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‘Being ready’ is not about a set of skills you need to make sure your child has before they start kindergarten. It is about preparing your child for this next transition in their lives so you can ensure that kindergarten is a positive and enriching experience for them. At Nord Anglia International School, we know that children develop best when they feel safe and secure. Our pre-schools create a caring and happy environment where a child believes that they are capable of anything. We also believe that building a strong relationship with the family supports the child’s development in all areas and we love doing this. Language skills Being able to express ourselves and be understood is very powerful. To develop your child’s language skills, you can support them by modelling simple sentences and phrases that they can imitate and use. Encourage them to express their needs verbally, using these modelled phrases. Be sure to engage in ‘real’ conversations with your child, where you take turns to talk and listen to one another. This will help your child understand the function of language and the joy of a reciprocal exchange. Social skills Many young children entering kindergarten may still be in the egocentric stage (concerned only for their own needs) and they will need support to prepare them for companionship (becoming aware of others and their needs and feelings). You can help to prepare them by visiting parks, play areas and places where they share the space with other children. To develop your child’s social skills, play simple games that require turn taking and sharing, and model turn taking and consideration. Talk about feelings and emotions and look at pictures of what the feelings may look like in others. Praise your child when they listen and recognise the feelings and needs of others. Independence skills It’s important to develop some practical self-help skills with your child to prepare them for kindergarten. Can they get dressed and go to the bathroom by themselves? Can they cope without you for part of the day? Can they ask for help if they need it? Remember, a kindergarten’s role is to nurture and teach your child, in partnership with you, so if your child cannot do the above perfectly, a good kindergarten will understand its role to continue to develop these self-help skills. Emotional readiness Emotional development is another key consideration as your child approaches kindergarten age. Consider the following questions and talk them through with your child’s teacher before they start kindergarten: How does your child deal with frustrations? Can they comfortably spend time apart from you? How do they like to be comforted? How do they approach new people and new tasks? When the big day finally arrives, do not rush the settling period. Allow your child time to get to know their teachers and carers and become familiar with the environment and the new routines that will be structuring their day. If your child is not used to being separated from you, gradually increase the separation time, making those periods manageable – your child will soon come to realise that you always return. And never underestimate the power of your child seeing you building a relationship with their teacher. When your child sees you trusting the adults in the setting, they will often follow suit. Lastly, be mindful that the kindergarten teacher should be asking you lots of questions, so they can get to know your child and how best to support them. This information helps a teacher respond individually to a child, thus supporting them to feel safe and secure. FIND IT: Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong has campuses in Lam Tin, Tai Tam and Sai Kung. Contact 3958 1428, www.nais.hk

Simple, healthy and quick to make, these fabulous fish dishes taste every bit as good as they look Salmon with salsa verde (Serves 8) 4 salmon fillets* 6 spring onions, sliced* 16 whole black peppercorns 8 green chilli peppers, chopped fine 2 limes, zest and juice* 680g tomatillos, husks removed 1 large white onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped* 150g coriander leaves, chopped Fry the salmon fillets, skin side down, for about 6 minutes until the skin is crispy and golden. Turn carefully, then cook for a further 2 minutes. Set aside. Fry the spring onions, peppercorns, 3 chilli peppers and the zest of one lime for 2 minutes, then add the juice of one lime. Spoon the chilli and lime infused oil over the salmon. To make the salsa verde, fry the tomatillos, searing them on both sides. Remove from the heat. Pulse the cooked, chopped tomatillos, the juice of one lime, onion, garlic, coriander and 5 chilli peppers in a food processor until combined. Drizzle the fish with the salsa verde or serve it as a side. Gurnard with peas and cider (Serves 2) 1 small onion, finely sliced 1 garlic clove, finely sliced* 2 gurnard fillets* 2tbsp plain flour 75g peas* 200ml dry cider 2tbsp parsley, finely chopped 1tbsp mint, finely chopped Fry the onion and garlic until soft, then set aside. Dust the gurnard fillets in the seasoned flour. Return the pan to the heat and fry the fish, skinned side down. Cook for about 2 minutes, until it is nicely browned on one side. Return the onion and garlic to the pan. Add the peas and the cider and simmer for 4 minutes. Make sure the fish is cooked through then divide it between two warmed plates. Return the pan to the heat, and stir in the parsley and mint followed by a knob of butter. Simmer until the sauce is thick and glossy. Spoon the peas and sauce around the fish to serve. Snapper with three cheese sauce (Serves 2) 2tbsp butter* 3tbsp flour ¾tsp salt 1/8tsp nutmeg ½tsp mustard powder 118ml milk ¾tsp lemon juice* 50g each cheddar, gruyere, emmental* 2 snapper fillets* Preheat the oven to 200°C. In a saucepan, melt the butter and blend in the flour, salt, nutmeg and mustard powder. Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens. Add the lemon juice and grated cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted. Place the snapper fillets in a greased baking pan. Cover with the cheese sauce and bake for 20 minutes. Garnish with fresh rosemary and basil to serve. FIND IT Eat The Kiwi, 9785 5706 (WhatsApp), hello@eatthekiwi.com , store.eatthekiwi.com Eat The Kiwi delivers high quality New Zealand groceries* to DB on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12pm and 6pm (order by 10am, Monday/ Wednesday). Delivery is free for orders over HK$1,000, and costs HK$120 for orders under HK$1,000.

