I was wondering if you knew of where I can get a Zen alarm clock here in HK  I know they are made in Shen Zen for an American company. Do you know if they are available here?

Dear Peter:

i understand that there are 2 kinds of Himalayan salts.. the fine version for seasoning and the coarse version for bathing, and if edible as many are, also for seasoning.

the only place i found was at Nature's Garden, but they only carry the fine salt version for seasoning. do you know where i can find the coarse version for bathing?

i know they have at least 1 shop in HK that sells that as i bought a bag from some retailer a couple of years back, but there is no contact details printed on the bag unfortunately!

thanks for your help.

kindly, 
V.K.  

Dear Vee

Thanks again for your enquiry. I don't know where to get coarse salt but will ask around. Its funny I have just been looking into importing himalayan salt to HK, most probably the fine variety. I'll let you know if anything comes of it.

Best
Peter

Another question... In Australia we have the Mind Body & Soul Festivals twice a year and this is where you practitioners/businesses hire stall to promote themselves and then the public pay an entrance fee, then view the stall holders, book readings, buy products etc.  Is there anything like this in Hong Kong ?  If so, where can I get this information?

Holistic Fairs – These happen twice a year and are organised by Ruby Ong from Reflections. They are usually in June and December, we just had one at the beginning of June. Her contacts are 2504 1333 or e-mail reflection@pacific.net.hk

Thanks
peter

Namaste Peter,

Are there any facilities in the Hong Kong area that offer flotation/isolation tanks?  I mean the "real" kind, where you are floating in a closed soud-proof container of spsom salts water, not the "dry" type that some spas are offering.

Thank you!

Kailasa

Dear Kailasha

I talked to a friend who knows about floatation tanks and he said there are none in HK currently I am afraid. There are some in Thailand though.

Peter

Dear Peter:

just want to know if you know of any schools in HK that offer holistic health and healing courses in English - i know of a couple of these schools in HK but all their amazing courses are conducted in cantonese, or even some in mandarin.

lastly, have you heard of this Abraham-Hicks group in America run by Esther and Jerry Hicks? do you know if there's such groups in HK?

thanks much,

Hi Peter,

Do you have any information about the various options for buying organic vegetables in Hong Kong ?

Thanks.
Jill

Dear Jill

There is a book called Hong Kong Organic Living Directory which lists all the locations in HK where you can buy organic as well as explaining the organic system.

Its free and available from Produce Green Foundation, 18 hok Tau Village, Fanling, NT. Tel: 2674 1190 or info@producegreen.org.hk

A quick and incomplete answer from my personal purchases of organic veg is that its avaialble in specialist locations like Simply green organic shop, some supermarkets import organic veg from China - Park n shop and City Super, and I also buy from lnocations like Kadoorie Farm and Vegetarian Society.

peter

Dear Peter,

Nice to meet you on Monday (5 June). How's your trip in India? Regarding how to get organic vegetable in Hong Kong, below is some information for your reference.

1. Farmers Market:
There are two farmers Market in Hong Kong.
One is at Kadoorie Farm on the First Sunday of every Month
The other is near Tai Wo KCR station.
www.market.fedvmcs.org

2. Vegetable Marketing Organization (蔬菜統營處)
The organization provide some information about where to buy organic vegetable.
www.vmoproduce.org/eng/html/map/org_map.asp

3. Hong Kong Organic Farming Assocation
They can provide local organic vegetables express services.
www.hofa.org.hk/english/direct_sale.html

4. Form your own CSA
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) directly link a community of individuals and nearby farmers. Consumers can have very close contact with the farms. Consumers and farmers meet to discuss about the production and distribution of the produce.

If threre is any interested party who would like to form their own CSA. We will be glad to provide the party some advice and help to facilitate the setting up of the CSA.

Please feel free to email me or call me at 2483 7151 if you have any enquiry.

Best,
Stella
Sustainable Living Officer
Sustainable Living and Agriculture Department
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden

hi peter,

been a while since i've pestered you for anything... i think the last time was years ago for tofuturkey....which i've learned to live without. hopefully that won't happen this time.

i recently adopted a delicious little cat from www.hongkongalleycats.com my problem is feeding him dead things and supporting companies that are killing... i went online and found a few veggie cat food companies (they use an artificial taurine -found in meat- that cats require).

i have contacted two of them one in the uk www.veggiepets.com & one in australia www.veganpet.com.au... neither seems interested in shipping to hong ong as i have not heard back from them and they will not accept online orders for hk.

i'll be going away for a bit in a month and i want to be sure that i have a supply on hand and that he (Hok E China) is used to eating it. help i need to love my cat and my conscience?

thank you!

/s

Hi Sharon

I talked to a couple of people about this.

Green Earth Society, surely the best health food shop in HK, with all sorts of alternative products could not find any available in their supply lists. They have veggie dog food.

I then rang Lamma Animal Welfare, whose founder Dr john Wedderburn set up HK Vegan Soc., Jenny who runs the shop on Lamma said that vegetarian cat food didn't exist because of the need for Taurine.

