The Referral Guide for SINGAPORE
August 2011
August 2011 Issue 109
KITCHENS & BATHROOMS•MEDICAL HEALTH•AUSTRALIA
NYC, HONG KONG, BANGKOK
Sporting News
Rugby, Netball & More Readers’ Choice Great Ocean Road Margaret River Tasmania
MICA (P) : 082/02/2011
S$6.50
T A E R G ES! PRIZ tition mpe ey o C o t o Ph ader Surv & Re
FABULOUS HOMES
Odetoartcontemporary
Reflections of Beyond Contradictions
REFLECTIONS OF BEYOND CONTRADICTIONS by Coplu
 
Xie Ai Ge
Rainer
Wu Liang Yan
Hong Viet Dung
Lee Jung Woong
Pham Thanh Van
Ren Zhen Yu
Min Yi Yao
Lv Yanjun
Ode to Art Raffles City 252, North Bridge Road, Raffles City Shopping Centre, #01-36E/F, Singapore 179103 Tel: +65 6250 1901 Ode to Art Marina Bay Sands 2, Bayfront Avenue The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands #01-19, Singapore 018972 Tel: +65 6688 7779 The Pavillion Kuala Lumpur 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang, The Pavillion, #06-24E/F, Kuala Lumpur 55100, Malaysia Tel: +603 2148 9816 For email enquiries: sales@odetoart.com
Website: www.odetoart.com
WINNER SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE 2009
WINNER SINGAPORE PRESTIGE BRAND AWARD 2010 (ESTABLISHED BRANDS)
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Email: smileinc@pacific.net.sg
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333A Orchard Road #04-18
Website: www.smileinc.com.sg
NEWS Welcome mat
Editor's Letter One morning late last November, my home help Suyati questioned me about my sleepless night. She heard someone walking around on the wooden decking at around 2am, and then looked out to see a figure who she presumed was me sitting on the sofa with my back to her window. I assured her that I’d been sound asleep in bed all night long. We were both a bit freaked out! Several weeks ago a taxi drew up in the drive and a British lady came to the door to ask if she could look around the place. Her parents had lived in my house during the early 70s, and she showed me photographs of how the house was then. Her mother had apparently loved the house and always spoke fondly of it. The visitor explained that her mother had died quite recently – in late November. Had her mother’s spirit returned to the house where she had been so happy? August is Hungry Ghost Month, a Chinese festival period when ghosts and spirits are believed to revisit the world. When we first came to Singapore, I was intrigued by the burning of fake money and paper versions of clothes, cars and so on to appease the ancestral spirits. Over the years, I have heard all kinds of strange Singapore ghost stories, many of which have occurred around this time of the year. Fortunately, there’s nothing strange going on at the Expat Living office. Once again, it’s time for our regular Photo Competition (page 216) and Reader Survey (page 71, or visit our website). There are some fabulous prizes to be won by filling in the survey, including cruises and holidays; and you can send us your photos for a chance of winning one of two Canon cameras. Don’t forget to enter our regular competitions, too – there are always lots of great prizes up for grabs. 011 n2 Expat Living was awarded its own prize last month! We are very proud to io PCompetit have been chosen as the Best Integrated Media Brand of the year by the Magazine Publishers Association of Singapore. It’s a great tribute to the hard work the team has put into both our print magazines and our website. Here’s looking forward to more good stuff to come, and I hope the second half of the year will be a winner for you, too.
ILY
LIFE&FAM
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Look out for
REBECCA BISSET Editor-in-Chief
August11 216
Front Cover Interior shot of Brigitte Hentschel's home Photograph of Rebecca by www.littleonesphotography.com.
next month Look out for
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Antiques • Organic Beauty Indonesia • Cocktail Dresses
NEWS Welcome mat
Rebecca Bisset
Editor-in-Chief
Group Editor
Shamus Sillar
Executive Editor
Verne Maree
Editors
Social Editor & Events Coordinator
Mums & Kids Events Coordinator
Online Team
Kate Mallord Monica Pitrelli Beate Baldry Caroline Henderson Katie Roberts Rene Yutiampo
Client Services Manager & Production
Sherah Brown Leanda Rathmell
Graphic Designers
Michael Bernabe Natasha Young
Subscription & Circulation
Regional Sales & Marketing Manager
Business Development
Advertising Sales, Singapore
Advertising Sales, Hong Kong
Finance
HR
Contributors
Anna Tserlingas Elizabeth Hall Michelle O’Connell Harsharan Kaur Karin Galley-Dick, Sarah Purchase, Danielle Rosetti, Lara Sage, Jacqui Young Tracie Pangrazio Norliza Mohd Karen Thomas Juliet Keys Heidi Sarna, Karen Lucas, Tom Lawson, Philippa Barr, Carolyn Hall, Shelley von Strunckel
CONTACT US General Enquiries Advertising Sales Subscription Production Editorial & Media Releases Calendar of Events Events Expat Living Hong Kong Websites
+65 6259 0058 | info@expatliving.sg +65 6478 7151 | sales@expatliving.sg +65 6478 7153 | subscription@expatliving.sg +65 6478 7169 | production@expatliving.sg editorial@expatliving.sg calendar@expatliving.sg events@expatliving.sg info@expatliving.hk | sales@expatliving.hk www.expatliving.sg | www.expatliving.hk
Published by Expat Living Publications Pte Ltd 38A Jalan Pemimpin #06-02 Wisdom Building Singapore 577179 Printed by Ho Printing Singapore Pte Ltd. www.hoprinting.com Expat Living magazine has been certified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations for a total average net circulation of 16,177 per monthly issue. The audited circulation figures will be posted on www.abcsingapore.org Expat Living Publications Pte. Ltd. has taken every reasonable care to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of the information contained in this publication, but accepts no responsibility for the content of advertisements published, and no liability for mistake, misprint, omission, typographical error, loss or damage suffered as a result of relying wholly or in part on the content of advertising or editorial published herein. Expat Living Publications reserves the right to refuse any advertisement or advertorial for any reason. All artwork designed by Expat Living Publications or any part of this publication may not be reproduced in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by means - graphical, electronic or mechanical, photocopying, recording, taping, etc, without prior permission in writing from the Publishers.
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CONTENTS NEWS
Centrespread:
84
20
Dates for Your Diary
26
Open House:
36
Seen around town
Forum:
44
Home Interiors:
LIFE & FAMILY Notice Board:
HOME
News
Showcase: Feng shui helps make the Hentschels’ home a lucky one
63 73
Chic Chinese porcelain
Showcase:
75
Having it all: twins, a job and a life
Staycation:
96 103
Revisiting the Ritz
Helping Out:
Regional furniture
Original Spin:
94
Births, weddings and more
51
Country Accents:
51
Clever use of colour to perk up an HDB apartment
Readers’ letters & competition winners
106
Horsy therapy for children in need
Volunteering:
109
89 August11
Cambodia Donation Drive
133
Office Space:
134
An effective solution
ANZA member Lynn White
110
Rugby Village:
Two Artists
117
Interview with Simon Poidevin and Gareth Chilcott
Framing Angie:
126
New Car:
Open House
Happy Days at Lock Road Kindergarten
128
Learn Different:
130
Respecting diverse needs and talents
137
143
Introducing the Volvo XC60
Lunch with the lady
14
152
Kitchens and bathrooms
What’s New in Town
53
My Car:
147
The Newbys are happy with their choice
Expert Voice: Buying property in Australia
149
CONTENTS COMPETITIONS
FASHION
56
Bookcase
210
Style News
168
On the Couch
212
Win a handbag and all its contents worth over $1,000 from Orchard Central!
Teen Fashion
172
Music & Theatre
214
Win Molton Brown Products
Jewellery:
174
Photo Competition 2011:
216
Handbag Heroes:
152
154
Win Vouchers from Pure Earth 156
Just the way you want it
Win a BlackBerry
158
HAIR & BEAUTY
Win a Body Massage
160
News
Win a Classic Mani & Pedi
162
Win a Hamper of Cleaning Products
164
PROPERTY 178
DIY Aesthetic Treatments
181
Tried & Tested:
146
The Wellness Clinic
Girls’ Day Out:
Smart Moves:
220
Our series on expats and their black-and-white homes
Hot Property:
233
What’s on the market?
186
At The Body Firm
170
Win one of two fantastic Canon cameras!
Living in Nusajaya:
Hair Care
189
Ultrasound for Wrinkles!
192
Mortgages in Singapore Street Talk:
194
Thomson Lane
Cutis Medical Laser Clinics
ARTS & LEISURE Spotted:
198
Music, theatre and art events
New Gallery:
204
Ode to Art in Marina Bay Sands
Tech News
206
205 16
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238
Exhale answers our questions
241 242
CONTENTS TRAVEL
300
WINE & DINE
Travel Focus: Australia
249
News
304
News
250
Flavour of the Month:
310
Tasmania:
254
Cool Launceston
Margaret River
262
The Great Ocean Road
273
In a Porsche!
Boutique Style in Bangkok
283
On Central Park:
289
New York’s Plaza Hotel
Hong Kong:
295
Two iconic hotels, one new, one old
The Jackson Plan
On the Bar
312
Chit’s Bar:
314
Casual seaside drinks and dining
Food Forager:
316
Black garlic
Out with Friends:
318
Dining options for large groups
316
HEALTH & FITNESS News
330
Netball Nations:
336
We chat to two members of the Singapore team
Medical Health Reviews
339
Sundown Comrades:
362
Ultra-distance runners
The Wine Pages
324
Peranakan Cuisine
326
New Solutions:
365
Treating varicose veins
REGULARS Horoscopes
369
Shelley von Strunckel’s forecasts for August
319 18
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Diary of a Single Girl
372
Subscribe Now!
372
Advertiser List
376
Important Numbers
378
Parting Shot:
380
Mother versus Maid
• Made to measure in 8 hours • Mail orders welcome • Alteration service provided
A Cut Above The Rest Established in 1971, Mohan’s is one of Singapore’s oldest and most reputable tailors. Our made to measure suits and dresses can be ready for you in as few as 8 hours. Our clients include diplomats, CEO’s and our quality workmanship makes us popular with locals and expatriates alike. We also have offices in Britain, Germany, Scandanavia, and Florida, USA. We accept all major credit cards.
Specials for Shirts Pants Blouses Skirts Dresses Suits
$30 $45 $45 $55 $140 $180
#02-73 Far East Plaza. 14 Scotts Road, Singapore 228213 Fax: +65 6733 2535 Email: mohans.custom@pacific.net.sg Please call +65 6732 4936 or +65 6732 4936 for free transport to Mohan’s
Listed as one of the top 150 companies and awarded “The Best of Singapore in Service Excellence 2007” by Singapore Tourism Board.
Call 6732 4936 or 6732 3892
What’s New
NEWS
Showroom
Sale
To celebrate the opening of its new 11,000 sq. foot showroom, Jehan Gallery is having a huge sale. The new showroom will house an amazing collection of 10,000 carpets, some at up to 70 percent off the regular price. 62 Jalan Penjara, The Garden Hub. Call 6334 4333 or visit www.jehangallery.com.
India
Masters of
The Gallery of Gnani Arts presents “The Prized Collection: Modern Masters in Singapore”, a historic exhibition of sculptures and paintings by modern masters of South India. Five of the participating masters will be present at the official opening on 1 August. Black Earth Art Museum, 352B Joo Chiat Road. Call 9668 3106 or visit www.blackearthauction.com.
Festivities at the Flyer
Celebrate the nation’s 46th birthday at the Singapore Flyer. Opt for cocktail or dinner service on board (from $138 per couple), or join the crowd on the Flyer’s West Promenade for a live screening of the National Day festivities. 5pm to 9pm. 9 August. Call 6786 1611 or visit www.singaporeflyer.com.
Take
Road Rules k c i Your P Looking for a piece of colonial furniture for your home? Past Pe r f e c t h a s a n e w shipment packed with British dining tables, easy chairs, Portuguese cupboards, Dutch chests and more from India’s colonial past. 480 River Valley Road. Call 6737 3078 or visit www.pastperfect.sg.
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You may be new to the roads here, but Presto Expat isn’t. Twenty years of experience is condensed into its new Driving in Singapore Guide. If you’re still hazy on parking coupons, road taxes and driving in Malaysia, this one’s for you. 271 Bukit Timah Road, #0306/07 Balmoral Plaza. Call 6738 7377.
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What’s New
NEWS
o N ’s e r e h T Biz Like … Showbizasia.com is Singapore’s first integrated online ticketing website where you can book for attractions, entertainment, accommodation and dining at the same time. Sign up and receive access to ticket pre-sales, waiting lists for future events, member promotions and more. www.showbizasia.com
The Science of Sleep Simmons’ new Ion Crystal series uses negative ions and farinfrared rays to stimulate your metabolism and blood circulation while supporting the functions of your heart and lungs. Sleep has never been this good for you. To find the Simmons Gallery nearest you, call 6294 2278 or visit www.simmons.com.sg.
Twenty20 Vision
Watch world-class cricket as eight top clubs from around Asia Pacific battle it out in the SCC-PayPal Twenty20 Tournament. The fast-paced format provides a thrilling live spectacle, mixing future superstars and former international players in matches at Kallang Field and The Padang. 19 to 21 August. Call 6338 9271 or visit www.scctwenty20.com.
DreamOn! One dream changes everything for litterbug Walter, who wakes with a plan to protect the planet. Filled with humour and fantasy, this original eco-play uses puppets, stage effects and sound-scapes to bring Chris Van Allsburg’s beautiful illustrations to life. 4 August to 10 September. DBS Arts Centre. For tickets, visit www.sistic.com.
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Rock ‘n’ Roll Sentimental men, yes. Soft men – uh, no. If your bedroom activity has been, shall we say, less than stimulating lately, Mr Rock may be able to help. Simply rub it on your stomach for a week. And no, we haven’t tested this one yet. $58.90. Available at Watsons.
What’s New
NEWS
Be-Dazzled
You’ve seen these buildings before – but never like this. Local artist Simon Lim’s latest exhibition showcases Singapore’s most recognisable buildings meticulously decked out in iridescent sequins. The process takes a long time, as some paintings contain as many as 1,000 sequins. 2 to 16 August. Société Générale Private Banking Gallery, 1 Sarkies Road. Call 6833 9314 or visit www.alliancefrancaise.org.sg.
Paper Pushers Calling all rugby fans: the Corporate Rugby Sevens tournament is back! Come down to watch Singapore’s business professionals battle it out on the field rather than in the boardroom. A Kids’ Zone will be set up for the children. 3 September. Yio Chu Kang Stadium. Call 6408 0125 or visit www.laxtonmarketing.com.
Blunt Advice
Catch English singer-songwriter James Blunt live in concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. He is back on tour to support his third album, Some Kind of Trouble – a hardrocking departure from ballads like “You’re Beautiful”. 11 August. Tickets start at $80. www.sistic.com
Daily
Deals
Coupon sites are all the rage. We like www.jigocity.com.sg, where discounts can be up to a whopping 91 percent! Check it once a day for amazing deals at restaurants, bars, spas, movies and events. The deals kick in once a minimum amount is sold. So spread the word to friends and colleagues, and explore the city on a shoestring together.
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NEWS
August CALENDAR 1 DALI GENIUS
(1 August – 30 October)
Enter the mind of Surrealist Salvador Dalí; see over 250 of his artworks in all their glory. Daily 10am to 10pm, last admission 9pm. ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands. Call 6688 8826. www. marinabaysands.com/artsciencemuseum
CHILD’S PLAY (1 – 5 August)
A 15-hour course over five days, covering children’s play, for maids and helpers who look after children aged up to eight years. 9.30am to 12.30pm. $425. Register at create@centre-stage.com.
TERRACOTTA WARRIORS (1 August – 16 October)
Not to be missed! See the Chinese Terracotta Warriors from Xi’an – find out how they were discovered and what mysteries remain buried. Mondays 1pm to 7pm, Tuesday to Sundays 9am to 7pm (9pm on Fridays). Asian Civilisations Museum. www.acm.org.sg
INDIGENOUS ART (1 – 31 August)
Indigenous Yulparija artists from Australia feature in the Paint, Pearl & Ilma exhibition, courtesy of Aratong Galleries. Open weekdays 8.30am to 4.30pm. Atrium Gallery, Australian High Commission, 25 Napier Road.
LOOLA ADVENTURES (1 – 12 August)
Five-day, six-night summer camps for children aged eight to 13 at LooLa Adventure Resort on Bintan Island. Call 6764 6496 or 9116 2131. http://loola.net
Van Gogh Alive
RAINBOW FISH
INTO THE WOODS
A new take on the classic tale with colourful puppet characters, a magical underwater world and valuable lessons for all. Check website for times. Singapore Airlines Theatre, LASALLE College of the Arts. Tickets from Sistic.
A funny, action-packed and visually stunning musical of fairytale characters looking for true happiness. 8pm and weekend matinées. Esplanade Theatre. www.showbizasia.com
(1 – 6 August)
(1 – 7 August)
VAN GOGH ALIVE PHOTOGRAPHY MONTH (1 – 21 August)
Thought-provoking images from top photographers in three exhibitions exploring themes such as war, death, division and popular culture. Showing at venues across Singapore. Check www.mopasia.com.sg for details.
Rainbow Fish
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(1 August – 6 November)
A fusion of art and audiovisual technology brings the work of Vincent Van Gogh to life in this unique production. Daily 10am to 10pm, last admission 9pm. ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands. Call 6688 8826. www.marinabaysands.com/ artsciencemuseum
NEWS
August CALENDAR MODERN MASTERs (1 – 14 August) An exhibition of works by five South Indian artists. Free. Noon to 9pm daily. Black Earth Art Museum, 352B Joo Chiat Road. www.gnaniarts.com
2 DAZZLe (2 – 16 August) Simon Lim’s latest art exhibition is inspired by the intricate beading work of his Peranakan heritage. 11am to 7pm from Monday to Friday, 11am to 5pm Saturday, closed on Sundays and public holidays. Alliance Française de Singapour. Call 6833 9314.
3 CHALLENGING THEATRe (3 – 21 August) Urgent, challenging and exciting, the Man Singapore Theatre Festival presents six plays about difficult issues, from racism to religion and homosexuality. Check website for times. Drama Centre, National Library Building. www.wildrice.com.sg
4 THE GREEN PLAY
(4 August – 10 September)
Just A Dream is an eco-play that uses puppets and magical stage effects to tell the story of a young boy’s dream to protect the planet. DBS Arts Centre. Tickets and performance times from www.sistic.com.sg.
My Home
6 FARMERS’ MARKET Talk to people who are passionate about food and produce; enjoy cooking demonstrations and wine talks. 8.30am to 2pm. Loewen Gardens, 75E Loewen Road. Call 6474 0441. www.thepantrycookeryschool.com
VILLA ALICIa (6 – 12 August) Preserved with the memories from the 1970s, this home in Binjai Park is hosting a sound and photography installation before it is demolished. Free admission. 9am to 9pm. 43 Binjai Park. Call 9384 2916.
8 EKSPRESS RAKYAt (8 – 24 August) Works by six Malaysia-based contemporary artists in different media. 12pm to 7pm. Raffles Hotel Arcade, #01-04, 328 North Bridge Road. www.chanhampegalleries.com
9 Public Holiday: National Day AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK Part of the World Cinema Series, this documentary explores diverse Outback films from the past decade. 3pm. National Museum gallery Theatre. Tickets from Sistic.
11 JAMES BLUNT The English singer and songwriter plays in Singapore for one night only. 8pm. Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets from Sistic.
HELPERS’ SUMMER COURSE Fussy kids? A fresh approach to sandwiches, salads and snack foods for kids’ packed lunches. $120 includes lunch. 10am to 1pm, Expat Kitchen, 9 Norris Road. Call 6299 4221. www.expat-kitchen.com
12 JUMP! (12 – 14 August) This Korean comic martial arts performance combines stunning acrobatics and slapstick humour. Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Saturday and Sunday at 3pm. Esplanade Theatre. Tickets from Sistic.
13 MY HOME (13 – 21 August) International home-building, renovation and furniture show, all under one roof. Noon to 10pm. Singapore Expo Hall 6. www.myhomeinternational.sg
14 HELP FOR A LAZY EYE Learn from an eye specialist about NeuroVision, the approved treatment for a lazy eye. Camden Medical Centre. 2pm to 5pm. $15. To register, call 6333 6457 or email seminar@neurovision.com.sg.
Dazzle
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NEWS
August CALENDAR
Before the Beginning
15
18
WELCOME BACK
SOULKIDS MENTOR TALK
Connect with the business community and embassy staff at a Welcome Back event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce. 6.30 to 8.30pm. Spa Boutique, Nassim Road. Purchase tickets at www.amcham.org.sg.
Develop meaning in your life, then inspire and influence children, too! 10am to 11.30am. Visit www.soulcentre.org for more details.
16 SPECIAL COFFEE MORNING Chinese astrology expert David Forrest will talk about careers and relationships, and reveal the 20-year future of ten lucky attendees, based on birth charts. To be one of the ten, email your birth date and birth time before 10 August! 10am to 11.30am. Limited seating. Originals, #02-03 Sime Darby Centre, 896 Dunearn Road. RSVP: events@expatliving.sg.
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(18, 22 August)
HELPERS’ SUMMER COURSE Looking for substantial salads? This course teaches your helper how to make them. $120 includes lunch. 10am to 1pm, Expat Kitchen, 9 Norris Road. Call 6299 4221. www.expat-kitchen.com
ART EXHIBITION
(19 August – 8 September)
Before the Beginning is an exhibition of 40 stunning works by artist Melanie McCollinWalker at Australasian Arts Projects, 303 Tanglin Road. Tuesday to Thursday 10am to 3pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm, or by appointment. Contact 9771 8974 or info@australasianartsprojects.
EL NEWCOMERS’ EVENT Sample a few top drops and meet new people at a gathering at one of our favourite bars. $20 includes wine and nibbles. 7.30 to 9.30pm. Speakeasy, 54 Blair Road. Register online. www.expatliving.sg/events
NEWS
August CALENDAR 19 SCC TWENTY20 (19 – 21 August) Eight top club sides line up for the worldclass Twenty20 cricket event. Times and venues at www.scctwenty20.com.
AUSTCHAM WINE & CHEESE NIGHT Join AustCham for a fun and relaxed evening celebrating and tasting the best of Aussie and NZ wines, gourmet cheeses and boutique beers. 5.30pm. Asian Civilisations Museum. Tickets from www.austcham.org.sg.
20 COLOURS OF ODYSSEY The children from Odyssey exhibit their unique artworks to raise funds for the Make-a-Wish Foundation in the Art of Little Mondrians. 11am to 6pm. The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane. www.theodyssey.sg
SCC Twenty20
21 BRANDENBURG CONCERTOS From the musical genius of Johann Sebastian Bach, interpreted by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. 7.30pm. Esplanade Concert Hall. Tickets from Sistic.
22 STYLE & BEAUTY AFTERNOON TEA At this EL event, titled “Garden of Eden: Chinese Herbs”, discover how to use traditional Chinese herbs to stay healthy and to create your own skincare products at home. Gift for each attendee. 10 to 11.30am. Free admission. RSVP to events@ expatliving.sg or call 6478 7156.
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN (22 – 25 August) Train them early! This fun mini-chefs course will teach budding cooks an array of culinary skills. 10am to 1pm. $350. The Pantry at Loewen Gardens. www.thepantrycookeryschool.com
THE PARK FAIR At this fair for families, you can shop, dine and catch up with friends while the kids are being entertained. 10am to 5pm. 7 Rochester Park. For more, call Christine on 9716 3463.
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NIGHT FESTIVAL (26 – 27 August)
SWANS ON ICE (30 August – 4 September)
From nightfall, art and culture will spill out onto the streets. Expect theatre, music, dance, visual effects and free late-night admission to museums. 7pm to 2am. In and around the National Museum.
(27 – 28 August)
French social comedy Comme Une Image questions the notion of image and the influence of magazines. 8pm. Aliance Française Theatre. Tickets from Sistic.
The Loewen Gardens’ Farmer’s Market is expanding. Every fourth Saturday, catch it at The Quayside,10.30am to 3pm. 60 Robertson Quay. www.thepantrycookeryschool.com
Public Holiday: Hari Raya Puasa
SINGHEALTH ROADSHOW
LOOK AT ME
Gourmet Grub
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27
23
32
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Learn more about life-saving organ and tissue transplants with interactive games, activities and more. Free admission. 11.30am to 6pm. Suntec City Mall, Tower 2.
Dazzling costumes, talented ice-skaters and Tchaikovsky’s magical music combine in a spectacular performance. Grand Theatre, Marina Bay Sands. Tickets from Sistic.
31 NEWCOMERS’ LUNCH
Meet and greet other newcomers to Singapore in a relaxed, informal setting on the last Wednesday of every month. Hosted by Expat Realtor. Au Petit Salut French restaurant, 40C Harding Road. To book, call 9171 3392.
NEWS
REMINDERS Important Dates
Calendar PLAN AHEAD September 1 – 23
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Explore the spiritual world with legendary Magnum photographer Abbas and Singaporean Melisa Teo’s joint exhibition. 11am to 8pm from Tuesday to Saturday, 1pm to 6pm on Sundays. Old School, 11 Mount Sophia Road. www.2902gallery.com
A workshop on the issues facing expat women, and strategies for managing this dramatic life-change. 10am to 12pm. The Counselling Place. Call 6887 3695 for registration.
DARK LIGHT
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DRUM TAO These explosive Japanese drummers have played their eclectic mix of drums and martial arts to audiences across the world. Esplanade Theatre. www.drum-tao.com. Book with Sistic.
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ONE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP Sixteen World Champions and National Champions compete in mixed martial arts to be crowned the best in Asia. 7pm. Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets from Sistic.
Important Pages
RUGBY SEVENS
THE HALL OF MIRRORS Bruce Quek’s installation explores the inevitable passage of time. Free admission. Reception on 8 September, 7.30pm. The Substation Gallery. www.substation.org
13 – 14 THE FAIR
An exquisite collection of over 100 products and services, many on show for the first time. Goodwood Park Hotel, Scotts Road. www.fairsandbazaars.com
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F1 ACTION The Singapore Grand Prix is back for the fourth year. Marina Bay Street Circuit. Tickets from Sistic.
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DEALER’S CHOICE
The annual Kite Festival returns for a third time with soaring kites and related activities for the whole family. The Promontory @ Marina Bay. Call 6735 9986. www.act3international.com.sg
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BAY RUN AND ARMY HALF MARATHON Enjoy a unique line up of fringe activities and performances in this race through downtown Singapore. Try the new 800m Father and Child Challenge. 5.15am to 12pm. Flag-off at Esplanade Bridge. Online registration only at www.safra.sg/sbr.
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Watch the office lads work up a sweat in the third Corporate Rugby Sevens. Kids’ zone available. Yio Chu Kang Stadium. Call 6408 0125. www.laxtonmarketing.com
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EXPAT WIVES
29 Sep – 16 Oct An internationally acclaimed play about six men playing a game of poker; but it’s not as simple as it sounds. Drama Centre Theatre, National Library. www.pangdemonium.com
November 13 – 20
ORCHID OLYMPICS The World Orchid Conference will display an array of orchids from around the globe based on the theme, “Where New and Old Worlds Meet”. Marina Bay Sands Exhibition Complex. www.20woc.com.sg
Scene Around Town
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Here for the Beer! June’s BeerFest Asia 2011 drew a massive crowd of around 30,000 people over three days, and all seemed fairly keen to try the 250 international beers on offer.
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David Forrest will help you to
Re-invent Your Career
From your birth date and time, David Forrest will read your "Ten Years Life Path" and born, innate skill-sets to guide you to re-invent your career and manage your relationships and business.
David Forrest, an Executive MBA in business and MSc in Biological Genetics, has over 35 years built his own entrepreneurial businesses. He has studied for 15 years the two most venerable ancient Chinese astrologies, Bazi and Zi Wei Dou Shu.
Combining his business acumen with this study, David Forrest will show you with total clarity your innate skills and "Ten Years Life Path". He will explain with explicit detail your present and future in all aspects of your life.
Career / Business Crossroad How will David Forrest re-invent your career and business? 1. Chinese astrology will reveal your innate born skills and your best choice of career or business. This is amazingly accurate and will be a 10-page written personalized report. 2. David has invested 10 years in research and case studies to build your proprietary "Ten Years Career Path". Without this, it is futile to even begin to re-invent your career!
Relationship Crossroad David Forrest will also answer all your questions on relationships with total clarity. 1. He will provide a full personality profile of your marriage partner. David is incredibly accurate as this is written in your birth chart. 2. He will advise when you will meet this partner. 3. He will resolve, find solutions and damagecontrol rocky relationships.
Complimentary Trial Reading visit www.davidforrestdestinymatch.com
David does not give short or computerized free readings.You will receive a personalized reading which is amazingly accurate and detailed. Allow 3 to 5 days for a response as David Forrest will personally read and chart each birth date. $600 for 150 to 180 mins. Includes personalized written destiny report annually for next ten years related to career, relationships and business. appointments@davidforrestdestinymatch.com 192, Waterloo Street, # 05-05,Skyline Building S 187966. Tel:65-9019 8113 david@davidforrestdestinymatch.com
Scene Around Town
NEWS
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Golf Day Golfers took to Sentosa Golf Club’s lovely Serapong Course for the 2nd Annual IFS Corporate Golf Day on 10 June, which included a golf clinic, lunch and a prize-presentation dinner – plus some great sponsors!
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Scene Around Town
NEWS
To Boldly Go Fiona and Diana received personal coaching from presentations consultant Barbara Koziarski before speaking at the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce’s June networking event.
Prego Party Guest of honour at the unveiling of the new-look Prego at The Fairmont, Italian Ambassador HE Anacleto Felicani, enjoyed lunch with a bunch of other diplomats and foodies. From top: • Giacomo Marabiso, Raffaella Orsini and Brian Tracey • HE Jorg Ranau, HE. Marc Ungeheuer, HE Mr and Mrs Paulo Alberto de Silveira Soares • HE Marc Ungeheuer, HE Mr and Mrs Anacleto Felicani, Karen Tan, HE Jorg Ranau • Nick McGlynn, HE Antony Phillipson, Aiden McAuley
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Scene Around Town
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Go with the Flo American rapper Flo Rida cranked it up for the crowds at his recent concert at Wave House Sentosa.
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LETTERS Best Letter
We want to hear from you! Send us your thoughts on the magazine, or on any subject under the sun. For simply asking a good question – and the compliment didn’t hurt, either! – Anneke wins a lovely prize from Suma Lifestyle (www.sumalifestyle.com). The Couple’s Resort at Home package includes two Montego striped towels, one pink and one blue (pictured), plus a pair of gorgeous his-and-her bathrobes from the Tao line.
Fat Cats Thanks very much to Expat Living magazine and website for helping me look for a new home for my cats. I can happily say they have found one where they will be given the love and attention they need. Fergus Murray Ed: It’s a pleasure! Our free online Notice Board is available to anyone who has something for sale on a not-for-profit basis; just email a description of your item, a photo of it and your contact details to katie@ expatliving.sg.
Converts We are Indians who have been in Singapore for nearly four years. Previously, we were in the habit of reading only magazines and newspapers catering to Indians in order to find out what was new and interesting. A few months ago, I discovered Expat Living and was pleasantly surprised at the wealth of information in your magazine. As the mother of a two-year-old girl, I enjoy the articles on children’s furniture, clothing and the like. Rukmini Dhara Ed: We’re glad to be of use, and thank you for your suggestions for future articles.
Paint Puzzle We have old cans of paint, leftover pesticides and similar items in our garage. As we are moving house, we want to dispose of them properly. Can you tell me how this can be done? By the way, I love your magazine; there is an enormous amount of very useful information in it. Anneke Ed: You’re right: paint and insecticides are hazardous materials that should be disposed of with care. The government body responsible for this is the National Environment Agency, www.nea.gov.sg. We sent your question on to them and are waiting for a response.
t Betster
le
Email us at info@expatliving.sg
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Travel with Heart Th a n k yo u f o r A n i t a William’s story in the July issue about taking a family trip to Jaipur to view i-India’s amazing community projects. Living in Asia is a wonderful opportunity to combine travel with an awareness of and focus on those less fortunate than we are, and where possible to do our bit to help. Bridget Koornhof Ed: Her story inspired us, too.
WINNERS Email us at info@expatliving.sg
Picture Framing
Handbag Heroes
Margaret Ann AbedinZadeh (pictured) was the happy winner of a $1,000 voucher from Framing Angie. First runner-up Anna Law won a $700 voucher and second runner-up Ester Gerber a $300 voucher.
Anabel Higgin walked away with a perfectly proportioned leather bag filled with everything she needs to keep looking and feeling fabulous all day. The prize was worth more than $750!
Kids’ Party
Face Therapy
Lucky Beng Hock won a two-hour party for eight kids at Motherswork Café, Cupcake and Candy Bar at Great World City, worth $750.
Movie Tickets The five readers who each won a pair of tickets to Cathay’s Platinum Movie Suites were: • Serene Hong • Becky Salmons • Lim Hock Siong • Gillian Schell • Tan Swee Kim
Here are the winners of an AntiOxidant Face Therapy session: • Annemarie Parnell • Sandra Hanel • Florence Akesson • Himani Swami • Koh Yan Yan
Best Contributor
RealRyder Programme Will Blunck won a 10-session RealRyder Fitness Programme from Urban Fitness Lab, worth $315. And another 30 readers each won a five-session programme; they are: Sun Hwang, Peter Huus, Lim Kian Hwee, Tracey Costar, Rukmini Dhara, Ashley Wang, Sabine Johansson, Jolina Tan Si Jie, Suchin Lee-Mueller, Rennie Ratadia, Chris Heinemann, John Witter, Sharon Chua Kah Hwa, Sarah Smith, Donna Stephens, Edith McLaughlin, Paula Stacey, Gina Fyffe, Angeline Liew, Elise Poh, Jason Morris, Hetty Vosselman, Janelle Cosgrove, A S Jun, Zurina Bryant, Endilo Lourens, Cheok S.C., Paul Richardson, Natalie Anderson, Paul Grenfell
For being named the Best Contributor to Expat Living’s 2011-2012 Travel and Overseas Property Guide, Peter Hepenstall has won two nights at the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort and a bottle of Duval-Leroy champagne. Peter wrote a true and heartwarming story about a street boy in India who sold nuts outside Peter’s office; the boy took enormous pride in his work and protected Peter when beggars tried to bother him. Peter is now paying for the boy’s schooling in India, sees his homework and report card, and coordinates all this through his Indian colleagues. The boy is no longer working on the streets.
Congratulations to our Winners! 46
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Kitchen ideas by Design Intervention
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By Beate Baldry
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rigitte Hentschel from the Philippines and husband Norbert from Germany live with two of their three boys in a “lucky” penthouse in an older condo in Hillview Avenue. It’s remarkable that when they decided to stop renting three years ago and look for a place to buy, this was the very first and only place they saw. The viewing was on a Friday, they placed the offer on the Sunday and it was accepted on the Monday. Practically unheard of!
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Soon after that, the German school where their boys Max (12) and Christopher (8) were enrolled, moved location to just down the road, bringing with it other expats and raising rental prices in the area; this only validated their decision to move further out to get more space and a better deal. Right timing? Definitely. Lucky? Perhaps that, too. But what really upped the luckiness stakes, Brigitte and Norbert believe, was adding feng shui touches to their new home.
It took a lot of renovation to achieve the wow factor that hits you as you enter. Brigitte and Norbert essentially flipped the house from top to bottom in the process, planning the details themselves. They say they were lucky to get the goahead from the building management for such a big project. The front door is controlled by a fingerprint identity scanner; it’s a godsend for kids to be able to go key-less, Brigitte confides. When you enter, you are immediately in the heart of the house, the kitchen. It’s all stainless steel counters and modern appliances, including the built-in coffee machine around which the entire kitchen was planned.
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Brigitte cooks a lot and the breakfast bar comes in handy for chatting to her boys while making lunch, especially on the weekends when they have the computer open, Skypeing relatives in Germany and the Philippines. To the right is the dining room, and to the left is the wonderfully breezy rooftop deck where the family spends much of their time, especially on balmy nights, without a TV in sight. It’s easy to see why they fell in love with the view– a backdrop of Defence Hill on one side, and the tropical jungle of Bukit Batok Town Park on the other, where the sun sets.
The renovations were completed a year and half after they moved in; then the 2008 crisis hit and jobs weren’t as secure. Brigitte enlisted Lucy Richardson for some feng shui help; and after she’d compiled her hefty report on the house and given recommendations relevant to each person, a number of changes were made.
One of the first changes was “activating the north of the dining room main wall to activate Norbert’s career aspect”. A small, discreet water feature was installed, and within a week Norbert received a lucrative job offer. For Brigitte, that sealed the deal. She wasn’t taking any chances, and was happy to follow the feng shui direction. Feng shui in the toilets, however, was a sticking point.
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Lucy explained that as toilets flush out energy, they are better located on the periphery of the house; that wasn’t the case here. To counteract the loss of good energy from the NW metal element bathroom (which would have a negative effect on Norbert the patriarch’s luck), she recommended that they leave on the lights in the bathroom at all times. Lights represent the fire element, which melts the metal element. Instead of this costly and perhaps unsightly option, Norbert came up with a compromise: installing LED lights. This reinstated his luck in a way that was both practical and did not offend Brigitte’s aesthetic tastes, a feat they are both quite proud of. In the master bedroom, two nude paintings of a man and a woman used to hang above the bed. Lucy’s expert recommendation was to keep the bedroom for Brigitte and Norbert only – everybody else, out! The almost lifesize female nude that graces the lower-level study was relegated from the bedroom for the same reason.
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The master bathroom is where they have clearly gone to town on the penthouse features: the bathroom is Norbert’s pride and joy. A man-size tub to suit his 198cm tall frame is double-lined to catch any overspill, and sits in a proud position with a view of the flat-screen TV in the wall. Downstairs is where “reality hits”, Brigitte jokes: the study where Norbert is at work, and the two boys’ rooms and a TV area. Though Brigitte’s half-Chinese heritage comes from her mother’s side, her mother doesn’t believe in feng shui at all. Whatever your beliefs, the peaceful sounds of a water feature are a pleasant addition to this penthouse playground. Long may this family’s luck continue! eL Furnishings
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Space – kitchen equipment, 77 Bencoolen Street www.spacefurniture.com.sg XTRA – outdoor furniture, XTRA Park Mall, 9 Penang Road, www.xtra.com.sg Ideal Bathroom – bathtub, 545 Balestier Road 6255 5111 Feng Shui Focus, Lucy Richardson www.fengshuifocus.com.sg British Club, great for activities, lunch and probably the best club gym, www.britishclub.org.sg Huber’s Butchery, for home-cooked meals and barbecues, www.hubers.com.sg LJE Sports Bobcats, for basketball 9437 6252 www.ljesports.com Cosmo United Football Academy www.cufa.com.sg Little Swim – coach Carol helped my son win an Asian Games medal, 9337 7504 PowerMoves – for Pilates in Dempsey with excellent teachers, www.powermoves.com.sg German European School – a great school and just around the corner, www.gess.sg Galbiati – local Italian restaurant and deli www.galbiatigourmet.com Simply Bread – for breakfast, Guthrie House, 1 Fifth Avenue Little Guilin, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Bukit Batok for walks, picnics and barbecues
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By Monica Pitrelli
Be it a seashell-adorned beach house or a mountain lodge replete with moose heads and heavy timber, it’s common to seek interior inspiration from your surroundings. As for itsy-bitsy Singapore, we’re surrounded by – why, other countries, of course. The following pages have some of the best in home décor from China, India, Indonesia and Myanmar. Pick a style, mix and match or add an accent to bring as much or as little of the regional look into your home as you desire.
India Coloured Pots, Originals
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Ask the Expert: Helle Espersen of Fairprice Antique On types of wood commonly used for Chinese furniture: You’ll find elm, pine, fruit, poplar, fir and beech woods. Bamboo is also used in certain designs. On pieces in a traditional Chinese household: The altar table is a commonly found piece, and ranges from very plain in farmers’ homes to very ornate in wealthier households. They were used to display beautiful things. A mahjong table is often found in a Chinese home, and a red wedding cabinet, featuring the colour of luck and prosperity, is the centrepiece of a bride’s dowry. On antiques versus reproductions: If a piece is over 100 years old, the dealer should supply you with a certificate of authenticity. Ask for an original-condition photograph, too. Take a good look – does the piece look like it was cut with hand tools or does it have neatly cut edges made with a modern-day power saw?
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315 Outram Road, #01-10 Tan Boon Liat Building 6270 2544 | www.fairpriceantique.com
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1 White cabinet, made of elm wood, approx. 80 years old from Shandong Province, $1,900 2 Side cabinet, made of elm wood, approx. 90 years old from Shanxi Province, $1,400 3 Altar table, made of pine wood, approx. 60 years old from Shanxi Province, $1,200 4 Round stool with tile, approx. 50 years old from Shandong Province, $250
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1 Indian cabinet, $650 2 Temple door, $3,500 3 Indian cabinet, $1,150 4 Old door converted into a coffee table, $2,200
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Ask the Expert: Geri Murphy of Originals On identifying pieces from India: Styles differ from region to region. For example, pieces from Nagaland are characterised by an unadorned and purely functional style. Years of grinding grain, storing spices or serving food wears the edges to a smooth, rounded finish, which gives each of these pieces a unique shape. On symbols in Indian carvings: Carvings combine symbols – such as animals, Buddha images and Hindi characters – from the many religions and traditions that make India so diverse and colourful. We see these a lot on old temple doors and frames.
