The Nanyang Chronicle Vol 19 Issue 09

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE

VOL. NO.

19

09 18.03.13 ISSN NO. 0218-7310

NEWS | 4

SHUTTLE DOWN? Buses A and B may be cut, following proposed new routes

FIVE-STAR WORDSMITH NTU’s new writer-in-residence on writing

REVIEWS | 16

Room for improvement at Open House

开放日筹备待加强

南苑 | 22

02 NEWS

THE NANYANG

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CHRONICLE 09

News Bites SINGAPORE

WORLD

$170 MILLION TO PROMOTE WORK-LIFE BALANCE

ELDERLY WOMAN GIVEN 1,000 TIMES RADIOACTIVE DOSE

NTU RESPONDS TO TENURE CONTROVERSY

Minister of State for Manpower Amy Khor announced on 14 Mar that a new fund called WorkPro will be set up to encourage employers to hire and retain back-to-work locals and mature workers. Small and medium enterprises will make up 70 per cent of the companies that will benefit from the grant. About $100m from the fund will be set aside so employers can implement flexible work arrangements. The total amount will be spent across three years to help employers with the proposed plan.

An elderly woman was given 1,000 times the correct amount of radioactive iodine after a doctor got confused about the dosage. Mdm Kaur developed a thyroid gland disorder in Mar 2007 and was later diagnosed with cancer. Two weeks ago, her family reached an out of court settlement with Singapore General Hospital.

But they are now attempting to re-open the case, accusing the hospital of causing Mdm Kaur to suffer from hypothyroidism.

She now requires medicine for life.

When Associate Professor Cherian George was not granted tenure last month, it sparked a controversy about academic freedom and NTU’s tenure process.

Over 800 students petitioned the decision. In his annual State of the University address delivered on campus last Tuesday, NTU President Bertil Andersson said the school’s promotion and tenure process “should not be influenced by political pressures of any sort and it should also not be influenced by pressure groups from within or outside the university”.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S4 OUT

FEMALE TEACHER JAILED FOR HAVING SEX WITH STUDENT

COMFORTDELGRO AND VISA SURCHARGE IMPASSE

N E W U N D E R G R A D U AT E PROGRAMME AT NTU

Samsung launched its latest phone, the Galaxy S4, last Thursday (14 Mar). The new phone boasts new gesture controls. For example, users can pause a video just by looking away from the screen, or scroll through music and photo albums with the wave of a hand.

The latest gadget is 130g and 7.9mm thick; slightly lighter and thinner than its predecessor, the Galaxy S3.

A primary school teacher was jailed for 12 months for having sex with her 13-year-old student on five occasions. The 32-yearold teacher and mother of three admitted to having sex with her pupil at Sembawang Park and at her home in 2011. In April that year, they began a relationship after a movie outing at Northpoint shopping centre. She could have been jailed for up to 10 years on each charge.

Taxi commuters will not be able to pay by Visa for rides in ComfortDelGro cabs come June.

Due to a breach of contract terms that saw passengers paying a 10 per cent levy for credit card services, Visa has issued an ultimatum to the taxi operator to pull out of their partnership.

Based on feedback from the National Taxi Association, 10 per cent of all taxi fare transactions are cashless.

A new undergraduate degree programme in Public Policy and Global Affairs will be offered this August. It will groom students for career and leadership roles in the government, nonprofit, and private sectors. The new Bachelor of Arts (Honours) programme includes an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines politics, international relations, public policy and public administration.

PHOTOS: INTERNET

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, 76, has been elected the new pope. Bergoglio christened Pope Francis, who is the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff in the last 1,300 years. He is also the first to take on this name in honour of St Francis of Assisi. The Argentine served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires before assuming his new office as the new elected head the of 1.2 billion-strong Catholic Church.

FRESH WATER DISCOVERED ON MARS

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced last Tuesday (12 Mar) that Mars could have supported life in the past. Upon analysing the drilled rock samples collected

by NASA’s Curiosity rover, lifesupporting chemicals like oxygen and hydrogen were found. This is the first time in history that evidence of fresh water on another planet has been discovered.

NTU

What’s happening on campus?

Discover NTU Libraries: Photo Contest The contest challenges participants to depict the value of NTU’s seven libraries through photographs. Participants may submit up to three original entries to librarypromotion@ntu. edu.sg and stand to win an iPad. The competition is open to all students and staff.

Visit blogs.ntu.edu.sg/library/ happenings for more details.

Where: Nanyang Auditorium & The Quad When: 12 Mar, 2.30-8.30pm

Dreams and Desires: Be Careful What You Wish For This adult storytelling session by Story Weavers, the professional performing arm of the Storytelling Association (Singapore), will explore one’s wildest wishes. Performers include Verena Tay, David Bok, and Rosemarie Somaiah. Ticket bookings can be made by phone (97760998) or email (bookings@ storytellingsingapore.com).

Where: Classroom 2, Level 2, The Substation When: 6 Apr, 8pm Cost: $15

Kopi Talk NTU Singaporean undergraduates can sign up for REACH’s Kopi Talk to share their concerns about local issues with Mr Chan Chun Sing, Acting Minister for Social and Family Development.

Possible issues for discussion include housing in Singapore, public transport services, the White Paper, and the 2013 Budget. Participants will receive Starbucks vouchers (while stocks last). Students can register at http://bit.ly/WEw91u.

Where: Student Activities Centre, Rooms 1 & 2 When: 22 Mar, 5-6.30pm

NBS Week This Nanyang Business School event features activities such as a Kinect dance competition, a school pageant, and NBS merchandise sales. The event also features a flash mob where over 100 participants will perform tasks while listening to instructions from an MP3 track through their earphones. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/nbsweek2013.

When: 21-22 Mar Cost: $14

‘Before I Die’ @ NTU

Flea Market The two-day ‘School Flea For My School Fees’ will feature 40 to 50 booths by blogshops, students, and F&B vendors. The bazaar, organised by For Flea Sake, is open to public. Items sold will include clothing, pastries, and secondhand items.

‘Before I Die’ is a global public art project that invites people to reflect on their lives and share their personal aspirations on a communal wall.

Founded by Candy Chang in New Orleans, the project creates public spaces that help people see that they are not alone in their struggles.

The project has been to many countries, including the USA and South Africa. Photos of completed walls around the world can be found at beforeidie.cc.

Where: Canopy K @ LT1A & Linkway @ North-South Spine When: 23 Mar-5 Apr

Nocturne 2013: As I Walk Through Life

Music Express 19: Finals

Conducted by the renowned Singapore guitarist Thomas Liaw, the NTU Guitar Ensemble will perform pieces inspired by each major stage of life. Tickets can be booked online at webx.ntu.edu. sg/ntuge.

Where: Lee Foundation Theatre (NAFA Campus 3) When: 24 Mar, 7.30-9.30pm Cost: $10

For those with a knack for putting words to a tune, the annual Chinese songwriting competition has extended their call for participants till 12 May. The winner will be able to walk away with $800 and a trophy.

Register at www.ntumusicexpress. com, and find out more at www. facebook.com/ntumusicexpress.

Where: Multi-Purpose Hall @ Hall 3 When: 18-19 Mar, 4-10pm

News

Partying hard at the Quad — Page 5

More buses for fewer routes Housing and Auxilliary Services (HAS) proposes to do away with shuttle bus services A and B. All existing buses are to serve route C instead.

Amir Yusof

A

s the bus crunch worsens, the Office of Housing and Auxilliary Services (HAS) has proposed doing away with Buses A and B. Instead, all resources will be channelled towards Bus C to reduce waiting time, and the crowds on the buses.

Currently, Bus C only goes in one direction.

It has the longest mileage among the three shuttle buses, as it loops around the halls of residences, and both the North and South spines.

HAS also proposed for Bus C to go in both directions.

If HAS's proposal is passed, students will be able to travel from the South Spine to Halls of Residence 6 and 8 without taking an extra loop.

These are part of HAS’s counterproposal to NTU Students’ Union (NTUSU). NTUSU's rejected plan was to add four new buses, which would cost an extra $440,000.

Cheryl Lee, NTUSU’s student relations executive, said HAS was reluctant to boost the transport budget.

“Our proposal involved an additional $440,000 annually and it was too la rge a su m.

Instead, they submitted a detailed counter-proposal that is more cost-

A LONG TIME COMING: The Housing and Auxilliary Services might just have the solution to the longstanding issue of inefficient bus shuttle service within NTU.

effective,” said Lee. Shaun Ng, 22, a resident of Hall 16 said: “Increasing the number of Bus Cs should be a priority. “ T he move to ma ke Bu s C travel both directions will reduce travelling around campus. The current situation for Bus C is simply unacceptable — two to three buses often arrive simultaneously, with waiting times stretching up to half an hour,” said the first-year student

from the school of computer engineering.

But should Buses A and B be removed, this would mean some parts of the school — such as the School of Art, Design and Media (ADM) — will not be as accessible.

Second-year ADM student, Hafeez Shah, 23, said removing Bus A will increase his travel time instead.

“I stay in Hall 1 and the fastest

route to ADM is via Bus A. Bus C stops at quite a distance from my school,” said Hafeez.

Some students also believe the HAS proposal will not effectively solve the shuttle problem of the overly packed buses.

“Students who normally travel via Buses A and B will now get on Bus C, the congestion in Bus C's route will worsen," said Siti Nurhanis, 19, a first-year student from National

PHOTO: ALLEN WANG

Institute of Education.

“It will divert the crowd to a single route, making the situtation worse," she said.

The criticisms for the HAS proposal show that it might not be a one-size-fits-all solution.

H AS stressed the proposal details are not finalised.

“N T USU and H AS are still evaluating our options for the shuttle bus system,” HAS said.

Fashion to fundraising sivAnAngAi Thirumeni

TAKE OFF ON THE RUNWAY: Contestants perfect their walks and poses to raise funds for charity.

PHOTO: CHAM TAW ZHENG

WALK. Stop. Turn. Pose. Ka-ching!

Fe w wou ld h ave t houg ht sashaying down a runway could be part of a fundraising effort for the NTU Students' Union (NTUSU) St udents' Fund, but that was exactly the case in the first-ever Fashion Carnival.

The event, which included the sale of food and blogshop merchandise, was held from 1113 Mar at Canopy K @ LT1A. It was organised by the NTUSU to raise funds for students from lowincome families.

“We thought the Top Model competition could generate hype amongst students, as fashion shows appeal to them," said Sia Ming Shuan, 23, event organiser and vice-

chairperson of the Students' Fund committee.

29 contestants strutted it out on the runway for a modelling contract with Shine Models and Talent Agency.

Shona Woo, 22, was crowned after two rounds of judging.

“I joined because I wanted to encourage more people from NTU to take part in fundraising activities for the needy," said the final-year student from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

However, the event has received its fair share of crticism.

Mabel Tan, 20, a first-year st ude nt f rom t he Sc hool of Humanities and Social Sciences felt the modelling competition was not the best way to raise funds.

“It takes away the focus from the charity aspect of the event," she said.

04 NEWS

THE NANYANG

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CHRONICLE 09

New orbits, spot-on weather Teo Ying en

N

TU recently commissioned Singapore’s first tropical weather satellite, which is set for orbit by 2016.

This latest project is a response to the government’s recent call for a push into the space industry by the Satellite Research Centre in NTU. The new weather satellite will monitor and gather data about the global tropical climate. It will orbit along the line of Earth’s equator with each orbit cycle taking 90 minutes.

This will enable more data to be collected, compared to existing weather satellites that pass by a single region only twice a day.

“The large amount of data generated from this satellite mission will be useful for local institutions to develop weather and climate models,” said Associate Professor Low Kay Soon, Director of the Centre and principal investigator of the project.

“The weather satellite will also help researchers understand the weather and environmental changes better.”

Raw data collected by the satellite will be passed on to the National Environment Agency and Earth Observatory of Singapore, where mathematical models will be created to better predict the weather and climate.

This isn't the first time NTU

has embarked on a satellite project.

The X-SAT, launched in 2011, is a micro-satellite that observes and takes images of Earth from space. The images taken can be used to monitor environmental situations such as forest fires.

The X-SAT was launched at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad in India. It's set to orbit for at least another year before completing its mission.

“Building a satellite is like a pinnacle of science technology, it is the most challenging job to build a space craft” Low Kay Soon Associate Professor Director of Satellite Research Centre

Meanwhile, the Centre is also developing a series of microsatellites classified as Velox. Two of the three Velox satellites have been built thus far, with the last of its series still under construction.

These micro-satellites are research prototypes that are being tested for eventual use in larger

satellites, said Prof Low. The science isn’t just limited to researchers and astronauts.

As part of the Undergraduate Satellite Programme (USP), selected groups of students are chosen to work alongside researchers and engineers to aid in constructing certain parts of the satellites.

A total of about 50 undergraduates ranging from second-year to fourth-year students are part of the programme.

Many of the alumni who participated in the satellite building as part of their final-year project went on to become research staff for other satellite projects.

In order to ensure the success of each satellite, rigorous testing must be done to prepare the equipment before each mission.