So I think you're ahead of the game in finding veggie cat food internationally. Perhaps what we could do is to see if enough people are interested then a big order could be placed which might interest the two companies. I think in HK we're getting to the sort of tipping balance where products like vegetarin pet food, organic food fair trade etc will be bought in big enough quantities to bring the price down.

I do find it one of the main difficulties as a vegan, that of having to buy meat for pets. When we got Dawa our dog, I initially bought vegetarian dog food but at 4 times the cost of the meat I have for now at least gone back to the cheaper option which I don't enjoy.

Do you mind if I put this into my Q&A for Holistic HK.

Thanks
Peter

hi peter,

i have heard back from vegan pets in australia... sandy sounds lovely and concerned about cat health and dietary needs and so i will get my cat food.

my original post had the wrong url for hong kong alley cats.. and they do such good work i thought i'd correct it in this email.

www.hkalleycats.com.

hope all is well...

/s

> From: "Veganpet" <veganpet@bigpond.com>
> Date: May 31, 2006 10:52:08 AM GMT+08:00
> To: "SC" <sc@creativeartlink.com>
> Subject: Re: Payment Transfer as jpg attached
>
> Dear Sharon,
> Your order is winging it's way over to you as I write.
> I sent it by AIR MAIL which takes about 1 week. The total cost was
> $80.90 which is close enough, so it was a good guess. Next time you
> should order early and get it sent economy air it takes about 3 weeks
> but is cheaper.

> I do manufacture my own food and I supervise every step along the way.
> I have lost a lot of money and time on bringing out a tinned cat and
> dog food. The last batch was a total disaster. I am hoping to go and
> try again next week. It is all in a days work when you pioneer a new
> concept.

> Being a very small company (just me) my runs of food are still small
> which makes my ordering of materials very small and the result is an
> expensive food. Because of this export is not looked on favorably (
> most people want to make a fortune) I will attach a price list for
> you and you will see what I mean.

> Thank you for thinking of helping all the dogs over there in desperate
> need of a good diet not just rubbish. Good will win in the end. One
> day I dream of no more slaughter houses, and people treating all
> animals with the respect they deserve. I hope your cat likes my food.

> I have enclosed some information about me and a summary of the studies
> I have done at Murdock University under Dr Nick Costa (a world
> authority on animal nutrition) Also I test my food to sure I have
> every thing in it a cat needs. I added the Chemistry results of my
> finished food, so you can see it has Taurine, L carnitine and every
> thing else a cat needs. Take a label and the results to your vet and
> he will be very impressed. I just hope your puss is impressed.

> Good Luck Kind Regards Sandy

Do you know if there is any dry cleaner in HK who uses less harmful substances?  (Does such a thing exist??)  

I am trying to minimize clothes that need to be dry cleaned but there are still some that do... also I would like to promote a place like that as a "holistic image consultant"...

Thanks for your help!

Anita

Hello Peter,

I have found your interesting website while researching organic food stores and raw food information on the internet. I live in China but am planning to go to Hongkong in a couple of weeks.

Do you happen to know a couple of organic food stores that cater for raw fooders also (books, information and so on) - it would be swell if you could help me with this.

Thanks!

Warm regards,
Melanie

Dear Melanie

Life café, 10 Shelley St., Central, has a whole raw food section in its menu and is where you should land so to speak when you arrive. I am pretty sure they have books as well.  I am a health food afficionado but am not sure of where a normal health food shop differs from a raw food one. Chan Cuddennec  <cudennec@netvigator.com>runs raw food workshops and this month is hosting a prominent chef from the Philipines raw food spa (see Events section). If you contact her I think you'll get all the information you need. She also wrote a couple of pieces recently for Holistic HK in the last months which you will find in my archive section.

all the best
Peter

Dear Peter:

may i know if there are classes being offered in HK on "A Course of Miracles" plse?

there're quite a few of these courses being taught from America, not sure about HK?

thanks much,
VK

Dear VK

Here is a link to a December promotion for CoM

http://holistichongkong.com/2005-12/article-course-in-miracles.html

Thanks
Peter

Firstly we are looking for waste liquid from printing and dyeing we can use in our signs. I know from my work in China the printers dump a lot of ink because the colours are slightly off and we would be happy to take it off their hands.

On another matter, we are looking for an eco friendly glue that will bond glass and wood. As you know, we use glass for colour and embedded light but it falls out if it is not bonded well.

John

Hi Peter

Do you know of any temples or places where I can continue my zen practice in HK? Preferably in English?

Thanks very much

Selina

Dear Selina

The place with the best reputation for Zen is the the su Bon Zen centre. 5/f, 32 Leighton Road, Starlight House, Causeway Bay. Tel 2891 9315.

I am sure there are more - if you see the previous Q&A on vipassana there was a reference to Chan and Dharma Drum's center.

Best
Peter

Hello Peter,

I recently moved to HK and looking for a teacher or organization that practices vipassana meditation - do you know of any in HK? I know there is the Hong Kong Vipassana Meditation Center, but they only provide retreats - no weekly/bi-weekly sittings/teachings or regular activities.

