Hong Kong tonight ushered in the Year of the Tiger in true Chinese style: with a HK$3 million spectacular fireworks display.  While the lighting of fireworks remain illegal in Hong Kong, the annual New Year’s Day fireworks display is a major draw-card on the tourist calendar.  

The 20-minute extravaganza was lauched from 3 barges docked 200 meters apart in Victoria Harbour opposite the Avenue of the Stars.

Some of the features of this year’s display included images of tigers as well as gold ingots that signifies the Year of the Tiger and prosperity.

Howzit-HongKong had it’s trusty point-and-click handy and we shot the following clip:

Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year is the most important Festival on the traditional Chinese calendar.  It is part of the Spring Festival that starts on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar and ends of the 15th day that is called Lantern Festival.

This year Hong Kong celebrates the start of the Year of the Tiger that coincides with the (western) Valentine’s Day on February 14, 2010.

Here are some of the traditional decorations that can be seen around Hong Kong:

Lucky bamboo

Lucky bamboo is known as ‘Kai Yun Zhu’  in Chinese, which means ‘bamboo that invites good fortune’.

Lucky Bamboo represents the natural 5 elements of water, earth, wood, metal and fire to balance the flow of energy or ‘chi’ in the house.

A red ribbon is tied around the stalks to represent the fire element. The number of bamboo stalks and layers has its own symbolic meaning:

2 for Love & Marriage

3 for Happiness

5 for Perfection

6 for Luck

8 for Wealth and Abundance

9 for Everlasting Good Fortune and Happiness

Tangerines & oranges

Tangerines and oranges are commonly displayed in homes and shops. Tangerines symbolises ‘good tidings’ as it sounds like ‘good luck’ in Chinese. Oranges symbolises wealth as it sounds like ‘gold’ in Cantonese.

Peach blossoms

Peach blossoms symbolise ‘courage and hope’. The blossoms burst forth at the end of winter season on a seemingly lifeless branch.

Here are some more pictures I took around Hung Hom Bay:

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the most aptly-named tighthead prop in world rugby… Marius Hurter!” 

This is how (HKRFU Head of Rugby Services) Robbie McRobbie introduced the 1995 Rugby World Cup winner and Springbok Marius Hurter.  The occasion was the Gala Charity Premiere of the movie Invictus at the  Grand Cinema, Elements Mall in Kowloon West (Hong Kong).

The looong evening started with a meet-and-greet at the downstairs bar/restaurant WildFire, part of Hong Kong’s Igor’s Hospitality Group.  Hong Kong RFU’s Robbie McRobbie kick-started events by asking the big man a number of questions relating to his experiences around Rugby World Cup 1995.  Marius aka. Shrek (watch the video for an explanation) responded by recounting his memories and some insights into his fellow-players, which were lapped up by the guests, especially those about Os Du Randt and (obviously the skollie/riff-raff in the 1995 Springbok squad) James Small, allegedly a minor-celebrity amongst the Robben Island prisoner population at the time!

Later, in the cinema lobby, he faced the local Hong Kong media, enticed by some strategically invited (and well-labelled with Invictus stickers) schlebs, also called pseudo-models in Hong Kong parlance.  The big man was clearly enamoured by the attention as the MC-lady translated his answers into Cantonese.  Then again, maybe he just loved her shoes!

Thanks to Elite Step Asia Limited, Howzit-HongKong.com was fortunate to be seated in Cinema 6 (some 600 folks attended the event spread between different cinema’s) with the VIP’s including, of course, Marius Hurter, HKRFU officials, sponsors’ representatives as well as the Consul-General of the South African Consulate in Hong Kong, the charming Ms. Tembi Tambo.

The extended  movie, that lasted until midnight, was clearly a hit with the South Africans in attendance who enjoyed the Souf Effrican eksent (South African accent) during the movie.  My personal favourite was Chester Williams’ (played by McNeil Hendricks) “I don’t think, because it influences my game.” 