Dreaming of a road trip from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock, Dorothy Veitch conjures up never-ending desert landscapes, mighty rock formations and big skies Alice Springs Rather than flying into Ayers Rock Airport, you’re better off making Alice Springs your gateway into Australia’s awe-inspiring Northern Territory (the Red Centre). Some 460 kilometres from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, and halfway between Darwin and Adelaide, both 1,500 kilometres away, Alice Springs is one of the most remote towns in the Australian outback. You’ll find it’s packed with history, indigenous art and opportunities for wilderness adventure. The Arrernte The five-hour drive from Alice Springs to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park opens up an extraordinary landscape of desert plains, mountain ranges, waterholes and gorges. This is Arrernte Aboriginal Land and it runs as far west as Kings Canyon, and as far east as the Simpson Desert. The iron-coated red sand is set against a deep blue sky that seems to roll on forever. Hidden in the Spinifex grasses and Mulga trees, you spot goannas, snakes, eagles, kites, budgies and, of course, kangaroos. Mount Conner On the drive through the Arrernte, you catch sight of flat-topped, sandstone-capped Mount Conner, known locally as Fool-uru since tourists often mistake it for mighty Uluru (Ayers Rock). Mount Conner sits on private land, so if you want to do more than admire it from a distance you need to book a tour through Curtin Springs Station. Lake Swanson You can also view Lake Swanson, one of seven salt lakes within Curtin Springs. This arid salt mass stretches to the horizon – it’s not the place for a swim. Travelling on, you get your first glimpse of Uluru from almost 100 kilometres away. At that moment, as you stand in awe before the world’s largest monolith, you’ll understand why I recommend you drive into the Red Centre from Alice Springs. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Arriving at Yulara, a little village about 18 kilometres from Uluru, you’ll find multiple accommodation options, varying from camping grounds to fancy resorts. Before you head into the park, be sure to gen up on general safety information. Stop by the Cultural Centre to pick up your visitor’s guide, get a feel for how the park is managed and learn about its iconic rock formations. Uluru (Ayers Rock) You’re here to see Uluru, one of the great wonders of the world, 348 metres high, 3.6 kilometres long and 1.9 kilometres wide. It’s best viewed at dusk and again at dawn. As the rock changes colour, mirroring the sky around it, you’ll appreciate why Uluru is a sacred part of Aboriginal Creation Mythology, or dreamtime – reality being a dream. Kata Tjuta (The Olgars) Kata Tjuta (The Olgars) is the second big-ticket sight in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Kata Tjuta is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘many heads,’ and this incredible rock formation comprises 36 sandstone domes spread over an area of more than 20 kilometres. To fully appreciate the magnificence of Kata Tjuta, there is a beautiful two-and-ahalf-hour hike through the Valley of the Winds to Karingana Lookout. Kings Canyon There are plenty of trails to explore in and around Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and, if you’re up for it, Kings Canyon Rim Walk at first light is a must. It’s a 6-kilometre round trip, with the first part of the hike – up ‘heart attack hill’ – being the hardest. After taking in the sublime views, a series of wooden steps lead you to the shady verdant glades of a hidden oasis – the Northern Territory’s very own ‘Garden of Eden.’

Revisit Middle-earth, Hogwarts and Never-Land with your kids this Halloween. Getting to know Frodo Baggins, Harry Potter and Peter Pan will set them up for life, writes Ray Robertson There are multiple reasons why authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling and J.M. Barrie continue to captivate young readers. Their ability to take us into a fantasy world where magic is a natural part of everyday life is just one of them. The greatest books provide more than just a ‘good read,’ they actually impart goodness and wisdom; they support and carry us through life. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (1955), the Harry Potter heptalogy (2007), and Peter Pan (first written as a play in 1904) are all perfect examples. These stories have some really tough life lessons to impart (that have nothing to do with magic or the supernatural), and this is one of the reasons we continue to read them to our kids. But we also continue to read them to our kids simply because kids love them. Children connect to the vulnerability of the characters, they live vicariously through their potentially fatal challenges and, when the last page is turned, they return to their real lives having survived death by the Nazgûl, Lord Voldemort or Captain Hook. Middle-earth The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a profound, classic example of beautifully written fiction, it shows kids what literature – or more specifically, fantasy – is all about. First and foremost, it’s a thrilling adventure story, an epic battle (of good versus evil) for Middle-earth. Immersed in a mind-blowingly complex fantasy world, what children learn about is their own reality. There’s a lot of bravery to be found and fear to get through before the ‘happily ever after.’ Tolkien’s Middle-earth is epic in every sense. He writes as if he were recounting both history and legend, and draws children into a world that feels every bit as real as their own. As they walk the gardens of the Shire, sleep under the stars and climb the slopes of Doom, kids grow alongside and befriend the fellowship – Froddo Baggins, Sam Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, Pippin Took, Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli and Gandolf – and all those who fight with them. They mourn their deaths, and glory in their triumphs. Through the story, children come to a new understanding of the nature of good and evil. They feel the slow-rising tide of temptation, of power, of the Ring. They wrestle with the complexities of pride and humility. They witness the heroic virtue of self-sacrifice, and they learn to cherish friendship. Overcoming their fears alongside Frodo and Sam, and witnessing their bravery, children find their courage. Middle-earth’s fate is placed in the hands of ‘little people’ like themselves, so kids learn that they too have the potential to stand up for what is right – and that they must never give up. The Lord of the Rings also has a fiercely inclusionary message to impart – Men, Elves, Dwarves and Hobbits overcome their differences to come together and fight Sauron. As the ferocity and size of the battles increase, children come to understand war in a very real way. It’s presented not in a romanticised way, but with all its complexities, horrors, great losses and triumphs. Tolkien fought in the First World War, and he weaves his experiences into his story. Interestingly too, his central female characters are warriors – they are not the sort to sit by the hearth, rather they are there to save the day. The Lord of the Rings is also deeply relevant to young readers in the way it encourages a deep appreciation for nature. Tolkien’s heroes live in harmony with Mother Earth, while his antagonists seek to destroy and manipulate her. What’s more, The Lord of the Rings is profoundly spiritual – those who seek to destroy the Ring of Power are helped by something greater than themselves, kids are introduced to the concept of an after-life (Valinor, the Undying Lands) and of rebirth (Gandolf the Grey returns as Gandolf the White), Hobbits show them the value of simplicity and goodness. Although Tolkien swore that The Lord of the Rings is not allegory, it is undeniably full of metaphor. Hogwarts Young children reading Potter for the first time may focus on the classroom banter and the potion-making but as they get older, they find that Rowling’s books have a lot to teach them. Again, a battle for power unfolds in a fantasy world populated by witches, wizards, Muggles (men) and all manner of magical creatures; good triumphs over evil (real-world evil not the supernatural kind) and friends stick together no matter what. Essentially what kids learn through reading the heptalogy is courage. It becomes easier to stand up to a bully at school once you have fought Lord Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange and Dolores Umbridge alongside Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. Bravery means standing up for what’s right and acting on it even when it’s hard; intelligence, loyalty and nerve are important; our choices determine who we are. Children learn that it’s wrong to be prejudiced or to seek power over others. Anyone who was disturbed by Rowling’s recent comments about transgender people should note that in the world of Potter, children are taught always to support and be accepting of those who are ‘different.’ Only people like the Malfoys use the word Mudblood, Hermione sets up the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare (S.P.E.W.) in response to the unjust treatment of house-elves at the 1994 Quidditch World Cup. Kids are encouraged to empathise with outsiders and to stand up for anyone who is mistreated simply for being themselves – Harry, Luna Lovegood, Professor Lupin and, of course, Dobby the House Elf. The characterisation in the Harry Potter heptalogy is incredibly complex and there are amazing role models for girls as well as boys in these books. At the same time, children learn that people (even Dumbledore and Snape) aren’t all good or all bad but a mixture of both. A classic coming of age story, Potter provides an introduction to the iconic hero’s journey – kids reading the books for the first time, literally grow up with Harry. They walk with him on the road to maturity and experience his breakthroughs (and setbacks) as if they were their own. Never-Land Underneath all the fun and fairy dust that has allowed the play to transfer so well to the world of pantomime and Disney, J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan has some equally important lessons to share with young readers. There’s evil to overcome (Captain Hook may be a bumbler but he’s a bona fide baddie) and a homeland to fight for, family and friendship are all important. Children are introduced to the idea of death, which Peter expects will be an awfully big adventure, and they learn that everyone (apart from Peter) has to grow up. Of course, kids love all the good magic that’s expressed in Peter Pan – you can fly if you think lovely, wonderful thoughts, you can save a fairy’s life by clapping your hands. So, is it that which makes them love the 116-year-old story? Yes. But only in part. The other side of it is that kids, like adults, actually like to suspend disbelief every now and then, and really feel the fear. It’s fun for them to get so caught up in Peter Pan that they scream when the wicked pirates (or the ticking crocodile) come near. What they are enjoying is the thrill, the hyperarousal of the fight-or-flight response within safe parameters. It’s true that Peter Pan can cause nightmares (none of us has ever really gotten over the horror of Tootles shooting the Wendy Bird), but, generally speaking, the fears children experience in a story like this are manageable. By age seven, most kids know the difference between what is real and what is not and, once they are able to do this, most can cope with the scares they experience in the make-believe world of a book. Kids can handle the fears they face in Never-Land because Never-Land doesn’t actually exist. Kids are instinctively drawn to scary things because they rely on the continuing safety of the real world. And in the real world, there are no evil fairies, malicious mermaids or wicked pirates – and your parents are always there to protect you. Reading Peter Pan means visiting places where impossible things are suddenly, temporarily, possible. It gives kids the chance to experience a really potent fantasy and almost live it, without any of the consequences. They get to experience fear in a controlled environment (in the fantastical world of the play) in the safety of their own homes. The best children’s books are written in such a way as to help kids differentiate between what is real and what is not. A common device sees a book open in the real world, one with which young readers are familiar, that is populated by characters not unlike themselves. Then, after a page or two, something happens to these characters, which means they transition into a world of make-believe. So it is that in Peter Pan, The Darlings are woken up by a magical boy, whom they have already met in their dreams, and they fly with him (second turn to the right and then straight on till morning) to Never-Land. Children know when the bridge between reality and fantasy has been crossed, and they adjust their fear threshold accordingly. In reading Peter Pan, children are left in no doubt of their happily ever after.

Most advice on staying healthy starts with getting a good night’s sleep. Not only does your mattress affect how well you sleep, but it also has a huge impact on your posture and mood. With so much at stake, buying a mattress is an important purchase and it can be hard to know which one to plump for. Apart from the common factors such as size, firmness and material, maintenance and purchase policy are also important factors that you should keep in mind. Here are five things that you should consider when you are buying a mattress. 1 Which size should I get? Consider the physical space you need in order to be comfortable in bed. When at the store, make sure you try the mattress with a pillow. Without it, you will instinctively lie further up and overestimate the space available for your feet. If you sleep with a partner or your kids, visit the store together to see what size and models would accommodate everyone comfortably. Okooko carries both standardsize and custom-size mattresses, all made of natural organic latex. In the past, they have made custom mattresses with round and irregular shapes for yachts, and for big families, they can make super-long mattresses that are up to 3.6 metres wide. 2 Should I choose latex? Consider what goes into making your mattress because you’ll be sleeping on it every night. The most common materials for mattresses on the market are metal spring coils, polyurethane (PU) foam, memory foam and latex foam. Different brands use these materials in all sorts of combinations. Coil mattresses are the most common and probably the most familiar. However, coil mattresses tend to have a short lifespan and the metal springs often squeak as they get older. Polyurethane and memory foam are both petroleum-based. Memory foam is at the higher end compared to polyurethane. However, due to their chemical nature, foam mattresses often trap heat and are less elastic. In comparison, latex mattresses are very elastic and can hold their shape much longer than spring or foam mattresses. Okooko’s Heveya® organic latex mattresses can easily last more than 10 years without losing support. Besides that, latex has an open-cell structure, making it very breathable and cool to sleep on. 3 How firm should it be? There are really no rules when it comes to this one, but only guidelines. The secret is to check your spinal alignment in your preferred sleeping positions. Achieving a neutral spinal alignment when lying down is an excellent indicator of good pressure distribution. It shows that your body weight is well-supported and there are no excessive pressure points anywhere. Available in multiple levels of thickness and firmness, Okooko’s Heveya® organic latex mattresses cater to all kinds of builds and preferred sleeping positions. 4 Is it easy to clean? Here in Hong Kong, the top two environmental triggers for allergies are dust mites and mould spores. A mattress that is resistant to these allergens and comes with a removable and washable cover is ideal. Okooko’s Heveya® organic latex mattress cores are hypoallergenic and you can have the bamboo cover cleaned as often as you like. Furthermore, it’s important to pair your mattress with a bed base which allows it to ventilate as a poorly ventilated bed base can quickly become a gallery wall for mould. The team at Okooko recommends you choose a slatted bed base as it allows air to pass freely beneath your bed, keeping your mattress fresh and fungus-free. 5 The bottom line When purchasing a mattress, the most important thing is that you lie down on it and see how it feels. The Okooko team always recommends that customers come to the showroom to try out the Heveya® organic latex mattresses. They also offer a 100-day free trial guarantee, which means you can be 100% sure that you’ve made the right choice. FIND IT: Okooko by European Bedding, 13F The Plaza LKF, 21 D’Aguilar St, Central, 6286 1132, www.europeanbedding.hk

