Singing has long been celebrated for its storytelling power. Hakka people, for instance, are traditionally accustomed to conveying their feelings with folk songs when they are working in the fields. While these expressive vocals are disappearing in Hong Kong, one can still enjoy them thanks to a repurposed Hakka village house in Lai Chi Wo – where a score of recordings, authentically sung by old residents, and lyrics are available for visitors to savour.

Setting off for Mui Tsz Lam, a group of hikers followed the paved trail from Lai Chi Wo. Suddenly, one of them stopped, gently showing everybody what was on her hand. “This is cotton locust,” Human Ip told her enthusiastically. “Its hind legs are full of spines and…” She went on to elaborate on the insect’s features, starting from its biological properties to its association with iconic Japanese manga character Kamen Rider. “Coincidental encounters of this kind are what fascinate me most about Mother Nature. Nice surprises beyond imagination are there for you to explore.” A writer-cum-painter, Human has a consuming passion for animals and plants. In 2019, she was invited to create site-specific murals in Mui Tsz Lam, an initiative aiming at revitalising the once prosperous Hakka village. “I drew my inspiration from the natural environment. What’s on the artwork can be found in the neighbourhood,” adding that villagers’ sharing has been one of the building blocks of the creative concepts.

Hiking is a popular way to appreciate the breath-taking landscape of Hong Kong. With easily accessible hiking trails, the city welcomes visitors, local and overseas, to take a stroll in the great outdoors to enjoy sweeping views of its picturesque countryside and admire its natural wonders.

Many may see visiting the museum as a leisure activity or a real eye-opener. But for those who are aware of the scarcity and uniqueness of the exhibits, it is an amazing cultural encounter worth cherishing. “Having the chance to come face-to-face with these historic treasures, I may say, is somewhat coincidental,” said Chan Shing-wai, who has over 30 years of experience in conservation. Standing next to the million- of-year-old wood fossils at Nina Park, the veteran conservator spoke very frankly about his admiration for this unusual cluster in natural history. Nina Park, an outdoor urban parkland adjacent to Nina Hotel Tsuen Wan West and forming part of Nina Mall, is set to open in Q4 this year, showcasing a remarkable collection of near 100 ancient wood fossils. The natural heritage dated back to an era of active tectonic activities between 2.6 and 5.3 million years ago. While buried trees completely decay within a few years under normal circumstances, woods instantaneously buried deep underground in volcanic ash will eventually become petrified as they are protected from decomposition by water and bacteria, thus making them so rare and precious.

There is no sure win in the soccer world. All-star teams do not necessarily have an advantage over their counterparts, as they may not have the same team spirit as their opponents do. The philosophy also holds true in the workplace where teamwork makes a real difference and, sometimes, even earns accolades. Chinachem’s security team lead Wong Hiu-sing, along with three team members, recently won the Gold Award at the Best Security Personnel Awards (Industrial/ Commercial; New Territories South) 2021-2022 organised by the Hong Kong Police Force for their courageous, selfless and professional rescue efforts in a car accident that happened near Nina Mall last year. “My instinctive reaction was to get all trapped passengers out. Being a hero wasn’t my intention at all,” recalled Wong, who was patrolling outside the Mall with her colleague Yeung Hon-ming when a deafening noise was heard. The next second they saw an overturned mini-bus on Yeung Uk Road with smoke belching from it. Wong, acted as the “commander-in-chief”, immediately rushed to the scene and requested for assistance from the control room, while asking Yeung to grab a fire extinguisher to cool the vehicle down.

Dressed in a crisp white shirt, the “approaching 40” Angus Chan, CEO of Pine Care Group, cuts a friendly figure as he sits at his desk, speaking candidly and enthusiastically about his work. Dozens of colourful action figures line the shelves behind him, watching closely, poised to intervene at any moment if necessary. His childhood and the subject of empathy come up when Angus talks about his eclectic range of action figures. Having bought his first when he was in kindergarten, Angus has never stopped collecting the toys which today number more than a thousand, from nostalgic Japanese cartoon characters such as Saint Seiya, Dragon Ball and Gundam, to Marvel legends.