Another hit with the guests was the seats that vibrated with heavy bass, especially when the SAA Boeing roared over the Ellis Park Stadium during the movie!   

Howzit-HongKong.com was lucky to capture Marius’ chat on the evening, albeit with a dinky point-and-click.  The evening was set in a busy, dark-ish bar, but enjoy Part 1 (Part 2 to follow):

As a Saffa rugby supporter living abroad, I must admit at being chuffed that the rugby season is about to start back home.  The International Rugby Board’s Sevens World Series resumes with the New Zealand-leg in Wellington on the 5th of February, followed by the USA event in Las Vegas a week later.

Another highlight of the southern hemisphere pre-season is Western Province playing neighbours Boland at the brand-spanking Greenpoint Stadium on February 5.  Then, on February 12 the Super 14 kicks off when local franchises The Cheetahs take on The Bulls.  The Stormers play The Lions the following day, while The Sharks play New Zealand’s Chiefs.

The newest landmark on the Cape Town skyline, the Greenpoint Stadium.

But I digress.  The Asia season is of course in full swing and local clubs are taking requests for Hong Kong Sevens tickets (unfortunately members only).  In a previous post, I wrote about the movie Invictus that tells the story of how Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) joined forces with Francois Pienaar (played by Matt Damon) in winning not only the 1995 Rugby World Cup, but also the hearts and minds of South Africans from all walks of life.

The local custodians of the game, the Hong Kong Rugby Union has joined forces with Warner Brothers Pictures as well as Standard Chartered to organise a Gala Charity Premiere on Wednesday 13th January at the Elements Mall in Kowloon Tong.  Proceeds from the event will benefit the Operation Breakthrough charity programme which is a joint HKRFU – HKG Police charity that targets at risk youth and engages them in sports like rugby to keep them occupied and instill positive values.

Special guest at the sold-out event will be Springbok Marius Hurter, a member of the triumphant 1995 South African rugby team.

Springboks Os Du Randt (left) and Marius Hurter (right) showing off the RWC 1995 spoils.

Invictus opens in Hong Kong on Thursday, January 14.

While there’s a bit of a break in the IRB Sevens Series schedule (the Series resumes in New Zealand in the first week of February 2010) I thought I’d refresh your collective memories about our experiences during the 2009 Hong Kong Sevens. For those of you who were parked on the South Stand, this is for you:

The 2010 edition of the Mother of all Sevens: the Hong Kong Sevens returns to the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay between 26-28 March 2010.

See you there!

Though not as BIG as the fireworks display that welcomed the recent East Asian Games, Hong Kong ushered in 2010 in traditional style with a fireworks display over some of Hong Kong Island’s landmark buildings.  The centrepiece building was the iconic IFC (International Financial Centre) in Central that sported an LED display with the numbers 2010.

Thousands of Hong Kongers crowded vantage points on either side of Victoria Harbour, some lining up for up to three hours to have the best view of the 4-minute fireworks display.

Howzit-HongKong.com wishes all it’s readers and supporters a very prosperous 2010!

(thumbnail picture by Wilda Fong, Flickr)

New champion Grégory Bourdy ended up soaked in champagne, but organisers of last week’s UBS Hong Kong Open also had plenty of reasons to celebrate. 

Grégory Bourdy hugs his caddy after winning the UBS Hong Kong Open as his fellow French players and supporters, led by Raphaël Jacquelin, spray him with champagne. (Pic: Paul Lakatos/UBS Hong Kong Open)

The best field in the tournament’s history, four days of thrilling golf, the first ever French winner and intriguing subplots involving the European Tour’s Race To Dubai and Asian Tour’s Order of Merit – it was a week to savour. 

Fans lucky enough to be at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling saw an impeccable display from the ice-cool Bourdy, who expertly negotiated the tight par-70 layout with rounds of 64, 67, 63 and 67 for a winning total of 19-under-par 261. 