On the most popular pieces: Customers love Indian cabinets. Layers of paint that have been applied over the years wear down to reveal the different colours and the teak beneath. We have followers for blue and green, a waiting list for white and cream, and a huge demand for grey cabinets. On modern uses for old items: Doorframes make beautiful mirror frames, and brassstudded doors from havelis, or merchant homes, can be transformed into coffee tables or dining tables by topping them with glass and adding a stainless-steel or powder-coated steel base. 896 Dunearn Road #02-03 Sime Darby Centre 6471 9918 | www.originals.com.sg
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Ask the Expert: Laura Bartlett of The Shophouse On Indonesian teak: Indonesian teak is highly durable against all types of weather and temperatures. It can last for hundreds of years because it contains natural oils that repel insects, fungus, pollution and more. On other woods from Indonesia: There are so many, including palisander, merbau, kuku, ebony, jackfruit, raintree, belian, mindi, acacia and tamarind wood. On the increasing popularity of lighter coloured furniture: Indonesian teak comes in stains from whitewashed bianco grey to tobacco. In the past, Indonesian teak was often very dark and heavy, but we have found that we sell more natural indoor teak than the traditional, dark-coloured teak. The most popular pieces are in our Chelsea range, which is clean, modern and solid – think wide tabletops floating on big timber bases. They can take the rigors of moving around with an expat family.
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6 Rochester Park 6344 0100 www.theshophouse.com
1 Chelsea dining table, $2,700, and Chelsea bench seats, $1,200 each, both in natural teak finish 2 Portofino bookcase, grey wash finish, $1,400 3 Chelsea bar table, $2,100, and Valencia bar stools, $350 each, both in natural teak finish 4 Portofino television console, grey wash finish, $1,900
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Ask the Expert: Ang Wei Chin of Woody Antique House On the best characteristics of Burmese teak: Burmese teak is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, and its grain is absolutely beautiful. On the difference between Burmese teak and other teaks: Burmese teak is denser, tighter-grained and has more natural oils. It comes in a rich, golden yellow hue that is achieved by drying the wood in a kiln and then under the sun.
On why people seek it out: Its naturally high oil content means that it needs very little maintenance. On proper care: Outdoor furniture can be maintained by applying teak oil every six months. Only minimal maintenance is required for indoor furniture; just wipe it with a soft, damp cloth. eL
Block 13 Dempsey Road #01-05 6471 1770 www.woodyantique.com
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1 Dining table with six chairs and cushions, U.P. $3,330, on sale for $2,880 2 Bookshelf, $950 3 Octagonal table and 4 cattie folding chairs, U.P. $1,370, on sale for $1,038
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reader survey 2011
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HOME
By Shamus Sillar
It would be fair to say that the Spin store doesn’t boldly announce its presence. It’s tucked away on the top floor of the Holland Road Shopping Centre, out of sight of potential walk-in shoppers. The same discreet approach is favoured at the original Spin in the French Concession in Shanghai. I rented an apartment about 300 metres down the road and didn’t see the store for at least a year when I was there. (This turned out to be a money-saver, because once my wife laid eyes on the admittedly beautiful ceramics, it kicked off a retail frenzy the likes of which has never been seen before.) A low-key approach seems to be part of the company philosophy. Indeed, despite plenty of media attention and rave reviews for the products, Spin in Shanghai went about its business very quietly after opening in 2004: no advertising, no expansion, and an almost Zen-like atmosphere within the store itself (punctuated by mild flutters of excitement each time my better half walked through the door). Finally, Spin began to think about spreading its wings. First the Shanghai store was relocated to a bigger space. Then talks began with potential partners in other cities. One such partner was Singaporean Alan Ng, who convinced the owners that a Singapore branch was a great idea. Alan opened the Holland V outlet in December 2010. It’s the first and only Spin store outside of China. The space is modest, but there’s no mistaking the handmade porcelain, which features Spin’s elegant, organic designs and signature green-white hue. Since the company started as an offshoot from a stylish Japanese restaurant in Shanghai, you can expect to find plenty of dining ware on offer: sushi platters, chopsticks, sake cups and more. Vases, candleholders and tea sets are also ubiquitous. Expats are the target market at Spin: in fact, currently only a fifth of its customers are locals. According to Alan, expats like “the clean, contemporary, modern take on Chinese porcelain. Also, we have lots of products that are perfect for entertaining.” Finally, it’s good to see that Spin’s emphasis on affordable pricing has carried over from Shanghai to Singapore: most items in the store are under $100, up to a maximum of around $400. This is welcome news for your present correspondent, who’d been planning to hide
this particular issue of Expat Living in a drawer at home, lest the contact details for Spin fall into the wrong hands. eL Spin is at 211 Holland Avenue #04-01, Holland Road Shopping Centre. For more information, call 6467 0790 or visit www.spin-singapore.blogspot.com
Jingde-where? Spin’s ceramics are sourced from Jingdezhen, a city of a million or so people in eastern China’s Jiangxi Province. Jingdezhen has produced quality porcelain for almost 2,000 years, and today it is renowned as China’s “porcelain capital”; apparently, even the city’s traffic lights are clad with the stuff.
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By Verne Maree
Personal stylist AIMI HAUTAU is wonderfully trim, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for someone who gave birth to “bruiser” twins Leo and William just 12 weeks ago: they’re already weighing in at 6.3kg and 6kg respectively. And, amazingly, she’s already back at work. In Singapore, it seems, you can have it all.
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t takes all of 30 seconds for Aimi and me to find something in common: husbands in the shipping industry. Hers is Scotsman Ed Thomson, who worked in television before joining Ben Line Agencies, the shipping company his great-great-grandfather founded in 1825. Its head office is in Singapore, and he’s here to learn all about the business. Luckily, she says, he loves it.
The Apartment
If you need plenty of space, an older apartment like Cairnhill Plaza is the right way to go. When they arrived in Singapore, Aimi and Ed started off in Block 55, then moved to this bigger, brighter, airier unit measuring 3,300 square feet in the slightly newer Block 53. Its central location is ideal. “But,” says Aimi resignedly, “I’ve accepted that unless you buy your own place, you can’t have exactly what you want.” A case in point is the wide hall that leads to the living area: it’s lined with undoubtedly useful cupboards whose doors are padded with upholstery; one yearns to strip them away and open up the space. “We have to live with them,” she sighs. On the other hand, she agrees that the chandelier is rather nice. But she views the gigantic Toshiba home theatre system, inherited from a departing expat friend, with rather less equanimity, even confessing to a secret desire to break it.
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One can only concur: this is an object that only a man could love.
The Furnishings
Aimi and Ed put their furniture into storage and brought very little with them from Edinburgh, she says. “Much of it is old, too risky to ship; and we heard that the climate here isn’t good for antiques.” They did bring along some personal memorabilia, though, particularly what she calls 76
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her “Wall of Fame”: dozens of framed photographs of friends and family. “You have to be a really good friend to make it onto that wall! I love sitting here and looking at it.” Three old Vogue posters above the master bed used to hang on the walls of Ed’s mother’s flat in Harley Street, London, in the 60s. Opposite is a gorgeous work by colourful local artist Ketna Patel: “Please Do Not Embarrass By Requesting Free Entry”. There’s another Ketna, an acrylic, in the dining room. Ann Healey did the three naïve works above the Perspex-topped desk, plus the intriguing light box in the entrance hall.
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And in the nursery, three big sofa cushions have been covered with fabric recycled from the bedspread Ed slept under as a child, printed with scenes from the 60s children’s programme The Magic Roundabout. “Sometimes, we’re too quick to buy new stuff, rather than keeping some continuity in the things we love.”
The Boys
“I love having three boys,” declares Aimi. That’s a pragmatic attitude, as there’s very, very little chance of a girl coming along: not one girl has been born into Ed’s family since 1850!
Harry, who turns six in August, attends Avondale Grammar School. His mother says its warm, nurturing environment is exactly what he needs, and that getting him into the right school has made her feel more secure about staying in Singapore. “Harry has really come into his own.”
The Career
Aimi already had her own styling company in London when she met Ed there, and she continued with it when they moved to his hometown, Edinburgh. Although she started working again three months after arriving here, she reckons that it took her a good year
and a half to settle into Singapore. “Work has been a great help in settling in, and I’ve met such lovely, kind people through my job. It’s hard, though, when you make new friends and then they leave the country – but that’s just the way the expat life is.” She feels that Singapore just does not have the kind of stylish vibe that you find in London and especially in New York, her favourite city. Living in the UK, she used to visit her New York clients three times a year. “But from here, it’s 23 hours door to door, so once a year is as much as I can do. I like going at Thanksgiving to be with my friends and combine work with pleasure. That said, the sales are on then and it’s actually not the best time to go style-shopping.”
Style
Moving to Southeast Asia’s hot, humid climate and different lifestyle calls for major changes in personal style, Aimi agrees. And while there’s no shortage of what she calls “high street shops” – the ubiquitous brands that you find in all the glossy malls – she says it’s hard to find the really nice places where you can find something different and special. What services does a stylist offer? “I do a lot of wardrobe analysis and weeding – I really enjoy that! I also take my clients style-shopping, and I offer colour consultation and corporate styling, helping women create the right image for their particular career.” Clothes need to reflect one’s personality, Aimi believes. “I never tell people to throw their clothes away. Instead, I point out to them what cuts and colours suit them better, so that they can look out for them going forward.
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“People get stuck in a rut, buying the wrong clothes over and over again. They’ll have 20 tops in the same shape that doesn’t flatter their body. Some people tend to hide behind black, too, over-relying on it to disguise imperfections and create the illusion of slimness. But black can be ageing – particularly if you wear it close to the face.” What’s her style? “Classic, but with a twist; I do buy high fashion seasonally, and more cheaply than when it comes to basics. Never skimp on bags and shoes. I always have a good black bag and a good brown one, and the same with shoes; I buy extras as I come across them. “Accessories are so important: every woman should have a pair of good earrings and a really good watch.” But finding shoes in Singapore is particularly challenging, agrees Aimi. Like me, she wears size 41, and she beams with a glow of sartorial sisterhood when I tell her of my joy at finding the perfect shoes for an upcoming wedding – in my size, virtually unheard of! – on a half-price sale at Tangs the previous weekend. Mid-year is a busy time for a stylist, as many Westerners are going home for the summer and want to look their best. “I’ve been doing my utmost to help my regular clients, but at the moment – at least until the twins are a little older – clients are having to fit in around my family schedule.”
Health
When it comes to health care, Aimi has nothing but praise for Singapore. Giving birth to the twins under the care of popular Dr Foong at Gleneagles Hospital was “a wonderful experience”, she says. “He must have trained in the UK, because he sounds more British than I do! He looked after me from start to finish. It was like staying in a five-star hotel, and the nurses were great.” She has also found a sterling family doctor in the form of Dr James Read, part of the comprehensive health team at Body with Soul in Rochester Park. An Aussie GP with a holistic approach, he identified and treated with supplements the lactose intolerance that was causing young Harry’s insomnia – he now sleeps like a baby, apparently – and the iron and zinc deficiencies that were plaguing Aimi herself. In addition, the weight of a double pregnancy had affected Aimi’s feet and gait; physiotherapist Monica Donaldson successfully treated that. And the osteopath on the Body with Soul team sorted out the jaw problem that was making it difficult for baby William to feed. “I am so grateful for the instant access to outstanding health care that we have here. I think that if I’d been in
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London with similar health problems, and had to rely on the NHS, who knows – I might be sitting at home in my pyjamas with greasy hair and crying babies, suffering from postnatal depression.”
Time
What’s the most challenging thing about having had twins? “Finding time for everyone and everything,” Aimi replies. “There’s definitely enough love to go around, but I’m continuously having to juggle my husband, my eldest son, the twins, my work … and still find time for myself, too. “That said, I’m soon going to be adding Personal Training to my list of services. I’ve always been a bit of a fitness fanatic – I’m very into weight training, for example – and clients are always asking me for advice on fitness and nutrition.” eL
Aimi’s Recommendations
Avondale Grammar School Phoenix Park, 318 Tanglin Road 6258 8544 | www.avondalegs.com.sg Gleneagles Hospital 6A Napier Road 6473 7222 indyK.com By Karen Wohlsen, for quality clothing and accessories including daywear and some super evening dresses Vama Style By Kaitie, great for everyday dresses and playsuits kaitie@vamastyle.com Body with Soul 44/45 Rochester Park 6779 0660 | www.bodywithsoul.com
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s n e h c t i K &Bathr 1 Ceramic dove soap dish, $25, Tatty Marsh, Tanglin Mall #02-38, 6887 4225, www.tattymarsh.com. 2 Kitchen furniture and accessories, Blum South East Asia, 150 Ubi Avenue 4, #02-00 Ubi Biz-Hub, 6547 1760, www.connect.blum.com. 3 Glass butter dish, LemonZest, 43 Jalan Merah Saga, Chip Bee Gardens #01-80, 6471 0566, www.lemonzestlife.com. 4 Lace floral hand towels, $39, Tatty Marsh. 5 100% Cotton Suite towels, Ploh, www.ploh.com. 6 Bathroom fittings, Design Intervention, 75E Loewen Road, 6506 0920, www.designintervention.com.sg
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7 Chip & dip server, $50, Spin by Essential Lifestyles, Holland Road Shopping Centre #04-01, 6467 0790. 8 Samudra tablecloth, available in red or blue, Heidi & Home, 30 Ridout Road, www.heidiandhome.com. 9 Nautic laundry basket, Danish Design, 100E Pasir Panjang Road, #08-01 Century Warehouse, 6270 8483, www.danishdesignco.com. 10 Outdoor kitchen made of plantation teak and stainless steel, $2,150, and outdoor barbeque, $735, Teak & Mahogany, 100E Pasir Panjang Road, #07-02/03/04 Century Warehouse, 6273 8116, www.teakandmahogany.com
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Room w i t h a By Monica Pitrelli Photography by Hart Tan of Tomato Photo
In our January issue, Expat Living held its very first painting competition. Without even a stroke of a brush, Singaporean Jeremy Nguee and his wife Shu-Min took home the ultimate prize. How? The Nguee’s simply entered our contest to win a professional home painting package from Nippon Paint. We knocked on their door to see the results of the makeover masterpiece for ourselves.
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HOME
What neighbourhood do you live in? We live in an HDB in Boon Keng. It’s just two of us ‌ for now. The Living Room When we went to France, we had a chance to drive to Provence. On the way south, we travelled along the Autoroute du Soleil, or the highway of the sun, which is aptly named as it is flanked by miles and miles of sunflower fields. It was the most beautiful d r ive e ve r. Th i s m e m o r y inspired us to paint the living room in Sunflower Yellow.
Why did you enter the Nippon contest? We are a young couple and first time homeowners. Having our house professionally painted was a luxury we could not afford. The contest was an opportunity for us to get our house painted by the experts. Is this your first experience with interior paint? Yes! A well-done paint job can transform a simple home into a stylish space. Being stylish people, albeit poor, we knew that a beautiful paint job was essential for a beautiful home. Tell us about the specific paint colours that you chose for your home. We chose Barley White for the kitchen. Our entire house is designed around the kitchen, as we love to cook and host our friends. It had to be functional but not cold; Barley White was bright but still had warmth to it.
The Dining Room We continued with Barley White into the dining room. This is the main communal area in our house. The centrepiece is the dining table, which is a converted farm door. The white complements the white Chinese elm wood of the dining table.
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The Master Bedroom We took our honeymoon in Hua Hin, Thailand and loved the views of the sea and the relaxed vibe of the place. We thought it would be nice if our bedroom also had that restful feel. So, we chose to paint the bedroom in Mediterranean Blue. The colour made the room fun and relaxing and gave it a resort-like calm.
How do you feel about winning the Nippon home makeover package? We feel truly blessed. The paint team was very professional; one member of the team even had her own mini paintbrush kit. They were expert painters and insisted on painting spaces which no one would ever see, like the wash area, the bomb shelter and even the inside of the electrical box. Your thoughts on the result? Painting our home has given it character and identity. When we got the place, it was just a bare box. Adding furniture and funky lights was helpful, but paint is essential to bring all the elements together. Words don’t do it justice – you have to see it to know what we mean. eL Visit www.nipponpaint.com.sg
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The Wardrobe Fo r m y w i f e ’s wardrobe room – which she calls the laundry room although no laundry is ever done inside! – we chose a plum colour that was the theme colour of our wedding. It’s classy without being heavy and dark, creating the right vibe for a woman getting dressed for a sexy night out.
Š Alena Ozerova | Dreamstime.com
Life & Family
NOTICE BOARD
Alan Yong and Peiyu Juay’s bundle of joy, Athena Yong Le Shan, was born on 5 March at Gleneagles Hospital.
Jeff and Sally are proud to announce the arrival of their second son Anthoney Ming-Wei Letellier, born 11 May 2011 and brother to Greggory.
Robert and Carol Sim welcomed a second son, Eli, into the world on 14 March.
Natalia Emma arrived on 20 November 2010, to the delight of first-time parents Brett and Tanya Gardiner.
Just had a baby? Newly married? Recently engaged? Moved back to Singapore and want to let people know you’re back in town? Trying to get rid of excess stuff before you leave the country? Looking for a job? Whatever your announcement, we will get the message out - FOR FREE!
Email us at noticeboard@expatliving.sg
All readers whose babies are featured on this page will receive a photo-shoot and print worth $450 from Tomato Photo | www.tomato.sg. So keep those birth announcements coming!
FOR SALE
Wine cabinet
NUSS Club Membership Ideal for families living in the Kent Ridge area. Club offers excellent sporting facilities and food outlets. Asking $4,000 plus $2,140 transfer fee. Membership is transferable. Interested? Contact Wai Hoong Tang at hoong_mui93@ yahoo.com.sg
Space Wagon 8-seater for rent Silver, automatic wagon, includes DVD, solar film on windows and third row air-conditioning. Available for long-term rental at $1,400 per month net. Interested? Contact Mr Ram at 9850 6250 or ramgerthi@yahoo.com
Made from Indian Shisham wood. Asking $500. Interested? Call Samia at 9184 9474
Rustic Chinese Antique Antique east-west table in Ming Dynasty style. Features sliding drawers. Measures 85cm high by 50cm wide by 2.3m long. Asking $1,800. Interested? Call 8263 4164 or email yolcar7@yahoo.com.au
Painting and Chairs
For more, go to www.expatliving.sg and click Notice Board.
Indian leather painting Painting on leather, in an antique bronze frame. Measures 90cm x 100cm. Asking $950.
Looking for a job? Check our new listings: www.expatliving.sg/all_joblistings
Pair of Indonesian chairs Two new Indonesian chairs made from Bindi wood and upholstered in batik fabric. Asking $650 for the pair. Collect from Tanjong Rhu Road. Interested? Contact 9641 0075 or nishkerpal@hotmail.com
For Baby Bugaboo Chameleon pram Bugaboo Chameleon pram includes bassinet, rain cover, parasol and mosquito net. Asking $1,100. Interested? Contact Irina at 8168 9079 or irinayoga@gmail.com Peg Perego Switch stroller. In excellent condition, three years old. Asking $500. Black Peg Perego Primo Viaggio car seat and base. In excellent condition, three years old. Asking $250 Interested? Call Samia at 9184 9474 Mamas and Papas cot Imported from the UK and suitable for newborn up to two years old. Mattress included. Asking $250. Interested? Call 9137 1157
Adopt a Pet Carrot
Sharp
Gender: Male Breed: Local Age: Eight months
Gender: Male Breed: Rottweiler Age: Four years
Carrot is a friendly, handsome and attractive cat.
Sharp has a strong character, which many rottweilers are known for, and is keen to protect his family. He is suitable for a home with adults only (no elderly).
Interested in adopting Carrot or Sharp? Call the SPCA adoption hotline at 6287 5355 (ext. 24) or visit the SPCA at 31 Mount Vernon Road. Check the website for opening hours. If Carrot or Sharp have been adopted, go to www.spca.org.sg to see other animals that need kind homes.
What’s New
LIFE&FAMILY
Heel & Toe now carries shoes by Richter, the popular Austrian brand that has been keeping kids’ feet healthy for over 65 years. Made of Sympatex, these shoes are 100- percent recyclable, too. Tanglin Mall and Great World City. Call 6238 7353 or visit www.heelntoe.com.sg.
Jungle Gem
Amazonia, Singapore’s newest family entertainment centre, has officially opened its doors. There’s glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, a jungle-themed super-gym, an interactive space shoot-out game – and a bistro where parents can kick back and relax. With 9,500 square feet of space, the kids will be entertained for days. Great World City #03-08. Call 6235 4522 or visit www.amazoniafun.com.
Pressto To celebrate the store’s first anniversary, Expat Living readers will receive 20 percent off all ladies’ drycleaning at Pressto Goldhill Centre until 31 August. If you have something delicate or hard to clean, all the better. Pressto’s state-of-the-art technology can treat specialty items. 169 Goldhill Centre. Call 6352 8742 or visit www.pressto.com.
Colour Colour me me Lucky Lucky Using the right colours in the right places can improve your luck tremendously. Add a touch of feng shui to your home with properly placed wall art. Book a full home consultation with Feng Shui Focus before 31 August and choose a free canvas print (worth $199) from its collection. Call 9877 2844 or visit www.fengshuifocus.com.sg.
Tomato Photo is offering a “Christmas Come Early” promotion this August and September. Receive one mini-session (a studio or outdoor session at East Coast Park), a 6x6 album with 20 images of your choice, and digital negatives on a CD. Use the CD images to print out photos for your Christmas cards or just to show to friends and family back home. $500. Call 9147 5123 or visit www.tomato.sg.
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e ool tim - t o - s ch ’s k e c r a e b H . I t ’s dents tu s g y n in t’s go for ma of wha e e s th p m a gli round hools a r season c s t a on me s the sum island a . e s lo to a c comes
to Learn
Thoroughly Researched EtonHouse International Research Pre-School believes that the learning environment is the “third teacher”. So it has an assortment of fun yet meaningful learning spaces, such as an atelier, watercourse, library, and vegetable and sensory gardens, to support the school’s research-based curriculum. Learn more at the Open House on 2 and 3 September. 718 Mountbatten Road. Call 6846 3322 or visit www.etonhouse.com.sg.
If your child is struggling to keep up in the classroom, it may be time to seek outside help. DAS International Services, a subsidiary of the Dyslexia Association of Singapore, provides support from psychological assessments to specialist oneto-one tuition. The goal is to motivate and develop happy, successful and independent learners. 73 Bukit Timah Road, #05-01 Rex House. www.das.org.sg/dasint
The school’s name means “seize the day”, and that’s exactly what happens at Carpe Diem centres around Singapore. The kids recently learned how to make, package, serve and sell ice cream from their very own parlours. Proceeds went to the Rainbow Centre’s special education programmes. Multiple locations. Call 6275 0995 or visit www.carpediem.com.sg.
The Tween-age Years Insworld Institute bridges the gap between primary and secondary eduction. Offering limited spaces for 12-to-14-year-olds through the Edexcel International Tuition Programme (Junior Secondary equivalent), the programme combines traditional academic values from the UK National Curriculum while nurturing creativity and innovation through art, photography and the performing arts. No. 2 Serangoon Road, The Verge #03-18. Call 6732 1728 or visit www.insworldsch.com. 98
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Boarding School The International School of Macao is commencing co-educational boarding for secondary students (Grades 7 to 12) in the 201112 school year. Located on the Macau University of Science and Technology campus, TIS offers a challenging Canadian educational programme in an English-speaking environment. Full boarding (7 days a week) and weekly boarding (5 days a week) available. Call +853 6356 3970 or visit www.tis.edu.mo.
Making Wishes
Hablas Español? Las Lilas School is the first Spanish school in Singapore and the only one associated with the Cervantes Institute. New language courses for kids and adults start twice a month. Be the first to choose from a great range of books just in from Spain, including grammar books, cookbooks, kids’ stories and more. 180B Bencoolen Street #08-01. Call 6333 3484 or visit www.laslilasschool.com.
O d y s s e y Th e G l o b a l Preschool is serving up children’s art with a heart. Budding social entrepreneurs between two and six years old are selling their artwork to raise money for the Make-aWish Foundation, so that other children’s wishes can come true. Support a good cause and take home an inspiration. 11am to 6pm, 20 August. Arts House at 1 Old Parliament Lane. Visit www.theodyssey.sg.
Parental The MindChamps PreSchool is hosting Parenting Talk and Welcome Days in August and September. Learn more about the preschool programme, which is based on the latest understandings about early childhood mind and personality development. Call 6260 0531 (Tampines Point) or 6834 4388 (City Square Mall), or visit www.mindchamps.org/preschool. Little Newton Learning Centre is a science enrichment programme that teaches kids about science and technology in a fun and friendly way. Through exciting elements (pun intended!) like science parties and holiday camps, kids can explore the world and beyond. Cite “Expat Living” for a 15-percent discount on all programmes. 583 Orchard Road, #05-01, The Forum. Call 6733 6818 or visit www.littlenewtongroup.com. August11
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The real food highlight for us, though, is the Club Lounge. A room on one of the Club levels doesn’t cost much more than a regular room, but it’s worth its weight in gold for the – count them – five meals (or “presentations” as they’re called) laid out at various times across the day. These aren’t massive buffets like downstairs in Greenhouse (lunch and dinner are really just light snacks), but the food is excellent and the drinks are free. Of course, you don’t have to attend all of the presentations, but, well, we do.
The art of accommodation
Interesting feng shui features can be found throughout the hotel. Because the Ritz-Carlton is built on reclaimed land – considered undesirable as it can create a “sinking feeling” – dramatic use is made of the five elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Wood, Metal) to enhance the qi. So, the lobby is actually a dragon, with two large windows for eyes, a striking staircase as the throat (the stairs, by the way, have no pillars – they’re completely suspended and self-supporting), and two driveways for legs. Elsewhere you’ll find water curtains, mother-of-pearl panes and lots of light wood to brighten the spirits. Ours are fairly bright already, it must be said, and we’ve not even been for a treatment at The Spa.
Seafood diet: see food, eat it Like Homer Simpson, I’m a sucker for a seafood buffet, and the hotel’s Friday and Saturday night spread at Greenhouse restaurant is briny brilliance. I hover around the lobster corner for most of the time, snapping my pincers at each freshly poached tray that arrives from the kitchen; meanwhile, my better half concentrates on satisfying her sushi and sashimi obsession. We both sample plenty of non-seafood items, too. Who can say no when a fellow with a cleaver starts tumbling perfect cubes of crispy pork belly onto your plate? We like how the chefs trawl the floor from time to time, offering advice and answering questions about particular dishes (“Why are ‘drunken prawns’ called ‘drunken’?” I ask, slightly drunkenly); they’ll even help you acquire another plate of freshly shucked oysters. The buffet is $78+, half price for kids between six and 12. As far as restaurants go, there’s also Summer Pavilion for high-end Cantonese food – the dim sum here is revered – or the Chihuly Lounge for chilling out any time of the day, or for a breezy cocktail at night.
This might come as a surprise. The Ritz-Carlton houses one of the largest contemporary art collections in Southeast Asia, including works by David Hockney, Henry Moore, Sam Francis and Dale Chihuly. Keep an eye out for the two brightly coloured floral prints by Andy Warhol at the back of the ballroom foyer; these are from Warhol’s Flowers series from 1964. It’s not just the public areas where impressive works can be found. Our suite has a pretty ceramic pot that takes my wife’s fancy: “I would love to own that pot,” she says. When it comes to hotel rooms, my philosophy is usually “anything that isn’t nailed down is free game”, which is why our bathroom cupboards at home are full of little bottles of shampoo from around the world. In this case, though, we decide it’s best to leave the in-house artworks for subsequent guests to enjoy, too.
Hotel Art? Go Figure! 5
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The value, in millions of Singapore dollars, of the art collection The length, in minutes, of the iPod Shuffle self-guided art tour available to all Ritz-Carlton guests from the concierge The percentage of works specially commissioned for the hotel The number of the hotel’s pieces that are “museum quality” The weight, in kilograms, of Frank Stella’s roof sculpture, Cornucopia, in the hotel lobby The total number of artworks and sculptures in the Ritz-Carlton
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Running around the Ritz The Ritz-Carlton must be the best-placed hotel in Singapore when it comes to having a morning run. The concierge can help you with routes, distances and even a nifty “Jogger’s Wrist Map”, but you can basically head any direction once you exit the hotel: south takes you over the Double Helix Bridge (complete with yawning photographers waiting to snap the perfect sunrise) to the Marina Bay Shoppes and beyond; west takes you past the Esplanade and across to The Padang, from where you can make your way along the quays or up to Fort Canning Park; I decide to head north, along the F1 pit lane, and then up the banks of the Kallang River. The only hitch? I spend way more time taking photos than pounding the pavement.
Marina Bay vista, 6.3 0am
Coming up
There are a couple of key waterfront events in coming weeks, for which the Ritz-Carlton offers just about the best seat in the house. The first is National Day; catch all the fireworks and performances from a private room or suite – a two-night package (8-10 August) with buffet breakfast for two is priced from $1,000+. National Day parades give way to pit-lane action the following month, as the Singapore Grand Prix roars into life. The Ritz-Carlton is the closest hotel to the Grandstand, with amazing views of the circuit. The F1 Suite Experience (2326 September) for two guests includes three nights in a Premier Suite, daily breakfasts, three-day Pit Grandstand passes, and one-day entry passes to the after-party at Podium Lounge. From $6,000+. Reservations: 6434 5118. Another event not to be missed at the hotel is the “SuperBrunch” on 16 October, featuring five special guest chefs and all kinds of extravagant goodies. Reservations: 6434 5288. eL
Early morning cityscape
the river Heron on
Pit lane
The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore is at 7 Raffles Avenue. Call 6337 8888 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com for more information.
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Kallang River
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By Heidi Sarna
Many of us support charities that help needy people in places like Cambodia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. We’re all too familiar with the poverty and desperation that children especially endure in these countries.
But there are also children in need right here in Singapore who deserve our attention. Many come from broken homes and struggle with dysfunctional families mired in poverty, and some have parents in jail or on drugs. These at-risk kids are vulnerable to failing their Primary School Leaving Exam (PSLE) in Primary 6 (equivalent to Grade 6), dropping out of the school system when they are just 12 years old. Without help, these kids are destined to struggle throughout their lives with unemployment and a host of antisocial behaviours. The NorthLight School was started four years ago to encourage children who failed their Primary 6 exams to try again and continue in school until at least Secondary 3 (equivalent to Grade 9), when they are old enough to join vocational training or seek employment. Today, the school has 800 students. Part of NorthLight’s innovative programming is horse-based therapy. When a handful of students first took horse-riding lessons, there was a noticeable improvement in their attitude, self-esteem and character. Eventually, the school teamed up with the Singapore Equestrian Federation (EFS) to provide horse-
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riding lessons to all of NorthLight’s Secondary 1 students – 140 in all. When EFS and NorthLight wanted to expand the programme beyond just riding, Harpreet Bedi was consulted. An avid horse-rider and trained lawyer, whose husband Satinder Garcha is polo captain at the Singapore Polo Club, Harpreet was recently named chairperson of Equine Assisted Learning (EQUAL) for NorthLight. This new programme is aimed at providing therapy through horse-riding, grooming and horse-related exercises for nearly 200 students from NorthLight and its smaller sister school, Assumption Pathway. “This programme is like a benevolent boot camp. The discipline that is needed to be around horses teaches the kids how to abide by rules,” Harpreet says. The theory is that because horses are so strong, powerful and intimating, they naturally command respect. “I’ve based this entire programme on similar and proven equestrian programmes in the UK and US,” says Harpreet. The first 16-week EQUAL NorthLight programme ends this month; the next one starts in March 2012. The riding takes place at the National Equestrian Centre, an independent facility adjacent to the Polo Club grounds, offering students three hours a week of horse
therapy. Kids who complete the course can continue to interact with the horses once a week as an extracurricular school activity. “The adults who are part of this programme are good role models for the kids, and we’re always looking for new volunteers,” Harpreet adds. Though it can’t hurt, you don’t need experience with horses to sign up as a volunteer, just a passion for helping children and a love for animals. eL For information on volunteering, contact equal@equestrian.sg.
Upcoming Event A fundraising ball is planned for Friday 16 September at the Grand Hyatt Singapore. It aims to raise $100,000 from ticket sales and auction items, including Ferrari memorabilia, a VIP table and free-flowing champagne for one night at Pangaea in Marina Bays Sands, and a week of polo riding and lessons at the Jaipur Riding and Polo Club in India. Tickets are $500 per person. For ticket information, contact Titien Irvianty at info@equestrian.sg.
LIFE&FAMILY
By Katie Roberts
T
he Australia New Zealand Association (ANZA) is a thriving organisation made up of thousands of active members and founded on a legacy of volunteering. Australian Lynn White was one of nine winners at the inaugural ANZA Volunteer of the Year Awards held in May to recognise and reward their hard work.
When and why did you move here? Singapore was our first posting from Australia in 2000. My husband David works for Exxon Mobil and, like many people, we thought we would be here three or four years. But we’re still here after 11! What volunteering activities are you currently involved with? I started helping out with the food run for the Salvation Army Family Support Service in 2003. It’s a food distribution service for single, elderly people who are frail and don’t have relatives to help them shop. We pack and distribute food from the base in Beo Crescent and deliver to three areas across Singapore. The parcels contain stable items like rice, instant noodles, tinned food and tea. I help out three times
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a month and organise the volunteer roster, which has grown from three to 17 willing helpers. The local people really like to see us and we sometimes help them with small household chores. A few years back we painted two HDB flats, and my children helped out too. We’ve also been involved with the elderly drop-in service, a social morning tea where we play mahjong and do arts and crafts. They love the cakes and slices the volunteers bring along. ANZA has also just started a health check clinic with the Salvation Army. Three of us go along to take blood pressure and measure glucose levels. These primary tests help pick up medical conditions that may require further attention. Last month, 15 elderly people came along.
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What other volunteering have you done in the past? My volunteering started with Joey Scouts in 2001, when my daughter was six and we had not long moved here. I became the leader of the pack when one of the parents moved, and that turned into a seven-year association with the scouting movement. But funnily enough I still can’t tie a knot! Still, it was rewarding and we had terrific fun on camps at Pulau Ubin. Do your children live in Singapore? Both of them attended the Australian School, but have since moved back to Australia. Richard (19) attends Swinburne University, and Jessica (16) is in Year 10 at Melbourne Girls Grammar School.
What do you do when you are not volunteering? I work part time as a cardiac technologist at Paragon and really enjoy my job. As a family, we’ve enjoyed travelling extensively in Asia and like to try new places, and fondly remember trekking in Nepal, Sarawak and Sabah. We went to India in April at my daughter’s request. I’ve joined a local exercise group that meets for luk tung kuen workouts in the Botanic Gardens once a week. It's good to have the opportunity to meet real Singaporeans. Between work, luk tung kuen and the Salvation Army, I’ve had wonderful chances to get into the local culture and meet wonderful people. eL www.anza.org.sg
Scene Around Town
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Victoria Legrand
Nicole Parry Madeleine Blanchard
American Independence Day Celebrations
la Layla Isabel
Rakowski
Abrielle Fitzpatrick
Date: Saturday 2 July, 2011 Venue: Terror Club Sports Complex, Sembawang To celebrate America’s Independence Day, Expat Living was involved in the American Association of Singapore’s family day at Sembawang. Attendees had the chance to feature on their very own cover of Expat Living magazine by donning accessories from our dress-up box and having their photos taken by Tomato Photo – with the proceeds going to the Singapore Cancer Society. The special celebrations also featured live entertainment, delicious food, popcorn, fireworks, sports, bouncy castles and carnival games. Check out a selection of some of our smiling cover stars!
Ellee Barker
Bellina Mei Saario
Lillia Maye Odhner
Bella Dorothea Kloster
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NEW TO SINGAPORE? WANT TO MEET SOME GREAT PEOPLE AT INTERESTING BARS? JOIN US AT EXPAT LIVING’S FIRST-EVER NEWCOMERS’ EVENT!
THURSDAY, 18 AUGUST 7.30PM - 9.30PM SPEAKEASY, 54 BLAIR ROAD
Speakeasy, a bar set in an atmospheric shophouse, is the intimate venue for a night of wine tasting – nice and informal, nothing too highbrow, and with lots of delicious wines and nibbles. What a fun, sociable way to meet new people!
WINE-TASTING WITH SNACKS For fans of rugby and red wine, Speakeasy’s popular “Tri-Nations of Pinot Noir” will help you get into the mood for the upcoming World Cup. Taste pinot noir wines from Australia, New Zealand and France and discover how different terroirs and vinification processes produce very different drops from the same varietal.
Book online at the Expat Living events calendar (www.expatliving.sg/events) or call 6478 7162. Admission $20, including wine and nibbles.
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET OTHER NEW EXPATS A FUN, SOCIABLE EVENT
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International Cultural Experience More than a thousand middle and senior students took part in a day-long celebration of the more than 40 nationalities represented at the Australian International School. Workshops were held on mahjong, bhangra dance, rangoli, didgeridoo-playing, Korean drumming and many more – and lunch, of course, was an international food court of 20 cuisines; proceeds went to charities in Cambodia and Nepal.
From top: • Chairman Ian Payne and Principal Peter Bond • Northern Ireland food stall; New Zealand food stall • Chilean food stall; Korean food stall; Chinese calligraphy • Cultural dress
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Great Race Every year, it just gets bigger! Thousands of red-shirted women turned out on 3 July for the 6th annual Great Eastern Women’s 10K, starting on Nicoll Highway and ending up on the Padang – of course.
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Mums and Kids Our very first Mums and Kids social morning at The Pantry, Loewen Gardens, on 24 June saw a great turn out of mums – who enjoyed a good chat, coffees and scones – and kids, who enjoyed lots of messy finger painting!
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Story by Verne Maree Photographs by Hart Tan of Tomato Photo
When I met up with MELANIE McCOLLIN-WALKER at the stunning Australasian Arts Projects gallery at 303 Tanglin Road, she was preparing for her first solo exhibition, which opens on 19 August. She is originally from Barbados, her husband Brent is Tasmanian, and – having left their own respective small islands – they find themselves on yet another one.
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When you’re starting off, you have to try lots of different media, because you don’t yet know which of them will allow you to express yourself most effectively” What’s your connection with the Australasian Arts Projects? Aussie Gabrielle Cummins is the director of this gallery, and she was the first friend I made when we arrived here two years ago. We were staying in the same serviced apartments, and our sons were already friends. She’s a gorgeous person, and I feel so lucky to make such a good friend so quickly; it’s as though we’ve known each other all our lives. At that time, the Australasian Arts Projects was in its conceptualisation stage. When she saw my work, Gabrielle said that my paintings had to be hung, and found space for a few of them on her walls. Pretty soon, people started buying them. How did you become an artist? At the age of nine or ten I had a friend called Rochelle who was an amazing artist, and she taught me how to break objects down into basic shapes: circles, triangles and oblongs. When I could see those shapes, drawing seemed more doable, and I practised by copying from Archie comic books! I’ve always had a steady love for art, and it was my specialist subject at school. I
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believe that when you’re starting off, you have to try lots of different media, because you don’t yet know which of them will allow you to express yourself most effectively. What took you to London? My dreams and aspirations always lay beyond the very small island of Barbados. It can be hard to break free when you’re born in such a small country, and even more so for an only child like me. My dad passed away when I was 15 and my mother and I are very close, more like sisters. Luckily for me, she has always supported my desire to travel and work abroad. In 2001, I moved to Italy and then to London, where I worked for a company called Hat Trick, producing television programmes for BBC Channels Four and Five. I met Brent at a cricket match – Australia versus the West Indies. I think the West Indies beat Australia, a very rare occurrence at that time! When our daughter Aaliyah (now 6) was born, Brent and I were both working crazy hours; something had to give, so I gave up my job and stayed at home to look after her and Leinad (now 12). And that’s when you started painting again? Yes, I began painting at the dining room table. My only thought at the time was to fill our empty white walls. It was supposed to be only a hobby, but people who came to dinner would fall in love with a painting; after a couple of bottles of wine, they’d end up buying it from me, and leave with it in the boot of their car! After a while, I posted some of my work on a small and modest online community – and, much
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Art is an expression that takes lots and lots and lots of practice; you need to paint all the time, and in my experience you become rusty if you take a break from it” painted pretty much every day, and it’s the same now. Art is an expression that takes lots and lots and lots of practice; you need to paint all the time, and in my experience you become rusty if you take a break from it.
to my surprise, it started to sell. Corporate commissions came in, including a big one for a series of artworks for the boardrooms of a large company. Just when I started to think: “Hmm, maybe I can do this”, we decided to move to Australia, and my art took a back seat. After just 12 months in Melbourne, Brent was offered an opportunity in Singapore. We thought, why not? It would be an adventure. As hard as it had been to move to Australia from London, where I had so many friends who were just like family, moving to Singapore was easy. It didn’t take long for Singapore to worm its way into my heart. I love the warmth and openness of the expat community, and then there’s the fascinating local culture and community, too; living here is a wonderful experience. When we had settled in and Aaliyah started full-time prep school, I realised I had time to paint, especially as we’re so lucky as to have domestic help.
How do you paint? I start by applying a mixture of texture paste and impasto gel with painting knives, to create a unique surface and depth. Once that is dry, I apply acrylic paint with a brush; sometimes I use old dishcloths to create subtle finishes or feather sharp edges. Texture is important to me: the world I express is full of textures. What inspires you? Places I have visited in my nomadic journey; my work is a synthesis of recollected images of the places I have seen, and sometimes I bring them together in unexpected ways. For example, there’s an exquisite village in Austria called
Looking at the size of some of these canvases, I assume you’re no longer working at the dining room table, are you? No! My studio is the whole top floor of our house in Serangoon Gardens. In London, I
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Hallstatt that is my aesthetic. Also, memories of sunlight sparkling off pools of rain on a Barbados road; a warm tropical sea; the pale, crisp light of a New York winter sky, or the damp greyness of London clouds. That concentrated blue of the sky in the “Australian painting” – as people have been calling it [pictured left] – comes from a drive we did one summer from Hobart to Port Arthur. The thing I love most about Australia is the hugeness of the sky; capturing that particular blue was a challenge, not only technically, but because of the strenuous effort of keeping its quality clear in my mind’s eye. I never paint from photos.
I’ve been trying for some time to accumulate enough art for an exhibition, but it keeps selling!” Why “Before the Beginning?” This collection is meant to whisk you off to an imaginary world of freedom and raw beauty, encapsulating moments in time before the world as we know it began – before the Big Bang, if you like, before any clear delineation between sky, earth and sea, before the rules were laid down. There’s no sun, as you may have noticed, but instead an ethereal light that I have tried to trap on the canvas.
