SG Magazine, Jan 2 by Asia City Media Group

JANUARY 2 - 22, 2015

New Year, New Name!

S G M A G A Z I N E # 6 6 9 | P R E V I O U S LY I - S M A G A Z I N E since 1995

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

what’s on what’s new what matters

Along the Golden Mile, by Darren Soh—see ART page 8 Discover this and more than 75 awesome things to see and do in the next two weeks, inside.

WELLNESS

NEW BAR

TRAVEL

TECH

12 Ways to Start 2015 Right

Craft beer at Nickeldime Drafthouse

Climbing and more in Krabi

Smart Appliances

page 3 04

05 12 feature

Steps To Getting Fit

In With the New 10

4 top 20

6 nightlife

Best of the Past Two Decades

Jamie XX at Velvet Underground

8 music

10 art

3 Local Releases

M1 Fringe Festival

The app uses revolutionary technology to show you in real time where there are free taxis plying the streets of Singapore. In a bold and creative move, the app has done away with the rather boring and passé function of actually booking a cab. That’s right: the sole purpose of this app is to tell you of all the free cabs you’re not in.

14 motoring

18 food trend

The Island’s First Electric Bike

Bagels Galore

20 travel

23 interview

Krabi Four Ways

Lying Before Bulldozers

Who's in charge? Publisher & General Manager Ric Stockfis countrymanager@asia-city.com.sg

Designer Fishy Toh Multimedia Designer - Photographer Mossy Chew Wenzhi

Editorial Managing Editor Mrigaa Sethi editor@asia-city.com.sg Junior Writer Letitia Tandean

Advertising Director, Business Development Intan Agustina advertising@asia-city.com.sg

Custom Content Editor Clara Lim Custom Content Writer Joyce See

Senior Manager, Media & Marketing Shernan Plameras

Editorial Intern S. Sakthivel

Executives, Media & Marketing Lee Wee Keong, Roderick Wong, Joy Yao, Swathi Raj

Design Associate Art Director Beverly Chong Senior Designer Carmen Louise Ho

Where to find us! Bangkok Asia City Publishing (Thailand) Ltd 22/F, Silom Center 2 Silom Road, Bangkok 10500 Tel: 02-624-9696 Fax: 02-237-5656 bkmagazine@asia-city.co.th Shanghai shonline@asia-city.com.cn

Marketing Marketing Manager Silver Adrienna Ng marketing@asia-city.com.sg

Marketing & Admin Assistant Geraldine Tan Finance Finance Manager Lynn Legaspi finance@asia-city.com.sg Accountant Huang Huiping Group Directors Chief Executive Officer Gretchen Worth gworth@asia-city.co.th Group Digital Director Greg Duncan gduncan@asia-city.com.sg Cover photo by Darren Soh Cover design by Carmen Louise Ho

The Asia City Media Group

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Singapore Asia City Publishing Pte. Ltd. Block 211 Henderson Rd. #14-03 Henderson Industrial Park Distributed by Singapore 159552 Tel: 65-6323-2512 Fax: 65-6323-2779 contact@asia-city.com.sg

Unless you’ve been living under a rock recently, you’ll know that digital lifestyle has gotten a serious shake-up with the greatest invention since the Internet: yes, boys and girls, it’s the Land Transport Authority (LTA)’s groundbreaking, earth-shattering app, Taxi-Taxi@SG.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

“We had been studying the market for years, and it was clear that the public was really frustrated with the whole Sorry no taxis are available thing and taxi uncles accepting the booking and then cancelling two minutes later,” explained someone from within the LTA, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “So we decided to scrap that antiquated function.” Known for their love of jogging up and down the streets, Singaporeans on the whole are thrilled with the new product. “Last night, I was stranded late on Neil Road in a rainstorm, and GrabTaxi and Hailo had both failed me,” explained one PR professional decked in Prada. “Then I saw on Taxi-Taxi@SG that there were three free cabs at Outram Park! Score!” The lady went on to say that by the time she ran over to Outram Park in her stiletto heels, two of the taxis had been taken and the third was on a shift change journey to Pasir Ris. “No biggie. I was glad to have the workout,” she laughed. “My grandmother is in love with app,” said another user. “She was sad that technology had ruined the timehonored practice of standing upstream and stealing a poor jerk’s cab.” Neither Uber nor Comfort Delgro was available for comment when we tried to contact them. But we’re sure they’re quaking in their boots.

What’s in a name? For 20 years I-S Magazine has been the standard-bearer for irreverent, independent and indispensable coverage of the Singapore lifestyle scene. In that time we’ve seen the country shake off its Singa-bore reputation to become one of Asia’s most dynamic places to live, work and play. But with other magazines and websites obsessing over big name visitors and top 10 lists, we think there’s still a real need to support the local, the lesser-known and the just plain interesting. Rebranding as SG reinforces our commitment to doing just that. Our mission is to celebrate the best of Singapore, whatever form that may take, from co-working spaces and startups to local music, film and books to hot neighborhoods and indie events. We hope you like it.

SG Magazine is published 26 times a year by Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd., 211 Henderson Road, #14-03, Singapore 159552. Tel: 65-6323-2512 • Fax: 65-6323-2779. Copyright ©2014 Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. The titles “SG Magazine”, “I-S Magazine” and their associated logos or devices, and the content of SG Magazine and I-S Magazine are the property of Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. SG Magazine may not be distributed without the express written consent of Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. Contact the Publisher for ad rates and specifications. All advertising in SG Magazine must comply with the Publisher’s terms of business, copies of which are available upon request. Printed by KHL Printing Co. Pte. Ltd., 57 Loyang Drive, Singapore 508968. ISSN 0218-8872 MCI (P) 174/12/2014

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

up front HOT OR NOT

Singapore’s latest news, numbers and dramas at a glance

Our biweekly study of the city’s burgeoning (and dying) trends

OB INDEX Charting the ups and downs of Singapore's openness, tolerance and freedom of expression DEC

Hot: Fitness

Not: Drinking

The festive period has come to an end and it’s time to put down the beer bottles and champagne flutes (not to mention turkey legs) and get into the fitness kick. This New Year, we are going to help you eat right, keep fit and look chic while at it with our 12 Step Program on page 12.

Hot: Izakaya

Hot: Laneway 2015

Also Hot: Art Week

January is going to be a big month for events, with both Laneway 2015 and Art Week coming up. Get your fill as St. Vincent headlines Laneway, supported by FKA Twigs and Future Islands, and Art Week hots up at Marina Bay Sands Expo Centre and Art After Dark @ Gillman Barracks. For the complete lowdown on events, turn to SG Now on page 6.

More from the local artists, photographers and illustrators who make our cover shine.

appropriated the space in front of their units for their own use, where they have placed plants, laundry and parked bicycles. The long common corridor was once an icon of HDB blocks but is becoming rarer with new HDB designs so I felt it was important to make that photo.

The man responsible for our mesmerizing cover image, Darren Soh, is known for photographing various neighborhoods and buildings in Singapore. Here, he tells us how he took the image and what the Singapore of the future will look like. Tell us how you took this picture. The image was made from the top of the Textile Centre on Jalan Sultan, photographing downwards at Block 19 Jalan Sultan. From that vantage point, the common corridors of the block are reduced to graphic lines. I was mainly drawn by how the residents have

Last month, The Straits Times reported on the government’s response to a scathing critique by opposition Chee Soon Juan in the Wall Street Journal. The government letter called Chee’s assertions against the government “dishonest”. It’s unfortunate, however, that the newspaper did not also run a copy of Chee’s article, “A New Vision for Singapore”, so readers could get a balanced perspective. In fact, Chee claims that when he originally submitted his article to The Straits Times for consideration, he did not hear back from them.

Not: Omakase

The days of going ga-ga for freshly flown sushi and two hundred-dollar omakase sets are on the backburner for now, in favor of more street food concepts like The Refinery at Jalan Besar and new izakaya Neon Pigeon. For more food news, check out New and Noted on page 18.

ON THE COVER

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015

THROWBACK 20 We’re turning 20 this year and looking back at some of the best things that have happened to Singapore in the last two decades.

1 TCS-5 and TCS-8 started their all-day broadcasts in September 1995. 2 The Singapore Art Museum opened in 1996.

BE GOOD

Break the Bank Food Bank Singapore collects canned and packaged food and redistributes them to those in need. You can contribute by donating at its newly opened Food Bank box at City Square Mall, or you can volunteer or make donations. Volunteers can host their own food drive, put up their own collection box at their offices or even drive and deliver food to the underprivileged. For more information, visit www.foodbank.sg.

SAY WHAT? The best comments on our most popular web stories Ling Teo About damn time. Although Mum had been buying their stuff since the 70s… can’t say from where! —on “The Finns are here! Marimekko prints are coming to Singapore” Jeff Cheang Would it be hip to visit the store in flip flops and A&F tee and bermudas? —on “Finally, a Monocle store in Singapore” Caprina Ng Ice Cream Rangers! Assemble! — on “Is Singapore the next gelato capital?” Kamal Mututantri Smart move, they’ll make a killing over here. —on “Lululemon Athletica”

What do you think Singapore will look like in another 50 years? Singapore of 2065 will be a gigantic megapolis of towering skyscrapers and super dense public housing projects. Unfortunately the downside to that is a destruction of the people’s shared social memories established in many of these older spaces. Of course, not every old building can be saved and it would be naive to think so but there is certainly room for improvement when it comes to public discourse on the conservation of buildings.

On the Go?

For more information on Darren Soh’s show at Objectifs, see page 8. MRIGAA SETHI

Get the latest lifestyle news on our mobile responsive website

3 Remember when Singapore Cable Vision changed our lives? That was in 1999. 4 The first ZoukOut in 2000 drew a 9,000 strong crowd. 5 In 2001, we tasted recycled NEWater. Hey, it’s supposedly cleaner than tap water. 6 In 2002, we ditched our Farecards for EZ-Link that makes us tap out on exit. 7 The North East Line changed the way we travel in 2003. 8 The Southern Ridges connected three parks in 2004, with eight walking trails and tons more make out spots. 9 The arrival of Timbre at The Substation in 2004 altered the live music scene. 10 Clarke Quay got a major facelift in 2006, with a micro-cooling system that keeps the air four degrees cooler. Global warming who? 11 With 340 stores, VivoCity became the largest shopping mall when it opened in 2006. 12 The Float at Marina Bay became the world’s largest floating stage after it opened in 2007 (it can hold up to 30,000 people). 13 Our inner child rejoiced when the Mint Museum of Toys opened in 2007. 14 The Singapore Flyer started rotating in the opposite direction under the advice of a feng shui master, six months after it opened in 2008. 15 The 2008 Singapore Grand Prix roared in with the world’s first night race. 16 Marina Barrage opened in 2008, with green spaces and a reservoir. 17 Marina Bay Sands transformed a steamboat haven into a tourist attraction in 2010. 18 Singapore played host to the first ever Youth Olympic Games in 2010. 19 Resorts World Sentosa’s arrival in 2010 brought with it a theme park, two casinos and the world’s largest oceanarium. 20 The Singapore Sports Hub opened in 2014 and immediately hosted WTA Finals and the AFF Suzuki Cup.