Many thanks,

James

hi Peter,
 
i just spoke to the HK Vipassana Meditation Centre & they host a 10-day live-in course every month.  the upcoming one is on 15-March.  basically, a recording of S.N.Goenka is played to guide the meditation.  both chinese & english speakers are welcomed.  their english website is: www.hk.dhamma.org  however, the link to course application is faulty & the chinese version is www.chinese.dhamma.org/tschhk.htm. registration is required.

the HKVMC also has 1-day classes for those who have been through the 10-day course.  
 
there's also another place in Yuen Long where you can meditate with a Burmese master every Tue from 7.30pm-9pm.  he also has an all-day programme every last Sunday of the month.  there's english translation available at both. i don't really know the english name of this place though.  their number is 24713055.  again, it is necessary to register.

Hi! sorry to bother you, a friend of friend in the email below is looking to make some organic cotton clothing (with part of sales donating to charity, etc).

Do you have any contact for organic cotton farm/manufacturer/ready made t-shirts in Asia or other areas? Would be great if you could point him the right way.

Thanks!
Tian

Hi Tian

Wierdly enough as it happens I am in a Tsunami affected part of India where they have some clothing firms that make...organic cotton!

Well I am not sure where they harvest the cotton or if its all organic certified. I buy organic underpants from a british firm called gossypium which buys their organic cotton in Gujerat.

I bought a fair trade, organic shirt with natural dyes here already and I love wearing it. The firm was called colours of nature.

I think the best thing would be to go to the website of the community I am staying in and go to the commercial section www.auroville.com and have a look what they available. There is another great ethical clothing firm called Upasana - highly recommended.

Thanks
Peter

Dear Mr. Lloyd,

We have received a call in the CAB from someone who is looking for "laughter groups" in Hong Kong.  
I seem to remember that the SCMP Features City section more than a year ago had an article on this type of therapy and groups that would meet to laugh which is deemed to be good for the health.
Could you shed some light on this?

Thank you so much for your help.  Alicia Mansfield

 
Community Advice Bureau
16C Right Emperor Building
122-126 Wellington Street
Central
Tel: 2815-5444   Fax: 2815- 5977
www.cab.org.hk

Dear CAB

I rang Su Burnett 9527 0510 who I know is into Laughter therapy. She has twice weekly session on Lamma Island 's Power station beach. Tues and Thursday at 6.30pm. She mentioned that  year ago she contacted the website of www.laughteryoga.org and found the local link to Hong Kong, who told her that classes were not happening because people weren't coming. I went to the same site and the link to Hong Kong has gone. You may want to contact them for the full details.

yours
Peter

looking for iridology practitioner
need to have photo of pupils taken & deciphering

--
seen-yee lam 林倩而

Dear Mr.Peter,

Hello, My name is Yukiko. I'm Japanese woman work in Tokyo. I will planning visit to HongKong early May.(4th - 6th May) I've serch the internet that I want to meet some good place, and I reach your Home Page "Holistic Hong Kong".

I visit Hong Kong very short days (because my work in Japan is too busy), but I want to feel HongKong deeply as much as I can.

I'm learning African dram and Dance and also learning Indian Dram too.

If I can learning them in HongKong too, I'm very happy. Because I want to meet the peaple and want to know what they intersted in.

Would you please give me the information, that I can learn the Drum or Dance?

Thank you.

Yukiko

Dear Yukiko

Funnily enough Kumi who runs Drum Jam is also from Japan. Her email is kumi@netfront.net.

Thanks
Peter

Sleiman adds: Kumi's Drum Jam website -- www.drumjam.com.hk

Hi, I'm looking for the postal address of the Siddha Yoga Meditation Center i, HK. Can you help me ? Thanks

siddha yoga meditation centre, 4/floor, 24 ice house street, central.

Dear Peter

Might you be able to help me get hold of a copy of a tai chi (Yang style short form) book. the book is: Professor Cheng Man-ching, New Method of Tai-Chi: Self-cultivation (I know it is in paperback). any help you can give will be much appreciated.

Hi.

It is not necessary to spend time searching in Hong Kong for the book: Professor Cheng Man-ching's New Method of Tai-Chi: Self-cultivation. It is easily obtained by ordering it in the U.K. on amazon.com:

A more interesting trip to look at some VCD's would be at 6th Floor 188-192 on Johnston Road which is a small kungfu supply store. They do have a good selection of VCD's for Chinese Martial Arts at good prices. It is much cheaper than ordering it over the internet.

Also if you would like to get a glimpse of some local Tai Chi people go to Victoria Park around 7AM in the morning. Be careful not to Push Hands with people there. Recently someone got their arm broken by a local Tai Chi Chuan person during this exercise.

To my limited knowledge on Master Cheng Man-ching and  I have heard that most of the Cheng Man-ching people are in Taiwan and not Hong Kong. Traditional Yang Style is more popular here in Hong Kong due to the fact that Yang Sau Chung lived here until his death in 1985 and taught people locally.

