui.

Cost: Prices vary, but there’s a mid-week special price of $5,200 for a 30-person junk sailing to Southside beaches or Lamma Island.

Contact: 2814 9899, www.vikingscharters.com.hk.

Wildkat Wildkat is a 36ft US-built catamaran that can run right up onto the beach and whisk up to 23 guests to the territory’s harder-to-reach beaches in less than an hour, including Tai Long Wan and the Sai Kung Geopark. Take your own lunch, or choose from one of three menus, including a beach barbecue on tables and chairs on the sand. It’s even offering a complimentary bottle of Champagne to all Expat Parent readers booking a charter in May. What could be nicer?

Pickups: Sai Kung and Pak Sha Wan piers, Po Toi O, Causeway Bay. Cost: From $8,500, food packages from $298.

Extras: Icebox, boogie boards, stand-up paddle boards, fishing gear.

Contact: info@wildkat.org, www.wildkat.org.

feature junk-trip guide

Aqua Luna sails from the harbour to Stanley every weekend.

Boat trips with a difference Kayak and Hike Led by Sai Kung-based geology enthusiast Paul Etherington, this action-packed day on the water starts with a speedboat pick-up from Sai Kung to Yau Ley where the kayaks are stored. First up is an easy paddle to Millionaire’s Beach. The second paddle to Bluff Island is longer and followed by a hike to the top of the island for stunning views.

There’s time to snorkel the coral, then it’s back to the speedboat to tour the Geopark.

The last paddle of the day is the toughest, around Bluff Island and through a sea arch before a boat-ride back to Yau Ley for a late lunch. Suitable for children from eight years old. 9300 5197, www.kayak-and-hike.com.

Container-port tour For a boat trip with a difference, take a tour of the container port – one of the largest and busiest in the world – with Hong Kong Yachting. From the port, the trip continues up the Rambler Channel, under the soaring Lantau bridges and on to Park Island for a wander through an abandoned fishing village. Fullday trip, $19,800 for boat hire,

with food and drinks packages from $498. 2526 0151, www.hongkongyachting.com.

Squid fishing Jubilee is running squid fishing tours in Sai Kung from now until October. It’s popular with children, especially as all the action happens after dark, adding to the excitement. At this time of year, Inner Port Shelter is dotted with small boats bobbing under huge floodlights, which attract the squid. And if the squid aren’t biting, Jubilee serves a full buffet on board and you are free to bring your own drinks.

Cuttlefish trips are also available.

3555 5550, mkt.JBL@jubilee.hk.

Aqua Luna If you fancy a few hours on the water but not the full junk experience, book a space aboard the Aqua Luna. Built by an 80-year-old local craftsman using traditional boat-building methods, the red-sailed Chinese junk departs Pier 9 in Central every weekend. Take in the dramatic vistas of Southside on the 90-minute journey to Blake Pier, Stanley. Return trip $350 ($210/child), one-way $230 ($150/child). 2116 8821, www.aqua.com.hk.

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open day new beginnings

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open day new beginnings

Discovery Mind Primary School The small Lantau school with a big heart. Words and pictures by Hannah Grogan.

From left: lion dancing in Mandarin; class sizes are small.

With just a handful of classes, it doesn’t take long to tour Discovery Mind Primary School’s (DMPS) Tung Chung campus, but that is part of its charm. This is a new international school at the beginning of its journey.

Discovery Mind started as a kindergarten in 1996, expanding to three early-years centres on Lantau, and opening its first primary campus in Discovery Bay in 2012. The Tung Chung campus opened a year later.

“The group expanded its early years offering to Tung Chung in 2008 with the creation of a kindergarten and play centre,” says founding principal Sarah McCormack.

“The early-years centres provide a muchneeded and sought-after educational offering to the predominantly expatriate demographic.

Yet given the difficulties families were experiencing in finding primary-school places, it was very apparent that what the community needed was a primary school. With much support from pupils, parents, PTA and the wider Lantau community, Discovery Mind Primary School was founded.”

DMPS now has more than 140 primaryschool students split between the Discovery

It was very apparent that what the community needed was a primary school

Bay (years 2-3) and Tung Chung (years 2-6) campuses. Year 1 is taught within the earlyyears centres.

The Tung Chung campus has six classrooms, a foyer that doubles as a library and school hall and uses nearby public fields and recreational facilities for sports. School sports days bring together students from both campuses, giving the whole school an opportunity to mingle.

DMPS teaches the British Primary and International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and has also developed its own Mandarin programme, with daily classes for all students.

One recent spring morning, the Year 6 students are lining up to practise a lion dance

expat-parent.com | 29

open day new beginnings

We can evolve and change to meet needs.

If we were a hotel, we would be boutique for their Mandarin unit and an upcoming performance for Unesco Cultural Day. Wearing full lion-dancing kit, and with a lionhead mask in tow, the class heads outdoors to a large tree-lined public square in front of the school. Students from all backgrounds perform a choreographed dance, a poem in Mandarin and there’s even some cartwheeling for good measure. They’re owning it.

Across the square, students from a younger class are involved in a “green thumbs” unit, using viewfinders to observe nature and drawing what they see through different perspectives.

Class sizes are small, varying from 15 to 22 children, and the teacher-to-student ratio is an impressive 1:11, which is reflected in the fees ($85,050 for the 2015-16 academic year).

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open day new beginnings There is a waitlist for lower primary classes and, right now, DMPS does not offer any form of debenture.

The school has been growing year-onyear and the current cohort is the first to enter Year 6. With no plans for a Discovery Mind secondary division, most children are moving onto Discovery Bay International School and Discovery College.

