The elegant neighbourhood surrounding the historic Pok Fu Lam Village welcomed a new resident in 2018 – the International Culinary Institute (ICI), whose unique architecture has since added a touch of modernity to the ambience. “Salt, dubbed the ‘King of all Flavours’, is an indispensable seasoning that brings out tantalising flavours across all cuisines. Inspired by the shape of a salt crystal, our premises designed with multi-faceted forms, angular planes and juxtaposing lines also reflects our role in producing highly professional personnel in culinary and wine-related industries,” says James HP Yap, Principal of ICI.

Sean Affleck is a busy man.  It’s taken three attempts to meet, but the moment has finally come, and we stand chatting on the pool deck of Victoria Coast in Pok Fu Lam, an apartment complex he and his team have recently breathed fresh life into.  Sean’s tall frame, clad in a black suit, echoes the building he fondly stares up at.

“This is a mammoth’s tooth. Here are dinosaur teeth, spines, and eggs. Over there, you can see fish fossils. Do you notice the small fish inside the larger fish’s body? This is a museum-grade specimen.” Upon entering Lung Tak-chun’s Fossil Lab, I was immediately offered a guided tour of his collection. “Trilobites are my favourite prehistoric creatures. They look so artistic that the characters in the movies Alien and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind were modelled after them. Many people thought those animated characters were beyond the wildest imagination, but they are not even close to prehistoric creatures.”

Lively and chatty, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO) musician Michael Chan Lut-ting always wears a smile, and it wouldn’t be difficult to deduce from his powerful voice that he is a percussionist. Seeing music as his mother tongue, he plays the drums to speak his mind and calm himself down when he feels low. “Before playing the drums, I need to think about organising all the equipment in their right positions, which is a healing and calming moment.” In addition to bringing him psychological comfort, drum music has also widened the percussionist’s social circle:

See a large LED screen that you’re able to draw on freestyle, using only water to illuminate its thousands of bright white pixels, and you’d be forgiven for thinking, this is digital art.

Taking advantage of the fast fashion trend, consumers have been spoilt with wide choices of clothing while leading to the rapid growth of the fashion industry worldwide. Unfortunately, this has brought negative impacts on environmental protection and sustainability. Many manufacturers and consumers do not care about quality but affordability and the ever-changing designs to encourage a never-ending consumption cycle. The current short process from design to disposal wreaks long lasting havoc on our planet.

Waste is defined as anything that is no longer useful – but clear as it might seem, this statement is not always properly grasped. Question for thought: is everything you have discarded today absolutely useless?

In Chinese culture, girls from wealthy families are often nicknamed “Ms Thousand”, a term that emphasises their parents’ fortune rather than their own qualities. However, here in Hong Kong, some ladies are redefining the label as superwomen who strive for their goals with their remarkable resilience.

Goldfish scoop. Cat’s cradle. DIY slingshot. Do these ring a bell? Probably not for the younger generation, unless they have taken part in Anchor Children with Elders (ACE) Art 2023.

As leaves turn golden and the air becomes crisp, the Mid-Autumn Festival draws near. This traditional Chinese festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is the moment to celebrate the harvest, reunite with family, and appreciate the beauty of the full moon. It is also an occasion for expressing love and appreciation, as people exchange gifts, particularly mooncakes, which symbolise completeness and harmony. RÚ, the flagship Chinese restaurant from Nina Hospitality, presents three types of mooncake gift boxes with exquisite flavours. These include the classic White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Double Egg Yolk, filled with premium lotus seed paste and salted egg yolks; Mini Lava Egg Custard Mooncake that offers a velvety texture; and the delicate Mini Red Bean Paste Mooncake with Mandarin Peel. These mooncakes are available at Nina Boutique, and there is an early bird discount of up to 29% if order on or before 10 September. Take advantage of the limited time offer at Nina Boutique and make your celebration of this glorious festival complete.