Performing Arts Events for November 2011

Published exclusively in this site on 31 October 2011.

From now until Sunday, 20 November 2011

This year we have gone through the Mexican Film Festival, the Polish Film Festival, and the German Film Festival. How could we call it complete if we mitigated our own motherland? So here comes the Chinese Film Panorama, which has been ongoing since our handover in 1997, and continuously acting as a bridge for Hong Kong in getting to know more about our roots, through airing its latest films. The selection of movies they are bringing on screen this year include ones with shining casts, such as the Law of Attraction, Eternal Moment, and Color Me Love. I have always been interested in short stories, and the Laws of Attraction, starring Karen Mok and Zhang Jing-chu, consists of several bittersweet tales on love and attraction in a big city. Eternal Moment, on the other hand, is based on a popular TV series in China, featuring Li Ya-peng and Xu Jing-lei, playing out how love is like in Mainland nowadays. Want to get a glimpse of life in contemporary China? Mark down the schedule and grab your tickets for screenings at the Hong Kong Film Archives and Hong Kong Space Museum!

Piercing Luxury - Interview with Kelly Chan, Handbag Designer of Vicious Venom

First published in Elysiants on 7 December 2011.

It might just be a bit of an over-generalisation when I say lawyers are thought of to be using their right brain more and their left brain less, and Kelly Chan, the founder and designer of Vicious Venom, is out there to prove me wrong. As an ex-lawyer, she found a release for her innovative side through creating edgy handbags that gives a whole new meaning to luxury clutches. She is kind enough to spare some time from her designing to clue us in as to where her inspirations come from, and how her bags make a great conversational piece as well as a self-defense tool!

Something Worth Watching - Tudor Grantour

First published in Elysiants on 8 December 2011.

You can tell time easily with any ol' iPhone, so when you are looking for a watch to wear, you are looking for something that can do more than just telling time. You need a head turning conversational piece where people would be in awe with, and the new Tudor Grantour does just that. This new collection redefines the iconic brand, embodying modern and sophistication as well as balancing style and technical performance.

More Fashion Events for October 2011

First published in part at Zeuz on 26 October 2011.

5:00pm on Thursday, 27 October 2011

Samantha Chang is a Hong Kong raised, America educated designer who is celebrated in New York's circle, known for her contemporary lingerie collection that creates smooth, feminine silhouettes, and Flaunt will be hosting their very first Samantha Chang Trunk Show on Thursday, 27 October 2011, from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, at their showroom on Lyndhurst Terrace.

For those of you who attend this exclusive event, you will be lucky enough to be fitted and styled by the designer herself, as well as getting the one off chance in previewing and pre-ordering her 2012 S/S collection, so shop along while enjoying the fantastic wines and nibbles! There will also be a lucky draw for any purchases of the Samantha Chang collection that evening, so make sure you RSVP now for this fantastic event!

Ideal Dates in Hong Kong

First published in NecesCity, Hong Kong's only online daily lifestyle guide for men, distilling everything from dining to nightlife and money matters to style, on 25 October 2011.

Have you been scratching your hair out in planning for an innovative date? Hong Kong is known for being a compact city, having activities that can cater for virtually everyone, so I am sure there is something out there that will be fun for both you and your date! Here are a couple of ideas that will keep you going for a while:

Wakeboarding in Sai Kung

If your girlfriend is the outdoorsy type who doesn't mind getting her hair wet, then you should take her out and try all the water sports in Sai Kung! Kei Ling Wakeboard Club, Sea Dynamics, and Wakeben all offers English classes, and the equipments are inclusive, including the speedboats. If the two of you are opting for a fun class then you might want to go for Kei Ling Wakeboard Club or Sea Dynamics. However, if you two are the studious type and want to learn all the fundamentals at a thorough beginners' class, then you should head to Wakeben, where they will walk you through the wakeboarding theory in the first two classes, then hit the waves in the last four. If you feel like you have had enough of wakeboarding, they also hire jet skis and kayaks.

Symphony Under the Stars - A Space Odyssey 2011

Published exclusively in this site on 24 October 2011.

Can it get any better than watching movies outdoors in the cool autumn breeze? Actually, it can! Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is hosting their annual complimentary outdoor concert, Symphony Under the Stars, at 7:30pm on Friday, 11 November 2011, in the Happy Valley Racecourse Recreation Ground. Although the concert is free, you still need to grab the tickets to attend, which are available either from selected Tom Lee, or register with HKPO website starting from 10:00am on the coming Friday, 28 October 2011.

Restaurants in Hong Kong

First published in Expat Arrivals on 19 October 2011.