“Lantau is growing and developing, but the expatriate community is still transitory,” McCormack says. “We hope to develop our school in line with the growth in the area. With each year and each new family, our school develops and grows and the luxury of being a small school is that we can evolve and change to meet needs. If we were a hotel, we would be boutique.”

Discovery Mind Primary School, Shop A-D, G/F Seaview Crescent, 8 Tung Chung Waterfront Road, Tung Chung; Shop 102, 1/F, 92 Siena Avenue, Discovery Bay, pta.dmk@gmail.com, www.dmps.edu.hk.

As well as more conventional learning, children study outdoors as part of their “green thumbs” unit.

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principal’s office

Sarah McCormack Principal at Discovery Mind Primary School.

2012. The photograph of me and some of the children cutting the red tape is still on display in our library. As a founding principal, it doesn’t get any better than that.

Did you have a favourite teacher growing up?

My A-level English literature teacher – she was amazing and fostered my love of American literature.

As a child, what was the best advice you were given by a teacher?

Don’t give up.

What was your dream job as a child?

To be a florist. That might happen later when I have retired (perhaps).

What do you like most about Hong Kong?

Its mountains and beaches: I live in South Lantau and we are surrounded by such natural beauty.

Any tips for de-stressing?

No, I wish I had some. I am a glutton for punishment and work too hard. I am also doing a Masters in education so I have very little down time.

How long have you been a teacher?

13 years.

What are some of the challenges of being a principal?

The main one is time. I always run out and wish there were more hours in the day. This is also compounded by the fact that we have two campuses, one in Discovery Bay and one in Tung Chung, and sometimes I need to be in two places at once. I often joke to the children that I need a motorbike to get me between the two places.

What do you enjoy most about being a principal?

Without doubt, people. It’s such a pleasure to get to know our wonderful pupils and parents.

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How do you see the relationship between principal and student?

This has changed since I was school. I have an open and warm relationship with all my students. I know all their names and take time to greet them personally each day. Respect is key for me. It builds a strong school culture and makes school a positive experience for all. When our Year 6 children were learning the difference between the spellings of principal and principle, they suggested they could remember principal as being the role, as Mrs McCormack is their “pal”. I thought that was wonderful.

What has been the most memorable event of your career?

Opening our Discovery Bay campus in August

What talent would you most like to have?

To be able to draw. I have never moved beyond stick men, which is quite embarrassing when trying to teach.

What quality do you value most in people?

The courage to think differently.

What are your hobbies?

Hiking with my beautiful sons and husband, dinner with friends, and films.

What are the most important considerations when teaching children?

That no two children are the same. We are lucky at DMPS that our small class sizes enable us to get to know each child and what motivates them. Primary school is a critical time to ignite a love of learning and this is only possible when children feel understood, valued, supported and challenged.

expat-parent.com | 33

sponsored column

Surviving the admission process ITS Educational Services answers parents’ questions about school applications.

Offers for school places are usually made from February to April and many parents waiting to hear from their first-choice school face the dilemma of whether to pay a deposit for offers from their second or third choices.

Here are some typical questions we recently received from concerned parents.

My child passed her interview at two schools, but has been put on the waitlist.

What should I do?

Your child has a good chance of acceptance for spaces that become available before the new academic year starts or even mid-year.

You will also have the opportunity to re-apply for the following academic year. This is good because your child will be offered an interview next year owing to being waitlisted.

While the disappointment of your child being placed on a waitlist is hard to take, it is helpful to think of this as an opportunity to learn more

34 | expat-parent.com

about what school is the perfect fit for your child. An interim placement at another school is also a sound solution: attending a school with a similar curriculum and philosophy will improve your child’s chances of acceptance at your first-choice school next year.

How should I deal with the news that my child has not been offered a place at any of my preferred schools?

Firstly, make sure your child does not perceive any negative feelings as this may reduce his or her confidence the next time an interview comes around. Keep the disappointment and frustration between parents and discuss very little about the situation with your child. Make a new plan and consider other schools that you may not have considered before. The school that is the right fit is the one that ultimately chooses your child.

I missed some important deadlines this year. How should I prepare to prevent this happening again?

Contact your preferred schools and set alerts in your diary for application dates for the 2016 academic year. Apply on the first day, so you don’t have the urge to procrastinate.

Ensure copies of all the documentation you need for the application are in order and in separate folders for each school. Follow up with the admissions department to ensure the application is in order before the deadline.

ITS Educational Services offers numerous services to families who are looking for entrance to international schools. These range from school advice, school assessment preparation, intensive English courses for entry into mainstream schools and consultancy support for entrance to universities. For details, email anne.m@itseducation.asia.

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after school kung-fu fighting

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after school kung-fu fighting

Muay thai, judo and Brazilian ju-jitsu are some of the disciplines available at Epic MMA.

Kickin’ it Learn back-kicks, throwdowns and other self-defence moves at martial arts classes for kids. By Cherrie Yu.

Epic MMA Little ninjas kick up a storm at this 15,000 sq ft gym. Junior students are divided into two groups by age (five to seven years, and eight to 13 years) for classes taught by world champion instructors. As well as learning self-defence skills, students build confidence through a range of disciplines, including Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, muay thai and a movement programme similar to gymnastics. Courses start at $900 a month for eight 45-minute lessons, with certificates on completion. 1/F China Building, 29 Queen’s Road Central, 2525 2833, www.epicmma.com.