“Building a satellite is like a pinnacle of science technology, it is the most challenging job to build a space craft,” said Prof Low. As there is no way to recall or repair a satellite after it has been launched, every component has to be fine-tuned to adapt to the harsh conditions in space. Repeated testings are carried out to ensure a satellite can survive potential radiation harm and extreme temperatures, he said.

Despite all the challenges, Prof Low relishes every opportunity given to work on such projects.

“We will be the pioneers of the space history in Singapore. This is a unique sector and I’m passionate to work on satellites,” he said.

BEYOND THE ATMOSPHERE: Through micro-satellites (pictured above), Prof Low Kay Soon seeks to advance satellite imagery.

PHOTO: NTU

Combining schools of thought

BEST OF ALL WORLDS: As the new Dean of Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies, Prof Bo Gunnar Liedberg hopes to foster cross-disciplinary interactions.

PHOTO: CHUA KHIPIN

elizabeTh Tan BIOLOGISTS, chemists and physicists being taught to speak the same language of science — that’s what NTU’s new interdisciplinary programme is setting out to achieve.

After all, interdisciplinar y

research is meant to expand students’ knowledge across curricula, said the newly-appointed Dean of the Interdisciplinary Graduate School (IGS), Professor Bo Gunnar Liedberg.

“We are not training students to be everything at the same time.

Interdisciplinary research is about training them to have deep knowl-

edge in their area of expertise.”

The IGS focuses on three main areas of research: the building of a sustainable Earth, innovations in new media, and developments in future healthcare.

To do so, Prof Liedberg developed a programme to tackle social issues such as ageing populations and global warming. The pro-

gramme will explore pertinent and complex questions, he added, such as how to understand the interaction between how we feel and see.

The Swede took over from Professor Yue Chee Yoon — who held the position of Dean since June — early this year.

But Prof Liedberg is no greenhorn to the role — having worked with interdisciplinary research teams for seven years in Linkoping University.

Now at his new post, he aims to bring physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine students together at IGS to work on complex projects like sensor development.

“We’re looking at developing methods to identify sensor samples in blood, urine and saliva — this requires a lot of input from different disciplines,” he said.

The Dean also wants to make the IGS more global over the next year by establishing partnerships with graduate schools in Hong Kong, Germany, and Austria to offer students a more extensive global exchange programme.

There are also challenges ahead for the new Dean.

For one, he hopes that the new international outreach and global exchanges programmes will

attract more Singaporean students to pursue post-graduate studies.

“I think a problem Singapore faces is attracting students to higher education,” he said.

Drawing a parallel to his personal experience, Prof Liedberg said it was his wanderlust that drew him to take up a permanent position in Singapore last year.

He was taken by the appeal of trying something new, after three years of doing the same research in his home university. Singapore's prime geographical location was another pull factor.

“You can reach a huge number of places very easily within a couple of hours,” he said.

The avid traveller hopes to impart the same spirit of exploration to his students.

He also remembers to incorporate elements of Swedish culture into his new teaching environment.

“To fika is to go and have a cup of coffee. Our labs here are centralised around the fika room,” he said.

Sharing his culture with the local staff and students is the first step to acheiving a union of minds.

“Having coffee together helps promote interaction so people of different groups can come together,” he said.

VOL. NO.

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NEWS 05

THE NANYANG

09 CHRONICLE

Let the good times roll NTU celebrates achievements with unexpected after-party

NTU iN NUmbErS No.1 Renaissance Engineering Programme

Colin Tung & laura lewis

$1.2 billion to be spent on infrastructural changes

B

elt ing out T he Beat les’s I Want to Hold Your Hand on the Nanyang Auditorium stage, N T U P r e side nt Be r t i l Andersson was in a mood to party after delivering his State of the University Address at the Celebrate NTU! event.

And he had good reason to do so. In the past year, according to his speech, NTU welcomed mor e top A-le v e l s t ude nt s , climbed international university rankings, saw an increase in student experience, and secured an increase in research funding.

Prof Andersson’s speech also kicked off the inaugural Celebrate NTU! last Tuesday.

T h i s a n nua l event t hat celebrates the university’s recent achievements and recognises student, staff and facult y by giving out the Nanyang Awards.

I Want to Hold Your Hand was a fitting theme indeed, as much of NTU’s achievements was a result of combined effort between the university and students. “ We ne e d you r he lp a nd feedback to move things in the right direction — constructive criticism is something we are thankful for,” said Prof Andersson.

Students first

Greater communication between students and the university can be expected, said the NTU President.

It is now school policy that any significant changes to campus facilities will be accompanied by consultations with student leaders.

“This is a new model of student governance, or student democracy, where student leaders learn to take ownership and responsibility,” said Prof Andersson.

2nd most popular programme for top students in Singapore — Business and Accountancy course 8 new undergraduate halls totaling 5000 new places by 2015 32rd position on the Financial Times ranking for MBA program — NBS, 3rd best in Asia 43% increase in the top 15% of A-level intake TWO'S A PARTY: Professor Bertil Andersson and Professor Freddy Boey liven up Party at the Quad.

This new policy gives students more say in school affairs that are relevant to them, such as the design of new halls, new student spaces and bus services.

In response to student feedback on NTU’s transport situation, Prof Andersson said the university will continually push the Land Transport Authority to complete the new Jurong Regional line as soon as possible. The LRT line, which will connect to NTU is slated for completion by 2025.

Funds have a lso been set aside to replace the Sports and Recreation Centre's field with an artificial turf.

Heavy rains led to the field's closure last month.

In addition, eight new halls estimated to be built by 2015 will add 5,000 new hostel places.

T h i s e n s u r e s t h at e v e r y undergraduate who wants to stay on campus will be able to do so, he said.

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Follow The Nanyang Chronicle Facebook Page for more updates on our weekly photo caption contest.

Submissions will close every Sunday at 11.59pm and the winners will be contacted and announced the following Monday.

Winners will be notified via a private message on Facebook.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS The Nanyang Chronicle reserves the right to remove any defamatory, offensive or objectionable captions.

Hampers are not exchangeable for cash.

Celebrate at the Quad

“[Celebrate NTU!] is not just about my speech, lest it might be too boring a celebration," Professor Andersson said.

He pointed out other activities like the Party at the Quad.

Headlined by Butter Factory DJs and hall jam bands, it was a night of music, food, and dance for students and professors alike.

“This event makes campus life more vibrant. There are many students from different faculties, and I met friends I haven’t seen in a while," said Teoh Lai Xing, a second-year student from the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

The 23-year-old was at the event to perform as part of her hall’s jam band.

But some thought the atypical celebration event was a bizarre sight.

“It felt strange that there was a party going on in school,

PhOTO: NTU

so much so that it was rather contrived,” said Ken Chin, 21, a first-year undergraduate from the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering.

Explaining the reason behind hiring the DJs, the Associate Provost (Student Life) Kwok Kian Woon said: “It’s because this sort of thing… appeals to everyone.

There's much to celebrate and it's nice to see students celebrate together.”

“The students are naturally shy and all they needed was a little nudge to have fun,” he said.

“It's just experimental — we'll do it better next year,” he said.

Party at the Quad is a good example of the ongoing changes within the university — there is always room for improvement.

A s P r of A nde r s son s a id : “Future success will require that faculty, staff and student work together, we need to communicate and interact.”

$45 million learning hubs $50m pumped into refurbishment works (bigger fans, more student facilities) 54 new students at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine students in August 2013 57 new disciplinary divisions across the university 86th on Times Higher Education world ranking, jumping 83 places 110 new faculty apartments by 2015 $441m in research funding, five times increase from $80m in 2005

Lifestyle

SOME LIKE IT HOT (POT)

Hot pots literally bring out the sweat and tears over a meal. Wong Oi Shan takes you on a piping hot tour of hot pots from around the world.

MOOJAA 25 Keong Saik Road Singapore 089132 Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-2pm Mon-Sun 5pm-11pm Tel: 6536 4780 Average price per person: $25

W

hy struggle to decide between eating at a grill and a steamboat house, when you can enjoy both at once.

That was the premise for MooJaa, the brainchild of owners Shaun Lee, 30, and Sim Ching Wee, 31, who decided to introduce mookata to Singaporeans, after falling in love with the concept of a grill-steamboat.

“Coincidentally, Shaun had the recipe for the mookata broth, and I had the skills to run a business,” said Sim. Mookata, which means pork skillet in Thai, is a type of steamboat with a dome-shaped grill and a trough at the base to contain the soup broth. It resembles a hill surrounded by a moat.

Unlike most restaurants, where the grill is separated from the steamboat, the typical steamboat is taken to the next level at MooJaa. Rather than using regular charcoal, MooJaa uses binchotan — Japanese white charcoal that doesn’t produce soot and allows for the meat to be cooked evenly.

Cubes of pork lard are first placed on the rounded top of each grill to grease it. Strips of chicken and pork are then lined up on the sides of the grill such that the flavours are coaxed out while the pork and chicken is cooking.

When grilled, the chicken had a nice smoky flavour.

The oil from the melted pork lard and juices released from the meat trickle into the soup, giving the broth an intense savoury taste.

At MooJaa, besides the ala-carte options, the sets “Moo” and “Gai” ($39.90 each; serves two) feature sliced pork collar and boneless chicken respectively.

Served on a single plate, each set also consists of a large variety of ingredients like pork belly, prawns, squid, scallops, cheese tofu, and a healthy portion of vegetables.

But ensuring that the meat stays on top of the dome-shaped grill is a tough balancing act. “It always ends up in the soup,” said student Brandon Tan, 22, a first-time customer.

The highlight of the meal was the pork belly, which was thinly sliced and had slightly crispy edges after being grilled.

moated grill, cheese and coal (clockwise from top left): the pork lard in the centre helps to oil the grill, ensuring that the meat does not stick; cheese balls are a favourite among customers; mooJaa uses Binchotan, or white charcoal, which helps cook the meat evenly.

Photos: allen Wang

“It’s not just flavourful, but also very tender,” said Edwin Phng, 23, an IT technician and another first-time customer.

To complement the savoury taste of the meat, MooJaa offers two dipping sauces: spicy BBQ sauce, and a sweet sour seafood sauce.

The spicy BBQ sauce, which came with a hint of garlic and sesame, tickled the taste buds and brought out the full flavour of the meat.

On the other hand, the seafood sauce was tangy and light, a pleasant contrast to the spiciness of the BBQ sauce.

One of the more popular side dishes at MooJaa is the fried fish skin ($6) — a salty, crispy side dish that can be enjoyed either on its own, or soaked in the soup for a softer, soggier texture.

The oil from the melted pork lard and juices released from the meat trickle into the soup, flavouring the broth and giving it an intense savoury taste.

”

The cheese balls ($8) also proved to be a winner, with piping hot cheese that oozes out on the first bite.

To fight the heat from the grill and the sauces, the Thai iced tea and lemongrass drink (both at $2.50 each) were refreshing solutions. The iced tea was not overly sweet while the lemongrass drink had a mild citrus fragrance, and was a thirst quencher after a savoury meal.

Apart from MooJaa’s interesting concept, its service was noteworthy as well. At the start of every meal, waiters will help customers prepare and cook the food.

A word of caution, though: You will end up smelling like grilled meat.

WIN DINING VOUCHERS The Nanyang Chronicle is giving away 10 MooJaa dining vouchers worth $20 each.

Simply go to tinyurl.com/MooJaa-Nanyang, click ‘Like’ and comment ‘I Love MooJaa’ for a chance to win.

TerMS aNd CoNdITIoNS This contest is only open to NTU Students.

Contest ends 30 april 2013.

”

From Palette to Palate – Page 11 WA JAPAneSe ShABU ShABU

FREE flow of meat and a choice of up to 30 sides will be a steal for any student or working adult.

“Shabu Shabu”, an onomatopoeia, came from the sound of thinly-sliced meat being submerged in boiling soup.

Originating from Osaka, Japan, the meat is first cooked in the soup, then dipped in a citrus based sauce (ponzu)or

sesame sauce (goma). Traditionally, the soup is not drunk until towards the end of the meal when it is accompanied with rice.

At Wa, the buffet comes with an hour’s time limit, factoring in the cooking time as well.

Customers can also choose two out of five choices of broth — clear, sukiyaki, soy milk, kimchi and miso. But Wa’s buffet option does not offer the prime cuts of wagyu and kurobuta which they are well-known for.

Instead, diners make a choice from the buffet meat selection, which includes regular cuts of beef, pork and chicken. Their beef and pork slices have a springy and chewy texture, while the chicken is tender. However, the meat should not be left for too long in the soup to prevent it from being overcooked.

Zann Tan, 21, an undergraduate, said: "The pork is seasoned properly and I love the green tea. Not to mention, the service here is really good."

One of the more notable side dishes Wa Japanese Shabu Shabu serves is their Ika Tempura Onigiri, which is made on the spot and served warm. A bite reveals fried bits of squid, which are chewy and savoury, a contrast to the fluffy and vinegary sushi rice.

With hidden additional costs of up to $10 in the choice of soups and the limited selection of meat, Wa’s buffet is probably suitable for those who just want a quick lunch and are not fussy about their steamboats.

The standard Ma-La Tang was a terror-inducing crimson red broth, with a thin layer of chilli oil on the surface. Despite its intimidating appearance, it wasn’t numbingly spicy and was manageable for those who like spicy food.

