Sai Kung January 2021

FA MI LY | H E A LT H Y E AT I N G | C Y C LING | MEOW

hongkongliving.com

January 2021

Trouble in Tap Mun Grass island runs out of grass

Staying pawsitive in 2021

Meet Micky Tong the founder of Petcore veterinary clinic

Cycle city

We review the New Territories cycle network

CONTENT S — 01/ 21

20

COVER STORY Meet Micky Tong, cat lover and founder of Petcore

4 CONTRIBUTORS Meet the team

6 PEOPLE

Sai Kungers out and about

8 THE PLANNER

What’s on in 2021

11 NEWS

What’s going on in your backyard?

15 FIVE MINUTES WITH..

Emily Allington, founder of Hong Kong Cats

17 LOCAL

19 POLICE BLOTTER

Senior Inspector Ron Yung talks crime

22 DINING

We reveal your 2021 fate

32 PETS

Dr Pauline on moving house with pets

35 IN THE GARDEN

An honest review of the New Territories Cycle Network

28 MUST HAVES THIS MONTH

Have a healthy start to the New Year

26 BIG DAY OUT

31 HOROSCOPES

All the gear you need to explore the outdoors

William James Tutcher F.L.S. on what to plant this January

36 ASK DEBBY

District Councillor Debby Chan answers your questions

15

30 CHUI SUI CENTRAL

What’s lurking behind your sofa?

Grass Island runs out of grass

6

17

28

8

22

20 “In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this” - Terry Pratchett

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editor’s letter I thought 2020 would never end, but finally we are here in 2021 ready for a fresh start.

While I love my two adopted dogs, my one true love has always been my cat Cassy, even though she is a little bit sassy (like her owner). There is no denying that cats don’t get the credit they deserve, which is why we’ve dedicated this issue to our favourite felines.

Gracing the cover this month is Micky Tong, founder of Petcore. When planning the photoshoot she originally suggested bringing all six of her persian cats, since they’ve never stepped foot out of the house before, we thought two would be a safer option. Read all about her story and her inspiration for starting Petcore in our cover story (page 20).

It would be a Catastrophe if we didn’t include the founder of Hong Kong Cats herself, Emily Allington. Read all about how she went from rescuing a few of Sai Kung’s strays to setting up the biggest cat rescue page in Hong Kong (page 15).

All that fur requires a bit of fresh air, our publisher Matt Eaton ventured over to Tai Po to test out the New Territories Cycle Network (page 26).

Wishing you a wonderful start to the year fingers crossed it’s a good one.

Editorial Editor-in-chief Nicole Slater, nicole@hongkongliving.com Contributing Editor Gemma Shaw, gemma@hongkongliving.com Digital Editor Ching Yuen, ching@hongkongliving.com Dining Editor Amber Lai, amber@hongkongliving.com

Design Graphic Designer Vicky Lam, vicky@hongkongliving.com Yankee Tsang, yankee@hongkongliving.com

Sales & Marketing

Director of Content Hilda Chan, hilda@hongkongliving.com Head of Digital Content Isamonia Chui, isamonia@hongkongliving.com Sales and Partnership Manager Debbie Ky, debbie@hongkongliving.com Elaine Li, elaine@hongkongliving.com Circulation Manager Pranali Gupta, pranali@hongkongliving.com

things we love this month...

Live Zero goes big The popular bulk buy store Live Zero has just opened its new store in New Town Plaza.

Founded by local resident Tamsin Thornburrow this store is its largest yet, featuring a Thorn and Burrow section on the second floor. livezero.hk

Publisher

Matt Eaton, matt@hongkongliving.com

Founding Director

Tom Hilditch, tom@hongkongliving.com

Contact us Admin: 3568 3722 | Editorial: 2776 2773 | Advertising: 2776 2772 Published by Hong Kong Living Ltd, L1 Kai Wong Commercial Building, 222 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong Printer Apex Print Limited, 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong

FA MI LY | H E A LT H Y E AT I N G | CY CLI N G | ME OW

hongkongliving.com

What better way to start the year than with a bit of guilt-free pampering. Independent Hong Kong vegan and natural cruelty-free skincare brand SKIN NEED has just launched a new body line featuring lotions, lip balms and pillow spray. skinneed.com

Covid-19 update

As Sai Kung Magazine goes to print we have done our best to keep our content as accurate and up-to-date as possible, but life under Covid-19 regulations means things tend to change, often from day-to-day. Please check with local businesses for operation hours and services available and remember, stay safe.

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hongkongliving.com

talk@hongkongliving.com

January 2021

Trouble in Tap Mun

@hongkongliving

facebook.com/SaiKungMagazine

HONG KONG

Grass island runs out of grass

Staying pawsitive in 2021

Meet Micky Tong the founder of Petcore veterinary clinic

Cycle city

We review the New Territories cycle network

Sai Kung & Clearwater Bay Magazine is published by Hong Kong Living Ltd.This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Hong Kong Living Ltd 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 in any way, part or format without written permission from the publisher.

Photo: Steven Wu

Vegan beauty products

SAIKUNG.COM SAI KUNG | 3

contributors

Thank you to our contributors Letao Wang Founder of the Healing Kingdom, Letao Wang has been practising professional astrology and spiritual counselling in Hong Kong for over seven years. He reveals what’s in store for each sign this year in our horoscope section.

Debby Chan Debby Chan Ka Lam is the new District Councillor for Sai Kung Islands. She embraces the town’s diversity and strives for a more sustainable community.