Flex The Hong Kong Tae Kwon Do Association runs children’s classes at Flex, issuing

certificates on completion of required practice hours. Students learn to kick, chop and punch on courses divided by age (three to six years and seven to 10 years) and held in the spacious, brightly lit studios. Courses are $2,200 for 11 one-hour sessions, with the next course starting May 6. Trial classes are available for $230. 3/F, One Island South, 2 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, 2813-2212, www.flexhk.com.

Heng Yue Yen Long Kwon Children learn kung fu and modern martial arts with instructors from around the world at sessions that include muscle-relaxing exercises, pattern drills, kicking, locking and elementary sparring practice. Classes are held at studios in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, divided by age into toddlers (aged three

Students learn to kick, chop and punch on courses divided by age

to five), children (six to 12 years) and teens (13-18 years). Family courses are available.

Prices start at $330 an hour, with four lessons for $1,100. 10/F, Morrison Plaza, 9 Morrison Hill Road, Wan Chai, 2511 8787, www.hyylkmartialarts.com.

Impakt There’s a range of classes available for children and teenagers at this fully equipped martial-arts training centre, which has a full-

expat-parent.com | 37

after school kung-fu fighting sized boxing ring, changing rooms and shower area. Karate is available for children aged five to 11, while teens aged 12-17 can choose from muay thai, Brazilian ju-jitsu, mixed martial arts and Kyokushin karate. Teen and junior unlimited packages cost $1,099, with drop-in classes from $230. Membership is $800 for children and teens. 2/F, Wing’s Building, 110-116 Queen’s Road Central, 2167 7218, www.impakt.hk.

Smooth moves at Pangea Aglin Fitness .

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Pangea Aglin Fitness Wing chun grandmaster Chu Shong-tin runs this martial arts school for adults and children.

Pangea Kids Kung Fu teaches practical self-defence moves to children in two age groups (aged three to six years and five to 11 years) and in the process develops their self-confidence, and improves their muscular balance and posture. Free trial lessons are available. Packages start at $988 a month for unlimited classes; each lesson is 50 minutes and classes are held five days a week. On Lan Centre, 11-15 On Lan Street, Central, 6140 8245, bookings@pangea.com.hk, www.pangea.com.hk.

after school kung-fu fighting

As well as learning selfdefence skills, students build confidence through a range of disciplines

Wing chun lessons at Wan Ka Leung.

Wan Ka Leung Practical wing chun lessons for children teach self-defence and build confidence, courage, awareness and a healthier body.

Lessons are taught in English and Chinese in courses of eight lessons that cost $750 a month, plus an initial membership fee of $480 (including a T-shirt). Classes are held on Saturdays and Sundays. Bring along two passport photos for enrollment. 1/F, Front, 456 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei, 5639 4452, www.wankamleung.com.

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me and my hobby show business

Musical youth Tommy Avery, 11, joins the cast as Kurt in The Sound of Music.

The French International School has been very supportive but all the rehearsals fall outside school hours. Sadly, I’ve had to drop many of my regular activities this term because I don’t have time to fit them in.

I haven’t had a chance to rehearse with the main cast yet. They arrive from London and South Africa the week before the production opens (May 15).

This is my first professional production, but the Faust shows were all performed at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in front of large audiences. The thought of being in a professional cast is quite nerveracking and I feel slightly nervous about performing in front of such a large audience, but I am also excited at the prospect.

There are 45 shows and I will perform in a third of them, so approximately 15 shows.

I am looking forward to taking part in a show produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the experience of working in a professional production.

The Sound of Music is one of Tommy Avery’s favourite things.

I started drama classes when I was nine after I played a fun role in a theatrical production of Glee at the French International School.

I have always liked singing and dancing, so I got into it naturally. I go to Faust International Youth Theatre every Saturday. I played Edmund in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and a farmer in Fantastic Mr Fox. I decided to audition for The Sound of Music because I love the movie. I have watched it many times with my family and know a lot of the songs. The production team were specific about the height requirements for each of the children’s roles. I was the right height for the role of Kurt, so it seemed I could be the perfect fit.

I think there were more than 600 children auditioning for 20 roles. At the audition, we

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were given lines of the song Do-Re-Mi to sing, we had to perform a dance routine and do some acting. The audition lasted three days and there were two or three eliminations a day. There was a massive first-round elimination based on singing ability.

When I was told I’d got in, I was really thankful and excited to be offered such an amazing opportunity.

We rehearsed from 10am to 6pm all through Easter weekend, starting on Thursday and even on Easter Sunday. I will be rehearsing after school from 4pm to 8pm, Wednesday to Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday (from 10am to 6pm).

I revise all my lines and then write them down and repeat them over and over. I ask my parents to help and they read through the script with me.

I think there were more than 600 children auditioning for 20 roles

My biggest challenge is singing in public. It is the art I’ve done the least, so I am working on this and increasing my confidence on a daily basis. My favourite Sound of Music song is The Lonely Goatherd.

My friends are thrilled for me and cannot wait to see the show. My family are also very excited and both my grandmas and other relatives are coming from New Zealand and Spain to see it.

My goal for the future is to become an A-list actor and appear in movies, television and theatre productions.

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what’s in season

Buns in the oven

(And in your tummy.) Cherrie Yu samples Hong Kong’s favourites.

Birthday buns What: Available in most Cantonese restaurants, these peach-shaped buns are filled with lotusseed paste and typically served in a bamboo steamer in batches of six to 12 buns.

Price: From $10 each.

Where: Cheers Restaurant, 5/F, Windsor House, 311 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, 8300 8198, www.taoheung.com.hk.

Char siu bao What: A dim sum staple, this steamed white bun has a fine but dense texture and a stuffing of diced barbecue pork glazed with oyster sauce, sesame oil and soy sauce.

Price: From $31 for two.