He was especially impressive on the final day when brilliant Northern Irish youngster Rory McIlroy, backed by a huge following, applied some serious pressure on the back nine.  So assured was Bourdy that, when he calmly parred the final hole, his winning two-shot margin marked the first time since 2002 that the champion had won by more than a single stroke. 

“We didn’t get the heart-stopping finish that UBS Hong Kong Open fans have grown used to, but it was still a wonderful finale,” said Martin Capstick, managing director of event promoters Parallel Media Group.  “It is a long time since a player has strung together four absolutely immaculate rounds like that at Fanling. Bourdy hardly made a mistake all week and he was a truly deserving winner.” 

While Bourdy’s fellow French players and supporters ran on to the green to spray him in champagne, Fanling was also acclaiming its people’s champion in McIlroy. 

Rory McIlroy speaks to the media after concluding his 2009 challenge (Pic: Mike Jansen)

The Northern Irish youngster – now runner-up two years in a row – lit up the tournament with some incredible shot-making and was threatening to pull off an amazing comeback until a momentum-stopping bogey at the 17th ended his charge.  “With his displays the past two years, the Hong Kong fans have taken McIlroy to their hearts and he has said many times that he adores coming here – he likes the city and he loves the course,” said Capstick. 

“He is a charismatic player and has a great rapport with the fans. We are obviously hopeful he will return because it is clearly a tournament he enjoys very much.” 

McIlroy at least had the consolation of overtaking Lee Westwood at the top of the Race To Dubai standings, his season earnings of €2,538,449 giving him a lead of €128,173 over his English rival.  The Race To Dubai – in which only the top 60 qualified for this week’s season-ending Dubai World Championship – spiced up the final day at Fanling with players scrambling to book their place. 

Lee Westwood speaks to the media before Round 1 (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Bourdy’s victory moved him up to 47 and secured his spot, but Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen, who needed to finish first or second, ended up joint third and just missed out. 

Liang Wenchong’s 11th place in the UBS Hong Kong Open moved the Chinese star from 60 to 57 and confirmed his trip to the Middle East but 11th was not quite good enough for Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, who found himself marooned at 61 on the money list. 

“The Race To Dubai certainly gave the UBS Hong Kong Open an added dimension as even those golfers well down the field still had something to play for,” said Capstick.  “It turned the global spotlight on Hong Kong even more than usual and that can only be good for the tournament.” 

A significant day for the Asian Tour as well saw Thai icon Thongchai Jaidee clinch an unprecedented third Order of Merit crown ahead of Liang.  “It was another hugely successful UBS Hong Kong Open and our sincere thanks go to the sponsors, the Hong Kong Golf Club, the Hong Kong Golf Association and all the officials and volunteers who helped make it happen,” said Capstick. 

“We also offer our sincere gratitude to the fans, who again turned up in fantastic numbers and, as always, behaved impeccably.  “The challenge, as ever, is to improve the event for next year. The work has already started.”

2009 UBS HK Open Champions Gregory Bourdy with the tournament spoils (Pic: Mike Jansen)

See you in Fanling in 2010!

If you enjoyed the recent Hong Kong Cricket Sixes at the Kowloon Cricket Club, or even if you missed it, you’ll be glad to know that yet another “long weekend” of action packed Cricket Sixes is coming to Hong Kong.

The Asian Cricket Sixes Tour (ACST) comprises a series of action packed “long weekend” cricket sixes tournaments attracting club teams, players, officials and suporters from the Asia Pacific region and around the world.  It  includes tournaments in Phuket, the Philippines, China, Australia, Singapore and Vietnam.

The Eighth Hong Kong Cricket Festival, organised by the Lamma Cricket Club is part of this Sixes Tour and this year the Hong Kong leg will be held at the Mission Road Cricket Ground, Tin Kwong Road, Kowloon from 4 – 6th December.  The weekend’s action will feature up to eighteen teams including local sides as well as clubs flying into Hong Kong from around the Asia Pacific region to compete in the three day tournament in Men’s and Women’s Divisions.

Teams sign up for the camaraderie, the competition, the opportunity to play with cricket legends and also, the full schedule of leisure and hospitality activities in fantastic locations around the Asia Pacific region.