There is also a Chinese Martial Arts Book Store in Wan Chai but the location eludes me at this moment. I believe it is also on Johnston Road a little further down towards Causeway Bay from the kungfu store at street level. It looks like a store that carries regular books. You have to ask if they have martial arts books.

Good Luck.
David

David Schneider
Secretary
The Chinese and American Tai Chi Chuan Association
Hong Kong/ Beijing/New York
Web Site: www.contemporarytaichi.com

Dear clients and friends,

As I have mentioned to many of you, I have been searching everywhere for raw honey in HK. So far no luck!

This is the link to the raw honey I loved while living in NY: http://www.reallyrawhoney.com

The bees forage in areas free of pesticides and this honey is totally unpasteurized and unprocessed. Every jar comes with a chewy "capping" layer complete with propolis and pollens. It has a lovely natural sweetness that just "feels" great when I ingest it. (Yum...)

Raw honey contains lots of beneficial enzymes (which are killed in commercial processing) and keeps the blood sugar level steady as opposed to other sweeteners. It helps digestion and can be used as face mask too.

When I was in NY I have also seen raw honey sold at the farmers' market from local farms. If any of you have seen anything similar in HK pls let me know! Otherwise I hope I can convince some people in HK to bring it in...!

Cheers,
Anita S.K. Cheung

Dear friends,

I am a member of the newly formed green co-op.

We sell raw honey which is collected in the wild in the Shanxi province to members of our co-op.

For more information of the green co-op and how to join, please visit the following website:  
www.hkgreencoop.org

Sophia PH Yeung

Dear Peter, I am interested in coordinating a clothing donation drive for the survivors of the earthquake in Pakistan.  Does anyone have contacts in Pakistan that can help me coordinate on the receiving end?  

Many thanks.  Bernie
berniekuan@hotmail.com, telephone is 852 9139 1206.

Dear Peter,

I wonder if you can help me. I am trying to find an insurance company which offers policies for Yoga teachers and or schools (liability insurance coverage). Do you know any such companies?

Kindest Regards
Lisa

Dear Peter,

In response to Lisa's question, I have insurance cover for Aromatherapy Massage through these guys maybe worth an ask.

  Hong Kong and Shanghai Insurance Company via M. G. Geraghty Insurance Brokers Limited
  1802 Chekiang First Bank Building,
  1 Duddell Street,
  Central
  Hong Kong

  Tel 2877 8006
  Fax 2877 6723

Jacqui

Dear Peter,

When I was down in Australia last week I met up with a lady practioner in Reiki and Channeling who will be coming to Hong Kong in March/April next year, who is looking for a Feng Shui Teacher, does anyone have any recommendations of who to contact.

Many thanks

Jacqui

Dear Peter

Further to the Jan '06 query, I can recommend Jill Lander, email goldenelements88@hotmail.com, a long-term HK resident, who runs workshops etc and is extremely knowledgable.

Regards

Janet

Peter,
  
I am going to find a training room at least 600 square feet for dynamic meditation on a 2-dys weekend workshop. Do you have any suggestion at good budget?

Dear Peter

Is there a Meditation place in Central that is open to the public at any time and free of charge?

This can be in a Buddhist Temple or Centre or in a Yoga school or anywhere I can go during the day to sit quietly uninterrupted by anyone or anything.

Thank you.

S.

Hi Peter
Is there any place in HK which teaches transcendental meditation?

i was browsing the Q&A section & realised someone is looking for a place for transcedental meditation.i've actually tried it at Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centre in Tin Hau (the place is situated behind the famous Tin Hau Temple at 17 Dargon Road) and is really very nice, peaceful. anyone is welcome to sit / read / meditate in the main sitting room on the ground floor. you can find all the details from their website: www.rajayoga.com.hk

AL

Dear Peter,
I am bringing the lady founder of the Western Firewalking movement to Asia early next year. I am looking for a place in HK where we can hold a firewalk retreat workshop, would need an outdoor area, preferably plane and with grass, with access to a seminar room (close enough to go back and forth), and accommodation nearby. Would you have an idea where we can find the perfect spot?
Many thanks in advance.
All the best
Helene Liu

Hello Peter

Can you please help me find the contact info for Peter Schneider the Alexander technique practitioner.

Thank you

The contact details I have are that he works out of:

Balance Asia
2705 Universal Trade Centre
3-5 Arbuthnot Road
Central.

Tel: 2530 3315, www.balanceasia.com.hk

yours
Peter

I'm looking for a (preferably) Hong Kong based astrologer who would be interested in doing a Mother/Baby Monthly Horoscope for my website www.babyconspiracy.com. At the moment, I am engaging in the ancient art of barter so could offer advertising in exchange for the horoscope. If anyone knows of the perfect person who you think would love to have a go at a horoscope and would also like to be The Baby Conspiracy's Resident Horoscoper, please let me know.

thanks
Orla (orla@babyconspiracy.com)

Hi Peter,

I have the same problem as Kate with yoga aggravating rather than assisting problems. So wonder if any one can recommend a good Qi Gong or Tai Chi instructor who teaches in English in the Hong Kong, preferably Central/Western area and is knowledgeable or highly sensitive to muscular problems -- small classes or individual lessons preferably.