For more lists revisiting Singapore’s history, visit our website. JOYCE SEE

G O L D E N G L O B E ( S ) ® , H O L LY W O O D F O R E I G N P R E S S A S S O C I A T I O N ® a n d G O L D E N G L O B E ® s t a t u e t t e d e s i g n m a r k a r e t h e r e g i s t e r e d t r a d e m a r k s a n d s e r v i c e m a r k s a n d t h e G O L D E N G L O B E ® s t a t u e t t e t h e c o p y r i g h t e d p r o p e r t y o f t h e H o l l y w o o d F o r e i g n P r e s s A s s o c i a t i o n . Copyright © MM-MMIX Hollywood Foreign Press Association. All rights reserved.

FIRST AND EXCLUSIVE

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J A N U A R Y 1 2 , M O N D AY AT 9 : 0 0 A M R E D C A R P E T A T 8 : 0 0 A M P R I M E T I M E E N C O R E 9 : 0 0 P M

now

the essential guide to what’s on in singapore Send your events news to art@asia-city.com.sg, nightlife@asia-city.com.sg, stage@asia-city.com.sg

SAT

Jan 17

FESTIVAL Super 0 Super 0 is back this year with an eclectic line up of DJs including The Field and Scharre from renowned label Kompakt. Plus there will be a dedicated mixology garden space, workshops on urban farming, art events and a silent disco. Jan 17-18, 3pm. Old SIA Sports Club, 24 Turnhouse Rd., www.super0. sg. $65-90.

TuE

MuSIC Crossing Seas

Jan 20

Taiwanese rock band Elephant Gym will play songs from their latest album Angle, which was nominated in multiple categories at this year’s Golden Music Awards. The bass driven, instrumental power trio will be supported by local post rock upstarts Sphaeras and Malaysian mix-rockers NOO. Jan 20, 7pm. Blu Jaz, 11 Bali Lane, 6292-3800. $26-40 from Peatix, including 1 album.

FRI

WED

TuE

Jan 9

Jan 21

Jan 20

ART Gilbert & George London-based duo Gilbert & George’s approach leads them to transform themselves into “living sculptures”. This is their first Southeast Asian exhibition where they will present 26 pieces depicting the modern world and the conflicting forces of authority, rules and rebellion. Jan 20-Apr 5. Arndt, #01-35 Gillman Barracks, 22 Lock Rd., 6734-0775, www.gillmanbarracks.com. Free.

FILM Collective Form A bunch of local short films exploring the themes of space and identity come together for Collective Form. On the roster are films like Exorcise Me and Sewing Room by Ang Soo Koon and The Bohemian Rhapsody Project by Ho Tzu Nyen. Jan 21-24. Objectifs, 56A Arab St., 6293-9782, www.objectifs.com.sg. Free.

NIGhTLIFE Tiko Disco The brainchild of two obsessive record collectors, Robin Chua (KiDG) and Bernard Ho, Tiko Disko plays vintage Asian pop, soul, funk, disco and other groovy rare finds from the ‘60s to the ‘80s. Expect English, Japanese, Hokkien, Thai and Mandarin numbers. Jan 9, 10pm. The Sultan Hotel, 101 Jalan Sultan, 9367-7125, www.facebook.com/tikodisko. Free.

NIGhTLIFE Jamie xx SAT

Jan 17

Part of the M1 Fringe Festival, this play revolves around the impending death of the Chinese father as his Malay son cares for him in his final days, hoping to finally learn the identity of his Malay mother. Jan 17-18, 8pm. Gallery Theatre, National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd., 6332-3659. $22 from Sistic.

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015

Jan 10

He needs no introduction as the producer and remixer of wellknown English indie outfit The xx. He’s also known for being a solo artist with garage/dubstep/electronica-inspired remixes from the likes of Four Tet, Adele, Florence + The Machine and Nosaj Thing. Jan 10, 10pm. Velvet Underground, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988, www.zoukclub. com. $28-33.

NETWORKING Drinks Entrepreneurs ThEATER The Malay Man and His Chinese Father

SAT

TuE

Jan 13

This international entrepreneurship networking event connects the local startup community. No name tags or boring presentations involved. Jan 13, 8pm. Cloud Rooftop Bar, Naumi Hotel, 41 Seah Street, 6403-6000. Free from Eventbrite.

now stage

dance Make It New This 10-day event that explores different aspects of dance (including performances, critical dance discussions and the relations of different dance disciplines) also marks Arts Fission’s 20th anniversary. Jan 30-Feb 8. Various venues, 6238-6469, www. artsfission.org. $38.

musicals SG PICK

Jayesslee These twin YouTube pop sensations are back in Singapore with another tour. With millions of hits on their covers like PSY’s “Gangnam Style” and Maroons 5’s “Payphone”, you can expect upbeat melodies and slow acoustic covers. Jan 16, 8pm. Kallang Theatre, 1 Stadium Walk, 6348-7907. $38-118 from Sistic.

Neighborhood Guide 6 reasons Sims is Singapore’s next hot neighborhood

Leo Sayer Known for his Grammy winning song “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”, the ‘70s pop and disco sensation Leo Sayer will be playing hits from his extensive back catalog as he visits Singapore. Jan 17, 7:30pm. Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. $50-250 from Sistic.

Michael Buble The four-time Grammy award winning pop crooner is touring in support of his latest album To Be Loved. Jan 16-17, 8pm. Grand Ballroom, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8868. $288-688.

Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather

Cats the Musical Andrew Lloyd Webber’s world famous musical based on T. S. Elliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats is here to enthrall audiences with its music and dance. A must watch for all musical fans. Jan 9-Feb 1, 8pm. Grand Theater, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8868. $65-195 from Sistic.

concerts Echolight, Paint The Sky Red and Deepset If it’s been a while since you listened to Bandung shoegaze or Singaporean post-punk, hightail it to this regional triple bill, an all-instrumental, all-moody affair with local band Paint The Sky Red, Indonesia’s Echolight and KL’s Deepset. Jan 3, 7pm. Aliwal Arts Centre, 28 Aliwal St., 8163-6722. $23-25 from Peatix.

Bastille This Brit Award 2014 winning indie rock band from London will play their big powerful anthems like “Pompeii” and “Laura Plamer” from their latest album Bad Blood. They’ve just put out a mixtape so look out for some new material as well. Jan 9, 8pm. The Coliseum, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 6577-8888. $110 from Sistic.

SG PICK

Guitar legend Larry Carlton (who has played with the likes of Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan) is joining forces with Steve Lukather of Toto as they play songs from their multiple award winning careers spanning over 30 years. Jan 21, 8pm. University Cultural Centre Hall, NUS, 50 Kent Ridge Crescent, 6516-2492. $88-148 from Sistic.

Stage Fright XVI The first edition of 2015 marks the 16th edition of Stage Fright. Expect lots of intimate and original music from artists like Cadence, Ashlyn Julia, Tiffany, Fym Summer, Clouds & Shadows and Joie Tan. Jan 21, 8pm. Artistry, 17 Jalan Pinang, 6298-2420, www. artistryspace.com. Free.

A Music Tour Across Continents Travel the world with songs from places like Spain, Russia, China, Japan, the Philippines, America and Latin American countries. Local composer/vocalist/musician John Silva makes a guest appearance and performs original music inspired by Singapore and Malaysia. Jan 21, 8pm. UCC Theatre, National University of Singapore Centre for Arts, 50 Kent Ridge Crescent, 6516-2492. $8.

Chiodos American post-hardcore band Chiodos are exploring new creative directions with their latest album, Devil. Original front-man Craig Owens returns to the line-up together with drummer Derrick Frost playing new material as well as a back catalog of fan favorites. Jan 25, 6pm. TAB, #02-29, 442 Orchard Rd., 6493-6952. $48-58 from Peatix.

Avenged Sevenfold Kerrang! The award-winning heavy metal band are here on the World Tour 2015 in support of their new album, Hail to the King. This blues rock influenced record inspired by Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin also features new drummer Arin Illejay. Jan 25, 7:30pm. The Coliseum, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 6577-8888. $118-128 from Sistic.

music festivals Choppa Festival 2015

Tycho San Francisco-born electronic producer Tycho is into dreamy, nostalgic music that’s more than a little reminiscent of old school Balaeric house music. What’s unique about his shows is that the tracks are performed on live synths with guitarist Zac Brown and percussionist Rory O’Connor. Jan 15, 8pm. Victoria Theatre, 11 Empress Place. $65.

This experimental music festival will feature more than 15 artists from around the world over three nights, playing electronic, acoustic, jazz and avant-garde music. Featuring Burkhard Beins, Gerry Hemingway and Daysuke Takaoka, among many others. Jan 22-24, 8pm. LASALLE College of the Arts, 1 McNally St., 64965000. $25-60 from Peatix.

SG PICK

Julian Casablancas + The Voidz Best known for his role as the lead singer of indie rock band The Strokes, Julian Casablancas’ side project Julian Casablancas+The Voidz involves lots of gritty experimental rock sounds. The band debuted in 2013, and they’ll be performing tracks off Tyranny alongside some select songs from The Strokes’ albums. Jan 10, 8pm. The Coliseum, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 6348-5555. $98 from Sistic.

Katsura Yamauchi, Szkieve and Balbalab This eclectic mix of music includes Japanese solo saxophonist Katsura Yamauchi, experimental musician Szkieve and local collective Balbalab who are known for their improvised electro-acoustic style. Jan 14, 8pm. Artistry, 17 Jalan Pinang, 6298-2420, www.ujikaji. net. $12.

Café Melba

Geylang

The Tuckshop

The vibe Sims Drive sits on the cusp of several neighborhoods, including Geylang, Paya Lebar and Kallang, and there’s no lack of old school charm around the area. But it also just might be the next hipster central; over 10 new businesses, from design firms to co-working spaces, have popped up here within the last year. And with hipsters comes third wave coffee—with hidden cafés like Brawn and Brains (#01-07 100 Guillemard Rd., 63488892, www.brainandbrains.sg), Backstage Café (#01-06 Performance Building, 158 Kallang Way, 6743-6893, www.backstageprojects.com) and the cluster along up-andcoming Cassia Crescent provide. Dining & nightlife Geylang’s delights need no introduction—we’re talking about iconic eateries like Lor 9 Beef Kway Teow, Wen Dao Shi Dim Sum and Yong He Eating House, of course—but new eateries are also setting up shop around the historical neighborhood. Roast meats specialist Char (393 Guillemard Rd., 6842-7759, www.char.com.sg) and hipster bar The Tuckshop (403 Guillemard Rd., 8511-8102, www.thetuckshop.com.sg) are just two of the “new wave” of eateries making Geylang cool again. Nearby, there’s Kilo (#02-01 66 Kampong Bugis, 6467-3987, www. kilokitchen.com) and La Barca Ristorante & Wine Bar (Block C 90 Goodman Rd., 63465813, www.labarca-sg.com) for date nights. And brunch crowds flock to Café Melba (#0156 Block N 90 Goodman Rd., 6440-6068, www. cafemelba.com.sg) and Loysel’s Toy (#01-02 66 Kampong Bugis, 6292-2306, www.loyselstoy. com) each weekend. Fitness From kayaking down Kallang River to rock climbing at Onsight Climbing (100 Guillemard Rd., 6348-8272, www.onsight.com.sg) to sweating it out at the Sports Hub (2 Stadium Walk, 6653-8900, www.sportshub.com.sg),

Laneway One of the most anticipated indie music festival returns, with St Vincent, Swedish dance anthem queen Lykke Li, synthpop band Future Islands, Swedish electronic musicians Little Dragon and breakout girl-wonder FKA Twigs, among other acts. Jan 24, 12pm. Gardens By The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr., singapore.lanewayfestival.com. $165.