Where: Maxim’s Palace, 3/F Low Block, City Hall, Central, 2521 1303, www.maximschinese.com.hk.

Pineapple bun What is it: Soft, sweet white buns, with a golden, crunchy sweet crust, served with a slab of butter. At Kam Wah Café, a new batch comes out of the oven every 20 minutes.

Price: $9 each.

Where: Kam Wah Café, 47 Bute Street, Prince Edward, 2392 6830.

Coconut bun What: A sweet, pliable bun with a tasty mixture of coconut shreds and sugar, and only a very subtle taste of coconut.

Price: $4.50 each.

Where: Sun Wah Café, 334 Castle Peak Road, Cheung Sha Wan, 2387 3698.

Sausage bun What: Soft and chewy, this simple sweet bun containing a sausage is a popular local breakfast choice, particularly for children.

Price: $7 each.

Where: Hoover Cake Shop, 136 Nga Tsin Wai Road, Kowloon City, 2382 0383.

Roasted pork buns What: A combination of sweet and savoury, this flaky bun is topped with a sugary crust and filled with roasted pork.

Price: $36 for three.

Where: Star of Canton Restaurant, 17/F, The ONE, 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2870 1488, www.starofcanton.com.hk.

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Photo by Hong Kong Tourism Board

what’s in season

Cheung Chau Bun Festival One of Hong Kong’s most colourful annual events, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival takes place every May to coincide with Buddha’s birthday. The climax of the week-long festival is the Bun Snatching race at midnight on the last day.

Traditionally, local men swarmed up three 60-foot bamboo towers, or “mountains”, covered in lucky buns to collect as many as possible for family and friends – the higher up the tower, the luckier the bun.

Following the fatal collapse of a tower in 1978, the race was banned until 2005, when a safety-first version was instituted using proper climbing equipment and trained climbers on just one steel tower. The three bamboo towers are still erected every year, however, and at midnight on the last day of the festival, the buns are removed and distributed among the villagers.

The steamed buns are made from sugar, flour and water, and come in three flavours: sesame, lotus paste and red-bean paste.

Each bun is usually stamped with a red Chinese character for “peace”.

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table for four

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table for four

Bon appétit Where to eat French food en famille. By Callum Wiggins

Les Fils à Maman Nestled in a small alley off Hollywood Road, Les Fils à Maman – Mama’s Boys – evokes a sense of nostalgia for home cooking with its hearty, comforting French dishes and soft benches and corner seating ideal for cosy family gatherings. Established by four friends who craved the simple homemade food of their childhoods in France, the menu features classics such as beef bourguignon and coq au vin, plus seasonal and chef’s specials chalked up on a large blackboard. The beef

bourguignon is a treat with tender pieces of meat and chunky vegetables in a rich sauce served with a side of seasoned fries. Children will enjoy the breaded deep-fried Babybel croquettes and the whole family will love gooey baked Camembert with crusty bread for dipping. Desserts don’t come much more French than a crème brûlée. And for the final sweet touch, the bill comes with a jar of childhood candy. No high chairs.

75 Hollywood Road, Central, 2871 0045, www.lesfilsamaman.hk

La Rotisserie

Grain de Sel Next door to La Rotisserie in Sheung Wan, Grain de Sel offers equally tasty takeaway galettes in both sweet and savoury choices.

With its French bistro vibes and enviable harbourside location, Quayside offers great casual dining with stunning views. At 7,000 sq ft, the restaurant suits family gatherings and large groups alike, with ample seating inside the air-conditioned restaurant or alfresco on the terrace. Starters include classic French onion soup with croutons and a crispy emmental cheese galette ($108) or a halfdozen escargots with parsley butter ($118).

Happy Valley might not inspire thoughts of Montmartre but it takes on a distinctly French flavour at Saint Germain

Takeaway options The smell of freshly spit-roasted chicken has been wafting temptingly from La Rotisserie’s takeaway boxes and through homes and offices across Hong Kong Island for the past few years. If you have yet to try it, you’re in for a treat. Grade A corn-fed chickens are imported directly from France and spitroasted on the premises. (whole chicken, $168). And [don’t miss the daily selection of side dishes: we love the crispy roasted potatoes and steamed vegetables.

G/F, Manhattan Avenue, 255 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, 2324 1898; 71 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun, 2857 0818; 19 Amoy Street, Wan Chai, 2527 8777, www. larotisserie.com.hk.

Quayside

French roast chicken to go at La Rotisserie.

Made from buckwheat flour and completely gluten-free, the galettes are made to order.

We recommend galette complète with ham, emmental cheese and egg. Those with a sweet tooth may prefer Nutella, salted caramel, or banana and chocolate brownie.

G/F, Manhattan Avenue, 255 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, 3904 2929, www.facebook.com/graindeselhk.

Popular main dishes include grilled piri piri chicken with king oyster mushrooms, roasted eggplant, coriander, green apples and homemade chilli paste ($238). The children’s menu is less Gallic with popular choices such as creamy carbonara, fish and chips, and beef burger, plus a drink and ice cream dessert ($140). Finish with the banana and caramel “three ways” – pralinecrusted banana gelato, banana and New York cheesecake in crispy puff pastry, and hazelnut brittle with salty caramel sauce. Just try not to roll into the harbour on the way home.

G/F, Fleet Arcade, Fenwick Pier, 1 Lung King Street, Wan Chai, 2661 6708, www.quaysidehongkong.com.

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table for four

Desserts don’t come much more French than crème brulée Café de Paris

Eat like a mama’s boy at Les Fils à Maman.