Check out what the council has been up to this month in our Debby column.

Ally van de Pol As a personal trainer and healing diets nutritional consultant, Ally van de Pol knows a thing or two about keeping in shape. She shares her tips for starting your health journey in this month’s nibbles section.

Steven Wu Photographer Steven Wu shot our wonderful cover this month. Wu is the owner of IOP Production and has worked with prominent media and companies, shooting for both editorial and advertising.

Emily Allington Founder of Hong Kong Cats, Emily Attawood is passionate about her four legged friends and is on a mission to help them. Read more about her story in our five minutes with interview.

Ron Yung Senior Inspector Ron Yung joined the Sai Kung Police Force late last year and is happy to be in town. He gives us the lowdown on crime in the area over the past few weeks in our monthly police blotter.

Want to write for Sai Kung Magazine? Contact editorial@hongkongliving.com 4 | SAI KUNG

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people

Snaps from Sai Kung

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say cheese

Behind the scenes of our cover photoshoot

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planner

JAN 23-24

Long Ke Wan Camping Adventure Spend the night on one of Hong Kong’s most beautiful beaches, meet new people and enjoy an evening BBQ. Meet at Sai Kung Bus Terminus at 9am. $120. cavadventures.org Shing Mun Reservoir Catchwater, Tsuen Wan. actionasiaevents.com

MAR 19 Green Day Live Jam out to the bands thirteenth studio album, Father Of All… 8pm. From $588. AsiaWorld-Expo, Lantau. premier.hkticketing.com

JAN 19-24 Hong Kong Race Week Based out of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s Middle Island facility, racing will be conducted across four race courses in the areas of Middle Island, Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay, Stanley, Tai Tam and Beaufort. 9am-6.30pm. Free. hongkongraceweek.com

JAN 23 HK50 Race three of the HK50 series covering distances of 6km, 10km, 25km or 54km. 7am-5pm. $280.

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FEB 12-15 Chinese New Year Kung Hei Fat Choi, ring in the Year of the Ox with markets, lion dances and Lai See.

MAY 21-23 Art Basel Throughout May, art enthusiasts can enjoy an array of art exhibitions and shows including the internationally known, Art Basel. Prices and times to be announced. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. artbasel.com

what’s on JUN 14 Dragon Boat Festival Watch local and international teams compete to win in multiple dragon boat races across the city. dragonboat.org.hk

JUL 2-6 Hong Kong International Jewellery Show Surround yourself with the glitz and glam with hundreds of vendors and jewellery making workshops. 10:30am-6:30pm. Free. AsiaWorldExpo, Lantau. event.hktdc.com

SEP 21 Mid-Autumn Festival Grab your lanterns, eat a moon cake and celebrate across Hong Kong.

OCT 29 Shi Fu Miz A three day festival on the remote island of

Cheung Chau with live music from local artists, performances, activites, food and more.

6-10:30pm. From $380. Sai Yuen Camping & Adventure Park, Cheung Chau. shifumiz.com

NOV 5-7 Rugby Sevens Hong Kong’s biggest spring event is back (hopefully) after a year break. Grab your pint and let’s party. Ticket prices to be announced.

Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay. hksevens.com

NOV 26-28 Clockenflap Undoubtedly one of Hong Kong’s biggest music events of the year has taken a two year break but is expected to be better than ever this year. Ticket prices to be announced. Central Harbourfront Event Space. clockenflap.com

DEC 25 Christmas Is it too early to start counting down already?

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news

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news

Worth the price tag?

The Employment Conditions Abroad International (ECA) recently announced that Hong Kong has topped the charts once again as the most expensive city for expats. The association compared costs of living faced by expats in 208 cities from 121 countries. Criteria for the

comparison included the price of food and general goods, utility costs and public transport. The expensive city lifestyle in Hong Kong was found to be the toughest to afford for expatriates, closely followed by Tokyo and New York. “Hong Kong is the most expensive place in the world for overseas

workers to live, in spite of the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,� said Lee Quane, regional director for Asia at ECA International. On another note, Hong Kong was also ranked as the top overworked city in the world by online platform Kisi, which specialises in work-life balance.

Covid at your convenience Those of you who take the MTR to work may have noticed the newest MTR arrangements. 20 MTR stations across all rail lines installed vending machines distributing Covid-19 specimen collection packs. There are signs to point out the location of each vending machine within the stations and MTR staff are on hand to assist with the process in case of complications. By using vending machines, the MTR hopes to make the specimen pack collection process more convenient for testing. Do note that the MTR are not responsible for collecting the specimen packs after use. You will have to go to the designated collection points to hand over the used packs.

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news

Healing through hard times

Safe staycations

Sai Kung’s well-loved personal training and wellness studio Dragon Fitness has moved to a new location in The Glass House and launched two healing programmes: Healing Diets Coaching and group HNF Programmes. The Glass House is a gym, consulting room and working greenhouse put together. As its name suggests, it is constructed with sustainable materials, ensuring the reach of natural light. For those who would like to eat more healthily, lose weight for good and reduce chronic health symptoms, the wellness studio has hired Ally van de Pol as Certified Healing Diets Practitioner. She will guide clients through coaching sessions faceto-face or via Zoom. Lastly, following on from the success of its individual HNF (Health, Nutrition, Fitness) Programmes, Dragon Fitness is now offering Group HNF sessions. In groups of two, the twelveweek programme encompasses everything that is needed for a strong healthy life. dragonfitnessandcoaching.com

Adhering to ever-changing government restrictions, Airbnb has announced that hosts and guests must agree to follow its Covid-19 Safety Practices, which include wearing a mask, practising social distancing, and, for hosts, abiding by a five-step enhanced cleaning process. All hosts in Hong Kong are now prompted to commit to the new practices and guests will be asked to agree to the guidelines when they book a listing. To ensure the rules are followed, those who do not commit may be subject to warnings, suspensions and, in some cases, removal from the Airbnb platform.