Wing the clock back only a decade or two, and you’d probably struggle to find a mainstream Hong Kong company talking about ‘employer branding’. That doesn’t mean it didn’t exist though, it did, we just called it something else. And that something else was ‘culture’, in particular ‘company culture’, a term we’ve been familiar with for centuries. We’ve all been asked, “what’s it like working there?” It’s a perennial question posed in coffee shops and bars the world over. But thankfully these days, responsible employers take the answer more seriously. However, creating a strong employer brand doesn’t happen overnight, it’s not spin; it’s not going to magically appear by simply sticking motivational posters on the break room wall. creation of an authentic culture, one that people are proud to be a part of, requires company values that resonate with those it’s seeking to employ, and of course retain. Remember, your brand is your reputation, and crucially how people talk about you over coffee or beer has a fundamental impact on how your business will perform long term.

There has been a sharp increase in the awareness of environmental issues and climate change in recent years. This has driven fundamental changes in lifestyle and personal consumption. The growing momentum of sustainable behaviours must continue to effect lasting and meaningful change. However, as the world celebrates a return to normal’, environmental concerns have taken a backseat to vacation vengeance, revenge spending, determined feasting and more. Who isn’t figuring out how to make up for lost time? In 2021, global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) rebounded 6.4 percent in 2021 to a new record, and increased again in 2022, according to data from IMF’s Climate Change Indicators Dashboard and the Global Carbon Project, respectively. The creation of a ‘new normal’ presents a historical opportunity to rewrite our environmental future. We can’t just go back to consumerism and mass consumption habits. If the pandemic taught us one thing, it is that our individual actions and decisions, however small, do affect the environment and contribute to climate change. In other words, we have the power to impact our environment. The idea of a green or sustainable lifestyle can feel intimidating, but you can make a big impact with some small actions. We can define our ‘new normal’ as a more responsible way of living.

Simplicity means appreciating the little things in life and therefore inevitably involves refocusing on the basics, which may take even more efforts to achieve. Taking the “Less is More” concept very seriously, a team of three, amid a prevailing trend for needless extravagance, has been committed to transforming RÚ at Nina Hotel Tsuen Wan West into a dining place refreshing diners’ taste buds, eyes, and hearts in one go.

Sheung Wan, where the history of modern Hong Kong began, perfectly exemplifies how the juxtaposition of tradition and modernity works exceedingly well. While the district is the place to go for dried seafood and antiques, it is also home to countless art galleries and chic eateries. And on Hollywood Road, one of the oldest streets in town, there exists a chill spot that will take you on a voyage of discovery of the art from Asia. “Our Archive is at the intersection of history and contemporaneity,” said Susanna Chung, Head of Learning & Participation and Programmes Manager of Asia Art Archive (AAA). With a particular focus on contemporary art, AAA houses over 120,000 art historical records at its physical library in Sheung Wan and on its website, all of which are made accessible to the public free of charge. But it is no ordinary library. Instead of reminding readers to keep silence, this unusual salon encourages visitors to engage in active exchange and dialogue through in-house educational programmes held all year round.

Imagine this… you’re 30s at the gym, lifting weights, taking a spin class, finishing the day contorted in a yoga pose. It feels unreal, doesn’t it, that at this age, while you’re at peak muscle performance, you’re starting to lose muscle mass. Muscle loss happens to everybody. And it can begin as early as age 35. But for those with sarcopenia, muscle mass is lost at a much faster rate. Sarcopenia is the chronic and progressive muscle atrophy that occurs with ageing. It causes walking difficulties, increased risk of falls and fractures, and even inability to perform daily tasks, making it a crippling condition for seniors. The resulting loss of independence can have a devastating effect on their physical and psychological well-being, placing a significant burden on the healthcare system.

Having a long history, Yuen Long is not only famous for its cultural heritage but also its recent rapid development of new residential areas and its comprehensive transport network, leading to an influx of many young families. It has become a place infused with traditional and modern elements, as well as both indigenous inhabitants and newcomers. The Chinese name of Yuen Long signifies a full, plentiful area along a river or lake. Located in the town for over three decades, the 30,000-square-foot Ho Shun Fook Shopping Centre has been refurbished and renamed Shun Fook Barn. Targeted for a soft grand reopening in the second quarter of this year, Shun Fook Barn brings many surprises to the community with its new tenant mix, including the Michelin- awarded hidden gem Tai Wai Dining Room, top Taiwanese bubble tea brand Kung Fu Tea, local premier food market PPF Mart, and more.