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For a touch of fin-de-siècle Paris in Hong Kong, take a trip to the heart of SoHo. Glossy wood panelling, etched glass, bentwood chairs, and black-and-white tiled flooring may be somewhat stereotypical, but the atmosphere is certainly cosy. Signature menu items include moules marinière with house fries – a bucket of mussels cooked in herbs, butter and white wine, and served with a generous side of fries. Meat lovers will appreciate the 10oz Black Angus sirloin with special house butter ($278) or the mustardcrusted rack of lamb with potato gratin and rosemary jus ($278). Perfect for a lazy Sunday.

There is no children’s menu or highchairs.

23 Elgin Street, Central, 2810 0771, www.cafedecogroup.com.

table for four

soft meringue floating on a lake of French custard. 1A Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, 2836 6131, www.french-creations.com/saint-germain.

Cococabana

Family alfresco dining with a French acccent at Quayside.

Saint Germain While Happy Valley may not inspire thoughts of Montmartre or Montparnasse, the neighbourhood takes on a distinctly French flavour at Saint Germain. Starters and mains feature French favourites such as foie gras, snails and hotpot. Standouts include ravioles

de toyans à la crème de truffe, cheese-filled pasta parcels with decadent truffle cream ($128/$168). Children’s options include minced beef steak with fries ($96) and linguini pasta in tomato or pesto sauce ($78). Save room for a dessert of French apple pie with vanilla ice cream ($78) or classic Ile Flottante,

It may be named after a Brazilian beach, but there’s a touch of St Tropez about Cococabana, which serves delicious Mediterranean food in a stunning location right on Shek O beach. Sit under the umbrellas on the large terrace or chill in the easy, breezy seaside-themed dining room. Appropriately, given the beach setting, fresh seafood features prominently, including bouillabaisse, scallops St Jacques, sea bass with clams and standout piri-piri king prawns. More hearty meat options include rib-eye steak, roast chicken, Corsican pork-knuckle stew and slowcooked ox tongue, while veggies can tuck into a substantial ratatouille gratin. There’s a crowd-pleasing kids’ menu for the smalls with the ham and cheese crêpes ($98) proving especially popular. G/F, LCSD Building, Shek O Beach, 2812 2226.

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A dust-free environment, toxin-free paints and unscented cleaning products help to keep asthma attacks at bay.

the home front air do’s

And breathe…

It’s not just pollution that takes your breath away. With asthma affecting 10 per cent of children in Hong Kong, Kristen Tadrous finds out more.

Spring is a traditionally a time when children play outside and enjoy outdoor activities. But for those living with asthma, it signals a time when the air becomes a foe.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children, affecting 10 per cent of children in Hong Kong and largely attributed to genetic and environmental factors. It’s a respiratory condition with symptoms including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, skin rashes and inflamed eyes. The average age for asthma onset is four years.

There are few things as scary as witnessing your child struggling to breathe

With the disease on the rise among children, particularly over the past five years, May 5 has been named World Asthma Day. In a city as polluted Hong Kong, children are especially vulnerable. There is a correlation between the environment and the number of asthma cases among children. Ground level ozone and pollutants from cars, factories and power plants trigger asthma attacks, making victims all the more sensitive to other triggers such as dust mites and mould.

Coping with asthma “There are few things as scary as witnessing your child struggling to breathe,” says mum Nicolette Jaeger, whose son, six, has asthma.

After nighttime coughing turned to chronic wheezing and breathlessness, Jaeger took him for a proper diagnosis. Learning her son had asthma has made her conscious of what to do in the home.

While there’s no known cure for asthma, getting smart about prevention and remedies is a preemptive step in avoiding its onset and recurrence. Creating a smoke-free

environment helps, but eliminating any source of allergens is the ultimate way to reduce symptoms.

In the home, this means identifying asthma triggers and stopping them before they strike. Hong Kong’s humid conditions create a breeding ground for allergens such as dust mites, pet dander and mould. Mitigating pollutants such as second- or third-hand smoke, pet odors, or even artificial scents also significantly helps reduce symptoms.

Jaeger’s first move was to remove all asthma triggers from her home, including certain perfumes, and to swap scented candles and air fresheners for unscented cleaning products.

While avoiding air pollution is nearly impossible, taking steps to reduce your family’s exposure to it is within your control.

This means getting familiar with Hong Kong’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), minimising outdoor playtime on bad air-quality days and taking children to play areas far removed from major roads.

If asthma sufferers should wish to go outside, they should always take a reliever inhaler, which uses a medicine that quickly relaxes the muscles surrounding the tightened airways to facilitate breathing.

It’s important to teach children living with asthma the importance of keeping a reliever inhaler handy, especially during times of poor air quality.

It’s also important to inform schoolteachers of your children’s condition and devise a plan in case of an asthma attack.

Hong Kong-based naturopath Dr Joelle Bradford recommends seeing a naturopathic doctor, who can diagnose underlying environmental allergies that trigger asthma.

This type of specialist may also be able to subscribe supplements or formulate a nutrition plan, bringing the child’s system back into balance.

“Every person who has asthma has individual triggers, so it is imperative to know your own condition and what makes it better and worse,” Dr Bradford says.

How to dodge asthma triggers Mother Nicolette Jaeger, whose son has asthma, recommends easy ways to minimise triggers.

• Vacuuming at least once or twice a week helps reduce dust triggers in the air.

• Look for air purifiers and vacuum cleaners that mention high efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, which remove allergens and pollutants from the environment reducing exposure to these triggers.

• When asthma triggers are unavoidable, consider wearing a face mask.

• Use air conditioners to increase air circulation and reduce humidity (allergens thrive in humid conditions). Make sure filters are changed regularly.