Hong Kong is definitely the place to experiment with food, with everything from Egyptian meals to molecular cuisines available. Whether you are a vegan or an Islamic, you will still be spoilt with a mind-boggling amount of choices, with a varying budget to suit your style.

Wanna know what restaurants I would recommend? Read the rest of the article at Expat Arrivals!

KINO/11 - Recent German Film Productions

Published exclusively in this site on 20 October 2011.

From tonight until the end of the month, there is a wide range of recent German film productions being screened around town, so all you germanophones out there should start planning your schedule around it! This year's theme is on history and its relations with the present, and the 13 featured films will all focus upon this topic. I would definitely recommend going to the free screening of short films at the roof garden of the Fringe Club starting 7:30pm on next Wednesday, 26 October 2011, where they will be showing a successful German-French collaboration with everything from bizarre to touching to hilarious.

More on Hangzhou - My Top Picks on the Touristy Activities

First published in Elysiants on 19 October 2011.

I have listed a few places to stay, visit, eat, and shop in Hangzhou on my previous article. However, there are lots more to do in Hangzhou than merely just that, being one of the most celebrated touristy towns since ancient times. There are spectacular shows to watch as well as place to visit for those of you who are health conscious or artistically inclined. Here are a couple of sites I would recommend:

Hangzhou - a Luxury Guide to Heaven on Earth

First published in Lifestyle Asia on 17 October 2011.

Are you looking for a relaxing yet luxurious short trip between now and Christmas? What about Hangzhou? Widely known among the Chinese population as the heaven on earth, it is the back garden of Shanghai, with both spectacular scenery and historic attractions. Now is definitely the best time to go, when the weather is comfortable yet misty. You can take your loved ones out on an exclusive rowboat ride on the West Lake, Hangzhou's most famous tourist attraction, as well as the adrenaline fuelled tide watching at Qiantang River. This is the place where you can spoil yourself silly with local delicacies and soothing massages!

Wanna know where else I would recommend for your stay in Hangzhou? Read the rest of the article at Lifestyle Asia!

Online/Offline Fashion - Tiare Boutique

First published in Elysiants on 6 December 2011.

Are you looking around for something unique to wear? Tiare, the city's latest online and physical women's wear store, is here on the rescue with the hottest LA and NYC brands. They carry exciting brands including Paper Crown, which is the most recent collection by Lauren Conrad, and Tiare is the first to launch the brand in Asia. Their pieces are feminine, yet understatedly elegant, creating an effortlessly classy look.

More Art Events for October 2011

Published exclusively in this site on 14 October 2011.

It seems like there are just way more art events than we can ever imagine, which are spreading towards the New Territories. Now is probably a good time to explore neighbourhoods like Fo Tan and Tsuen Wan, which are places that you have seen on the MTR route map, but never thought of setting foot in.

5:00pm on Saturday, 15 October 2011

Wai-see Chung is hosting an opening reception for his solo exhibition in Room 502 at tomorrow afternoon, 15 October 2011. With painting, the artist intends to express his life experience as a visual diary. Also a musician, the artist finds that the future is uncertain yet filled with turbulence and negativity, eating away our unique personality. On another note, Room 502 also holds workshops and classes for the community to use art as an effective medium for personal exploration, so make sure you check out what courses they will be offering while you are there!

Cole Haan Boots Styling Event

Published exclusively in this site on 13 October 2011.

As I previously mentioned, Cole Haan is managing a pop-up shop at Element right now, and tonight, 13 October 2011, they will be hosting a styling event, featuring their latest 2011 F/W boots collection. The event will kick off with a model presentation at 7:00pm, followed by expert stylist dishing out advices on how to choose your perfect boots. Since we are anticipating cooler weather anytime in the near future, this is a great opportunity to shop for trendy accessories! RSVP now by calling 2234 7679.

Lingerie with Love - Opening Reception of Avec Amour Boutique

Published exclusively in this site on 13 October 2011.

Doing anything tonight? What about popping by Avec Amour, the city's latest lingerie boutique, and celebrate their opening with them? The party starts from 6:00pm onwards tonight, 13 October 2011, and if you get there super early, you might just be lucky enough to grab a gift bags worth over $800! RSVP here now.

Tangram 2012 S/S Private Presentation

Published exclusively in this site on 12 October 2011.

Courtesy of Fred Lam Photography

Maybe you are the type who likes to think ahead. Or perhaps you are planning for your Christmas getaway to Australia or New Zealand. Or maybe you just like to look at beautiful things. In any case, you should RSVP for a sneak peek of Tangram's 2012 Spring/Summer collection tomorrow night, 12 October 2011, from 6:30pm to 9:00pm. You will be guaranteed to a night of colourful clothing and overflowing champagne!