Staycationers can now breathe a sigh of relief – healthier stays are in store for this January. airbnb.com

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in your backyard

Camping lots for sale Landowners of Sai Kung Country Park have partnered with Ideal Group, a property developer, to transform Tan Ka Wan into small lots for campers and picnic-goers. Priced at over $10,000 per square foot, the project takes over an area of 480,000 square feet of Sai Kung East Country Park. The smallest plot is about 19 square feet while others range from 21 to

66 square feet. Witnessing the recent hype for Hong Kong’s countryside, the partners are hoping to turn Tan Ka Wan into an ecological resort for retreats, holiday celebrations and cultural conservation. There are also plans to hire professional gardeners and florists to take care of the botanies, security services will also be provided.

More family time The short length of maternity leave that mothers receive in Hong Kong has always been a talking point. Years of debate later, it seems the government has finally listened. Starting December 11, 2020, statutory maternity leave was extended by four weeks to a total of 14 weeks, to be taken continuously. Female employees under continuous employment contract for no less than 40 weeks are now eligible. Congratulations are in order, we think and new mothers, feel free to breathe a sigh of relief and set more time for your new family.

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five minutes with

Five minutes with Emily Allington Nicole Slater meets Sai Kung resident and founder of Hong Kong Cats Having always been a lover of animals, surprisingly Emily Allington only got her first cat a few years before setting up the rescue group, Hong Kong Cats. “Like many people, I thought cats scratch good furniture and were aloof. But now I understand how they work a lot more. They are the greatest therapists, whatever’s on your mind is always left at the door once you come home to cute kittens,” Allington says.

After moving to Sai Kung 10 years ago, Allington was shocked by the number of stray cats roaming around her village. “They were generally all healthy and being taken care of

From there the Facebook page grew rapidly and is now one of the only feline dedicated rescue groups in the city. “A sick kitten on the street didn’t stand much of a chance before, but now myself and our great foster network have successfully nursed hundreds back to health.”

Despite juggling a new baby, a three-yearold child and a full-time job, Allington still manages to find time to look after kittens in need. “I love the process of fostering cats and seeing them thrive in forever homes.” With many cats adopting their own unique traits and personalities, Allington dedicates most of her time to matchmaking, making sure the owner and cat are happy in their new home.

“Above all, I want a loving home for these cats and a promise from adopters that they will take their cats with them if they leave,” Allington says.

Unfortunately this year, that hasn’t been the case. “I have had to deal with a lot more cats being given up by families needing to move out of Hong Kong and for whatever reason aren’t taking their pet with them. It can be expensive transporting animals these days, but it has also never been easier to process them between countries.” While this has been one of the downsides of the pandemic, Allington looks in a more positive direction. “There are a lot more people spending time at home, who are willing to give cats attention and homes. I’ve actually had a waiting list for kittens for most of last year. Any new kittens I get under my care don’t hang around for long before finding a good home.”

If you do come across a stray cat, Allington shares her advice. “In many villages there are people who look after the street cats with food and water. If you want to help get them desexed or think they might be happy with a family, then I am happy to guide anyone through the process of trapping and neutering. However, if it’s not sick, injured or in any danger, just enjoy seeing them every day.”

by the villagers, but they weren’t desexed and their colony kept multiplying,” she says.

After noticing the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) removing the stray cats from the area, Allington decided to take matters into her own hands.

She started taking the adult cats to the vet to be desexed and began a Facebook page, Hong Kong Cats to help rehome the kittens.

“It became apparent very quickly that there were lots of cats in similar circumstances in other villages. I was soon getting requests to help all over Sai Kung and across Hong Kong.”

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local

Grass Island runs out of grass

Katrina Lau speaks to volunteers of a local activist group about the worrying state of Tan Mun’s cattle Spending most of the year in Hong Kong, many of us have diverted our energy to exploring the city’s nature from trekking up the hills to setting up camp on one of Hong Kong’s sandy shores.

Being a popular site for families and procampers alike, Tap Mun has seen an influx of visitors over the past year with many people pitching up a tent on weekends and public holidays. While its great to see people enjoy nature, the island’s most prominent natives, a herd of local cattle are barely surviving.

The situation has gotten so dier that the island might have to reconsider its name as the seaside fields are going barren with the invading campers.

Local activist group, Sai Kung Cow has been taking care of the indigenous tribes in Tap Mun. The increase in visits to Tap Mun Island has not only seen an increase in pollution and litter but also the erosion of its grassy fields.

Every weekend and public holiday, the

island is seen buried in the sea of vibrant coloured tents. “People settle in every spot possible, even next to rubbish bins. We saw the pastures growing thinner and more eroded after each public holiday,” says a volunteer from Sai Kung Cow. With campers settling on the slopes and every piece of land they can find, the grass and soil in Tap Mun is constantly stepped-on and trampled, making it difficult for pastures to regrow. Parts of the field are even found to be showing signs of soil erosion and desertification.

