Lifestyle

When others bunker down with instant noodles and television updates at home, Hong Kong's weather geeks put on their waterproof clothing, grab their wind meters and rush out to chase the storm. But there is also more to metereology than just typhoons. Varsity meets the amateur meteorologists who form Hong Kong's weather underground.

They have roots in the Philippines, India and Brazil but they are all Hong Kongers, and they are rapping about life in the city. Varsity meets members of the multicultural hip hop outfit Dope Boy and hear how rap helps them to break down cultural barriers

Living in a city with traditional gender norms, cross-dressing is prone to misunderstanding and controversy. For many corss-dressers, wearing the clothes of the opposite sex is a way of expressing their individuality and is not neccessarily related to sexual orientation.

Performance art has been around in Hong Kong since the mid 1970s but many members of the public are probably still baffled by what it means. Although you may not be familiar with the concepts and theories of performance art, you have probably seen it at protests and social events as the city's performance artists are doing more and more political works.

Food writers and restaurant reviewers are some of the most envied people in the media, especially in food-crazy Hong Kong. These jobs were once the preserve of the expert and the famous, but with the advent of food blogging, anyone with a love of food and an internet connection can be a food writer. Varsity meets some of the city's leading food bloggers and traditional food critics.

There is no denying that car-racing in Hong Kong has been in the doldrums in recent years. While nearby Macau hosts an annual Grand Prix, Hong Kong does not even have a car-race track. Few are aware of the city's glorious racing past, but now, some local motorsports enthusiasts are planning to revive car and kart racing in Hong Kong.

Mention concerts in Hong Kong and most people think of glitzy shows by Cantopop stars in venues like the Hong Kong Coliseum. But in recent years, the territory has been playing host to a very different kind of music event. An increasing number of outdoor music festivals are attracting big name international headliners and showcasing local indie talent and changing the way Hong Kongers experience live music.

Boccia is a ball game that can be played by the able-bodied, the disabled and the elderly. It's a paralympic sport in which Hong Kong has an impressive track record. Yet few in Hong Kong have heard of it. Varsity takes a closer look.

Guide dogs for the blind are making a comeback in Hong Kong. Two groups are training a new generation of guide-dogs by enlisting the help of "puppy walkers" who help young dogs learn how to socialise with humans and navigate around the city. Varsity finds out what it takes for a puppy to become a guide dog.

With the spread of the internet, newspapers around the world are suffering from falling advertising revenues and shrinking circulations. District newspapers, which were once an important source of local news and information in Hong Kong had nearly all disappeared by the end of the 1980s. But a renewed interest in community and neighbourhood in community in the city has led to revival of district papers. Varsity meets the people behind them.