The restaurant also caters to those with more delicate palates, with its non-spicy soup options like the Faithful Chicken Broth and the Preserved Sour Vegetable in Chicken Broth.

Their steamboat buffet (at $20.90++) offers free flow servings of 53 ingredients with no time limit. Everything we tried was delightfully fresh, from their vegetables to their home-made wantons.

“The food is of good value, and they have a lot of vegetables to choose from,” said Dr Hong, a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner ,and a regular customer.

Every hot pot meal comes with complimentary fried mantous, egg-coated glutinous squares and water chestnut jelly.

To quell the spiciness, try their signature Eight Treasure Tonic Tea, made with ginseng and red dates. Its light and slightly sweet herbal tea helps to cleanse the palate and reduce the meal’s “heatiness”.

Even though The Magic of Chongqing Hot Pot’s obscure location along the busy street of Tanglin Road, it matches up to the other hot pot restaurants in terms of food quality, making it worth a visit.

FierY red: szechuan pepper is the key ingredient in attatining the spiciness in the ma-la broth.

8 Grange Road #04-01 Cathay Cineleisure Lunch: 12nn-2.30pm Dinner: 5.30pm-9.30pm (Buffet only available from Mon-Thur) Opening hours: 12.30pm-10.30pm Tel: 6235 9906 Average price per person: $18

loVe me tender: in shabu shabu, the thinly-sliced meat is cooked in boiling soup for a few seconds to ensure it retains its springy texture.

The MAgic Of chOngqing hOT POT 19 Tanglin Road #04-06/07 Tanglin Shopping Centre Opening hours: Lunch: 10am-3pm Dinner: 6pm-10.30pm Tel: 6734 8135 Average price per person: $25 WHEN translated, Ma-La Tang literally means numb, spicy and scalding, an apt description for the extra spicy broth at The Magic of Chongqing Hot Pot. Hidden in the Tanglin Shopping Centre, the smell of the numbing ma-la broth greets you when you reach the fourth floor.

Given that they are the first Szechuan hot pot restaurant to open in Singapore, their Ma-La Tang, which originates from the South-west Chinese province, is the highlight of their menu. It comes in three different levels of spiciness — mild, standard, and extra spicy.

JPOT 1 HarbourFront Walk #01-53 VivoCity (Lobby F) Singapore 098585 Opening Hours: Mon-Fri Lunch: 12nn-3pm Dinner: 6pm-11pm Sat, Sun and Public Holidays: 12nn-11pm Tel: 6273 3536 Average price per person: $28

hot and cold: JPot’s good ventilation does not leave diners reeking of the smell of the food.

OVER at JPOT, a raw quail egg is cracked over the marinated meat, rendering it more tender and smooth.

Creativity is encouraged here, and diners not only get to

make their own meatballs, but also try their hand at making personalised dipping sauces at the sauce bar.

When a hot pot broth is mentioned, bak kut teh, the local, traditional herbal soup made with pork ribs would hardly come to mind.

But bak kut teh is one of the seven broth choices at JPOT, which also features other interesting menu choices like its specialty broths: JPOT Superior and Tom Yum. With up to six buffet choices for set lunch and dinner, JPOT’s set meals cater to diners with different budgets. The difference in price lies in the type of meat available in each set. The more affordable set serves the standard cuts of meat, while the pricier sets serves wagyu beef, kurobuta pork and beef short ribs going up to $198++ for four.

For students on a budget, dinner Set D ($98++), which serves four, has a selection of meat, seafood, vegetables, staples like rice and noodles, and deep-fried dim sum.

Unlike open-air steamboats restaurants, JPOT allows customers to dine in the comfort of an air-conditioned setting, with their own personal hot pot.

“I like that they do personal steamboats, which is very hygienic. Moreover, although the restaurant is airconditioned, we don’t end up smelling like the food,” said student Lu Ting Wen, 22, a first-time customer.

While prices may be on the steep side, it’s not without an equated quality of meats offered.

10 LIFESTYLE

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VOL. NO.

ChROniCLe 09

travelogue

Riding the K-Wave

O

n c om ple t e l y f or e i g n g r ou nd , I wandered the streets of Seoul at 4am, hopped into a cab with two Japanese girls I just met, and spent a night in a shady sauna — all for the chance to see my favourite K-Pop idols perform live.

Minutes after touching down at Incheon International A ir por t, I was in a cab en route to the Mapo District in Seoul. With only three female friends for company, I lingered outside the CJ E&M Centre Studio the night before the M! Countdown, a weekly live broadcast South Korean music show, determined to get hold of the sacred concert passes.

Only 70 passes were up for grabs, on a first-come-first-served basis.

Online blogs and K-Pop fansites claimed the only way to get the passes was to look for a man outside the building, who would put names down on the waiting list for the passes.

So I looked around us — but it was 1am, and all I saw were drunk men roaming the streets, roaring with laughter among themselves and occasionally stopping to give me disconcerting stares.

In the land of kimchi and K-Pop, Radhiah Ibrahim gets lucky securing exclusive concert tickets, bumping into a K-Pop band and even appearing on South Korea's national television.

Getting lucky

Back at the CJ E&M Centre Studio, fans had gathered around the same man with the bleached hair. Though the concert was only scheduled for 11 hours later, promptness was crucial — we had to be there to guarantee ourselves a pass.

Anticipation filled the dry, cool morning air. The petite man stood like an auctioneer at the front of the crowd, and all eyes were on him as he read out names from his black notebook. The crowd waited like nervous bidders — we had only three seconds to respond before names were ruthlessly struck off the list, and the concert passes given up to others.

A good 50 or more names later, we were beginning to lose hope. Then, I heard: “Ra... de... hi—” “YES!” I interrupted before he could finish stuttering my foreign name. We just secured passes to the show, and it was a euphoric moment.

The concert itself was a perfect ending to the day. We stood among a sea of light sticks and posters, singing along wholeheartedly while our idols performed onstage, jumping to upbeat songs and swaying during the slower numbers.

Lost in translation

New York is known as The City That Never Sleeps, and Seoul is its Asian equivalent.

The Mapo District was still busy late into the night; shops were bustling with business, and the streets were filled with moving crowds.

The area around the CJ E&M Centre Studio, though, was strangely deserted and dimly-lit, with hardly a soul in sight. A nearby construction site made us feel even more uneasy. Despite it being summer, the chilly night breeze left me shivering.

Finally, a small-built man with bleached hair in his early 20s caught our eye.

Sitting on a bench outside the building, he constantly looked up from his phone.

I couldn’t help but wonder if he was looking out for fans. We approached him instinctively, with fingers crossed that he was the one we were looking for, and not a dangerous stranger.

“The crowd waited like nervous bidders — we had only three seconds to respond before names were ruthlessly struck off the list, and the concert passes given up to others.”

Menta l ly pr epa r ed for a colos sa l language barrier, we sputtered basic English words like “concert”, “M! Countdown” and “pass”, while desperately pointing to the CJ E&M building.

The man responded in English, much to our relief (and mild embarrassment).

But our instincts were right — he was the man we were searching for. He scribbled our names in his little black notebook, but

a cab and to a 24-hour sauna to spend the night.

The sauna, about the size of a two-storey shopping mall, was meant as a resting area for South Koreans seeking a break from their own homes.

The interior was slightly stuffy. We trod warily between the unconscious bodies of sleeping men and women strewn across the floor, searching for an empty space to sleep in.

What with unknown men constantly walking past me, I could not help but feel unsafe throughout the night.

Barely two hours later, we were up and out again, wandering the foreign streets at four in the morning.

Seeing stars

LIVING THE KOREAN DREAM: The writer (second from left) in front of the SMTOWN building in the Gangnam PHOTO COURTESY OF RADHIAH IBRAHIM district.

warned us that they already exceeded the quota for the number of people allowed in the studio.

Upon seeing our disappointment, he quickly said we stood a chance to get these passes if we were present at 7am sharp the next morning, much to our delight.

After thanking the man, we parted ways with him.

By then, it was already 2am. As our hotel was far away and we wanted to stay in the area to secure the passes in the morning, we tried to find a place to spend the night.

It didn’t help that we were lost in translation in an unfamiliar setting.

After wandering around cluelessly, we were drawn to the light coming from a small 24-hour convenience store, which seemed like a decent place to seek temporary refuge.

Taking chances

It’s no surprise that in South Korea, you can see famous faces everywhere you turn: on billboards, walls, and large screens all over the city.

W h i le pay i ng for bi sc u it s i n t he convenience store, I stopped at a cashier counter to gush over a video of one of my favourite K-Pop bands playing on a small screen, and was joined by two petite Japanese girls.

Despite our language differences, we bonded over a shared interest: K-Pop. With a mixture of hand gestures and simple English words, I discovered they too were in the area hoping to get passes for the M! Countdown.

Till today, I cannot fathom what made us agree to follow these two strangers into

But the adventure didn’t end there — we got lucky bumping into K-Pop band Super Junior outside SMTOWN, the South Korean entertainment company responsible for some of the biggest names in the K-Pop indust r y, including T V XQ and Girls’ Generation.

We couldn’t believe our eyes when one by one, members of the world-famous band exited the building right in front of us. They waved and smiled at the fans, before hurrying into black vans with tinted windows.

But Super Junior’s leader, Leeteuk, stopped in front of us. It then occurred to me — it was his birthday. Fans began singing him a birthday song in Korean (while I attempted to join in by humming the tune), and Leeteuk took out his handphone to record our little ‘performance’.

Later, I found out the whole episode was documented by the Korean Broadcasting System (K BS) — the biggest radio and television network in South Korea. My excitement was caught on camera and broadcasted during variet y television programme Star Life Theater’s Super Junior episode.

Of the 10 days I spent in Korea, only two were dedicated to K-Pop, but it was more than enough — I went there to meet famous Koreans, but ended up being ‘famous’ myself.

VOL. NO.

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LIFESTYLE 11

THE NANYANG

09 CHRONICLE

framed

PALETTE

TO PALATE Art can be sweet and edible too, as this aspiring baker and visual communications student does it.

Lee Sin Li, 22

Third-year ADM student Visual Communications major

Online bakery:

facebook.com/buttercubes

Handmade accessories: cabbage-crumbs.com

Carolyn Dali

I

f baking 300 cupcakes singleh a nd e d l y w a s n’t e nou g h , a spi r i ng ba ke r Le e Si n L i topped it off with an additional 350 cakepops.

And that was all done in a day for her online bakery, Butter Cubes.

Besides tak ing customised orders, Sin Li also holds baking classes in her home.

After graduating from junior college, she initially wanted to pursue a baking course at Shatec — only to be met with disapproval from her parents.

But today, Sin Li is living her dream through Butter Cubes, with the support of her parents, who eventually relented. “My mum even helps out with packing my treats for large orders,” she said.

The 22-year-old ADM student looks up to food artists such as Jennifer Rubell and Bene Tan. Rubell, in particular, inspired her to combine food and design.

“It’s interesting to see how Rubell blends her interest in food with her passion for art, which is something I can relate to — applying what I learnt in school to designing my products,” Sin Li said.

Customised orders are where h e r v i s u a l c om m u n ic at ion s background comes into play. She designs cake toppers, wedding cards, themed decorations, and also hand-draws cartoons on her accessories.

Taking graphic design modules also gives Sin Li an edge over other bakers. Having an understanding

of complimentar y colours and similar colour schemes enables her to better balance colours and create more visually appealing ways to present her pastries.

“Packaging is key; it’s what sells the product. Having a pretty box or label shows the time and effort put in to make the treats delicious.”

As a side project, Sin Li also owns Cabbage Crumbs, an online accessories shop selling jewellery designed and handmade by her.

When did you discover your passion for baking?

I started baking when I was 13.

I experimented with recipes I found online and in cookbooks, while incorporating the techniques I learned from my mum.

Baking also allows me to design and be more creative with the detailing and piping.

After some time, I relied more on food blogs, recipe books and merged different ideas together to make them my own creations. Not all the recipes are perfect, so I try to improve them over time.

What would be your favourite thing to bake, and why?

Macarons. They're a tricky treat due to their sensitivity to moisture, which is a problem considering the humid weather here.

W hen it is ver y hu m id, macarons will tend to absorb moisture from the air and this prevents them from turning out right.

It’s also hard to master the piping as it needs time to set, and some macarons might come out hollow. I attended two classes hoping to learn new tips and create my own recipe. But even so, it took me more than 30 tries to perfect it.

What is your biggest order to date?

My biggest order for my online bakery would be the 300 cupcakes

and 350 cake pops for a couple’s solemnisation. It was challenging as everything had to be fresh.

I baked them the day before, and piped on the day itself, taking on the entire workload singlehandedly.

ARTISAN BAKER: Combining her love for art and baking, Sin Li set up Butter Cubes — her very own online bakery and cooking class business. PHOTOS: CATHERINE ANNE CHEW, LEE SIN LI

With so many cupcake stores opening, where do you think the baking scene is going?

I think it’ll fade out when customers stop seeing the novelty, similar to the bubble tea craze.

Although cupcake shops have been sprouting all over Singapore, it might be sustainable only if the bakery can offer a cafe concept, complete w it h tea a nd ot her pastries.