Many thanks

Geoff

Dear Geoff

The person who springs to mind is Les McClure who seems to fit your requirements to a t, as he is English, teaches in Central, and in addition to being a tai chi teacher is a shiatsu practitioner so is knowledgeable of muscular problems.

Tel: 2982 4775, makkaho@hotmail.com

best
Peter

Peter

It certainly may be the public library pc which I am using, but I was unable to click on the Neal Walsh second article.  When I clicked <HERE> if I had trouble with the page, I got the same rejection in Chinese characters.

Maybe it is only me, but I thought it should be reported.

Hello Michael

I am replying to you re: your query to Peter (Holistic Hong Kong).

I guess you clicked on the article's link in the mail-out. These links are valid for one month only! Once a new issue is up, the links are not correct anymore because they refer to the "current-issue" folder that has new content in it. To access the old content please go to the Archives page and navigate to the issue of your interest. Alternative, when you click on the link and you get the error page, edit the address in the Address Bar at the top of the web browser by changing the words "current-issue" to the appropriate month such as "2005-08" in this case.

Sometime in the future I will change the linkage in Holistic Hong Kong's mail-outs so that links are 'permanently' valid.

Best regards

Sleiman

Holistic HK Webmaster and Technical Wizard

Hi Peter

Do you know of any Homeopaths that treat pet dogs in Hong Kong? we are in urgent need of one and have been looking for ages!

Thanks
Hannah

Dr Alexander Yuan of the Optimum Health Centre is a qualified homeopath who has also worked with animals Optimum Health Centre, 2/F, Prosperous Commercial Building, 54-58 Jardines Bazaar, Causeway Bay. Tel: 2577 3798.

Hi Peter,

Are there any Nia classes or Nia teachers (Neuromuscular Integrative Action - www.nia-nia.com) in Hong Kong? I currently live in the states, but am looking for a position teaching English (I have a Masters in Teaching) in Hong Kong. I absolutely love Nia, and wanted to see if there is any sort of Nia community there. Finding a teaching job is kind of a daunting task. Do you know of any schools that you would recommend?!

Thanks so much!

Sincerely,

Karen

While we are in the midst of asking, do you know within the island of any space rental available for a healer on a part time basis?

Would appreciate any information you can provide.

You may find it worthwhile to ask the integrated health clinics if you can work with them, they often have part timers working there.

Best
Peter

Dear Peter,
                As I mentioned when we spoke,I have been trying to find a doctor in Hong Kong who administers intravenous chelation therapy.Most of the people that I asked had not even heard of it.
                In a nutshell it has often been found an effective treatment for atherosclerosis and other circulatory disorders,including those caused by toxic metal accumulation.It helps to unclog arteries and can be beneficial with such illnesses as multiple sclerosis,Parkinson's disease Alzheimer's disease and arthritis.
                Oral chelation therapy can also be used but I am told that it is much less effective than intravenous.
                More information can be found on the internet and in various books on alternative medecine,such as "Healing your Body Naturally"by Gary Null and "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" by Balch & Balch.

Thank you for your assistance,
Colin Greenfield

Since starting this e-mail I have been told that Dr Sue Jamieson offers chelation therapy

Hi there Peter,

A friend is about to open a Chinese desert shop, offering take away service. She'd like to help cutting down on waste production, could you let me know if there's any company that provides biodegradable food containers in the form of bowls and cups (with lids). Thank you!

Cheers,
Bennie

Dear Bennie

The person who can help a lot is Bobsy who runs Life caf in 10 Shelley Street, Soho and who is cc'ed this email. He has gone to great lengths to source biodegradable food containers.

Thanks
Peter

dear peter & bennie,

at life we have been using biodegradable containers and recycled packaging since we opened. this is an integral part of our concept and an integral part of being a holistic enterprise.

the best people to contact are the good folks at BIO SUPPLIES, a one stop shop for all ecological solutions to packaging and other products.

please contact stuart on 9508 3297 or email: stuart.corby@bio-supplies.com

hope this is helpful.
may your friend's cafe inspire other businesses to follow with biodegradable packaging as well.

Bobsy

Dear Peter and Bobsy,

Thanks so much for the excellent tip! Will let you know my friend's progress in this. She hopes to provide two choices: biodegradable and resuable containers for take aways, customers are encouraged to bring their own bowls and cups by a small discount. Her shop will be an animal friendly place as well - all dogs allowed! It's called Okee Doggie. It's near High Street, close by to the HKU campus.

Thanks a lot!
Bennie

I'm looking for wiccans/pagans in Hong Kong. I've found a few, but I need some more. Anonymity is guaranteed. Please contact me before August 7.
Regards.
David.
David Evans
Senior Writer
Sunday Morning Post magazine
South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd
Hong Kong
Tel:+ 852 2565 2265
E-mail: david.evans@scmp.com

Hello Peter,

Thanks for the website and keeping everyone in touch with what is new and exciting.