Melanie’s exhibition runs from 19 August to 8 September at 303 Tanglin Road. For information on opening times or to attend the official launch at 7.30pm o n T h u r s d a y, 1 8 A u g u s t , contact 9771 8974 or info@ australasianartsprojects.
What does it take to put an exhibition like this together? I’ve been trying for some time to accumulate enough art for an exhibition, but it keeps selling! At this point [late June], the collection is only semi-curated; I am bringing in the pieces as I complete them. Gabrielle sees to all the marketing; I couldn’t possibly do that. I’ve always had to be pushed by others to promote and sell my art. Even now, I feel quite shy about being interviewed. And the thought of my first solo exhibition is almost overwhelming. How do you juggle being a wife, a mother and a full-time artist? I need to paint; if I don’t paint, I’m like a grizzly bear. But I want to have a good balance between being a mother and being an artist. eL
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I recently saw an email from a newly arrived expat who asked us to recommend sources of affordable art for the blank walls of her apartment. Now I know the answer: AMANDA BROOKS.
Selling through a website also keeps prices down. As soon as your art goes into a gallery, it’s no longer as affordable."
Story by Verne Maree Photographs by Karen Lucas of Baobab Photography August11
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I feel that I do some of my best work when I paint quickly and under pressure."
It’s a great pleasure to be able to give customers exactly what they want, what will work in their home."
This highly successful artist has been described as Australian, but to my delight – not that I don’t love Aussies! – I found a fellow South African who grew up in the same area as I did, and spent her childhood weekends and holidays at the same obscure KwaZulu-Natal South Coast beach as I did with my family. We met up at the Tanglin Park home gallery of her friend and agent, Sally Walters: this time, a dinkum Aussie. How did you become Australian? Fifteen years ago, I moved with my mother to Noosa Heads on the Sunshine Coast; coming from the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, we had to be near the beach. Noosa is a beautiful place and a wonderful environment for an artist. My Durban boyfriend and now husband, Jason, followed us a couple of months later. And an artist? I took art lessons from Ria van Rooyen as a teenager, and studied graphic design after leaving school; but to work in that industry in Australia I would have had
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to be in a big city. So I did a floristry course in Brisbane and started working in a Noosa Heads home-ware and florist store, Alfresco on Hastings. I started painting seascapes and floral watercolours, large canvases depicting outsized blooms. I started off anonymous, but one day a customer insisted on knowing who was doing the paintings, because she wanted the artist to teach her to paint. As it happens, that woman was my now-agent Sally Walters’ mother-in-law. For two years I taught art – eventually to a group of 45! – while painting in-between. My art was selling so quickly that I stopped teaching and devoted my time to painting. For the next 11 years, I painted full-time for a gallery called Discovery, also in Hastings Street. Sometimes, large paintings would sell before the paint was even properly dry, minutes after delivering them into the shop.
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Mainly tourists bought them, as the pieces were easily shipped anywhere in the world. I was also supplying seven other galleries in Australia, and one in Sweden; I still work with them. Bulk orders came in, too, including one for an 80-room Sydney hotel. I was virtually painting in my sleep – that was, until the twins were born. The twins? Tell us more. For a couple who didn’t necessarily plan on having a family, we did quite well! Daughter Coco is five years old, and the twins, Jasper and Indigo, have just turned three. Though Jason and I have been married for ten years, his work as an oil and gas engineer has seen him working on a rotation basis – six weeks on, six off. In some ways, I had to manage as a single parent. These first six months in Singapore are the first time we have really lived together as a family, and it’s wonderful. Where and how do you paint, and how do you keep your work so affordable? I’ve converted a section of our big verandah into my studio. That’s always been the first thing we look at in a home – is there a place for me to paint? Having developed my own technique over many years, I approach each piece with confidence, and feel that I do some of my best work when I paint fairly quickly. There’s a danger that you can overwork a piece of art and end up spoiling it. Earlier this year, I worked long hours to put together an exhibition of 37 paintings. We’ve sold quite a few of them, and I’m still sending artwork back to Australia; I roll it up and post it to my framer, who packages it and sends it interstate. Selling through a website helps keep prices down. As soon as your art goes into a gallery, it’s no longer as affordable. On the website I see everything from contemporary abstracts in varied palettes, Asia-inspired works and beach scenes, to sensuous nudes and delightfully personalised art pieces for children. What makes you so versatile? I see myself as basically classic in style, but I love the challenge of doing something different. I’ve just been given a brief for a house in New South Wales that’s 140 years old; they want only traditional still-lives. That’s going to be fun! I think that being so versatile makes me very marketable – and that’s important for someone like me who is earning a living as a full-time, professional artist. My heart goes into every piece. If you commission me, I welcome as much input as you will give me: it’s a great pleasure to be able to give customers exactly what they want, what will work in their home. I also like knowing that people can afford something beautiful; that they don’t have to go without it because it’s beyond their financial reach. eL
– Amanda’s Agent An accountant who worked for Deloitte’s in Sydney, Sally moved to Singapore 18 months ago. “When we arrived,” she says, “I couldn’t find any affordable art. I know there’s a fantastic market here for Amanda’s engaging, versatile style at reasonable price-points. It ranges from as little as $100 for a small, personalised painting for a child’s room – as a joint gift for a baby’s first birthday, say – to $2,000 for the biggest size. “I wanted to market her work here anyway, but it’s great that she’s actually living here now. Whatever happens, we feel we have set up a wonderful working relationship that will endure, wherever in the world we find ourselves.” Sally set up the Moz-Arti website as a portal for Amanda’s art. She has also started exhibiting it at the fairs: so far, pieces for kids at Loewen Gardens and more grown-up paintings at Fort Canning. She agrees with Amanda that her work is best shown in a home-like environment rather than on bare gallery walls; they’re looking for suitable venues, perhaps a funky shophouse. Collaboration with an interior designer – Amanda’s art is infinitely customisable – may also be on the cards. www.moz-arti.com August11
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Framing Lunch with
Who’d have guessed that the wildly successful Framing Angie was originally supposed to be a low-key semi-retirement plan? Or that its owner ANGIE MUI can be found making confectionery gifts for her customers in her kitchen at midnight?
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ressed in a designer jacket and a cute black newsboy’s cap, Angie is engrossed in work when I come into the framing shop on the third level of Holland Village Shopping Centre. Leading the way to a roomy outdoor table at 211 Roof Terrace Café on the top floor, she says: “I call this my boardroom; it’s perfect for meetings. Plus, I can smoke here.” Smoke? I thought Angie was scrupulously health-conscious and clean-living. Didn’t I read something about her getting up for gym sessions at six every morning? She doesn’t know where I got that idea. “I do go to the gym, but less so when things are busy. I only need six hours of sleep, fortunately. “We should smoke more and sleep less,” she declares mischievously. “That way, we’d get much more done.” Angie orders two main salads and a pasta dish for us to share. “I like to eat little bits of lots of things, so I always over-order,” she confesses. 126
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By Verne Maree
“I’m even worse when it comes to Chinese food – I order so many dishes. But I get them to wrap up whatever is left and I take it home for the next day. So what if anyone thinks it’s uncool: I hate waste!”
How it Started Fourteen years ago, after a first career in fashion and advertising, Angie was looking for something to keep her occupied in semiretirement. Why framing, I wonder. “I’ve always loved to display pictures in frames; people used to give me frames as gifts. Then I went to Planet Hollywood and saw one of those big jackets of Elvis in a massive, 3D frame. “I wanted to have some items put together and framed like that, but I couldn’t find anyone who would do it. Eventually, being a DIY kind of person, I showed a framer how to do it and forced him to do it for me. And then I decided I’d like to make this kind of framing available to the public.” It seems these techniques are not generally available elsewhere. “I have customers in India, the US and Europe who still can’t find anyone to do 3D framing. “So I do what I call ‘satellite
framing’ – they FedEx me their photographs, letters, pearls, dolls, clothes, shoes or whatever they want grouped in a frame. One sent me 369 irreplaceable old photos; that was a bit of a chance to take!” Her workshop on the East Coast is managed by her brother and his wife. Keeping it all in the family is a good idea, especially when you consider that they sometimes receive paintings valued at half-a-million dollars.
Midnight Oil “When I get too busy, I’m up at 6am to work on my customers’ collages; collage is a personal passion of mine, and I always do these myself. Choosing the pictures to use and getting the composition right takes time. Actually, this is not practical from a business aspect when you look at the time I spend on each piece, but my approach to work is not just based on dollars and cents.” Angie does something else that’s surprising: once a week, usually around 11pm, you’ll find her in her kitchen personally making almondchocolate clusters as gifts for friends and customers.
“This is a small gesture to express my sincere appreciation to customers who have really been supportive and good to me.” She combines super-fresh nuts with highquality, dark chocolate for a yummy treat that’s actually quite healthy, and presents them beautifully in a specially designed and gilt-engraved leather box that’s perfect for keeping earrings in after you’ve scoffed the contents. (Well, that’s what I’m doing with mine.) Hand-making nut clusters for your customers at midnight is surely going beyond the call of duty, but it’s an amazingly nice touch. “I treat customers the way I’d like to be treated if I were a customer,” says Angie. She also likes to serve every customer who comes in, or at least as many as possible. “But some people – especially ones who are
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Relax, Don’t Do It
I ask Angie how she relaxes. “I don’t know how to,” she admits. “I never just sit and watch TV; I have one placed right next to my computer at home, and sometimes I keep one eye on it while I’m working. I’d feel guilty just watching TV: I can’t do one thing at a time. “As a result, even my children read while they’re eating. But we do have a rule for our Sunday family dinners: no reading, no texting, no handphones. My daughter is married and living in New York now, but my son lives with me.” And holidays? “I love my job, so my job is my holiday. I work every day, including Saturdays and Sundays, and I like to have the same routine every day. That’s why I don’t like to travel too often: it just I treat customers the way I’d like upsets my schedule. And in to be treated if I were a customer. fact, every working day is completely different anyway, new to Singapore – are annoyed by having because it involves seeing different to wait in line to be served; they don’t see people, working with different paintings. why they should make an appointment to “I like to be very busy; if I’m merely talk to a framer. busy, I feel that something is missing. I “I do my best to give the person in front of even do my own hair, because I don’t me my undivided attention, and not to look have time to sit at the hairdresser’s. So beyond them; everyone else will receive the if I’m having a bad-hair day, it goes into same personalised service in due course.” a cap.” That can’t be easy with a shop full of frazzled Well, today’s cap looks great and so and impatient ang mohs on a busy Sunday does she. We should all have as much morning. chutzpah as Angie Mui. eL
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Story and photos by Karen Lucas of Baobab Photography
W
hen the Daley family moved to Singapore from their home in Sydney seven years ago, the question “Which preschool?” was answered as soon as Kelley Daley visited the Lock Road Kindergarten; her daughter Olivia was three at the time. She remembers being impressed by how busy the children were with various activities, and they all seemed so happy. There were no tantrums and no tears. Olivia spent three years at the kindergarten before moving on to the Overseas Family School, and her younger sister Molyny, who was adopted by the family two-and-a-half years ago, has been going there for the past year. “Molyny loves everything about the school,” says Kelley, “especially the variety of activities. There’s always lots going on at the same time, from baking to drawing a pet tadpole to counting, building with Lego and more.” “The staff were wonderfully supportive to our family,” she says. “Molyny first visited the kindergarten just three days after she came home to us, when we dropped Olivia off for school. Olivia’s classmates had made cards for Molyny, and everyone went out of their way to make her feel welcome. “There haven’t been any changes in the excellent team of teaching and assisting staff since we first came here, which is wonderful, and many of the older children come back to read to the younger ones, so the staff and children have become an extension of Molyny’s family.” “The children learn to be organised and selfsufficient,” continues Kelley. “When they arrive every morning, they put their bags away, return their library books (each child gets a new library book each day) and sing a welcome song. Each term has a theme; and this term it's ‘Around the World’, so the activities are based on different countries. At the moment they’re learning about
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Italy, so they’re making pasta. One of the parents will come and teach the children basic Italian words; on another day, they’ll make cardboard pizzas or visit a traditional gelato maker.” Mid-morning, the children enjoy a healthy snack and then it’s playtime outside, followed by reading or music. Some children leave at midday, and others stay for lunch. Children aged four years and older also have individual reading programmes and can attend an optional Mandarin extension programme or English craft-based learning incorporating play and construction. As I photograph Molyny and her friends busily drawing and kneading and glueing, I can see why the Daleys are so happy to bring their children here. Preschools provide an environment where children can strengthen their socialisation skills, exercise compromise, learn to be respectful of others, and practise solving problems. Here they have a place where they can gain a sense of self, explore, play with their peers and build selfconfidence. eL Lock Road Kindergarten has recently relocated to 60 Kheam Hock Road. Call 6474 6181. www.lockroadkindergarten.com
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As the name might suggest, Learn Different offers an educational environment that varies in many ways from standard schools in Singapore. Founder, CEO and educator, SHARON SOPHIE SOLOMON, describes some of the differences.
What was the inspiration for starting Learn Different? The initial inspiration came from my own challenging experiences at school. When I began as a learning support facilitator, I saw myself in many of my students: the teacher’s nightmare, the parent’s dilemma. When learners’ needs are not being met, they act out. Sometimes in frustration, sometimes just to be heard. The students who were coming to me felt safe and no longer had to fear recrimination. That’s when I decided we needed to take the concept further and start an academy. Is Learn Different like any other school, or is it a place where children go in addition to a “regular” school? It’s a school, registered with the Council for Private Education, with three service offerings. The full day programme, the Academy, offers a well-researched and established curriculum that gives teachers time to nurture learners and teach subjects in depth. It’s an inclusive school that respects the diverse learner – because no two people learn in the same way – and supports their needs and talents. We never have more than 15 students in a classroom. There is also our Integrated Therapy department, consisting of three occupational therapists, a speech therapist and an art therapist; and our Learning Support department, supporting students in maths, language and literacy, science and Mandarin. Th e A c a d e m y i s supported during the day by the two other departments. That way, parents aren’t shuffling their kids around after an exhausting day to get to a therapy or tutoring session.
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What types of students attend the school? We have a lovely mix of students from Singapore and across the globe. Some require an element of support, but all work according to their abilities. Students who are working beyond the norm are placed in accelerated programmes, while those who have difficulties in a specific area work closely with a support teacher to get the fundamentals in place. What methodologies do you employ? The Academy and Learning Support both use various methodologies that are well researched across the globe. There is no “one size fits all” approach, as long as we live up to meeting the needs of today’s (and tomorrow’s) learner. First rule of thumb for any educator: get down on your knees and see the world through the eyes of the child in front of you. Second, do your research. Third, hire the right people. Fourth, spend time speaking with parents. Tell us a bit about the teaching body. What are the teachers’ backgrounds? Our faculty is made up of professional educators with relevant degrees in the required field of practice and experience. But that’s not enough. They are passionate and love what they do. That’s not obtainable in any university, workshop or vitamin supplement. They get it and they care. Learn Different is nothing without its staff. Best thing about the campus location? The lush grounds we occupy, the surrounding greenery, a resident hornbill every late afternoon, our mini eco-playground, a few century-old trees, a strong family of staff, our spacious cooking studio, a library of 3,000 titles and our kids who make the place come to life; and we’re only five minutes away from Orchard Road. eL
Learn Different is at 10 Winstedt Road, Block C #01-16. Call 6836 1128 or visit www.learndifferent.com.sg.
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The 3rd Cambodia Orphanages Donation Drive, organised by SIR Move and Ni-Night. For one month, from 16 August to 16 September. The very successful Cambodia Orphanages Donation Drive was launched in 2009 by SIR Move Services in collaboration with NiNight. As a result of the positive support for that initiative, a second Donation Drive was held last year. The combined results have made a significant difference to many children and women in Cambodia. Last year, five container-loads were sent from Singapore, three of which included bunk beds that enabled the orphanages to double their capacities. Other items that were sent were based on a Wish List provided by the recipients. The same system will operate this year; see the Wish List, right. The beneficiaries of the 2011 donations include: Sunrise Children’s Village, comprising three orphanages l o c a t e d i n P h n o m Pe n h , Sihanoukville and Siem Reap, and founded by Geraldine Cox in 1993. These orphanages care for hundreds of orphaned and disadvantaged Cambodian children. www.sunrisechidrensvillage.org
Mark Knoll, a Catholic organisation that works with the poor and disadvantaged. Programmes include orphanages for children who have AIDS and assistance for AIDS-affected families in the form of medical care, clothing and the payment of school fees. RiverKids, which strives to prevent child trafficking by working directly with families at high risk of being victims of trafficking due to addiction, divorce, abuse or extreme poverty. www.riverkidsproject.org Between 16 August and 16 September, you can drop off your items at the following locations: SIR Move Services 10 Changi South Street 3, #04-01 Tang Logistics Centre, 486147 Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm (except public holidays) 6534 7345 Ni-Night 7 Joo Chiat Place (East) Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm 6440 7567 Canadian International School 561 Jurong East, Street 24, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm (except public holidays) 6875 1519 | 6323 0208 Containers will arrive in Cambodia in time for Christmas. eL
Gently used ■ Single
blankets for the cold season equipment (soccer balls, volleyballs,
■ Sporting
basketballs, shuttlecocks, racquets) ■ Toddlers’
picture books ■ Children’s DVDs blocks and toddlers’ educational toys ■ History, science, geography books ■ Atlases, books on space travel, books on sport ■ Fashion magazines for girls ■ Sport magazines and posters for boys ■ Books about art ■ Musical instruments ■ Board games ■ Single sheets, pillows ■ Baby slings, blankets and bottles ■ Clothes, underwear and shoes for babies and children aged two to 18 ■ Building
New ■ Mosquito
nets
■ Art supplies (sketch pads, easels, paints, brushes etc.) ■ School supplies (books, pens, erasers, sharpeners etc.) ■ Hygiene
supplies (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lice combs, sanitary pads)
■ Cooking
utensils
■ Tupperware ■ Cleaning
products for toilet, kitchen, floor powder, oil, wash, shampoo, nappies, cloth nappies
■ Baby
Note: only items from the Wish List will be accepted, as these are desperately needed and fit the orphanages’ current requirements.
For more information about this year’s Donation Drive, contact Shyla Mathews, Founder & Marketing Director of SIR Move Services, at shyla@sirmove.com. For updates, visit http://sirmove.com/cambodia_ orphanages_2011.html.
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Office Options T
he beauty of working out of a serviced office is that you don’t need to physically own, install, hire or manage any aspect of a traditional office environment. You only pay for what you need, as you use it. This means more focus on business priorities and less focus on cash flow. The Executive Centre opened its first business centre in 1994 and has now expanded to 37 centres across 14 cities in Asia Pacific – including three here in Singapore, each in a premium building in a strategic location. Here’s a look at the different types of offices they can provide.
Office Type
Typical Client
Long-term
Businesses of any size, whether it’s three people or 30, seeking fully furnished offices, executive suites or open-plan offices
Short-term
Project Team
Businesses looking for office space for 3 to 6 months, close to their current headquarters Anyone starting a project that requires additional workspace for a short period without reconfiguring an existing office
Entrepreneur
Anyone starting up a new business venture who needs a temporary office
Representative
Anyone testing out new market prospects
Day Use
Frequent travellers who need an office for a day or two
Disaster Recovery Businesses looking for continuity in the case of an unexpected event Virtual Office
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Businesses seeking the corporate image and business infrastructure of a multinational company without the cost
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A Tenant’s Testimonial As one of the world’s leading offshore, open-architecture investment account providers, Royal Skandia opened a Singapore office in 2008. As part of the launch project, we conducted extensive research on comparing the benefits of serviced offices versus leased offices. Being part of the Old Mutual Plc, a FT-SE 100-listed multinational company with over 55,000 employees and over £310 billion under management, we had strict criteria when selecting an office. It needed to be in the right business location, have the right corporate image for our high-net-worth clients, be cost-effective, and be able to accommodate our future growth plans. Our final conclusion was the serviced office route at the prestigious One Raffles Quay. Our business has grown rapidly, and we have nearly doubled our initial office space. When we need additional space for our day-to-day needs, we simply hire additional meetings rooms or the Board Room. In terms of the Executive Centre team at One Raffles Quay, they simply feel like an extension of our own staff. They’re always there to professionally greet our guests and support our growing business needs. – David MacDonald Principle Officer, Royal Skandia Life Assurance Ltd, Singapore eL
Locations One Raffles Quay Level 25, North Tower 6622 5888 Prudential Tower Levels 14 & 15, 30 Cecil Street 6232 2777 NEW! Ocean Financial Centre Level 40, 10 Collyer Quay, Raffles Place 6808 6288 Just opened, Ocean Financial Centre is a 43-storey building with innovative green features, including the largest solar panel system and the first hybrid chilled water system in Singapore. It has a landscaped public plaza covered by a glass canopy and featuring green walls, leafy roof terraces and a sky garden. www.executivecentre.com singapore@executivecentre.com
LIFE&FAMILY
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What was it like playing rugby before the sport entered the professional era in 1995? Gareth: It was tough. We played a lot of games – probably twice as many in the northern hemisphere as the southern hemisphere. At my club, Bath, we played mid-week and Saturday, from September to May. That was while holding down a full-time job and training every day. And the games were against the top Welsh sides. Going up to Pontypool on a wet Wednesday night to face the Pontypool front row was not something for the faint-hearted. Then you had to get up in the morning, go to work and train again in the afternoon. I do have a wry smile when I hear these professional guys today saying, “What? We’re playing twenty games this year?” Simon: When the stock market crashed in 1987, I’d been in the business for four years. Our daily routine – and this was in a World Cup year, I might add – was that everyone would go to work in the morning, then we’d meet at lunchtime when [Wallabies coach] Allan Jones’ radio commitments had finished; we’d train like lunatics for two or three hours, and then go back to work. That’s how the amateur era worked.
Simon Poidevin made his test debut for the Wallabies in 1980. He became the first Australian to play 50 tests, including four as captain. Simon received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1988 and the Australian Sports Medal in 2000. Since retiring in 1991, Simon has worked as a stockbroker while maintaining his links with rugby. He worked with the City Group in Australia, before joining Pengana Capital in 2009 as Executive Director. He is also on the board of Dart Energy.
Did it prepare you well for life after professional sport? Gareth: The beautiful thing about rugby in our era was that you were playing with all shapes and sizes, and all walks of life – policemen, miners, schoolteachers, lawyers. So, you learnt to be a character; you learnt what made people tick, and about life in general – about peer pressure, about social skills. A lot of the rugby lads, when they finished, while they never made enough money to retire on, were able to concentrate on what to do in the future. That’s my big concern about professional rugby now. It’s okay if you’re a big star, if you’re a Jonny Wilkinson. But the average professional player, when they retire – and it can happen with a broken leg at 30, just like that – can find himself out of work and asking, “What now?” Simon:You had to be really organised in your life to survive: you had to train, work, play with discipline and organisation. Overseas tours were three months long – that was a challenge as well, for employers and players. You had to think, “Okay, I can’t be at work for the next while, so what can I do to make it up to them down the track?”
Gareth Chilcott made his England debut against Australia in 1984. He toured with the British Lions in Australia in 1989, played over 400 first team games, was capped 14 times for his country and was selected for the 1989 tour of Australia by the British Lions. He is the corporate face of Gullivers S p o r t s Tr a v e l , accompanying rugby supporters around the world and at hospitality events in the UK.
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Are things different today? Gareth: Nowadays in Britain, lads at 15 or 16 are paid to be in academies. They’re picked up very early and offered contracts by clubs if they look promising. Then it’s straight into a professional career. All they know is a changing room – they don’t have the rich life experiences that held Simon and me in good score when we went for the next interview, or when we were working in a company. Clubs in England, at least, have a responsibility to look at this more closely. In my opinion, they don’t do enough with the players off the field – and it doesn’t have to be channelling them into professional business; it could be acknowledging that someone might make a great plumber, for instance. At the end of a player’s career, the club should be able to say, “Thanks for your time; you mightn’t have enough to retire on, but here’s something you can do.” So do you see people who’ve played at the highest levels and who end up failing in business? Simon: Yes, there are those who drop through the safety net. We’ve got teammates from both the amateur and the professional eras who are struggling – big time. Most guys get through it okay because of the skills that rugby provides, as a great team game – it helps with life structure. But not all get through, and there’s a big effort required to help those who are struggling. In Australia, the Rugby Union Players’ Association is now making a big effort to ensure that every player is either doing a tertiary education or has a part-time job, which gives them a taste of what they could do in the future.
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How can playing rugby help with a business career? Gareth: We might win by 30, 40 points and on the Monday we would criticise ourselves; “Why wasn’t it 50 or 60?” I’ve always taken that into business – you’re always looking for an edge; you can’t stay still. As a sports team you’d never do it, so why do it as a business? I’m always looking at these kinds of things: how to motivate people in the workplace. People play a team sport for different reasons; for the stardom, the fear of losing, or the enjoyment of a team game – all kinds of reasons. It’s the same in the workplace. Business can learn from sport, there’s no doubt about that. What are you going to tell the kids at your training sessions here in Singapore? Simon: Rugby is the ultimate team game. So, I think it’s important for the kids to work together with big guys, small guys, fast guys, slow guys, and work out that everyone’s got an opportunity within that structure. Also, I think it’s important for the non-expat kids to discover that they can start taking a bit of contact – they tend to revel in it when they realise, “Okay, so I can tackle as well!” Gareth: I think at this age it’s just about enjoyment and e n c o u ra g e m e nt. It’s about wanting to play. It’s not about whether your feet are in the right position. If you’ve got the right sort of ethos, then if you’re good enough you’ll play at whatever level you want. Predictions for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand starting in September? Gareth: We’ve talked long and hard about it. I think the All
Blacks are way out front as favourites. The quarter- and semifinals will be banana skins for them, because of nerves, but they’re very focussed because of the Christchurch tragedy. But the beautiful thing about this World Cup is that there are four or five countries that could win. If I had to be a betting man and take my England hat off, I would say New Zealand. But South Africa, Australia, France and England will be waiting to pounce. What about you, Simon? Who do you think will win the Cup? Simon: [pauses, then points at Gareth] He’s been bagging me all day about this. Gareth: He buggers around and never comes out with an answer! Simon: It’s been a long time since New Zealand has won. It’s their time; they’re heavily motivated; they’re in pole position. Australia has to get past Ireland in its pool. If we can hold our top team through the Cup, if we can get to the final – and I do believe it will be Australia versus New Zealand – then, maybe. But it’s a huge mountain to climb. New Zealand have dominated us for the past five years because they’ve dominated the breakdown. If we can get parity at the breakdown, we can beat them. eL
Rugby Village 2011 aims to bring Rugby World Cup fever to Singapore through a wide range of events and activities, both before the Cup kicks off and during the scheduled live broadcast of matches from New Zealand. For more information, visit www.rugbyvillage2011.com.
LIFE&FAMILY
the
Big Boys
Our motoring specialist TOM LAWSON took the two Volvo SUVs out for a spin and told us what he thought of them. When anyone over a certain age thinks about Volvo, they usually think: safe, but maybe a bit stolid – even boring. Unless, that is, they remember the iconic P1800 driven by Roger Moore as the Saint or even, as in my case, the entry of the TWR-modified 850 Estate in the 1994 British Touring Car Championship.
XC90
The image of an estate car being chucked around various British racetracks – with some success, too – pushed me in the direction of the Volvo showroom when it was time to dispose of the VW bus that had given so much good service as carrier of all things familial during the kids’ school years. I bought the 850 R Estate with seven seats, and talking of this beauty brings me nicely to the seven-seater XC90. Back in 2003, when Volvo was getting away from the box-shaped and moving into smoother, more freeflowing designs, this crossover SUV was something new. It was what people wanted – less old Land Rover feel on the highway, and a dollop of off-road capability if the going got tough. And having got it right the first time with the XC90, Volvo hasn’t changed it much since; one might say it hasn’t had to. The 2011 model is available here in its 2.5 T and 3.2 R-Design forms. We tested the 2.5 five-cylinder turbo model, and quite frankly, for pottering around Singapore’s congested freeways this will be enough: tax and insurance are of course lower than for the bigger-engined models. Personally, though, I’d prefer a bit more clout under the bonnet. At over 2,000 kg, the XC90 is a heavy, tall vehicle. The all-wheel drive system works a treat, great for sudden tropical downpours on slick urban roads. Safety has always been a hallmark of Volvo and the
XC90 interior
2011 XC90 comes loaded with all the usual safety features. It has been named “Top Safety Pick” by the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a rare honour for this type of vehicle. The steering is a bit ponderous and sudden changes of direction cause some leaning, but it is quite stable on the freeway in a fairly straight line. Though it doesn’t relish the twisty bits, its roll stability control keeps confidence levels up. The seats are excellent and it gives a smooth, comfortable ride. It also stops well enough for its size. Inside, the design remains largely as it was – top quality, sleek and functional. Being able to move the rear centre child-booster right up to the front seats has always been a great feature: it makes it really easy to cuff a misbehaving kid without having to reach back into the depths of the rear seat! Having a third row makes this a true seven-seater,
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but it’s not for hulking first-team players. Even Volvo recommends that these seats be occupied by people no taller than 1.6m. However, with all the seats easily stowable, there is plenty of space for carrying stuff. In summary, the XC90 is still a more than competent crossover luxury SUV and remains right up there with the competition. Though its rivals may have almost caught up in the intervening years, they have not yet got all the tweaks that make the XC90 such a good proposition. It is keenly priced, too, and if you are looking for a large, roomy and above all safe family vehicle, then it definitely deserves a good look.
The Younger Brother If you want less room, no third row, and all the safety that Volvo is famous for – plus the pleasure of stronger performance – consider the XC60. It’s the more stylish, edgier, younger sibling of the XC90, and it’s way up in the luxury compact SUV list. Volvo reckons that the XC60 has taken all the styling cues it’s been evolving over the past 10 to 15 years to become the brand’s best looking vehicle. We would not disagree. High-quality materials with soft-touch surfaces in the simple yet smart interior, and best-in-class front seats make the cabin a very nice place to be. In the back, as is usual with a compact, the legroom is somewhat limited for anyone over six feet tall; but even here the seats are some of the most comfortable of the SUV pack. As one would expect of the Swedes, all the dials, gauges and switches are logically placed. The screen has now been moved from the top of the dash into the console, but it’s not a touch screen and the controls are a bit fiddly. There is no nav system, but it appears that most Singaporeans prefer a mobile system, anyway. With the 40/20/40 back seats down, you get some 67 cubic feet of cargo space and even with them up you will still have a relatively healthy 30 cubic feet. We tested the 2.0 four-cylinder turbo, which for 2011 has been up-rated to 240bhp. However, the CX60 is still a fairly chunky piece of machinery. Weighing in at a healthy 1,700kg, it’s slightly less athletic than some of the competition and has only front-wheel drive. I’d prefer the all-wheel drive 3.0-litre turbo that gives 304bhp, but once again there are higher costs for greater pleasure. That said,
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XC60
the smaller-engined vehicle is surprisingly agile and handles consistently. With very little lean in the corners, combined with the typical SUV height, it makes for an interesting driving experience when pushed.
As with the XC90, the XC60 was awarded “Top Safety Pick”, and safety is the strongest of its many attributes. Its City Safety technology is worth a mention: if you are travelling at less than 28kph (the speed at which most accidents happen, according to statistics), then this feature kicks in to stop you hitting someone in front of you, without you even touching the brakes. Be aware, though, that it can also kick in and stop you short when you’re approaching the automatic barrier in a parking garage! Once again, Volvo has priced the XC60 competitively amongst its peers, and together with outstanding safety, distinctive design and good performance, it makes for a top choice in the segment. Having the choice between the XC90 and the XC60, which way would I go? Taking into consideration our usual driving conditions here in Singapore, I have to admit to feeling more comfortable in that superb family wagon, the XC90. Maybe that gives my age away. eL Wearnes Automotive is at 249 Alexandra Road. Call 6473 1488. www.wearnesauto.com
LIFE&FAMILY
Brit NEIL NEWBY arrived in Singapore in February 2008 with his wife Vicky Paterson and their two children. After weighing up the various transport options, they decided to buy a car, and they’ve been zipping around the island ever since. What type of car do you drive? We bought a black Honda CRV from Presto Expat Motoring – I have no idea of the year, sorry! What are the best features of the car? We chose the car because it suited our family size. It also feels good to drive and it has a great deal of boot space; this can be essential when taking the children to the local parks with their bikes. We like to go to West Coast Park to ride around. We also have a one-yearold Labrador, so we are able to take him out around Singapore, too. The air-conditioning is essential and is constantly on – as is the CD player! How do you use the car on weekdays and weekends? During the week, Vicky uses it to go to work – she’s a teacher at Tanglin Trust School. After school, it’s used to pick up and drop
off the children for various extracurricular activities. At weekends, we just use it to get around Singapore, whether it’s on trips to the Zoo, shopping at Orchard or a quick trip over to Sentosa. How have you found the Presto service? The staff at Presto were extremely helpful; they sourced all the cars we were considering buying, and brought them around to the condo where we were living at the time. Once we had chosen our particular car, they assisted with arranging the financing and insurance. The post-sales service has been, and continues to be, great. They let us know in advance when the car is due to be serviced and they arrange to pick up the car to take it to the service centre. To this day, almost two years since we purchased the car, Presto continues to provide a valuable post-sales service.
Pros and cons of driving in Singapore? It’s quite an easy city to navigate in, and generally traffic isn’t too bad. With children, it’s good to know that they are in their respective child seats and are safely strapped in! They can also fall asleep in the car after a long day, and it’s hassle-free getting them out and off to bed. There are no real negatives that I can see. Favourite road to drive on in Singapore? The AYE coming past Marina Bay Sands, with fantastic scenic views of the city skyline. What cars did you drive before coming to Singapore? We owned a Honda CRV in Australia and a Mazda 323 in the UK. Are you a “car person”? Not really; however, my son is and wants me to buy a blue sports car at some stage. I haven’t decided which one – or, more to the point, who will be paying for it. eL Presto Expat Motoring Services is located at 271 Bukit Timah Road, #03-07 Balmoral Plaza. Contact the team at 6738 7377 or email info@ prestoexpatmotoring.com. www.prestoexpatmotoring.com.
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Aussie Be it a potential residence, a holiday home or accommodation for children during their tertiary education, investing in an Australian property is a viable option for many expats. We asked STEVE DOUGLAS, a tax and finance specialist, how to make it happen. Who can buy property in Australia? The only restriction for foreigners is they must acquire new property. What is the biggest mistake a buyer can make when buying property abroad? Buying with too much focus on the rental income. Usually, a higher rental return means a greater risk. Only ever buy a property that you would want to live in, even if you never do. How much do I need to invest? Usually, a deposit of 20 percent is required. A further five percent may also be needed to cover government purchase costs and legal fees. What is a cross-currency mortgage? The term refers to taking a loan in a different currency from the currency of the asset purchased. The possibility of paying a lower interest rate can seem very attractive, but be mindful of potential currency fluctuations. Should I get finance from a bank in Singapore, or from one in Australia? Generally speaking, Australia-based lenders have more flexible conditions and more generous lending terms, but only offer Australian dollar loans. Singapore lenders offer the option of Australian dollar or Singapore dollar loans, however it can be more difficult to get a loan here. What return can I expect? All Australian cities have averaged over eight per cent growth per annum over the past 15 years. As with all property markets, some years will be better than others.
What is the process, step by step? The hardest part of buying an Australian property is choosing what you want. 1. Establish the purpose of the acquisition. Is it for investment, for use as a holiday home, a potential residence, or accommodation for children during their tertiary education? 2. Set a budget. Lending is readily available for foreign investors and will cover up to 80 percent of the purchase price, meaning only a modest deposit is necessary. 3. Decide what type of property to buy. Both house and land packages or apartments are considered safe options. Choose property that offers an attractive lifestyle, such as inner-city apartments and houses, beach and coastal areas and quality family suburbs. 4. Enter a binding contract. Agree on a fixed price and pay a deposit, usually no more than 10 percent. The deposit is held by an independent party (such as a lawyer or property agent) and cannot be used by the seller. It may be possible to sign the contract subject to finance approval. 5. Apply for finance. This takes about one month. Banks have different lending rules, so shop around for terms that suit you. 6. Settlement on the property. Signatures are needed on all banking and legal documents. A lawyer will arrange the transfer of the property and you will become the legal owner. 7. Find a tenant (if needed). This is a simple, wellregulated process that can be undertaken by a licensed rental property management agent. The vacancy rates in Australian capital cities are between one and three percent. 8. Lodge an annual income tax return. Get advice on how to plan your tax affairs to reduce or eliminate tax. eL For more on purchasing an Australian property, contact SMATS on 6293 4148 or visit www.smats.net. August11
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Š Elenat | Dreamstime.com
Compet it ions
Handbag This month’s tote comes stuffed full of adrenalin and excitement, with goodies courtesy of Orchard Central – the only shopping mall in Singapore where can you climb a 30-metre peak, fly an Airbus A320 and tee-off at St Andrews, all in the same day. It’s also home to a plethora of sportswear stores, so there’s no excuse – get active today!
Vertical Limits Home to the world’s tallest indoor Via Ferrata, BorderX’s 30m-high wall can be used for rock climbing and abseiling too. All safety equipment is provided and friendly instructors are present to give encouragement. It’s ideal for birthday parties and corporate teambuilding events. Advance booking is required. #04-22 | 6884 4870
Outdoor Ready PrAna started off life as a haven for climbers and yoga fans and grew into a store for those who love the outdoors. It stocks a range of functional styles that are travel-friendly, lightweight and quick drying. Shopping here is guilt-free, too, as the products are made from organic cotton and fabrics recycled from plastic and polyester. #04-22 | 6884 4870
Tee Off Try MaxSwing’s laid-back “golf for everyone, every day” and tee off at 50 of the world’s best golf courses. The simulator is far cheaper than green fees and is played with real golf clubs and balls, catering for everyone from beginners to Jack Nicklaus wannabes. Rates start from $40 an hour per room, and up to four people can share one room. Stop worrying about the hole that golf burns in your pocket, and focus instead on getting a hole in one! #04-29/30 | www.maxswing.com.sg
Performance Wear
Time for a Sarnie? The 5,000 Quiznos Sub stores worldwide reflect 30 years of sandwich-toasting history. Each sub is made with artisan-baked bread, juicy meats, all-natural cheeses and chef-inspired sauces. Then it’s toasted to perfection, all the ingredients melding to create a wonderfully hearty meal. #03-33/K1 www.facebook.com/quiznossubsg
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Synonymous with active living, Bods.bodynits is a specialist sports brand that offers ladies’ and men’s performance and active wear. It’s developed for a wide range of activities such as yoga, Pilates, aerobics, gym, athletics, swimming, running, cycling and dancing. #03-06 www.bods.bodynits.com
Eureka! Cactus is stuffed full of things you had no idea you needed. Once you’ve bought an access o r y handmade by a local d e s i g n e r, y o u w o n ’t be able to live without this store. It’s a hotbed of inventiveness, where creative individuals and budding entrepreneurs showcase their latest, most innovative, edgiest products. We love the novelty lomography cameras, as well as the fancy gadget cases from iLappy. #04-25 | www.cactusfarm.sg
R E V O
0 0 0 , 1 $ H T R O
W
PrAna
Tote, $73 A reversible bag that looks great and is the perfect size for your gym kit.
BorderX
Rock climbing session for four, $112 Take three mates rock-climbing for an hour.
Cactus
Blackbird Fly TLR Camera, $199 A beautiful, 35mm twin-lens reflex camera with iconic styling and oldschool sensibilities.
Gives You Wings Become the captain of an Airbus A320 flight simulator at SG Flight Simulations. From its replica flight deck, you can take off from and land at more than 20,000 airports throughout the world. Its 180-degree curved screen is scarily realistic – don’t look down! #04-31 | www.sgflightsimulations.com.sg
Quiznos sub Vouchers, $50
SG Flight Simulations
An hour in a flight simulator, $130 Here’s your chance to fly an Airbus A320.
Max Swing Sporting Style Looking good and being active go hand-in-hand at exxe. As well as sport shoes and apparel from the world’s top brands, it stocks wave boards, kick scooters, free-line skates and outdoor adventure supplies. And for those working on their inner Zen, there are the new Easyoga and Heartyoga clothing lines. Readers who spend $100 or above in a single receipt will be issued with a lifelong “exxe” card for a 10-percent discount off all future purchases. Terms and conditions apply.#05-41/42 Orchard Central 181 Orchard Road 6238 1051
Three-hour golf session, $240 To be used in one booking.
Bods.bodynits
Shorts, $39.90, and Ladies Racer Back Tank Top, $49.90 Bods.bodynits is engineered to help athletes perform better.
exxe
Two pairs of drift skates, $69 (per pair) So you don’t have to learn on your own!
To win everything above, go to www.expatliving.sg/competitions
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! n i w A Molton Brown Valued at $100
Enter our competition and you could be one of five lucky readers who will each win a 300ml Molton Brown Plum-kadu Hairwash and a 300ml Paradisiac Pink Pepperpod Bath and Shower product. They retail at $51 and $49 respectively.
The purifying Molton Brown Plum-kadu Hairwash is the perfect choice for the city-dweller, as it’s formulated to help hair recover from the stresses of urban, smoky and polluted environments. Active extracts of plumkadu and moringa tree help boost resistance and shield hair from external damage. Gentle, fortifying and protective, it has uplifting aromas of jasmine, tuberose and cardamom. Plum-kadu, a tropical woodland tree, is the world’s richest source of free-radical-scavenging vitamin C and acts a natural detoxifier.
Molton Brown’s truly sensual Paradisiac Pink Pepperpod collection includes a bath and shower body wash that is infused with warm pink pepperpods from the Gulf of Guinea. It cleanses and helps to protect skin from environmental pollutants, while reawakening your energy banks. The combination of the spiced aromatic oils and pink pepper oil is an unforgettable and titillating way to start your day. Not only does it cleanse the skin, but it warms skin and muscle and stimulates and re-energises your body. It can also be used as a spicy bubble bath.