Interview with Gillian - A Third Culture Kid Living in Hong Kong

First published in Expat Arrivals on 6 October 2011.

About you

Q: Where are you originally from?
A: Hong Kong raised Canadian.

Q: Where are you living now (city + suburb)?
A: Hong Kong.

Q: How long you have you lived here?
A: I have moved back for 5 years.

Q: Did you move with a spouse/ children?
A: No.

Q: Why did you move; what do you do?
A: I am originally from Hong Kong.

Wanna know more about me? Read the rest of the article at Expat Arrivals!

Shopping for a Worthy Cause - Aroxta Night Out

Published exclusively in this site on 10 October 2011.

Shopping has never been so gratifying. Aroxta, an amazing bags and jewelry shopping site, is building up to their official online launch in December 2011 with a series of nights out event, where the best of their collection will be brought to you in real life. The first event will be held on the coming Wednesday, 12th October 2011, from 7:00pm to 10:00pm, at HomeBase Club, a hip and happening club on Hollywood Road. The best part of the event is that 5% of all sales proceeds from the evening will go towards the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, an amazingly worthwhile cause for that Aroxta is supporting.

Art Events for October 2011

Published exclusively in this site on 7 October 2011.


Known for being a cultural desert, it is amusing to see just how many art events Hong Kong is hosting at any time. May is rather obvious, with Le French May and ArtHK, but it seems like October is rather packed with treats for art lovers as well. Let's see where we can be visiting over the weekend.

Friday, 7 October 2011

Last Sunday, 2 October 2011, my mom and I were invited by Koru Contemporary Art to the opening vernissage of Fine Art Asia, and I must say it was rather enjoyable. It wasn't just art that we managed to set our eyes upon, as there were lots of antiques as well. Since my mom loved the exquisite antique silk textiles and costumes from the imperial courts of China, it was like a kid visiting a candy shop to her. The embroidery on the collection from Teresa Coleman Fine Arts was beautiful, and I must say, the symbols of authority on the imperial robes were somewhat intriguing, since it really isn't so intuitive. Who would have thought that pheasant symbolises literary refinement and education?

Fashion Events for October 2011

Published exclusively in this site on 6 October 2011.

Sunday, 2 October 2011

Hong Kong just never fails in claiming its title of being the shopping paradise, and these few weeks in particular, there are just an overwhelming amount of fashion events to attend. On the last Sunday afternoon, Winnie, Kelly, and I were invited to Chanel Fine Jewellery's event, where they displayed their latest collection, Camélia Brodé. It was full of the sparkling, airy motif of camellia, giving it a timeless look. The pieces would go great with both your little black dress, as well as paired with jeans and jacket.

Perfect Fit - Interview with Emily Ma Richardson, Director of Flaunt Boutique

First published in Elysiants on 9 January 2012.

Flaunt, a well established online lingerie shop, just threw a massive party last Tuesday, 27 September 2011, to celebrate the opening of their first physical boutique. I was lucky enough to have caught Emily Ma Richardson, the mastermind behind Flaunt, for a private tour around her collection. As a certified bra fitter, she clued us in with what we should look for when we are buying a bra, as well as why her shop comes equipped with masculine leather couch, a handful of magazines, and a fridge full of beer!

Culture Shock in Hong Kong

First published in Expat Arrivals on 28 September 2011.

Overview of Hong Kong

Expat culture shock in Hong Kong may not be as traumatic as you would expect, especially if you are from an English speaking nation. Hong Kong is a former colony of Britain, and as a result, the locals’ English proficiency is rather high. Moreover, the religious and cultural tolerance of those living here is quite broad, so it is normal to see Indonesian domestic helpers praying towards Mecca in front of a post office on a Sunday, just proximal to Falun Gong followers practicing in front of the Court of Final Appeal on a daily basis.

That being said, Hong Kong has a population of more than seven million people, so the crush of the populace can be daunting, as are some major differences with the small things in life. For example, Hong Kongers are generally an American size 0, a British size 6, or an European size 32, so expats will inevitably face situations where well-meaning salespeople with limited English vocabulary confront you with: “NO YOUR SIZE! YOU TOO FAT!”

The good news is that there are plenty of resources to mitigate the culture shock in Hong Kong. You can join Necescity (for men) or Sassy Hong Kong (for women) to ease into the local culture, with the help of others who have been there and done that. Additionally, respective national Chamber of Commerce’s regularly organise events where you could meet up with people from home and share your scary Hong Kong stories. HK Magazine and CNNGo.com also provide accurate observations on the locals, and supply information about events as well.

Wanna know more about what I find uniquely Hong Kong? Read the rest of the article at Expat Arrivals!