I am looking for Dr. Roland Heber, where he is in practice and or if he still ventures into Hong Kong.

Many thanks,

Dr Roland Heber works out of Nature's Garden when he is in town. On ringing they said that there are no current plans for him to return but it is worth calling and staying in touch to see when he returns next.

Natures Garden
6/F, Right Emperor Comm. Bldg.,
122-126 Wellington Street,
Central
Tel: 2810 0731

Where can I get solar panels in Hong Kong?

Eric

1. Windsun Technology:- Joseph Tam, josephtam@windsun.com.hk
2. Star Power:- Aaron Lee, alee@starpower.com.hk
3. Shell Solar:- Ms Sarita Menon, sarita.menon@shellsolar.com

With thanks to Sam Lam of HKU.

Hi Peter,
I was a big yoga fan until three weeks ago when I had a pretty bad accident which has left me with back trouble.
I want to start doing pilates - can you recommend a good place, that is also reasonably priced?
The places I've come across charge about $500 a session, which is a tad pricey, especially as I want to do it regularly.
Any suggestions?
Many thanks,
Kate

Hi Peter!

hope you dont mind, but wondered if you could answer a question for me?

a few people have asked me about whether recycled material actually get recycled in Hong Kong. Apparently there are a few stories going around that although there are recycle bins.. everything ends up in the landfills anyway

do you know if there's any truth to this?

hope youre well!

all the best

Vicky

Occassionally material intended for recycling does go to landfill, but this is an isolated case. Sometimes this happens because of marked fluctuations/gluts and other times because of quality control issues for example if paper collected gets soaked with water and the bale was sodden and falling apart it is unlikely the buyer would accept it.

Through the existing waste recovery system, about 2.38 million tonnes of municipal solid waste were recovered in Hong Kong in 2003. Of that total, 9% was recycled locally and 91% was exported to the Mainland and other countries for recycling, with an export earning of more than HK$2.5 billion for Hong Kong.

See EPD government website for details of how much and what happens to it: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/waste_maincontent.html

Regards.

Andrew Thompson, CEO Business Environment Council

Hi Peter,

There are always these rumours floating around.......

Paper and aluminium cans are recycled.

Scrap steel, cast iron, etc. is quickly recycled (by virtue of it's exceeding high market price)

Glass is unofficially recycled for example there is a thriving trade for Tsing tao beer bottles sent up north.

Plastic's were being shredded and stock piled, if you wish I can check up on the plastic situation.

Incidentally, the HKSDF web-site has an ask the expert section - a poor attempt to copy your idea!

cheers,
John Herbert

Dear Peter,
Do you know where I can buy a food dehydrator in Hong Kong? I just came back from The Farm in the Pilippines where we ate raw food for a week and I would like to get a dehydrator to make some of the recipes.
Thank you in advance!
Best
Helene

hi there
my question: is there any centers or school for reiki?
thank for.
haifa

Dear Haifa

As far as I know there are more individuals who offer reiki. Marie Rasborn <miafia9_@hotmail.com> comes recommended. International Spa and Beauty College International Spa and Beauty College Tel: 2526 8818. Fax: 2526 8108. Email: info@isbc.com.hk. Website: www.isbc.com.hk and Valerie Demerie Tel: 23282546 0r 94394281
E-mail: valerie@vortices.com
Website: www.vortices.com/valerie

best
Peter

The most complete, thorough, honest and practical teacher in town.

Adam Williams

I'm writing to ask your advice on recycling.  The company I work for have shown an interest in becoming more environmentally friendly, and i was hoping you could suggest a few ideas!

we are looking for ideas on how to conserve energy, reduce waste and any other energy saving ideas that we could implement areound the office.

so far our list of suggestions to the company have included:

* recycling paper
* turning off lights etc
* using recycled products
* using recycling bins

do you have any other ideas we could add to this?

we are also looking at community projects we could do as a company.
i suggested tree planting (to replace all the trees they use monthly in paperwork) but they cant run projects that need follow ups.. ie planting the trees is fine, but who's going to water them etc?

any helps or suggestions you could give would be greatly appreciated!
Kind Regards

Peter,

of the cuff.........a few points......to get you started:

There is the top twenty SD tips I wrote for CANCHAM refer attached

Regarding Power Saving:
- Remove tungsten lamps replace with low energy CF lamps (last 6-8 times longer and low power consumption).
- Replace old florescent with high efficiency with T8 Lamps.
- Eliminate standby losses (eg often devices controlled via remote control have 5-10% standby consumption)
- Increase air conditioning temperature to 24-25 Deg C (increasing temp. 1 deg C lowers power consumption 8%).
- Switch off lights and air conditioning in corridors and unused rooms where condensation protection is not needed.
- Put a brick or two into the WC cistern, reduces the water volume and consumption.
- Regularly clean air conditioning & ventilation equipment - reduces energy consumption.
- Choose energy labelled air conditioning and appliances with the best score, eg SEER 13
- Turn off computers and printers when not used, choose energy star appliances LCD screens have lower power consumption than regular monitors
- Give old computers to Caritas for recycling

EMSD www.emsd.gov.hk will mail a free energy audit booklet on request. For large organisations
conduct full scale comprehensive energy audit, p2e2 assessment, etc. however that requires hiring
a professional (ie me) and that requires payment.