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big day out dam it

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big day out dam it

Water feature Into the wilds of Tai Tam.

What is it?

With amazing scenery, wildlife and plenty of space for dogs to run around within easy reach of the city, Tai Tam Country Park is one of Hong Kong’s favourite hiking destinations.

The park covers 20 per cent of Hong Kong Island. It has four reservoirs surrounded by steep peaks and forest and connected by a network of paths, and plenty of flora and fauna: keep an eye open for terrapins in the reservoirs. As well as the natural scenery, there are city views from the upper stretches.

The reservoirs were constructed in the 19th and early 20th century to the meet the needs of Hong Kong’s growing population and signposts along the trails trace the history of water supply on the “barren rock”.

Heritage hike Established in 2009, the Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail is a paved 5km hike among the reservoirs with glorious water views.

Along the way, it passes historic granite waterworks structures in various architectural styles, which are explained on the informative signage. In total, there are 41 historic monuments in the park, including dams, pumping stations, valve houses, staff quarters, aqueducts and bridges.

Our favourite fact: from Tai Tam Upper Reservoir Dam, water gravitated through a 7,300 ft tunnel through the mountain and down a 16,500 ft aqueduct to Central.

Take the downhill option, starting from Wong Nai Chung Gap near Hong Kong

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big day out dam it

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big day out dam it

There are 41 historic monuments in the park, including dams, aqueducts and bridges

Parkview and meandering past the reservoirs to the junction of Tai Tam Road and Tai Tam Reservoir Road. There’s a playground, rain shelters and barbecue and picnic areas along the way, or jump on a minibus to Stanley for a bite to eat.

There is limited parking at Parkview and non-member parking at the nearby Hong Kong Cricket Club.

Dog friendly Dogs love Tai Tam Country Park almost as much as their owners. They can run for miles through the trees and flowers on shady, traffic-free paths, play with other dogs and maybe, if they’re really lucky, beg a sausage from families at the picnic areas and barbecue pits. Do us all a favour, though, and keep them (and the kids) out of the waterways – we all drink the water.

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travel fun and games

Mud, mud, glorious mud at the Boryeong Mud Festival.

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travel fun and games

Take five festivals Fun celebrations around the world.

Boryeong Mud Festival, South Korea Get your hands and other bits dirty at South Korea’s Boryeong Mud Festival on July 17-26.

This annual mud-slinging event has been drawing thousands of locals and curious international visitors since 1998. On the coast 200km south of Seoul, Boryeong is famed for the beneficial properties of its mud.

Festivalgoers can smear it on all over, swim in the mega mud pool, whizz down mudslides, tackle the mud-training course, join the mudwrestling and mud-skiing competitions or just enjoy the live music, street parades and party atmosphere. Boryeong is about two hours by bus from the capital with local buses every 10 minutes from the town’s bus terminal to Daecheon Beach. The event is open to all ages. For details, visit english.visitkorea.or.kr.

Festivalgoers can swim in the mega mud pool and join the mud-wrestling and mudskiing competitions Cheese Rolling, Gloucestershire, UK England has all sorts of odd festivals (check out the annual two-day riot of the Royal Shrovetide Football game involving hundreds of players and goals three miles apart in Ashbourne, Derbyshire), but cheese rolling is one of the quirkiest. Each year, Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire sees hundreds of hardy competitors race down a steep grassy slope

Say “cheese”! At the cheese rolling competition in Gloucestershire.

after a hefty round of double Gloucester cheese. Although the event has been officially cancelled since 2010, local residents have continued the long-held tradition anyway with the number of spectators and cheesechasers increasing every year. This year’s event is on May 25. As capturing the cheese is all but impossible, the winner is the first to cross the finish line at the bottom. A much safer uphill race is held for kids with the stamina to reach the top. For the past 25 years, the cheese has been provided

by Smart’s Farm in Birdwood, Gloucester,

where Diana Smart welcomes visitors to see how it is made and buy handmade cheese straight from the farm. For details visit www.cheese-rolling.co.uk and www. smartsgloucestercheese.com.

Diwali, India Every year, candles, strings of lights and firecrackers flare across India for Diwali, the national festival of light that celebrates the Hindu New Year. Running for five days, this year’s festival falls on November 9-13, but it is the third day (November 11) that draws the

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travel fun and games

From top left: Diwali fireworks; Chiang Mai’s balloon festival; the Harbin Ice Festival.

crowds. The entire country sparkles with light from low-key Kerala in the south to beautiful Varanasi in the north, where the famed ghats glow with oil lamps, thousands of candles float down the Ganges and fireworks explode all night long. In Amritsar, Diwali coincides with the Sikh festival Bandi Chhor Divas. The Golden Temple is draped with strings of fairy lights and the lake on which it sits blazes with floating candles, inspiring the Punjabi saying, “There’s nothing like homemade food or Diwali in Amritsar”. In Kolkata, Diwali celebrations mingle with offerings to the Goddess Kali, with lamps and fireworks in the City of Joy.

held over three days at the beginning of December in the Prince Royal College in northeast Chiang Mai. It attracts some of the world’s most magnificent flying machines and more than 300,000 visitors from around the globe. Balloons in all shapes and sizes, from traditional light-bulb shapes to cartoons and animals (we like the panda), descend on Chiang Mai. Enjoy the spectacle, particularly in the evening, take a ride in a tethered balloon or pay a fee to hop aboard a hot-air balloon for the ride of a lifetime. Look for dates and details in the second half of the year on the festival’s Facebook page (www.facebook. com/thailandballoonfestival).