DB designer Kevin Chu is taking his sustainable design concepts to the next level with a little help from science and the sun. Elizabeth Kerr reports First thing’s first. Despite what kind of rumours might be floating around out there, designer Kevin Chu’s series of photocatalysis-enhanced lamps do not eliminate COVID-19. They never have, and they never will. The chemistry-based surface additive used on them “is not a cure, but it reduces transmission” of the bug, he explains one afternoon in Pizza Express in DB Plaza over a refreshing Peroni. Photocatalysis is not a magic bullet, but it’s not snake oil either. Kevin has been working with environmental cleaners in his interior design work at COC Design (www.coc.design) and now with product at I Am Sugo. He’s added biophilia creations to his credits, but for him the concept is far from a bandwagon to hop on. He’s been at it for six years. Kevin looks as switched on as he did back in 2018, when he and his Italian wife, Giulia, were talking about environmentally sustainable design over coffee in IFC. Since then there have been some major changes in his life –an opportunity to reposition his design philosophy and products in light of COVID-19, and the birth of a son. “Man, he’s a lot of work. Sleeping is a luxury for me,” Kevin says with a laugh. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you here today, to grab a beer, and just get out of the house for a bit.” The ‘poor dad pose’ is bluster, though. As Kevin swipes around for photos to show me of his nearly two-year-old, he stresses he hopes he’ll be able to be the kind of parent that encourages his children to do what makes them happy. That doesn’t mean he can’t lament the terrible twos. The conversation rambles and weaves, covering everything from the initial, brutal impact of coronavirus on Italy, where Giulia still has family, the fresh hurdles he’s faced in supply chains thanks to petulant trade disputes, the upcoming American election, and Apple’s court fight with Epic Games. The primary topic, however, is photocatalysis. Kevin’s magic lamps In a nutshell, Kevin is using an improved version of a photocatalytic additive on a series of light fixtures and lamps that react to a wide spectrum of light to passively clean our environment. The concept has been around since the early 20th century, with major breakthroughs coming from Japan in the 1970s. Kevin’s been working with it for six years, and this past summer, he won the 2021 German Design Award (GDA) for the sexy and functional FLY lamp. The GDA is bestowed on products that are more than just good looking, and the lamp’s ceaseless photocatalytic properties made it stand out. “Even as a discarded material it’s actually doing something. It’s still working,” says Kevin. “That’s why the GDA gave us an award. And it’s applicable to anything, not just the lamp.” Currently Kevin’s additive (the tech itself was refined by a local lab, BLG) starts life as a milky white liquid that goes into interior finishings that are applied to various surfaces in the home, from lamps to varnishes. Kevin claims their compound (certified safe and effective by labs in Hong Kong and Germany) is able to cleanse the environment of up to 70% of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in three minutes once the light is on — including viruses and bacteria. The bigger the surface area it covers, the better it works. But, there’s a difference from older versions. “So why is this so different? It’s light-based but it’s not necessary for a light to be on all the time. If it’s off it still works,” Kevin notes  enthusiastically. “And existing nanotech has been proven to get into the body and cause some cancers. The particles used in this are about 100 times bigger, and so can’t get into the bloodstream. The gamechanger for us is that we can make an additive for your paint and redo your house. The application is endless.” Kevin and his scientific partners are working on a version that can be embedded into all kinds of materials for everyday usage, which isn’t a crackpot idea either. Between 2012 and 2015 the European Commission experimented with adding a similar compound to construction concrete in Copenhagen, Holbæk and Valencia to mitigate air quality. They recorded a 5 to 20% reduction in pollutants in a year. Kevin is still working on getting the scientific paperwork together that would support the compound’s ability to mitigate the presence of things like swine flu viruses and other coronaviruses, including COVID. Needless to say, “You need a level four laboratory for those tests, which are not easy to get into under normal circumstances, and they’re slammed now,” he admits. “But there are ways to get it done, and we’re exploring those.” On show at Gallery Jeeum But Kevin is first and foremost a designer, and the lighting options he’s created blend science, sustainability and art without losing their style, and prove the three elements indeed go together. The photocatalysis series includes the elegant, birdlike FLY; Guilin, a stylised mountainscape; the Rain pendant that recreates the ripples of drops on water; the Hutong, mirroring the planning of old Beijing; the striking leaf design of the Foglia; and the fun and funky Omino stickmen with lightbulb heads among others.(Science details and design are both at www.iamsugo.com ). When looking to debut his creations in Hong Kong, Kevin found an ally in Gallery Jeeum owner Shin Eunhye. From the first of this month, the gallery in DB North Plaza is featuring some of Kevin’s sculptural installations in a hygienic space. “Gallery Jeeum is the first place in the world to exhibit the Guilin light sculpture and the FLY lamps in a public space,” says Kevin of the special editions he created for the show. “Shin argued there were no art galleries in DB but there are people who like art – who maybe don’t want to head all the way to Central for it,” Kevin says of the gallery which opened in February this year and, as the little sister of the acclaimed Seoul-based Jeeum, represents hip, contemporary artists from all over the world. “During COVID, nobody cares about beautiful things. But we need to, especially right now,” he adds. “Shin saw the potential in paying a bit more for a bigger piece and so she went for it. This goes beyond just sustainability. Things can be designed to be actively working for the environment.” Through COC Kevin is trying to make his cleansing additive a standard part of all his institutional work (hotels, offices, restaurants), as well as for consumer product like furniture going forward. The manufacturing batches are small for now, so the lamps aren’t IKEA cheap, but they’re not bank-breakers either. “These are absolutely for everybody,” he stresses. Just don’t expect miracles.