Community projects
Everyone wants to plant trees, I have found it is hard to find the space for volunteer tree planting.
However, FOE often have tree planting days.

CANCHAM SD committee often run beach cleaning trips, collecting waste from beaches.
Could do the same for Country parks too.

cheers,
John Herbert

HK Sustainable Develpoment Forum

and of course there is my firms free energy tips page

www.kelcroft.com.hk/energy/energy_tips.htm

Hi Peter,

I would suggest a basic waste minimisation and energy audit. Lots of things can now be done these days, however every site has its constraints and opportunities. If the company is open minded - then much can be achieved and initial costs can be recovered by energy and resource savings. Business Environment Council would be happy to assist. We can also advise on community programs, and how to tailor these to achieve something meaningful for the community and the company.

Opportunities in the office include retrofits of lighting, air conditioning, purchasing and management of small power equipment, moving to paperless systems through document control, multi-functional equipment to reduce equipment use, lease agreements with companies that take back and recylce office machines and much more.

Warmest regards.

Andrew Thomson
CEO
Business environment Council

I read with interest your articles in Holistic Hong Kong. I was wondering if you could give me a hint on where to find a scalp specialist for women. My hair has been thinning (similar to male bolding pattern) on the top of my head and there is a constant burning sensation as well as redness on the scalp. This has been going on for years and my sister actually suffers from the same. We have tried to find solutions with doctors, various tests involving hormone and blood levels have been undertaken but to no avail. We also tried various hair growth ointments over the years, including Minoxidil for women, but no results.

Just wondering whether there is anything else we could try.

Many thanks

Dear reader,

Thanks for your question. I personally do not have an answer to your question. The only thing I could suggest is to go out on a limb and try something like Kinesiolgy - muscle testing which may link in with a possible deeper cause.

Using Kinesiology has been of tremendous help to me in diagnosing and releasing the causes of disorders, be them physical, mental, emotional, etc. I can recommend Anisa Carim who works in the Vitality Centre, as she helped me with her knowledge and intuition several times. You can have a look at Anisa's service entry in the directory.

I hope this helps.
Sleiman

By the way do you know where it is possible to recycle printer cartridges. There used to be a place on the escalator but that seems to have disappeared.

Warm regards
Kate

Peter,

The picture on glass is fairly bleak. In short not buying beverages in glass is the best current solution. Core problem being that glass is cheap to make, but expensive to ship out empty for recycling. Not much help if you like a nice glass of wine, and this rules out most boxed wines! Some small scale re-use of glass bottles is done locally. Universities locally have studied the use of glass as an aggregate for construction. But not much on the immediate horizon.

On the positive side there are plenty of cartridge refillers. See the following EPD weblink for details: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/wrc_directory.html

Andrew Thomson
Business Environment Council

Do you have a list of vegetarian restaurants in Hong Kong: Western, Asian and Chinese?

Best regards,
John Shannon

Dear John

Thanks for your enquiry.

There is some information in my guide Spiritual and Alternative HK. Which though 5 years old is still useful. I am running a discount clearance of $10 right now. Here are some recommendations
Western Vegetarian: Life café, 10 Shelley St., Soho.
Bookworm café, Lamma Island
Indian vegetarian
Brantos, Lock Street
Woodlands: 61 Mody Road
Chinese: I am getting more information, there are apparently over 100 Chinese veg restaurants. Highlights include Kunt Tak Lam in Causeway Bay and TST.

There is a website getting out of date with info on veg restaurants in HK: http://members.tripod.com/hkveg/index.htm

I hope to have an updated version come out soon on Vegetarian restaurants. I just had a look at my book. The Source and Original health Fdn. Have gone. Kung Tak Lam TST is now in 7/F, 1 Peking Road.

My personal recommendations are for Life café, and both kung Tak Lams. Oh yes and the Fringe clud has a veggie buffet every weekday for $70 too.

Hope this helps in the meantime.
Peter

I now have an office in Central on Hollywood road near the escalator. While I love the bustle of the area, I daily crave to sit in a quiet place and reconnect with the stillness within. The difficulty I've had is in finding the suitable environment for this. Two options spring to mind: one, to sit in a green and quiet park nearby. I looked around but found no green and quiet park near my office, but there may be tucked away spots.  The other option is to visit a meditation room in one of the healing/alternative/health centres in the area whenever I need to (without prior arrangement and without paying high for it). Any advice on this, Peter?