Tell us more about your recent school project — Cake Politics.

The objective of the project was to translate my personal interests and opinions into graphic design.

As an avid baker and a young adult keen on politics, I decided to combine these two in creating Cake Politics.

It’s a cupcake store concept that brings both Singapore politics and the cupcake together. I used the cupcake as a metaphor for the political scene.

In Singapore, there is a rise in new cupcake stores and the industry is becoming increasingly competitive, with different players and ambiences.

Likewise for our political scene, there is a rise of opposition parties that promise different policies and plans.

Do you have any new projects coming up?

I’ll be organising a kids-cumparents baking class soon. I love children and it will be fun seeing them bake alongside their parents.

It will remind me of how I first baked with my mum, and hopefully inspire the interest in baking in my students.

CLaSSIC bLuEbErrY SConES

420g all-purpose flour 135g sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon baking powder 170g unsalted butter, cut into small chunks 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 100g heavy whipping cream Fresh blueberries 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Preheat the oven to 200 deg C and line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Whisk the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder.

Add butter chunks and mix in with your fingertips till it resembles bread crumbs.

Make a well in the centre and stir in eggs, vanilla and cream to make a soft but firm dough.

Gently fold in the blueberries. Knead the dough briefly on a lightly floured surface and pat down into a large round disc.

Dough should be 1-inch thick.

Cut into 2.5 or 3-inch circles and place them on the prepared baking pan. Brush top with cream and sprinkle some sugar on top. Bake till golden.

CREDITS: LEE SIN LI

VOL. NO.

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13

LIFESTYLE

THE NANYANG

09 CHRONICLE

lookbook.NTU

SOLE SEARCHING At the recent New York Fashion Week, street style icons ditched their sky-high stilettos and loafers for super-sporty kicks.

Goh Chiew Tong spots those who value both comfort and style.

Derick Ang, 25 School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Price: $74 Where: www.asos.com

Price: $170 Where: Clarks

Price: $120 Where: Pedro

Music sensations Justin Bieber and Usher have been seen in them — it’s clear that mid-cut shoes have great stage presence.

Aside from purchasing them at authorised retailers, you can get these statement pieces at ASOS. Wit h eye-catching colours and a shiny leather finish, the Adidas Originals Roundhouse Mid Trainers can spice up even the most casual school outfit.

For Derick, he found that the shoes gave an edge to his plain outfits and also matched his colourful tops.

Following in the footsteps of notable collaborations l i ke Jer emy Scot t for Adidas Originals, Clarks collaborated with acclaimed pop a r t i s t Pe te Mc ke e , whose talent and appeal was spotted by Noel Gallagher from Oasis.

Clarks’ Desert Boot style fits perfectly with McKee’s love for t he mode r n i s t subculture.

The shoes’ mod-themed illustration features a full leather upper, with clean lines and a signature crepe sole — wh ich was what swayed Centaine to buy them.

A z t e c or t r i b a l pr i nt s emerged in mainst ream fashion in 2011, and have become a part of high street fashion stores like Topshop and even blogshops.

These African prints were first popularised through winter capes and coats, but have since taken over the tropical fashion of t-shirts, nail art, even appearing on the shoes of local brand Pedro.

Aaron described the shoes as “street-style exotic”, and felt it was unlike typical black shoes worn by most guys.

Centaine Lim, 19 School of Art, Design and Media

Aaron Wai, 24 School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

PHOTOS: TAN YANG ER

glamour

WILL THE REAL OPI PLEASE STAND UP? KNOWN for the quality of their nail polish, OPI is popular among ladies, despite costing $20 a bottle in retail stores like Sephora.

But in recent years, OPI polishes have been appearing at flea market stalls and blogshops for $5-10 each, which may seem too good to be true.

So how can you tell if the bottle in your hand is the real deal? While working at Smoochiezz.com, which stocks polishes from popular brands like OPI, I received countless of questions from customers about how they can identify fake OPI polish.

Here are three ways to differentiate between real and fake OPI polishes:

#1 Look at the colour of the name labels

OPI is known for the creative names of each of their polish colours, such as Wooden Shoe Like To Know? (Holland Collection) and My Pointe Exactly (NYC Ballet Collection).

Every specific shade has a name label printed in green ink.

But, do not be alarmed if you spot an OPI polish name label with black wording.

OPI polishes produced before 2006 have black name labels — these bottles contain dibutyl phthalate (DBP), which prevents the polish from cracking and chipping.

In 2006, DBP was found to be a toxin — green labels

#3 Look at the brush in the bottle

were used after that to indicate DBP-free bottles.

So if your bottle of OPI has a black name label, visit the website (opi.com) to check if it was produced before 2006. If it isn’t, it probably is not authentic.

OPI is also known for its user-friendly ProWide brush — a flat-edged brush with a stem that is shorter and wider than the traditional skinny wands.

Introduced in 2006, these brushes are now found in all bottles of OPI nail polish.

But since bottles produced before 2006 still contain the traditional round stem and brush, once again, it’s still best to check for the year of production to ascertain its authenticity.

— AISHA LIN

#2 Check for the production code on the bottle

Since 2001, OPI has ensured every bottle has a unique production code engraved onto the bottle cap and printed on the side of the bottle. The font and size of the code are also consistent on both the cap and the bottle.

The same production code will also be printed in black underneath the green name on the base label.

Should your bottle come without a production code on the cap, the side, and the base label, it’s most likely a counterfeit.

PHOTOS: CHERIE YEO

14-15 SHOWCASE

A WOK

OF LOVE Some say the tastiest food is served from the heart. And food from NTU’s canteen stalls is no exception.

Photographers Allen Wang, Nicole Lim, and Tiffany Goh hear the heartwarming backstories of the people behind campus food.

S

chool is a second home for many hall residents. Unlikely to enjoy the convenience of a home-cooked meal every day, hall dwellers have to be content with settling most of their meals in NTU’s canteens.

To some, a canteen may simply be a place for having meals. But we all have our favourite stalls.

After all, the food served by these canteen vendors fills not just stomachs, but hearts as well.

When owner of Canteen 5’s Tan’s Rice & Noodles, Mdm Carol Ngah, 55, was planning to close her stall last November, Joakim Skjefstad, 24, a Hall 5 resident, couldn’t believe his ears.

“I really like the food and the people serving it,” said the finalyear Norwegian exchange student from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

“I cannot live without my daily plate of beef fried rice here.”

Moved by t he food and hospitality of the owners, Joakim decided to promote the stall to help her attract more customers by designing a signboard.

He even created a Facebook page just for the zichar stall.

Today, it remains open.

Forging bonds

The work of these vendors is backbreaking.

T he y toi l i n hot , hu m id conditions to cook our favourite meals. But every day, the friendly relationships forged with their customers and co-workers make it all worth it.

Affectionately known as the ‘Canteen 2 Waffle Auntie’, Mdm Ler Suat Geok, 62, has no intention of retiring. For nine years, Mdm Ler has opened her stall at 7.30am to prepare fresh, hot waffles for students to have breakfast before their lessons.

Loyal customer Johnson Lo, 24, a third-year student from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, expressed his gratitude in a special way.

“Sometimes I tend her stall when she’s having lunch, so that she can take a break,” said Lo. The owners of Canteen 14’s Western stall, Buono Gusto — Mr Anthony Neo, 39, and Ms Melisa Indriyani, 31, also gained a loyal following for being friendly to students.

“We may quarrel in the kitchen but when we go out and serve our customers, we put on a smile,” said Mr Neo. “After interacting with the students, everything resolves by itself.”

Even today, ex-NTU students who miss their food visit them frequently — so much so that over 60 of them are Facebook friends with Mr Neo.

Food from the heart

Ca nteen 13’s Golden Dr agon Kitchen’s owners, Mr Gan Boon Huat, 37, and Ms Serene Tan, 33, make it a point to gather students’ suggestions as they try to evoke the taste of home for their customers.

“A lot of st udents come to me and ask whether we can add certain dishes to the menu, and we always try to oblige,” said Mr Gan. “As a zichar stall, we want our food to remind them of home.”

Similarly, Mr Li Bin, 37, owner of the Chinese Delicacies stall at Canteen 1, is receptive to getting feedback.

Catering to the tastes of his Singaporean customers, his xiao long baos (soup dumplings) are prepared with less salt, making it a popular dish with locals.

“Food should make people feel happy eating it, and that’s all that matters,” he said.

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

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CHRONICLE 09

(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) WOKKIn’ IT: Mr Gan Boon Huat, 37, takes his customers’ suggestions seriously and does his best to accomodate requests for items to be added to his menu.

FOOD FOR TALK: Mdm Ler Suat Geok (right), 62, loves to chat with customers like Johnson Lo, 24, while she prepares their waffles. She also remembers the usual orders of her frequent customers.

RECIPE FOR ROMAnCE: Husband-and-wife team Mr Anthony Neo, 39, (left) and Ms Melisa Indriyani, 31, celebrated their 10th year together last month in the kitchen with a bouquet Mr Neo bought during Hall 14’s Valentine’s Day canvassing.

In YOUR FLAVOUR: Mr Li Bin, 37, served a basket of his top-selling xiao long baos, which he tailored to suit Singaporean tastebuds following customer feedback.

BREAKnECK BENTOS: Mr Eddie Soh, 38, and his helper, Ms Law Gaik Choo, 36, put the finishing touches to a tempura and chicken katsu bento set. Together, they can prepare up to four bento sets in a minute.

InTERnATIOnAL LOVE: For his love of the zichar stall’s beef fried rice, Joakim Skjefstad (left), 24, a final-year Norwegian exchange student, set up a Facebook page for Mdm Carol Ngah, 55, to save her stall.

16 LIFESTYLE

CHRONICLE18 09 THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

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spotlight

TASH’S

STASH

One of the region’s most respected literary figures, Tash Aw, launched his new book in NTU last month.

Wan Zhong Hao speaks to him about the launch and Singapore’s literary potential.

U

p until 2005, Tash Aw exemplified what it meant to be successful — at least by most standards.

He was a lawyer practising in England, having read law at Cambridge and Warwick.

But his passion for writing drove him to complete a second degree at the University of East Anglia’s School of Literature and Creative Writing.

He went on to publish his first novel The Harmony Silk Factory in 2005. Since then, his life has deviated from the Asian norm. The book earned a Booker Prize nomination and won both the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for the Best First Novel and the Whitbread First Novel Award.

Fast forward eight years, and Aw is now one of South-east Asia’s most respected literary figures, and is NTU’s international Writer-in-Residence for 2013. He launched his latest novel Five Star Billionaire in NTU about a month ago.

Addressing students and faculty members at the Artease cafe on campus, Aw broke into a smile as he recalled how publishers rushed him into the book’s completion for four years.

Describing Five Star Billionaire as a story about love, ambition and handbags, Aw made clear his stance as a writer: “The job of a novelist is not to come to any judgement of the characters – but to highlight issues, let the characters tell the story, and the readers decide for themselves.”

Why did you name your new book Five Star Billionaire?

Aw: Both elements of the title have become the benchmarks of how modern Asia think about wealth and material success.

Now, a millionaire is nothing. When you go to China or India, no one cares about a millionaire; people now think in terms of billions. Billionaires have become the new measurement scale.

As for “Five Star”, it relates to my experiences at a famous bar in Shanghai. I remember coming across a huge terrace which was filled with young, wealthy and beautiful Chinese all drinking magnums of champagne.

All of those things are symbols of fivestar luxuries, and above all these, flew Chinese flags, a flag of five stars.

I thought it was really ironic that the communist flag was still flying above these symbols of what was essentially rampant five-star capitalism.

Five Star Billionaire is your third book about Malaysia. Do you see yourself following the path of literary greats such as James Joyce in writing about your homeland?

I don’t see myself following any particular literary traditional. However, I share similar thematic concerns of these writers.

I think the writing of one’s home country is a very important make-up of any writer.

For the time being, I’m interested in how South-east Asian society has changed over the past hundred years, and how it is continuing to change people’s aspirations and priorities.

How long do you intend to rest before starting on your next novel?

I’m never officially at rest. After writing a novel I’ll have a period of researching and reading, working on various ideas. You

“I thought it was ironic that the communist flag was still flying above these symbols of... rampant five-star capitalism.”

Tash Aw, author of Five Star Billionaire

EMPTY SHELVES: Novelist and NTU’s Writer-in-Residence Tash Aw prefers the bookshelves in his office to be empty, as he finds books oppressive and distracting to his creative process.

can never tell how long it’s going to last — sometimes three to four months, or longer at other times. I don’t really have a deadline.

Part of your job as the Writer-in-Residence is to teach a creative writing course. What are your impressions of young Singaporean writers so far?

I think there is a lot of potential — the students are enthusiastic and hungry to expand their knowledge. There’s a real need to express themselves creatively.

The whole world views Singapore as this efficient machine that produces degreeholders, and it’s very tempting to see NTU as this huge mass of engineers and scientists who don’t really think.

But my experience with my students have shown me that they actually have a lot of creativity and individuality in their writing.

How do you find moving to Singapore?

It was purely a physical transplant — I find that the most tiring moves are often cultural moves, where you have to make big leaps of cultures, language and understanding.