To enter, go to www.expatliving.sg/competitions Entries close 31 August 2011
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! n i w A $100
voucher from Pure Earth Five lucky readers will each win a $100 voucher to be redeemed at Pure Earth!
About Pure Earth:
Every piece of Pure Earth apparel has its beginnings and a soul; the wearer gives it a life. Featuring exclusive, intricate workmanship inspired by various traditions and cultures, Pure Earth garments yet have a contemporary style and effortless wearability that appeals to the discerning global citizen. From cool cottons to sophisticated silks, the natural fabrics used in Pure Earth collections are lightweight and breathable, their mobility and flexibility lending them to the creation of comfortable yet elegant garments that suit the busy and dynamic lifestyles of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s women. As each piece is lovingly hand-crafted, Pure Earth inspires the rediscovery of cultural diversity, and celebrates timehonoured artisanal skills. Traditional in construction and yet international in appeal, Pure Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designs are influenced by many cultures of the world. Outlets: Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road, #02-28. Tel: 6887 5331
The Centrepoint, 176 Orchard Road #02-48. Tel: 6733 6752
Holland Road Shopping Centre, 211 Holland Avenue, #02-06. Tel: 6469 0560 www.pureearth.com.sg www.facebook.com/pages/Pure-Earth
To enter, go to www.expatliving.sg/competitions Entries close 31 August 2011
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! n i w You can stay in touch with your friends and family without incurring SMS ch a r g e s . Th i s m o n t h , weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re giving away two BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphones, courtesy of Research In Motion!
Powered by the BlackBerry 6 OS, the BlackBerry Torch provides the best-ever web browsing experience on a full-size, highresolution touchscreen. You can manage your social networking and RSS feeds with one single Social Feeds icon, and search for content on your smartphone and on the internet more effectively with the Universal Search function. With the legendary slide-out BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard, the precision of the optical trackpad and the immediacy of push email, the BlackBerry Torch allows you to get things done quickly, wherever you are. The BlackBerry Torch is pre-installed with BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), a free real-time instant messaging app for BlackBerry smartphone owners. This means you can save money on international SMS fees by messaging your loved ones back home. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to keep your friends and family up to date by sharing your latest photos, videos and voice notes. You can also create BBM groups for group chats and file sharing, making it easier for you to stay connected with friends and family members around the world.
To enter, go to www.expatliving.sg/competitions Entries close 31 August 2011
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! n i w Body Massage from My Cozy Room Boutique Spa A
Worth $148!
We have five massage treatments to give away to five lucky readers this month. My Cozy Body Massage with Hot Stone Back Therapy is a 60-minute session of Swedish massage with high-quality BABOR oil, using a TDP Far-infrared therapeutic lamp and hot stones on the back. This soothing massage creates a sensation of deep comfort and exquisite warmth to relieve any form of stress and tension.
About My Cozy Room:
My Cozy Room Boutique Spa is a tranquil, one-stop haven that offers services to pamper your body, face and nails. It is dedicated to promoting a sense of wellbeing and to the restoration of mind, body and spirit. Situated a stone’s throw away from busy Orchard Road in a beautiful, historical Cairnhill Road shophouse, its therapists strive to create a cosy atmosphere in which you’ll feel at home and relaxed, and a peaceful spa experience that you’ll return to again and again.
My Cozy Room Boutique Spa is at 56A Cairnhill Road and is open on weekdays from 11am to 9pm and weekends from 10am to 8pm. Call 6732 0030.
To enter, go to www.expatliving.sg/competitions Entries close 31 August 2011
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! n i w A Classic Manicure and Pedicure Worth $66
Be one of eight lucky readers who will each win a voucher for a Classic Manicure and Classic Pedicure from Summer Haven!
Sometimes, all it takes is a little pampering to make you feel like the queen of the world. The mani-pedi service at Summer Haven is a little luxury that will do exactly that. It starts with tasteful décor, a sparkling clean environment, soothing spa music and spacious, comfy seats. Then trained and experienced nail technicians offer you a cappuccino or flower tea with caramelised biscuits and let you choose from more than 300 lacquer colours. Your blissfully relaxing experience has begun! Summer Haven offers an amazing range of manicure and pedicure services, from simple neatening through to luxurious spa treatments, and from treating tough calluses to performing acrylic and gel extensions and creating fancy nail art. What’s more, it has special menus not only for women and men, but for “little princesses” and “little princes”, and uses a range of top quality products to keep your hands and feet immaculate. Summer Haven is the perfect place to host your hen’s party, bridal shower, birthday party, corporate event, or just a simple get-together with your family, friends and co-workers. Summer Haven is proud to be one of very few salons selected under the OPI Approved Salon programme. Summer Haven is at 18 Cross Street, #01-04 China Square Central. Call 6536 0400 for an appointment. www.summerhaven.biz
To enter, go to www.expatliving.sg/competitions Entries close 31 July 2011
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! n i w A hamper of
IDOCARE
cleaning products Worth $250!
Two environmentally responsible readers will each win a six-month supply of Idocare biodegradable home-cleaning products. All 15 items are completely non-toxic, and absolutely safe for your family, your pets and the environment.
Say: “IDOCARE … for my child, for my family, for myself, for my Earth!”
By keeping its formulas simple, natural and effective, IDOCARE helps you save money and at the same time make socially responsible decisions for a healthier home and safer planet.
These products are all: • NPE-free • biodegradable • formulated with plant-based ingredients • paraben-free • phosphate-free • free from optical brighteners • not tested on animals
Lavender Fields Detergent keeps your clothes fresh and your family safe with its antibacterial agent and anti-odour formulation. And its antirust property lengthens the lifespan of both front-load and top-load machines.
Summer Citrus Concentrated Dishwashing Liquid effectively cuts through the toughest grease, yet is gentle on your hands. Keep your family and the environment safe with its balanced PH and natural ingredients.
Find out more about how you can make a green difference in your home at www.idocare.com.sg. “Like” the Facebook page IDOCAREWorld to get free samples and receive a 10-percent discount off online purchases during August and September 2011. Just key in the code EL10off on the IDOCARE website.
To enter, go to www.expatliving.sg/competitions Entries close 31 August 2011
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Fashion
Designs by Chalk
Fashion
Three Summer Must-haves Fo r m a ny o f u s , August is vacation month. If you’re taking off for somewhere less sticky to soak up the rays and let your hair down, here are three ways to instantly update your holiday look. First, grab some crazy sunglasses. For in-your-face punk-rock cool, slip on a pair of Ksubi’s roundframe glasses. But if you’re not ready to make headlines, choose Chloé’s Abelies with cat-eye lenses for a subtler style hit. The safest option, which works for any age group, is a pair of Rayban Wayfarers – go as bright as you dare. Second, you’ll be needing some Jesus sandals: thick, three-strap shoes that give terrible tan marks and possibly have a big toe loop. Birkenstock are the obvious first port of call, followed by Charles and Keith for a budgetfriendly option. Third thing on the list is a fabulous hat. It can be as big or small as you like, just make sure it’s made from straw or another light, woven material. And to up the style-ante and garner serious trend points, embrace autumn’s 60s trend. Smarten swimwear with a tied neck scarf, and fold up the bottoms of drainpipe trousers a few times to show off some ankle cleavage.
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The Diversion Tactic In case you didn’t know, Cartier, a brand associated with superluxe watches and dazzling diamond rings, also has a range of leather goods. Use one of these gorgeous envelope clutches ($225) as a more affordable reason to drag the other half into the store for a look – who knows, something sparkly might catch their eye! #B1-39A The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.
Are you Betty or Joan? Fashion is looking 10 years yo u n g e r. O u t a r e Seventies prints and floaty shirts. In are 60s tailoring, bows and collars. So come September, Mad Men fans will be able to legitimately dress like characters B e t t y Draper and Joan Harris. These two fabulous outfits a r e B a n a n a R e p u b l i c ’s homage to the show and will be hitting stores soon. Don Draper wannabes aren’t left out either; there’s a men’s line too. #02-06/07 Paragon
Fashion
StyleHunter Forget the catwalk, the shop windows and the fashion-bloggers. Sometimes, the best place for style inspiration is out on the streets. Our Style Hunter roams the island, camera-in-hand, ready to snap expats who exude individuality and a style of their own.
Bikini Bliss Swimwear has never been so fashion-savvy and, thanks to Seafolly’s new store in Wisma Atria, it’s never been easier to find a flattering cozzie. The popular Australian brand opened its first stand-alone store last month, carrying the full range of women’s one-pieces and bikinis. #02-16/17 Wisma Atria.
Name: Michelle O'Conner Job: Sales & Marketing Manager From: The UK
Sunglasses
Bulgari, price unknown
OMG Ong! Earrings and Ring
Swarosvki ($133 and $400; bought in Dubai)
Dress
Zara, $200 My style is based on a mixture of high street and designer – I normally mix one designer piece (the bag, shoes or jewellery) with high street dresses and separates. With the heat in Singapore, I have adopted pretty, lightweight dresses as my staple wardrobe for work. I collect handbags and have them cleaned regularly. I’m also a fan of Bally, Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik – I keep all my shoes in their original boxes! My style inspiration would be Penelope Cruz, who oozes old Hollywood charm and always looks groomed and chic.
Shoes
Aldo, $140
Why it works: Great accessorising with leg-lengthening nude peep-toe heels and a matching bag, both of which inject this outfit with daytime glam. The floaty, almost-LBD is sophisticated yet comfortable and the silk ribbon adds interest. We like how effortlessly this look can transition from office wear to after-work drinks. Beate Baldry
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Six-month-old fashion brand Ong Shunmugam is already becoming an expat favourite. The stylish, Orient-inspired dresses are have been designed for wearing in a humid climate. The store also has an atelier to alter fit, fabric and colour to suit your preference. www.ongshunmugam.com
High-sleep style Are you guilty of taking a little too long to get showered and dressed on a Sunday morning? If you’re going to lounge, do it in these oh-so-soft pyjamas by Les Affaires. The beautiful designs are made from lace and eco-friendly bamboo yarn, so they’re lightweight, cool in summer and warm in winter. #03-09 Wisma Atria.
FASHION
en , so liv . s e o g hing pore st anyt ibe to Singa o m t s v t almo stival n is tha bring the fe e e t a eing r and bout b op of colou a g in h hap eat t The gr wardrobe wit r up you Blue chinos, $83 Topshop www.topshop.com
Card holder, money purse and wallet, $50 to $200 Samsonite www.samsonite.com
e
Ring and bracelet, prices on request Folli Follie www.follifollie.com
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Teal blazer, price on request Wallis #03-46 Paragon
FASHION
Hot pink dress, price on request Rouge www.rouge.com.sg
Floral playsuit, $93 Ribbon & Roses www.ribbonandroses.com
Bikini top, $90.95 Bikini bottom, $85.60 Banana Moon #02-28 Mandarin Gallery
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Super sunglasses, $208 The Society of Black Sheep www.societyofblacksheep.com
Coral shorts, $79 Dorothy Perkins www.missselfridge.com
Headphones, $90 Nixon www.nixonnow.com
Yellow sandals, $56 Topshop www.topshop.com
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Special When British expat CAROLINE HARVEY overheard a friend talking about a piece of custom-made jewellery, it sparked a charming partnership – with the jeweller.
When I heard my friend recommending The Jewel Box, I went to the store to find out more. It was a match made in heaven. By the time I left, I had bought jewellery designed by the owners, Vinod and Sangeeta More, and I had commissioned a set of simple diamond earrings. Since then, I’ve commissioned quite a few gifts for friends and family, which have all been relatively straightforward. But the piece I commissioned for my birthday went through more changes than anything else I’ve bought. When we started, all I knew was that I wanted a pavé (clustered) diamond pendant; so I passed Vinod a hand-drawn sketch of a round pendant covered in small diamonds. We had a long conversation over the phone and by email about how to arrange the diamonds on the stone. I had to decide whether the diamonds were going to be laid in a spiral, or if I’d prefer them in a row. I never made that decision. I had a sudden change of heart and decided I wanted the pendant to be a star instead of a circle. This created new design issues that had to be considered. The trouble is that when you first imagine something in your mind, you don’t realise how many variations there are of it. Luckily, Vinod presented all the options so I could make an informed choice. When I saw the prototype, I altered the design – again! I didn’t want to be able to see any gaps between the diamonds, so I asked for them to be set closer together. I also wanted the diamonds to wrap around the edges.
The design process: Circles Rows Spiral
1st hand drawn design
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prototype of stone settings
2nd hand drawn design
Final prototype
FASHION
Now I had a very clear image in my mind about what the final piece would look like. I could have had another prototype but I didn’t need it. The Jewel Box gives attention to detail that you’re not even aware of. For example, the pendant is weighted so it won’t flip over. They also ask that you return the piece once a year to check the stones are tight in their setting; they’ll return it clean and sparkling. I’m delighted with the result, though I’m not allowed to wear it until my actually birthday! When you buy diamonds and gems from The Jewel Box, Vinod explains the variations in terms of the four Cs (colour, cut, clarity and
carat) and helps you match them to your budget. This way, your expectations match up with the final design and it won’t cost more than you’re prepared to pay. For stones bigger than half a carat you also get a GIA certificate, so you know you’re getting a non-conflict, genuine, untreated natural diamond.
How to Commission Jewellery in 5 Easy Steps Caroline explains how she commissioned bespoke cufflinks without even stepping into a store. Without any previous experience in designing jewellery, she completed the six-week process while based in Australia: it took just ten emails and two phone calls.
Know what you want and who to work with.
I wanted a set of cufflinks for my husband’s birthday. I was comfortable commissioning The Jewel Box, as I trusted their quality and workmanship.
Write the first email
My husband has a Chinese name, and I want the two characters to be on the cufflinks – one on each. I emailed the characters to Vinod and asked him to come up with a design.
Decide which design you like best
The Jewel Box come back with four designs using different fonts. I chose one of the designs, and then had to decide between silver, yellow gold, white gold or platinum and whether I wanted it to be matt, shiny or a combination of the two.
Check the prototype and make any design tweaks
I received a wax prototype just over a week later (not all commissions include this step). This helped me envisage the finished product and allowed me to tweak the design. I didn’t want the rim to be so deep, so I asked Vinod to make it flush with the characters.
Do a final review
Vinod emailed me a photo of the final design and I was really happy with it. When I was passing through Singapore, I collected the finished cufflinks from the store – and when I gave them to my husband, he was thrilled.
To book an appointment or to view jewellery designed by The Jewel Box, call 6733 4100 or visit www.thejewelbox.com. 1 Scotts Road, #25-04 Shaw Centre.
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Š Fotograf77 | Dreamstime.com
Hair & Beaut y
What’s New
hair&beauty
The Skin Pharmacy has launched a range of serums that can be specially blended to create a personalised beauty treatment. Choose from over 20 types of serums for the face, lips and hair to treat skin dryness, fine lines, acne and scalp problems. Every serum and blend is made from natural ingredients, without added fragrances, colouring agents, parabens or artificial preservatives. Call 6634 7855 or visit www.the-skin-pharmacy.com.
French hair salon Alexandre Casta De Paris moves to two floors at No. 40 Haji Lane at the end of July. To book an appointment call 6333 4922.
Scalps can sometimes become sore and irritated from the chemicals and styling products we use to keep our hair looking gorgeous. L’Occitane’s new Concentrated Mask gives instant relief: part your hair into sections and massage it into your scalp. Just leave for five minutes, then rinse. $48 from L’Occitane stores.
At last, one handy eye shadow palette that can take you from a fresh morning look to a lunchtime meeting and on to cocktails in the evening. Use the two light shades in Shu Uemura’s City Allure palette to start the day bright-eyed and add darker tones as the day progresses. If pinks aren’t your thing, swap them for one of the 45 different shades in the range. You can make up (ho, ho!) your own palette for the usual price of the City Allure, just $110. Available at all major department stores.
© Mersant | Dreamstime.com
In a bid to keep skin looking healthy and young, legions of women are turning to injectable fillers to fill in lines and pad out facial features. The filler is usually composed of an inert material that our bodies are familiar with, like hyaluronic acid, which is safely metabolised and absorbed. Dr Valentin Low Aesthetic and Laser Clinic’s new fine needles and fillers contain an anesthetic, so the treatment isn’t painful. Fillers can be used for nose shaping, chin shaping and even breast augmentation. To find out more call 6720 3323 or visit www. drvalentinlow.com.
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HAIR&BEAUTY
By Verne Maree
For those who shell out thousands a year on lightbased skin treatments, this is good news indeed: Clariancy is importing a range of affordable devices that you can use at home. Managing director CLARA LEE told me all about them – and gave me one to test drive.
How did you get into this fascinating field? My husband, Dr Lim Hock Hin, is a GP with an interest in aesthetics. I worked in the banking industry before I joined him in establishing Clariancy. We foresaw a big demand for home aesthetic devices, because they are so convenient and cost-effective to use. It’s also a gentle introduction to aesthetic treatments for those who are afraid of them.
Clariancy is at #0215/16 Raffles Hotel Arcade, #03-49/50 Jurong Point 2, #B1-21 Tampines One and #B1-102 Parkway Parade. www.clariancy.com
This is the first I have heard of light-based beauty devices that can be used at home. Are they new? Where do you get them? We currently have 17 devices, ranging from permanent hair-reduction appliances to acne therapy devices, and are still adding to our range. Many of them come from Israel, others from the US or from Korea. Being qualified in this area, my husband is able to select the best and most effective ones.
To be safe for home use, the amount of energy delivered has to be much lower than a doctor’s medical-grade device. How effective is it really? It is very effective, but of course, it will take longer. In fact, Silk’N produces both grades of equipment: medical grade for use by doctors, and home grade for use by individuals. For example, there’s Silk’N SensEpil, an IPL-based device for permanent hair reduction. You’d probably need from six to ten sessions of conventional IPL hair reduction at a clinic, and the same effect can be achieved at home with our device within 15 to 20 sessions. Which one would you recommend for me? Try the rejuvenating Silk’N FaceFX. It has 24 infrared LEDs to lighten pigmentation associated with photo-damage, contract the pores, improve skin texture and stimulate collagen growth. As it comes with a separate charger, it is lightweight, portable and easy to use. Use it over dry skin for 20 minutes, three times a week for the first four weeks; after that, just once a week will do for maintenance.
REVIEW of the Silk’N FaceFX The main thing is that you have to use it, and time may be a scarce commodity. If you watch TV in the evenings, that would be a good time; keep the device next to the remote control to remind you. To give the Silk’N FaceFX a good trial, I carried it around in my handbag; I did get a couple of bemused looks from fellow commuters on the MRT as I worked the red-glowing applicator head in the recommended circular movements over my neck. And when I was stuck on the solidly jammed PIE motorway on the way to the office one morning, I triumphantly pulled out the magic wand and set about rejuvenating my (upper) chest, to the huge entertainment of neighbouring lorry-drivers. The verdict? It’s definitely doable, and at $480, it’s relatively affordable. Nowadays, I look forward to traffic jams. eL
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HAIR&BEAUTY
As we mature, our once-elastic and taut skin starts to need a little extra help. These four readers with very different skin complaints went to The Wellness Clinic to see what could be done for them.
Problem: Panda eyes
Problem: Sensitive skin
Treatment Tested: Eye-brightening My panda eyes were starting to get to me, so instead of trying to cover them up with a mountain of concealer, I decided to give in and seek help. As I walked into The Wellness Clinic, I was greeted by a friendly smile from the therapist and introduced to Dr Ram Nath. After clearly explained the eye-brightening procedure and the post-care treatment, he applied numbing cream to my face. The feeling was a bit strange, but he explained that they normally use it on all their clients to ensure the treatment is painless, because some people are more sensitive than others. First came a skin exfoliation treatment, microdermabrasion, which felt as if my face was being brushed with a tiny vacuum. The next step was the application of laser, to brighten the skin. I could feel it working, but it wasn’t unpleasant. Finally, he applied a fruit acid peel to my whole face. I wasn’t allowed to wash my for the rest of the day, as water would neutralise the acid; this needs to be allowed to continue to work for some time after it is applied. My take-home supplies consisted of a high-potency antioxidant serum to address damage from he sun and environmental pollutants, and a cream to reduce any swelling. I had to apply them twice a day, and was also given a lipid serum to apply twice-weekly. After two days, I experienced some slight peeling which lasted for about 48 hours. But three weeks on, I can see a visible difference. I now have lovely soft skin, and my eye-bags have definitely been tightened and brightened. Jacqui Young, UK Sales Manager
Treatment for: Rosacea As an Australian, childhood was harsh on my skin, and just when signs of ageing started appearing I was also diagnosed with rosacea, a chronic skin condition. In the six years I’ve lived in Singapore my skin has gone from sensitive to super-sensitive, so I jumped at the chance to test an option to control it. I am nervous of any treatment that could result in a flare-up that might take months to bring under control. So, after a thorough consultation, Dr Ram suggested I trial The Wellness Clinic’s sensitive skin products. Measuring out just three or four drops of each serum feels very stingy, but even that small amount does cover the face well. The products felt very different from my usual skincare and left my skin feeling far drier, so sometimes I would supplement them with my own moisturiser, particularly around the eye area. The sensitive skin serum is very refreshing (it is kept in the fridge), but its slightly grainy texture is odd. The moisturising serum is lovely, and I really liked the twice-weekly booster oil: a little goes a long way, and it left my skin feeling supple. Although the serums need more than the two weeks I trialled them before you can expect to see any significant improvements, the good news is that my skin did not have an adverse reaction to them. I look forward to going back for a test treatment soon. Kate Woodford, Australian Communications & Marketing Manager
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HAIR&BEAUTY
Problem: Loss of elasticity
Problem: Sunspots
Treatment for: Ageing skin
Treatment for: Pigmentation After three pregnancies and ten years of living in sunny Singapore, my once naturally clear complexion and even skin tone has become a distant memory. I developed unsightly sunspots after years of sun exposure, but it was my melasma that bothered me most. This skin condition is also known as the “mask of pregnancy”, which results from hormonal changes, and now blotchy brown patches cover most of my cheeks, forehead and nose. Dr Ram at the Wellness Clinic explained that just one session of treatment for melasma can be effective, but more stubborn sunspots can require additional sessions. He suggested a three-pronged approach: a photo-facial and chemical peel in his clinic, followed by applying a customised range of skincare at home, including a whitening cream. The session was surprisingly quick, and the treatment was completely painless and anxietyfree. I would caution, however, that there is some downtime to consider; I experienced some redness and peeling for a few days. After one week, I could see an improvement in the tone and colour of my skin and a surprising suppleness in its texture that I haven’t felt in a long time. The results are evident, and I’m so pleased with the outcome. Vanessa Mittman
After years of water sports and a rather lax approach to skin care, I needed some professional intervention! Having an aversion to needles, I was pleased to discover the Wellness Clinic offered an organic range of lifting products that claim to have similar properties to Botox. In my consultation with Dr Ram Nath, he took care to explain the proper order of applying moisturisers and serums so as to get the best results, and suggested I try microdermabrasion and a collagen-promoting laser treatment to rejuvenate my skin. After these two treatments, he gave me three antioxidant and lifting serums to apply morning and night, and advised me that my face would peel a little. On Day Three, my face indeed began to peel, which drew a few odd looks from my staff and clients, so I fabricated tales of sunburn! However, I was very happy to see that my skin was visibly plumper around my eyes and nose. After two weeks of using the Wellness Clinic’s products, my skin is also more refined and appears fresher. Keryn Salter, Company Director
To book an appointment or find out more, contact The Wellness Clinic on 6887 3073 or visit wellnessclinic.sg.
Join Our Panel
If you would like to be on the Tried and Tested reader panel, send an email to contribute@ expatlivingsingapore.com. Write TRIED & TESTED in the subject line, tell us your beauty problem, include your age and occupation and attach a picture of yourself.
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HAIR&BEAUTY
The Body Firm’s new Ultimate Pamper Package is an afternoon of relaxation and indulgence for two friends. Here’s some feedback from a couple of lucky readers who went along with their galpals to discover a new level of pampering.
On the Menu
Each pal picks one of each of the following treatments: ■ A manicure & pedicure ■ A facial ■ A massage Plus, you get a free shaping session!
The Cost
Revved u p
Just $225 per person
at the pr ospect of
a girls da
y out!
“I
Ahhh - bliss!
’d just got back from taking my youngest on their first school trip, and to be honest I was frazzled! But when I walked into the lovely fragrance of The Body Firm, I immediately felt more relaxed. I chose the Lavender Facial, and while the mask worked its magic I was treated to a lovely head and shoulder massage – so lovely I fell I asleep. Then I moved onto the Lymphatic Massage, which was firm enough to Two and half hours of indulgent, pampering, bliss feel healing but soft enough to still be enjoyable. Finally, I had the mani-pedi, which was the perfect time to catch up on gossip with Laura. The therapist did a much better job of removing the dead skin and massaging my feet than my usual one, so that’s a good reason to go back again. Altogether, it’s two and half hours of indulgent, pampering bliss. - Patricia Low, Japanese and British
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HAIR&BEAUTY
I could
good life! Living the
get used
to this.
“I
usually go to The Body Firm for the shaping treatment, which has made such a big difference that my friends have commented on it. When I was asked to sample the new Ultimate Pamper Package with a friend I invited Patricia to try it with me, because we’re both busy mums in need of break. I had my usual shaping treatment, a massage and then the mani-pedi – I ran out of time for the facial but the therapist kindly agreed to let me have it another time. It’s so nice to do it with a friend, both because it gives you time to catch up with each other and because the guilt of spoiling yourself is eased by having an accomplice! It’s the perfect gift for a friend, family or visitor who you think deserves a treat. It also happens to be a great way to spend the afternoon when it’s pouring with rain! eL - Laura Solgaard, The Netherlands
Whether you’ve got family in town, a friend who’s need of some TLC, or you just fancy indulging in an afternoon of relaxation and gossip, the Ultimate Pamper Package is sure to hit the mark. Call 6838 0031 to book or visit www.thebodyfirm.com.sg.
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Zap that fat, baby!
HAIR&BEAUTY
Hair
I
By Verne Maree
t’s hard to feel good if you’re having a bad hair day. And when you first move to Singapore, it may feel as though you’re doomed to a bad hair life. It took me ages to find the right hairdresser here, someone who had worked in the West and understood my kind of hair. After a couple of cutting and colouring disasters, I gave up even trying; it seemed less traumatic to wait until my next trip home. But you can’t do that forever, I realised. You need a doctor, you need a dentist, and you need a dependable hair-stylist. The Singapore environment and lifestyle is wonderful in so many other ways, but it’s not that kind to hair – especially Caucasian hair. Generally finer and often curlier, it regards the tropical humidity as the perfect excuse to misbehave. Fa c e d w i t h a w i l d a n d unattractive halo of frizz, my first impulse was to attack it with
a hairdryer on the hottest setting, and then attempt to tame it with hot irons. Don’t do it – the effect won’t last for more than a couple of hours, and you’ll be damaging your hair in the process. And as its condition deteriorates, it becomes even frizzier. What next? Chemical straightening? Rebonding? Don’t do it – it’s a sure-fire recipe for hair so damaged and denatured that you may have to chop it off or grow it out. Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to make your hair sleeker, smoother and more obedient. First, buy the best, most natural shampoos, conditioners and masks that you can afford. Second, if you colour your hair, choose a salon that uses a gentle, effective brand that will protect your hair’s condition. And finally, if you want straighter hair, go for the Brazilian blowout: a keratinbased anti-frizz treatment that really works – even in Singapore!
PURE AND ORGANIC Define curls, enhance shine and eliminate frizz with Simply Organic AntiFrizz Treatment, containing a blend of therapeutic grade essential oils to tame even the most unruly hair. The philosophy behind Simply Organic products is that healthy hair is beautiful hair. Simply Organic uses plant-based, natural and organic ingredients to nurture the hair and scalp to achieve the same look that conventional products do – without the health risks. Mainstream products may contain synthetic ingredients to make your hair look healthy by adding an artificial sheen, for example; but with Simply Organic, your hair will be glossy and smooth because it truly is healthy. The range contains two key ingredients: olive leaf extract and olive oil. Olive leaf extract is naturally anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and extremely rich in the protein, vitamins and antioxidants essential to achieving and maintaining a healthy scalp and beautiful hair. Olive oil naturally balances the pH of the hair, skin and body. It contains high levels of mono-unsaturated fatty acids, plus vitamin E, which work to moisturise, protect and nourish the hair, skin and scalp.
Purity Organic Hair & Beauty 9 Scotts Road, Pacific Plaza #03-03 68876 4542 | www.puritysalon.com
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ALL THE TRIMMINGS
BRAZILIAN BLOWOUT
Alvin at Trimmings knows that the actual base colour of one’s hair, and the condition it is in, are hugely important factors in determining the outcome of a colouring treatment. So he will assess your hair carefully before describing the likely colour outcome, to be sure that it’s what you want. Alvin has been trained to work with Caucasian hair, and he uses the Goldwell range for the lasting colour and healthy shine that it promises to deliver. If your hair has been coloured before, he will recommends the sensitive use of bleach, so as to avoid an orange result. A semi-permanent colour works to neutralise any orange remaining from previous colouring, and also acts as a toner, to avoid a striped look. He also advocates the “California highlight” technique, which creates definition and gives a more natural effect. This is achieved by dyeing some of the strands from halfway down the shaft, and others are dyed from under a fringe, to create a more sun-kissed effect. Using the correct colour these days – with hair technology as advanced as what it is – shouldn’t dry your hair out, whether you’re blonde, red or brunette. While conditioning treatments are great, they won’t be essential if the right colouring agents are used. One last word of advice from Alvin: Don’t underestimate the benefits of a regular trim to keep a style sleeker. And avoid wispy ends, as these are most likely to frizz in humidity.
Visage The Salon offers the most innovative and effective professional smoothing treatment in the world – the amazing Brazilian Blowout. Containing a Brazilian Super Nutrient Complex and a proprietary polymer system, the Brazilian Blowout actually improves the condition of the hair by creating a protective protein layer around the hair shaft to eliminate frizz and smooth the cuticle. The result? Smooth, healthy, conditioned hair with radiant shine. Promotion! For the month of August, you will receive: 20-percent off Brazilian Blowout treatments* and 20-percent off Brazilian Blowout aftercare shampoo and conditioner. *Short hair (above the shoulders) $400; long hair $450 to $500 Please mention this promotion when you make your appointment. Note that the discount for the after-care products applies only if you also undergo the Brazilian Blowout treatment at Visage.
Trimmings Hair Salon 75E Loewen Road 6471 1922
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Visage The Salon 402 Orchard Road #02-11 Delfi Orchard 6733 0933 eL
HAIR&BEAUTY
Laser, IPL, infrared, radiofrequency … and now sound? VERNE MAREE tries out the latest thing in anti-ageing treatments: Ultherapy.
Sound
N H L The of
Beauty N
o matter how meticulous our beauty regimen and no matter how expensive the gloop we apply to it, at some stage our facial skin is going to start to sag and droop. It’s only natural: from the age of 30 or even younger, the skin starts producing less collagen, the stuff that keeps it firm and elastic. Unfortunately, human biology lags way behind science’s technological advances. And unless the boffins come up with some serious genetic transplant wizardry, our DNA is never going to catch up with the fact that we’re 21st century foxes. As far as our genes are concerned, we’re no different from our hunter-gatherer ancestors, who could expect to mate at the age of eleven and perhaps survive a decade or two of giving birth every ten months before declining into wizened, toothless, 40-year-old hagdom and being carried out to die on a mountain top. When the carrion eagles are circling, a bit of facial sagging is perhaps not your immediate priority.
Lights, Sound, Action!
Ten years ago, it took me a while to get my head around the medical uses of laser light – whether for surgery, or for treating acne-scarring and other skin conditions. Now it seems that just about any source of energy can be used for anti-ageing treatments. Forms of light such as laser, IPL (intense pulsed light) and infrared have all been developed for use in various ways to make our skins smoother, clearer, tauter and younger-looking.
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Then there was radiofrequency (RF): Thermage, for example, uses RF waves to work its magic. However, it’s not equally effective on all skins as it is on the sort of fine, thin skin that fair Caucasians like me tend to have. I underwent it about six months ago, and genuinely felt that it made a difference. But we’re never completely satisfied, are we? And now there’s ultrasound! So I’m keen as mustard when Dr Valentin Low, the angel of cuttingedge anti-ageing cosmetic procedures, suggests I try out Ultherapy, the ultrasound lift.
How does Ultherapy work?
This non-invasive, focused treatment uses the body’s own natural regenerative response to gently and gradually restore its previous youthful contours. The ultrasound energy is directed at the SMAS layer of muscle, which is what a plastic surgeon would work on in the course of a surgical facelift. By heating the tissue, it stimulates the body’s own collagen response for lifting and tightening the skin. My face is cleansed, and the lovely Dr Low gets straight to work. He doesn’t generally bother much with topical anaesthetic, anyway, and particularly
W
not with Ultherapy; it wouldn’t help much for the deeper level of skin that the ultrasound treats. The medical use of ultrasound is nothing new; like me, you’ve probably experienced its healing benefits at the physiotherapist’s rooms. And as Valentin says, “We’ve all seen images of ultrasound scans of the pregnant womb, and that’s what’s so great about Ultherapy, too: while I’m working, I can actually see the underlying skin structures on this screen, and target them accurately and effectively.” Much higher levels of ultrasound are applied here than at the physio’s or gynae’s, though, and I can’t help wincing and yelping a bit as he moves the applicator upwards from my jaw line, on my neck and finally above the brow line. But it doesn’t last for long, ten
HAIR&BEAUTY
minutes tops, and after resting for a while with an icy gel to cool my skin, I’m good to go. Areas of slight redness disappear within an hour or two.
What can I expect?
Just one treatment initiates the regenerative process, and the full effect builds gradually over two to three months. What’s more, these are US FDA-tested and approved claims: in a 2009 clinical trial, nine out of 10 subjects experienced a noticeable lift of the brow line, reduced skin laxity and a more youthful look in the eye area. They also reported “firmer, tighter, better-fitting skin” in other areas of the face and neck … and skin that fits is indubitably a good idea, except for Shar Peis. If, like me, you’re not ready for the downtime, swelling, bruising, pain and expense of a surgical facelift, and want a subtle but significant tightening effect, Ultherapy is probably your best option right now. eL Dr Valentin Low Aesthetic & Laser Clinic is at #08-03 Paragon Medical Suites. Call 6720 3438. www.iplskinclub.com
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TheBeautyExperts LARA SAGE wonders: Is beauty really in the eye of the beholder, as the saying goes, or is it in the hands of those in the know?
I
recently read a humorous article by a middle-aged woman, in which she gave hindsight advice to her younger self. It got me thinking about what I’d do differently, given another chance. And somewhere in-between regretting those green jeans and cringeing at those plastic Madonna shoes, I caught myself thinking about sun exposure. I have never given my skin enough attention or care, but once in a while I treat myself to a facial. I suspect a time will come when I will want to get rid of my wrinkles; but for now, I simply want to avoid getting any more of them. So I was keen for some advice from Dr Sylvia Ramirez, medical and scientific director of Cutis Medical Laser Clinic. First, I underwent a complexion analysis. This involved putting my face into a scanning machine (called a Wood’s lamp) which took a series of images detailing pores, broken capillaries, wrinkles, texture, photo-
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damage and UV spots, and captured images of my second layer of skin. Dr Ramirez was clearly practised in picking up a patient’s openness to undergoing different levels of treatment. After showing me computer-generated images that highlighted my wrinkles and sun damage, she answered some of my questions and encouraged me to read studies on more invasive lightbased and filler treatments, in case I ever want to try anything more drastic than a facial. My scan revealed a few fine lines. You could go for collagen fillers to reduce the appearance of these (especially around the eyes), but she suggested microdermabrasion, and a vitamin C facial for me. She explained clearly how pigmentation problems arise in various levels of the epidermis and hence need to be treated specifically. These can be effectively removed by the Limelight laser treatment, which draws the unwanted pigment to the surface, after which little scabs take a week to fall off; so there is some “downtime” here. My facial was a relaxing experience in a comfortable treatment room. It started with microdermabrasion, a fine crystal exfoliation that removes the
dead skin cells from the skin’s surface to brighten its appearance and allow better absorption of products. This was followed by cleansing and a vitamin C-laden mask. Rigorous studies have proved the effectiveness of applying vitamin C topically; it’s an antioxident that is important for collagen biosynthesis, and is the best natural approach to fighting wrinkles. Few of us have scrupulously avoided sun damage, and none of us can stop the process of ageing. It’s good to know that we can address these issues on various levels of invasiveness, and with expert guidance. Dr Ramirez reminded me that for a sunscreen to be effective against both cancer and ageing, it must be broad-spectrum, protecting against both UVA and UVB light. I left with a clean and healthylooking face, with confidence in the bottle of Vitamin C and elastin cream that Dr Ramirez recommended, and with a smile at her reminder that this is an exciting time to be ageing gracefully. eL Cutis Medical Laser Clinics is at 9 Scotts Road #03-06 Pacific Plaza. Call 6327 9700.www.cutislaser.com
Art s & Leisure
Suede Singapore Indoor Stadium 3 August
Scene Around Town
ARTS&LEISURE
Palatial Steinway Boutique At the opening of the Steinway Gallery at Palais Renaissance on 8 July were HE Jorg Ranau, German Ambassador to Singapore, and other special guests.
From top: • Peter Zimmerli, Jun Cui and the Jacobs • H.E. & Mrs Jorg Ranau, H.E. Waldemar Dubaniowski and Noel Hawkes • Jody Williams, the Eugene Lims and Evita Melchers • Pianist Caio Pagano, who performed for the guests, and Dirk Paulsen
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Sanso Moderno Spotted at GJ Asian Art, at the launch of an exhibition of the best works of inspirational Spanish artist Juvenal Sanso. From top: • Peter and Pamela Barrien; Anke Dunsche and Mike Magee • Gabriela Anliker and Fabiola Cruz • Dina Abdullah Enriquez, John Grist and Annie Chen • Alberto Corrias, Sara Lee San Jose, Ivana and Drasko Vidovic
Scene Around Town
ARTS&LEISURE
Great Scott! At the launch of an exhibition of Australian artist Scott Petrie’s works, held by Layard Art Consulting in Nassim Road.
From left: • Charmian Grove and Jane Clayton; Anne Lockett and Robert Lockett; Host Anna Layard and artist Scott Petrie • Kathy Hunink, Susie Solomon, Debbie Vanderwalt, Caroline Hunink; Jhan Jackson, Karim Mradmi and Ng Wei Heok
Coffee and Inspiration Our June coffee morning featured talks by two women who run their own businesses here – Ni-Nights’s Majella Skansebakken, and reiki exponent Elaine Grundy.
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The Business of Sport A business lunch held by Rugby Village 2011 at the Copthorne Waterfront Hotel featuring rugby greats Simon Poidevin (Australia) and Gareth Chilcott (England). The two ex-international players discussed how they have connected their on-field triumphs with success in business.Â
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Netball Stars In celebration of the World Netball Championships in Singapore, the Aussie High Comm hosted a reception on 30 June.
From top left: • Coaching teams for the Australian Institute of Sport and Australian Netball Diamonds; HE Doug Chester, Jessica Tan MP, Tan Wee Khim and Vishnu Shahaney with the team and Head Coach Norma Plummer • Netballers from the Singapore Sports School with the Australian Institute of Sport netball team, who were flown in by Netball Singapore as preWNC training partners; Diamonds’ player Kimberlee Green, Tiffany Maughan and Australian International School netball representatives • Emma Grimley, Chelsea Pitmam, Mo’onia Gerrard, Damien and Jenny Grimley; Valerie Martin, Julia Corletto, Chelsea Pitman, Rachel Ehrendreich and Natalie Medhurst • Jessica Tan MP and Natalie von Bertouch; Kimberlee Green with CHIJ students
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By Verne Maree
F
or anyone’s who’s familiar with the striking exterior of the original Raffles City gallery, there’s no mistaking the new Marina Bay Sands outlet as anything but an Ode to Art. Huang Gang’s red-painted bronzes of sensuous female soldiers welcome you in; behind them hang Turkish artist Coplu’s charmingly vivid celebrations of love in particular and the universe in general. Black walls and 5.5-metre-high ceilings make for an edgier and more dramatic effect than the first outlet allows, though. Its exuberantly friendly owner, Jazz Chong, tells me she regards her new baby as more of an exhibition space than a shop. Its main role is to showcase and educate the public about the 50-odd artists that she actively represents. She opened the gallery in September 2010 with a Chen Wen Ling exhibition. This top Chinese sculptor – who, like a number of “her” artists, has become a good friend over the years – gave an hour-long presentation at the launch, followed by a Q&A session. Changing images of that event are screened on the black wall behind her as we chat; the place was packed to the gills with more than 300 guests. Between 10 and 12 exhibitions a year are planned. Next up, in September, she will be showcasing Italian artist Lorenzo Quinn; he is a son of the actor Anthony Quinn. A small bronze of his, titled During Love, is displayed in the gallery; but at Marina Barrage are two monumental works of Quinn’s, including the stunning The Force of Nature. If you haven’t yet seen it, it’s worth the trip.