Thailand International Balloon Festival

Harbin Ice Festival, China

Is it a plane? Is it a bird? No, it’s a hot-air balloon. Since 2006, the annual Thailand International Balloon Festival has been

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Just 500km from the Russian border, the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin freezes over for this ice spectacular held every winter as temperatures drop to -35C. The

In Varanasi, the famed ghats glow with oil lamps and thousands of candles float down the Ganges world’s largest ice festival will be held from January 5 to February 25. Huge buildingsized ice sculptures appear across the city in the form of buildings, bridges, pavilions and rocketships, creating a fantasyland in snow. Many of the sculptures are ice lanterns, illuminated at night with multicoloured lights.

The main sculpture areas are on Sun Island, opposite the Songhua River, including Ice and Snow World, which is open at night only. As well as the festival, visitors can go skiing in the nearby snowfields or stop over in Beijing.

For details, visit www.icefestivalharbin.com.

promotion

Live for family fun Experience breathtaking Central Vietnam at Angsana L ng Cô

Overlooking a magnificent 3km private beach in a crescent bay at the foot of the Truong Son mountains in Central Vietnam, Angsana L ng Cô is an exhilarating location for a getaway. Ramping up the wow factor is its Live for Family Fun offer, including an extensive list of exciting sports, cool activities and memorable dining experiences that will appeal to the whole family.

Angsana Kids Club After a hearty breakfast, children will be eager to get to the Angsana Kids Club, where staff supervise a wide range of activities.

Little ones can get busy outdoors building sandcastles, taking canal boat rides and

getting wet with pool games and swimming lessons. There’s plenty of room to play indoors, plus board games, consoles and arts and crafts such as drawing, learning to fold origami and painting seashells and T-shirts.

Sun, sand and sea Make the most of that amazing beach and embark on an adrenaline-pumping aquatic adventure. There’s a huge range of watersports available, including snorkelling, parasailing, windsurfing, kayaking, jetskiing and waterskiing. Prefer dry land? Take the family on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) expedition down the beach or through the lush tropical greenery and rugged mountain scenery.

Adventure explorers If you’re feeling energetic, borrow a bicycle from the resort and ride up (and up) to the Hai Van Pass on the old mountain highway to Da Nang with breathtaking panoramic views of the sea and countryside. Less challenging are cultural trips to the area’s Unesco World Heritage sites. At the ancient imperial capital of Hue take a boat trip down the Perfume River to the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda, where monks go about their daily activities.

Then explore the labyrinthine streets, canals and shops of Hoi An, an ancient port and one of the most charming towns in the country.

The Live for Family Fun offer at Angsana L ng Cô includes complimentary daily breakfast at The Market Place, daily in-room snacks including non-alcoholic drinks from the minibar, one family picnic, Angsana Kids Club access and unlimited non-motorised activities.

There’s also a choice of two motorised activities daily (ATV, jetski, flying fish or banana boat) for up to four people aged 15 and above. Children aged 12 and under can eat for free from the Kid’s Menu (food only) with every paying adult at Angsana L ng Cô.

The offer is valid until October 31 for bookings of at least two nights (from USD370++) made before October 29, 2015.

For details, please visit www.angsana.com/en/apvietnam-lang-co or email reservations-langco@ angsana.com.

money & me

Lewis Cerne

Talking dollars and sense with the 30-year-old co-founder of Spacebox storage solutions.

How much is in your wallet right now? $830.

What credit cards do you use?

Citibank Visa, Amex and HSBC MasterCard for business, and Citibank Visa air-miles do it for me. I pay them off each month.

Do you play Mark Six? I don’t play lotteries – passing in front of a Hong Kong Jockey Club [betting shop] saddens me.

Are you a spender or a saver?

I do not like to spend on myself, with the very expensive exception of sailing. I love sailing.

Besides that, I like to save in Hong Kong because I can lead a relatively simple life and put money away for the future of my family.

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0When were you poorest?

At the University of London, where I paid for my economics degree at the School of Oriental and African Studies by working full time. (I’m from Sardinia, Italy, and couldn’t get a student loan.) I learned that if there is a will there is a means – and that at 20 you can survive for a long time on raspberry jam doughnuts. Money and happiness have little to do with each other; I was poor, but I was very happy.

How did Spacebox come about?

I wanted to create a tool to make homes in Hong Kong more liveable – you cannot have a nice environment and order unless you have enough space. It started in summer 2014, when I was looking at a business to make bespoke furniture easy to design. As part of

money & me

that exercise I realised that all furniture in a house, except chairs and beds, are storage systems. Even things like tables are dual purpose. Then the idea came: why not take the storage outside the home and put the things you store on your digital devices? [Spacebox supplies boxes for customers to pack with items for short- or long-term storage, which are recorded on an app that can also be used to arrange pick-up and delivery.]

What was your best investment?

On a personal level, my wife and my friends.

From a business perspective, the early indications are that Spacebox will be my best investment. We are addressing a true need for Hong Kong and the execution is good, so things should come along well.

Do you have any advice on teaching children about money?

My mother taught me very early to save for the things I desired and I’ll definitely try to pass that on to my son, Adriano, who is just three months old. It worked. My brother and

Spacebox co-founder, Stuart, teaches my nephews to defer gratification – if they want something they are often given an option: get A now, or if you wait, every month I’ll put money in your account and then you’ll be able to get B (B for better). Spending while in debt was a cultural no-no back in Sardinia, but I’m really not sure I could transmit this to my child raised in Hong Kong in the same intrinsic way.

I learned that at 20 you can survive a long time on raspberry jam doughnuts Do you give your kids pocket money?