Since I’m a Malaysian, there were no adjustment problems.

I find Singaporean food very sweet, though.

PHOTOS: WAN ZHONG HAO

VOL. NO.

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LIFESTYLE

THE NANYANG

09 CHRONICLE spotlight

17

A DECADE AND COUNTING

JJ Lin, one of Singapore’s biggest mandopop artistes, shares his journey to success. Liu Ting Ting reports.

HEAVENLY KING: JJ Lin celebrates his 10th year as an artiste with his latest album, Stories Untold Untold.

W

ith 10 albums to his name and dubbed by Taiwanese media as one of the “New Four Heavenly Kings”, JJ Lin’s position in the Taiwanese music scene certainly seems secure.

But the road to fame wasn’t always smooth for the 31-year-old, who debuted in 2003.

Unlike the other three of the “New Four Heavenly Kings” — Jay Chou, Show Luo, and Wang Leehom — who easily gained recognition and fame in Taiwan, Lin got his break in China first.

It took six years for him to break into the competitive Taiwanese market, after sales of his sixth album, Sixology escalated.

Despite the detour, his hard work paid off when he was nominated in 2010 and 2011 for the Best Mandarin Male Singer Award at the Golden Melody Awards (the Chinese equivalent of the Grammys).

The singer-songwriter’s latest album Stories Untold marks a 10year milestone in his career.

To celebrate this, the album feat u r es col labor at ion s w it h Taiwanese alternative rock band Mayday and fellow mandopop artiste Wang Leehom.

In particular, the track Practice Love is dedicated to the victims and families of the 1997 SilkAir crash.

Lin was particularly affected by the tragedy as his close friend Xu Chue Fern was one of the pas-

PHOTO: WARNER MUSIC TAIWAN

sengers on board.

Today, Lin is now recognised as one of the biggest stars in the Mandopop industry. He spoke with the Nanyang Chronicle two weeks ago about his musical journey.

the grand piano. I then decided I wanted to make music for life.

Who inspired you to join the music industry?

It’s been a tedious journey but it was worth it. I spent my first five albums proving myself — I was determined to achieve all my goals.

I was ambitious and it was indeed stressful.

Later on, I realised music is an art. I started to reflect my outlook on life into my music and began sharing what I have been through with my listeners. This made me enjoy the works I composed.

Send your response via private message to the Nanyang Chronicle’s Facebook page (http://facebook.com/chronNTU) by 25 Mar, 11.59pm.

How do you distinguish yourself from other artistes?

The first 25 respondents with the correct answer will each receive a pair of complimentary Zouk passes.

JJ: Michael Jackson was the artiste who inspired me the most. I remember renting his laserdiscs when I was a child. After watching his film Moonwalker, I was excited because he was just perfect.

Jackson adapted to singing both fast and slow songs equally well. When I first began singing, I imitated his beats and rhythms, and the way he sang.

As a child, were you already a music lover?

Like most parents in Singapore, my mother sent me for swimming, taekwondo and music courses.

I liked music, but I still preferred playing outdoors at that time, so she caned me for being mischievous and refusing to attend the courses. I even threw her cane away, so she couldn’t use it.

But when I found out I could compose, I brought my guitar to school and even sneaked into the school hall during breaks to play

After 10 years in the industry, what are your reflections on your career?

Being bilingual, I try to include English songs in my albums. I hope this will become a distinguishing feature of my work.

I’m also planning to start a school to help aspiring local talents.

Apart from the annual singing competitions, there is a lack of opportunities for local artistes to enter into the market easily.

Stories Untold is available on iTunes and at music stores.

WIN A PAIR OF ZOUK PASSES Simply answer the following:

What is the title of JJ Lin’s latest album?

Terms and Conditions All students, staff and faculty from NTU and NIE can take part.

Official Nightlife SpONSOr:

18 LIFESTYLE

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reviews

FILMS STOKER

THRILLER [M18] Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Goode, Nicole Kidman 99min

,,,,,

R

BLOOD TIES: Mia Wasikowska (right) slips into the role of a peculiar girl who develops a relationship with her uncle, played by Matthew Goode.

PHOTO: INTERNET

evenge, extreme violence, and disconcerting scenes.

These are trademarks of a Park ChanWook film; the South Korean director has enjoyed regional success with his Korean psychothrillers such as Sympathy for Mr Vengeance and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. This time, Park ventures into the Western box office with Stoker, his first film in English.

Written and produced by Wentworth Miller from the TV series Prison Break, the film follows 18-year-old India Stoker, played by Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland), after she loses her father in a car accident. She meets his enigmatic brother, Charlie Stoker (Matthew Goode) for the first time at the funeral.

While India was initially suspicious of her uncle’s sudden announcement to stay at the Stoker residence, the two soon discover their shared killer instincts and mutual attraction.

Wasikowska plays the heroine India with ease. With her slightly furrowed brows and in-

quisitive glances, Wasikowska embodies India’s disturbing personality.

While her wide-eyed stares paint a virginal image of India, the inscrutability of her expressions is disconcerting. In one scene, India calmly licks an ice-cream after discovering her aunt’s frozen body in the freezer – a chilling and memorable scene displaying her peculiar side.

Wasikowska’s performance may bear resemblance to the strong-willed Alice in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. Only this time, India is darker and more complex.

Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, who plays India’s mother with a psychologically unstable side, also appears in the film.

The grieving widow becomes attracted to Charlie and competes with India for his attention.

In her best scene, Kidman spits while angry tears well in her eyes: “I can’t wait to watch life tear you apart,” she says to India, after she witnesses intimacy between Charlie and her daughter.

Park impresses with a succinct and concise, with room for the audience to feel for his characters.

He also stays true to his precise style of directing, dropping visual cues for audiences to realise the film’s underlying meaning.

It’s uncertain if South Korean movies will follow their music and culinary counterparts in breaking into the Western market. Regardless, Stoker has set the bar for Korean directors who are considering venturing into Hollywood.

-Goh Chiew TonG

21 AND OVER

COMEDY [M18] Miles Teller, Justin Chon, Jonathan Keltz 92min

,,,,, T H E wr iters of box off ice success, The Hangover, return for their directorial debut with a watered down version of the same old tried-and-tested story formula.

But instead of going backwards to discover the outrageous events of the night before, the filmmakers are playing it straight this time by showing everything in sequence.

In 21 And Over, the stakes are significantly lower than in The Hangover and the sense of mystery is gone.

Straight-A student Jeff Chang (Justin Chon) is dragged out of his house by his two best friends Miller (Miles Teller) and Casey (Skylar Astin) to celebrate his 21st birthday.

Despite Chang’s medical school admission interview just hours away, the trio go pub-hopping and he ends up drunk and unconscious.

In their attempt to get Chang home, the trio venture through a campus filled with a cult-like Latina sorority, angry male cheerleaders, ocean liners’ worth of alcohol and an aggressive buffalo.

The two friends exercise questionable judgements, making up thinly-veiled excuses to plunge themselves into even more ludicrous scenarios.

As though aware that the plot is skating on thin ice, the writers often resort to long, gut-turning scenes of poor Chang’s off-colour acts — such as throwing up in his own face and chomping down on fistfuls of tampons.

The bizarre premise of the film only start to make sense in the second half, when it’s revealed that Chang isn’t doing as well in school as was previously thought, and that Miller has dropped out of college.

WASTED YOUTH: Together with actors Miles Teller (left) and Skylar Astin (right), Justin Chon (middle) plays a straight-A student whose 21st birthday gets a little out of control.

PHOTO: GOLDEN VILLAGE PICTURES

While the film indulges in toilet humour, it’s delivered from the arms of senseless stupidity through the wit and irony of its dialogue.

Miller, who borders on annoying, has a rapid-fire smart mouth that’s more than ready to be politically incorrect and criticise convention.

The film delights in turning stereotypes on its head, such as how the bat-swinging bullies aren’t football jocks but male cheerleaders. Yet, the rest of characters seem to come in generic groupings like ‘druggies’ or ‘blonde chicks’.

Inspirational bits of dialogue take place now and then, such as with the antagonist

Randy (Jonathan Keltz) — whose moments of intelligence and emotional depth appear just long enough for him to break out of his caricature as a bully, before he explodes in yet another burst of violence.

But as though embarrassed by its attempts at anything vaguely intellectual in such moments, the script quickly resubmerges its characters into the flow of slapstick comedy.

The film ends on an unsatisfying note, with the conclusion tacked on as though to remove any obligations of loose strings. Viewers anticipating a confrontation between Chang and his father will be disappointed as it dissolves

into a hopeless anti-climax.

21 And Over celebrates wild spontaneity over rationality, which some viewers may frown upon. But what’s most important to the directors has been preserved — the friendship and bond among the three characters.

While probably not the most inspiring lesson for a college student, the film does make a halfway reasonable point about having friends and learning to relax when taken with a pinch of salt.

If only they made their point without so many gratuitous shots of boobs.

-wonG oi Shan

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09 CHRONICLE singles of the month

HEART ATTACK Demi Lovato (Pop)

H

er credibility as a judge on The X Factor may have been questioned, but Disney star Demi Lovato proves her talent with her newest single Heart Attack.

The electropop intro with synthesisers and techno mixes was a surprise, as the 20-year-old’s music is typically of pop-rock genre.

The first verse, however, reverts to her usual ballad style.

Along with light guitar strumming and drums, Lovato shows off her impressive vocal range and hits the high notes effortlessly.

Her gravelly and slightly hoarse vocals also infuse an semblance of rock into the song.

Lovato also stays faithful to her belting of self-empowering lyrics (“When I don’t care/ I can play ‘em like a Ken doll”).

With Heart Attack as an appealing teaser, she is set to reveal more hits from her fourth studio album later this year.

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PHOTOS: INTERNET

MIRACLE

MOTORWAY

SACRILEGE

WITH an introduction curiously similar to Coldplay’s Princess Of China, those unfamiliar with Hurts might be mistaken that Miracle is just a rehash of the 2012 hit.

Sounding like a mash of Muse, Coldplay and The Killers, the duo debuted in 2010 with their album Happiness.

As the first single off their sophomore album, Miracle is nothing short of theatrical.

The track flaunts the duo’s signature arrangement of billowing synths and triumphant background vocals harmonising in chorus.

Miracle demonstrates Theo Hutchcraft’s wide vocal range as he switches between multiple registers from verse to chorus.

When hitting the lower octaves, Hutchcraft imitates an operatic sound to complement the melodramatic lyrics (“No love/ No light/ No end inside”).

Love them or hate them, Hurts’s dramatic flair is still boldly entertaining.

LITTLE Boots burst into the music scene with infectious pop-infused electronica songs New In Town and Remedy. Four years on, she is back with Motorway off her upcoming record Nocturnes.

Motorway is relatively nuanced and more toned down, moving away from the fast tempo and energy in her 2009 album Hands.

Retaining her electronic roots, the dispersed sound of a piano creates a soft, psychedelic backdrop for Little Boots’ angelic crooning.

The song may be considered soothing for its genre, but it does little justice to Little Boots’ vocal range — her voice sounds lazy and lacks emotion. What’s enjoyable, though, is the chorus’ catchy electronic beats and repeated lines (“Meet me on the motorway”).

Little Boots’ music career may no longer be the fast motorway ride it used to be, but Motorway is still a track you can wind down to.

SELDOM does American rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs deal with religious themes in its music, but the band returns with audaciously-titled single Sacrilege.

The song begins with a familiar arrangement — lead vocalist Karen O’s characteristic nasal and slightly breathy vocals, together with the occasional wails. Supported by heav y drumbeats and crude strums of electronic bass. The band is apparently still partial to its well-loved rock formula.

The abrupt entrance of a harmonious gospel choir halfway through a rock track might startle some, but the choir’s sopranos meander through O’s pitchy and desperate vocals (“I plead…and I pray”) — strangely creating a cathartic mood befitting of a song with spiritual suggestions.

Sacrilege retains Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ iconic sound while surprising listeners with its experimentations.

Hurts (Electropop)

Little Boots (Electronica)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Alternative)

-Goh Chiew TonG

reviews

BOOKS YOU HAD ME AT HELLO (FICTION) Mhairi McFarlane

$18.19 at Books Kinokuniya Harpercollins Publishers

THINK Katy Perry’s The One That Got Away without a sappy ending, or a Nicholas Sparks romance novel without the cliches.

Mhairi McFarlane’s debut novel is a modern-day love story that will have readers hooked from the first chapter.

Told from protagonist Rachel’s perspective, the story tells of the reappearance of Ben, her best friend from their university

days. As the plot unfolds, Rachel realises she still can’t forget the feelings she had for Ben 10 years ago.

Her amusing and sometimes embarrassing thoughts furnish the novel with comedic moments. For example, the sarcastic mental note she makes after failing to chat up a guy in school: “Seduction 101: Make the attractive boy imagine you all constipated in the toilet.”

It’s fairly common for chick-lit novels to revel in the unrealistic. However, Rachel has her insecurities that readers, particularly women, will find themselves empathising with.

But not all the characters are as wellexplored as Rachel and Ben. Little was mentioned about Ben’s wife Olivia, effectively reducing her to a mere stumbling block in the story. Most of the characters in the book have some backstory, but Olivia’s past is glaringly unmentioned.