Though steeped in Moorish history, Andalusia, in the sun-baked deep-south, is the quintessential Spain. Dorothy Veitch recalls how Seville and Granada left her wanting more Exploring Seville Seville, the capital, is the life and soul of the Andalusian region. In this spirited and passionate city, the atmosphere – rather like a good flamenco performance – creeps up and taps you on the shoulder when you least expect it. Oozing history and a whole lot of charm, the beautifully preserved old town (Barrio Santa Cruz) is rooted in the Middle Ages when the Moors controlled the whole of the Iberian Peninsula. Catedral de Sevilla Built in the early 16th century, Catedral de Sevilla is the largest Gothic cathedral and the third largest church in the world. Its lavishly gilded nave rises to a height of 42 metres and houses some truly inspirational devotional paintings. Further highlights include the monumental tomb of Christopher Columbus, and the Giralda, the mighty bell tower, which incorporates the former mosque’s original minaret.   The Alcázar Opposite the cathedral is the Alcázar: The oldest and possibly the most beautiful royal palace still in use in Europe today. Originally built by Moorish kings in the 12th century, it’s rich in Islamic influences but it’s been remodelled over the years and now presents a unique blend of architectural styles – Gothic, Renaissance and Romanesque. Parque de María Luisa Stretching along one bank of the Guadalquivir River, the orange trees, palms, Mediterranean pines and stylised flower beds of Parque de María Luisa were first planted in 1911. There’s 800 metres of parkland and botanic garden to explore, dotted with lakes, fountains, bowers and pavilions. The park is also home to the Plaza de España, which film buffs will recognise from both Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002). Getting to know Granada Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Granada was the last stronghold of the Spanish Moors and their legacy lies all around – particularly in the horseshoe-shaped arches, street stalls and teterías (teahouses) of the historic Arab quarter. As the sun sets, make your way up to the Mirador San Nicolás lookout point for fabled views of the Alhambra served up with a tasty side of tapas. The Alhambra A grand, sprawling hilltop fortress dating back to the 11th century, the Alhambra is one of the most visited national monuments in Spain. First developed as a walled town and military stronghold, it enjoyed its heyday in the 13th century, when it grew into a Nasrid-designed citadel and fortress, home to sultans and their entourage. Check out the beautiful palaces before exploring the ornamental gardens built on the Hill of the Sun. The Bañuelo Unearthed at the bottom of a private house, at the foot of the Alhambra, the Bañuelo hamman (steam baths) date back to the 11th century. You can’t take a dip in this painstakingly restored national monument but you can admire the beautiful Arabic porticos, and the dazzling vaulted ceilings, which are studded with star-shaped skylights. Sacromonte Sacromonte has been home to Granada’s Romani inhabitants since the 16th century. Located on the hillside at Valparaíso, northeast of the Arab quarter, it’s renowned for its cave dwellings, flamenco clubs and music schools. Climb the hill to explore the catacombs and underground cave chapels, and stay on ‘til late to enjoy some of the best flamenco in all of Spain.

You can’t change the fact that stress will show up in your life, but you can learn to change the way you respond to it. Mindfulness educator Sherry Yasay reports From a very early age, most of us learn to label ‘stress’ as negative or bad. To find out if this is true for you, stand in front of a mirror. Now think about the word stress, or if you’re feeling daring, think about exams, university applications, a recent pay cut or even better, someone at school or work – a teacher or fellow student, boss or colleague – who stresses you out. What do you notice? Do you see any sudden changes in your facial expressions? Are you frowning? What about verbal reflexes? Do you find yourself sighing, groaning or even growling? How about your body language? Do you feel any tightness or pressure in your body? And do certain thoughts instantly pop up? Maybe you even see someone’s face. Maybe your mind automatically jumps to a specific memory. As you stand in front of the mirror, you may not feel you are doing much, however just by taking the time to understand how you react to the word stress, you can gain real insight into how you function. Do you see how one simple word alone has the power to impact you both physically and mentally? Most of the time, these reactions happen so fast, they’re so automatic, we aren’t even aware of them, that is until we really try to be. To handle stress, we need to understand how we react to it and what our triggers are. (We all have these triggers – you know the ones that give you an immediate headache or a knot in your stomach or make you feel like you want to run for the hills.) By noticing what emotions show up when we feel stressed and by seeing how our bodies react, we can regain control. Becoming self-aware gives us the power to change the way we respond to stress – and to build resilience to it. Become resilient What does it mean to be resilient? Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. It follows that a person who is resilient has a positive relationship with stress. They have a clear understanding of what they need to do to face challenging times and, in some cases, thrive. Someone who is identified as demonstrating or having resilience is able to ‘roll with the punches.’ The key difference between someone who is resilient versus someone who is not, is that resilient individuals work positively with stress and are able to identify and call on the resources and support they need to bounce back. In fact, the more resilient we are, the less stress we experience – we have developed the knowledge and self-awareness to navigate life’s many ups and downs. It’s never too late – or too soon– to become resilient. Resilient children find it easier to manage the negative effects of stress; it doesn’t leave them feeling anxious or uncertain. They feel free and safe to experiment with new things through trial and error. This in turn allows them to develop a growth mindset, embracing a ‘can do’ attitude. Children come to understand that the most important question to ask themselves is not did I win or lose but what did I learn from this experience. They recognise that perceived failures are a part of life. Rewire your brain In order to understand how we can build resilience, we first need to understand how stress impacts our brains. We all know that stress can have detrimental effects on our bodies, but how does it affect our brains? A negative mindset to stress is most commonly highlighted by three main reactions. The first is that the mind overthinks challenging situations. This in turn leads to higher levels of stress and it results in a snowball effect of obsessive thoughts and anxious ruminating. As our thoughts become chaotic and we replay scenarios in our minds, the third reaction kicks in, which is tunnel vision. Our overwhelming bombarding thoughts cause our brains to stress so much that we go into panic mode. Tunnel vision is induced by fear. When we get stuck in the fear zone, we find it difficult to see the bigger picture and the positive, creative possibilities in front of us. As our perspective shrinks, so too does our tendency to connect with others. We tend to play into our worst-case scenarios and we often feel disconnected. This feeling of isolation can lead to further anxiety and an inability to cope. So how can we avoid falling into this cycle of negativity and self-doubt? Well, we can teach our brain new tricks. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s amazing capability to change and adapt to suit our needs. If we rewire our brains to handle stress differently, we become better able to cope with challenging people and situations. And how do we rewire our brains? Through mindfulness. Afterall, you cannot change what you are not aware of. Practise mindfulness Mindfulness is a practice that can help us become more attuned to our bodies and minds. We simply take a moment to check in with ourselves and ask: What am I feeling right now? Where do I feel it in my body? By strengthening our minds through this simple yet powerful practice, we become aware of the subjective experience of stress; we realise that stress is simply part of the human experience. We grow our ability to step back and acknowledge our stress without labelling it as bad or negative. From there, we can make the transition from reacting emotionally to responding logically. Cultivating a mindfulness practice and learning to integrate it into our daily lives builds and nurtures resilience – we become observers, open to and inquisitive about our own thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations. The self-awareness that mindfulness brings allows us to recognise difficult emotions, and the thought patterns and bodily sensations that come with them. Through this self-awareness, we begin to understand how to balance and reduce the negative impact of stress, so that we can respond positively to it and work with it. A consistent mindfulness practice can help us see things in a different light. For example, instead of mulling over a stressful situation and spiralling into negative thinking patterns, we can intentionally shift our perspective. Mindfulness helps us step back and gain clarity; it allows us to practice the pause. We learn to put aside defeatist questions like: Why is this happening to me? And instead, we start to ask ourselves: What can I learn from this experience? What is life trying to teach me? Now have another look in the mirror and another think about stress. But this time instead of getting stressed out, be curious and open about how your stress is showing up – take the opportunity to practice mindfulness. 5 ways mindfulness can help you beat stress 1.Understand what your stress triggers are 2.Become aware of how stress shows up in your body and what thoughts it brings up 3.Step back and gain clarity – respond to your stress, don’t react to it 4.Shift your attention away from obsessive negative overthinking 5.Reflect on the positive outcomes that could result from the situation you find yourself in DB resident Sherry Yasay is a licensed mindfulness educator and the founder of The Mindfulness Community, a platform promoting mindfulness practices. She works with children and adults both one-to-one and in groups. For information about classes in DB, contact Sherry at 5967 5170 or syasay@gmail.com .

Spending more time at home and in bed, and still struggling to get enough Zs? Now’s the perfect time to pay more attention to one of the most (if not, the most) important pieces of furniture in your home – your mattress! Concerned that you’re getting a greater exposure to toxic chemicals in your bed than anywhere else? Investing in a mattress and other bedding products made of luxurious eco-friendly materials will ensure you rest easier. In your pursuit of the ultimate night’s sleep, look no further than Okooko by European Bedding, a Belgian company, with a store in Central, that focuses on natural and sustainable bedding products. Its Heveya® mattresses are made of 100% natural organic latex, tapped from organically grown rubber trees that grow free of pesticides and fertilisers. Heveya® mattresses are made without any springs, synthetic foams or glue, which means you don’t need to worry about toxic off-gassing and electromagnetic radiation issues. Heveya® organic-latex mattresses are also the perfect solution for people who are prone to allergies. The latex core is breathable due to its open cell structure and pinhole design. This ensures perfect moisture regulation and enhances the mattress’ natural ventilation capabilities. Dust mites, mould and bacteria simply don’t thrive in natural latex. In addition, Heveya® mattresses are incredibly easy to clean since they are encased in a sustainable bamboo cover which is easy to remove and wash. Recommended by chiropractors, latex mattresses are well-known for the excellent support and comfort they provide. Due to its elasticity, latex conforms to your body shape, promoting good spinal alignment. Heveya® organic-latex mattresses are designed with seven comfort zones which correspond to each section of the body’s curvature in order to promote good spinal alignment. This in turn helps alleviate back pain. Body pressure is also well distributed, which results in  better blood circulation and allows your body to relax fully. Available in multiple levels of thickness and firmness, Heveya® organic-latex mattresses cater to all kinds of builds and preferred sleeping positions. What’s more, each king-size mattress is customisable with dual firmness options. With one firmer and one softer side, both partners can enjoy the personalised body support that suits them individually. No more compromising! Of course, there’s more to a conducive sleep environment than a great mattress. You also need to pay close attention to your bed base, pillows and bed linens. At Okooko by European Bedding, you can find adjustable, slatted bed bases made of FSC-certified beechwood, super-supportive organic-latex pillows, and luxurious bamboo lyocell sheets, all of which work together with your Heveya® organic-latex mattress to create a healthy, comfortable and, above all, natural sleeping environment. Talk to the sleep consultants in the Central store to find out which options are most suitable for you. Sleep, being the most important human need, is definitely worth investing in!     Find it: Okooko by European Bedding, 13F The Plaza LKF, 21 D’Aguilar St, Central, 6286 1132, www.europeanbedding.hk