Onsight Climbing

residents pretty much have no excuse not to get moving on weekends. Lots of green spaces, too: there are nearby park connectors and, come 2019, a new 10-hectare park in the beautifully untouched Bidadari up north. Future developments According to the URA, Paya Lebar Central is slated to be transformed into a fully-integrated commercial center in the next five years— visitors then can expect a bustling cluster of office buildings, retail offerings and public spaces. There will also be a new civic center at Geylang Serai, Workforce Development Authority’s adult education campus, the expanded campus for James Cook University, as well as a host of shopping malls around Lavender, old Kallang Airport and along Tanjong Katong Road.

ACCOMODATION Sponsored—Among the many developments in the area, up-and-coming condo Sims Urban Oasis (Sims Dr., www. simsurbanoasis.com.sg) promises to be a real dazzler with its upscale design and modern architecture. Think vertical greenery, pavilions and a 19th story sky park with a panoramic view of Singapore’s skyline. Brought to you by

Creating Thoughtful Spaces

Want to find out more? Download our free neighborhood guide from tiny.cc/DiscoverSims

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

now

Send your events news to events@asia-city.com.sg

ART

sCeNe & heaRD

Art Stage

by Letitia Tandean

This year’s Art Stage commemorates Singapore’s 50th anniversary with a specially-curated selection of Singaporean contemporary art. Artworks to be featured include Suzann Victor’s acclaimed work Contours of a Rich Manoeuvre, and Potong Ice-Cream $2 by art group Latent Spaces. You will also get the chance to attend guided tours as well as talks and panel discussions featuring renowned artists and curators. Jan 22-Jan 25. Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6224-4975, www.artstagesingapore.com.

SG PICK

urban Art This features contemporary art in an urban landscape in hopes to bridge the gap between nature and industry by presenting artworks fusing city life and nature. The exhibition along Orchard Road features outdoor sculptures including Park Chan Gul’s world-renowned sliced steel images. Jan 16-Feb 8. www.operagallery. com. Free.

Expose/Exposed: Cha Jong-Rye Acclaimed Korean artist Cha Jong-Rye has her first solo exhibition in Singapore showcasing 11 sculptures in the series “Expose/Exposed”. Working with wood as a medium, the artist treats wood as if it were clay or paint to create delicate wood pieces that contain lots of fluid contours. Jan 22-Feb 15. Redsea Gallery, #01-10 Dempsey Hill, 9 Dempsey Rd., 9668-7555. Free.

Michel Platnic: After Israeli artist Michel Platnic’s solo exhibition features dramatic living paintings in the form of video installations and large-scale prints. Platnic’s portraits are based after the iconic works of Francis Bacon and come to life with moving and still images. Jan 22-Feb 21. Art Plural Gallery, 38 Armenian St., 6636-8360, www.artpluralgallery.com. Free.

Vix Dance Club

The Future is here After a series of unfortunate debacles (drug busts, act cancellations) at the KL edition of Future Music Festival (Changi Exhibition Centre, www.futuremusicfestival. asia), the much-loved dance and music event is moving here. The largest music festival in the region is set to take over the island come Mar 13-14 with a lineup that spans genres like pop, hip hop and indie and acts like Avicii, Afrojack, Fatboy Slim, Knife Party and Robin Schulz. Expect over 50,000 fans to turn up so it’s best to nab tickets soon (from $148 for a single day).

Clubbed to Death 2014 may have seemed like the year of closing clubs, but it also has ended with a few exciting new additions. There’s Vice (3C River Valley Rd., 9068-

4417, www.facebook.com/ clubvicesg), a fist-pumping, Champagne-popping, Vegasstyle luxe dance club; Vix Dance Club (5/F Concorde Shopping Centre, 317 Outram Rd., www.facebook.com/ VIXDanceClub), a grand Chinese KTV lounge with a cutting-edge sound and lighting system, minus the gaudiness; and Show Club (#05-04/05 Bugis+, 201 Victoria St., 65099559, www.facebook.com/ ShowClubSG), a Mandopop bar that features live entertainment.

Lusts and Musts After much speculation, Monocle, tome of all that is overpriced and achingly desirable, has finally opened a Singapore store and bureau in Holland Village. The store is located in a shophouse at 74 Jalan Kelabu Asap in

Armen Agop: Transcontemporary

Monocle

Art After Dark Do some hob-bnobbing at gillman Barracks with an outdoor evening art party. as the sun sets, check out all the new shows premiered by the enclave’s galleries. there will also be talks by prominent artists, live music performances, tours of galleries and food & drink pop-ups. Jan 23, 7pm. gillman Barracks, 7 Lock Rd., www.gillmanbarracks.com. Free.

The Family Tree Future Music Festival

Chip Bee Gardens and stock Monocle issues and products for purchase. There’s also an adjoining café that sells little more than freshly squeezed orange juice and fancy mineral water (eye roll). But we’re willing to bet that won’t stop the throngs (including, possibly, us).

Vanessa Linares’ first solo exhibition in Singapore examines relationships in different forms and colors through paintings of trees and animals. The Spanish artists is heavily-influence by Japanese manga and is evident in this series full of imagininative pieces to do with friends and family. Through Jan 16. Barnadas Huang, 22 Dempsey Rd., 6635-4707, www. barnadashuang.com. Free.

Aliwal urban Art Festival Another Art Week highlight which brings together top local DJs, bands, artists and dancers for one action-packed celebration of creativity from the street and underground scenes. Expect lots of events and activities happening simultaneously across the gallery, carpark and live music room. Jan 17, 5pm. 28 Aliwal St.,6435-0131, www.aliwalartscentre.sg. Free.

Jogja Agro Pop

LOCaL sOuNDs News and new releases from Singapore’s music scene

This group exhibition features nine Indonesian artists, including Arwin Hidayat, Decki “Leos” Firmansah, Farhan Siki and Nano Warsono and showcases distinct artistic voices from a younger generation of artists in Yogyakarta by mixing images from pop culture, comics and fantastical characters into their art. Through Jan 18, 6:30pm. Equator Art Projects, #01-21 Gillman Barracks, 47 Malan Rd., 6694-3727, www.eqproj.com. Free.

Art in Motion 18 galleries from the Art Galleries Association of Singapore takes part in this festival full of exhibitions, curated talks and gallery tours. Art enthusiasts can gallery-hop with free buses. Jan 16-25, 11am. Various venues, 9858-6308, www.agas.org.sg. Free.

use Me by Vanessa Fernandez Better known as Vandetta, this R&B vocalist’s latest release is a collection of acoustic covers of R&B and soul from the 70s and 80s. $49.90 from www. sensemusicstore.com.

Behind These Eyes: The Catacombs Remixes by The Observatory An experimental remix of Catacombs by 11 artists from around the world like The Analog Girl, James Plotkin, VAVABOND and X’ Ho. $12 (for MP3 download) from www.ujikaji.net.

Basement Beats by Kyo Kyo’s very own YouTube channel launching on Jan 8 will feature in demand house music producer and remixer, KiNK. Sample their sound bites on SoundCloud www. soundcloud.com/clubkyosg. S. SAKTHIVEL

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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015

Along the Golden Mile

Egyptian artist Armen Agop creates granite and bronze sculptures that are both free-standing and wall-mounted. The sculptures have an other-worldly, futuristic feel, juxtaposed with the use of granite. Jan 22-Feb 21. Art Plural Gallery, 38 Armenian St., 66368360, www.facebook.com/artpluralgallery. Free.

Yang Fudong: Incidental Scripts The Chinese contemporary artist shows four works including “An Estranged Paradise”, a film documenting a new generation during the rise of China’s bamboo curtain and “On the Double Dragon Hills”, a twoscreen video recording the lives of workers in Jiaxiang in Shandong Province. Through Mar 1. Centre for Contemporary Art, Gillman Barracks, 43 Malan Rd., www.ccasingapore.org. Free.

hAPPENINGS Inside 3D Printing Conference and Expo The largest professional 3D printing event worldwide joins leading experts as they present talks and conferences about various applications of this emerging new technology. Jan 27-28, 10am. Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Raffles Blvd., 6337-2888, www.inside3dprinting.com. $499.

Books & Beer The first Book & Beer swap for 2015 is held at this cozy and casual restaurant with lots of beers on tap, strong coffee, yummy finger food and a range of books to exchange. Come with lots of books. Jan 24, 3pm. A for Arbite, #01-01 Aliwal Arts Centre, 28 Aliwal St., 8321-2252, www.arbite.com.sg Free.

Inside Bitcoins Conference and Expo The leading bitcoin trade show will be a first and is a must if you are a recent adopter of the growing crypto currency. The conference will feature talks by Coin Republic founder David Maskowitz and Tomas Forgac of Coin of Sale, both well known proponents of bitcoin in Singapore. Jan 29-30, 10am. Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Raffles Blvd., 6337-2888, www.insidebitcoins.com. $499 from Peatix .

SG PICK

This installation by photographer Darren Soh features images of architectural works made in the heritage-rich Golden Mile and Beach Road district. Expect enormous prints covering the ceilings and the floors of the gallery. A second show will be held on the rooftop space and shows the landscaping, layout and public spaces of Golden Mile. Jan 20-Feb18. Objectifs, 56A Arab St., 6293-9782, www.objectifs.com.sg. Free.

Singapore Art Week This festival features nearly 100 events, from art fairs to art walks, block parties, art discussions, exhibitions and gallery openings. Highlight include the Aliwal Urban Arts Festival (Jan 17) and the “Art After Dark” Party @ Gillman Barracks (Jan23). Jan 17-25, 11am. Various venues, www.artweek.sg.

Art Apart 5th Edition This art show will turn the rooms of the 14th floor of the Parkroyal on Pickering into an art gallery featuring pieces by the likes of German artist Kaja el Attar, French artist Bruno Tanquerel. Jan 23-25, 11:30am. PARKROYAL on Pickering, 3 Upper Pickering St., 68098888, artapartfair.com. Free.