Not only does the damage erase luscious green sceneries in Tap Mun, but it is also changing the cattle’s diet and posing a threat to their survival. “People leave trash behind.

Even when it’s thrown into the bins, the cows can’t help but be attracted to the residue of cup noodles and food packaging,” says the volunteer group.

The volunteer group became alarmed when it was reported that a visitor found plastic bag scraps in cows’ excretion. Tap

Mun’s cows have turned to scavenging rubbish piles with most of them donning swollen stomachs but skinny bodies due to indigestion.

“They mistook plastic bags for food.

That blocks the passages linking their four stomachs and digestive canals,” says a volunteer. “They’re basically slowly killing themselves.” Witnessing the worrying situation, dedicated volunteers from Sai Kung Cow brought in bags of fresh grass to feed the local cattle.

During one of their visits to Grass Island, volunteers witnessed a young camper swaying a wooden stick, trying to scare off cows near his tent.

“The cows are the inhabitants and we are invading their home.”

We encourage visitors to enjoy their time in nature but please take all your rubbish and belongings with you when you leave in order to keep Tap Mun a safe and sustainable environment for the cows to live in.

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on patrol

Senior inspector Ron Yung reports on recent cases around town Roof worries On the evening of December 13 a family was watching a movie at home in the living room.

When they went upstairs they discovered $200,000 worth of jewellery missing. Police believe the culprit gained access via an unoccupied roof next door. The case is still under investigation.

Lost the plot Two females went hiking to Sai Wan on the afternoon of November 29. Along the journey they got lost and contacted the police for assistance.

The police found them at 7pm and escorted them back to Luk Wu.

What’s happening at sea Based in Tui Min Hoi, Marine East Division is the local base of the Marine Police.

No hot boxing here In the early hours of November 16 two men were driving along Hiram’s Highway when they were stopped for an inspection. When police searched the vehicle they found around $2,000 worth of suspected cannabis. The men were arrested at the scene.

No free parking A private car parked by Ho Chung Village from December 8-12. When the driver returned he found both number plates missing from the vehicle, resulting in $500 worth of damages.

More helicopters

Whatsapp with that

At 4pm on December 12 a couple aged 35 and 38 started a hike from Man Yee Road to Pak Fu Shan. After an hour and a half the female slipped down and fractured her left ankle.

She was airlifted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in a conscious state.

On December 7 a male aged 19 received a message from his aunt via Whatsapp. The message asked him to send over $25,000 worth of Gash Points. After transferring the money the boy contacted his aunt, who revealed that her Whatsapp had been hacked.

On the run

•

A couple went for a run at 4:30pm on December 10. When they returned to their home near Pak Tam Chung they found the bedroom window ajar and $50,000 worth of jewellery and watches missing. The case is still under investigation.

Burglary prevention:

• •

Secure doors and windows Activate anti-burglary measures Call 999 if you encounter a suspicious person

Breaking boards On the morning of December 3 two friends went windsurfing. When one friend didn’t return after 2pm, the other contacted the police. They conducted a sweep of the area and found him at Silverstrand in a conscious state. The man’s board had broken so he swam to the store but was unable to contact his friend.

Go fish At 7pm on December 2 two friends went on a private fishing trip when their boat broke down at Yim Tin Tsai Typhoon Shelter. They reported the incident to the police who attempted to fix the engine but were unable to. The boat was towed back to Sai Kung Sheltered Anchorage.

It’s getting hot in here A boat caught fire at the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club on the afternoon of November 30. The craft was docked alongside a pontoon at the club and caught fire during a daily routine check at 4pm. The fire was put out by staff before the police and fire services arrived. The fire was suspected to be caused by a short circuited refrigerator inside the boat.

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cover story

Keeping a positive cattitude Persian cat lover and founder of veterinary clinic Petcore, Micky Tong’s love for animals prevails. Nicole Slater reports.

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meow A day in the life of Micky Tong consists of lots of fur, snuggles and treats, and that’s just at home with her six Persian cats. As founder of veterinary clinic Petcore, Tong is constantly surrounded by animals and aims to provide the utmost care and compassion to them.

As a child, Tong was a big lover of animals, looking after many birds, ducks, turtles, hamsters and rabbits. Due to the limited space in her apartment growing up, she was unable to take on anything bigger, “I always wanted to have a cat or dog of my own,” says Tong.

When she brought her first Persian cat 13 years ago, Tong had no idea just how much her life would change. She soon became besotted by the cat and after studying it closely, Tong decided to take on a career as an exotic shorthair and Persian cat breeder. At her peak, Tong had over 40 cats in her home.

With so many cats to look after, veterinary care became a critical part of her life. This eventually inspired her to find her true calling, owning her very own veterinary clinic, “I wanted to build a business that would help and support animals, while passing on a positive message about loving and caring for them too.” Thus Petcore was born.

First established in Yuen Long in 2014, Petcore is a clinic that believes in an empathetic approach, making sure each pet owner’s concerns are listened to and their pets are treated with the utmost care. “We treat our patients like they were our own, with compassion, respect and dignity,” says Tong.

The clinic opened a second branch on Yi Chun Street in Sai Kung in 2018, along with the Petcore x Raymond Mak Physio and Wellness Center at the beginning of last year. The clinic hopes to continue its expansion across Hong Kong. “ We support each other’s personal growth in the work that we do, mindful of our

common goals and values.”