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Left: Jazz Chong Above: Yoga 1, by Rainer Lagemann, 104 x 28 x 152cm
ARTS&LEISURE
Ode to Art does represent several local artists, but Jazz is increasingly geared towards international artists. She travels “somewhere different every month”, she tells me, both to add new artists to her stable and to build existing relationships. For example, she has just come back from the Venice Biennale. There she met up with Cai Zhi Song, whom she has known for a long time and plans to showcase here in an exhibition this November. We linger in front of his male nude titled Ode to Motherland, a spectacular example of the sculptor’s unusual and meticulously detailed technique employing fibre-glass reinforced resin and copper plate with brass wire. Cai’s work is inspired by the Qing Dynasty, Jazz explains, adding that she has learnt a lot from him, both about art and about philosophy. (And, what’s more, he’s very handsome.) Clockwise: The Long Way Home, by Hong Viet Dung, 135 x 155cm American Love, by Robert Indiana, 180 x 180cm Brush lll, by Lee Jung Woong, 170 x 98cm
Korean painter Lee Jung Woong’s striking “Brush” series of oils is a fusion of East and West. He celebrates the art of the calligrapher, but, interestingly, uses very Western painting techniques – particularly in his super-realistically fine expression of the brush’s individual strands of hair. For three years, Korean Jung Kwang Sik lived and studied in Carrara, Italy, an area that is famous for its marble quarries. The outcome is a remarkable synthesis of painting and sculpture in evocative, three-dimensional works; like landscapes, but perhaps like nothing you’ve seen before. The annual Miami International Art Fair is another of her regular g i g s . M i a m i i s wh e r e t h e Germany-born sculptor Rainer Lagemann lives, and three of his nimble, larger-than-life-sized figures are scaling the wall behind
Ode to Motherland, by Cai Zhi Song
the gallery counter where we sit over our coffee. (And then a beer: my arm is so easily twisted, and this is a specially fruity, low-cal Belgian beer, says my hostess.) The iconic LOVE works of American Pop Artist Robert Indiana grew out of the hippie culture of the 70s, and stamps reflecting these images are some of the most widely printed in the world. A big fan, Jazz has visited the now-octagenarian in Vinalhaven, Maine, where he has lived for the past 33 years; a red-and-yellow LOVE tapestry hangs in her gallery. There’s more, of course – much more. Go along to see it for yourself. If you’re in luck, and Jazz is in, she might even offer you a coffee, or a low-calorie beer that’s as sweet and bubbly as she is. eL The Ode to Art Gallery in the Marina Bay Shoppes is in unit #01-19. Call 6688 7773. www.odetoart.com August11
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The Memory Tardis The ubiquitous USB stick has always had its storage limits. Back up a video and some holiday snaps and you’ve usually reached capacity. Step forward Sony’s Micro Vault – small enough to clip onto your key-ring, but with a 64GB memory that’s big enough to store loads of photos, videos and music. It costs $131 and is available at Sony stores island-wide.
The two biggest internet brands on the planet have gone to war. Google has launched a social networking platform that has techies all a-twitter (sorry!); it’s even been called the Facebook Assassin. Google+ was created as a direct rival to Facebook. It allows you to add friends, upload photos, share links, chat, video-chat and more. But its party piece is Hangouts – a feature that lets you group-chat with up to 10 people. Although Facebook has just partnered with Skype to launch a video-calling application, it’s less slick than Google+ and allows for only two-way conversations. Google+ also has Circles, a feature for sorting and managing your friends. You can easily select which groups you want to share information and updates with. At the moment, Google+ is on an invitation-only basis and is being cagey about when it will be open for all. Our advice? Stick with Facebook until the bugs have been ironed out and more than half of your mates or business partners have Google+ profiles.
BlackBerry
Playbook
If you’re a diehard BlackBerry fan, you’ll be glad to hear about the brand’s foray into the world of tablets. The Playbook, launched in Singapore last month, boasts a 7-inch touch screen, web browsing and syncing with your BlackBerry email and messenger. Prices start from $668 for a 16GB Playbook. Available at all major electronic stores.
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ARTS&LEISURE
Cha Cha!
SingTel has just taken delivery of the spunky HTC ChaCha. This smart phone runs Android, and has a 5-mega pixel camera on the back – and another on the front. It handles email accounts and has a full qwerty keyboard, plus a nifty Facebook button so you can share photos, music and videos with just one touch. What’s more, it comes pre-loaded with two of SingTel’s best apps: MobileTV A live streaming app that lets you watch your favourite dramas and catch up on the news wherever you are. www.singtel.com/mobiletv
AMPed An awesome little app that allows you to download unlimited songs to your ChaCha with no extra data charge. You can also create and share your very own play lists, get pre-album releases and receive invitations to exclusive showcases. www.singtelamped.com Price plans for the HTC ChaCha start from $39 a month. For more information visit www. singtelshop.com/htcchacha.
Wifi Bathroom Scales Step onto these scales and they’ll automatically record your body weight, lean and fat mass and body mass index (BMI) to your computer. And if you’re an iPhone user, it can beam data to a Withings iPhone app as well. What’s more, it can privately store data for up to eight people. After a few weigh-ins, it’ll create all kinds of graphs and stats to help measure your progress. Available for $255 from NP Online, #02-02 Wing Tai Industrial Centre, 105 Tampines Road; call 6286 1615.
What We're Watching … This month’s favourite online video doing the rounds at EL HQ.
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Angry Birds If you’ve got an iPhone, chances are you’ve played Angry Birds. If not, you’ve probably seen the stuffed-toy characters in stores across the island. The game’s so addictive it inspired a mobile phone company to recreate the fun in real life. The life-size version was constructed in Plaça Nova de Terrassa in Spain, and passersby could have a go. This video (search YouTube for “Angry Birds real life”) shows just what happens when a cult game is played out in reality – and it looks like fun. We’re hoping Pac-Man Live is next!
Books ARTS&LEISURE
Cool Hotels
Sherman Ong
Kim Inglis Periplus | 240 pages
Sherman Ong Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts | 140 pages
Whether you are planning a trip or just engaging in a little wishful thinking, Cool Hotels is required reading for travel in India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. From colonial cottages to renovated palaces and tented resorts, each property is personally researched and reviewed in detail and, often, with refreshing honesty. Large, small, branded or independent, each hotel is a standout in its own way, be it in history, architecture, design, or sheer simplicity. Part travel guide, part coffee table head-turner, this book is filled with over 500 photographs to further tickle your travel fancy. Monica Pitrelli
Fun for Kids in Singapore
Karen J. Renner Marshall Cavendish | 318 pages This book is a mine of information for both expats and tourists who are looking for ways to keep their children occupied. Now in its third edition, it is aimed at youngsters from three to 18, and is helpfully divided into chapters by themes such as adventure, nature and the performing arts. Packed with helpful tips such as reminders to book cinema tickets on weekends, and information on which shopping centres have breastfeeding rooms, all it’s missing is a comprehensive index. It’s practical and useful, and will help make a day out with the children something enjoyable, instead of something to be endured! Katie Roberts
Here’s something that will be of interest to anyone considering entering our photo competition this year (see page 216 for details). Sherman Ong is a renowned photographer and filmmaker in Singapore, and winner of the 2010 ICON de Martell Cordon Bleu Photography Award. This eponymous book of his photos from the past 10 years covers an impressive range of techniques and emotions. Some of the images have an immediate, frivolous appeal (“My Favourite Person”), but most possess a more cinematic quality – occasionally poignant, often sinister (see, in particular, “Spurious Landscapes”). A series portraying Japanese people writing messages to loved ones who have left or died is especially intense. In Sherman’s words, he has captured “the everyday motions of life” and “the complexities and layers of people’s personalities”. The book sells for $80 at Nanyang@Mandarin Gallery, Select Books at Tanglin and other selected arts-related outlets, and proceeds very appropriately go towards funding photography students at the Nanyang Academy for Fine Arts. Shamus Sillar
Eight to Win! We have eight great titles from Marshall Cavendish to give away this month: be the first to send an email to verne@expatliving.sg stating one or more choices of book, and we’ll post it to you! Bizarre Thailand, by Jim Algie Navigating the Bangkok Noir, by Chris Coles Alex Yoong, The Driver’s Line, by Steve Dawson 10 Rules to Transform Your Business into a Brand, by Jacky Tai and Dr Wilson Chew Soups, by Christopher Tan Cheesecakes and Other Cheese Desserts, by Mac Woo and June Lee Sensations, a Tasting Menu of Chinese-Inspired Flavours, by Sam Leong Bangkok Design, Thai Ideas in Textiles and Furniture, by Brian Mertens, photos by Robert McLeod www.marshallcavendish.com
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ARTS&LEISURE
On the
couch
Welcome to On The Couch, a roundup of reviews and readers’ opinions about TV and film. Have your say by emailing us at contribute@expatliving.sg.
TV August Highlights on StarHub Cable TV
Catch any movies missed on the big screen as well as hit international TV series through TV Video On Demand and Anytime On Demand. ©David James
Water For Elephants
Game of Thrones is an American medieval fantasy television series developed for HBO. Since it first hit screens in the US in April 2011, it has been creating a bit of a storm. Set in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime, the struggle between noble families for the Iron Throne has begun. It will stretch from the south, where heat breeds plots, lust and intrigues; to the vast and savage eastern lands; and all the way to the frozen north, where an 800-foot wall of ice protects the kingdom from the darkness beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men – all will play the Game of Thrones. Look out for Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings) who plays Ned Stark.
Premieres 17 August, mio TV Video on Demand An unexpected romance against the backdrop of a travelling circus. A veterinary school student, played by Robert Pattinson, meets the star circus performer – enter Reese Witherspoon – and the two bond through their compassion for a special elephant. Against all odds, including the wrath of her charismatic but dangerous husband, the duo find love.
White Collar (Season 3) Anytime on Demand, Season Pass (mio TV CH 576) What happens when you pair a con man and an FBI agent to solve crimes? When Neal Caffrey, a charming criminal mastermind, is finally caught by his nemesis FBI Agent Peter Burke, he suggests an alternative plan: he’ll provide his cunning criminal expertise to assist in catching other notorious criminals, and avoid jail himself. Initially wary, Peter quickly finds that Neal provides ght and intuition that cannot be found on the right side of the law.
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As this issue was going to press, Game of Thrones was nominated for 13 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series
Did you know?
Game of Thrones (rated 16) Premieres 28 August, 10pm on HBO / HBO HD (StarHub CH 601 / CH 655). www.starhub.com/expat/hbo
HBO, Home Box Office and Game of Thrones are service marks of Home Box Office, Inc. Used with permission.
Game of Thrones
August Highlights on SingTel mio TV
ARTS&LEISURE
Film
The Verdict
Road-testing the new IMAX cinema at Shaw Lido The IMAX film format (which very simply measures 70mm rather than the more commonly used 35mm) has been around for ages – including in cinemas in Singapore: there was a Golden Village IMAX until 2004; and there’s an IMAX at the Singapore Science Centre, but it’s used for those old-school, 40-minute science documentaries – the ones that always seem to have commentary by Liam Neeson. The new IMAX at Shaw Lido on Orchard Road is different. It’s digital, and it’s 3D. But is it any good? I’d say 80 percent yes, 20 percent no. The yes factors are these: the large screen is impeccably clean and crisp (no crackly lines or stray hairs here); the sound is teeth-rattlingly stunning; the chairs are very comfortable and seem to have been manufactured using
the same black, matte rubber that went into Batman’s suit; and the whole cinema complex has been given a slick makeover, with huge panels of windows overlooking Orchard, and a welcome absence of tawdry fast-food outlets. I’m less enthusiastic about the ticket prices ($17 to 22, so around double that of a regular ticket), and I’m mildly disappointed that the screen isn’t as colossal as I remember from childhood IMAX experiences; it doesn’t seem to wrap around at the edges very much, so you never feel wholly lost in the on-screen action. Mind you, I saw a 2D film: 3D might be different. My bigger concern, though, is the line-up of films. I saw the especially dreadful Super 8 during my trial visit, and the list of upcoming features includes the new Transformers dreck, and something called Real Steel, featuring more shiny robots. Shaw Lido can’t do much about this, of course. At the moment, only a few dozen films are being made in this format each year. And obviously these big, cheesy, family-friendly action films lend themselves to the IMAX experience better than others. Even that is debatable, since terrible acting is more terrible when you’re seeing it with such clarity. I’ll be back to this cinema, without a doubt. But let’s just hope that a few more interesting and intelligent flicks are getting the IMAX treatment in the meantime. www.shaw.sg/imax/ David Hubbins
The Hangover II This sequel takes the cookie c u t t e r- l i k e a p p r o a ch o f identifying all the structural points of its predecessor and repackaging them slightly differently. Alan, Stu and Phil awake in another hotel room, unable to remember what’s happened the night before. But this time they’re in Thailand, with the trail of mayhem taking in monks, monkeys and ladyboys. More of the same isn’t necessarily a bad thing and the sequel still manages to deliver laughs. If you enjoyed the first film, this one is well worth going to see.
News Flash!
One for All the Senses Heard of 4D cinema? 3D, which has been around since the 1950s, just got usurped – by by 3D plus scent interaction, otherwise known as 4D. Family adventure movie Spy Kids: All The Time In The World, directed by cutting-edge film maker Robert Rodriguez and featuring Jessica Alba, uses eight aromas that you scratch and sniff off aroma cards. See it in 3D and 2D theatres island-wide from 1 September 2011.
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Music
Theatre & Equus
This West End and Broadway play is a gripping psychological tale of crime and passion that inspires big questions about human nature. It won a Tony award in 1975 and has toured extensively in Europe and America, featuring famous actors such as Sir Anthony Hopkins and, more recently, Daniel Radcliffe in the lead. Inspired by real events, Equus is a moving and disturbing piece. It tells of a young man who blinds six horses with a metal spike, how this horrific incident influences the people around him, and how they struggle to come to terms with his actions. 25 August to 3 September Drama Centre Theatre, National Library R18 (contains nudity and mature themes) www.toyfactory.com.sg
Man Theatre Festival Back for the third time, Wild Rice’s Man Theatre Festival doesn’t shy away from politics, religion and sex. Three exciting new plays are featured: Cooling Off Day, reflecting on the electrifying 2011 General Elections in Singapore; The Weight Of Silk On Skin, an intimate reflection on the nature of love and loss; and Family Outing, a funny and compelling look at unconditional love in the regular dysfunctional family. According to Ivan Heng, Artistic Director: “These plays speak of the Singaporean experience in fiercely passionate and powerful ways. But far from merely navel-gazing, they are very universal and human – reflecting the anxieties and fears, the hopes and dreams of our times.” The Festival Club will also present a brand new after-hours programme in an intimate cabaret setting that will introduce audiences to emerging talent in stand-up comedy and musical theatre.
3 to 21 August Drama Centre, National Library Building Tickets from www.sistic.com.sg
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James Blunt
English singer and songwriter James Blunt will bring “Some Kind of Trouble” to Singapore – a tour to support his third album. Hit singles “Goodbye My Lover” and “You’re Beautiful” skyrocketed Blunt to fame, and the need for a steel-enforced shelf to house the awards and accolades for his first two albums: the Brit Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and five Grammy nominations, just for starters. With this third album, Blunt brings a more upbeat mood to the mix. 11 August Singapore Indoor Stadium Tickets from www.sistic.com.sg
Suede Suede – Brett Anderson, Mat Osman, Simon Gilbert, Richard Oakes and Neil Codling – reformed only last year for a Teenage Cancer Trust gig at the Royal Albert Hall, then stayed together as a band to do a few tours and release a two-CD compilation of their greatest hits. They’re back in Singapore for one big performance, so get ready for a night of nostalgia and a hit-laden set, reminiscent of their definitive 90s years. 3 August 2011 Singapore Indoor Stadium Tickets from www.sistic.com.sg
Learn Different Academy CPE registration number: 200910070W Period of registration: 22 June 2011 to 21 June 2012
LIFE&FAMILY
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2011 n o i t eti Comp
d by bmitte u s s to of the pho Some bulous ! r fa a e 0 y 0 us 2,0 previo lmost were a ber from the es. e r e th ar pag um Last ye ouble the n n these two d o n – r a io s r e it e t p hotos Compe ird readning entries ap g for p o t in k o o h lo win e th ing P again is is t h pat Liv y we are gories: r, a e y te The Ex e a r n e s t ! T h l photograph a This urite c in r annua ain we have in five favo is o n u o f o ag ent t PLE instalm ion and once fo r t h e b e s 1. PEO it r t e 1 e f D f p is O o m s O n co r entrie nth 2. F RAVEL iz e s o fo r p te a t d a T 3. g re sing a mo Y ly have ots. Clo 4. CIT RE snapsh er, so you on U T b selves, s. 5. NA r them we fo Septem s your entrie k a e p ry ss u tegorie CITY catego Singapore to send set at The ca e in h t n at sun ot from e r ff k o o f ta g h s snapsh . Photos e in k e r ta tu thoug refer imag e a n a plan alaysia p in y or a would nything from Clarke Qua ay line to M be entered t w a d a ry il a t – o a u r g te lf o s te e e t its an in nigh D ca ng th c a O lo ld a O t to r F i ” o e r ew : the a gr a Chang en Corrido und th n inside tip if you have o r s e r r a o s G h a “ an e’s so, citie the other nd her n the rest – ion, or A s s in . y e r s n o e g a th tak ateg okin entries AVEL c me co the TR attract fewer tre, or a ho g en ! anythin to wker c tends r nd it in olous, a e fo iv h s fr it a l, , a te c om and w artisti ncy ho , k shot fr d c fa e a a s b po sit re in izarre, to us, then d’oeuv nny, b m fu e e th b e! post further can ail or ic fam Shots .sg) for great h m g p e a in t r s g iv tl e e. Ju hoto w.expa nt of th you lik minutes of p ite (ww nnounceme nel. s b e 5 1 w pa the na your dging ding a check , re you etition, inclu tion of our ju u s photos e k Ma mp d your rma o n fi c e n s e o o c th t of nd KS rabs, a details R WEE t FOU p for g s u ju s e e v iz ha pr er, you memb e r d n A y! ’t dela so don 216
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Grand Prize – Canon EOS 1100D (with 18-55mm IS lens) Canon’s new 1100D is a perfect entry-level DSLR that picks up where the 1000D left off. It has a movie mode and a buffet of accessible features like Creative Auto and a Feature Guide, allowing for even a casual snapper to make the jump into the world of professional photography. The light and compact camera comes in a palette of black, red, brown and metallic grey.
Runners-up Prize – Canon PowerShot SX230 HS The new Canon PowerShot SX230 has GPS technology that automatically tags your photos with time and location; you can even view all your locations on a map by using the special bundled software. The SX230 comes with a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and a whopping 14x optical zoom.
www.canon.com.sg ALSO! Aside from our two main winners, there will be a host of great prizes for the best photos in each category, including photography workshops and photo sessions for families. Watch our website for more details: www.expatliving.sg
How to Enter • All photos must be in JPG format (ideally between 1MB and 5MB in size). You can email them (to contribute@ expatliving.sg with subject “Photo Competition 2011”) or post a CD to our office: Photo Competition 2011, 38A Jalan Pemimpin, Wisdom Industrial Building #06-02, Singapore 577179. • There is a maximum of 10 photos per entrant (and 2 photos per category). • Photos should be accompanied by a text document (no embedded photos, please) with captions of not more than 20 words per photo, giving a title and perhaps some background information about the shot. • Original files (digital files or scanned photos) must be kept for reference; they may be needed to demonstrate that this is your own work. • Each photo sent by email must not exceed 5MB in size. If your photo is larger than 5MB, please reduce the size, and we will ask for a larger version if you have a winning entry. • Photos taken on a camera-phone are acceptable. Images taken on film must be scanned into digital format by the entrant. • Some digital manipulation of photos is acceptable (e.g., cropping, sharpening). • Closing date for entries is 1 September 2011. Results will be announced in the October issue of Expat Living.
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By Rebecca Bisset
Here’s the third in our series of interviews of second-generation expats who lived in one of Singapore’s black-and-white houses when they were children – and are now bringing up their own children in one of these historic homes from the British colonial era. This is Fiona and Andy’s story. Fiona’s father, Stuart Walker, was a Scottish marine surveyor who came to live in Singapore in 1961. During his 1966 annual home leave, he met and married Fiona’s mother, Sheila. She had never been outside of the UK, so she must have been a real Braveheart!
Fiona was born in Gleneagles Hospital . When she came home from the hospital, it was to Institution Hill off River Valley Road, in those days a cluster of little black-and-white houses. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to a quaint bungalow on Buckley Road. For Sheila, it must have taken some getting used to. “In those days,” says Fiona, “home help in Singapore was dominated by the Cantonese-speaking black-and-white amahs who came over from China. Stuart had already had Ah Song as his housekeeper for years, so for Mum it was a bit like moving in with a stern mother-in-law! She told me it was hard, because it didn’t feel like her house and Ah Song was very specific about “how Mr Walker liked things done”. She said there was a very clear hierarchy in the house: Dad, Ah Song, the dog and then her. This went on for a while, but once the ice had been broken they became good friends. “Every year, Ah Song would give Mum egg mooncakes, which she couldn’t stand; and every year she would chop them up and put them down the toilet rather than cause offence.”
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Childhood Years When Fiona was two-and-a-half, the family moved to Winchester, England. They made the voyage on the Ben Lomond, a cargo ship which carried just eight passengers. Fiona was kept entertained in a plastic paddling pool, and by speaking Cantonese – which Ah Song had taught her – to all the crew. They then spent a few years in Durban, South Africa, followed by a spell in Nova Scotia. Going from one extreme to the other, the cold and snow must have been a huge shock. After that, they lived in New York for a while before returning to Singapore. Fiona went to the International School Singapore so that she could continue in the American system; apparently, the American School had quite a wild reputation at the time, so her parents didn’t see it as an option. Her younger sister, who was born while they lived in England, went into the IB system at UWC. At this time, they were living in a lovely black-andwhite on Kay Siang Road, fairly central but with all the space and quiet of these colonial houses. Fiona remembers the floods in the Bukit Timah area before the big canals were built. In the monsoon period, she says, you would often have to abandon your taxi at Balmoral Road and wade thigh-deep through water the rest of the way. Her parents recall that, in the 60s, young boys would ferry you about in little boats for a small fee. Sengkang and Punggol were all rural then, and where the BKE and SLE motorways now run was all just jungle. Her family spent a lot of time waterskiing at Punggol.
The house at Kay Siang and (right) Fiona as a toddler with amah Ah Song
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Adult Life After school, Fiona went to the UK to do a Montessori diploma, and in 1991 she came back to Singapore to start working at the Julia Gabriel Centre, which was in a blackand-white house on Halifax Road. She is still with them. In time, the Julia Gabriel Centre expanded here to include the Chiltern House preschools, and within the region to Delhi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai. Andy Tear came over from the UK in 1999 to work as a drama teacher at Julia Gabriel Centre; he interviewed for the position in London and within ten days he was here. At once stage, it looked as if Fiona would be moving to KL to establish the Julia Gabriel school there, so she temporarily moved in with Andy – who was, at the time, just a friend and colleague. But their relationship developed into marriage and two children, and they never made it to KL! After four years, Andy joined Centre Stage, where he is now Head of Drama. He regularly acts in local productions, including the recent Shakespeare in the Park: Macbeth with the
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Singapore Repertory Theatre, and the upcoming Dealer’s Choice by Pangdemonium Productions. “It has a fantastic script,” says Andy, “and it’s a great company of people.” Daughter Ruby, who is four years old, goes to Chiltern House and does ballet at Centre Stage. And eight-year-old Finlay, who is at Chatsworth International (Orchard), takes UpBeat drum lessons at Centre Stage and is part of Stage Lights Performance Arts at Julia Gabriel Centre.
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Fiona’s parents are happily retired in Penang; they feel that it’s like Singapore was 30 years ago. Regularly, they come to Singapore to visit the family and catch up with old friends.
Serial Home-hunting Fiona and Andy’s first apartment together was in Mount Sinai, she says, followed by one at Taman Serasi near the Botanic Gardens. “That was great, but the rents were going up, and with Finlay getting older we wanted a house with a garden. A friend said she would show us a place that was cheap, and drove us up to Seletar Airbase. Even though I had lived much of my life here, I didn’t know about these houses. “Even stranger, my dad had been the Chief Flying Instructor at the Singapore Flying Club in the 60s, right next door! He was one of the first to fly to Tioman Island. I also remember helping him to plan hash runs near Seletar; he was Hash Master. “We just loved the area, and made some good friends in the community. Our first house
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was a little two-bedroomed semi on Regent Street, which was recently demolished for the Rolls Royce project.” When they had to move out of the base in 2008 because of plans to develop the area into an aviation hub, they found a lovely terraced house in Seletar Hills with four bedrooms and a roof garden, but they missed the community and the greenery. So, when they heard that more houses were being made available at Seletar again, and that many friends had moved back here, they decided to bid for one of them. The bidding process was, as it often is, a bit stressful. Fiona and Andy had to give notice on their existing home and then wait to see what they could get here, or risk paying double rent. Fortunately, they got the house they wanted: a little two-bedroom semi that faced the new and rather noisy road; they hoped no one else wanted it as much as they did, and that’s how it happened. Fiona has bought quite a lot of her furniture second hand: “I love finding a bargain and giving pieces a second life.” She also has a few heirlooms, including an
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Indonesian camphorwood chest from her parents and a credenza from Andy’s grandmother.
Here and Now “It’s harder and harder to find somewhere you can go to in your flip-flops to grab a beer and something to eat. Everything is now so chic and expensive!” says Andy. He also likes to be able to walk to the shops, and to enjoy a coffee sitting outdoors. “When we lived at Taman Serasi we had the outdoor food
Restaurants: Brazil Churrascaria 14/16 Sixth Avenue 6463 1923 Canopy Garden Dining and Bar Bishan Park 2 1382 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 6556 1533 Coastes Siloso Beach Sentosa 6274 9668 www.coastes.com Bali Villa: Villa Tukad Pangi www.tukadpangi.com Pest control for anything from ants to snakes: Alliance Pest Control 6515 4646 www.alliancepest.com.sg Pet Groomers: Pampered Pet Corner 152 East Coast Road 6345 5345 Centre Stage: Block 15 Woking Road 6732 7211 www.centre-stage.com Chiltern House: www.juliagabriel.com
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court – since then demolished to make way for the new entrance to the Botanical Gardens – that served great roti john. Jalan Kayu, near our current house, still has that laid-back feeling.” Fiona remarks: “You used to bump into people you knew all the time, but it rarely happens now; there are so many places to go and the population has increased so much recently.” Expatriate life is transient, and this can be a bit of a worry when your children are in international schools, but at Seletar there is a group of children who have known each other all their lives. This provides the stability and roots that Fiona and Andy feel are important. The children think of themselves as Singaporeans, and as long as they can continue to live at Seletar or somewhere similar, the family will stay in Singapore. “We know we have to share our garden with a few mosquitoes and the odd cobra, but it’s a small price to pay.” What’s more, Andy adds: ”The great thing about Singapore is that if you stay here long enough, everyone comes back – either to stay, or on their way to somewhere else!” eL
SINGAPORE
38A Jalan Pemimpin #06-02 Wisdom Building Singapore 577179 CEA License No. L3009487B
Find your
Dream home • Service above and beyond housing placement • Full after care service with complimentary in-house Concierge Service catering to your every need • Personal Invitations • Regular in-house Events • Trusted Advisor • Search Singapore wide for all properties that match your needs • Exclusive Overseas Properties • One years Free subscription for Expat Living Magazine our sister company
CALL IN FOR A CASUAL COFFEE AND AN INFORMAL DISCUSSION ON YOUR PROPERTY NEEDS!
6255 1027
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ot Property Market Update
August is like the start of a fresh business year. People are coming back from their long summer holidays and getting on with their plans for the next 12 months.
After the rather tumultuous first half of 2011 worldwide, there are a lot of doomsayers out there, but in the end it is all a matter of opinion – the market can be talked up or talked down. In this era of instant information by the bucket load, we need to take time to sort the wheat from the chaff and form our own opinions. In the negotiation game of buying or renting property, the opinions of others are used most cleverly to persuade; and when they add in a touch of fear about what might happen in the future, it’s difficult to keep a level head. So, try to keep your final decision on purchasing or renting as unpressured and unrushed as possible; keep the negotiating process as orderly and as non-reactive as you can, and listen to your gut feeling. Happy home-hunting!
Deborah Law Executive Director, Expat Realtor
A TOUCH OF BALI $2.2M SALE District: 22 Size: 3,046 sq. ft Bedrooms: 4 Type: Penthouse This one-of-a-kind penthouse in Bukit Batok has four bedrooms on the 28th floor, plus a living-room with a 6m-high ceiling. The kids’ bedroom has a built-in loft bed for three, and the master bedroom has been beautifully renovated and has plenty of storage. The big roof terrace upstairs is in Balinese style. The open kitchen has a dishwasher, built-in coffee maker, oven and steam oven (all European brands) and a freestanding side-by side fridge-freezer. A short walk from Bukit Gombak MRT station, the development is surrounded by leafy Bukit Batok Nature Park and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
To view properties, call Expat Realtor at 6255 1027. August11
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SPACIOUS MAISONETTE $11K RENT District: 10 Size: 2,788 sq. ft Bedrooms: 3 Type: Maisonette
Just a few minutes’ walk from Orchard Road shopping and The American Club, Tanglin Club and Pines Club, this spacious, renovated maisonette is also near various international schools. A perfect location! The large patio is ideal for your outdoor living and entertaining, and you have a park-like garden just beyond it. A white neutral kitchen is fully fitted with built-in dishwasher and side-by-side refrigerator, and there’s a spacious maid’s and utility area.
BREATHTAKING VIEW $3,912,000 SALE District: 4 Size: 2,059 sq. ft Bedrooms: 3 Type: Condominium Wake up to a breathtaking view of the Marina and lush greenery. This threebedroom ground floor unit has a big patio where you can enjoy outdoor dining with a view of the serene waterway and yachts. This spacious, bright and quiet unit is very well maintained and is tenanted at $7K until 2012.
To view properties, call Expat Realtor at 6255 1027. 234
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AUSPICIOUS UNIT $1.57M SALE District: 16 Size: 1,346 sq. ft Bedrooms: 3+1 Type: Condominium With floor-to-ceiling windows facing the sea, greenery and the pool, this beautifully presented mid-floor apartment brings the outside in and is light, breezy and quiet. It has a spacious living and dining room and a great family area between the three bedrooms. The master bedroom is huge, also with fabulous views. The owner-occupiers have renovated the kitchen with large hob, hood and oven and clever use of storage space has been added throughout. Costa Del Sol has easy access to the ECP, the airport and UWC Tampines, with a shuttle bus to Bedok MRT station and directly to the CBD, just 15 minutes away. It has its own clinic, laundry and video shop, and the bars and eateries of Siglap and East Coast Park are at your doorstep. A perfect investment choice – and with an auspicious unit number!
STYLISH APARTMENT $6K RENT (neg.) District: 15 Size: 1,313 sq. ft Bedrooms: 2 + study Type: Condominium
This very stylish, fully furnished two-bedroom apartment with study is located in Marine Parade Road, with access to the East Coast’s many attractions and facilities. It boasts award-winning design and décor including a Swarovski chandelier, plus a Bose 5.1 advanced home entertainment system and a 52-inch TV.
To view properties, call Expat Realtor at 6255 1027. 236
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Has it been built yet? Several projects are already completed, such as Columbia Hospital, Newcastle University, Puteri Harbour Marina, and Kota Iskandar (government offices). Other projects to be completed by 2012 include Marlborough College, Legoland, Lifestyle Mall and the Coastal Highway. So, now is really the perfect time to look at investing in Singapore’s neighbour. Many expats are already choosing to live in Nusajaya while commuting daily to Singapore for work and school. Why do you think expats are making the move to Nusajaya? Our clients are typically moving from their relatively small Singapore condos to our customdesigned villas without increasing their housing budgets. To put it in numbers, to build a luxury 5,000-6,000 square-foot villa on 15,000 to 20,000 square feet of beautifully landscaped freehold land will cost approximately S$1.5-2 million. The villas Exhale are building in Nusajaya would cost between 35 and 50 million Singapore dollars to build in Singapore! What your involvement in these villas? Exhale is a design and build company. After we help clients choose their land, we offer a full turnkey solution to design and build a dream home. Our international expat team consists of a design architect, a lighting architect, a landscape architect, an interior designer and a security consultant. We work with the best local builders, trades-people and landscapers to complete the project to a level we can be proud of.
How long does it take to get into Singapore every day? It takes about 15 to 20 minutes every morning to get from our doorstep in Nusajaya and through customs into Singapore. From there it’s another 30 minutes to get the kids to school and ourselves to the office. Is it safe? This is the most common question that we get, particularly because Singapore is such a uniquely safe country to live in. Our experience in Johor has been that it is no more or less safe than virtually any other major city in the world – say New York, Toronto, London or Sydney. In addition, our villas are built within gated and guarded communities and we have a security specialist on our team who provides input into each of our designs. Where will our children go to school? Most expats are bringing their children into international schools in Singapore. The lifestyle is very much like that of living in the “suburbs” outside other major cities. However, there are also local schools available, and internationally acclaimed Marlborough College will be opening its massive 90-acre campus next year, just seven minutes down the road from our villas! How is immigration handled? Do I need a visa? Do I need to fill out those white forms every day? Th e r e a r e a n u m b e r o f visa options available. The programme called Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) provide long-term visas to those accepted into it. Investors in
the area can also apply for the Malaysia Automated Clearance System (MACS) that removes the annoying requirement to fill out immigration forms. Is property freehold for foreigners? Can foreigners get financing? Yes, property is available freehold to foreigners. Foreigners are also able to get financing from international banks such as the UOB and the HSBC in Malaysia. Any pitfalls to avoid when building or buying a home in Nusajaya? If you are looking to invest in real estate in any foreign country, take the time to fully inspect the home you wish to buy, or to research the builders you want working on the property. Alternatively, you can leave it to a trusted and reputable company like Exhale to manage the processes for you. eL
Exhale designs and builds homes in Singapore, Malaysia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. For more information, visit www. exhalegroup.com, email service@ exhalegroup.com or call 9170 9325. August11
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ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL
Obtaining a Mortgage in Singapore
Looking to buy a property in Singapore? Don’t wait until you’ve found that dream home to begin thinking about a home loan. OCBC Bank explains the basic information to know about obtaining a mortgage here. 1. Start early. Consult a mortgage specialist early to find out your financing needs. They can also share with you the relevant regulations impacting foreigners buying property here. 2. Know the factors that affect your loan limits as an expat. Government regulates the maximum Loan to Value (LTV) ratio at 80 percent (or 60 percent if you have an existing home loan), so you need to come up with the remaining portion from your own funds. Loan amounts for non-Singaporeans are based upon multiple factors, including: • Your income: The maximum loan amount is typically based on a debt-servicing ratio of between 30 and 35 percent. Be aware that obligations, such as car loans, are taken into consideration as part of your monthly commitments. • Whether you have an existing mortgage: In order to discourage excessive borrowing, financing is generally lower for those with mortgages on other Singapore properties. • Where you live: Applicants who live in Singapore can usually obtain a larger loan than those living abroad. • Your employment history: Be prepared to provide at least two years of employment history in Singapore as well as your last income tax return (whether filed in Singapore or your home country). If you are new to Singapore, your employment status and salary will need to be verified by your employer.
3. Determine your loan tenure. The maximum loan tenure is 40 years; however, the tenure can be less depending on the borrower’s age. With joint applicants, the loan tenure plus the age of the youngest borrower cannot exceed 75 years. 4. Choose your loan package. Most banks offer three types of home loan packages: fixed, variable, and market-pegged rates. There is no interest rate volatility with fixed rate loans, but prepayments will incur penalties. Loans with variable and market-pegged rates usually allow prepayments and full loan settlement without penalty to the borrower. Make sure that you understand your needs and intentions before deciding which package is ideal for you.
Perk Alert: Some banks offer free fire insurance for the first year as well as subsidised valuation and legal fees. However, conditions may be attached to such perks. These payments will have to be fully refunded to the bank if your loan is redeemed within the claw-back period, which varies from bank to bank.
To discover how OCBC Bank can help you achieve your dream home in Singapore, call 1800 438 6088 or visit www.ocbc.com/personal today.
Important Information The information provided herein is intended for general circulation and/or discussion purposes only. It does not take into account the financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. No representation or warranty whatsoever (including without limitation any representation or warranty as to accuracy, usefulness, adequacy, timeliness or completeness) in respect of any information (including without limitation any statement, figures, opinion, view or estimate) provided herein is given by OCBC Bank and it should not be relied upon as such. OCBC Bank does not undertake an obligation to update the information or to correct any inaccuracy that may become apparent at a later time. All information presented is subject to change without notice. OCBC Bank shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising directly or indirectly howsoever in connection with or as a result of any person acting on any information provided herein.
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Thomson Lane
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Name: Shannon Lee From: US Occupation: Domestic Engineer
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Photography by Lyan Bernales. All taken around Thomson Lane.
The Scene:
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When you walk out of your place, the first thing you see is: Two things – the now-defunct Europa Club and Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home. The closest store to your front door is: The Thomson Road flower shops. Your street would make the perfect backdrop for a remake of: Pretty Woman – because of the Polo Club, of course. If a celebrity moves in next door, it will most likely be: Anthony Bourdain. He loves Singaporean cuisine, and we’re pretty close to some superdelish food. When you’re in need of a dose of culture: I look no further than the back gate of my condo; it leads through a maze of sidewalks to Toa Payoh. It’s a totally different Singapore. If you’re missing home, you: I’m from Texas, so I go to Casa Latina for enchiladas, Spruce Taqueria for tacos, or I call Francisco at Belmonte Foods for some special Tex-Mex ingredients like corn tortillas, tomatillos, enchilada sauce, Mexican cheese and poblano peppers. An added bonus? He delivers! A mandatory stop for all of your out-of-town guests is: A spin on the Singapore Flyer, a sunset cocktail at Ku Dé Ta, and a chilli crab dinner at Mellben Seafood in Ang Mo Kio or Toa Payoh. You’d swap houses in a second with: The huge, gorgeous black-and-white house behind the Polo Club; I just love it. A common myth about your neighbourhood is: That it’s far away from everything. If you’re ever woken up at night, it’s almost always due to: The fire alarm, my upstairs neighbours’ karaoke party, or one of my kids waking me to tell me they are sick. A massive late-night rager on your street is likely to be: During Chinese New Year at the old folks’ home. Never underestimate the party potential of the elderly.
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Travel
Apollo Bay, Australia
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China might not automatically spring to mind when deciding on the location of your next family holiday, but wait! A new private tour package to Beijing is especially customised for families, especially those travelling with young children.
Highlights include kite-flying at the Temple of Heaven, a kunfu show in Red Theatre, a trip to the Beijing Zoo and the Olympic Green, plus a tutorial on how to apply makeup for the Chinese opera. Expat Living readers get $400 off the family price (valid until 31 December 2011). Call Travel Haven at 6463 3800 or visit www.thetravelhavenonline.com.
Forget no-pain-no-gain – detox in comfort and luxury at the Four Seasons Resort Langkawi. Choose from one of the new three-, five- or seven-day holistic detox programmes, which include detoxification therapies, body treatments, organic meals – including a cooking class – daily fitness practices and yoga, all in a stunning environment. www.fourseasons.com/langkawi
To celebrate the opening of its new Himalayan spa, Dwarika’s Hotel Kathmandu – described by Condé Nast Traveller as “both a luxury hotel and a cultural restoration project” – is offering some great savings on summer packages. Three- and five-night deals are available, including airport pick-up, accommodation in a Heritage Deluxe Room, breakfast, and various massage, yoga and meditation options (US$455 and $699 respectively, including tax). Valid until 15 September, so get in fast. Email sales@dwarikas.com or see www.dwarikas.com.
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Lovinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Words and photos by Philippa Barr
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“L
onnie” to the locals, Launceston is the second city (behind Hobart) of Australia’s most southern state, Tasmania. This tiny triangle of land, sometimes rudely omitted from maps of the island continent, has a much cooler climate than the mainland and packs an incredible diversity of visitor entertainment into its borders. Launceston sits toward Tasmania’s northeastern corner, at the end of the Tamar River, a tidal inlet from Bass Strait. Draw a 100-kilometre radius around the city, and you encompass such varied attractions as the Bay of Fires, the Freycinet Peninsula and Wineglass Bay, Cradle Mountain and the Walls of Jerusalem National Park, Devonport, and the quaintly named town of Penguin (no prizes for guessing what you’ll see there). If you have never donned a pair of walking boots, these names might sound unfamiliar, but to outdoor enthusiasts the area is a rightly revered Mecca. Thanks to a burgeoning collection of high-quality retreats and steadily improving visitor access (not least to protect the pristine environment from its own growing popularity), it is also now possible to enjoy many of these places of natural beauty without tramping miles from a vehicle … unless you want to.
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Mountaineering With just a long weekend in Launceston, our springtime visit was carefully planned: a different activity for each day from a city hotel base. Although you can make your way around Tasmania on public transport – or a bicycle – we hired a car to drive the 150km to Cradle Mountain. My husband had hiked on Cradle Mountain during his university days, and warned us of an entrance sign that spelled out the statistical rarity of seeing the distinctive craggy peak in clear skies. Whatever the odds, when we arrived there was not a cloud in the sky – and nor had there been on his first visit. The sign had gone, so perhaps the famous southeast Australian drought of the past ten years has increased the chances of visitors enjoying the National Park in the same sort of blissful weather that we encountered. Purchase your National Parks Pass as you enter the park – there is
a Visitors’ Centre selling maps and outdoor equipment, and you can choose to take a free shuttle bus further into the park. With a pass, however, provided the park is not full, you can drive on through to Dove Lake, a glacial lake at the bottom of the mountain. A number of the park’s best walks lead off from here; we chose to climb to Marion’s Lookout, a four-hour return walk described as “challenging and only worthwhile in fine weather”.
With winter snow still on the ground, we were ankle deep in white at times and found much of the track more akin to a creek. The views were well worth the effort, however, and from the Lookout we were able to choose an alternative route back to the car park – longer, and taking in Crater Lake and the Cradle Valley Boardwalk, but drier and flatter. A tamer option from the car park is to circumnavigate the picturesque lake; the more adventurous have a
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multitude of options, from longer day-trails to overnight stays in remote hikers’ huts, or can even set off on the seven-day Lake St Clair Track – though this takes considerable planning. After completing our walk we enjoyed lunch at the famous Cradle Mountain Lodge, where you could also choose to stay – it is a historic property, but has since been joined by a number of other accommodation options within and close to the park.
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The short pre-summer day saw us return to Launceston after dark. Although there are many promising places to eat in the town, we had difficulty making a Saturday-night reservation – if there is somewhere in particular you want to try, it would certainly be worth planning ahead. We resorted to a rather upmarket French restaurant, and took the precaution of pre-booking the popular Jailhouse Grill for the following night.
