Best local Instagram accounts to follow

Finding inspiration in a city as active as Hong Kong shouldn’t be a challenge, but sometimes too many options can lead to sensory overload and make it difficult to choose.

That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best Instagram accounts across multiple categories – health, fashion, yoga, food and lifestyle – to help you feel invigorated and inspired.

1. Health: @viviennetang

Vivienne Tang’s account is filled with photos of greenery, nature and fitness inspiration (otherwise known as #fitspo). The self-proclaimed wellness enthusiast is the founder of Destination Deluxe, and she posts photos of stunning landscapes as well.

2. Fashion: @cindiddy

A true fashionista, Cindy Ko’s 36,000 followers are no doubt enamoured with her unique style and vibrant photos. Her posts reflect serenity and express fashion individuality.

3. Yoga: @katherineleeyoga

Katherine Lee bends her body in miraculous positions as she travels to different locations to practice yoga. This local yogi has posed in front of popular landscapes including the Eiffel Tower, the London Bridge and of course, Hong Kong’s very own skyscrapers.

4. Food: @angie_lcc

Angie, better known as vANGIEtarian, posts vibrant photos of healthy food in all its colourful glory. She makes “healthy” look so good, you wouldn’t think twice about skipping that chocolate croissant for brunch.

5. Lifestyle: @eva_pinkland

Step into Eva Cheung’s pink shoes and enter her rose-tinted world. This pink fanatic throws shade at monochrome with her bright and lively photos.

Text: Sadia Lima

Sony unveils its ostentatious Dolby Atmos sound bar

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The new Dolby Atmos sound bar HT-ST5000 by Sony is definitely a piece of equipment that will impress visitors to your home.

The rather ostentatious sound bar is an immersive listening experience, as it features high-resolution audio and 12 advanced speakers.

The HT-ST5000 also features the unique wave-front control technology of Sony’s S-Force PRO Front Surround, which channels sound waves to optimise powerful room-filling audio.

Thanks to its sleek and stylish design, it enhances sound experience without taking too much space, making it a staple for lovers of all things minimalist.

To provide users with the enhanced cinema experience at home, it works perfectly with any Bravia 4K HDR TV.

Other features include built-in Chromecast and Spotify connect, Bluetooth, Wireless Multi-Room and NFC.

iPlaying: Turn your phone into a game zone

One look at any app store is enough to know that today’s smartphone users are doing much more than making and receiving calls. Smartphone games, both free and paid, regularly top the list of downloaded apps. From global phenomenon Angry Birds to Candy Crush and more advanced role-playing games, there is no shortage of options for those looking to get their gaming fix.
Despite the hours of fun they provide, a smartphone’s interface is not exactly ideal for game play.

Serious gamers may find the tapping and swiping mechanics of a smartphone game to be underwhelming when compared to the nuanced movements of a game console controller. Cue Gamevice: a new and innovative gadget that has emerged to elevate the experience of iPhone gaming.

The device has two parts that can be attached to either end of your phone or tablet, thereby turning it into a handheld gaming console à la Sony PSP. The Gamevice acts as a controller and features dual analog thumb sticks, standard action buttons, shoulder triggers and a D-pad. It’s compatible with hundreds of games in the Gamevice Live iOS app, and it’s also Made For iPhone-certified (MFi), so you can be sure it will seamlessly connect with your device.

Robust and comfortable to hold, this gadget makes smartphone gaming much more immersive and intuitive. It’s a must-have for anyone who enjoys escaping into the world of digital fun, all while waiting on that important phone call from a client.

https://gamevice.com

Azimut, Absolute Yachts show off nine of their latest models

Club Marina Cove in Sai Kung served as the venue for Azimut Yachts and Absolute Yachts to show off nine of their latest models for first-time boaters and yacht owners to enjoy.

Hong Kong polo team finishes third in Singapore tournament

The Hong Kong polo team travelled to Singapore recently to compete in the SEA Games Challenge Trophy. The tournament was a warm-up for the upcoming SEA Games in Malaysia, which is featuring polo for the first time in 10 years.

The Hong Kong polo team, supported by Option Group, finished third at the SEA Games Challenge Trophy.

“It was a thrilling match that saw our Hong Kong polo team shine at the SEA Games 2017 in Singapore,” says Dave Savage, president of Asia World Polo and of the Hong Kong polo team.

“I am especially proud of our team’s hard fought third place victory competing against the best teams in the Asia region. We had outstanding support from 170 guests from Hong Kong and beyond.”

For those who need a little polo 101: “The Sport of Kings” was born in Central Asia when nomads played a version of it as a sport and as a training game for upcoming battles. The nomads migrated to Persia (Iran) between 600 BC and 100 AD and they took polo with them. Polo then became a national sport in Persia, played by nobility and military officers.

Modern polo started life in India in the early 19th century and spread to England in 1869 and Argentina in 1872. The first official written rules (on which the present international rules are based) were created in the 19th century. Polo today is played between two teams who each have four players on horseback. A game of polo consists of four, six or eight “chukkas” and each chukka is seven minutes long.

Cutting-edge Italian sanitary ware design by Valdama

At the very cutting edge of sanitary ware design is Italian company Valdama from the town of Civita, Castellana.