After opening the clinic, Tong decided 40 cats was a little too many and found most of her fur babies loving forever homes. Now with just six Persian and exotic shorthair cats, Tong has more time and energy to give them the love they deserve. “My favourite cat was Milktea who sadly passed away in July last year. Now have Bubbly (11), Cinderella (10), Ball Ball (9), Valentine (8), Tweety (8) and Jumbo (7),” says Tong. Two of her cats were even lucky enough to star in this month’s cover shoot. Despite it being their first time out of the house, we think they had a marvelous time.

While caring for animals is Tong’s passion, she does find it difficult to strike a balance between owning a business and maintaining animal welfare. Petcore’s recently opened Physio and Wellness Center in Sai Kung, helps to bridge the gap, offering pain reducing treatments to help pets before any major surgery. “Our specialist treatments help reduce pain, increase movement in their limbs and joints and lessen the impact or effects of certain injuries, aiding in their recovery and improving their quality of life,” says Tong.

With a rise in residents introducing pets into their homes this year, Tong hopes to put

more effort into animal welfare this coming year, and advise more people to adopt. petcore-vet.com

Petcore Sai Kung Shop 2, 66 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung

Petcore x Raymond Mak Physio and Wellness Center Shop 21D, Tak Lung Back Street, Sai Kung

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dining

Health kick

Leanne Hong rounds up the best places in town to kick start your post-Christmas cleanse After an indulgent festive season January is the perfect time to detox and recover with some lighter bites. Kickstart your New Year’s resolution with these local favourites.

2084 As Sai Kung’s first fully plant-based restaurant, 2084 offers a unique twist of traditional Asian-inspired tapas including pan-fried momos and Peking oyster mushroom wraps. Along with

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more hearty mains such as vegan tacos and curries. 2084.casa

Little Cove Espresso As one of Sai Kung’s most popular independent cafes, Little Cove Espresso is the perfect spot for a late breakfast or early lunch. The spacious cafe is well-known for its brunches, salads and smoothie bowls, so expect to queue on weekends

veg out

The Conservatory Specialising in Meditteranean cuisine, The Conservatory is the perfect place for a light lunch, with a selection of salads, tapas and dips. The alfresco restaurant offers a unique light lunch menu each week offering healthy alternatives to its classic a la carte menu items. enotecagroup.com

Bakso The Bakso flagship store takes on a simple design and serves up a range of classic Indonesian dishes including beef bone soup and grilled pork, along with a selection of deep-fried dishes cooked in coconut oil to give diners a healthy alternative when they are craving something crunchy.

Momentai momentai

Breezy seaside restaurant Momentai is the perfect spot to chill out after a long day out and about. The restaurant caters to everyone’s tastes with a large variety of vegetarian options including Omnipork quesadillas, slow cooked jackfruit and lentil daal. momentai-la.com

Ali Oli Bakery & Cafe With a history of over 25 years, this quaint bakery serves treats including sandwiches,

pastries and cakes, all available with glutenfree and wheat-free options. If you fancy trying your hand at baking, the cafe also offers a variety of baking mixes and flours that include gluten-free alternatives. alioli.com.hk

SingaLings While SingaLings is not a fully plant-based restaurant, it offers a wide range of vegan dishes on its menu. Light bites including avocado on Turkish toast, soy yoghurt muesli, tofu scramble and a plant-based pizza, to satisfy your cravings without the guilt. For those with a sweet tooth, the restaurant also offers a variety of vegan desserts including a gluten-free chocolate mud cake. singalings.com

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dining

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nibbles

Dining News

Cleanse it Healing diets nutritional consultant, Ally van de Pol shares her advice for a New Year’s cleanse

How to begin

Feather & Bone opens in the square The popular central based butcher has ventured over to the darkside this month with its new location in the square. The butcher and grocer is famous for its grain-fed and grass-fed meats (mainly Australian), along with a large selection of cheeses, wines and spirits.

The new shop will also be introducing a complimentary beef dryageing programme to keep your meats at their best. featherandbone.com.hk

Winerack on the move In case you missed it, local wine and spirit vendor Winerack said goodbye to its original location on Hoi Pong Square and hello to a shiny new shop opposite Man Yee Playground. With a larger shop floor, the store can now feature even more alcohol.

If that’s not good news I don’t know what is. winerack.com.hk

Coffee Academics opens in the old town Popular coffee chain, Coffee Academics has opened its new cafe on See Cheung Street. The homegrown coffee house began its journey in 2012 and has since expanded worldwide across mainland China, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. The shop also features a moral painted by local artist Szabotage. the-coffeeacademics.com

Start off with a cleanse to reset physically and psychologically and draw a line in the sand. When you’ve drunk too much alcohol, eaten too much chocolate, dairy and animal products your body will be more acidic.

The higher your acidity level, the more alkaline minerals are needed to neutralise the acidity. Low or depleted minerals are often the cause of illness or health conditions, so it’s important (now more than ever) to keep those alkaline minerals topped up. Additionally the body often stores toxins in its fatty tissue, which is often why people put on weight (in addition to a calorie surplus) and sometimes find it difficult to lose it.

It’s not until your body’s alkaline stores are topped up that it can get rid of the toxins.

How do you do it?

If it’s your first- time cleansing, I suggest a green smoothie cleanse with lots of water. Here are the instructions in short for a three day cleanse:

•

DAY 1 - Adopt a vegan diet, no animal products, alcohol, tea, coffee or processed food.