Riding the Ladder Having planned an active weekend, we were up early again on Sunday, to be collected by Ian from Mountain Bike Tasmania – a business he runs alongside his interest in the local Mountain Designs outdoor equipment store. We have experience on longdistance road bike tours, but opted for a simplified version of the company’s Ben Lomond mountain bike descent to be sure the children did not spend more
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time off their seats than on them. Ian, however, brought along his two young boys, who evidently did not need the tamer route – growing up in the Launceston district had perfectly prepared them for their chosen sport of competitive mountain-biking. Just a forty-five minute drive from town, we stopped to equip ourselves with bicycles in the nearly deserted Ben Lomond ski village (which now gets skiable snow only two or three days a year). Ruthlessly, this starting point means you are barely in the saddle before you tackle Jacob’s Ladder, a hair-raising zigzag gravel road, which we took gingerly before admiring the fearlessness of the pre-teen boys. Apparently, a famous local competition actually sees riders cycle up the Ladder – definitely one for low gear. For the next four hours we explored the lower Ben Lomond area, then followed around 20km of forestry trails back to the sealed road, where we were met by the company minibus with its multiple bike-carrying contraption. We guests were a little saddle-sore, but bore remarkably few grazes – it was an excellent introduction
to the sport, though we are a way off tackling any of Mountain Bike Tasmania’s more challenging tours.
Flying High In researching a visit to Launceston, I came across the multi-award-winning Hollybank Treetops Adventure, which promised to fit well into our active weekend. Certainly the children were thrilled at the idea, though my husband and I did have some last-minute reservations – had I remembered that he hated heights when I made this booking? Hollybank is about half an hour up the Tamar Valley from Launceston; you can drive yourself or use the company’s reasonably priced hotel collection service. Canopy tours operate every hour or so, depending on demand, and each accommodates up to 14 people, so while pre-booking is a good idea, especially for peak times, you may well find space at short notice. The tours continue in almost all weather conditions, though it may be best not to think about how far a tall tree moves in high winds if your day proves blowy!
Hollybank’s canopy tour starts with a full safety briefing – studded with amusing interjections from the guides, who are clearly perfectly comfortable with the idea of flying through the air 40 metres above ground hooked on by a karabiner. (Insert nervous giggles.) E a ch g u e s t t h e n d o n s a full harness; small guests are provided with a sandbag to give them added weight to cover the longer cable spans, while the very smallest guests (which included our nine-year-old) are required to fly with an adult. After a ground-based practice run, our group walked through the forest to the canopy tour starting point. The unique design of the Hollybank zip-line system means that each guest is continuously attached by pulley to the high-wire, even when crossing “cloud stations”, which are strong islands that encircle carefully selected base trees.
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The third of the six cloud stations is the highest point on the tour: a nerve-wracking 50 metres above the ground. Between the stations you are moving too fast to really consider your height, though it is worth making a conscious decision to relax and enjoy every moment of the flight. Just when you think you are gaining some confidence, however, the guides stop you for a photo shoot – midway between two cloud stations, and, with encouragement, preferably hanging upside down. Each canopy tour lasts three-to-four hours including the safety briefing. Understandably, you are asked to remove all loose paraphernalia before you fly, including cameras. It is a shame not to be able to capture your unusual forest perspective, but the rules are there for the safety of anyone enjoying the forest trails below. Hollybank welcomes “guests from age three to over 80”. Octogenarians have flown the route, the company’s injury record is almost unblemished, and we all lived to tell the tale. Thankfully, however, the forest is immune to the effects of colourful language.
Methode Tasmanoise With just an afternoon left before heading home, we made a last-minute decision to research the home of one of our favourite Australian sparkling wines. Ninth Island, as it turned out, belongs to Kreglinger Wine Estates, and has its cellar door in the Tamar Valley. It was only sensible to visit the place, and our adventurous weekend in Tasmania was well concluded with a delicious local-produce lunch at the vineyard restaurant. Sadly, even after a couple of glasses we could not conjure up a Tasmanian tiger in order to secure ourselves the $1.25 million reward offered for “conclusive proof of existence”. eL
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www.parks.tas.gov.au/natparks/cradle/ www.cradlemountainlodge.com.au www.jailhousegrill.com.au www.mountainbiketasmania.com.au www.treetopsadventure.com.au www.kreglingerwineestates.com
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By Carolyn Hall; photos by Carolyn Hall and Tony Evans of A Couple of Photographers
W
hen the chance to get away from Singapore for a week came up, we put a great deal of research into finding a suitable location for our holiday. As with many things in my life, somehow when something is meant to happen, the stars just seem to align. And so Margaret River in Western Australia appeared unexpectedly our horizon. When we mentioned it as a possibility to others, they all said without fail, “Oh, you’ll love it. You won’t want to leave. You’ll want to retire there!”
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So off we went, with accommodation booked at Bussells, a rammed-earth cottage on a 20-hectare bush block, and a hire car waiting for us at Perth airport. After a flight of only four hours, we found our vehicle and scooted down the motorway at 100km an hour for a further three hours, with drivers on the road in front and behind all behaving as they should. What a change – what bliss! Even finding our accommodation in the dark was surprisingly easy. The final stretch was down a 500-metre tree-lined “driveway” lit only by our headlights, making the trees seem endlessly tall: awesome, and a bit spooky. We were soon put at ease by the casual but friendly Aussie welcome at reception, along with a complimentary bottle of wine and some recommendations on where to eat. Dropping our bags into our spacious two-bedroom cottage and heading into “town” for a meal gave us our first look at Margaret River; it was a case of “blink (slowly) and you miss it”. But for us it was perfect. The air was clear, the stars were out en masse, and the temperature was divine – neither too hot nor too cold.
There is always something appealing about arriving in a new destination at night then rising to see a totally new environment the following day. Being surrounded by bush and woken by foreign birdcalls was a complete change from the revving of motorbikes that we’re used to in Singapore. And to step outside to a slight nip in the air also reinforced the fact that we were somewhere else. Basics for our first breakfast had been thoughtfully provided, along with seed for feeding the birds. Each day started with a wonderful routine, having breafast at a table under the extended roof overhang while watching the pigeons and parrots come down for theirs. Although each cottage is equipped with a barbecue, we elected to enjoy local cheese, bread and wine most nights, purchased from the local supermarket. A must-try is the locally made woodfired oven bread from Yallingup; it sells out fast each day. We made an attempt to find the bakery but failed miserably. That was when we discovered how loosely names are used in the area. “Margaret River” applies not only to the town of Margaret River itself but to anywhere on this 100km stretch of peninsula between Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste. Maybe the Yallingup bakery is not in Yallingup at all!
For our first full day, we were booked on a Dirty DeTours bike ride. I’d fibbed in my online registration about being capable bike riders – many years of non-riding had passed since I won the award for “the most improved rider” at the George Mountain Bike Club in South Africa.
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So I had selected what sounded like the gentlest ride: Three C’s (Café, Cycle, Cruise). It’s a flat ride, suitable for all ages and levels, and it’s fabulous. It was just the two of us and Rob, our guide and the owner of Dirty DeTours. Imagine doing this for a living: getting on your bike and taking a leisurely ride through some gorgeous bush along an old railway line converted to a wide cycling and walking path, in a Mediterranean-style climate, chatting all the way, stopping for coffee and cake, before returning to the starting point some 30km and three hours later. And spotting kookaburras on the way. What a life! This to me was what a holiday should be about: the great outdoors, clean air, fabulous scenery, some exercise, and not much sweat! And space – wow, did we enjoy that sense of space that Singapore in no way is able to provide. Rob also made several recommendations for lunch spots, and so we found ourselves, after a 15-minute drive, sitting on a verandah on a hillside under the shade of some massive trees at the Sea Gardens at Prevelly and enjoying the ocean view. After lunch, a stroll along the white sandy beach and wetting our feet in the surf of Prevelly was in order: clear blue water (admittedly freezing!), rolling waves, and beaches as far as the eye could see in either direction. A car is definitely required here. Even though distances are not great, there isn’t much infrastructure; yet hopping from beach to beach (and there are many) takes less than 10 minutes in a car. It’s entirely possible to be enjoying some serious surfing – either boarding or windsurfing – within sight of a safe swimming beach. Everyone’s capabilities are catered to, including a lookout platform for those who, like me, just want to sit and watch.
Having survived the first sortie into the bush with Dirty DeTours with minimal aches and pains, we booked for the Boranup Forest off-road technical ride two days later. I’d forgotten how much fun off-road riding can be. Together with five other riders, we enjoyed a four-hour journey through some fabulous stands of karri trees in an area that is designated as part of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Rob, with his easy-going nature, great humour and endless patience, managed to juggle the six of us and our various capabilities, making the track seem as easy or difficult as each of us wanted. I totally recommend this ride and Rob as a guide. In between the rides we did manage to explore some other aspects of Margaret River: namely, wine, wine and more wine. Over 200 vineyards are spread down the length of the peninsula. And much is geared around the wine estates. With so many wineries within such close proximity, there
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are some novel ways of enticing potential customers into cellars. Cape Mentelle Winery for example, hosts Movies in the Vineyard each day from Wednesday to Saturday. And so we watched Aron Ralston get trapped in an isolated Utah canyon in the film 127 Hours, all while reclining on an immaculate lawn (take your own blankets) with a million stars twinkling above, complete with our own picnic of Margaret River triple cream brie and freshly baked bread, washed down with a bottle of Cape Mentelle white. Long decadent lunches (with wine) were spent at the likes of Leeuwen Estate and Voyager Estate. Short excursions for tastings (of wine) were made into many, many others such as Laurance, Knee Deep, Evans & Tate and Cape Grace. We enjoyed live jazz, with wine (of course), at a sundowner event on the lawn of Driftwood Estate on another evening. Another night we took in a sunset over the ocean in a carpark overlooking a vast stretch of the Australian west coast. Another highlight was our tour of Margaret River (the river itself) with Sean of Margaret River Discovery Tours. This including visiting some off-road locations, including a few historic aboriginal haunts which Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure many local Aussies havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t yet explored, complete
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with interesting background information from Sean that made the locations come alive. Canoeing on Margaret River itself, spotting a stump-tailed lizard, as well as walking along a very brief section of the 135km coastal Cape to Cape Track all added variety to what Sean offered on this tour. And it was rounded off with our own private picnic lunch (with wine) under the weeping willows at Fraser Gallop Estate (not open to the public), making for a totally magic finish to our time. So, our thoughts on Margaret River? Yes, we loved it. No, we didn’t want to leave. And yes, we do want to retire there! eL
Planning www.margaretriver.com Flying Jetstar is cheaper but the arrival and departure times with Qantas are better Car hire Thrifty, Perth Airport Accommodation • Bussells Bushland Cottages: www. bushlandcottages.com.au (booked through the Margaret River website) • Dirty DeTours (Rob and Tamara Oostdam) www.dirtydetours.com • Margaret River Discovery Tours (Sean Blocksidge): www. margaretriverdiscovery.com.au Wine & Dine • Sea Gardens: www.seagardens.com.au • Leeuwin Estate: www.leeuwinestate. com.au • Voyager Estate: www.voyagerestate. com.au • Blue Ginger Fine Food: www. bluegingerfinefoods.com • The Spaghetti Bowl, Main Road, Margaret River
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KATE MALLORD and her partner poached a Porsche to explore one of the world’s most scenic drives – the Great Ocean Road in Australia. Here’s her guide to making the most of five days behind the wheel.
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Drive: Melbourne to Apollo Bay, 195km (three hours 30 minutes, no stops) the journey from Things to see: The first half of of it is highway, t Mos . ting exci Melbourne isn’t very you can sing at the so turn up the tunes and relax – But don’t forget to top of your lungs if you want to. Ocean Road sign high five when you pass the Great it’s all dramatic on the B100. From there onwards s and the emotive coastal views, craggy rock face Pacific Ocean. first town you’ll Stop for lunch: Torquay is the when we went, reach on the Great Ocean Road and gearing up for the just before Christmas, the place was There are plenty of flocks of summer holidaymakers. s, so it’s a good ATMs here and two big supermarket gummies from the spot to buy road trip essentials – at Growlers (23 Natural Collection and Twisties. Eat ard and sandpit The Esplanade) which has a chalkbo adults. Then head area for kids and an ocean view for (34B Bell Street; to the Nördenfine Ice Cream shop from 32 flavours. www.nordenfine.com.au) and pick rds Erskine Falls. Detour: At Lorne, follows signs towa 38m high waterfall This adds 17km to your trip, but the th a look. at the end of a fern-lined path is wor on Street, Apollo Stay: Nelson’s Perch B&B, (54 Nels located, clean, Bay; www.nelsonsperch.com). A well room has a small modern and homey B&B. Each 45 (S$190) per private courtyard. Prices from A$1 room, per night.
r spending the If you have an extra day, conside everything from a first night in Torquay, which has Plaza hotel. The backpackers’ to a four-star Crowne ed as the site for famous break at Bell’s Beach was nam e of Point Break the 100-year storm in the closing scen US), and is home to (although it was actually shot in the competitions, the one of Australia's most esteemed surf Try The Surf Rider Rip Curl Pro Surf, held every Easter. .au) for delicious (26 Bell Street; www.thesurfrider.com city restaurant, but fusion food, worthy of a top-notch served in a laid-back environment.
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Drive: Apollo Bay to Port Campbell, 97km (one hour 30 minutes, no stops) Detour: Shortly after you leave Apollo Bay, follow signs to Cape Otway. Along the winding road through fairytale woods you’ll probably see a few cars parked at the side of the road. Do the same – the drivers have most likely spotted some koalas in the trees. As long as you’re quiet, you can get up very close and get some fabulous snaps. Keep your eyes peeled all the way to the lighthouse, as you’re sure to spot a few more munching on leaves along the route. Stop for lunch: Cape Otway Lighthouse was Australia’s longest-serving lighthouse until it was decommissioned in 1995. It’s now a nice stop-off for road-tripping tourists. Climb to the top where a bearded and slightly grumpy sailor will relucta ntly retell the building’s history. After a stroll around the gardens, grab a bowl of soup or a sandwich at the Lighthouse Café, which looks out over the ocean. Things to see: Back on the Great Ocean Road, you’ll find it slow going as you’ll want to stop and snap stunning landscapes every 10 minutes. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the driver or a passenger, because both the coastal and inland views are astonishing. Just before you reach Port Campbell you’ll see the 12 Apostles on the left. You can stop at the well-maintained Apostles Visitor Centre and walk along the boardwalk to the third-mostphotographed view in Australia (after Ayres Rock and the Sydney Opera House). Linger to view the brooding rock formations. Stay: A n ch o r s ( 2 5 4 9 C o b d e n - Po r t Campb ell Rd, Port Campb ell; www. anchorsportcampbell.com.au). A new, selfcatering unit with floor to ceiling windows that offer breathtaking views over the coast. From A$200 per room, per night.
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Drive: Port Campbell to Port Fairy, 91.6km (one hour 30 minutes, no stops) Detour 1: If you had bad weather the day before, it might be worth tracking back for another look at the 12 Apostles, stoppin g in at the London Bridge rock formati on. For a different perspective, try the 10-minute flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters (www.12apostleshelicopters.com.au). It’s fantastic and well worth the A$95 per person fare. Stop for lunch: About half an hour out of Port Campbell you’ll find Cheese World in Allansford (www.cheeseworld.com. au). Skip the cheese museum and go straight for the general store which has everything you need for a gourmet picnic lunch of cold meats, bread and, of course, cheese. Detour 2: Take your picnic to Childer’s Cove. You’ll have to back-track as it’s signposted from the B100. It is a good 15-minute drive from the main road, so being a little off the beaten track you won’t find many other tourists there. We had the whole beach to ourselves. It’s not for swimming, as there’s a strong current, but set up your picnic on the rocks and enjoy the view. Things to see: Try to get to Port Fairy in time for a walk around the town and wharf during daylight, as it is very pretty. Stay: The Coastal Barn (9 Willoughby Street, Port Fairy; www. port-fairy.com/thecoastalbarn). It doesn’t have sea views, but it’s clean, stylish and comfortable with a lovely hostess. From A$150 per room, per night.
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Drive: Port Fairy to Dunkeld, Grampians, 91.6km (one hour 30 minutes, no stops) Detour: Head back along the Great Ocean Road towards Melbourne and take a left towards Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve. It was a volcano over 300,000 years ago, but now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a crater teeming with wildlife. You can spot emus, kangaroos, koalas and water birds in just a short walk. Stay: Check in early at the fabulous Royal Mail Hotel (98 Parker Street; www.royalmail.com.au) so you can have lunch there. The hotel rooms are spacious, modern and have private balconies that look out over the Southern Grampians. From A$165 per room, per night. Stop for lunch: If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a foodie, I recommend the award-winning Royal Mail; have lunch in the more informal bistro and dinner in the main restaurant. Detour: Take a drive up into the Grampians and choose one of various walks that offer spectacular views over the landscape. There are walks for all levels, from a long and challenging hike to a 30-minute stroll. August11
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Drive: Dunkeld, Grampians to Melbourne, 253km (just over three hours) cafés and Stop for lunc h: There are plent y of rat, which Bella and restaurants in the towns of Ararat driving were We you’ll pass as you head towards the city. had to we , (sadly ay back to my brother’s house in Torqu and early eld Dunk return the car), so decided to leave ate We ng. Geelo to take in a few of the vineyards close (65 urant Resta and lunch at the stately Pettavel Winery Pettavel Road; www.pettavel.com). and you’ll Detour: The wine tasting is free at Pettavel, s of pinot. bottle of le find it hard to leave without a coup Winery ely Wols try For a totally different experience, just a om), nes.c (1790 Hendy Main Road; wolseleywi r tracto his on r owne 15-minute drive away. We found the was he y luckil but getting ready to work the vineyard, few wines. happy to spend some time letting us taste a tried the ls, barre of We headed into a barn stacked full buying up ended most sensational botrytis semillon and eL more bottles here than at Pettavel.
Plenty of airlines offer direct flights from Singapore to Melbourne Tullamarine. The 1970 Porsche 911 (pictured) was lent to us by my brother, but there are five car hire companies operating out of the Melbourne airport. To travel in style, visit Sports Car Rentals (www.sportscarrentalsaustralia.com.au). A 2008 Porsche 911 starts from A$1,000 a day.
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small
It’s easy to go big in Bangkok – the guys in The Hangover 2 are proof of that. In a city of over 10 million people, MONICA PITRELLI steps off the tried-and-true tourist path to discover that in large cities, bigger doesn’t always equal better. I’ve been to Bangkok more times than I can count. Hua Hin, Chang Rai, Koh Samet – haven’t seen any of them. Sukhothai just doesn’t seem to top the wish list of visiting friends and family. Last month, I found myself en route to The City of Angels (or Krung Thep, as the Thais call it) for yet another visit. But this time, temples, dinner cruises and floating markets were not on the agenda. This time, there was no agenda. I’ve stayed in everything from huge, corporate hotels to a family guesthouse in the ‘burbs – each superb in its own different way. But this time, I sought out a happy medium at Hansar Bangkok – a brand new, downtown, all-suite property that belongs to the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
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My home away from home for the weekend is Hansar’s Urban Suite, which to my delight is decidedly un-urban. A unique interior wall of plants and flowers at the room’s entranceway brings a touch of the Thai islands to the urban jungle. An inventive use of mirrors reflects the wall into every area of the suite, granting the living room, daybed nook and adjoining bedroom a relaxing garden view. I know nothing about feng shui, admittedly, but I’m sure this room has a lot of it; everything about it just feels right. With only 94 rooms, the hotel never feels full, though I heard that it was. I have no trouble making an appointment at the spa or making dinner reservations at Eve, the hotel’s upscale northern Mediterranean restaurant. Above all, the breakfast buffet is breezy and not packed – a pet peeve of mine, as fighting through a throng of elbows vying for picked-over food is not the way I like to start the day. Steering clear of the massive temples and tourist hotspots, I spend the weekend meandering through neighbourhoods searching for artwork and bits of home décor. The exception is a stop at The Jim Thompson House for a quick tour through the Thai silk entrepreneur’s former home. The house has an attached restaurant, and while I’m a big fan of Jim Thompson’s restaurant in Singapore, I’m in the mood for something more intimate for the evening meal. Bangkok traffic is legendary for being unbearable, but it’s Saturday night. And I’ve heard so much about a restaurant in town, Soul Food Mahanakorn, that
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I decide to brave t h e b u m p e r- t o bumper grind for a taste of nahm prik, a savoury Th a i d i p t h a t the restaurant’s owner, American food writer Jarrett Wrisley, laments as being shamefully under-represented outside of Thailand. Though relatively new to the Bangkok scene, Soul Food is a small restaurant with a big following. The place is packed, but I shimmy my way to the bar for a cocktail. I let Jarrett order for me carte blanche. The result is a tableful of fresh, wholesome food, such as gaeng hang lay (Burmese pork curry with tamarind and spices), southern Thai samosas and smoked duck larb with a side of organic red sticky rice. Heading home from the weekend without so much as a glimpse of a rooftop bar, emerald Buddha or splendiferous palace, I have no regrets at all. Exploring Bangkok’s softer side has opened up an entirely new city for me. eL
Hansar Bangkok 3 Rajdamri Road hansarbangkok.com
All suites, free wi-fi, king-size-plus beds, free-standing terrazzo tubs, sky terrace, Luxsa spa, Eve Mediterranean restaurant
Soul Food Mahanakorn 56/10 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Soi Thong Lor) soulfoodmahanakorn.com
Nahm prik two ways (pictured), gaeng hang lay, southern Thai samosas, smoked duck larb, kale salad – and the cocktails, of course.
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As our yellow cab pulls up, an erudite voice declares: “This is The Plaza, and it’s 104 years old.” The dapper driver of a horsedrawn carriage, taking sightseers around Central Park, is spot on: the hotel was built in 1907. And there’s nowhere more stylish than this venerable grand dame of hostelries on Fifth Avenue at Central Park South.
York, Plaza-Style Story and photos by Verne Maree
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Central Park boaters The Plaza Oak Room The Plaza portico
T
hough it’s mid-March and spring has barely sprung, the weather gods have decided to bestow on New Yorkers a summer’s day. Luggage dumped, we cross the road to the Park, a huge space heaving with picnickers, walkers, joggers and cyclists in bare legs and spaghettistraps on an unseasonably hot Friday afternoon. Thoughts of renting bikes from an outlet near the Boatshed are soon quashed by the hilliness of the terrain; our cycling has been strictly limited to Singapore’s dead-flat East Coast Park. So, we find a table at a bar with a view of Boat Lake, great for people-watching over a couple of Buds as the shadows start to lengthen. The lake is a-splash with enthusiastic rowers, paths and banks teeming with sun-starved people soaking up the last rays. Tomorrow, it’s forecast to snow, and it does; “crazy weather”, agrees the doorman.
The Plaza Compared with the unprecedented sum of US$12 million that was lavished on the original construction, the initial daily rate of $2.50 for a single room sounds piffling. In 2005, the hotel closed for a $400m renovation and restoration, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Those turn-of-the-century Americans were a fancy lot. In the public areas, there’s a general impression of chandeliers and acres of ceiling that have been pressed, panelled, painted and gilded to within an inch of their lives. The hotel’s main restaurant – though it’s not open for dinner – is the Palm Court, famous for its exquisite stained-glass, leadlight ceiling. Unbelievably, a staff member tells us, it was taken down by Donald Trump when he owned The Plaza in the 80s; something to do with it interfering with the aircon. Kudos to its new managers, the Fairmont hotel
group, for restoring the ceiling to its original splendour. Previously a gentlemen’s club, the richly panelled Edwardian Room is popular for weddings, and – when they’ve set up the catwalk – it’s probably the poshest venue for New York’s annual Fashion Week. Upstairs from the Lobby is the Rose Room, an atmospheric old space made edgy with funky lighting; live jazz or a DJ plays on certain nights of the week. Our favourite, though, is the Oak Room, famous for being a set for North By North West. The corridor approach is lined with
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big, black-and-white prints of famous patrons: the Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow arriving for a masked ball, Jackie O striding along the slush-lined pavement outside. At a corner table with a twilight view across to Central Park we sip Californian brut rose and watch the current passing parade.
Suite Heaven
The Plaza guestroom The Plaza Palm Court
Our suite on the top (19th) floor is exquisite in gold and cream. Its palatial bathroom boasts 18-carat gold-plated fittings; not just the taps, mind you, but also the water pipes under the wash-basins that you view from the splendour of a bath designed to accommodate a loving couple – or even a reasonably slender ménage a trois. A floral motif in mosaic that trails down one wall of the bathroom and across the floor echoes the original in the grand lobby, but despite the old-world splendour
of the accommodation, it’s all new; the guest rooms were completely gutted before the recent renovation. Hundreds of chandeliers were retained, happily; and in these rooms and along the guest-room corridors, they’re all that remains of the original décor. One can’t get a room with a view of the Park, because those rooms now form part of The Plaza’s Private Residences, which also got the original lobby. It’s a bit of a shame, but the current hotel lobby is fairly impressive, too. A constant flow of tourists snap pictures of themselves and the flowers, themselves and the richly patterned floor-tiles. They also stream into the Palm Court to partake of high tea.
Food and Shopping We quickly pick up a breakfast bagel habit – they’re just so good. Green Cafés are everywhere,
and we recommend the one on 44th Street at Madison, opposite Brookes Brothers. It’s $6.50 for a bagel with all the works, oozing cheese and spilling lox. That fortifies Roy for a marathon shopping stint at Brookes Brothers; he loves their original buttondown shirts, and even more that he gets them for US$70 each rather than the S$175 you have to fork out here. Meanwhile, I trawl the adjacent Fifth Avenue block. Then it’s the 4, 5 and 6 subway line downtown to Fulton Street and Century 21, the massive top-brand outlet store. But it’s Saturday, and the place is crazyfull. So we head back uptown to the iconic Grand Central Station and its massive Oyster Bar: a platter of eight fat ones for $18, perfect with a glass of chardonnay to soothe jangled nerves. Full marks to the Rough Guide: every one of its recommendations we try is brilliant, and most within walking distance of The Plaza. Starved of our favourite Greek food in Singapore, we find Persephone on 60th Street East for a simple yet perfect meal of mixed dips, char-grilled octopus, horiatiki, gigantes and potatoes, washed down with retsina. The place is packed; you need to book. It’s the same the next night at Quality Meats on 58th Street, just behind The Plaza. Expecting a typical, old-fashioned steakhouse joint, we’re surprised by a chichi eatery over two levels, where first-class waiters and sommeliers serve us great sirloins on the bone, contemporary salads and a gorgeous claret from Napa Valley. For a dose of culinary nostalgia, head for the well-worn Edison Hotel on 47th Street in the heart of the theatre district. Its atmospheric 1920s lobby is a living Art Deco
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jewel. Though the booths in the diner-style café have been serially renovated in formica and cheap leatherette over the decades and the floors covered with bland cream tiles, the walls and ceilings are still rich with their original Art Nouveau mouldings and sconces. A formidably blonde and leathery waitress earns her tip by barking at me: “A beer? You 18?” when I order Buds to go with my cheeseburger and Roy’s browned hash with poached eggs.
Theatre and Art Horrified by the snaking queues waiting for half-price tickets from the TKTS booth in the freezing cold of Duffy Square, off Time Square, we trek down to
the August Wilson Theater on 52nd Street to pay top dollar ($200 each) for the matinée performance of the brilliant Jersey Boys. From there, it’s a short walk back to The Plaza. The vicinity of Central Park is home to dozens of outstanding museums and art galleries. This time, I devote the best part of a day to the wonderful Metropolitan Museum of Art, an enormous place boasting vast collections of almost everything arty that you can possibly think of. This is one not to be rushed. Another favourite is MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art).
Hotel Edison Time Square
Getting There: Our Singapore Airlines flight left Changi around midnight on a Thursday – 13 hours to Frankfurt, a two-hour stopover then 13 hours to New York’s JFK airport, arriving around noon on Saturday. So no, it’s not the ideal weekend jaunt. But our weekend in New York City was a wonderful start to an American trip that carried on to California, from where we flew back via Tokyo. eL
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www.theplaza.com
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By Rebecca Bisset
Tw o o f H o n g Ko n g ’s hospitality icons – the longstanding Grand Hyatt and the brand new RitzCarlton – face each other across Victoria Harbour. After a colleague and I tried both on a recent trip, I came up with my own names for them: the Classy Dame of Hong Kong and the Cool Prince of Kowloon!
The Classy Dame After deciding to be thrifty and opting for Tiger Airways, we are delighted to see our names on a Hyatt board as we walk off the plane – so delighted I nearly kiss the nice man. We’re then whisked down the long walkways on a buggy through to immigration, and out to a gorgeous Mercedes. It’s around 9pm and there are hardly any cars on the road, so we get to our location in Wan Chai in no time. For a special weekend away, I would highly recommend getting this VIP service. The Grand Hyatt is a landmark on Hong Kong Island; it’s set over a huge area with a lovely outdoor pool. There is an outdoor playground the size of three small apartments right next to it. In a land of not much space, this hotel seems to have lots of it.
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The entrance lobby is regal with a sweeping staircase leading up to a mezzanine area and meeting rooms. It’s as grand as the name suggests, but always tasteful and even understated. I’ve seen many hotels that try too hard; this one is effortless in design and décor. Every floor, business area and amenity has an individual style, so it doesn’t come across as just another hotel space. The harbour-front rooms have wonderful views, especially at night-time. The beds are absolutely fantastic, probably the best I have ever slept in. The pillows and duvet are perfect, too, and after a glorious bath I sleep like a princess – without a pea. I love the fact that the bathrooms have June Jacobs products, which I first tried at the Damai Spa in the Grand Hyatt in Singapore. I also like that there is a hotwater container in place of a kettle, so making a cup of tea in the morning doesn’t require a search for an electrical outlet. There’s a laundry service, of course, but the room also has
its own ironing board and iron, which one appreciates when one packs as badly as I do. Everything is tucked away in cupboards, so it’s a very clean look. Internet access costs HK$160 (S$25) for 24 hours if you are not in a Club Room. The breakfast room, The Grand Café, is large and has floor-to-ceiling windows. The buffet is fantastic: perfectly fresh fruit, different yoghurts, various international items, too, including Chinese and Scandinavian. I’m happy to see mackerel in the mix – fish is not often on the breakfast menu these days, and mackerel even less so; I take advantage and it’s delicious. The honey roast ham is great, too, and there are plenty of breads and pastries to fill you to the brim. Hotel food is generally pricey, but I think breakfast is well worth having. Later in the morning, we pay about HK$260 for one cappuccino and two glasses of water during a meeting, so do keep a watch on the extras. (Admittedly it is a delicious cappuccino!)
The Grand Deluxe Harbour View Room
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The Tiffin Room The Grand Entrance Hall
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The Tiffin Buffet
The Ritz Carlton Lobby
One Harbour Road serves traditional Chinese cuisine and seems to be a favourite for business lunches through the week and family gatherings at the weekend. We try the dim sum with XO sauce, and a chickenand-cashew-nut wok dish with sides of kai lan and rice. It’s all delicious, but we can’t indulge too long or too much as we are due for a massage at the in-house spa, The Plateau, in the early afternoon. The spa rooms are beautifully appointed and the masseur has a nice touch, but it’s pretty gentle – so we probably could have kept eating at lunch! The Plateau is next to the gym and the outdoor areas. It’s not often you find an open-air pool in a Hong Kong hotel, and this must be the largest of its kind. It has a real resort ambience and a laidback atmosphere that seems very un-HK. Nearby is The Grill, a favourite with locals and tourists for barbecues and hedonistic Moët brunches. Sunday brunches are also held at Tiffin, located on the mezzanine above the grand lobby; throughout the day there is live music, and various buffets including a dessert buffet.
Fabulous! In fact, there seems to be something for everyone, including Italian, Japanese and a steak restaurant. At the end of our stay, our favourite car and driver are waiting to take us to our next destination, on the other side of the harbour.
The Cool Prince of Kowloon Even if you’ve heard a lot about it, nothing really prepares you for arrival at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. The car drives through the basement of Elements shopping mall (near the W Hotel and the Kowloon station of the Airport Express) and then round and up a circular driveway to the impressive entrance, with the odd Bentley and Ferrari parked nearby. I always find the Ritz-Carlton staff exceptional but I do have to question them when they tell me the reception lobby is on level 103. I’m thinking #01-03 until I realise they do actually mean the 103rd floor! The lifts are beautiful – and so fast that your ears pop. The textures in the décor and art pieces are varied and unique
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(and I rarely allow anyone to use that word); lots of rich browns in various tints can be seen in the public areas and the bedrooms. When you walk into your room, you’re reminded where you are. Stretching before you are Hong Kong Island (including the Grand Hyatt), most of Kowloon, Victoria Harbour, and the river wending its way to the sea – even the hills of the New Territories. The 60-storey apartment blocks next door look like Lego; cars are like ants. Even the Star Cruise liner at the jetty looks like a small yacht. It’s the highest hotel in the world, and the view is surreal. Ozone
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I’m happy to see a Nespresso machine in the room. In the bathroom with its own flatscreen TV, I enjoy a long bath with some lovely bath salts while watching How I Met Your Mother. This is the life! We are in Club Rooms here, so internet connection is free. Breakfast is in the wonderfully appointed Club Lounge until 10.30am. We spend a lot of time in the Lounge: the pastries for afternoon tea, and the cheeses and early dinner are wonderful; and we don’t object to the all-day champagne, especially after a hard trawl round the shops.
On the top floor is Ozone – the highest bar in the world. We pop along one night to find a full house of unpretentious people of all ages and nationalities. Again, the views are magnificent. I can’t resist a swim in the highest rooftop pool in the world. (Almost everything is “the highest” at this hotel!) It’s heated to perfection, with a large LED screen at one end that shows a variety of images from underwater scenes to cool beaches. Fake clouds move above you, while below you (outside the window) is that breathtaking view. There are a couple of spa pools, hot and cold.
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The groovy swimming pool also has a couple of plunge pools with a view
The gym has the same panorama, which I’m sure would be cool to gaze at while working out, but “today I am not doing anything!” I think the best accommodation option is a room on the Club Level. For not a lot more, there’s so much included throughout the day, and you’re not left with a huge bill for extras. Another plus with staying at the Ritz-Carlton is that it’s right above the Elements shopping mall and the Airport Express; unfortunately I found out too late that if you fly Tiger you can’t check in here! Cathay and Singapore Airlines are two other options for getting here – more expensive (around $600 to $800 return), but definitely more comfortable and convenient.
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The Ritz-Carlton
Grand Hyatt
These two hotels make for a great getaway option for a special weekend in Hong Kong. Both would be perfect for a romantic break or would equally suit those looking for a fun, foodie option. eL
Grand Hyatt Hong Kong 1 Harbour Road, Hong Kong Island +852 2588 1234 | hongkong.grand.hyatt.com The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong International Commerce Centre 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon +852 2263 2263 | www.ritzcarlton.com
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Wine & Dine
Traditional Senso tiramisu
What’s New
WINE&DINe
Fireworks Free-flow Book a table for National Day at Prelude, the Boathouse’s rooftop bar, for a front-row seat to this year’s fireworks show. Enjoy a decadent fourcourse dinner and free-flow wine, beer and soft drinks for $188 per person. Or, book a spot for drinks for $35 (includes one cocktail). Executive chef Jonathan Koh is paying tribute to the tuber melanosporum with a series of truffle-themed specials created for the summer season. Seats are limited, so book early! Fullerton Road, #03-01 The Waterboat House. Call 6538 9038 or email enquiries@boathouse.com.sg.
Celebrate the summer season with a mouth-watering array of new dishes at OTTO Ristorante. Try the seared amberjack, mushroom cappuccino with Parmesan cheese cookies, and steamed prawn with avocado timbale and baked tomato (pictured here). $88 for a set of five selections from the degustation menu. 28 Maxwell Road, #01-02 Red Dot Traffic Building. Call 6227 6819.
the Fray When the shopping c r ow d s b e c o m e t o o much, escape for a glass of bubbly to Bar on 5, a c o n t e m p o ra r y b a r located five floors above Orchard Road. This joint has particularly good music – a resident DJ spins an eclectic mix of house, R&B and Top 40 hits, sure to drown out the buzz below. For reservations, call 6831 6288 or email dine.orchard@meritushotels.com.
The cooking experts at Expat Kitchen say that the new range of kitchen utensils by Cuisipro make cooking more enjoyable and easier. To try before you buy, sign up for the “Play and Decorate” morning to browse the collection and test the durability of the new products for yourself. 2 September. Call 6299 4221 or email admin@expat-kitchen.com.
Set Lunch In the spirit of this month’s large-group dining theme (see page 319), Paulaner Bräuhaus is offering 20 percent off the price of a three-course set lunch when you dine as a minimum of 10 people. Just mention Expat Living for the discount. 9 Raffles Boulevard, #01-01 Millenia Walk. Call 6883 2572.
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National Day Don your brightest red and join in the National Day fun by booking at one of these locations, all located close to the action in Marina Bay. For sushi sensations and a beautiful bay view, book a table at San-Sui Sumiyaki & Bar. The holiday sumiyaki and sushi set menu, which includes a skewer selection and fourpiece sushi platter, is $46 per person. Minimum of two persons; dinner only. One Fullerton, #01-05 One Fullerton Road. Call 6423 1555.
For upscale European and a frontrow seat for the fireworks, go to Rocks Urban Grill + Bar. The National Day menu is a threecourse meal of crab cakes, lamb shank and Pavlova with lemon cream, among others, and is $70 per person. Starts at 6pm. 2 Marina Boulevard, #02-01/02 The Sail @ Marina Bay. Call 6438 4404.
For casual Spanish fare along the Singapore River, try Sol Tasca. The National Day set tapas meal includes a jug of sangria and a selection of five premium tapas. $46 for two diners. Available all day. 3 Fullerton Road, #0104 The Fullerton Waterboat House (under the Esplanade Bridge). Call 6533 8913.
Cuppa Go We can vouch for the cappuccino at Dann’s Daily Pescetarian Café being as good as any in Australia’s café mecca, Melbourne. The owner of this small slice of coffee heaven makes a mean brew of organic coffee, which pairs fabulously with a healthy, steamed cupcake – try the strawberry! 20 Eastwood Road, #01-06 Eastwood Centre. Call 6449 1355. 306
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The new Jimmy Monkey Café & Bar elevates the art of coffee-making to a science. Australian owner Michael Ryan talks coffee like a sommelier talks wine, all while working the café’s Slayer espresso machine, one of only 80 worldwide. Weekend brunch – with a to-die-for breakfast sandwich – wine and sweet stuff round out the menu. 9 One-North Gateway, #0151 One-North Residences. Call 6777 8470.
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& Chocolate
Black truffles are the highlight on Novus’s special August menu. Chef Stephan Zoisl sources the delicacy from France, using it liberally in dishes that include some of our favourites: Jerusalem artichoke soup, ocean trout stuffed with black truffle, and the delicious Black Angus beef salad. Keep room for dessert – the signature Valrhona Chocolate Test won’t disappoint. Set lunch menu from $32, à la carte also available. National Museum of Singapore. 93 Stamford Road. Call 6336 8770.
Market Growth The Farmer’s Market at Loewen Gardens has been so successful that it’s expanding to a new location. Drop by The Quayside every fourth Saturday of the month to pick up an array of gourmet meats, wines, organic veggies and more. Next market is 27 August, 10.30am to 3pm. The Quayside, 60 Robertson Quay. www.thepantrycookeryschool.com
Beer with a Not satisfied with the wunches of bankers that swarm up to this stunning rooftop hangout on weekdays, LeVel33 CraftBrewery, Restaurant & Lounge is now filling Sunday tables with diners hungry for its all-day breakfast ($25) or one of three “roasts” ($38). Choose from slow-roasted, 120-day-aged beef with Yorkshire pud and veggies, baked Scottish salmon in puff pastry, or a whole spring chicken – and wash it down with some of the best beer we’ve tasted in Singapore. Brewed light to suit our hot climate, these ambrosial drops include a new seasonal beer: 33.5 Czech Amber (4.2%). The rest of the range is superb too. #33-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1, 8 Marina Boulevard. Call 6834 3133.
Head over to the Marina Bay Sands this weekend to try one of four new waterfront experiences: there’s casual bar and restaurant Bazin; authentic fine dining Italian at Caffé B; Australian bistro and bar South Coast; and tippling topper Yu Champagne Bar, located inside Yu Cuisine. www.marinabaysands.com 308
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lavour of the month
The Jackson Plan 40 Duxton Hill 6866 1988 | www.thejacksonplan.com I’m British, but not particularly proud of it. A few visits to old colonies where well-meaning but ignorant kingdom-makers have trampled over indigenous cultures will cure you of Queen-and-country patriotism. But I am passionate about something Brits apparently shouldn’t be, gastronomy. I can hear the gasps of horror and heavy tsks from Europeans, Asian and Indians proud of their long culinary histories, but that’s not entirely fair nowadays. Did you know that British restaurants were awarded 143 stars in the Michelin Guide 2011? These aren’t classroom Brownie points handed out for good behaviour; it’s the rating system of the most respected and influential food critics in the world. Admittedly, some of the starred restaurants serve up French, Chinese and Italian food, but of the four places awarded the illustrious three stars, I’m proud to say, that two are run by British chefs cooking with British ingredients. Beppe de Vito, the man behind Sentosa’s Il Lido, has clearly recognised the potential of British food: he has just opened a British gastrobar called The Jackson Plan, on Duxton Hill. My intrigued patriotic taste buds led me straight to it. As you walk in, the atmosphere in the restaurant is a little confused. The main dining area features tables and chairs that look like they’ve been stolen from a quaint little pub in the wilds of the English countryside. That romance is ruined by stark green and white concrete walls that make you feel like you’re in a canteen with industrial lighting – one that might have doubled as a refrigerator in a submarine. And the bar? That’s lined with yellow planks, which I can only assume are meant to be reminiscent of a seaside resort. The menu is full of chef-speak for classic, hearty dishes served in homes up and down the UK. I started with the potted smoked mackerel ($12.50), crab cakes ($16.50) – no potato stuffing here, and the Scotch duck egg ($13.50). Substituting duck meat for the traditional pork is innovative, but a little disappointing for someone expecting the real McCoy.