Admittedly, the theme of rekindled romance is not new. However, McFarlane strays away from the typical by avoiding the pitfalls of abusing cliches. Unexpected plot twists will also keep readers hooked.

Balancing both wit and sentimentality, You Had Me At Hello is the perfect romantic pick-me-up. At the end, McFarlane reminds readers that life is ultimately shaped by their decisions: “You either make them or they’re made for you, but you can’t avoid them.”

-Carolyn Dali

BOOK FROM BOOKS KINOKUNIYA

TRICKSTER MAKES THIS WORLD (NON-FICTION) Lewis Hyde

$28.80 at BooksActually Canongate Books

OFFERING comic relief and causing trouble for mortal heroes in turns, trickster figures have their share of lovers and haters in most of our tales.

Often a traveller and one who breaks norms, the Trickster is defined by writer Lewis Hyde to be a boundary-crosser. In his book, Hyde celebrates the indispensability of such figures by highlighting the ones

celebrated in mythology and folklore.

For example, in Greek mythology, Zeus’s son Hermes devises ways of trickery to confuse his captors, such as teaching ancient Greeks the craft of fire-making.

Through these my thological references, Hyde suggests that by defying norms, Tricksters are perennially valuable to society.

But readers may be put off by Hyde’s long-winded story-telling. The sheer quantity of stories condensed in each chapter makes sifting through 354 pages no easy feat.

Moreover, each myth can only be understood by those familiar with the respective cultures, such as the sacrificial practices in Greek legends.

The theme of the book, though, is intriguing enough to sustain readers’ attentions.

Hyde relates the artful and impish mythic characters to the lives and works of famous modern famous creators such as Picasso, Marcel Duchamp and Allen Ginsberg.

Delving into their artwork, Hyde purports that these creators have a trickster spirit in them — playful, imaginative, and insurgent. Through them, Hyde reveals new insights, compelling readers to view the artists’ anarchism in new light.

He also speaks of how the Trickster pushes societal boundaries on what is acceptable, while teaching readers the art of survival.

A tribute to challenging societal margins and changing norms, Trickster Makes this World encourages us to bend the rules that rigidly shape our everyday lives.

-elizabeTh Tan

BOOK FROM BOOKSACTUALLY

20-21 DAPPER

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Photographer: Phyllicia Wang Assistant: Wilfred Lim Layout & Design: Wilfred Lim Make-Up & Hair: Bernice Wong (www.makethisout.com) Model: Denise Ritcher (Cal-Carries)

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罗志祥魅力四射开唱 —— 刊27页

新闻 2013年南洋理工大学开放日

展览规划有待加强

杨苏玉●报道

南

洋理工大学的开放日如 同往年一般吸引了不少 感兴趣的学生和家长来访，希 望能了解最新的大学资讯。但 碍于当天的天气阴雨绵绵以及 规划不周全，造成许多人意兴 阑珊，失落而归。

展位设置不佳

当天各学院的摆设位置过 于分散，再加上指示牌不够清 晰，造成许多第一次来到南大 校园的学生和家长迷路。 人文与社会科学学院的各 科系被安置于南洋大礼堂的三 楼，在场的学生工作人员蔡舒 岚（中文系三年级）表示相较 于去年被安置于地下一楼陈 设，今年因为处于三楼，来询 问的人明显少了许多，可见展 位位置的重要性。

规划误导民众

此外，记者也发现部分工学 院的展位设立在第五号以及六 号讲堂外的开放空间，可是同 一所学院的其它展位却设在南 洋大礼堂。 虽然院方作出这样的安排， 可是他们却没有在许多地方设 置明显的告示牌告知大家原来 展览还有另外一处，让有些人 误以为工学院只有某些专业， 如此规划显然误导了民众。

规模比往年小

今年校方开出每小时10元的 时薪，因此申请当工作人员的 同学人数也暴增。可是随着工 作人员的增加，今年的规模却 比往年小。 来自中文系的二年级生黄逸 凡就曾经去面试，但自己却没 有被获选。对于今年的规模缩 小，他坦言：“南大今年增加 了许多新的科系，但是校方好 像把较多资金花在人力上面， 而不是在扩大开放日的规模或 维持当日的流畅和秩序，并不 合理。”

开放日当天，校园内设置展览，家长们向老师请教了解南洋理工大学的科系以及课程。

学生亲自讲解 记者也采访了学生工作人 员，他们表示来参观的高中毕 业生们最关注的是课程内容， 并且会向他们要求讲述自己的 亲身经历，以评估各个科系是 否符合自己的兴趣。 此外各个科系的学生也使出 各类招数想要吸引学生，机械 与宇航工程学系就摆设出一个 非常抢眼的机器人，其科系的 大三生敬奕程表示：“我们之 所以展出机器人，是想改变大 家对工科的刻板印象，我们也 是有灵活有趣的课程和多样化 的就业方向。”

果然有了可爱的机器人加 持，他们的展位前簇拥着许多 人，而且还吸引到了不少女生 上前咨询。 中文系的副教授衣若芬 说：“对于越来越多的学生家 长开始关注我们的课程内容， 我感到非常欣慰。而今年我们 也开办了驻校作家等一系列活 动，希望提升学生的文学创作 能力。” 物理系的同学也在自己的摊 位上张贴往年毕业生的自传和 目前的工作，方便让学生更了 解如果就读此科系，未来的工 作前程与走向。

新医学院成亮点 今年的一大亮点，莫过于将 在8月份开课的医学系。由南 大和伦敦帝国学院联办的李光 前医学院首次招生，当日大多 来学校参观的家长和学生就是 为了想要了解这个科系慕名而 来，因此当日的讲堂爆。 来自圣安德烈初级学院的黄 婉莹（18岁）表示虽然她没参 加南大主办的生物医学大学入 学考试，但是开放日的医学院 讲座给她留下了深刻的印象。 招生总负责人卫丽玲说：“ 目前已有800多个人参加了这项 考试，而开放日当天多数人都

摄影: Forlando Tambunan 是询问了医学系课程大纲和入 学要求。” 根据了解，接下来几个月这 些学生将会通过面试以及各项 考试，最后会选出54名同学成 为首批医学院的学生。此外， 南大今年也开办了公共政策与 全球事务的新学士学位课程。 虽然南大的科系逐年增加而 且越来越多元化，但因开放日 规模缩小以及规划不佳让很多 家长和学生没有办法清楚知道 院内所有的科系，可是如果能 够克服这个障碍，想必他们也 会对于南大的课程以及环境有 更深入的了解。

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THE NANYANG

09 CHRONICLE

特效市场不景气 南大生求职难

插图:陈厉志

刘亭廷●报道 中文编辑

李

安凭《少年Pi的奇 幻漂流》勇夺奥斯 卡四大奖项，其中包括了 最佳特效奖，但是这也爆 出好莱坞特效公司生存的 困境，同时也扯出了特效 行业正面临着寒冬之季。

南洋理工大学 的艺术、设计与 媒体学院旗下也 有开办数位动画硕 士学位，可是市场上的 严冬恐怕有可能打击在南 大毕业的学生，甚至造成 就业上的困难。 根据新加坡2011年毕 业生起薪以及就业机率调 查显示，从南大艺术、设 计与媒体学院毕业的学生 起薪只有2500元，这个是 新加坡国立大学法律系毕 业生起薪的一半；此外就 业机率仅有55.8%，换算 平均每两人只有一人能够 找到工作。 吴泽旻（艺术、设计

与媒体学院二年级）表 示：“说穿了特效动画家 其实就是个挨饿的艺术 家，而我在选科系之前就 已经知道这份行业的薪资 是非常的低，所以已经有 了心理准备，我是真的对 这工作感兴趣才会想要选 修的。” 特效以及动画主要出 现在电影、电玩、广告等 平台，虽然年年作品数量 多看似利润丰厚，实际上 行内的招标系统却造成了 如今恶性循环的情况。 他们的作业方式采用 了制作公司会提供一个招 标的项目让各个特效公司 提出价码，但是为了节省

成本，制作公司当然就会 把工作让给开出最低价码 的特效公司。 如此一来各家特效公 司为了抢夺工作就会不惜 的压低价码，但这也造成 了市场垄断。现在更出现 美国的制作公司为了节省 更多成本，不惜把工作内 容外包给海外的公司包括 新加坡、中国以及印度， 让在美国的特效员面临裁 员、公司破产的处境。 宣布破产的特效公 司之一的就是包办李 安电影的 Rhythm & Hues（R&H），为此我 们访问到了艺术、设计 与媒体学院副教授Mark Chavez，他来新曾经在这 间公司工作。被问到本地 市场是否会变成向美国一 样，他指出很多国外公司 喜欢来新是因为他们可以 不必交税，所以目前情况 看起来还不至于美国那般 严重。 但他不排除未来没有 这种情况，因为许多发展 中国家也在积极扩展自己 的特效动画市场，所以本 地还是有可能会面临这种 处境。 他也表示：“南大学 生目前不必过于担心。 这是因为艺术、设计 与媒体学院教的不只是特 效以及动画，还有艺术历 史等课程。这能确保毕业 生离开学校超过十年后还 能够与时并进。” 虽然本地已有许多知 名特效公司如制作电影《 星际大战》的卢卡斯影业 以及《玩具总动员》的皮 克斯动画工作室设立分公 司，但陈厉志（艺术、设 计与媒体学院二年级）却 没有抱着乐观的态度。 他说：“因为新加坡 每年从数位动画科系毕业 的学生不少，但是特效业 的职缺往往是僧多粥少。 而我们所修的专业虽然广 泛但不一定专精，所以就 算转换跑道从事其它看似 跟设计相关的行业，也很 难找到工作。” 虽然特效市场呈现低 靡状态，但由媒体发展管 理局所设立的发展补助计 划（Development Assistance Scheme）允许每部 制作申请高达15万元的津 贴，为本地特效制作的发 展提供了有利条件。

妆 艺 四 十 年 惊 艳 风 采 依 旧

刘施驿●报道

万

众瞩目下，新加坡一年一度的妆 艺大游行《雪中火》在滨海湾惊 艳登场。为庆贺农历新年的妆艺大游行 已成为新加坡多元文化交融狂欢的大舞 台，在场观众也欣赏了一场难忘的视听 盛宴。

南大生也参与演出 南大学生是第三支出场的队伍。舞 者身披暗红底银色花纹披风、戴着冷艳 面具、一边舞蹈一边行进，随后又翻转 身上的衣服马上换成了黄色的披风， 开始跳起街舞，这表演结合了中西方舞 蹈，名为《Poppera》的表演让现场观 众体验到了两种文化的极致美感。 之后同样令人印象深刻的大型华族 舞蹈《桃夭颂》，450名女舞者身着粉 色宫装，舞姿优雅动人，尽态极妍，正 是“桃之夭夭，灼灼其华”之景。除了 富有浓郁中华文化的表演，妆艺大游行 也展现了它多元文化的凝聚力，韩国、 日本、印尼以马来西亚以及印度等国家 的特色风情也由不同队伍融入表演中， 广受好评。

压轴浪漫至极 最后压轴出场的是此次妆艺大游行 主题的《雪中火》——由肥皂泡和纸片 制作的“雪花”漫天飞舞，所有表演者 手举火把，唱起《雪中火》之火，场景 浪漫感人至极。这一场雪中火，温暖了 所有的在场观众，也圆了新加坡人对雪 的梦想。 记者在现场访问到了43岁的国威， 他说：“妆艺大游行是非常独特的，而 且是值得延续的优良传统。”

花车开进组屋区 正式的演出结束后，妆艺大游行的 花车也随即在2月24日、3月2日和3月9 日开进了组屋区，让没有办法到现场的 新加坡人也可以欣赏到美丽的花车。 正在服兵役的叶宜城和父母一起参 加了活动，他表示妆艺大游行是属于新 加坡人的特别活动，体现了华人的文化 和精神。而在妆艺大游行当过五年接待 员的张雪盈和刘学宁也非常喜欢妆艺大 游行热烈的氛围。张雪盈说：“我非常 高兴每个人都参与其中。”

南大学生舞者身披暗红底银色花纹披风、戴着冷艳 面具、一边舞蹈一边行进。 摄影:黄俐文

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CHRONICLE 09 言论

身份与爱情的博弈

如果这位教授在外貌上又 十分出众的话，很容易吸 引异性学生欣赏的目光。 但如果从简单的好感 和吸引，上升到复杂的男 女恋爱关系，在于师生之 间，因为各自身份的原 因，牵涉到的并不仅仅是 两个人。 爱情无罪，但若利用 权力做出徇私的行为，事 后却打着爱情的旗帜掩盖 的话，这就大错特错了。 打个比方说教授因为 和学生是恋人所以在学业 评估中进行偏袒，给予高 分，这是非常不公正的行 为。若教授也因为这种关 系泄漏课程的考题或是课 程相关的机密资讯，这也 有失妥帖。而如果在这段 恋爱关系中牵扯到金钱和 性关系，便会让事情变得 更为复杂。