VSC Building Products Company Limited is to thank for bringing this pioneer of Italian design to Hong Kong, and VSC offers a wide range of Valdama’s collections. Made to meet the highest standards of quality and innovation, Valdama is the epitome of fine Italian craftsmanship and elegant design.

In 2005, Valdama first produced sanitary ware made from fine fire clay before branching out in 2011 to produce vitreous china sanitary wares as well. For the very finest in bathroom fixtures with the proud “Made in Italy” moniker, look no further than VSC and Valdama.

www.vschk.com

Power Trip: McLaren P1 LM is an extreme speed machine

Hold on to your hats. The McLaren P1 LM is street legal, but just barely. British auto company Lanzante Motorsports modified the beast to get it ready for the road, but still kept its nearly 1,000-horsepower twin-turbo V8 hybrid engine intact.

Anyone gutsy enough to get behind the wheel of this whip will quickly see that it feels very much like a racecar. This baby can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 2.4 seconds – just enough time to wonder if your will and testament has been sorted out.

When the P1 LM debuted last year at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England, it became the fastest street-legal car to finish the hill climb since the festival started timing the event back in 2014. It took Swedish racing champion Kenny Brack just 47.07 seconds to conquer the 1.86-kilometre track. According to Lanzante, the P1 LM is “the quickest, rarest and last of the P1 variants.” No kidding.

The P1 LM is also a finely crafted, sleek specimen of steel. It features premium materials like gold plating in the engine bay and a fully exposed carbon fibre roof. On top of that, the steering wheel, seat inserts and door pulls are all trimmed in Alcantara. The colour comes in both grey and orange, but don’t agonise over your decision just yet. There are only six P1 LMs in the world, at a cost of US$3.7 million (HK$28.8 million).

Andante releases stylish new sofa design

Hong Kong-based furniture company Andante – carrier of the popular Minotti and Lolli e Memmoli brands – has released a stylish new sofa design.

The Lawrence sofa is understated yet stylish in its simplicity. Premium materials like Cervo leather are used, and modern, graphic stitching techniques were implemented into the design. It comes in two versions, with a choice of a high or low armrest.

The metal alloy frame that circles the sofa’s perimeter not only gives it a more contemporary look, but also protects the lower section of the sofa. Perfect for napping or entertaining, this sofa is above all else a comfortable place to rest. www.andante.com.hk

Regeneration X: These rejuvenating products are skin saviours

It’s common knowledge that stress, fatigue, pollution and other environmental factors all take a toll on skin, causing unsightly wrinkles and blemishes. What’s less clear is how to repair skin and prevent further damage. Members of Generation X – people between the ages of 35 and 55 – are at a unique stage where it’s most crucial to protect and care for one’s skin. After the age of 30, the skin loses moisture and produces less and less collagen with each passing year.

Fortunately, skincare products are becoming more and more scientifically advanced. Take Helena Rubinstein’s new Powercell range for example. This skincare solution is said to mitigate the effects of stress and fatigue by using Oceanic Crista, a perennial plant that is known for its ability to thrive in harsh environments. The plant produces a number of amino acids, soluble sugars, polyols and compound lipids – all of which are great for skin.

Fittingly, skincare brand La Mer (French for “the sea”) has also drawn inspiration from the ocean’s restorative powers. La Mer’s newest product, named simply The Concentrate, isn’t giving away its secret – it’s loaded with the brand’s proprietary “Miracle Broth” – but known ingredients include lime tea and marine plant extracts that help to revitalise and repair skin.

In a similar vein, Guerlain has tapped into the skin-rejuvenating properties of algae. Using a combination of black algae and golden algae extracts, the brand’s Le Soin Noir Léger cream (first released in 2008) has been revamped and improved for 2017. Ideal for Hong Kong’s humid climate, the cream is remarkable in that it fades from a pearlescent black hue to a completely transparent colour when blended into the skin.

Also topping the list of Gafencu’s skincare recommendations is Elizabeth Arden’s new Daily Youth Restoring Serum. These single-use, easy-to-squeeze capsules contain one of the brand’s signature ingredients: ceramides, which work to replenish the skin’s naturally-produced lipids. Boasting an improved formula, the advanced ceramide capsules are now even more effective at leaving skin feeling moisturised every morning.

Sculpture by Roy Lichtenstein sells for HK$80.5 million at auction

American artist Roy Lichtenstein’s work is widely recognised for its characteristic pop art style and comic strip-inspired motifs.

During his hey-day in the 1960s, he used tiny dots – similar to the Ben Day dots that were once used in comics, but more exaggerated – to give his characters shading and dimension. The technique quickly became one of his hallmarks, and those iconic red dots can be seen in one of the latest Lichtenstein pieces to head to the auction block. The sculpture, Woman: Sunlight, Moonlight, sold for US$10.3 million (HK$80.5 million) at Phillips auction house in New York on 18 May.

Woman: Sunlight, Moonlight was created in 1996, just a year before Lichtenstein died of pneumonia in New York City. It is also considered to be one of the finest works of his career. At more than three feet tall (nearly one metre), the bust is quite the head-turner, especially when placed in an otherwise drab room. It’s double-sided and shows a unique image of a woman on each side.

Lichtenstein frequently portrayed – and parodied – stereotypically masculine and feminine roles as they were depicted in comics.

The artist once said, “I’m interested in what would normally be considered the worst aspects of commercial art.” Indeed, that is the stuff that good art is made of.