Tired of burning the steak, cremating the sausages and serving raw chicken? Here’s how to barbecue to perfection Sirlon Steak with Soy (Serves 8) • 1 cup soya sauce • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar • ¼ cup olive oil • 4 garlic cloves, chopped • 1tbsp pepper • 1tbsp ground ginger* • 1tbsp honey* • 1 (3lb) sirloin steak* In a shallow dish, combine all the ingredients except the steak. Add the steak, turning to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or overnight. Prepare your grill for indirect heat. Grill the meat on both sides, covered, over medium indirect heat until cooked to your liking. (For medium-rare, an internal thermometer should read 57°C; medium, 60°C; medium-well, 63°C). Sausage skewers (Serves 8) • 2lb Italian sausage* • 1 large red pepper* • ¼lb jalapeno peppers • 1 large red onion* • 1 (12fl-oz) can beer • ½lb mozzarella*   Cut the sausage, red pepper, jalapeno peppers and red onion into chunks and place in a large bowl. Pour in the beer. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Prepare your grill for indirect heat. Alternately thread the sausage, red pepper, jalapenos and onion onto skewers. Cook over medium-high indirect heat, turning regularly until the sausage is evenly brown and the vegetables are tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Melt the cheese over the hot ingredients during the last few minutes of cooking. Southern-style chicken Serves 5 • 2tbsp brown sugar • 2 large cloves garlic* • 10 chicken drumsticks* • ½ cup onions, chopped fine • ¾ cup ketchup • 2tbsp white wine vinegar • 2tbsp Worcestershire sauce Mash the brown sugar and garlic together to form a paste. Coat the chicken with the paste, then marinate in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight. Prepare your grill for indirect heat. In a small saucepan, fry the onion until soft. Stir in the ketchup, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce; bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes. Barbecue the chicken on medium-high heat until lightly browned on all sides, about 1 minute per side. Baste with the sauce and cook over indirect heat for another 10 minutes; turn and baste again. Continue to grill the chicken until the juices run clear, 10 to 15 minutes. Eat The Kiwi, 9785 5706 (WhatsApp), hello@eatthekiwi.com , store.eatthekiwi.com Eat The Kiwi delivers high quality New Zealand groceries* to DB on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12pm and 6pm (order by 10am, Monday/ Wednesday). Delivery is free for orders over HK$1,000, and costs HK$120 for orders under HK$1,000.

Enterprising DB student Leo Bartu-Hong is spreading a little much needed magic, two kids at a time. Elizabeth Kerr reports About 30 minutes into a suitably socially distanced chat with young Discovery Bay magician Leo Bartu-Hong, he performs a trick involving my ‘favourite’ playing card. I choose the queen of clubs — because she’s queen. Leo absently glances around, saying the card name to himself as he shuffles, and asking for certainty on my part. He fans the standard looking deck of bicycles, face up, and on second fanning a single card is face down. He gently waves the deck at me, hinting I pull it out. Indeed, it’s the queen of clubs. He repeats the trick, this time with the five of hearts, to the same result. His hands have been visible the whole time. It’s baffling. Leo, 11, has been purveying his card and visual tricks since 2018, when he became what has to be one of Hong Kong’s youngest business owners with Kiddy Magic ( www.kiddymagic.org ). He may not be registered with the Inland Revenue Department yet, but Leo has business cards, and with his long shaggy hair he’s the picture of a hipster entrepreneur. “I’ve always been active that way,” he says of the origins of Kiddy Magic. “Not really for traditional business, more for enterprise.” He can’t really explain why, and his taste for commerce is even more curious given Swiss mum is a meditation instructor and his Taiwanese dad is a mathematician. Leo started ‘working’ at around six, by selling lemonade, books and compost water outside his house, and later home-made iced lollies at the beach. Still, he’s more Bill Gates than Jeff Bezos. Kiddy Magic runs on a pay-what-you-can donation model. “It doesn’t feel right to demand HK$300 dollars from another kid for a show, and I don’t want people who are less wealthy to feel like they’re missing out,” Leo explains. “Those who can afford it pay more, and those who can’t pay what they can. It’s worked out pretty well.” Using his illusions Indeed it has. The Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) student has come a long way, in a short time, from performing ‘street tricks’ around DB Plaza and his first official performance, a show at a birthday party, which he admits was a bit of a flop. “It was really bad. I learnt never to do card tricks for children. They were so bored,” he deadpans, before breaking into a chuckle. But Leo plugged on, kept practising, and found himself a mentor – well-established DB magician César Rocher, 13. Also a student at DBIS, César (@cesar_magician) has been growing his reputation as a kids’ entertainer in DB since 2017, and he’s been happy to share his art – and his client base – with magic buddy Leo. The boys continue to perform together from time to time, most recently at a couple of outdoor shows earlier this year. Leo scored his first paid solo show aged nine on the heels of some good old-fashioned word-of-mouth. A friend of his mum’s was fretting over cancelled entertainment for a party and Kiddy Magic stepped in. That was a success. “I got paid a lot. It was, like, HK$1,000!” Leo recalls enthusiastically. “A thousand dollars and a free cookie for half an hour? I thought my life was sorted.” Born in Hong Kong and a resident of DB his entire life (except for the first few months which he spent Kowloon-side), Leo is shockingly mature and adjusted, but still 11. He was bitten by the magic bug at age four, after his godmother bought him a magic set (a deck of cards and a wand). He lost interest as he got older, but magic clips on YouTube prompted him to dig the kit out of storage. His ‘earnings’ from Kiddy Magic – right now consisting mostly of small-group workshops for kids aged five to nine – go right back into the business. Leo has a repertoire of 30 individual tricks, and three flowing, interconnected routines rather than a series of gags. A show can run up to two hours. And there’s more to it than sleight of hand, Leo has clearly worked out what it takes to be an entertainer. “At the start of a show I ask everyone’s name,” he says. “They forget my name, but when I throw out a ‘Hey Greg,’ they’re always