The Thistle Bindery Turns 3 these local bookbinders celebrate their third anniversary with a marbling party and potluck. From 4pm, try your hand at marbling paper with a smorgasbord of colors and end the night with a potluck that starts at 6pm. Make sure to RsVP for one or both activities when booking a slot. Jan 11, 4pm. the Chevrons, 48 Boon Lay Way, 6668-8888. Free from Peatix.

now FestIVaLs 5 unmissable shows at M1 singapore Fringe Festival 2015 With a total of 18 events from eight countries, the out-there multi-disciplinary festival will have a plethora of choices. If you can only do a few, these are the ones.

literary Story Slam Singapore Whether you like listening to or telling stories, this storytelling event only has two requirements: stories must stick to a theme and must be based on real life events. Storytellers are also not allowed cue cards or papers. Jan 17, 7pm. Artistry, 17 Jalan Pinang, 62982420, www.facebook.com/storyslamsingapore. $5.

“Fantastic Piano”. Jan 2, 10pm. Kyo, #B1-02 Keck Seng Tower, 133 Cecil St., 6225-6001, www.clubkyo.com. $20-25.

SG PICK

outings Celebrate Monuments! Explore Singapore’s most recently gazetted national monument, the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple. This guided tour includes tales on the building’s decorative carvings, daily temple rituals and an experience of the Thaipusam festivities of the Chettiar culture. Jan 10-11; 24-25, 10am; 10:20am. Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, 15 Tank Rd., www.nhb.gov.sg. $3-5. With/Out

dating Lovestruck does Once upon a Bar

how Loneliness goes

With/Out This is a reimagining of 1999 autobiographical play Completely With/Out Character, an account of the first publicly identified AIDS victim in Singapore, the late Paddy Chew. Directed by Loo Zihan, it will use multimedia and video documentation to explore loss and absence. Jan 14-18, 8pm at Centre 42. $19-22. how Loneliness Goes A world premiere at the festival, this photography exhibition explores the sense of modern isolation in Singapore, one of the most densely populated countries in the world. By accomplished local photographer Nguan, it places people among the city’s architecture and mundane HDB locations. Jan 14-25, 10am-10pm at #04-01 ION Orchard. Free. White Rabbit Red Rabbit This one-man stage piece by Iranian artist Nassim Soleimanpour, who is himself unable to leave Iran because of his refusal to perform national service, will be performed

Mambo Night For a King

by Singaporean actors Lim Kay Siu, Pam Oei, Benjamin Kheng and Karen Tan. Each actor will take turns performing the play over four nights. Jan 21-24, 8pm at Esplanade Recital Theatre. $19-22. The Duchamp Syndrome An imaginative Mexican janitor in New York starts to make imaginary friends with things like toys, marionettes and even an iRobot Roomba out of loneliness. Although this play is about the American Dream, it’s ultimately about making our mothers proud. Jan 1415, 8pm at Gallery Theatre, National Museum of Singapore. $19-22. Mambo Night For A King Drawing inspiration from the hugely popular Mambo Jambo nights at Zouk, this is a series of recorded performances of Singaporeans doing mambo moves to Lee Kwan Yew’s From Third World to First: The Singapore Story. Yes, we don’t quite get it either, but it sure is going to be fun to see. Online exhibition at handsignsfortheking.com

For more on the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2015, visit www.singaporefringe.com. S. SAKTHIVEL

tV 5 women-driven nominees to binge watch before the Golden Globes how to Get Away with Murder This American legal drama stars the smokin’ hot Viola Davis as a law professor who becomes entwined in a murder plot. Suspense, drama and intrigue ensues. In its first season, with more seasons expected. universal, Ch 515. Lena Dunham

Orange is the New Black If you haven’t seen Jenji Kohan’s prison dramedy, with equal parts hilarity, anguish and amazing character studies, don’t even talk to us. Season 3 is scheduled for release in 2015. Girls Madam Lena Dunham’s study of four melodramatic millennial besties in NYC is three seasons in. Get ready to laugh, cry and squirm at the one-liners and awkward sex scenes. Season four is in the works. hBO, Ch 601.

Game of Thrones Although not female-directed (like Orange and Girls), Game of Thrones’ Daenerys and Cersei show the medieval world who’s boss. Currently 5 seasons with a sixth in the works. hBO. The Good Wife We’ve loved Julianna Margulies since ER, and our love has only grown since she became Alicia Florrick, a mom and wife who returns to her job as a litigator after her husband is embroiled in a sex scandal. There are six seasons available. RTL CBS, Ch 509.

The Golden Globes will be screened on Jan 12, 9am local time on RTL CBS, Ch 509.

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015

Dating and drinking totally go hand-in-hand. This subtle dating meet-up by Lovestruck has no name tags, rules or entry fee: all you have to do is show up. Plus, the happy hour has been extended until 8pm with 2-for-1 beers, wines and spirits. There’s also a host there, just in case you need help breaking the ice. Jan 14, 7pm. Once Upon A Bar, #01-01 Capital Square 3, 25 Church St., 6533-6822. Free.

workshops The Right Way to Draw Pick up basic skills in creating convincing representational drawings using charcoal and drawing pencils. This workshop runs for five Saturday sessions (additional $75 required for materials). Jan 10-31, 1pm. The Substation, 45 Armenian St., 6337-7535. $155.50 from Peatix.

Practical Photography for Busy People Learn fundamental photography techniques in varying genres and under different light conditions, as well as editing using Lightroom for web and print. Cameras are required but tripods are optional. Jan 8-15, 7pm. Camera Rental Centre, 32A/B South Bridge Rd. $280 from Peatix.

Writer-in-the-Gardens Workshop— Extraordinary Sensory Perceptions Conducted by award-winning writer Tan Mei Chng, learn about the various ways we experience the world through our senses. Pick up imagery techniques and make characters and settings come to life in narratives. Register via jezreel.see@gardensbythebay.com.sg. Jan 17, 2pm. Cannonball Room, Supertree Grove, Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr., 6420-6848, www. gardensbythebay.com.sg. Free.

Resident Advisor with Midland & Paul Woolford Few gigs get as big as this one. Backed by locals Cosa Nostra and Norman Chung, Midland and Paul Woolford play back-to-back at Kyo’s ﬁrst Resident Advisor party. Midland plays a mix of house, techno, dubstep and classic electronica and Paul Woolford mixes cutting-edge house, techno and improvised jazz. Jan 10, 10pm. Kyo, #B1-02 Keck Seng Tower, 133 Cecil St., 6225-6001, www. clubkyo.com. $20-25.

Zouk Soundsytem Presents Bob Sinclar with DJB He pioneered the whole summer-y dance tune vibes so it’s no wonder this French DJ is one of the most prominent EDM figures. This time, he spins tracks from his newest concept album Paris By Night alongside his repertoire of anthems. Jan 3, 10pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988, www.zoukclub.com. $28-33.

DJ Vadim: The Dubcatcher Asia Tour Cult Russian DJ Vadim headlines this dub/dancehall/ reggae party. Though not quite a household name, he’s been a big influence in the hip hop, electronica and alternative scenes since the ‘90s, having worked with big names like Kraftwerk and Public Enemy. Local DJ Kiat, of the Syndicate collective, opens. Jan 3, 9:30pm. Gem Bar & Lounge, 10 Ann Siang Hill, 6423-9562. Free.

Psychemagik This UK duo specializes in producing and remixing record collections and mixtapes with remixes of Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere” and their own compilations like “Magik Cyrkles” and “Magik Sunrise”. Plus, recent psychedelic remix projects include huge names like Boy George, Haim and Bryan Ferry. Jan 9, 10pm. Kyo, #B1-02 Keck Seng Tower, 133 Cecil St., 6225-6001, www.clubkyo.com. $20-25.

SG PICK

Creative Writing & Performance Workshop Led by American actor and writer Claudette Sutherland (who, by the way, has led over 2,000 classes), this workshop consists of three classes that will help improve your abilities as a storyteller. There is also a performance section where you can share your work. Jan 23-25, 11am. #02-01 Haque Centre of Acting & Creativity, 22 Dickson Rd., 9420-6960, www. methodactingasia.com. $300.

Sound Engineering Workshop Series The A Cappella Society organizes a workshop about everything you need to know about this style of singing with a sound system that consists of three principles and four voice modes. Participants should have basic sound tuning and harmonies. Jan 31, 3pm. #03-03 Aliwal Arts Centre, 28 Aliwal St., www.acappella.org.sg. Free at Peatix.

Outdoor Yoga Class Join the free yoga class lead by instructors from Space & Light Studios while enjoying the harbor views and tunes from DJ-yogi Amanda Ling. The 60-minute classes runs the first Friday of the month; bring your own mat. Jan 2, Feb 6, 6.30pm. R-evolution/Space & Light Studios, #03-09 Vivocity, 1 Harbourfront Walk. Free.

NIGhTLIFE

dj gigs No Party here feat. Axel Boman Kickstart the new party season with No Party Here’s second year of hosting kickass parties, this time with Swedish DJ Axel Boman who plays his unique brand of screw house music with hits like “Purple Drank” and

Stay in the Loop

Zouk Soundsystem Presents Hook N Sling with Lincey “hello Mister, pleased to meet ya” ring a bell? This Aussie DJ is known for his collaborating with high-proﬁle names like Goodwill in the romantic but catchy tune “Take You higher” and dance sensation “Reason” with NERVO. This time he’ll be playing his latest offerings like “Magnet” featuring Chris Willis. Jan 17, 10pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988, www.zoukclub.com. $28-33.

Zouk Soundsystem Presents Will Sparks with hong He’s only 21 years old but he’s been crowned as the distinguishing sound of the Melbourne nightlife scene and is a mainstay on Beatport’s Top 10 lists. He’s remixed songs like Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and The Chainsmokers’ “Selfie”, which basically makes him pop culture royalty. Jan 16, 10pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988, www. zoukclub.com. $28-33.

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FILM

indie screenings SG PICK

now in theaters The Theory of Everything Starring Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking, this film tells the story of his life in the 1960s, from his college days and the beginning of his world-famous work to his life with first wife Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones). Opens Jan 8.

aLteRNatIVe VIeWs Critical opinions you won’t see on the movie posters

Inherent Vice In the latest star-studded outing by PT Anderson (Punch Drunk Love, The Master) private detective Larry “Doc” Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) investigates a disappearance in 1970s Los Angeles. Based on a novel by literary biggie Thomas Pynchon. Opens Jan 8.

Birdman

Singapore by Singapore: From Myth to Neon Realism From the Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore comes a screening of rare and neverbefore-screened ﬁlms exploring Singapore’s evolution from mangroves and farming patches to its current urban metropolis. Expect to see a screening of Rajendra Gour’s historic ﬁlm Sunshine Singapore and the premiere of Chinatown. Electric Soul #01 by Nelson Yeo. Picnics encouraged. Jan 24 2015, 8pm. Lasalle Campus Green, 1 McNally St., 6496-5111, www. lasalle.edu.sg. Free.

Maaﬁnama...A Road to Redemption The Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore is holding a public screening of Maafinama...A Road to Redemption (a story of young Muslim girl’s journey in a small Indian village after she has been attacked by a group of men). The screening will be followed by a discussion. Jan 7, 3pm. Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) Board Room, National University of Singapore, #09-06 29B Heng Mui Keng Terrace.. Free from eventbrite.