Organisers of the Hong Kong Cricket Festival today also announced that Private Capital Ltd, a leading investment advisory firm, will be the new headline sponsors of the local tournament.

“We’re thrilled that Private Capital Ltd have come on board as headline sponsors of this year’s Festival,” said Tournament Director Brad Tarr of organisers Lamma Cricket Club.

“This is the eighth year of the tournament and with over ten clubs flying into Hong Kong to compete in the event, including women’s teams, it’s going to be another superb weekend of cricket camaraderie,” Mr Tarr continued.

Mr Rick Adkinson, MD at Private Capital Ltd said, “We were delighted when approached to support the 8th Hong Kong Cricket Festival. The tournament, with its mix of local and international participants and emphasis on the ’spirit of cricket’ is an ideal fit for our business and we’re really looking forward to an excellent weekend both on and off the field.”

Cricket with a Heart

The tournaments that make up the Asian Cricket Sixes Tour have a heart too. A highlight for many participants is the knowledge that the ACST also supports the communities in which the tournaments are held, by supporting local charities and by helping develop youth cricket. 

The tournaments in the ACST Series have been recognised for their positive contributions to cricket development with a number of prestigious awards received from the International Cricket Council and Asian Cricket Council.

The 2008 Hong Kong Cricket Festival (Pic: HKCF FaceBook page)

Festival Fact Sheet of The Private Capital Hong Kong Cricket Festival 2009

Dates: 4 – 6th December 2009

Venue: Mission Road Cricket Ground, Tin Kwong Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Times: 9am – 5pm daily

Entry: free for all spectators

Organisers: Lamma Cricket Club

Grégory Bourdy held off a hard charging Rory McIlroy to win the UBS Hong Kong Open by two shots on Sunday (15 November). 

The Frenchman carded a polished three-under-par 67 at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling to finish on 19-under 261 for the tournament.  Northern Irish youngster McIlroy showed flashes of his prodigious talent in compiling a 64, but fell just short in the US$2.5 million showpiece for the second year in a row. 

“It’s great, I had a fantastic week,” said a champagne-soaked Bourdy, 27. “It’s my best golf week, best golf day today. I played very consistent. I missed a few putts at the start of the round but I stayed confident.

“It’s my mother’s birthday today so I dedicate this to her. My girlfriend Anabelle is here also and everything went right.”

“I was relaxed today and all week. I was so confident. I tried to enjoy all my shots, all my rounds and did it. I missed just a few shots this week. I can’t believe it was so nice to play like this.”

 A triumphant Bourdy poses with the UBS HK Open trophy in the fading Fanling light (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Bourdy, the overnight leader by two shots, was unflappable down the stretch, picking up birdies at the 10th and 13th and calmly playing the final five holes to par. 

McIlroy, 20, roared on by the galleries, did his best to put Bourdy under pressure and closed the gap to one shot with consecutive birdies at the 15th and 16th.  But a three-putt bogey at the 17th took the wind out of his sails and Bourdy arrived at Fanling’s notoriously difficult final hole with a two-shot cushion. 

Bourdy collected the winner’s cheque for US$416,660 and enjoyed the bonus of leaping into the top 60 on the European Tour’s Race To Dubai, thereby qualifying for next week’s season-ending Dubai World Championship, “I wanted to stay focused on my game, play shot by shot, and I knew if I was three or four-under it would be OK to win the tournament,” said Bourdy.

“I didn’t look at the leaderboard until the 18th so I didn’t know Rory played well. I was three-under after 14 holes and it was nice to finish with a par on the 18th as it’s a tough hole. 

Unfortunately for the Frenchman, there was little time to soak up the Hong Kong adoration and celebrate his victory as he immediately jetted out of the SAR to Dubai for next week’s Dubai World Championship. 

“Dubai was the target before I played here. I knew if I won I’d go to Dubai but first was to play well today and win the UBS Hong Kong Open. I’ve played well, won and I’m going to Dubai, so I have everything.”