•

DAY 2 - Adopt a raw vegan diet, think big salads and lots of fruit

•

DAY 3-5 - Start the smoothie cleanse, have as many as you like throughout the day

•

DAY 6 - Break the fast, ideally with fruit, keep eating raw vegan the whole day, you may also have soup

•

DAY 7 onwards - Slowly introduce other foods, keeping away from alcohol, coffee, animal products for as long as possible

What to expect You should lose weight and feel good by the end of the week. You may experience some ‘healing’ symptoms, i.e. headaches, tiredness and vivid dreams, if you have these please drink more water.

For more information about the cleanse visit: dragonfitnessandcoaching.com

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big day out

Take a ride on the wild side

Matt Eaton ventures over to Tai Po to test out the New Territories Cycle Network A few weeks ago I took a day off work to explore the New Territories Cycle Network that links Tai Po to Tuen Mun, a 50-plus kilometer ride that zigzags through the scenic suburbs of Hong Lok Yuen, Sheung Shui, Fanling and Yuen Long. The new section traverses various scenic spots including Kam Tin River in Yuen Long and Long Valley Wetland in Sheung Shui; as well as cultural attractions like Tai Fu Tai and Man Tin Cheung Park in San Tin. Ancillary facilities including rest stations, bicycle rental kiosks, tuck shops, first aid stations and toilets are also available en route.

While the bulk of these new tracks are quite enjoyable, the new initiative is not without its problems. Most of these problems are small, niggling interruptions, which you think could have been avoided by consulting the city’s thriving cycling community a bit more.

My trip started in Tai Po, where a good chunk of the cycling tracks are very smooth and on the whole quite pleasant.

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free wheeling I’m a huge fan of Tai Po and the addition of these tracks that begin in Tai Mei Tuk have made it a family favourite as travel restrictions remain in place. From Tai Po through to Hong Lok Yuen and into Sheung Shui it is a very enjoyable ride. There’s long, uninterrupted sections, it’s easy to navigate and there’s signs aplenty. Unfortunately, once you get past Sheung Shui and start making your way into Yuen Long, these new paths become fractured and at times difficult to navigate. Some areas you get a run of what feels like 500 meters before you have to either jump to another section, cross the road or work your way around these annoying steel barriers that have been plonked at almost every juncture.

One of the stranger aspects of these bike tracks is the guttering, which lifts about two inches off the path itself. Why they were not designed to sit flush is confusing. The most hilarious thing about this is the government’s patchwork solution to fix it. They have literally used pieces of scrap wood to soften the bumps.

Another flaw in the plan is the lack of signs telling you where they begin and where they end. Once you get to Yuen Long the path just disappears and there’s no sign directing you to where it reconnects. I have to admit it took me a while to get back on track.

The government’s own HKeMobility app is completely useless unless you know exactly where you are going. Despite these niggling issues, there are some stunning scenic sections that have Shenzhen on one side and the wetlands on the other, giving you this magnificent city and rural clash – something I love about Hong Kong.

Having just opened, it’s clear there is a lot of work to be done to improve, especially with an additional 22-kilometre extension to Tsuen Wan set to open sometime next year. On the whole it’s a step in the right direction as the number of twowheel warriors continue to grow.

How to get there Take KMB 299X to Sha Tin Centre and hop on the MTR to Tai Po Market Station and taxi to the start of the track. Riders must take their front wheel off when travelling on the MTR.

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SSAI KUNG | 29

chui sui central

The mysterious world down the back of your sofa Nury Vittachi ventures down the back Hong Kong electronics manufacturer Karuna Menon once told me he was in a friend's living room when he got the urge to stick his hands into the depths of the sofa on which he sat. (I'm never inviting him to my house). He felt something odd down there. He reached in and yanked it out. It turned out to be a piece of jewellery—a serious one, made of gold with real diamonds.

His host came back with the tea tray from the kitchen and was astonished at the discovery.

Sofa cracks are amazing places. I once found a fossilised French fry which appeared to be from the early Cretaceous period down the back of mine. The weird thing is that the sofa itself was less old, from the more recent Jurassic period. Explain that, Neil Degrasse Tyson.

And do you remember that news item about a nine-year-old cat pulled out of a sofa in Spokane, Washington, by an astonished woman who had been wondering why her couch had been making rather strange squeaking sounds? Then there was the boa constrictor found in a couch in Brooklyn, New York. The snake was taken to an animal shelter where she was named Sofie to commemorate the fact she had emerged from that most mysterious source of marvels: the sofa crack.

Your humble narrator was talking about this with some readers and Angela, based in Singapore, said she reckoned sofas were portals to “a parallel universe”. This is the most believable explanation of the spate of sofa-crack discovery new reports circulating just now.

Children are more aware of the magic than adults, frequently taking lucky dips.

Some sofas seem to be angled to empty coins and other objects from people’s pockets. “My sister and I had a lucrative way of raising funds beyond our allowance,”

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reader Thomas Seifert said. “We called it The Sofa Harvest.”

Serious treasures are regularly found, too. An unpublished 1836 manuscript from Hans Christian Anderson was found in a sofa. Photographs from famous snapper John Bellocq were found in a couch. Had it not been for nosy people like Karuna who stick their hands into people's settees, these masterpieces could have been lost forever.