Michael Keaton plays Riggan Thomson, an actor famous for his superhero role as “Birdman”, struggling to mount a play on Broadway. Also starring Emma Stone and Naomi Watts. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu (Amores Perros, 21 Grams). Opens Jan 8.

Taken 3 Liam Neeson is back again as badass, rage-filled exgovernment operative Bryan Mills (with hot ex-wife Lenore played by Famke Janssen of X-Men fame) and this time he has to escape from a false murder charge. Jan 8.

Black hat Convicted hacker Nicholas Hathaway (Chris Hemsworth) is temporarily released to help the authorities track down some mysterious and dangerous cyber criminals in this cat and mouse thriller set in the US and Hong Kong. Also starring Viola Davis. Opens Jan 15.

Into the Woods This mishmash of Grimm fairy tales is a fantasy musical based on the award-winning musical by Steven Sondheim and features an ensemble cast (Meryl Streep, James Corden, Johnny Depp and more). Opens Jan 15.

The hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies Directed by Peter Jackson; Starring Martin Freeman, Orlando Bloom, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen and Evangeline Lilly. “All this plot unfolds like obligation, a paragraph of book-report summary bulked up to feature length.”—A.A. Dowd, AV Club “It may occasionally seem to be aware of its undiluted preposterousness, but that hardly eases the experience of sitting through its endless cartoonish action sequences and overwrought emotional payoffs.” —Jonathan L. Fischer, Slate “This third installment of The Hobbit trilogy is allegedly the shortest of all of Peter Jackson’s Tolkien films, but my theater must have been orbiting a black hole because I could swear it swallowed up 20 years of my life.” —Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine/Vulture “One ring to rule them all, and one fatty final installment to remind us that this trilogy should have been a single movie, not three.”—Luke Buckmaster, Crikey “How much longer will the Blu-ray versions be, my precious?” —James Verniere, Boston Herald

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

feature

12 Step Program A dozen (fun, we promise) things you should do to get into shape this year. By clara lim CruCycle

o you’ve had a little too much to eat and drink over the holiday season and you feel like your liver has turned into human foie gras. We’ve got what it takes to get you feeling and looking better this year—just follow our 12-step recovery program.

01 Get dressed

Few things motivate one to exercise like splurging on a $500 high-performance workout outfit. Fortunately, yoga behemoth lululemon (#B1-11 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, www. lululemon.com) has just opened its first store here, hawking not just leggings (yes, the ones that infamously require thigh gaps) but also sports bras, tank tops, running shorts and sweatbands for men and women. But they’re not the first to get in on the lucrative market for highperformance sportswear here—US label Under armour (#B1-05 Orchard Gateway, 277 Orchard Rd., 6702-4918, www. underarmour.com) also debuted here last year and has rapidly opened three stores in a matter of months.

Start lifting

The vibe at new, pay-as-you-go strength training places like Solitude of Strength (#01-04 37 Lorong 23 Geylang, 8123-4362, www. solitudeofstrength.com) and The Strength Yard (58 Joo Chiat Place, www. thestrengthyard.com) is more fraternal than that of the snazzier mega-gyms. They’re unisex, but women who want to avoid gym bros can try level Gym’s (#0103 137 Telok Ayer St., 62224766, www.level.com.sg) Lift Like a Lady classes.

SG MaGaZIne FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015

a new sport for cheap 03 Try

The other sporting giant that just opened in Singapore is European retailer decathlon (#01-01 58 Kim Yam Rd., 62254773, www.decathlon.sg), whose fluorescent-lit, warehouse-like store is stuffed to the brim with insanely cheap entry-level sporting goods (hello $6.90 swimming goggles and $250 mountain bikes). With 45 types of sports represented and pretty much everything available to try out in store, it’s hard not to walk away with a new trampoline or snorkel mask or archery set.

Under Armour

Yoga Movement

05 class

...Or join a spin

Singapore’s first boutique indoor cycling gym 7cycle (27 Boon Tat St., 62228770, www.7cycle.sg) opened last year and was soon followed by crucycle (68 Duxton Rd., www.crucycle.com). Party animals wouldn’t feel out of place at either—they’re all about dark rooms, pounding music and a clubby blue glow. Intense!

04 the future

Ride the bike of

Forget clunky garden variety folding bikes. We keep seeing people whizzing around on the Strida and we want one, too. Just a simple triangular frame that you can straddle and pedal around on, it’s uber-lightweight and grease-free (since there’s a rubber-like Kevlar belt in place of a metal chain) and does away with so many bicycle parts that are unnecessary and antiquated. It’s not too pricey either; models start at $850 at Mighty Velo (239 Lavender St., 6396-6280, www. mightyvelo.com).

Go on a juice cleanse

Yes, juicing is back. While we’re wary of the miraculous claims of juice cleanses, it does feel great to detox after a big weekend. We’ll admit feeling holierthan-thou and lording it over the solid food-eating mortals has something to do with it, too. It can be pretty hard to choose one but our standby is the relatively new daily Juice (20 Lorong Telok, 6533-7119, 7Cycle

be healthy with atas vitamins air-flown from Europe to your home. Caveat: it’s not the best for your carbon footprint.

Wear a Fitbit

There’s a whole host of wearable fitness gadgets out there but the old standby Fitbit One (it’s been around a couple years) is still one of our faves. It’s a cool little piece of tech that painlessly helps track how many steps you’re taking, calories you’re burning and how well you’re sleeping each day. It’s more for selfmotivated types; either you’ll want to beat your numbers or you won’t. In any case it’s a mere $129 from Challenger (#02-34/35 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6736-6100), making it a cheap and cheerful alternative to a personal trainer.

The Strength Yard

Become a CrossFit junkie

One of the hottest fitness crazes around finally has a serious presence in Singapore at the brand new CrossFit Bukit Timah (220 Turf Club Rd., 62255059, www.crossfitbukittimah.com). The combined indoor-outdoor gym, or “box” as CrossFitters call it, is the biggest one here. It’s stuffed with hardcore equipment like kettlebells and giant tires—variety is a keynote of CrossFit—and hosts an accompanying range of classes for different levels. It remains to be seen whether the sport achieves in Singapore the cult-like status it has in the US.

There’s no lack of salad bars, soup stops and veggie restaurants around town, so we can’t believe it’s taken this long for someone to sort us out for what’s reputedly the most important meal of the day. Perhaps recognizing that starting the day with nasi lemak or buttery croissants is slowly (deliciously) killing us all, breakfast bar Whole & Hearty (#01-84 Icon Village, 12 Gopeng St., 9855-4290, www.facebook. com/wholeheartysg) provides organic oats and locally-made granola topped with fruit, nuts, homemade fresh yogurt, almond milk and the like. There are also “it” health foods like chia seeds, flax seeds and kefir, that probiotic drink that’s all the rage.

R-evolution

www.dailyjuice.sg), which has pretty a manageable three-day cleanse (six half-liter bottles of juices and smoothies in flavors like Pepplemint—pineapple, apple and mint). At $133 for a three-day cleanse, plus $15 delivery fee, it’s also one of the more value-for-money cleanses around.

Mingle with nerds 07 running

If running is your religion, the inaugural Runners Convention (Feb 7-8. Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Raffles Blvd.) is a must-attend. Local marathoner Mok Ying Ren, who snagged Singapore a gold medal at the 2013 SEA Games, will give talks alongside international athletes Lizzy Hawker and Ricky Lightfoot. There are also workshops on barefoot running and yoga for runners. Registration costs $5070 (including goodie bag) from www. trainlivecompete.com.

Stay flexible

Yoga may be a little passé, but it’s still a good staple to have in your exercise regimen. Apart from the big players, there are even more boutique options than ever, from the tranquil Meraki Yoga in the west, Yoga Inc. in the east and multi-workout gym R-Evolution (offering an unlikely combo of HIIT and yoga) in the south. But if you really want convenience, Yoga Movement (www.yogamovement. com) has opened new outlets in Tiong Bahru and Dhoby Ghaut this year. With four

Skip the kaya toast

CrossFit Bukit Timah

outlets, they’ve turned into a full-blown chain, but the instructors’ individual quirks, old school hip hop references in the décor and the relatively low prices remain.

Green Corridor Run

Safari Zoo Run It’s a little cheesy, but we think running through the Zoo and Night Safari sounds more interesting than the usual Marina Bay routes. They’ll even throw in free admission to River Safari. When: Feb 7, 4pm How much: $60-70 Register at: www.safarizoorun.com.sg, closes Jan 22 Marina Party Dash This easy 5k along Marina Bay has runners in costumes and armed with water pistols. Runners are encouraged to bust their “righteous dance moves” to the music along the course, and end with a picnic at Gardens by the Bay. When: Feb 15, 5pm How much: $43 Register at: marinapartydash.com.sg, closes Jan 31 Green Corridor Run This run has one of the best routes—along the seldom-explored former railway tracks linking Singapore to Malaysia. Even if you’re not much of a sports buff, it’s still pretty exciting to see parts of the island that are still relatively untainted by urban development. When: Mar 8, 9am How much: $43-58 Register at: www.greencorridorrun.com. sg, closes Feb 28 Runninghour The inaugural edition of this race has participants running alongside some 200 runners with physical and intellectual disabilities. You can opt to run blindfolded (and led by a partner) to feel what it’s like to be blind. When: Mar 25, 7am How much: $45-50 Register at: www.runninghour2015.com, closes Feb 25 Twilight Ultra Challenge Participants walk or run a 10km loop at East Coast Park for up to 16 hours overnight—so it’s not about how fast you are, but how long you last. There are stations providing everything from coffee to cup noodles to Nutella so participants don’t go hungry. When: Mar 28, 7pm How much: $100 Register at: www.twilightultrachallenge. com, closes Jan 31

Subscribe to organic produce

Organic grocery delivery services aren’t new, but Simply Fresh (www. simplyfresh.sg) skips the artisanal pasta sauces and delivers only organic fruit and veg. Delivered to subscribers weekly, each 5-7kg box contains hard-to-find goodies like black salsify, root parsley and seasonal fruits. The Office and School Box (ingredients that require minimal prep, $138) and the Smoothie Box (for your juicing and blending needs, $138) are ideal for time-pressed people who still want to

calendar Five runs to sign up for

Lululemon

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

is island

The latest openings and hottest trends in Singapore

MOTORING Riding High We see a lot of electric bikes and scooters whizzing around these days, but we’re never quite sure of the legalities of it all. Now, for the first time ever, the Land Transport Authority has officially cleared an electric commuter bike for road use in Singapore. The Vanmoof Electrified combines GPS navigation and smart power control with an electric monitoring system to measure your pedalling power and adjust motor output accordingly. Fancy! It can also run for around 60km before needing a recharge, meaning your morning commute might just get a whole lot easier. From $3,888. Test-ride or pre-order one at The Redundant Shop, #01-22A, 5 Everton Park, 6707-2005, www.redundantshop.com.