amazed. You need to have that connection with your audience.” One of the many slightly novel things about Leo is that he doesn’t have a mobile phone – and doesn’t really care. “You don’t need a phone to do this kind of stuff. I do want one but my mum doesn’t want me getting addicted to it – it’s happened to other kids – and she wants to keep my screen time down. I think she’s right. I use her phone to WhatsApp friends, and I send emails.” So he hasn’t been tempted by Apple’s new ‘affordable’ iPhone SE? Nope. “It has a price that’s just so high,” he says. “It’s crazy.” Another novelty? Leo loves documentary films. His normal weekend viewing comprises a Marvel 616 film on Saturdays – the ones that take the Marvel (DC Comics) stories and put them into historical, cultural and societal context. And then on Sundays, he enjoys a doc chaser, something like Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things or Netflix’s snarky social experiment 100 Humans: Life’s Questions. Answered. Well, he’s mostly 11. Admittedly the COVID-19 lockdown has been challenging and if Leo had his way, he’d be in class rather than in front of a computer screen. He spent some of the winter lockdown in Taiwan, where he brushed up on his magic in Mandarin (on top of French and English), but he admits to missing the ‘normal’ school day. “I didn’t like the hours; it was about eight every day. It’s too many hours online. It’s too much,” he states of the disrupted school year. At the time of writing, (we meet in the middle of August), Leo has no idea what the new school year will bring. He might even be heading to Zurich to stay with the uncle who taught him his earliest magic tricks. Magic powers After Leo packs up his magic kit, now a considerably more extensive affair which comes with its own silver hardcase, his mum picks him up at the café; she’s the third person and so not allowed to join us. It’s easy to see where he gets his sense of egalitarianism, as she notes that however flawed conventional education may be, take it away and kids suffer, creatively or developmentally. Filling the gap where school should be is vital, and she hopes her son is helping to do that. Ask me and I’d say that’s exactly what he’s doing. Leo loves to hear from clients who go home thinking, “Wow.” He also prides himself on the ‘angry’ emails he receives from parents who can’t get their kids to stop practising after a show or workshop. A look at the reviews on Leo’s website more than confirms his mastery of magic and just as importantly, his ability to entertain. “Leo is one of the best kid magicians I have ever known. Book him now to have the best magical time of your life,” reads one. Another: “Leo is a natural entertainer. His passion for magic and laughter is contagious!” And: “Leo came to our place in DB for a private show and workshop. He managed to keep the 10 kids (three to five-years-old) entertained for one hour! He is a great entertainer, magician and teacher. We all learned three cool tricks.” All that being said, magic is likely to remain a hobby for Leo, or at least a side line. Though he’s just heading to secondary school, he already has bold career ambitions. “I want to create a solution to the climate crisis,” he finishes. “I haven’t done a lot of science in school yet, but I’d love to create a truly biodegradable material.” Talk about a magic trick.

Home to breath-taking beaches, lush hiking trails and landscapes you’ve seen in 101 movies, Hawaii has Dorothy Veitch at hello 1. Island hopping A volcanic archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, and the northernmost island group in Polynesia, Hawaii comprises eight major islands and hundreds of smaller ones spread over 2,400 kilometres. Try to visit at least three – Oahu, Maui and Big Island (officially Hawaii Island) – for a tantalising mix of beach bumming, surfing, jungle treks and mountain climbs. 2 Waikiki, Oahu Oahu, known locally as the Gathering Place, is where most visitors get their first taste of Hawaii. With every amenity available on tap, you’re free to enjoy the best beach holiday ever, with a large helping of Hawaiian hospitality thrown in. Waikiki main beach, which is credited with some of the world’s best sunsets, is a first port of call. Here you can relax on the sand, catch a couple of waves and then party with the locals after dark. 3 Waimea Bay, Oahu Stretching over 11 kilometres, Oahu’s North Shore attracts the best surfers in the world in the winter months but in the summer, the massive waves become much more manageable, making it the perfect spot for beginners to get into the sport. The surfer resorts of Waimea Bay, Ehukai Beach Park and Sunset Beach have a more laidback, alternative feel than nearby Waikiki. 4 Kapalua, Maui Less commercial than Oahu, Maui, with its plunging cliffs, lush rainforests and pristine beaches, delivers everything you’ve come to Hawaii to see. Known as the Valley Isle, it’s encircled by 48 kilometres of glorious beach, notably crescent-shaped Kapalua, which is sheltered from strong currents by gigantic lava-rock promontories. Time your visit right and you can spot the humpback whales that swim from Alaska to Hawaii from December through May. 5 Haleakala National Park, Maui Haleakala National Park, with its rolling green valleys and rainforest streams, is a highpoint of any trip to Maui. Covering a vast 135 square kilometres, the park is home to the island’s highest peak, dormant Haleakala volcano (elevation 3,055 metres), as well as the plunge pools and waterfalls of Oheo Gulch. The best way to get there is on the dramatically scenic Hana Highway – navigate hairpin turns and narrow bridges to soak up jaw-dropping  views. 6 Hapuna Beach Park, Big Island For many, Big Island, the largest in the archipelago, reigns supreme. While its diverse terrain encompasses rainforests, waterfalls and coffee plantations, it is also known for its coloured-sand beaches – green at Papakolea and black at Punaluu. Hapuna Beach Park and Kahaluu Beach Park in the west are popular snorkelling sites, where you can swim with dolphins and manta rays. 7 Kilauea, Big Island Big Island’s Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kilauea (elevation 1,247 metres) and Mauna Loa (elevation 4,169 metres). Head here to witness molten lava flows, heated steam vents and huge summit caldera. Hiking is permitted, and you can also take a once-in- a-lifetime drive tour around the summit of Kilauea and down Chain of Craters Road to the sea. 8 Mauna Kea, Big Island Big Island also homes the tallest mountain in Hawaii – Mauna Kea. When measured from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over 10,000-metres high, which makes it taller than Mount Everest. The world’s largest observatory for optical, infrared and submillimetre astronomy sits atop Mauna Kea. Take the opportunity to stargaze and be awed by the limitless sky above.