The victory was Bourdy’s third European Tour title after victories in the 2007 Mallorca Classic and the Open de Portugal last year. 

 A disappointed McIlroy speaks to the media after his final round at FanLing (Pic: Mike Jansen)

McIlroy – joint runner-up in the UBS Hong Kong Open a year ago after losing a three-way playoff to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen Tang – was forced to settle for second best again. 

But he could take consolation in the fact that he overtook Lee Westwood at the top of the Race To Dubai standings.  World No.17 McIlroy, who earned US$277,770 for his second place, refused to be too downhearted and paid tribute to the winner.

“I played lovely, really, really well,” he said. “I thought I needed a low one and went out with the mindset that if I went lower than 65 then I might have a chance, but Grégory obviously played very well. 

“If I’d birdied one of the last two holes I might have given myself a chance, so that’s the way it goes. I’m a bit disappointed at the moment but I have the consolation of going back to the top of the Race To Dubai. 

“There’s a lot that can go on next week but my goal this week was to win the UBS Hong Kong Open and I’ve come up just short again, for the second year in a row. But I gave it my best shot and that’s all I can do.”

Of the 3 South African contenders who made the cut, Charl Schwartzel finished highest at 10 under.  He was followed by Rory Sabbatini one shot back at 9 under, while Andrew McLardy concluded the 2009 UBS Hong Kong Open at 7 under par.

(Hong Kong Vryday 13 November 2009)

Vir baie mense is Vrydag die 13de ‘n dag van kwade dade en gebeure.  Vir Suid Afrika se Charl Schwartzel was dit net een ding: ‘n gesamentlike 9-onder voorlopers-posisie aan die einde van die tweede rondte van die UBS Hong Kong Open in FanLing.  Schwartzel deel die plek met China se Liang Wenchong, die Hollander Robert-Jan Derksen en Frankryk se Grégory Bourdy.

Schwartzel hoop dat sy suksesvolle tweede rondte in Hong Kong hom in ‘n goeie posisie sal plaas op die leiersbord vir die Europese Toer se Race to Dubai.  Die Suid Afrikaner is tans nommer 24 op die Toer se inkomste-lys na hy reeds €938,019 hierdie seisoen gewen het.  Sou hy in Hong Kong wen, sal hy, op nommer 15, sterk geplaas wees vir die laaste toernooi van die seisoen in Dubai.

“Ek kan seker nie meer die Race to Dubai wen nie, maar 2 oorwinnings sal die voorlopers sekerlik lekker skrik maak.”  het hy gese na afloop van Vrydag se spel.

“Ek is reg waar ‘n speler wil wees na twee rondtes,” Se hy verder.  “Ek speel tans goed en as ek so kan volhou, stuur hierdie toernooi op ‘n opwindende finaal af.”

Die vier voorlopers, insluitende Schwartzel is een hou voor nog ‘n Suid Afrikaner Rory Sabbatini asook Thailand se Chinnarat Phadungsil.

Na harde reen aan die einde van Dag 1, het Hong Kong vanoggend ietwat laer temperature ondervind.  Die son het egter in die namiddag kop uitgesteek en volgens Schwartzel het dit die speel-oppervlak en kondisies verbeter.  

Hy verduidelik: “Dit was koud vir die spelers in die oggend en die bal het nie te ver deur die lug getrek nie.  Ek het vroeg in my rondte met ‘n trui aan gespeel so ek dink die na-middag spelers was baie beter af (in terme van die weer).”

Na afloop van die WGC-HSBC Champions Toernooi  in Shanghai, China is Charl Schwartzel (71) tans Nommer 5 op die Suid Afrikaanse ranglys, een plek na Rory Sabbatini (61).  Hulle onderskeie posisies op die wereld-ranglys is tussen hakies.

South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel drives at the par-four 15th hole during the second round of the UBS Hong Kong Open on Friday, 13 November 2009. (Picture: Parallel Media Group)