BEAUTY Hair Raising

Bad hair days hit us all, but new local haircare brand PHS HairScience is here to tame our tresses with their new collection of products. More than just styling tools, these are scientific hair and scalp products designed specifically for Asian hair to treat hair loss, dandruff and oily scalp. All the products are also formulated by certified trichologists (aka fancy hair and scalp specialists). Prices start from $39 for hair loss shampoo to $159.90 for a complete threeproduct kit, available from #04-34/35 Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Rd., 6692-0662 www.phshairscience.com.

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015

STYLE Bow Down

One of our favorite local labels Gnome & Bow is back with its second collection of quality leather small goods. Designer Quanda Ong continues his vision to weave stories into the leather, with this collection entitled Book II: Jekyll’s Hyde. The line features quirky elements from novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, including hidden quotes from the book tucked into pockets. The range includes coin cases ($125), card holders ($135) and wallets ($185). Available from Cumulus, #02-14 Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Rd., 6733-3486, www.gnomenbow.com.

HOME Silicone Valley

If you’ve been thinking about making the switch from metal utensils (you know they mercilessly scratch your pots and pans) to silicone kitchenware, give Sili products a shot. They’re non-stick, flexible and easy to wipe clean, made from heat-resistant silicon material that can withstand up to 230 degrees celsius. They’re also crazy cheap and come in a range of fun colors to add a bit of pop to your kitchen drawers. Oven mitts start at $7.90, bowls $6.90, whisks from $7.90 and cupcake moulds at $14.90. Shop online at www.sili.com.sg.

island

Belkin WeMo

TECH

Smart Home

iRobot Roomba 780

Pimp your pad with these new automated products that do the thinking for you. By Kanin Srimaneekulroj

Somfy Home Motion

Nuvo Home Audio

Somfy Home Motion

Belkin WeMo

Nuvo Home Audio

What it does: A series of remotecontrolled motors attached to your curtains, blinds and doors. They can also be wired to communicate with a weather sensor, allowing automatic reactions to different weather conditions. A central hub device is required for signal broadcasting and custom settings. We like: Our favorite function has to be Somfy’s automatic reaction capabilities. Granted, Singapore is almost perpetually sunny, so the weather sensors might not see too much use, but the ability to set timers for all your curtains and blinds to open and close automatically is pretty cool. We don’t like: If you’re interested in automating your doors and curtains with Somfy, be prepared for construction work. All three of Somfy’s required devices—the motors, the hub and the sensor––need dedicated wiring, and might require you to break open a few walls. Price: Approximately $400 per door/$800 per curtain set (depending on model and installation). Available at J&S Design, #04-07 Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Rd., 6334-3933, www.jsdesign.com.sg

What it does: WeMo is a line of products focused on automating various electronic devices in your home. Comprising special power outlets, light switches and even cooking pots, WeMo aims to give you full control of your household appliances through your smartphone. We like: It’s an excellent launching point for anyone looking to automate their homes, with a diverse and user-friendly catalogue of products. Our favorite is the WeMo Insight Switch with its ability to control any electrical device via a free iOS and Android app. The Insight Switch also tracks energy usage through the app, potentially cutting your bills significantly. We don’t like: WeMo products, unlike many other smart home products, broadcast and receive orders via the internet over Wi-Fi instead of a special proprietary signal like infrared or Bluetooth. This means they’re rendered useless without an internet connection. Price: $109-$199 (depending on model). Available at Courts Megastore, 50 Tampines North Drive 2, 1800 222-6868, www.courts.com.sg.

What it does: Using one central command unit, you can stream music from your phone, USB drive, CD or even TV audio anywhere inside your home and listen to it throughout the house. We like: Perfect for house parties, Nuvo’s excellent multi-channel audio system allows you to play one or even multiple songs anywhere in your house. You can be listening to one song in the living room, and your boyfriend can listen to his own songs in the bedroom. You can also use the system in conjunction with your entertainment center setup, giving your movies cinema-quality levels of immersion. An official companion app allows users to control the Nuvo command hub from anywhere with their smartphone. We don’t like: While the command unit is simple enough to install, it does have a limited range, and might not work as ideally in larger homes without also getting wall-mounted range extenders, bringing up the cost. Also, in order to use the companion app, the command units are required to be connected to Wi-Fi, which not all units support. Price: $1,000-$3,000 (depending on how many rooms you want to link). Available at Sota Home, #02-166, 551 Hougang St 51, 9456-1236.

What it does: Without a doubt, one of the best cleaning robots available in the market right now. Users can set up a time schedule for the machine, then sit back and watch the little disk-shaped robot slide (relatively) quietly across their floors, avoiding obstacles and picking up any unwanted particles along the way. We like: With improvements to suction, battery life and navigation, the Roomba 780 is a step above the competition. The increased suction means that even tougher cleaning jobs, such as picking up hairs ground into carpets, can be handled without difficulty. The 780’s improved navigation technology means it is less likely to tangle itself in wires or run itself off a ledge, common problems found in competitors. The machine is also smart enough to know when it is running out of juice, and can automatically return to the charging dock. We don’t like: While relatively quiet, the 780 is still far from silent. The machine is also only ideal for one-story houses or apartments, as it cannot climb stairs. While improvements have been made to the vacuuming and dusting mechanisms, the 780 can still get itself in a tangle from time to time. It also can’t bring us tea or serve us dinner…a later model, perhaps? Price: $1,298. Available from John Ackerman, #04-138, Blk 34 Upper Cross Street, 6532-3733, www.irobot.com.sg.

NEW SHOP Crate & Barrel (Orchard Gateway) The buzz: Having clearly tasted success in Singapore, American home décor brand Crate & Barrel has now opened a five-story megastore at Orchard Gateway that is supposedly aimed at “the people” (which means lower price points than the original Ion branch). The vibe: Despite the imposing, slightly industrial looking facade, the vibe inside is surprisingly cozy thanks to the use of neutral colors and lots of warm wood. Each level is themed by room type, with their home décor products set up showroom style so you can imagine how your home might look. It’s a bit like Ikea’s sophisticated older sister. The goods: A homemaker’s wonderland. It starts with products relating to the kitchen on the bottom floor and goes all the way through to bedroom

items on the fifth level. In many sections, items are arranged according to price instead of just brand, so you can stick to browsing within your budget. We particularly like the entire room dedicated to glasswear (from $1.50 each) complete with handy signs explaining what drink each glass is meant for. Other products worthy of note include the range of ready-to-hang curtains (from $39.95) and the huge selection of kitchen knife sets (from $119.95). Why you’ll come back: Sure, we already had a Crate & Barrel in Singapore, but this is all on a much bigger scale and also feels much more practical thanks to the focus on smaller (and more affordable) items that can fit into the average Singaporean apartment.

Open daily 10am-10pm. #B2-01 to #03-07 Orchard Gateway, 277 Orchard Rd., 6634-8488, www.crateandbarrel.com. EIMEAR ELKINGTON

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

island Send your news to style@asia-city.com.sg

STYLE NOTES with Eimear Elkington

printed season (lots of paisley motifs, micro floral and polka dots); new comfort (trousers and turtlenecks); exclusive yarn (luxury wool and cashmere mixes) and black watch (a sports line with checked patterns and navy). You’re looking at $1,790 for suits, from $199 for shirts and $329 for jeans. Visit the new store at #B2-234/235 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-7587, www.boggi.it/en.

BUY SPY Click Happy

I Choo-se You

Capsule 5

Capsule Couture Local womenswear brand In Good Company has just launched its new line, Capsule 5, which features more wardrobe staples and interchangeable pieces. Expect to see sharp tailoring from designer Sven Tan balanced out by Kane Tan’s fluid draping fabrics. Highlights include cropped boxy jackets (from $209), three-quarter sleeved shirts (from $99) and tailored cropped pants (from $99). Available from Tangs Orchard, 310 Orchard Rd., 6737-5500, or from www.ingoodcompany.asia.

Dapper Threads High-end Italian menswear brand Boggi Milano has opened its first store in Singapore with a collection spanning four themes:

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015

Jade jewelry can be a bit grandmotherly, but local heritage jeweller Choo Yilin is looking to change that with her new range of jade pieces (just in time for Chinese New Year). The label has Choo Yilin updated the ancient material by turning them into statement cocktail rings. Think jade bands offset with rose gold accents and oversized, brightly colored gemstones. Prices start from $398 to over $1,000 depending on the gemstone and precious metals used. Available from Tangs Orchard, 310 Orchard Rd., 6737-5500, www.chooyilin.com.

Very Jelly Rainy season is well and truly upon us and if you’re sick of ruining endless pairs of shoes (like we are) you need to invest in something rain-proof. If you’re more of the stiletto than gum boot kind of girl, get a pair of Melissa shoes from the new S/S 2015 collection. Aside from Melissa being plastic and rain-proof, they come in bright designs, heeled styles and now also complete with sparkles. Shoes range in price from $95-$295, available from #B2-03 Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Rd., 6235-2946, www. mdreams.com.sg.

We’re always drooling over Lomography’s limited edition offerings. This time around, it’s the Diana F+ Explorer Nocturne. It’s got the iconic, retro-looking flash and bronze casing, as well as some cute fox illustrations thrown in for good measure. The lens (which screws off for pinhole photography) produces lo-fi images, and there’s an uncoupled advance and shutter, so you can shoot multiple exposures on the same frame. $158, available from Lomography Embassy Singapore, #01-01, 295 South Bridge Rd., 6223 8850 or online at shop.lomography.com. EIMEAR ELKINGTON

The inside scoop on Singapore’s dining scene

eats

DESSERT Confection Perfection After a whirlwind year that included renovations to 2am:dessertbar, pop-up booths at Gardens by the Bay and a trip to Paris, award-winning dessert chef Janice Wong is at it again. This time, she’s released a book. Perfection in Imperfection: A Culinary Journey Through the Senses of Chef Janice Wong is all about her path to dessert nirvana. Plus, there are 31 desserts to try your hand at, too. Available on www.amazon.com for $55.

DRINK Return from Mars

Our favorite locally-inspired pop-up cocktail bar Mars Bar (The Duxton Hotel, 83 Duxton Rd., 9651-6714, www. mixesfrommars.sg) has just gotten its lease extended until June. In celebration, they’ve rolled out a new cocktail menu with 18 cocktails and two punches. Expect concoctions like tropical and vodka-driven Duxton Swizzle ($19) with lychee, calamansi and watermelon, and the Sago Jendol ($20), a take on a local dessert with aged rum, gula melaka, pandan syrup and honeydew.

GADGETS Java Machine

Start your day by brewing your own coffee with this sexy little number: the Wilfa Precision coffee brewer designed by Norwegian superstar barista Tim Wendelboe. This drip-style automatic home brewer is super scientific with its coffee-to-water ratio, perfect flow and brewing temperature, but it’s made simple for us with the push of a button. Available at Papa Palheta (150 Tyrwhitt Rd., 6299-4321, www.papapalheta.com) in two colors, black ($399) and aluminum ($499).