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The restaurant’s star dish is the fisherman’s pie ($21.50). It’s a generous portion of fluffy, crispy-peaked mashed potato floating on a creamy sauce full of perfectly cooked fish and boiled eggs. It’s heavenly washed down with a tankard of fresh Pimm’s ($10.50). The Jackson Plan has a lot of familiar flavours on its menu, but some dishes you’d expect to see are missing. Like Sunday roast. This is the cornerstone of the British family, served everywhere from castles to cubbyholes across the British Isles. Other dishes have been injected with Asian flavours, perhaps to appease the local palate. This isn’t food Londoners would expect to eat at a gastropub, nor is it entirely British home fare. It’s British with a twist. Some of it works, some of it doesn’t, and a lot of that will depend on the nationality of the person eating it.
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Kate Mallord
ecipe of the month
Thai Green Curry
For this month’s recipe, we asked tasty Thai restaurant Sweet Salty Spicy to give us their take on what must be the world’s most popular Thai dish, the green curry. This one is done with fillets of baby snapper. Yum!
Serves 4 Ingredients: • 2½ tablepoons green curry paste • vegetable oil • 1½ tablespoons fish sauce, or to taste • 2 tablespoons palm sugar, grated • 250ml coconut milk and/or chicken or prawn stock • 4 apple eggplants, stalk removed and cut into sixths • 3 kaffir lime leaves, crushed • 500g snapper fillet, steamed • 2 thinly sliced green chillis • coriander leaves and fried shallots to garnish Method: 1. Heat some vegetable oil in a pot, add the green curry paste and fry it over a high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring regularly, until fragrant. 2. Season with fish sauce, add the coconut milk and/or chicken or prawn stock and bring to a gentle simmer for 30 minutes, until the paste is cooked out. 3. Add the palm sugar. Taste the mixture, and if too spicy add more palm sugar. 4. Then add the apple eggplants and simmer for a few minutes to cook, before adding the snapper fillet. 5. Serve immediately with steamed basmati rice, garnished with coriander, sliced chilli and fried shallots. eL
Sweet Salty Spicy is at 392 Upper Bukit Timah Road, The Rail Mall. Call 6877 2544 or visit www.sweetsaltyspicy.com.sg.
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intry is hailed as Singapore’s largest choice of wines by-the-glass – 36 to be precise. Here you can sample everything from dry New World sauvignons to deep, rich Old World Barolos to rare vintages – all available by the glass, by the half-glass or in 25ml tasting portions. The location of this small, low-lit wine bar, bang in the centre of colourfully commercial Clarke Quay, seems incongruous with the elegant and sophisticated interior, which has a “wine library” and a chilled wine cellar for premium wines. Served by the bottle are over 1,000 wines from around the world, priced to suit all wallets. Arm yourself with a prepaid Wine Card if you want to sample wine “on tap” from the four humming, high-tech refrigerators – or Enomatic wine-serving systems – that line the walls. The reds and whites are stored separately at different temperatures, with tasting notes above each bottle. You can wander down the wine aisle slurping taster portions until you hit on a bottle that merits a full glass to bring back to the table. Grownup kids in a grownup candy store? It’s not just about wining, though; there is much dining to be done, too, from an Asian-influenced Western menu. Not what you may expect, perhaps, when looking to pair up your varietal of choice, but the interesting tapas – think nasi lemak maki and otak otak – and hearty mains like tom yum spaghetti and a selection of different rib dishes – are a welcome change from the usual cheese
platters. Plus, the sommelier is on hand to suggest wines that work better with the different nuances of local ingredients, including spices. After some exhilarated dispensing of taster portions up and down the Enomatic machines, we settled on a very drinkable Mount Difficult Sauvignon Blanc that proved reliable throughout tasty bites of curry leafinfused cereal prawns, fried cheese balls drizzled with honey and good old tomato bruschetta. An earthy pinot noir from François Parent Gros Volnay 1er Cru Les Fremiets saw us through meatier tapas, including the house special: caramelised pork, and a platter of ribs from the main course menu served with coleslaw and homey mash with gravy. If you’re in the area and fancy something a little different, then Vintry offers an interesting take on the wine bar, with its self-serve wines, an Asian-inspired tapas menu and a little bit of sophisticated quiet away from the bright lights of Clarke Quay. eL Vintry Block 3A, River Valley Road #01-01 Clarke Quay 6338 2808
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By Beate Baldry
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By Verne Maree
Not only does the East Coast have its own character, it also has its own characters. One windy evening at Chit’s Bar, VERNE MAREE shoots the breeze with Chit Foo himself – the ex-lifeguard, windsurfer and laid-back F&B entrepreneur who is just as much a part of this stretch of coast as the palm trees are.
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never knew that it got this exhilaratingly breezy anywhere on the island, and … am I actually chilly? Chit assures me that it’s been like this every night for the past couple of weeks. It’s the June monsoon, or something. Highly efficient general manager Denise kindly brings me an elastic band to keep my hair out of my margarita, which by the way is excellent – frozen, slightly salty and not too sweet. I wasn’t prepared for how big this place is. Apart from the bar and plenty of undercover area, there’s a huge stretch of decking and landscaping, providing seating for a total of up to 400 people. As twilight fades, we’re sitting at the deck’s edge just metres from the water. For location and ambience, this can’t be beat. That said, Chit’s Bar is directly in the flight path of every plane taking off at Changi, and this Thursday seems to be a busy night for the control tower. It’s noisy, but you get used to it, says Chit: “It’s part and parcel of this place. Either you like it, or you don’t. In fact, for some people the planes are the main attraction; they come here especially to see them.” Denise adds that the beachside complex was originally named Belly View, after the undersides of the stream of departing planes. She’s becoming something of a plane-spotter herself, she jokes: “Just from the engine sound, I can tell whether it’s a Qantas or an SIA flight.”
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Chit’s Other Bar A bit confusingly, Chit’s Bar is actually owned by an old friend of his, Mervyn Boon. Chit is a director of the company, but also owns The Beach Hut, a friendly bar and eatery in that popular East Coast haunt known as Marine Cove, where you’ll also find Scruffy Murphy’s and a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. You know where I mean; it’s perfect for Sunday mornings, especially after a bike ride. It’s just 12 minutes from here, says Chit. Denise has been working with him since she was a 14-year-old slip of a waitress in the early 90s. Describing herself as a mother of two, she quips: “I live in Sembawang and swim back and forth to work every day.” She also offers to let us summarily cast her off the deck into the waves below if the fried chicken wings aren’t up to scratch. Fortunately, I’m spared that duty, as the wings are very good. Apart from lovers of aeroplanes, who is this place aimed at? “We want customers to come here for the amazing ambience – it’s like nowhere else in Singapore – and we want them to have time to sit and relax and soak up the view. Please don’t march in impatiently and demand fast-food service; we’re not that kind of place. “Expats love this spot, and we find that more and more of them are moving into the East Coast, especially to Bayshore and Amber; quite a few pilots, too. On the weekends, they like to hang out here, soaking up the sun and letting the kids run around. We get plenty of joggers stopping in, and bikers, too. You can park your bikes right next to your table if you like. “Some people pop in after work for a drink or a meal” – he indicates a table of six thirsty office types – “but generally we want you to dress down. Shorts and flip flops are the order of the day.” The menu is a family-friendly combination of Western and Asian items: the usual snacky bites, soups and salads, burgers, pizzas, local favourites, main courses such as fish & chips and oxtail, desserts and a kids’ menu. “This is what I’m good at,” Chit says firmly. “Casual bar food.”
Nostalgia As the sky deepens to black velvet, the conversation becomes philosophical and the tone nostalgic. Having suffered a health scare recently, Chit questions the “I want” mentality that he feels underlies Singaporean attitudes. “When I wake up every morning, what I want is my coffee; and I want this day to be a good one.”
He fondly recalls the old days, back in the 80s, when he worked at the first East Coast Sailing Centre; later it was a Pasta Fresca restaurant, and now it’s Mana Mana Beach Club. “I still have strong attachments to the place and the people; and that’s where Denise started working with me. It was a great time: the guys would work in board shorts and no shirts, and when the wind was up, the whole club would be out on the water. The rest of the time, we were waiting for the wind. “Catering facilities were rudimentary: there was just one coffee percolator; I had a cooler that held exactly 562 beers; and we’d barbecue 25 portions of chicken for our regulars. “The parties were always good: I remember one New Year’s Eve bash for 400 people. It didn’t matter that our band could never remember the words to the songs – everyone had so much fun.” I reckon Chit Foo still has a lot of fun left in him, and what’s more, he’s in the right place to enjoy it. eL Chit’s Bar is at 11 Changi Coast Walk. To get there, take Exit 2A off the East Coast Parkway after the Xilin Avenue exit, go a short way along Changi Coast Road and turn right into Changi Coast Walk. Parking is free. Call 6325 9168. www.chits.com.sg
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Forager For this column, BEATE BALDRY forages for exciting Asian ingredients that are readily available in Singapore, to discover their traditional uses, health benefits and ways to incorporate them into Western home-cooking.
This Month’s Ingredient: Black Garlic (Alias: fermented garlic)
What is it? Black garlic is a type of fermented garlic only fairly recently made popular in highend cuisine in the West. In Asia, especially Korea, it is widely eaten for its health benefits – Taoist mythology even rumoured that it would bestow immortality on the eater. Whole bulbs of standard white garlic are fermented without additives at high temperatures for around three weeks, then left to cool for a further week. This process results in a bulb covered with brown, papery skin encasing black cloves.
Uses The standard 10-to-12 clove fermented garlic bulb is unrelated and differs in flavour from the sixclove naturally black garlic that grows in the Korean mountains.
The flavour Black garlic is an interesting combination of smoky-sweet meets savoury, with tangy undertones of dark balsamic with a hint of garlic in the umami aftertaste. It has a tender, gelatinous texture, which melts in your mouth like stewed fruit or prunes. Chefs have likened it to a liquorice wine gum, and it can be something of an acquired taste; mainly of interest because of its health properties and novelty value. Unlike raw white garlic, it has no acrid bite and does not leave you with bad breath.
Where to find it Gourmet supermarkets and health food stores might have it, otherwise seek out your nearest Unity Pharmacy where it costs $68 for a box of six garlic bulbs (yes, gourmet prices for this health-packed gourmet ingredient!).
• Eaten as-is by the health conscious in Korea, as a snack • More recently, repackaged by global health brands as black garlic capsules or as an ingredient of health-giving energy drinks • Used in high-end Western cuisine as a novelty garnish and flavouring
Health benefits • Garlic in itself has many health benefits from its abundance of Vitamin C and other antioxidants. The ageing process for black garlic further enhances some of its benefits . • Korean researchers found that black garlic is loaded with nearly twice as many diseasefighting antioxidants as raw garlic. • Black garlic has more potent antibacterial and antiseptic properties than white garlic. • The organic compound S-Allyl cysteine in black garlic is thought to be a factor in cancer prevention. • Garlic is also thought to be an effective weapon against heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
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RECIPE
& Mushroom Risotto Cook it at Home Black garlic could be a “poor man’s truffle”, with its smoky umami flavours that add depth without overpowering a dish.
Top Tip Try it finely chopped in mashed potato for a visually interesting blackflecked take on this favourite comfort food.
Try it in Town Jewels Artisan Chocolate is pushing the boundaries of sweet and savoury combinations with its use of black Korean garlic in gourmet handmade chocolates, very garlicky macaroons (pictured) and even ice cream! Try them if you’re brave. Orchard Central 181 Orchard Road #02-31/32
Sometimes you need a decompression moment, to unwind after work or away from the kids. There’s something therapeutic about the paced stirring of risotto – aided with a chilled glass of crisp white – that is bound to help you reach a higher state of consciousness. In this hearty risotto recipe, the earthiness of the mushrooms and smokiness of the black garlic work extremely well together for a traditional Italian dish with a novelty Asian health boost.
Serves 4 Ingredients
• 1.5 litres vegetable stock • 125g butter • 4 tablespoons olive oil • 1 onion, very finely chopped • 2 stalks celery, finely chopped • 1 carrot, finely chopped • 2 peeled cloves white garlic, crushed • 4 peeled cloves black garlic, finely sliced • 400g risotto rice • 1 small glass white wine • 4 large handfuls of mixed fresh mushrooms (try shiitake, girolle or chanterelle, Portobello, chestnut, oyster) • 25g Parmesan cheese, freshly grated • Juice of one lemon • Freshly chopped parsley or thyme • Salt and black pepper
Method
1. Slice or tear mushrooms, keeping some differing shapes or sizes for interest. Melt 50g of butter in a large frying pan with 2 tablespoons of olive oil (so the butter doesn’t burn). Add the mushrooms, white garlic and some salt and pepper and cook until browned. Set aside. 2. Heat 50g butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil in the same pan. Add the finely chopped onion, celery and carrot and sweat them until soft. Mix in the black garlic. 3. Stir in the rice until it is well coated. Pour in the glass of white wine and allow the liquid to reduce, stirring continuously. 4. Add a ladleful of vegetable stock, continuing to stir. As soon as the liquid is absorbed, add another ladleful of stock and repeat until the rice is plump and cooked al dente, meaning soft but with a bit of bite. 5. When you are happy with the consistency, which should be creamy and oozy (add a bit more stock if it’s too dry), stir in the mushrooms and add the Parmesan cheese, the remaining 25g of butter, the lemon juice and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Garnish with parsley or thyme.
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When you’re the one asked to book a table for a group, it can be a hard call to make. The menu should have something for everyone – so a buffet is always a good idea. To make sure you
all have a good time, the space has to be conducive to hosting a large table; and to keep everyone happy, it should offer good value for money. Here’s a selection of our favourites, plus some tried-andtested recommendations from readers. Go on … assemble the Usual Suspects!
Triple Treat Upscale Senso on trendy Club Street is at first glance an unusual choice for a large group, with its plush interiors and high-end dining. But its lovely alfresco courtyard beckons in the evening, the perfect setting for a classy yet casual birthday celebration with service to match – a find in Singapore. Two elegant private dining rooms inside lend a more serious and personal note to celebrations, and are of course the choice of aircon addicts. Portions can be on the small side, so opt for a set menu (which you’ll have to do anyway if you’re in a group of more than 10,) or the prices can add up. Best of all, after dinner it’s only a tipsy skip to a choice of rooftop bars nearby (try Ying Yang or Screening Room) to prolong the merriment. Weekend brunch offers a well-priced menu ($88++) that includes a delicious Prosecco, and is another good option for dining here in a group. The main courses are served at the table, which is great for keeping your crowd together during the meal, instead of losing people to the continuous lure of the buffet.
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Antipasti, a roast carving station, cheese and desserts are helpyourself and done with more of a minimalist Italian elegance than the all-guns-blazing kaleidoscope that incites buffet greed and puts you into a calorie coma for the rest of the afternoon. Beate Baldry
Senso Ristorante & Bar 21 Club Street 6224 3534 | www.senso.sg
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Let Me Eat Cake For the first 16 years of my life, I survived exclusively on sugar-based foods – more specifically, Allens’ Redskins and Arnott’s Wagon Wheels (supplemented by Cheezels whenever I needed more dairy in the diet). Then, in my final year of school, my sweet tooth disappeared. For the next decade or so, I thought it was something I’d lost forever – a relic of my teenage years, like my obsession with The Doors. But you can’t keep a good tooth down. Mine came roaring back to life when I hit thirty, and it doesn’t look like budging. Recently, I took the tooth to the newly opened 1-Caramel at Rochester Park. The menu is full of guilty pleasures: à la carte desserts, five different soufflés, signature cakes for weddings and other events, and “assiette” platters for sharing. Highlights include the crème brulee infused with earl grey tea, and the awesomely sweet-and-salty miso soufflé with yuzu ice cream (both $14). With all that pudding, you’re going to need a good coffee. 1-Caramel’s are very good. Standard brews are $5, but you’re better off choosing one of the specialty coffees for $8, or so my tooth reckons, because they’re served with complimentary handcrafted petite fours.
1-Caramel seats up to 16 diners, and would be perfect for one big group: it’s upstairs from parent restaurant One Rochester – you actually enter the second-storey sunroom via the pastry kitchen, so you can watch the chefs in action as they make the soufflés rise. Alternatively, book a table downstairs in the grounds of One Rochester, where the 1-Caramel menu is available, too. By the way, for the sweet-toothless, there are savoury brunch options galore – everything from eggs benny to croque monsieur (dishes from $8) – available all day, all week. Shamus Sillar
1-Caramel 1 Rochester Park, Level 2 6774 1302 | www.1-caramel.com
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Winning Formula Our fondness for Prego goes back many years and includes various celebrations. But as September and the F1 Grand Prix Singapore night race approach, I remember a practice night two years ago. Racing crew and glamorous hangers-on trickled in to occupy a long table at the far end of the restaurant; and as we all watched the action and replays on a big screen, that gut-whumping roar of F1 engines came not just through the speakers, but also through the floor-to-ceiling glass – fantastic! I’ve always thought of Prego as a big restaurant, and so it is. But its new redesign gives it a much warmer, more intimate feeling than it had before – more like a homey trattoria with terracotta walls, wine barrels and striped awnings strung with prosciutto and salamis. Rustic wooden tables enhance the effect, and there’s a bar where you can perch for an afternoon coffee or a couple of glasses of wine. (There’s no harm in dreaming.) One thing that hasn’t changed is the charming attentiveness of the staff; they’re all great, always. Our warm rosemary bread rolls comes with individual little jars of ricotta dip topped with green olive tapenade, to be wolfed down before the arrival of a selection of exquisite antipasti ($4 per item) and then a pizza topped with prosciutto di Parma, arugula, buffalo
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mozzarella and tomato sauce ($29/36). Chef Samuele Baudoino is from Genoa, and his speciality is homestyle, simple dishes: the fregola with sausage, onions and pecorino is something deliciously different, and his potato gnocchi ($27/$38) probably the lightest and best we’ve ever tasted. Spit-roasted porchetta or suckling pig ($34) rounds off a veritable feast. If you’re not already sweet enough, leave room for an affogato – espresso poured over vanilla ice cream ($13) – and perhaps the house signature tiramisu ($14). And make a point of chatting to expert sommelier Britte Giese; she’s a real asset to Prego. Our meal was perfectly paired with Prosecco “Z” Zardetto, followed by the 2009 Pinot Grigio Niedermayr and then the 2009 Valpolicella Allegrini. Verne Maree
Prego 80 Bras Basah Road, Fairmont Singapore 6431 6156 | www.fairmont.com/singapore
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One for the Carnivores Privé restaurant and waterfront bar – past the bakery that supplies its delicious walnut and raisin rolls – is a good spot for group dinner parties. The wonderful outdoor setting on the marina among the bling yachts needs only the pop of champagne corks to complete the picture. A chic indoor private dining room seats 20 and is a higher-end option that stipulates a minimum spend. Whether indoors or out, you can order the new dinnertime Josper Grill menu – a meat lover’s dream, cooked in a Heston Blumenthal-approved grill-oven – alongside the regular, more reasonably priced menu. Try the deliciously juicy and flavourful double rib lamb rack ($58) or the charred yet tender ribeye cap steak ($75); this is a rare cut considered by some to be the holy grail of steaks, and they
claim that it beats Wolfgang Puck’s at Cut. (We haven’t tried those yet, but Privé’s prices are not quite as eye-watering.) Sides are standard (save for the excellent golden fries) and include asparagus with hollandaise, an uninspiring house salad, potatoes and French beans. Leave room for the dessert platter for two ($32) – a smorgasbord of
delicious bites ranging from sticky date pudding and an apple strudel with vanilla bean ice cream lemon meringue tart and lychee granité, to name just a few. Beate Baldry
exposed brick and rustic, wellworn floorboards that appear to be original. Seated at a very wide table and having pre-ordered our three-course set meal ($38), we watch the chefs in the glasswalled kitchen hard at work while variously sipping sangria ($16.50) or French rosé ($13.50). Soothing sounds from a grand piano and the resident singer complement the chilled-out atmosphere. After a starter of char-grilled Cajun chicken breast salad, there are two choices for the main course: veal medallions with mushroom ragout or roasted Chilean sea bass with sautéed asparagus and lobster cream sauce. The veal is tender and the mushroom jus has a pleasing bite, but it wasn’t served as hot as it
could have been. The fish is firm and tasty and the asparagus done to perfection. Conversation ceases abruptly when dessert arrives, accompanied by a wonderful aroma: chocolate lava cake and ivory chocolate mousse. It’s the highlight of the meal, straight from the oven. We virtuously decide to head home for an early night, but we could easily have stayed until the wee hours at next-door club Movida, which is just firing up as we leave. Katie Roberts
Privé Restaurant 2 Keppel Bay Vista 6776 0777
Power Up! After a sympathetic renovation, the 90-year-old St James Power Station now houses 11 different restaurants and bars, including St James Wine Bar and Bistro. Our large party opts for the alfresco courtyard for a pre-dinner drink and nibbles at sunset, and the hum of traffic on Sentosa Gateway doesn’t interfere with our chatter. First up is a platter with five dips (including hummus and dukkah) and toasted bread cubes ($16), lamb triangles in pastry ($12) and Spanish meatballs ($12); all washed down with Tiger beer by the jug ($42) and a couple of glasses of Jacobs Creek Riesling ($13.50) from a reasonably extensive list of wines. Moving indoors, the bistro is a large, low-roofed space with
St James Wine Bar and Bistro 3 Sentosa Gateway #01-11 6270 7676 www.stjamespowerstation.com
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The Perfect Paella If you’ve been to Spain, you’ve perhaps seen an enormous paella being prepared alfresco in an improbably large pan measuring a couple of metres in diameter, over a coal-fire, generally in the heat of the day. A couple of sweaty chefs will be hard at work – one throwing in buckets of ingredients at the appropriate moments, the other raking them into place. An admiring, salivating crowd completes the scene. And if you’re having a party, a paella is a good way to feed your guests; your pan does not have to be anywhere near as big as those communal ones; they feed hundreds of diners. It’s been said that it’s easy to make a decent batch of paella, yet virtually impossible to prepare the perfect one. Paella cooks are passionate about their personal techniques, but some of the basics are inarguable. Here, Nikko Thero of Serenity Spanish Bar & Restaurant shares with us a few essentials for the perfect pan of paella. 1. Start with the proper pan. A paella pan, which is also called a paella, is a round, shallow steel pan with two handles and splayed sides. The base is flat and thick, allowing a thin, yet wide layer of rice to absorb the flavour. 2. Rice, rice, baby. The proper choice of rice is crucial, says Nikko, who recommends bomba rice, a short, fat, oval-shaped rice grown in the Murcia and Valencia regions of Spain. The so-called king of paella rice, it is three times more absorbent than other types of rice, yet it doesn’t crumble, lose its form or become creamy like a risotto. Unlike most Asian dishes, paella’s added ingredients (chorizo, mussels, squid) play second fiddle to the rice. “The rice is the champion; the rest is just there to enhance the flavour,” says Nikko. 3. Time is not of the essence. It takes between 30 and 45 minutes to cook paella, and that’s not including the prep work. At a restaurant, be suspicious of a pan that arrives in less than 20 minutes – you’re likely not getting a freshly prepared batch. For home preparation, remember that paella requires your constant attention. Never leave it while it is cooking. “You need to shake, not stir, the pan from start to finish, so that the rice cooks evenly,” says Nikko.
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Paella Valenciana Arroz Negro
4. Savour the socarrat. Paella’s crowning jewel, the socarrat, or crispy rice bottom, can be created with a large burner, grill or open fire. It not only tastes delicious, but its presence indicates that the paella was not cooked in a larger pan, scooped up, reheated and transferred to a smaller pan before being served. Tip for home cooks: simply listen for a light popping sound to indicate the rice is toasting to a beautiful crisp. In the mood to sample some paella? Serenity’s best include: • Paella Valenciana – saffron, chicken, Spanish chorizo, tiger prawns, squid, and half-shell mussels • Arroz Negro (black squid ink paella) – squid ink, squid, tiger prawns and capsicum From $38 for a serving for two persons. Monica Pitrelli
Serenity Spanish Bar & Restaurant 1 HarbourFront Walk 6376 8185 | www.serenity.com.sg
WINE&DINE
Hua Yu Wee Seafood (426 Upper East Coast Road; 6442 9313), housed in an old bungalow, is such a favourite for group dinners that I was tempted to transpose a couple of numbers in the phone number, lest it be swamped by new converts. You can sit in the huge, unpretentious back courtyard and practise your best Singlish on the army of wait-staff who bring you platter after platter of amazing Chinese-style seafood; some of our favourites are the steamed asparagus with garlic, hot-plate tofu with Thai chilli sauce, crispy baby squid, butter prawns, and the highlight – black pepper crayfish tails. Best of all, you can BYO; we generally pay $30 to $35 per head, and leave the place only well after the staff have cleared off.
Mathilda van Wyk
Blu Kouzina (893 Bukit Timah Road; 6875 0872) is a lovely Greek restaurant with home-style food. Great for sharing in a group, and easy on the wallet. Sweet Salty Spicy (392/394 Upper Bukit Timah Road, The Rail Mall) serves delicious Thai food in a nice, modern atmosphere and very reasonably priced; on our last visit with a group, the bill was $65 per head including a fair amount of wine. Picotin (100 Turf Club Road; 6877 1191) offers consistently good food, a lovely atmosphere and great service. We’ve always had a great time there, both when dining with lots of friends and in smaller groups.
Ayse Davies
I recently had to organise a lunch gathering for 12 people and was working on a budget. After some research, I chose The Wine Company on Evans Road (6732 1229). There is ample parking, the restaurant is quaint and unpretentious and I could book a nice long table inside their dining room. Also, I could pre-select the food in advance from their a la carte menu, which I could view online.
We found their spinach and mushroom pizza extremely tasty; the topping was generous and the crust was thin and perfect. The spicy prawn pasta was delicious and their Caesar salad nice and fresh, as it should be. An elegant Stellenrust Chardonnay worked well with our meal. Everyone liked the ambience and the food, and I left the restaurant a happy host.
Cecilia Leong-Faulkner
My choice is Sunday brunch at Mezza9 at the Hyatt Hotel. I’ve brunched at more restaurants than the free-flow champagne allows me to remember, but after 11 years in Singapore, the Hyatt is still my favourite. The private rooms are a good idea for groups of 10 or more, and the food is always top notch.
Deb Goldman
Gattopardo Italian Grill & Pizzabar at Fort Canning Hotel has very good service and superb food. Chef Lino hails from Sicily: all his Mediterranean dishes are delicious and the seafood he brings in is so fresh. I love the salt-encrusted whole baked fish. They have a charcoal grill and a wood-fired oven, so their pizzas are amazing too – you must try the suckling pig pizza! Their Sunday brunch features a mouthwatering display of all my favourite Italian foods. Gattopardo is good for couples or a foursome, and also excellent for groups of 10 or more – the bonus being that it’s very reasonably priced.
Amanda Edwards
I’ve just come back from a brilliant girls’ lunch to wish bon voyage to our good friend Angela, who is headed for expat life in Bangkok. We had a private room at Basilico (6733 8888), an elegant buffet restaurant at The Regent Hotel. The service is impeccable and discreet, and the food is beyond delicious. The prosciutto from Parma
and mozzarella (three types: treccia, bufala, and smoked) were out of this world. Hard as it was to look beyond the appetisers, we did justice to an enticing buffet selection that included tandoori chicken, monkfish, saffron gnocchi and a rich mushroom soup. Apart from desserts, there was also a rich selection of cheeses that I covered with truffle honey. Coffee and tea are included in the weekday set price of $42; what more could one ask for?
Jennifer Gargiulo
On the strength of Expat Living’s great review of Soprano at 7 Portsdown Road (6472 2100), I booked a lunchtime table for 12 on my better half’s birthday. The day was perfect with sunshine and clear blue skies, so we all sat at a table on the shady verandah looking across the lawn – almost like an English country garden, except it was warm. Every one of us was bowled over by the wonderful food (particularly the creamy pasta sauces), which, even for our large group, was served simultaneously. The staff were incredibly attentive throughout our four-hour repast, which was no mean feat. We’ll be back!
Sue Day
I’ve been to Pietrasanta (5B Portsdown Road; 6479 9521) with a group of 15 girls, and the service was impeccable. The food is reliably good and being able to pick your own wine from the chilled cellar is a great idea.
Kate Mallord
You can’t beat Hua Zhu Restaurant (#02101 Block 4 Queens Road; 6479 4075). Take your own wine (no corkage) and enjoy the Chinese soul food while you soak up HDB life. If you have to take the kids, let them bring their skateboards so they can zoom down to the pizza shop if they prefer that, still within viewing distance from Hua Zhu. This is also a wonderful way for visitors to see local life. eL
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Lots More Bottles
Wholesaler and retailer Bottles & Bottles has five handy outlets and a delivery service, and can be relied on to provide both wine and spirits for every conceivable occasion – from weddings to corporate events. Here are just two of their winners.
Chandon Cuvée Riche, $55 Enticing aromas of guava and other ripe tropical fruits, vanilla and dried apricots combine with complex notes of cashew nuts and brioche. A soft and opulent front palate leads seamlessly into a mid-palate offering dried fruit and a yeastderived, savoury creaminess. The Cuvée Riche shows generous weight and balance, finishing long and refreshingly crisp.
Douglass Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, $15.90 A classic Californian cabernet with light herbs, ripe berries and a subtle hint of oak. A fruity mouth is medium-bodied with soft tannins, creating a pleasing finish. The Douglass Hill range also includes shiraz, merlot and chardonnay.
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Newest outlet at Suntec City Mall (opp. Carrefour) 6338 1911 Parkway Parade 6348 2847 Vivo City 6376 9759 Tampines 1 6782 8998 Tudor Court 6735 5163 www.bottlesandbottles.com.sg
News Flash! The Local Nose Wine Fair: 31 August to 4 September Restock your wine fridge with top-quality wines at The Local Nose.com Wine Fair at Tanglin Mall (B1 Atrium). Choose from more than 80 labels imported by local wine merchants, each one pre-selected in a blind tasting by a top TLN tasting panel. Come down for an afternoon of wine tasting, accompanied with a “free flow” of wine expertise! www.thelocalnose.com
WINE&DINE
Wine Trivia
Put a
Cork in it!
Myth or Fact?
Waiter, waiter, my wine is corked!
A sign of a fine wine is that the bottle is sealed with a cork. Myth! Screw caps were previously associated with inexpensive wine, but this is changing as more and more wine producers turn to screw caps or plastic corks. These eliminate the possibility of “corking” (see below) – thereby reducing losses and upping profits. Wine critics generally prefer screw caps, but there is still a feeling that the uncertainty that goes with ageing wine in a cork-sealed bottle might add to its character. What’s more, the popping of a cork heralds the start of the weekend! Before cork was used, oil-soaked rags were the stopper of choice. Fact! Wooden stoppers wrapped in oil-soaked rags were used in the mid-17th century by French wine makers.
“Corked” wine has been contaminated with TCA (2,4,6-trichloroanisole) from the cork itself or from the barrel. Wine can also be faulty as a result of oxidisation or re-fermentation.
Oxidised Wine When a wine is exposed to air due to a faulty cork, it loses its fruity and vibrant character and becomes flat and insipid or, worse, vinegary. In whites, oxidation can turn the wine dark yellow or even brown; the colour change is less obvious in red wines. Where wine is not stored properly, or due to errors during the winemaking process, the effects of high temperatures result in an almondy taste akin to that of a cheap, sweet sherry. Don’t buy a wine whose cork seems to be protruding slightly from the bottle: this is a sign that it has expanded during exposure to higher-than-desirable temperatures.
Re-fermented Wine Fine wine undergoes controlled fermentation in its making, with champagne and some sparkling wines undergoing a second fermentation in the bottle. If this occurs by accident in still wine, the resulting effervescence spoils the wine.
Identifying a faulty wine: Smells: Mouldy, sour, vinegary pungent, sulphuric (eggy). Palate: Astringent, lacking in fruit, flat, vinegary, like cheap sweet sherry, fizzy. Appearance: Brown wine, a cork that is cracked or expanding out of the bottle. eL
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By Katie Roberts
A
n amazing beef rendang is just one of many authentic Peranakan dishes at PeraMakan, hidden away in the Keppel Club. The restaurant feels comfortable and relaxed: the welcoming and helpful staff are part of the equation, as are the large tables that accommodate big family groups. Cooked in the precise and fastidious Peranakan tradition, signature dishes including the must-try ayam buah keluak ($16): chicken with Indonesian black nuts in a dark, slightly tar-like gravy. The flavour is indescribable, and Kathryn agrees it is somewhat of an acquired ta s t e . Th e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d rendang ($14) simply melts in the mouth, and then there’s the heavenly sotong panggang ($14) tender, grilled squid marinated in fragrant spices. We don’t need more than steamed rice and the simple but tasty green vegetable kai lan in garlic ($10) as accompaniments. The menu has been honed to perfection by executive chef Kathryn Lee, and her mother and
grandmother before her. She tells us that the intense flavours and richness of the food are grounded in the quality of ingredients, including freshly made stock, and close attention to detail. My relatives visiting from Australia are impressed with the exotic and refreshing lime and aloe vera juice ($4.50) and red date and longan tea (hot or cold, $3.50) both of which go well with this style of food. It’s easy choosing desserts from an illustrated menu. Keen to try a few, we share nonya rice pancakes with warm banana sauce ($6) and bubo pulot hitam ($4), black glutinous rice with gula melaka coconut sauce. Chendol ($6) is a cold, soup-like mix of coconut milk, kidney beans and jelly; pandan leaf imparts the bright green colour. All the desserts are sweet, generously portioned and rely on fresh ingredients – the coconut milk is freshly squeezed – for superb flavour. “Good food cooked with love” is the simple but sincere motto followed by PeraMakan, and it shines through.
The Origins of Peranakan (or Nonya) Cuisine M a ny C h i n e s e t ra d e r s travelling through the Malaysian and Sumatran Straits in the 15th century took local wives, who cleverly adapted their husband’s liking for Chinese food with the local ingredients on hand. A fusion cuisine was born: a combination of the local spices, herbs and tropical fruit and vegetables with the food of southern China. Peranakans take great pride in their cooking, and are highly competitive. Recipes are jealously guarded and handed down through from mother to daughter.
PeraMakan is the official food and beverage sponsor for the upcoming production Dealer’s Choice, to be staged by Pangdemonium. It plays from 29 September to 16 October at the Drama Centre Theatre, National Library. Details at http://pangdemonium.com. Look out for our preview in the September issue of Expat Living.
PeraMakan is at Level 3, Keppel Club, 10 Bukit Chermin Road. Call 6375 5563. www.peramakan.com
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Healt h & Fit ness
What’s New
HEALTH&FITNESS
Renamed the Cambridge Weight Plan, this weight management programme is touted to help you lose weight naturally and keep it off. The plan can also help with health issues such as sleep apnoea and diabetes. To celebrate the rebranding, it’s offering free Body Health & Age Assessments. To book an appointment call 9185 8609 or visit skgoodhealth.blogspot.com.
Need a new challenge? Sign up with the Body Temple Running Club to join the team for the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon on 4 December. The Running Club meets weekly for ten group sessions, starting in September. The fitter you are, the more you’ll enjoy the stunning views along the route! Call 9100 8714 or email feelgood@ bodytemple.com.sg
Mother and Child is promoting World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) by hosting two free information sessions at the Baby Café on 1 and 3 August, from 2pm to 4pm. Health professionals will be giving lactation advice. WBW runs from 1 to 7 August, and its aim is to increase breastfeeding rates worldwide and to promote infant health. Baby Café, #03-11 Tanglin Mall.
Dr Sport A new doctor has joined Pacific Healthcare (PacHealth). Consulting Sports Physician Dr Low Wye Mun now runs the recently expanded Sports Medicine Clinic in Paragon. Having travelled as the team physician for various international sporting events, Dr Low is familiar with the needs of athletes in competition season. The clinic treats athletes who have injured themselves, and sportsmen and women in recovery. It also teaches you how to avoid injury and improve your performance in the long run. For more information, call 6883 6966 or visit www. pachealthholdings.com.
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HEALTH&FITNESS
Anti-Oxidant is offering a free trial of its 45-minute therapy sessions (worth $39). Enjoy some downtime lying on the ceramic anti-oxidant beds in its dry sauna. Benefits can include weight loss, rejuvenation, reduced cholesterol levels and increased immune resistance. The therapy includes anti-oxidant water, enzyme juice and the use of showers, change-rooms and lockers. For more information call 6756 0636 or visit www.anti-oxidantcentre.com.sg.
Are You Allergic? The Osteopathic Treatment Centre has launched a new health screening system. The Asyra Pro analyses a broad spectrum of health issues, through hand-held electrodes. The machine can identify food sensitivities, nutritional needs and environmental allergies. To book an appointment call 6734 6440 or visit www.osteo@osteopathy.com.
SoulKids encourages confidence and creativity in children from six to 16 years old. And it’s currently looking for people who are interested in inspiring young children. To find out more, attend one of the free talks about the training programme being held on 18 and 22 August. To register, call 9875 2372 or email soulcentresingapore@yahoo.com.sg.
Power Moves is offering four weeks of unlimited mat-based Pilates classes for just $498 in August. That’s $200 off the normal price of $698. The classes focus on the use of core muscles and combine the benefits of strength training, calorie burning and flexibility. For more information call 6472 2221 or visit www.powermoves.com.sg.
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By Katie Roberts World Cup 2011 photos by Michael Bradley/WNC 2011
In an excruciatingly close game, Australia beat New Zealand in the final second of extra time to take the Netball World Championship trophy home. The contest between 16 teams in Singapore in July was the pinnacle event in a sport played by over 20 million people worldwide. We spoke to two players on the Singapore national team who about how they have managed to combine a separate career with being an elite athlete.
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ne Porima Name: Charle aland hurch, New Ze Home: Christc Age: 33 etective, Occupation: D lice Force Po d an New Zeal Height: 172cm g defence n: Centre, win Playing Positio Caps: 36 International
What is the best thing about netball? Well, it’s a great opportunity to travel and meet new people! My parents are Kiwis, but I was born in Singapore, and that has given me the opportunity to play for the national team for four years. How do you manage to combine professional netball and a career? Being in the police force, I work either morning or afternoon shifts, so I train around that schedule. Playing with the Singapore national team means a bit of travel for the different tours. We played in South Africa earlier this year, and in New Zealand I play in the local competitions. You were part of the emergency response to the two Christchurch earthquakes this year, weren't you? Yes. We worked very long hours for the week immediately after the quake, and it was really intense. I still feel edgy and nervous. At my hotel here I’m on the fourth floor, and when buses go past the building shakes. My first thought was, “Oh my gosh, it’s an earthquake.” Any loud noises cause me to look around and check what is going on. I guess it will take some time to get over that. What’s next after the 2011 World Championships? I don’t know if my body can take another World Championships – I’ll be 37 by 2015! It takes me a lot longer to recover nowadays, but luckily I don’t have any major injuries. I’m already coaching at high school level in Christchurch and working to develop the girls who already have very good base skills. It is rewarding to teach them new techniques and see them follow through on the court.
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Name: Pre mila Hirub alan Home: Mel bourne, Au stralia Age: 28 Height: 17 0cm Occupatio n: Student, studying m at Melbourn edicine e University Playing Po sition: Goal defence, go Internation alkeeper al Caps: 69
How do you manage to combine professional netball and a career? I guess if you really want something you just have to buckle down and try to do everything all at once! I gave up things like TV, movies and going out. But I get to see and chat to the girls every day at training, which is good. It also helps that I have a really supportive family. What do you most enjoy about netball? The best thing is that it’s a team sport. It’s a great, fun way to keep fit, a place to meet friends and has a great support structure around it. It may not be an Olympic sport (yet), but we’ll get there. Do you have any tips for girls who are dreaming of a netball career? Start early! It’s the primary women’s sport in countries such as Singapore, New Zealand and Australia and available to all from a very young age. If you’re aiming for the elite level, you have to put in work every day, whether it’s netball training or going to the gym or a run or cycle. Every little thing counts! But no matter how tough it all seems when you’’e working hard (and just not bothering seems like the better option), the reward makes it all worthwhile. What’s next after the World Championships? It’s time to call it quits. I know I said this at the last “Worlds”, but it’s time to focus on other things like my (eventual) career. I’ll probably try to get an internship position in a hospital in Australia and start working life from there. eL
Get involved! Singapore has many opportunities for adults and children to play netball. ANZA - www.anza.org.au Bedok Kings - www.bedokkings.com Singapore Cricket Club - www.scc.org.sg Singapore Netball - www.netball.org.sg
HEALTH&FITNESS
YourinHeal t h Good Hands No one wants to be injured or fall sick, but Singapore is a good place to be if accidents happen or illness strikes. With a plethora of diverse specialists to choose from, in areas from dentistry and orthodontics to sports medicine, and from eye surgery to
behavioural counselling, your health is in good hands. Many of them have credentials from some of the Western world’s top medical training institutions, and all of those mentioned in this feature have earned the respect and gratitude of their expat patients.