A few years ago, UK teenager Rebecca Wells found a chocolate bar down the back of her sofa. She was tempted to put it straight into her mouth, but then changed her mind. Good thing too. It turned out to be a Cadbury's Wispa, a discontinued line of chocolate bar that had been wildly popular in the 1980s. She ended up selling it on e-Bay for 1,000 pounds, equivalent to $10,000.

Then there was the case in Nigeria where a killer dropped his knife down the back of a sofa, expecting it to disappear for good. Detectives reached into the dark vortex, extracted it and used it as evidence against him.

What is the biggest thing that has disappeared down the back of the sofa? I’m not sure, but I had a weird great-uncle who vanished mysteriously from a sitting room without anyone seeing him leave. He was last seen 20 years ago on a black leatherette three-seater in a small flat in Yau Ma Tei. He is now probably in a parallel universe. If you reach down the back of your sofa and pull him out, get straight on to the phone.

Call anyone but me.

Nury Vittachi is an award-winning author and journalist based in Hong Kong. He is best known for his comedy-crime novel series, The Feng Shui Detective. Contact him via nury@vittachi.com or through his public Facebook page.

horoscope

Written in the stars Professional astrologist and founder of the Healing Kingdom, Letao Wang, shares his insights on what the next year will bring thehealingkingdom.com

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Stay creative and youthful enough to discover the good in all situations this year.

Your capabilities and talents will begin to receive praise now like never before.

Banking upon your intuition would help you identify phenomenal opportunities that will accelerate your growth and development.

Your understanding of numerous subjects, belief structures and thirst for adventure Will continue to prosper this year. By maintaining calmness and peace, you will be able to adopt a spiritual healing practice and receive lifechanging opportunities from multiple directions to make money and significant hops in life.

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

You will be getting a boost of forward-moving fuel that will make you chase after your dreams and accomplish them with determination and utmost dedication. Game-changing moments will help positively transform your life and your hard work will be rewarded with an abundance of fruitful outcomes.

You will receive a boost in determination and the enthusiasm this year, to shine bright amid the existing competition. But prepare yourself for the different challenges coming your way. By bringing more sincerity and honesty to your responsibilities and job, you will reap better outcomes.

This year is all about maintaining your confidence level in order to receive fresh and golden opportunities. Getting a plentitude of accomplishment will motivate you to increase your efforts. Faith in your own abilities will set you on a favourable path of vigor, euphoria and excitement.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

Stride out of your comfort zone Leo’s, it’s time to accelerate your efforts in different areas this year. Life will thrust you onto a unique plan and will enhance your potential to bounce back from problems this year. By re-evaluating yourself, you will strive to attain the state of perfection in every realm of life.

You will be walking ahead with a can-do attitude and constructive frame of intellect this 2021. By opting for the path that will bring significant possibilities for you, you will be swift on your feet and opportunities will come knocking at your door.

Prepare for your whole perspective to be transformed this year as you submerge yourself in a varied culture. You will rocket to a respectable position on the work front and see your self-worth expand. By solving the issues at hand you will pace yourself and prepare for all challenges.

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

You are straightforward and dedicated to attain what you want in life. The wheel of fortune will favour you this year for your neverending determination. By conducting your energy into efficient channels, your spirit and passion might unnerve people working in your environment and elevate your sense of serenity.

Discovering new resources and plans as per the requirements of today’s testing time will work in favour for you this year.

Positive energy will keep flowing and recharge your mind and soul. Progress in all domains of life will push you beyond your limits.

ARIES You will be feeling empowered and on top of your life this year Aries. By Enriching your knowledge and exploring various realms, you will be able to claspe precious opportunities in one shot. Redefining the idea of perfection will help you acknowledge your efforts and perform the impossible.

As your steered by determination and confidence to succeed, there’s nothing that can slow your ambitious ride. This year you will be passing through the stages of transformational processes until you find the right track. Your efforts will bring lots of rewards and accomplishments.

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pets

Ask a vet

Dr Pauline Taylor on helping pets adjust to a new home What tips do you have for moving house with pets?

Moving home is as stressful for pets as it is for you. I suggest well in advance of the moving day, pets are introduced to their travel bags or crates and whenever possible it’s best to transport them yourself, if it’s a local move.

Before movers come, be sure to secure your pets to one area of the house or take them to a neighbours. Once you arrive at the new house, it is equally important to keep pets curtailed to one area or room. Make this area as comfortable as possible with feeding dishes, toys, bed and litter box. Depending on your pet’s behavior, you can let them explore a little more of the new home.

We are planning to move into a smaller house with two dogs, will they be okay?

When you move I suggest you try and keep to your normal routine, they do best with a set day.

If they normally get a one hour walk at 8am and 4pm try and give them that on the moving day, and thereafter.

If you watch your dog when it’s sleeping, they actually don’t need much space. If they

have a bed or basket, the dogs will probably jump in and snuggle up. You may find they sleep even more due to new and exciting smells and experiences.

Do cats run back to the old house when they move?

I’ve talked to clients who have told me about some miraculous journeys cats have made involving many kilometers and even over highways. Cats travelling like this have mystified scientists for a long time. Theories put forward liken these journeys by cats to ancient human travelers using the stars as a compass or being influenced by the Earth’s magnetic forces. At this time to my knowledge we really don’t understand how a cat can travel great distances by itself.

My cat has been hiding in our new place for a few days, is this normal?