My child is too young for pocket money. I came from a simple place and we did not need pocket money – I got some by helping out at home. It’s hard to imagine how a child/ teenager gets by without pocket money in Hong Kong. I’m certain I will not offer no-

strings-attached pocket money. If you want it, you earn it.

What is the most extravagant thing you have ever bought?

A pair of spectacles that cost $4,000. For someone with a reputation for losing glasses every month, it’s insane. I’m trying to make it really painful to lose another pair.

Do you invest in stocks?

No. I’m conservative with the liquid portion of my money because I take very high risks through entrepreneurship. I don’t need to add stock gambling to the mix.

Do you own property?

My wonderful wife, Carmen, and I own a small apartment in Hong Kong that we let out.

Do you use Octopus?

I use Octopus for transport and small daily purchases. It’s an excellent system in its simplicity in complete paradox to the Hong Kong banking system.

Concordia International School Admission Office: Tel: +852 2789 9890 Fax: + 852 2392 8820 Email: office@concordiaintl.edu.hk 68 Begonia Road, Yau Yat Chuen, Kowloon, HK www.cihs.edu.hk

Invites Applications for Grades 7-12

• Small class size of 15 to 22 students per class • Interactive teaching program with Mac 1:1 Program • American-patterned school offering Grades 7-12 • Students write the PSAT, SAT, TOEFL and AP in High School

CONTACT US TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION Email: office@concordiaintl.edu.hk EDB Reg. No. 21599

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marketplace

Lights, Camera & Action!

Fun, Hands-on Filmmaking & Photography Workshop for kids 7yrs to 16yrs.

www.juniorsnappers.com juniorsnappershk@gmail.com tel: 9849 0050

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

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marketplace

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

expat-parent.com | 63

the bald truths of fatherhood

Like my DP? Simon Parry updates his profile.

Yo, Expat Parent buds. How’s it hangin’, y’all?

As the more observant of you will have noticed, I’ve updated my profile picture and I want all of you to like it. If I don’t get, like, at least 100 likes, I’ll be seriously spazzed out and will unfriend you. Period.

Why the image makeover, you may ask?

Well, I’ve been closely scrutinising on an almost daily basis my teenage daughters’ Facebook friends (not in a pervy way, you understand) and it struck me that I am clearly not making the most of the gifts the good Lord gave me.

So I ditched my regular middle-aged dad profile picture. You know the sort: a weary fat bloke half-heartedly hugging odious offspring that no one else could possibly love, or glumly clinking champagne glasses with a sozzled, po-faced spouse on a hideously expensive anniversary night out with a sullen look of horror behind his eyes that says, “How much is this empty, loveless charade going to cost me?”

Instead, I decided to get down with the kids and follow the example of my daughters’ teenage Facebook friends. (You see, Clarissa and Marigold? I wasn’t “cyber-stalking” you. I was studying your profile pictures for journalistic research, so there was absolutely no need for those restraining orders.)

Obviously, getting the right look for my profile picture requires a degree of selfawareness that not every middle-aged Hong Kong expatriate possesses. Luckily, unlike the sad bankers who strut shamelessly through Wan Chai with girls half their age, I am acutely aware of what’s hot about me and what’s not.

Even when heavily inebriated and flailing around the dancefloor to Night Fever or The Birdie Song, I remain acutely conscious that I am bald, boorish and 50 and that the abdominal region that used to be home to

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a shapely six-pack is now occupied by a Watneys Party Seven.

I think I speak on behalf of womankind at large, however, when I say I still possess a certain seductive allure. Although my once finely chiselled physique may have been ravaged by time, I still possess some winsome features: a smouldering pout, for instance, kissable cherry-red lips and cheekbones to die for.

What’s more (and this is one of the

I’ve updated my profile picture and if I don’t get, like, at least 100 likes, I’ll be seriously spazzed out

benefits of ageing), I have started to develop a pair of man boobs, or moobs as they’re commonly known. So shapely and luscious are they that I find myself curiously drawn to them and have to fight an almost overpowering temptation to stay in bed and play with them all day.

The tragedy for the female species is that, for most of the time, these gorgeous thrusting moobs and rippling cleavage remain jealously covered beneath a starched business shirt. My wife insists on it.

What’s more, I never get to pout provocatively or smoulder seductively in public because – ridiculously in my view – it’s considered “inappropriate conduct” when engaged in business interviews or covering court cases and inquests. At least that’s what

my last editor told the employment tribunal.

So, like my teenage daughters’ Facebook friends (yes, I’ve been watching you, Amethyst and Peony, go tell the police if you’ve got a problem with it), I’m darn well going to suck my cheeks in and show a tantalising glimpse of moob in my profile picture.

If you’ve got it, flaunt it, I say. And if you haven’t got it, Instagram it. I feel strangely liberated now that I’ve put it out there and I’ve come to the conclusion this is how I should present myself from now on – with as much of my magnificent physique as possible on show to the world. At least until I have to apply for another job.

After all, unlike those teenagers on Facebook, my sell-by date is perilously close.

One day soon, my cheek bones will disappear beneath a flab of fat and my moobs will sag down to rest atop a grotesquely bloated beer belly.

YOLO, as those too young and ignorant to comprehend the agony of the human condition insist on saying: And a big fat LOL from me to Clarissa and Marigold. Diss me all you like, girlfriends, but I know you’re really just jell as hell because my wibbly-wobbly bits are bigger and bouncier than yours.

Formerly the owner of dreams and a full head of hair, Simon Parry is a jaded, middle-aged journalist and father of four. He lives in Sai Kung with his wife, his children and his sense of profound disappointment.