人心长在左边，有 亲疏之分， 故而 为了避免做出“徇 私枉法”之举，教 授和学生之间应保

插图:范威杰

刘施驿

教

育部近日针对屡屡 发生的相关丑闻采 取应对措施，发布了一系 列新的教师行为准则，其 中明确指出不可与学生发

生性关系。不可否认的 是，师生恋一直是非常具 有争议的一个话题。 但在大学这样一个恋 爱相对自由，思想相对开 放的环境下，如果双方均 未嫁娶，学生是否可以和 教授谈恋爱，是一个值得

思考的问题。 许多人都有过和朋友 在讲堂课上窃窃私语的经 历，也有过对于某位样貌 姣好的教授发出赞叹和表 示欣赏的经历。不得不说 博学多才的人总是魅力十 足，而且能够年经轻轻担

任大学教授这样的职位， 学历气质大都出类拔萃。 对于异性而言，这样的优 点十分有吸引力。 笔者在这里坦言自己 曾经有因为对某个教授的 好感，所以每堂课必去而 且听得格外认真。尤其是

持合适的距离，尽 量减少私下过多的 接触。 因为教授这一方握有 评分的权力，在这样的情 况下就有受贿的嫌疑。在 国大教授性贿案中，假设 该教授尚未成家，且二人 是恋人关系，那么该女大 学生送礼物的行为是不是 有可能被合理化呢？

而恋人之间发生性关 系，在当今社会中，大概 也不是少见的事情。如此 一来，便很难界定是否行 贿、性贿了。而教育部提 出的行为准则，“不可与 学生发生性关系”，再次 看来，有其明智性，也同 样适用于高等学府之中。 法理人情，这两者常 常纠缠不清。也许在爱情 的角度，只是为所爱的人 做一些力所能及的事情， 但于法律上却不可容情。 笔者私以为，人心长 在左边，亲疏之分，偏心 之举，在所难免。故而为 了避免自己做出“徇私枉 法”之举，教授和学生之 间应保持合适的距离，尽 量减少私下过多的接触。 对于大学生来讲，即 使因为研究或项目与某一 位教授有频繁的接触，也 应该保持警醒的心态，学 生自己需清楚利害关系， 将情感抑制在可控制范围 之内。 对教授们来说，平易 近人是好事，但也要有为 人师长的威严和品德，对 学生们一视同仁，避免与 个别学生关系太过亲近。 至于学生究竟是否可 以和教授谈恋爱的问题， 依笔者之见，如果该教授 与此学生之间并无师生关 系，或者师生关系已结 束，那么这一对可以牵手 恋爱去了。 但若不是在这种情况 下的话，最好还是在就读 期间避免这样的恋爱关 系，耐心等到毕业后也不 迟，毕竟有情人最终会终 成眷属的。

合理安排 尽情享受假期 孙嘉汐

南

大在每个学期中间 会安排为期一周的 假期，旨在缓解紧张忙碌 的大学生活，让学生有机 会调整放松。可是笔者发 现在短暂的假期之后，各 科的考试往往接踵而来。 因此很多学生不得不 牺牲大部分时间，忙于准 备考试。另外，一些科系 会把网上学习周安排在小 假期之后，这在一定程度 上却造成了将近两个星期 的“假期”。 有些同学认为这样的 假期完全没有必要，因为 要忙于准备之后的考试， 其实完全没有放松的时 间；也有同学认为如果网

上学习周在小假期周在小 假期之后，对于自制力不 强的同学，则会白白浪费 时间。 笔者认为这为期一周 的期中假期是必要的。首 先，它是一个整理归纳的 时间。 和初中、初院的生活 相比，虽然大学里我们享 受了更多可以自由掌控的 时间，但是整体来说学习 节奏还是相对紧凑的，一 些理工科的学生一学期甚 至修读八门课程。 在这密集的学习生活 之中，我们确实应该停下 来放慢脚步，总结归纳前 半学期的优势和不足，制 定出下半学期的学习计 划，以便更好安排自己的 学业。

其次，它是一个自我 放松的时间。很多同学选 择利用这一个星期的假 期，出门游山玩水、放松 心情，而与大自然亲密接 触的过程中，也可以为自 己的学业激发更多灵感和 激情。 一些外国学生则会选 择利用这个假期回到自己 的家乡和亲人团聚，以解 和家人的相思之苦，享受 一家人的其乐融融。 再次，它是一个锻炼 自我控制能力的时间。在 这个假期里，我们既不能 盲目的放松，一味地沉迷 于娱乐游戏等享受之中， 也不能有“怕输”的心 理，抱着书本苦读不放， 像“苦行僧”那样“虐 待”自己。

插图:陈厉志 我们应该能够更有自 制力，计划性的安排自己 的生活：在游山玩水放松 之余，还要抽出一定的时 间，把假期之后要做的工 作思路理清，以便有效开 展，做到劳逸结合。 对于假期回来之后忙

于应对考试而焦头烂额的 同学，笔者认为我们更应 好好利用假期前的学习时 间，尽量做到不拖延、不 松懈。通过温故知新，积 极备考，就可以尽情享受 期中假期，从容应对之后 的考试。

这为期一个星期的休 息虽然短暂，相信我们只 要根据自己的情况，合理 安排。都会有所收获。因 为不论是休息还是学习， 我们的最终目的是为了 在丰富自己生活的同时 并提高自己的学习效率。

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09 CHRONICLE

生活之旅游攻略

廉价享受

吃喝玩乐

也许对于很多人来说，“旅游”只是有钱人休闲的一种方式，但今时今日旅游不再是附庸风雅的代名词，不再 是小资一族炫耀的资本，跟随记者卢凌之，潇洒地背起行囊，开始廉价旅游吧。

何

为廉价旅游？抛开旅行 团，路线、行程、饮食 起居一手包办，用最少的金 钱，体验更多的风俗民情。

规划行程 出发前规划行程这个步骤 是非常重要的，你可以购买旅 游书籍或是上网查询交通、天 气和优惠等资讯，而孤独星球 （Lonely Planet）、穷游网、 背包客栈、蚂蜂窝这些网站都 是不错的选择。

交通

交通费往往是旅行中必要的 支出，如果能够精打细算就可 以省下不少金钱，建议你开始 订阅各大廉价航空提供的特惠 宣传以及关注它们在微博和面 簿上的更新。 而廉价航空都会不定期推出 特惠票价，进行抢票时，不要 选择任何附加服务，连行李托 运服务也无需购买，直接带上 10公斤以内的大背包上机，而 光是这样一趟旅程就能够省下 起码15元的费用。 若是在东南亚旅行，火车和 巴士也是交通上不错的选择， 只要避开公众假期，当日购票 即可。如果两地之间路途遥 远，你可以乘搭夜车，在车上

补充睡眠，第二天一早抵达目 的地，这样还能够省下一天的 住宿费，一举两得。

住宿 住宿往往是旅行中最大的开 销，所以避开旅游旺季是省钱 的第一大窍门。如果你对于居 住的舒适感不太讲究，青年旅 馆无疑是比较省钱又好玩的一 个下榻选择。最便宜的方案就 是8个人以上住在男女混合的大 通铺，当然有些旅馆也提供女 性专属的女性房间，价格通常 和男女性混合房间没有价差。 大多数人为了保障行程的顺 利，都会在出发前预定好所有 的住宿。但我经常采取一种更 为随性的方法：只订好第一晚 的房间，其余住宿都在到达当 地后再决定。下榻一晚后第二 天退房，直接背着行囊旅游至 下午1点后，再到背包客集中的 地点开始寻找满意的房间和设 备，若价格合理就入住，避免 出现住宿品质上想象和实际情 况的落差。 除此之外，旅客还可以选择 当“沙发客”。这一种从2003 年就开始流行的免费交换住宿 的方式可以让你在相关网站建 立账号和主页，附上照片和自 我介绍，向其他接待者发送申

请。而信件的内容尽量写得详 细，以加深对方对你的了解， 这样得到免费住宿的机会就会 相对提高。但如果女性朋友决 定独自旅行，这样的住宿方式 具有高风险，需多加小心。

吃饭 每个城市最大的特色就是美 食，每到一个地点，可以在第 一时间询问旅店工作人员或当 地人，附近哪里有价廉物美的 餐馆。如此一来便可以吃到当 地既有特色且便宜的美食。

如果你喜欢户外活动，可以报 名参加当地的旅游团队，由向 导带领徒步探索北部山区，学 习如何驯养大象以及体验曾经 的兰纳王国（The Kingdom of Lanna）的独特历史文化。 若你向往宁静，漫步古城中 各大古寺庙，感受这朵“泰北 玫瑰”纯朴悠闲的魅力。而你 千万别错过售卖价廉物美小吃 和商品的周末夜市，种类肯定 会让节俭的背包客都忍不住要 消费。如果你逛累了，就一定 要尝试一下有名的泰式按摩。

3.泰国大城 Ayuthaya, Thailand 花上不到新币一块钱，从曼 谷的火车站出发，沿途欣赏约 两小时湄南河平原美景，便到 达这个被列为联合国教科文组 织世界遗产的古都。她是暹罗 历史上最长久的一个王国，历 经5个王朝以及30多位国王。你 可以租一台脚踏车，穿梭于古 城遗址中，瞻仰光影之间的残 垣断壁，想象当年泰国大城的 辉煌，并感叹此古城灭亡的种 种不幸。

推荐休闲旅游目的地 1.印尼韦岛 Palau Weh, Sumatra 位于印尼最西北的一个小 型热带岛屿，被誉为东南亚最 佳潜水圣地；就算仅是浮潜或 游泳，也能透过清澈见底的海 水，随时欣赏众多色彩斑斓的 热带鱼类及珊瑚。中午时分， 慢慢穿过静谧小树林，走到村 里的餐馆，享用炭火烤的新鲜 从马六甲海峡捕获的海鱼。傍 晚坐在沿水边而建的棕榈小木 屋上，随徐徐落下的安达曼海 夕阳陷入沉思，何等惬意。 2.泰国清迈 Chiang Mai, Thailand 动静两相宜的泰北重镇。

在清迈这家由工厂大棚改造的巨大“千人火锅店”，旅客能以不 到八元新币的价格，享受到美味的火锅。 摄影:卢凌之

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CHRONICLE 09 美容妙招

生活之中医保健

中医“美人计” 爱美之心，人皆有之。以往，我们听过人们为了追求美丽，使用各种各样的美容产品。其 实透过中医方法也可以使你变得更漂亮。记者黄逸凡采访到了南大中医诊所的袁锦虹医 生，看看如何透过自然的方法提升自己的样貌。 瘦身

瘦身是人们喜欢热烈讨论的话题。 对此袁医生说，减肥瘦身最基本的原则 是吃进去的能量要少过消耗的能量。其 方法就是“少食”，尽量避免去摄入多 油、高能量的食物。在同等质量情况 下，有些食物所含热量相对较低。 因此，对于一些希望保持或减少体重 的朋友们，可以多吃些糙米、燕麦、薏 米、玉米等粗粮。 粗粮会含更多的纤维，它很少会被吸 收成为热量，所以转换为能量也会相应 减少。此外，相对于米面一类精细加工 过的主食，摄入更多的粗粮可以增长食 物在人体消化器官内停留的时间，会使 得人们饱足感持续更久，不那么容易觉 得饿，从而达到“少食”的目的。 袁医师也特地提醒爱熬夜的学生， 睡前两小时最好不要吃任何食物，如果 实在有饥饿感，可以吃一些不太甜的水 果，将热量的摄取降到最低。

中医也为大家介绍以下几个养颜 美容又方便快捷的良方，让你随 时都可以轻松变漂亮。

1. 瘦身

荷叶是目前研究表明是最好最 安全的减肥食物。荷叶本身可以 作为药物，也可以用它来煮水， 或者加入山楂一起饮用，作为针 对减肥的自制饮料。 荷叶用量视减肥要求而定。如 果需要要求急切的话，一天最好 至少需要10到15克的荷叶用来煮 水饮用。

2. 乌发

将红皮花生1千克、核桃0.5千 克、米醋2.5千克一起放入一个坛 子中浸泡，密封好放置7天后，每 天坚持吃7粒花生、半颗核桃仁。 这将会对乌发有所帮助。

3. 祛痘

琵琶薏仁粥是一道针对痘痘问 题的药膳。其做法非常简单，准 备100克薏仁以及60克琵琶果肉一 起煮制便可。

4. 美白

芦荟蜂蜜水：将芦荟切成小 块，煮过一分钟以后泡入蜂蜜水 中，清爽可口，十分方便。 美容面膜：中医认为杏仁是 一种美白食材，将杏仁磨成粉状 等比混合面粉、奶粉、绿豆粉， 加入水或者蛋清混合所做成的面 膜，经济实惠。由此可见，利用 家常食材同样可以制作出不输于 药妆店中销售的美白面膜。

乌发

随着日益增大社会以及课业压力，很 多学生开始很早就被“少年白头”的问 题所困扰。中医认为头发是“肾之华， 血之余”，和人体的肾脏器官以及血液 供应有关。因此想改善头发早白、干 枯、没有光泽的问题，可以针对性地养 血补肾。 在中医学里，多吃核桃、黑芝麻、黑 豆、黑木耳、紫菜等食物可以达到乌发 的效果，而服用鸡内金、何首乌等中药 材，也可以达到头发乌亮、减少脱发、 重新焕发光泽的目的。 从现代医学的角度来看，想要维持头 发发质以及颜色则需要时时补充丰富的 蛋白，因此可以加强摄入鸡肉、羊肉、 鱼肉之类富含高蛋白的营养食物。