This is very normal behavior for cats after a move. Your cat is exhibiting signs of anxiety and is afraid and you’ve probably been busy with less time to comfort her. If the behavior

continues or if your cat isn’t eating or drinking, beware. During stressful times cats can create medical emergencies for themselves, including difficulty or the inability to urinate or even heart attacks. Please make time for your cat and create a safe spot for her to feel secure and find her daily needs nearby.

Be patient but monitor her carefully. If you are soon to move your cat, make sure you tell her in advance what is going to happen, talk to her.

Dr Pauline Taylor, Pets Central veterinarian.

Is your pet insured?

Yvonne Ang from Lifelong Animal Protection Charity (LAP) shares her concerns for pets in old age Volunteering at local animal charity LAP, Yvonne Ang experiences animals getting abandoned due to their age everyday. “When pets get to a certain age medical bills and expenses go up, leaving some owners worried about the future,” says Ang. She believes owners should consider time, patience and medical expenses before adopting a pet in the first place, “I always repeat this information to each adopter, but there are still heartbreaking cases of pets being left on the street or put down due to their age.” As a way to encourage more owners to look after their pets during old age, LAP is partnering with a InsurTech company offering a medicial insurance coverage as a guarantee. “Pet medical insurance is actually a very important thing for owners and pets. We don’t know what happens every day to prepare for pets is true love,” says Ang. lap.org.hk

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marketplace

To advertise, email talk@hongkongliving.com or call 2776 2772

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marketplace

marketplace

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GET LISTED! 2776 2772

talk@hongkongliving.com

34 | SAI KUNG

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marketplace

What to plant in January January weather facts Average high temperature: 23°C Average low temperature: 10° Average rainfall days: 5 days January is an intolerable, bleak winter month but it’s the worst our garden will experience. We now stand at the start of 2021, a time of exciting beginnings and self-challenging endeavors. If you have doubt for your garden, appreciate uncertainty, for it keeps us planting. Chop chop, slap on your apron and roll up your sleeves. Let us roll in the dirt and dig our greens.

Use this time wisely by planting cuttings of Violets, Geraniums and Hydrangeas. If you’re looking to add some creepers to your collection, now is the time to put in beaumontia grandiflora, bignonias solanum wendlandii and tecoma capensis. Don’t forget to prune those allamandas, clerodendrum nutans and your plumbago capensis!

Moving onto our fruitful vegetable garden, tis’ the season to sow seeds of Chinese spinach, French beans. Peas, cucumber, tomato, sweet corn and Chinese long beans. Be sure to obtain your seeds from a reliable seedsman if you want a guaranteed germination. Earth up sprouted celery as required and give the beds a good watering.

Cuttings of the following flowering shrubs may be made at the end of the month: abelia chinensis, allamandas, barleria cristata, beloperone oblongata and buddleja asiatica.

Exciting news for your gloxinias. They may now be big enough to shift into their flowering pots, a new home for the new year - how nice.

One piece of advice: do not set your resolutions lightly, for when unfulfilled, they will haunt you at the end of the deed. Whatever plans and dreams you have for your babies, be responsible, plough through it and make sure they grow and thrive. Don’t worry if errors or unexpected issues arise. That is the way of life and so be it.

By William James Tutcher F.L.S. (1867-1920) Superintendent of Hong Kong Botanical Gardens.

Paraphrased from his seminal 1906 work Gardening for Hong Kong.

To advertise, email talk@hongkongliving.com or call 2776 2772

SAI KUNG | 35

council chat

Ask Debby

District Councillor for Sai Kung Islands Debby Chan answers your questions

to divert more buses and taxis from the pier bus terminus and Chan Man Road. The Transport Department has given us a positive response about this plan and hopefully we can begin next year.

What is the wild boar capture, and release project

What are some projects happening around town this year?

The consultation of dueling Hiram’s Highway (HH2) will be taking place until mid January. We expect the Highway Department to work on the comments they have collected and make a final decision.

What are your opinions on the HH2 project?

We need to improve the road, yet the current proposal is not the solution. The dual-way plan does more harm than good to Sai Kung.

The landscape will be lost by noise barriers and massive housing developments will be introduced.

We suggest improving the junction design and adding more car parks and public transport facilities to cope with the increasing traffic.

Please check out our petition before 19 January at bit.ly/37hikxr

Could you tell us about any recently submitted development plans?

Development plans tend to go quiet towards the end of the year. But there are two developments

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that are fighting hard to get through the Town Planning Board. The first is a proposal for 19 houses opposite the fire station and the second is a social welfare facility containing 1403 beds and 99 apartments next to the Park Mediterranean.

In March 2019 the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) decided not to renew its contract with the Wild Boar Hunting Team. Since it is difficult to stop people from feeding wild boar, the AFCD had to take action to keep the wild boar numbers in control and decided upon the trap-neuter-release method.

I was invited to observe the operation at Po Lo Che one evening. That night the AFCD anesthetized eight wild boars. Before any operation, they make sure the boars are in good condition and not pregnant, for pregnant boars they inject a contraceptive substance and monitor them closely. This kind of operation is new in Hong Kong so its effectiveness is still unknown.

How can Sai Kung utilise the bus terminus at Fuk Man Garden?

The Sai Kung North Bus Terminus first opened in 2008 as a way to divert traffic from the pier.

But since its opening, the terminus has sat idle with only two buses running on weekends and holidays dropping off there. Last year, the Transport Department altered some of the parking bays for tourist buses and we proposed

Debby Chan Ka Lam is the District Councillor for Sai Kung Islands. If you have council question for her, email us at editorial@hongkongliving.com

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