NOW OPEN Endless Summer

Sentosa isn’t the only place with cool beach bars. East Coast Park joins in on the beachside action with a handful of restaurants and alfresco bars at new lifestyle cluster Parkland Green. Our pick of the crop: Sandbank (#0128/32 Parkland Green, 920 East Coast Parkway, 6247-7988, www.sandbank.com.sg), serving up grilled meats and seafood (from $16), wood-fired pizzas (from $19) and lots of cold beers (from $12). There’s even a plunge pool outside should you need to cool off.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

eats Send your food news to food@asia-city.com.sg

NEW AND NOTED

NEW BAR Nickeldime Drafthouse

with Letitia Tandean

Sacha & Sons

The buzz: The city’s latest specialty beer bar does 15 rotating taps of seasonal craft beers from all over the world.

Gelato World Tour

Zott’s

Hot Off the Grill

Some of the folks behind New York and Hong Kong’s popular eatery Fatty Crab will open their latest restaurant at hipper-than-thou Keong Saik Road by March. Neon Pigeon (1A Keong Saik Rd., www.facebook.com/ neonpigeon) is a modern izakaya serving up Japanese-style small plates. Expect lots of sake, too, as the guys have been touring Japan’s breweries in search of the perfect rice wine.

Boiling Point

It seems like donuts no longer have the monopoly on holed breads—the bagel is now #trending. Aside from Two Men Bagel House (#01-12 Icon Village Altez, 16 Enggor St., 6509-4125, www. twomenbagels.com), our favorite vehicle for cream cheese and lox can also be found at Wild Honey’s new deli, Sacha & Sons (#03-02 Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Rd., 6735-6961, www.facebook. com/sachaandsonsdelicatessen). In true NYC deli fashion, they’re also serving matzah ball soup, potato latkes and java (from Common Man Coffee Roasters).

Cone-y Island

Singapore might just become Asia’s prime gelato city. The ice cream world’s esteemed Gelato World Tour (Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., www. gelatoworldtour.com) will bring 16 gelato chefs to compete for the title of World’s Best Gelato. There are workshops and classes on gelato-making, a gelatothemed dinner and a chance to taste the 16 competing gelato flavors.

Alpine restaurant Zott’s (97 Amoy St., 6223-0913, www.zotts.com.sg) has some new tricks up its sleeve this year. They’ll debut their tapas bar upstairs with an extensive list of obscure schnapps and vodkas, as well as launch a Sunday brunch (kaiserschmarrn before noon, anyone?) and a mobile bakery serving homemade breads, jams and cheese from different Alpine regions. Also in the works are a theatrical dinner collab with Skinned Knee Productions and cooking classes for singles.

Get weekly updates on new restaurants, bars and events

LUNCH DEAL JBM Coffee & Dining The deal: This French-inspired CBD eatery and coffee roasters offers casual reinterpretations of popular fine dining dishes. Their two-course lunch set ($23) includes a soup of the day and a choice of two mains, like a spicy prawn and crabmeat pasta in a seafood broth, or pan-fried chicken leg in wild mushroom veal jus with steamed veggies. Why it’s worth it: You get fine dining quality for a steal. Everything’s cooked using posh techniques—we love the above-average plating and components like veal jus and airy mashed potatoes.

Lunch available Mon-Fri 11am-2pm. #03-23/24/25 One Raffles Place, 1 Raffles Place, 6536-1047, www.jbmcoffeedining.com. LETITIA TANDEAN SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015

The drinks: A rotating list of 15 craft beers on tap from the USA, UK, Denmark, Japan, Germany and more. Brought by the keg, hot sellers run out pretty quickly and range in price from $12-18 a pint. If you’re indecisive, they’ve got tasting flights ($25) of four to five beers from breweries like Stone, Anderson Valley, Lost Coast and Buxton Brewing, or you can get a two-liter

The food: Beer-infused. There are hearty staples like stout meatballs with barbecue glaze ($15) and ale snapper fish and chips ($16) along with novelty creations like the beer crepes with granny smith apples ($12) and beer-based dough for pizzas. The music: Letting the beer take center stage, the music is mostly acoustic and kept pretty quiet. The crowd: A steady stream from the neighborhood in shorts, tees and flip-flops, as well as thirsty office workers looking for better brews. Why you’ll be back: Aside from the unpretentious and laidback vibe, you can’t say no to the range, and ever changing nature of the craft beers on offer.

#01-06 276 Thomson Rd., 6256-0261, www.nickeldimedrafthouse.com. Open daily 11am-11pm. LETITIA TANDEAN

Zott or Not

Foodie gossip

The decor: It’s quite a mish mash covering everything from graffiti-covered walls to American diner back-lit vintage signs. The bare brick walls and corrugated iron sheeting behind the bar, along with plenty of steel and piping, adds an industrial microbrewery vibe.

takeaway growler to fill with any beer for $30 if you prefer drinking alone.

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e.com Where to go to get java? a Check out thes damn good cup of e hang assembly outs. www.asse Coffee 26 Evan mbly.sg. s Rd., 6735 -5647, Chye Seng Rd., 6396 Huat Hard ware -0609, www.cshh 150 Tyrwhitt Jewel coffee.com Cafe . 6298-9216 and Bar 129 Rangoon JewelCafe , www.facebook Rd., AndBar. .com/ Jimmy Mon One-North key Café & Bar #01-51 6777-8470 Residences, 9 One, www .jimmymon North Gate Maison way, key.com. Ikko www.mais ku 20 Kand ahar St., on-ikkoku 6294-007 .net. Penny 8, Univ 9008-9314 ersity 402 East Coas . t Rd., The Plain www.thep #01-01, 50 Craig lain.com.s Rd., 6225 g. -4387, Toby’s estat 6636-7629 e #01-03/0 48 , www .tobysesta Rodyk St., te.com.sg .

Phoenix www.spruPark, 320 Tang lin Rd., ce.co 10:30 6836-552 pm; Sat-S m.sg. Open Mon8, un

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

escapes

Holidays, hotels and insider travel news

Koh Klang

THAILAND

Krabi Four Ways The Southern Thailand province is growing in popularity as a versatile holiday destination. Here are four ways to enjoy it. By Clara Lim Railay

Islanda Eco-Village Resort

Explore a Muslim Hamlet

Go Luxe Backpacker-friendly Krabi isn’t quite as glitzy as Phuket and Koh Samui, but there’s a growing number of luxe options. For starters, there’s the gorgeous Rayavadee Resort (214 Moo 2, Tambon Ao-Nang, +66 7 5620-7403, www. rayavadee.com), a sprawling 26-acre property hemmed in by beaches on three(!) sides and situated in the heart of the rock-climbing action on Railay. Closer to the busy Ao Nang strip is Centara Grand Beach Resort (142 Moo 2, Ao Nang, +66 7563-7789, www. centarahotelsresorts.com), where you’ll find lots of bars, restaurants and shops— convenient, if a little touristy. If you want serious peace and quiet, though, go off the mainland to Ko Lanta, a tranquil island favored by a more chilled-out crowd (lots of older Swedes) and stay at Layana Resort & Spa (272 Moo 3 Saladan, Koh Lanta, +66 7560-7100, www.layanaresort.com). For some of the best views in Krabi, head to the spacious, sleek Hilltop Restaurant (99 Moo 3, Ao Nang, +66 7563-7195, www.thehilltopaonang. com). Request a table on the grassy area away from the main building for the best view of the beaches below. Ruen Mai (315/5 Maharaj Rd., 089-288-3232, www. fb.com/ruenmaikrabirestuarant) is also very beautiful, with an open-air bamboo structure, soaring conical ceiling, rustic décor and excellent traditional Thai food. On a recent visit, most of the diners were locals on date night or at a wine connoisseurs’ get-together.

Get Your Hands Dirty The towering limestone karsts on Krabi’s famous Railay beach are awe-inspiring and an understandable favorite among rock climbers. There are over 700 climbing routes here; popular spots include the cliffs on Phranang Beach and those bordering Tonsai Bay. There are plenty of climbing schools and instructors if you’re new.

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015

Hong Islands

arrived, girls with shaved heads wearing wifebeaters and ageing hippies with identikit beaded anklets.

Island Hop

Rock climbers at Railay

Try Hot Rock (+66 08 5641-9842, www. railayadventure.com). Climbing tip: cover up your legs and arms to avoid scratches. Those not particularly into climbing should still visit anyway. Even hanging out in the sea, facing the shore and watching climbers and beach-goers is fun. You’re likely to spot: neo-rastas with formidable dreadlocks, scruffy white chillbros practising the zen of rock climbing, stoned backpackers who’ve forgotten when they

There are plenty of islands around Krabi to explore, and most hotels and resorts can recommend boat tours. Be warned: these tend to be quite touristy. The alternative is to take a cab (45 minutes from Krabi Town) to Than Bokkhorani National Park, from which you can visit the gorgeous little Hong Islands, characterized by limestone cliffs and fine white sand beaches. You can also snorkel around the shallow waters in between islands, but the waters around Krabi are quite shallow and unsuitable for diving. Another pretty-as-a-picture attraction is Emerald Pool (Khao Phra Bang Khram Nature Reserve, Klong Thon, 45 minutes from Ao Nang town), a hot water lagoon named after its gloriously vivid color, which comes from calcium carbonate deposits. Amazing for a dip after a long walk in the nature reserve.

If you really want to veer from the beaten path, set aside a day to visit Koh Klang, a tiny island just south of Krabi. It’s home to a few sleepy Muslim villages and is still largely undiscovered by tourists, so you won’t be able to find much info online. To get there, take a short longtail boat ride from Tara Pier just south of Krabi Town and get a room at Islanda Eco-Village Resort (Moo 3 T. Klongprasong A. Muang, +66 8 9614-2333, www.islandakrabi.com), the only resort here. It’s a well-kept little eco-resort, and although it’s pretty nofrills (don’t expect freshly-laundered fluffy towels and A/C) the infinity pool is stunning at sunset and the service is impeccable. You can rent a bicycle from the hotel or walk around on foot—there’s only one little road running through the island, on which there are no cars—and watch villagers fishing, farming (coconuts, bananas and rice paddies), dyeing batik cloth and working on simple crafts.

ESSENTIALS GETTING THERE The best way to fly is with AirAsia (www. airasia.com)’s direct route—it’s worth upgrading your seat if you’re worried about legroom (you can do this with their new online check-in service). Prices usually start at around $290 return, although they dip when there’s a sale. VISAS Singaporeans don’t need a visa for stays of up to 30 days, while most other nationalities can stay up to 15. EXCHANGE RATE $1 = THB 25

escapes Send your travel news and promotions to travel@asia-city.com.sg

ESCAPE ROUTES with Joyce See

Lombok

Jaipur Literature Festival

JAPAN

Kitty Frenzy

X2 Chiang Mai-South Gate Villa

FLIGHTS

INDIA

Going Solo

Mind’s Palace

If you’ve grown weary of Jakarta’s traffic and Bali’s crowds then you might want to consider adding two different Indonesian destinations to your 2015 must-visit list: Lombok and Solo. Both have just became a whole lot more accessible, thanks to the opening of new direct routes from Singapore by budget carrier AirAsia (www. airasia.com). There will be three flights weekly with prices starting as low as $79 to Lombok and $69 to Solo.