Spiritual Resources in Central. St John's Cathedral is a wonderful oasis in the heart of the city. It is open to all to sit in the peace of their sanctified space. I have found it a welcoming place to quiet my mind. The last time I stopped in the building the organist was practicising and I left feeling very uplifted. It would be great to have an ecumenical centre for us all to sit in meditation in Central. For followers of Gurumayi there is a Siddha Yoga centre on Ice House Street.

Dear Peter

Since I emailed you the question I found a pleasant and quiet park not so far from the central hub. It is at the top of Aberdeen street (50 meters away from the intersection with Cayne Rd). The place has several private and green spots in it for one to sit uninterrupted. From my office on Hollywood Rd it takes 4 minutes (of brisk walk)! From Pacific Coffee on the same road it'd take about 5 minutes.

Love
Sleiman

Where in the world can I bring my bottles for recycling?  I made a committment to recycle earlier this year and have succeeded with paper and plastic but I have an army of bottles in my kitchen, and it's becoming a bit of a battle (I mean bottle) zone. (ha ha)

Thanks,

Jessica

Glass recycling: As far as I know there is none in HK. Otherwise I have noticed that ink cartridges are recycled in the bins on the escalator and the metal seems to be being picked up around town on trolleys.

Dear Peter,

I am a newcomer to Hong Kong, from Bristol South West England, and have already made much use of your holistic hong kong website. Thankyou! I have heard that there is a Steiner Kindergarten on the Peak. Do you know of any Steiner Study Groups or Anthroposophical activities happening in Hong Kong? Can you suggest a good way for me to make contact with any others who have an interest in Anthroposophical health, philosophy, spiritual development? Thank you for any help you can provide.

Yours,
Jessica Mor

Dear Jessica

For further details on Anthroposophical activities in Hong Kong please contact Amanda Headroyd at the Kindergarten on the Peak. Tel 2812 0061.

Amanda Holroyd is facilitating an Anthroposophical Study Group every Monday, 12.30pm to 1.30pm at Highgate House School, 100 Peak Rd, The Peak. The study group will discuss books and articles about Rudolf Steiner's philosophy including his ideas on Waldorf education and the inner wisdom of the human being. Please contact: 2849 6336 or e-mail: amanda@highgatehouse.edu.hk

Hope this helps

Peter

Dear Peter,

We are are SME and we have a strong interest to, where practical, follow environmentally responsible practices. I have read much about the theory, but there seems very little resources in Hong Kong to advise SME's of the most environmentally friendly choices. For example, few printers have ever heard about paper from sustainable forests, I can find little info as to what processes are the most environmentally friendly, i.e. PP, UV or oil coating. Just as important as encouraging consumers to use less is to also get businesses to produce material in the least destructive way. Hong Kong could make a HUGE impact globally as so much produce is sold and produced by HK companies using the mainlands factories. Do you have any advise or links for us where we can access such information?

Personally I feel that many Green groups should turn more attention to working with business to help guide them and to encourage governments, shops, consumers, organizations to demand product that follows environmentally responsible principles.

Regards,

Ashley Whitfield
Evolution Ltd.

hi Peter,

A quick internet search revealed: http://www.mn-ei.org/policy/printbuyer.html. it summarises the varying environmental impacts of the different papers, processes and possible downside for future recycling potential.

Here is an environmentally friendly printer:
Michael Wong
Sun Tung Printing Works
Tel: 2541 8854
Fax: 2851 6004
mic3747@netvigator.com

cheers,
John

I imagine the best contact is the Business Environment Centre, they have an SME support centre: http://www.bec.org.hk/general/e_home.php

The EPD has a useful page "How you can help" which provides lots of useful
information: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/how_help/howhelp_maincontent.html

Re paper they could contact Venus Ng venus@polytrade-paper.com.hk or tel 2873-1977. Polytrade does a wide range of eco-friendly paper and work with a printer who can use this.

The Eco-wood Asia site http://www.ecowoodasia.org/ lists suppliers of sustainably-grown wood.

Hope this helps!

Jo

Dear Peter,

Thank you for your reply. I hope that we can receive some feedback.

Actually to look to the future I believe that as part of the service economy that our Government continually harps on about, we could play a major role in the supply, stewardship and development of more environmentally friendly production methods, taking them into the mass production factories in China.
If pressure were to mount from consumers internationally, business would very soon respond and the price difference (by using less environmentally destructive methods) would not be much if introduced on a large scale. The tragic floods in the Philippines due to rampant illegal logging should be a calalyst for change in the way we use resources. Who brought the trees?
Where was the wood shipped to? Which products used that wood? I'm sure there is a paper trail to follow if the pressure was there from reporters and organizations.

Regards,

Ashley Whitfield

Dear Peter,

Do you know if there will be a screening of "Indigo" in Hong Kong on Jan 29th?

Thanks and regards
Alexi von Eldik
P.S. Thank you for your site - it's always very informative.

hi peter

if there is enough interest to host a screening to celebrate World Indigo Day, i will be happy to arrange. anyone interested, please contact me on kinzie@hkheartbeat.com.

love,
kinzie