SPECIALISTS Andreas Digestive, Colon, Liver and Gallbladder Clinic 3 Mount Elizabeth Road #12-10 Mt Elizabeth Medical Centre 6836 2776 | www.andrea-digestive-clinic.com I needed treatment for a very personal matter; because of this, I wanted a female doctor. The only female gastroenterologist I could find in Singapore was Dr Rajnakova. That was a stroke of luck, and I’ve been a patient of hers since December last year. Dr Rajnakova is a very empathetic doctor with a lot of heart. The difference, I think, is that you immediately feel like the doctor loves her job and takes each patient seriously. She is nice and friendly, too. The clinic is very modern: I felt comfortable there right away. As I was not feeling well, she offered me her help immediately. I could call day and night and she was personally for me there. I thank her again for this, and for healing me. Saskia Grams-Lohoff, Germany
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Clinic for Women 6 Napier Road #03-01 Gleneagles Medical Centre 6734 7340 | www.drbrendalow.com My husband and I found out I was pregnant with our first child in September 2010. We naturally wanted to find a doctor quickly to confirm our home test. It became clear from both research and personal experiences that Dr Brenda Low at The Clinic for Women was held in high regard, so we made an appointment. It was a great decision. Dr Low’s bedside manner is very calming – a must for a first-time expectant mother! She set our expectations ahead of every procedure, patiently explained our options and never talked down to us, even though we were clearly new at this. You also get the sense that the staff enjoy what they do and are happy for you as a mum-to-be. Little Alec was coming into our lives whether we were ready or not, but what Dr Low and virtually everyone we came in contact with did was help make it the wonderful experience it should be. I needed an emergency Caesarean section due to slight complications with my labour. Though surgery was not the first option for our birth plan, we know we made the right decision with the help of our doctors. Everyone at Gleneagles Hospital kept me calm during the surgery, and I didn’t feel anything ‘bad’ throughout the operation. Most importantly, at the end of it all, my husband and I were able to hold our baby for the first time. Bridget Benelisha, US
Dennis Lim Surgery 3 Mount Elizabeth Road #11-09 Mt Elizabeth Medical Centre 6836 5167| www.dennislim.com.sg My primary care physician, Dr Melanie Phuah, found a mass on my thyroid and referred me to an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor for biopsy. The results were reassuring as the nodules were benign, but because they were big, I needed a second opinion on whether to have them removed or just monitor them. The surgery was called a hemi-thyroidectomy. Dr Lim basically removed half of my thyroid. During my first visit to the clinic, the doctor took time to explain all the facts: the thyroid’s role, the nodules and their consequences, the difference between having a single nodule or a multi-nodular goitre, the numbers and probability of cancer, and so on. Most importantly, he discussed the consequences of living, at a relatively young age (mid-forties), with very large nodules, and the potential consequences of their continuous growth. Dr Lim then ordered a scan in order to precisely locate the nodules, and recommended the removal of half the thyroid to prevent it from growing larger and compressing my respiratory tract. Since my surgery in August 2010, I feel so much better. I used to feel extremely tired, but my energy came back barely a month after the procedure. The regular visits to Dr Lim’s clinic during the two months after surgery allowed me to heal properly. The scar was taken care of very professionally and the result is just amazing. You just don’t see it. It’s a fantastic outcome all round. Tania Martin-Achard, Switzerland
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GynaeMD Rejuvenation & Women’s Clinic 1 Orchard Boulevard #04-03A Camden Medical Centre 6733 8810 | www.gynaemd.com.sg I found GynaeMD via a testimonial in Expat Living magazine. I have been a patient of theirs since 2007, including for the birth of our baby boy (now a year old).
Dr Christopher Ng takes time to listen to and answer all questions and concerns; he was familiar with and supportive of our preference for hypno-birthing, as he was with our other birthing needs and preferences. Dr Ng has that great balance between being highly professional and knowledgeable, and having the kind of humour one needs during pregnancy. We often ended up talking about Formula 1 and tennis after the ultrasounds! Another great experience was his support in choosing the ‘right’ hospital. We often hear from friends how they are asked by their doctors to give birth at a specific hospital. Dr Ng and his team have excellent contacts with various hospitals, and private tours of facilities can be arranged. We chose our preferred hospital and had a wonderful experience with everyone there. We are still in touch with them and often stop by to say hello. GynaeMD is conveniently located at Camden Medical Centre with other health services. When I had to have some blood and glucose tests, I could have them done just next door, which was very helpful as I only had limited time over a lunch break. Tanja & Martin Faessler-Moro, Switzerland
Ear Nose & Throat Centre CC Lau 3 Mount Elizabeth Road #14-11 Mt Elizabeth Medical Centre 6235 9535 | www.entcentrecclau.com We’ve been going to Dr Lau Chee Chong ever since we arrived in Singapore four years ago after spending ten years in London. All four of us have had very specific and regular needs that the doctor has been able to meet at a standard we have not encountered before in France, the US or the UK. We particularly value the clarity of his explanations when trying to make a decision for a certain procedure or routine to adopt. “Coming from a Western background, the doctor is able to fully understand our approach to ENT; and he creates a very gentle atmosphere for the children, who feel at ease coming to see him. Fanny Franzi, Monaco
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Health & Fertility Centre for Women 290 Orchard Road #18-06 Paragon Medical Suites 6235 5066 | www.healthfertility.com.sg We moved back to Singapore last September after few years away. Soon after that, to our delight, our gynaecologist diagnosed a twin pregnancy. But on Christmas Eve, in her first trimester, my wife was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital with early signs of miscarriage. Hospital staff and Dr Kelly Loi responded promptly to reassure us. After few days in the hospital, we were back home – but only for a week as my wife was readmitted to the hospital due to the unstableness of her pregnancy. We were then advised by Dr Loi to follow a customised treatment, with weekly visits to the Health & Fertility Centre for Women. The doctor and the cheerful staff members, Agnes and Julia, led us admirably through the entire journey, with kind words, friendly support and professional guidance. Life blessed us with two lovely babies: a girl, Tiphaine, and a boy, Titouan, born on 11 June, a few weeks ahead of the expected date but both healthy and lively.
Jerry Tan Eye Surgery Camden Medical Centre 1 Orchard Boulevard #10-06 6738 8122 | www.jerrytan.com
As the French saying goes, a girl and a boy is the ‘choix du roi’ (the choice of the king). And, just to continue the family tradition, my wife’s own twin sister is shortly flying from Australia to visit her niece and nephew. Cyrille, Justine, Tiphaine & Titouan Lacour, France & Malaysia
Since relocating to Singapore five years ago, I’ve suffered from very dry eyes when wearing contact lenses. Last year, I found myself getting frequent eye infections. I could no longer wear my contact lenses every day, and I couldn’t get used to wearing glasses. Eventually, Lasik was offered to me as a birthday present. Dr Tan was recommended to us by a couple of friends. They had all had very good experiences and great results. I contacted Dr Tan for the first time at the end of December last year. The surgery on my first eye was done four weeks later. I’m still undergoing computer-based training to strengthen my eyes; my next check-up will be in a couple of weeks. The team have been very professional and Dr Tan is a very experienced doctor. I felt I was in good hands from the first second I walked into the clinic. My life is completely different now. I don’t have dry eyes anymore, I can participate in any sport I like, and I can swim and dive without problems. The best thing is to wake up and to see everything as sharply as an eagle. Don’t be afraid of Lasik surgery. It’s painless, it’s done in minutes and it can improve your quality of life enormously. Corinne Niederhauser, Switzerland
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Nobel Sinus, Snoring & Allergy Clinic 111 Somerset Road #01-10A Triple One Somerset 6733 9560 | www.healthwayspecialists.com I had severe breathing difficulties due to a deviated septum, and my GP referred me to Dr Ranjit Gabriel Magherra through my insurance package. I first visited him towards the end of February this year; a couple of weeks later, the surgery was done. The facility was very well maintained. The staff at the clinic were helpful and courteous, which made coming back more comfortable. The surgery went very well, and I am in better health due to Dr Ranjit’s professionalism and guidance, and the level of comfort he helped me to experience. He explained the procedure in its tiniest detail, and in layman’s terms, so I could understand the complexity of it; that gave me plenty of confidence in his capabilities. I was at the facility for one night and was discharged the following evening without any complications or billing headaches. Everything concluded smoothly. I would like to thank all the staff at the hospital for the wonderful treatment. Rayomand Jeejeebhoy, India
OBGYN Centre 290 Orchard Road #11-07 Paragon Medical Centre 6235 4188 | www.obgyncentre.com When I discovered I was pregnant, I went to Dr Kenneth Wong for my first scan. He then delivered the news that I was expecting twins. If I hadn’t been lying down already, I would have fallen down with shock, but Dr Wong was very kind and reassuring. His calm demeanour – and his in-depth knowledge of multiple pregnancies – was exactly what I needed. Dr Wong treated me throughout my twin pregnancy and after a long but ultimately unsuccessful trial of labour, my girls were finally delivered via Caesarean section after 37 weeks (full term for twins). Since this was my first pregnancy, I don’t have a point of reference, but I can’t imagine receiving better treatment anywhere else in Singapore. The clinic itself is small but very modern and comfortable, and appointments are judiciously spaced out so there are no long waiting times. I get a lot less sleep than I did before Dr Wong brought my girls into the world, but I nevertheless owe him a debt of gratitude for his superb care. Although Mother Nature decided not to adhere to my origin birth plan, Dr Wong guided me through our ‘Plan B’ and enabled me to have a relatively pain-free birthing experience. What’s more, nine months after my emergency C-section, the scar is barely noticeable, thanks to the doctor’s expert handiwork. I am also very grateful to Dr Wong’s nurse, Melissa, for her enduring kindness and efficiency. She took the worry out of the administration, and always took good care of me. Deborah Roberts, England
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The Vein Clinic 290 Orchard Road #12-01 Paragon 6100 8346 | www.theveinclinic.com.sg
Singapore Vein Centre 1 Orchard Boulevard Camden Medical Centre #11-03/04 6733 0377 | www.svc.sg I had a problem with varicose veins that had been causing pain and heaviness in my left leg; this was going on for some time and seemed to be getting worse. After I read about the clinic in Expat Living, I made an appointment in April, and had an operation in early May. Firstly, I had a colour Doppler ultrasound scan, and then endovenous laser therapy (EVLT). My treatment will be finished by the end of September. The clinic is very fast in terms of dealing with new appointments and treatments, yet it’s still so efficient. The staff are also very friendly and obliging. I was also very thankful for their explicit explanations and instructions before and after the operation. Since the operation, I feel more comfortable wearing dresses again and showing my legs in public. If my problem recurred, I would definitely go back to this clinic for treatment.
A painful and aesthetically unpleasant varicose vein caused me to seek treatment. I found Dr Tan through an interview he gave on Channel News Asia. In January this year, I had EVLT (Endovenous Laser Treatment) at The Vein Clinic, and I’ve been back for two check-ups since then. Entering Dr Tan’s office immediately gave me a sense of trust and confidence. He makes patients feel at complete ease, and dedicates the necessary time to them. He also gives a very clear indication of the medical problem and the procedure. The clinic is in a very nice location on Orchard Road. The fact that there are windows in the operation room also made a difference for me. I really felt at ease. The homepage of the clinic is very well done, by the way, and it includes a video about EVLT. My life has been affected in a very positive way by this experience. The outcome of the EVLT was very good. I chose to have the treatment done without sedation so that I could observe the entire operation. One hour later, I walked out of the clinic on my own and without discomfort. The day after, I resumed my normal life without the need for painkillers. The only ‘help’ I needed for a couple of weeks was a pair of compression stockings. Luciana Tosio Keller, Switzerland
Maria Edeltraud Koeckeis, Germany
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Verita Advanced Wellness 308 Tanglin Road Phoenix Park 6737 2377 www.veritaadvancedwellness.com
Trinity Housecall 24-hour Hotline: 8223 4999 www.housecalldoctor.com.sg When we arrived in Singapore from Malaysia, the children were transferred from Lycée Français de Kuala Lumpur to the sister school here. A medical check-up was compulsory, so we contacted Trinity Housecall. We arranged with Dr Sebastian Kwan for the check-ups to take place at our home. He became our regular doctor for all sorts of daily ailments – which, as you can expect, are common with three lively children; everything from ingrown toenails to migraines. While riding a bike, I fell and hit my head against a concrete ditch. Again, Dr Kwan acted swiftly to suture my face at home, with remarkable results. After one week, the stitches were removed, and you would not know that I’d had the accident. Another time, he visited our house when one member of the family had unidentified chest pains and high blood pressure. After consultation, he referred us to a specialist heart clinic at Gleneagles Medical Centre. Dr Kwan is always professional, carrying out skilful examinations on the spot, and with all necessary equipment at hand. It’s a very personal and effective service. Van den Branden-Stessens family, Belgium
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Over the past year, I had indulged too much in dining out: brunches, high teas and more. I had gained 18kg in 12 months, and was devastated that my clothes no longer fit me! I became uncomfortable with my size, so I began investigating weight-loss options. I’m currently half way through the ReVeal weight management programme at Verita. After some initial assessments (saliva, urine and blood analysis) and a naturopathic consultation, I was provided with a nutritional plan based on my metabolic type and test results. I was given easy-to-follow meal planners, recipes, homeopathic remedies, supplements, custom aroma blends and a lymphatic drainage massage; all included in the programme. Verita is unique in that it offers a holistic approach. They offer many natural therapies (some I’d never heard of before!) as well as yoga and Pilates. The staff, including my personal nutritionist and wellness consultant, Karen, and Tiffany, my naturopath, are very knowledgeable; they really care about helping me achieve my goals. On the ReVeal programme, I’ve had great success in losing weight and fat (9kg in four weeks). I feel lighter and healthier, and I’m very excited about my new wardrobe! Nicole, Australia
HEALTH&FITNESS
DENTAL Aesthete Smilestudio 24 Raffles Place #02-04 Clifford Centre 6438 3811| www.aesthetesmilestudio.com I’ve been a patient of Dr Thean Tsin Piao at Aesthete Smilestudio for almost two years, including having orthodontic treatment for an improper bite (scissor bite). He takes the time to really understand the issue and what the patient wants, taking into account aesthetics and health in equal measure. The clinic has a fully digital system and a ‘Total Senses Concept’ that aims to make you feel comfortable and relaxed. I am very happy with my ‘new’ teeth and smile. Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. If you feel your teeth are uneven, missing or discoloured, it makes you look gloomy and shy. I was worried the first time I went to the clinic, thinking I would have to wear metal wires for years. Dr Thean explained the different options; I chose Invisalign, a system of clear plastic aligners that have to be changed every two weeks for a period of six months. I have never worn metal braces, but my friends tell me it’s painful every time they are adjusted, something I never experienced with Invisalign. Emily Aakre, Norway
Mount Elizabeth Orthodontic Clinic 3 Mount Elizabeth Road #10-03 Mt Elizabeth Medical Centre 6327 2237 | www.invisiblebraces.com.sg A few of Megan’s teeth had not come through yet and some space needed to be made in her jaw so they could come through properly. We found out about the clinic from Melissa, a good friend of Megan who was already going there. Dr Lim Hong Meng and the team came up with a good, practical solution for Megan’s problem, and at an affordable price. A few of the other places we had been to charged almost twice as much for braces! It shows that it is worth looking around in Singapore. The doctor was very nice and made this experience very bearable for our daughter. I even ended up getting some work done on my own teeth at the clinic, too. The thing that really matters is that Megan is now much happier. Megan Juget, Switzerland
MUSCULOSKELETAL Dr Chiam Tut Fu SportsMed Central 111 Somerset Road #01-10A Triple One Somerset 6733 9560 www.healthwayspecialists.com I managed to first pull a calf muscle while playing tennis and then, after initial basic treatment, I tore a ligament in my right foot. Rather stupidly, the latter injury was not due to sport but falling down a slippery stone staircase after a particularly heavy downpour. I received a new treatment called cold laser therapy – basically a non-intrusive form of physiotherapy using a ‘photon-gun’ that stimulates the affected area into repairing itself faster and more effectively. Dr Chiam was very friendly, talkative and eager to explain all aspects of the treatment, often going into rigorous details to ensure that I knew exactly what was involved; furthermore, he is fair in terms of pricing and keen to highlight limited treatment, rather than excessive (and therefore expensive) treatment. He has pretty much repaired the calf muscle and the ligament appears to be well on its way to healing; after a few weeks of treatment, I’m already back on the tennis court – but limiting the amount of exercise so as not to do too much too early. Marc Bardi, Switzerland
HEALTH&FITNESS
Freeman Wellness 48A Amoy Street (Inside Pilates Central on Level Two) 6224 1185 | www.freemanwellness.com I broke my femur badly in an accident. During recovery, I felt that my body was out of alignment and my posture was being affected by my not standing straight. I started Network Spinal Analysis (NSA) to address the issue, and now it’s an integral part of my life. I’ve been having NSA treatments for close to five years and with Dr Scott Freeman for the past two. I’ve also had a form of treatment based on breath, Somato Respiratory Integration (SRI), which you can learn to do on your own. The approach at Freeman Wellness is holistic: it addresses all parts of who I am, not just particular symptoms. NSA and SRI combined are a powerful approach to helping me feel more grounded and more at ease. Dr Freeman has an amazing gift of knowing what’s necessary for healing. The body does the healing, but it needs to be reminded of its natural state. NSA and SRI are powerful enabling approaches that catalyse this, facilitated by the doctor who has the insight and skill to take you to that place of self-healing. Network Spinal Analysis is a profound approach to experiencing holistic wellbeing. If you’re serious about your health, your wellness and your vitality – not just right now, but for your future as well – try it! NSA provides me with access to my ‘inner compass’. Everyone should know about it. Ashley Dickinson, South Africa
Osteopathic Treatment Centre 19 Tanglin Road #12-02 Tanglin Shopping Centre 6734 6440 | www.osteopathy.com.sg I had an old tennis injury that hadn’t healed properly; I also had a hormone imbalance. I found out about the Osteopathic Treatment Centre though a ladies’ coffee group at our children’s school. I’ve had kinesiology, osteopathy and cranial treatments there, as and when I’ve needed them, since 2008. David Wells treats the cause of the condition rather than only treating the symptoms. I have found that his awareness of the story of the patient’s body and the way he communicates this story are extremely accurate. Each time I have overextended my body’s ability while moving furniture, playing sport, carrying too much shopping, or even slipping on a slick pavement, I have been accurately and completely re-centred and aligned, and am pain-free as a result! Meanwhile, the kinesiology treatments have completely addressed the cause of my fatigue and hormone imbalance. Jean McTaggart, US
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Singapore Sports and Orthopaedic Clinic 6 Napier Road #02-12 Gleneagles Medical Centre 9734 3087 | www.orthopaedics.com.sg I hurt my back while training at the gym. It gradually got worse, until one day when the pain in my left leg became so bad I could barely walk. Part of one of my discs was pressing on the nerves in my spine. Dr Kevin Yip performed a three-hour keyhole surgery to repair the problem. As I teach traditional Japanese martial arts, it was important that I be able to quickly return to my previous fitness levels. I felt that Dr Yip, who is a keen runner, understood this and planned his treatment accordingly. The speed at which he was able to treat me was impressive: my first appointment, the MRI scan and the surgery all took place on the same day. I was able to resume teaching one week after surgery. The quick treatment also meant I was able to meet a client’s deadline for his website launch. Most importantly, I was able to support my wife through the birth of our first child three weeks after the surgery and to help take care of my newborn son – a necessity, as I will be the main carer for him when my wife returns to work! Martin Kennedy, UK
SW Yung Orthopaedics 3 Mount Elizabeth Road #05-07 Mt Elizabeth Medical Centre 6235 5225 | www.swyung.com I have always played a lot of sport, and when I started to notice pain in both my feet, I ignored it, thinking that it would go away. Over time it deteriorated. Dr Yung was originally recommended by a friend of mine back in 2003. Years later, in 2008, when I visited my GP about a pain in my elbow, she also recommended Dr Yung. Over two visits, I had a total of three neuromas removed. An interdigital neuroma is a swelling of a nerve in the foot. There are different treatments available, and I chose to have the nerves removed completely. The staff at the clinic are warm and welcoming. Dr Yung himself has a calming manner. On the first visit, he
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asked all about my background and discussed the options available for treatment. On follow-up visits, however, we would also talk about golf – we discovered we had a common interest! As for the feet, I no longer suffer from pain. I could hardly walk in the mornings; this was affecting everything I did, not only sport. All this has now gone, so my quality of life has much improved. I remember impulsively suggesting to Dr Yung that maybe we should take all the neuromas out, even ones that hadn’t formed yet, so I would never need another visit! Of course, Dr Yung smiled and said politely that it would be a better idea to treat them only if and when they form. Now that he has fixed my feet, perhaps Dr Yung can fix my golf handicap? Alison Sampson, South Africa and Australia
HEALTH&FITNESS
MIND AND SELF-AWARENESS SoulCentre (Meditation) SoulCentre Academy @ One-North #01-15, 7 One-North Gateway 9875 2372 | www.soulcentre.org
Innate 1 Orchard Boulevard #03-03 Camden Medical Centre 6835 9538 | www.innate.com.sg I had been suffering for around ten years from upper back problems. I saw doctors and had x-rays taken, but nothing serious could be found. I started yoga to improve my way of living, and tried osteopathy and massages, but the pain was regularly there and it prevented me from enjoying my life to the full. When I arrived in Singapore last August, an Australian friend told me I should try Innate. I really wanted to get rid of my chronic tension, so I started in October with two 20-minute sessions per week. I’m still continuing with the treatment today. Innate offers a new approach to osteopathy. It’s like a ‘re-education’ of your nervous system that leads to a self-correction process for your body. The practice is very ‘soft’ (no cracking!); you feel very relaxed after 20 minutes. Other than that, you learn little by little to release tensions and behave differently. Your body starts getting rid of old, wrong postures; it stretches more easily and ‘opens’. I feel much happier since starting these treatments. I’m convinced of the effectiveness of this method, and when I realised my oldest daughter had the same back and posture symptoms, I suggested Innate to her, too. Carole Turincev, France
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If we dissect the word disease, dis- ease, then it would be correct to say that unhappiness, dissatisfaction and lack of purpose are a type of disease that require treatment. A moment of truth arrived and I could no longer ignore that I was unhappy. It was time to take control of my life. A friend of mine inspired me to attend a free talk by Vikas at SoulCentre. They had me at ‘hello’. It is now almost two years that I have been part of the SoulCentre family. Vikas is incredibly wise and authentic, with the ability to present intricate concepts in a comprehensive way. He and Sally have a unique way of creating a safe, non-judgmental environment where everyone can evolve at their own pace. The tools and techniques you gain are very effective and work quickly. My newfound clarity, focus and happiness have had a positive effect on my whole family. As a result, I’m now a better partner, friend and mentor to my son. Inspired by changes in me, my mother attended a meditation course and has consequently manifested changes in her career that were earlier considered impossible. Your mind can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Meditation is a way to train your mind to be your friend. It’s the best investment you can make in yourself. Jana Dawson, Croatia
HEALTH&FITNESS
SoulCentre (Reiki)
The Counselling Place
SoulCentre Academy @ One-North #01-15 7 One North Gateway 8128 7418 | www.vikasmalkani.com
7500A Beach Road #04-323 The Plaza 6887 3695 | www.thecounsellingplace.com
I initially contacted SoulCentre when we first moved to Singapore, to have my children attend SoulKids, a self-confidence programme for children. I then learned about the centre’s reiki training. Since I was stressed and exhausted from certain aspects of my personal and business life, and remembered a very beneficial reiki session I’d experienced years earlier in California, I decided to enrol. Since early 2009, I have completed three levels of reiki training; I’m now capable of teaching others reiki. My children have completed two levels of reiki training. Walking into the SoulCentre you are enveloped in calm. Sally Forrest is a brilliant and caring lady who exudes joy and humour to everyone she meets. Vikas Malkani is a happy, exuberant and wise lifecoach. Together they have created an amazing centre for personal development. I’ve quit smoking and enjoy wine now only with friends, rather than to decompress each day. My stress levels have been greatly reduced and I have much more energy to spend with my children on the weekend. My children have learned techniques to help them deal with the stress of transition and school studies, and to enhance their memory. As a family we are much more calm, peaceful, playful and happy. Deborah Carlson, US
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My husband and I moved to Singapore last year, shortly after having our first child. I found that, with starting over and not having the same support system as at home, it was difficult to adjust. No matter how much we tried, we found ourselves constantly arguing. He seemed to think that with a helper and no job, I should have no complaints. Meanwhile, I was envious that his job looked like a five-star lifestyle, even though he was complaining about work stress. So I sought treatment at The Counselling Place and I chose a male counsellor at my husband’s request. We have been in counselling for about two months. We attend individual sessions to work on our own issues that we bring into the relationship. I especially recommend the EMDR treatment, which helped me to overcome some of my deep-rooted issues from childhood. We also attend couple counselling sessions to improve our relationship. We are working with Glenn Graves and have found him to be creative and constructive. He finds way to help us empathise and see things from the other’s perspective. I have seen a major change in my husband’s attitude and approach to home life and jointly caring for our child. He is more engaged as a father; in turn, this makes me focus more on what I appreciate about him. I am also able to empathise more with his job and his stress, so I’m offering more support and I think he appreciates it. We’re now talking in a way that seems more natural and not such an effort. Mary, US Glenn the counsellor
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HEALTH&FITNESS
By Verne Maree
O
n my modest 10km East Coast jog this m o r n i n g , I wa s going against the trickle of hundreds of athletes who had been going since 6.15pm yesterday. Already on their feet for some 14 hours, they were taking part in the annual Sundown Ultra Marathon – and this year the distance was upped from the usual 84km to a mind-blowing 100km. The farthest I run is 21km, a half-marathon, and I don’t intend to go any farther. But I’m used to the concept of ultras, because the world-famous Comrades ultra-marathon is run between my coastal hometown of Durban and Pietermaritzburg in the hinterland, 89 hilly kilometres away. (It’s “up” to PMB one year, and “down” to Durban the next.) This event has been going since 1921, when 34 young South African men who had survived The Great War donned flimsy plimsolls and set off to run the distance in honour of their comrades who had not. The rest, as they say, is history.
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Comrades
As far back as I can remember, masses of people from both cities and the towns and villages in between get up in the chilly, wee dark hours, make their way to preselected spots along the route and set up camp. As the sun rises, breakfast sizzles in a thousand “skottels” – concave, gas-heated griddles, rather like woks – and the first of many cans of Castle lager are cracked. Fleecy tracksuit tops give way to shorts, bikinis, caps and sunscreen – we’re there for the day. We braai chops and sausages, we cheer till we’re hoarse, we clap until our hands are red and bruised, we rub Deep Heat into grateful legs that still have such a long way to go. And all this is in addition to the dozens of official refreshment stations manned by thousands of volunteers. “Beat the Heat”, shouts the poster for Singapore’s Sundown Ultra, and I suppose the relatively cooler night hours make this superhuman feat slightly more doable. But to run through the
doubt-filled darkness of night, alone and with relatively little support, has to be far, far harder than doing the Comrades. When you’ve covered 86km and your glycogen-depleted body can barely trot, walk or limp, when every step is an excruciating effort, what keeps you going – madness, or heroism? Old habit dies hard: I greeted every ultra-runner I saw this morning, and those who were still sufficiently compos mentis acknowledged me with a weary grin or thank-you. They still had around 15km to cover; I hope they made it before the 12 noon cut-off time. Of all the running events I’ve seen during my 10 years in Singapore, this one seemed to have soul, a special camaraderie. South African runners out on the road will unfailing greet one another; Singaporeans tend not to. But today, even the other ordinary joggers out there seemed moved to be friendlier than usual, were smiling and saying hello. Comrades in arms? eL
© Yashabaker | Dreamstime.com
HEALTH&FITNESS
By Verne Maree
Both EVLT and Vnus Closure are used to treat varicose veins; there are different treatments for less advanced degrees of venous reflux disease. Dr Tan distinguishes between the following: Spider veins are smaller, usually 1mm or less in diameter, and closer to the surface than varicose veins. They appear as an unsightly, purplish network, often on the thighs. Injection sclerotherapy is the preferred treatment. Reticular veins are the intermediate level. The feeder vessels for spider veins, they show as bluish tracery a little deeper under the skin, and are also successfully treated with sclerotherapy. Varicose veins are veins that become so enlarged that they appear lumpy, swollen and twisted. They can be sensitive or even painful and cause the legs to feel heavy and tired.
D
r John Tan’s computer screen is showing me footage of the now largely outdated operation known as vein-stripping. As a long, spaghetti-like vein is literally pulled out of an incision in the back of the unfortunate patient’s leg, my gorge rises and I have to look away. “Sorry, I’m a bit squeamish,” I have to confess. My dad was squeamish too, and – like most of us – he was also a little vain. Plagued by varicose veins for much of his life, he would never wear shorts, because he was so self-conscious about the blue, grape-like bunches behind his knees. Even worse, if he stood for long they would itch and ache. Back in the 80s, the only surgical option open to him was the mechanical vein-stripping operation that I’ve just witnessed onscreen in glorious colour. He underwent the painful procedure under anaesthetic, three days in hospital and weeks of recovery, but it wasn’t particularly successful; other veins simply became varicose in place of the ones that had been pulled out. It was a risky business, too, says Dr Tan; there was always the chance of injury to nerves. Eventually, in the 90s, my dad underwent the then-new endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) and the results were excellent. I don’t remember him splashing out on a new wardrobe of shorts, though. By that stage he was in his 60s, and had probably realised what we all should know: that men look better in longs – unless they happen to be Roger Federer. But living in trousers for the rest of our lives is not something that most women would be happy to contemplate – especially here in the sweaty tropics, where shorts and short skirts are worn year round. Many of Dr Tan’s patients, he says, are expat women who, until they moved here from cooler climes, were able to hide the unsightly veins on their legs.
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We’ve covered EVLT on these pages a number of times, and for the past ten years it has been the gold standard for treating varicose veins. As the name suggests, it takes place within the vein; it’s not invasive and leaves no scars. And no matter how bad your varicose veins are, it is generally possible to treat all the affected veins. However, some patients do experience a degree of pulling and discomfort afterwards, particularly in the thigh area. Dr Tan has embraced a relatively new endovenous technique, one that uses radiofrequency (RF) instead of laser. Vnus Closure is gentler than laser, he says, but equally effective in treating the vein. As opposed to the reported 3-4/10 discomfort level reported by EVLT patients, those who have undergone Vnus report an average after-surgery discomfort level of just 1/10. The two options involve similar levels of pain during treatment, and they cost about the same. He sees a move to RF all over the world, but stresses that there is still an important place for laser, too, specifically for veins that are less than 7cm in length. The reason is that the new technique treats the vein in 7cm sections. “Instead of burning the vein from the tip of the application head, like laser does, this RF technique burns it in segments of 7cm at a time; this is called sectional ablation. The advantage is that it burns the vein evenly over each 7cm section. And in some cases, RF gives quicker recovery.” What does it cost? You can expect to pay between $7,000 and $11,000, the good news being that this expense is almost completely covered by the better expat health insurance schemes. eL
Dr John Tan is at The Vein Clinic, #12-01 Paragon Medical Centre, 290 Orchard Road. Call 6100 8346. www.theveinclinic.com.sg
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© Jacek Chabraszewski | Dreamstime.com
He reminds me that we’re dealing with vein problems, here, not arterial ones such as hardening of the arteries. “Arteries run oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body; veins are responsible for bringing the de-oxygenated blood back to the heart. It’s a one-way flow, and to do it well, especially from the feet back up the legs and torso, your veins need good valves. If your valves fail or are weak, pressure builds up in the vein and it swells.” As important as the aesthetics are, varicose veins are not merely a cosmetic matter. He illustrates this point with slides showing the six stages of varicose vein progression; the final one shows ulceration on the ankle, which I’m told is very difficult to treat. It looks particularly nasty; good thing I skipped breakfast. “Other complications associated with varicose veins include bleeding from a ruptured vein, phlebitis (inflammation), and also a higher risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis). The point is that it’s best to get your varicose veins treated, even if they aren’t troubling you now.”
REGULARS HOROSCOPES
STARS
FOR
August
BY SHELLEY VON STRUNCKEL
August 23 – September 22 August’s biggest challenge is ignoring the perfectionist side of your nature and instead regarding mistakes as an invitation to learn. So instead of worrying about the confusion that inevitably accompanies your ruler Mercury’s retrograde cycle, from 3 to 26 August, you’ll focus on delving into the source of problems. This leads to illuminating discussions and, in many situations, amazing insights. These would be useful at any time, but when the Virgo New Moon, on the 29th, introduces life-changing offers, you’re ready.
November 22 – December 21 It’s been a year of action and excitement, much of which you’ve enjoyed hugely. But the swift pace has meant ignoring so many details that you’re facing numerous complications. Consequently, Mercury’s retrograde cycle, from the 3rd to the 26th, is timely, as the minor errors it triggers force you to deal with exactly such matters. Once you’re involved, tackle things in depth and they’ll not only be done, you’ll be up to date for the even more wonderful events soon coming your way.
September 23 – October 22 Few things worry you more than confronting those who’re always unreasonable. Since this occurs frequently during August, you’ll learn a lot. A subtle approach or justifying your decisions, especially with complex situations on several fronts, just won’t work. You soon realise being forthright is the only way. And then, even if you risk causing upset, that you must stick firmly to your demands. Any initial anxieties are soon replaced by surprise and relief when certain perpetually troublesome individuals suddenly become uncharacteristically cooperative.
December 22 – January 19 Don’t be surprised if even simple plans don’t last. You’ll be facing frequent and sudden shifts in circumstances. That, combined with disagreements over decisions, could lead to a stalemate. While giving in is out of character, it’s also wise. Everybody, including those who’re most stubborn, is being forced to face difficult facts. This, in turn, could also mean you’re questioning certain firm views. Discuss these openly. Whatever the initial tensions, the more ideas you exchange, the broader everybody’s perspective will be – including yours.
October 23 – November 21 You’re enormously inquisitive, but when it suits you. So when there’s pressure to explore activities that you know will be dull, you gently but firmly refuse. You’ll be missing something wonderful – but you won’t know that until you plunge into exactly what seems so unappealing. Knowing that, when events force your hand, as is likely midmonth, take a chance. While initially you’ll wonder what you’ve got into, you’ll soon forget the past and recognise the promise in what or who’s involved.
January 20 – February 18 Ordinarily your ability to analyse both situations and the attitude of others is an asset. However, with the retrograde Mercury, from the 3rd to the 26th, causing all manner of confusion, dealing with even simple misunderstandings will require considerable patience. Perhaps that’s for the best, because the heightened emotions triggered by the Aquarius Full Moon on the 13th force you to delve into your own feelings and try to read those of others. Challenging as this is, what you learn resolves perplexing riddles.
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Do you want to know more about who you are and what you’re meant to be doing? The answer is to have your personal year and chart done. Visit www.shelleyvonstrunckel.com for more information.
February 19 – March 19 It would be wonderful if you could devise a tidy solution for various issues. Some are personal, others involve practical matters or tensions with certain individuals. In each you’re struggling to find something that that will work and keep everybody happy. Forget about that and instead focus on the source of problems. Impractical as this seems, you gain an unanticipated grasp on even complex matters. Discuss these openly and you’ll soon benefit from the support of those you were so concerned about upsetting.
May 21 – June 20 Disruptive as your ruler Mercury’s retrograde period is – from 3 to 26 August – it’s more about a constructive shake up than serious problems. Regard even simple mistakes as a mystery to be solved, and instead of simply remedying the problem, you’ll ask questions. The resulting insights put certain elements of your life, alliances and even goals in an unexpected, and fresh, perspective. Tempting as it is to reorganise arrangements right away, keep things loose until August’s close, when amazing ideas appear from nowhere.
March 20 – April 19 After a thrilling but gruelling period, the pace slows. Finally you’re focusing on practicalities in every area of your life. This is unexpectedly timeconsuming, mostly because of changes in circumstance and opposition from others, which means rethinking plans. Bizarrely, the confusion triggered by the retrograde Mercury, from the 3rd to the 26th, is helpful, because in seeking out the source of errors, everybody’s forced to review their goals. Thus, by late August, both your objectives and certain pivotal relationships are considerably improved.
June 21 – July 22 Mars is about courage, so its move into Cancer on 3 August, for seven weeks, promises excitement and progress – you’ll both stand up for yourself and confront others. While certain issues could reach a head, far more important are situations in which you put you and your interests first – often in way that previously wouldn’t have occurred to you. Consequently, it may not be until much later you realise what you’ve dealt with or achieved. If in doubt, you come first.
April 20 – May 20 Often clashes over differing views are just that. But now they’re encouraging you to explore various ideas and offers you’ve previously rejected or would otherwise ignore. While initially it could seem you’re being bullied into uninteresting pursuits, the more you learn, the broader your perspective becomes. This is timely, because the foundation of both your domestic life and of certain pivotal alliances is also shifting. The resulting insights inspire a lively exchange of ideas and breakthroughs in situations you regarded as unchanging.
July 23 – August 22 There’s no avoiding August’s confusion. Practically speaking, plans are best kept flexible. However, because late July’s Leo New Moon will have got you thinking about potential changes, even somewhat upsetting situations will offer valuable insights, if not reason to assess long-standing arrangements. Having made these decisions, you’ll be annoyed by the slow pace situations require. But this enables you to investigate every option. Any initial irritation is soon exchanged for fascination with what you learn about circumstances, others – and yourself.
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PHOTOGRAPHY / FAMILY
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REGULARS
Living in Singapore
alment of The fourth inst th ly d ia ry o u r n ew m o n e h ig h s, th at fo ll o w s th of trying lows and laughs Sing City. to find love in wonders This month, SGLS b ec o m es w h en d at in g monogamous.
This one even stumped The Gals. Here’s what happened two weeks ago. “So what’s the plan this Friday night? Some of my friends are meeting at Malone’s if you’re keen,” I say to the Italian I’ve been seeing for just over a month. “Oh, I no can do. I ’ave a date!” he replies with a smile and a wink. “Oh?” Quizzical look. “Yeees, a girl from my course. She finally say yeees,” he says with thank-the-Lord hand gestures. “Erm, what? Err, oh right …” “Daarling, I’ll call you if eet’s a disaster,” he interrupts. “Don’t worry about it, I’ve got to go to work,” I reply and make for the door, ducking out of a kiss goodbye. The weird thing is that when I left he looked hurt! Neither of us had said anything about being monogamous, and we’d never had a conversation about
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being girlfriend and boyfriend. But at least three dates a week (some of them full weekends) for over a month surely has to count for something? I thought that once you’d left the playground, abandoned getting smashed at dodgy student bars and got a real job you wouldn’t have to ask: “Do you want to be my boyfriend?” Am I being stupid? I don’t remember Captain Correlli asking Pelagia if she’d be his girlfriend in the book or the movie, and I don’t think Juliet enquired: “O Romeo, Romeo, wilt thou be my boyfriend?” So how long before you can safely assume you’re not going to be seeing other people? Perhaps it’s dictated by the stars and planets, but not being one for horoscopes I decided to give it a while, calm down and ask ll mio fidanzato what was going on. I managed to wait all of two hours before I bashed out (poor keyboard) a fairly aggressive (in relation to say, Benito Mussolini) email. The subject line? “A kiss is not a contract, but ...” Wink, wink, Flight of the Conchords fans. Here’s his response:“Oh darling, you make smile. You English are like Americans always finding the one.
I’m Italian we don’t think that. We enjoy women. We want them to have fun too. Don’t be angry, just smile. I like you to be happy. Come over Sunday, we’ll cook and I make you laugh again.” I did go on Sunday, he cooked the yummiest gnocchi I’ve ever eaten and I did laugh. I suppose I could continue “just having fun”, as one gal pal put it, but I’m definitely not cool with him seeing other women. No, it’s back to the Singapore dating scene for me. eL Check back next month to find out how our single girl has been getting on.
Looking for love? Why not try Expat Living’s new free dating service? It takes five minutes and nobody has to know! Email editorial@expatliving.sg with your 40-word personal ad, and it’ll appear on these pages. Don’t forget to include a personal email address and the type of person you’d like to meet. Visit www.expatliving.sg for more information.
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6235 0077 6263 4600 6738 7917 6324 4271 6222 3552 6622 5485 6318 3557 6532 5746
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6552 1111 6552 2828 6555 8888 6363 6888 6339 6833
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6542 4369 6545 2123 6377 6311
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PARTING SHOT
By Maria Francis
God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers. But what if the mothers can’t always be there either?
I
t’s Sunday afternoon. I’m trying to feed cereal to my baby. R is being fussy, his tiny hands flailing about – to be expected from a sevenmonth-old. But it does make the task of manoeuvring the glob of cereal into his mouth a difficult one. “Ma’am, he likes to hold his foot while he eats. Maybe allow him to do that first, then he will eat peacefully.” The voice comes from my maid. There is a pregnant pause. I stop and look at her. She looks at me. We look at the baby together. He now has his chubby fist wrapped around his foot, and is trying to grab the spoon with his free fist. Just like she said. She knew how he likes to have his cereal. But I am the mother! Why don’t I know what my son wants? So this is what it feels to be a working mom, I think. You miss your child’s little developments. Little things that make up R’s R-ness: “Ma’am, after you left,
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he tried to balance himself on all fours for the first time.” “Ma’am, just before you came; he was playing this little game of plopping back on the pillow and giggling.” “Ma’am, he sleeps two naps in the morning now, not three.” I don’t know that he prefers stewed apples over pears. That thunder makes him scared. At least, I don’t know these things until the maid tells me. True, there are weekday evenings and weekends. And there are hugs and kisses and laughter. But then there are moments like this: Mother versus Maid. I feel I’m reduced to a fleeting shadow. I’m the four-hourly caller for “How is he?” updates, the weekend bather, the cereal feeder who doesn’t know that R likes to hold his foot while eating. The weekend. Two blissful days. R has been with his daddy and me all the time. I have cherished every moment, almost selfishly keeping him to myself – nipping off for showers and toilet breaks only when he naps. And she has gazed on from a safe distance, not daring to spoil the family moment. Laughing at his antics from the kitchen entrance. It’s Sunday evening, R’s bedtime. He’s in his little PJs, examining his
surroundings with innocent curiosity. She lingers in the room once he’s changed. “You go on and eat dinner. I’ll put him to sleep tonight,” I say. She hesitates. I’m slightly impatient now, wanting R to myself. “Go on. It’s okay. You have an early night.” She kneels down beside the bed – a typical gesture of an Indonesian maid in the presence of her employer. She touches the baby’s tiny feet and says, “Let me look at him a while longer. I didn’t get to play with him the whole weekend. Usually it’s just the two of us.” I look at her and feel ridiculous. Almost ashamed of my jealousy. How can you be jealous of someone who loves your child? I should be relieved, not anxious. R has rolled over onto his stomach now, and he grins at her and me. The Mother and the Maid. The Life-giver and the Caretaker. We laugh together at his grin … two women united by their love for a child. eL Tell us a story! We welcome contributions from any reader for this page. They can be funny, poignant, practical or biting (a parting shot!). Articles of approximately 500 words can be submitted directly to contribute@expatliving.sg, or you can pitch ideas to the editors at the same email address.