Literary types, it’s time to start planning a trip to India for the annual Jaipur Literature Festival running from Jan 21-25. Set to take place within the historic walls of Diggi Palace (Sawai Ram Singh Rd., +91 11 2680-5477, www. jaipurliteraturefestival.org), there will be over 180 speakers including travel writer Paul Theroux, British theater director Tim Supple and Man Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton. The best part? It’s free.

Looks like the world’s most famous cat just got eight rooms dedicated to her at the Keio Plaza Hotel (2-2-1 Nishi-Shinjuky, Shinjuku-Ku, +81 3 3344-0111) in Tokyo’s popular shopping district, Shinjuku. You get to pick from a funky pop deco room or a feminine fairy tale inspired room. Both let you take home Hello Kitty goodies that aren’t available elsewhere, thanks to their partnership with Sanrio. Rooms start from $474 a night. THAILAND

The X Factor A super plush private villa by the luxe X2 resorts chain has just opened in the heart of Chiang Mai, right by the south gate entrance to the old walled city. A standout for its modern minimalist design, the spacious X2 Chiang Mai-South Gate

Insider travel tips

Untitled-3 1

Villa (22 Nantaram Rd., Soi 5 Kor, +66 05 390-3606) property has six airy bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, its own pool, sunbeds, outdoor sala and a huge leafy garden. Opening rates start at THB 34,000 ($1,360). Oh, and Champagne breakfast is included as well. DEALS

The Price is Right If you’re the sort who’s always on a lookout for a better deal, you’ll want to bookmark Zuji’s new website. The online travel agent recently launched Zuji Exclusives (exclusives.zuji.com.sg), which promises “unbeatable” rates on hotels, flights and packages. They’ll give you the trip for free if you manage to find the same deal cheaper elsewhere, and will even offer a full refund if you change your mind within three weeks of booking.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015 SG MAGAZINE 21pm 22/12/14 6:00

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): Even in normal times, you are a fount of regeneration. Your ever-growing hair and fingernails are visible signs of your nonstop renewal. A lot of other action happens without your conscious awareness. For example, your tastebuds replace themselves every two weeks. You produce 200 billion red blood cells and 10 billion white blood cells every day. Every month the epidermis of your skin is completely replaced, and every 12 months your lungs are composed of a fresh set of cells. In 2015, you will continue to revitalize yourself in all these ways, but will also undergo a comparable regeneration of your mind and soul. Here’s my prediction: This will be a year of renaissance, rejuvenation and reinvention. AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): “Sometimes I can feel my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I’m not living,” says a character in Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. If you have ever felt that way, Aquarius, I predict that you will get some relief in 2015. Your bones won’t be straining as much as they have in the past because you will be living at least one of the lives you have wanted to live but haven’t been able to before. How you will handle all the new lightness that will be available? PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): “Erotomania” is a word for the erroneous fantasies people entertain when they imagine that a celebrity is in love with them. Laughable, right? Just because I have dreams of Game of Thrones actress Lena Headey texting me seductive notes doesn’t mean that she genuinely yearns for my companionship. And yet most of us, including you and me, harbor almost equally outlandish beliefs and misapprehensions about all kinds of things. They may not be as far-fetched as those that arise from erotomania, but they are still out of sync with reality. The good news, Pisces, is that in 2015 you will have the best chance ever to become aware of and shed your delusions— even the long-running, deeply-rooted kinds. ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): Most salamanders reproduce by laying eggs, but the alpine salamander doesn’t. Females of that species give birth to live young after long pregnancies that may last three years. What does this have to do with you? Well, I expect you to experience a metaphorical pregnancy in the coming months. Even if you’re male, you will be gestating a project or creation or inspiration. And it’s important that you don’t let your incubation period drag on and on and on, as the alpine salamanders do. I suggest you give birth no later than July. TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): Maybe you have had a dream like this: You’re wandering around a house you live in, and at the end of a long hallway you come to a door you’ve never seen before. How could you have missed it in the past? It must have been there the whole time. You turn the knob, open the door and slip inside. Amazing! The room is full of interesting things that excite your imagination. What’s more, on the opposite wall there’s another door that leads to further rooms. In fact, you realize there’s an additional section of the house you have never known about or explored. Whether or not you have had a dream like that, Taurus, I’m betting that in 2015, you will experience a symbolically similar series of events in your waking life. GEMINI (May 21-Jun 20): The Greek god Zeus had seven wives — Themis, Leto, Eurynome and Hera were among them. Another was his older sister Demeter, and a sixth was his aunt Mnemosyne. Then there was the sea nymph Metis. Unfortunately, he ate Metis—literaly devoured her— which effectively ended their marriage. In 2015, Gemini, I encourage you to avoid Zeus’s jumbled, complicated approach to love and intimacy. Favor quality over quantity. Deepen your focus rather than expanding your options. Most importantly, make sure your romantic adventures never lead to you feeling fragmented or divided against yourself. This is the year you learn more than ever before about what it’s like for all the different parts of you to be united.

AWARD-WINNING BISTRO

CANCER (Jun 21-Jul 22): Here are three of my top wishes for you in 2105: You will have a clear, precise sense of what’s yours and what’s not yours; of what’s possible to accomplish and what’s impossible; of what will be a good influence on you and what won’t be. To help ensure that

these wishes come true, refer regularly to the following advice from Cancerian author Elizabeth Gilbert: “You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. That’s a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That’s the only thing you should be trying to control.” LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): Author Robert Moss has published 27 books. When he talks about the art of launching and completing big projects, I listen attentively. There’s one piece of advice he offers that would be particularly helpful for you to keep in mind throughout the first half of 2015. “If we wait until we are fully prepared in order to do something, we may never get it done,” he says. “It’s important to do things before we think we are ready.” Can you handle that, Leo? Are you willing to give up your fantasies about being perfectly qualified and perfectly trained and perfectly primed before you dive in? VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): The fish known as the coelacanths were thought to have become extinct 66 million years ago. That was when they disappeared from the fossil record. But in 1938 a fisherman in South Africa caught a live coelacanth. Eventually, whole colonies were discovered in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa and near Indonesia. I foresee a comparable phenomenon happening in your life during the coming months, Virgo. An influence you believed to have disappeared from your life will resurface. Should you welcome and embrace it? Here’s what I think: Only if you’re interested in its potential role in your future, not because of a nostalgic attachment. LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 22): “Nothing brings people closer than business,” said composer Arnold Schoenberg. You could be living proof of that hypothesis in 2015, Libra. Your drive to engage in profitable activities will be at a peak, and so will your knack for making good decisions about profitable activities. If you cash in on these potentials, your social life will flourish. Your web of connections will expand and deepen. You will generate high levels of camaraderie by collaborating with allies on productive projects. SCORPIO (Oct 23-Nov 21): Deathwatch beetles have a peculiar approach to the mating game. Their seduction technique consists of smacking their heads against a hard object over and over again. This generates a tapping sound that is apparently sexy to potential partners. I discourage you from similar behaviors as you seek the kind of love you want in 2015. The first rule of romantic engagement is this: Sacrificing or diminishing yourself may seem to work in the short run, but it can’t possibly lead to lasting good. If you want to stir up the best results, treat yourself with tenderness and respect. SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): Dieterich Buxtehude (1637-1707) was a German composer whose organ music is still played today. He was a major influence on a far more famous German composer, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). When Bach was a young man, he decided it was crucial for him to experience Buxtehude’s music first-hand. He took a leave of absence from his job and walked over 250 miles to the town where Buxtehude lived. There he received the guidance and inspiration he sought. In 2015, Sagittarius, I’d love to see you summon Bach’s determination as you go in quest of the teaching you want and need.

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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015

Top floor. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Master bedroom ensuite. 948 sq ft. Spacious. Central. Right above Boon Keng MRT. 3-minute walk to shops & restaurants. Minutes from CBD. SG, PRs, minorities. They don't build 'em like this anymore. Won't be on market for long.

Singapore Tourism Board

last word

Geraldene Lowe-Ismail At 75, she is Singapore’s oldest working tour guide and the first person to bring walking tours to Singapore. Recently handed STB’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to tourism, she tells Joyce See about flying with chickens to Cambodia and why she would lie in front of bulldozers. I am naturally curious and interested in people. I think [to be a tour guide] you have to have that knack of drawing people out and asking them questions without being too upfront about it. I used to love going to Changi beach when I was young. I used to go swimming there; it was so serene before the airport was built out there.

I started to do tours to Cambodia in the ’60s. We used to fly in these old DC-3 planes, which were like buses. People would stand in the aisle with chicken and ducks. There was no division from the pilot, it was just a curtain. I went up and looked and half the cockpit didn’t have a windscreen. They were just flying on top of the palm trees.

I’ve been travelling all my life and enjoyed a lot of great trips. I think that’s good preparation for a tour guide; you understand the I’d lie in front of constraints that people have, with jetlag bulldozers to save and different climates.

When the war started, we stayed and stayed. We ended up getting a boat to India, but sighted a German submarine off Penang and jets flying It’s fun to show people whatever they’re across from Thailand. So we ended up a building. interested in. We have so many facets of life turning round and going to Fremantle that are hidden, even to the locals who don’t [in Western Australia]. Then we were realize what’s so fascinating because they see it every day. on the first flying boat from Sydney to Singapore. It took 3 days to reach with overnight stops in Darwin and Jakarta. In the 1950s, the tour buses weren’t air-conditioned and we were lucky if we had a microphone. We had all the I went to Italy to study Italian, when I was 24. That’s windows open and we’d usually go around Orchard Road where I first became a tour guide. I worked for a hotel and Padang and point out the landmarks. and the tour operator had run out of guides so I just got on the bus. The monkeys would grab the tourists’ handbags, they would jump from the trees at the Botanic gardens. Tours were just the same things said four times, “This is the coliseum” in French, German and Italian and English. Back in the old days, Americans were quite difficult to People started complaining they weren’t getting any handle. They were quite fussy but they gave big tips. They information. That was when I changed and started doing would never get down from the bus because they would something different.

see drains and cats and dogs everywhere and they didn’t like the smells too much. I was the first to start doing walking tours. It was fun because you end up in the heart of Little India in the middle of Deepavali and you get to share all the experiences, the food and the customs. I decided to give up full time work after I got married. When I had my three children, I decided to become a freelance tour guide myself. People who travel now are younger, they’re more educated, savvy and worldly. In the early days, it was mostly older people, because they had the money to travel, but it has now changed. I’m very involved with the heritage board and the Urban Redevelopment Authority. I spend one day a week going to the URA and identifying old photographs to tell them what the buildings were and who lived there. They don’t have the records, all they have are photos. I’d lie in front of the bulldozers to save a building. There are so many buildings I’m sad to see go. Why kill something that’s already there and so interesting?

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by Kathy Macleod

kathymacleod.blogspot.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

FIRST AND EXCLUSIVE

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