祛痘

现在很多青少年们都被青春痘困扰 着。中医认为痘痘的产生是因为人体产 生热量过多而且难以排除，所以只要采 取清热排毒的方法可以对缓解问题。 袁医师谈到生活习惯是痘痘会生长的 一个最大因素，所以改善生活习惯便可 以舒缓痘痘问题，而健康生活习惯包括 了不熬夜、不抽烟、不吃辛辣刺激或者 油炸的食物。 若想要以中药缓解问题，你可以服 用中国薏仁。 中国薏仁与西洋薏仁相比 较，质感相对较硬、个头偏大、口感上 不如西洋来得粘稠。 但是在药性上中国薏仁却为极佳，它 具有清热的作用，坚持服用对祛痘有所 帮助。而已白花蛇舌草、金银花等制作 的凉茶可以解热，对于症状严重的患者 都更有效果。

美白

美白同样是人们热衷的美容方向。袁

摄影:王森

南苑与中医诊所合作

荷叶（上） 是目前研究表明最好最安全的减肥食物， 每天用10到15克的荷叶用来 煮水饮用会有很少的减重效果。何首乌（下）既能内服也可外用，是一剂很好的乌 发药材。 摄影:吴琦琦 医师认为增加维生素C的摄入就可以减 少黑色素层积，目前市面上很多水果都 有丰富的维生素C，例如柠檬、蓝莓、 葡萄等都是不错的选择。如果能坚持每 天早上一杯鲜榨果汁，对于美白是很有 帮助的。 芦荟也是美白佳品。它既可以食 用，也可以外敷。但是值得注意的是， 生芦荟会引起腹泻，所以建议尽量不要

生吃芦荟。

黑眼圈

黑眼圈形成的原因很多，而其中包括 眼底血管充盈，所以想要解决的话可以 通过反复冷热交替敷眼底位置，加速血 液循环加以缓解。 另外保证充足的睡眠也可以帮助我们 减少黑眼圈的出现。

若想知道其他保健方法， 欢迎您 投函到nanyuan@gmail.com，我 们将选出部分问题寻求中医师帮 您解答，并在下一期专栏刊登。 中医诊所讯息 地址：SBS-01s-68, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 6357551 电话：65921732/65921733 网址：www.ntutcm.com

VOL. NO.

19

27

THE NANYANG

09 CHRONICLE

娱乐 罗志祥“舞极限”世界巡回演唱会新加坡站

即兴表演 笑果十足

小猪罗志祥来新演唱，登台时颇有架势，虽然音响频频出现状况，但是他拿出主持功力逗得台下歌迷哈哈大笑。

洪媛●报道 中文编辑

音

响两次“罢工”，小猪 罗志祥来新加坡开唱现 场却状况连连，不过他凭借多 年的主持功力，妙语如珠的讲 话以及搞笑即兴的表演，不仅 没有冷场，还令现场气氛更加 高亢。 罗志祥“舞极限”世界巡回 演唱会新加坡站于3月1日在室 内体育馆引爆，基于安全考量 和场地原因，许多较为惊险的 特技环节都无法实现，这不禁 让人担忧新加坡场会不如其他 场精彩。然而在演唱会当日， 音响竟然两次失灵，让小猪都 称这将会是他觉得“最特别， 印象最深的一场演唱会”。幽 默机智的他送上了一连串的即 兴表演，看点十足。

看点一：大秀“罗氏英文” 在演唱《爱的主场秀》时， 音响在中途第一次出现状况， 力求完美的罗志祥在音响修复 后希望能够重新从升降舞台出 场再表演一次，可是英文并不

灵光的小猪却遇上了听不懂 华语的工作人员，情急之下的 他不断对着舞台下的工作人 员说“Excuse me. I am down.

Down. Down.”如此特殊的表 达方式让全场笑声不断。 而在最后要致谢主办方和 赞助商时，他表示演唱会前工 作人员便告诉他感谢名单中会 有很多英文，而他在看到名单 后就把第一个主办方的名字念 错，于是他便模仿起美式的腔 调，在大家还不确定他的发音 是否正确时，他已经念完了， 还不忘来一句“Friday night, I love yah”，十分逗趣。

看点二：附送“即兴福利” 为了成功热场，当晚小猪也 送给狮城歌迷诸多福利。在音 响还在维修时，他脱掉外套， 展示他苦练许久的健硕手臂， 还幽默地说：“现在好像没有 油了，工作人员可以上台帮我 再搽点油吗？”结果，工作人 员真的上台搽油，引起了歌迷 阵阵尖叫。 虽然音响修复了但是不久后 又出状况，罗志祥销着说：“ 看见没有？我是真的唱现场

摄影:詹道政

的！”随后立即开放现场点 歌，还跟舞者手拉手演唱《爱 拼才会赢》，脍炙人口的歌曲 引发全场大合唱，再次维持了 现场的热烈气氛。 在演唱送给歌迷的《幸福 罗》时，罗志祥走下舞台与歌 迷互动，亲民的他不仅跟歌迷 握手，更拿起了歌迷们的手机 合影，如此福利让他们兴奋不 已，惊叫连连。

看点三：展示“本地特色” 罗志祥创意十足，将《忐 忑》编成舞蹈，急促的节奏与 惊恐不安的表情可说是笑果十 足。与台湾场的大口咬香蕉不 同，新加坡场为了加入本地特 色，改成了自己被螃蟹夹，再 巧妙配上“哎依呀依呦”的歌 词，令歌迷捧腹大笑。 他也表示自己非常喜爱新加 坡的黑胡椒螃蟹，但因为有演 唱会，所以还没机会品尝，结 束后一定要大快朵颐一番。

看点四：挑战“舞蹈极限” 此次演唱会，罗志祥挑战体 能和舞蹈种类极限，整场表演 80%都是快歌舞曲，连续表演唱

照片:UnUsUal Entertainment 提供 跳歌曲2个小时，并以十八般舞 艺串联整场，包括非洲舞、街 舞、爵士舞等，展现“亚洲舞 王”的实力。 由于都是劲歌热舞，整场 演唱会的气氛高亢，歌迷随着 节奏摆动，在演唱《闹翻天》 时，全场更是跟着“Bounce Bounce Bounce”的歌词跳动， 让演唱会进入最高潮。 虽是唱跳歌手，但罗志祥对 抒情歌曲的深情演绎，同样打 动了现场的观众。他感性地表

示许多唱跳歌手都非常努力， 希望大家也能看到他们的歌唱 实力，也期盼第一次看他演唱 会的人能更好的认识他。 对于现场临时发生的音响 状况，罗志祥也不忘跟观众道 歉：“由于音响的疏失，导致 演出无法完美呈现，真的非常 对不起，希望你们能够原谅。 大家就当做是演唱会的特别桥 段，是看现场演出才有的特别 感觉。”他之后再深鞠一躬， 诚意十足。

28

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

19

CHRONICLE 09

黄小琥、萧煌奇“TRUE VOICE”记者会

黄小琥为萧煌奇找他的“眼” 郑欣●报道

台

湾歌手萧煌奇与黄小琥 首度携手合作来新加坡 开演唱会，让不少歌迷期待两 人同台会擦出什么样的火花。 记者会上，两位向大家展示了 真实与风趣的一面。 其实两位合作的机缘早在十 年前就开始了，那时萧煌奇出 了首张专辑《你是我的眼》。 因为工作上关系，萧煌奇的父 亲邀请黄小琥去萧煌奇的新歌 发表而有了增进友谊的机会。 这次决定一起合办演唱会， 除了因为所属同一家公司和经 纪人，两人都很欣赏对方富有 穿透力的歌声，希望结合而创 造出更大的魅力，又加上两位 的音乐属性非常相同，肯定能 带来振奋人心的音乐。

特别为了新加坡歌迷 虽然两人过去都曾经在本地 开唱，但是这次还是两人头一 回在新加坡合作，这次看到歌 迷如此热情，因此他们也希望 给本地朋友最好的表演。 但被主持人问到黄小琥是否 会穿着热辣秀上一段热舞，她 风趣地回答：“人要做适合自 己的事，如果有林志玲或者隋 棠的脸就可以，但我是黄小琥 的脸。” 不过，她也透露在此次演唱 会上萧煌奇会突破他的视觉障 碍为观众呈现一段舞蹈，非常 值得期待。

二人互动像母子 黄小琥与萧煌奇的感情非常 要好，像是母子一样，萧煌奇 常常形容黄小琥为“母鸡”， 比喻自己为“小鸡”，甚至会 开玩笑地喊她“妈”。 他爆料说因为黄小琥私底下 非常会照顾人又细心，比如每 到机场她都会是第一个跑去等 行李，还会帮大家拿，好像母 鸡带一群小鸡一样，并非像荧 幕上那样严肃。可是到了音乐 方面，她却是变得非常谨慎， 是个值得他学习磨炼的对象。 黄小琥私底下对人照顾有 加，更是风趣幽默。 黄小琥爆料，如果她在后 台，刚好看到不错的女艺人， 她会特别留意并汇报给萧煌 奇，有时会添油加醋地说：“ 她很美哦，以后一定是个好妈 妈。胸很大哦、臀部满翘、一 定很会生哦！”，甚至告诉萧 煌奇对方的上围丰满、三围姣 好，应验了好像个妈妈帮儿子 找媳妇。 可是话锋一转，黄小琥开玩 笑地说萧煌奇其实已经有很多 女朋友了，有的还是自己倒贴 过来呢，如此一番话让全场捧 腹大笑。

真情流露 认真演唱 两位同为实力派歌手，对 于音乐都是带着同样的热情与 执着。《你是我的眼》这首经 典歌曲，萧煌奇虽然唱了很多 遍，但每次依然会带着全新的 感情去诠释，每每带给听众不

乐评 音乐Jukebox

专辑：《因你而在》 歌手：林俊杰 推荐：《修炼爱情》《One Shot》 《一千年以后记得我》

,,,,,

第

十张专辑对大部分歌手而言都 是音乐事业上的里程碑，这种 似乎如同创作毕业作品的心态，对于 今年出道满十年的林俊杰也不例外。 这张专辑的曲风依然延续着林俊 杰一贯的曲风，但是风格上明显成熟 了许多。以往JJ的专辑大都主打抒情

黄小琥与萧煌奇的感情非常要好，像是母子一样，黄小琥私下会非常照顾人又细心，并非像荧幕上 那样严肃。 摄影:杨荔雯 一样的感觉。 他认为因为生活中遇到的 人不一样，心情也会随着情绪 而改变，所以每次演唱都会有 不一样感觉和感情，越唱越过 瘾。如此认真的态度就如同他 的创作一样，都会事先了解对

歌,节奏快的歌曲较为少见，要不然 就是走甜蜜型慢歌，但在这张专辑 中，快歌的品质和俊杰最擅长的慢 歌一样好，可见他的创作功力不受 歌曲风格的限制。 《修炼爱情》是纪念他中学时期 因空难而逝世的朋友，曲调抒情作 词带着哀愁的味道，听得出JJ对于好 友的思念。 除此之外，专辑中唯一收录的一 首英文歌曲《One Shot》则是JJ找来 好友王力宏演奏小提琴并配上自己 的钢琴弹奏，节奏感强烈，可说是 完美的结合。 最特别的是专辑也在最后收录了 隐藏歌曲《一千年以后记得我》， 没错，光听这歌名就很耳熟——林 俊杰将之前的《江南》、《一千年 以后》、《记得》、《Baby Baby》 、《爱笑的眼睛》以及《只对你 说》的部分词曲全部remix融入于这 一首当中，为过去的创作以及心血 划下漂亮的逗点，然后再准备为下 一个十年奋战。 十年下来不断努力的林俊杰成熟 了也成长了，若你想要知道这位本 地才子在外修炼了什么功夫，这张 专辑记录了JJ一路来的心路历程，值 得纪念、推荐。 （文／刘亭廷）

方的声音特色、专辑风格等， 才来靠想象开始作曲。 反观黄小琥则是坦诚虽然 《没那么简单》已经唱了很多 遍，自己却是不敢“嫌弃”招 牌歌曲，因为她认为每次演唱 台下听众都不一样，而他们都

专辑：《Pink Dahlia》 歌手：张敬轩 推荐：《值得》《不舍也为爱》

,,,,,

图片:网络下载

张

敬轩的第十四张大碟《Pink Dahlia》，是首张全翻唱广东歌 曲的专辑，亦是环球唱片为其发行的

是花钱买票来听歌的，所以作 为歌手就算有厌倦的感觉她也 必须收拾起来，要永远以第一 次认真的态度来演唱。 两位的互动非常温馨逗趣， 相信他们在演唱会上的合作也 会十分精彩。离5毫米

最后一张大碟。 擅长于翻唱女歌手作品的张敬轩，此 次邀请九位香港流行乐坛最顶负盛名的 女歌手，从各自作品中选出一首歌交由 他重新演绎；加上自选的梅艳芳《亲密 爱人》，十首皆是大众耳熟能详的经典 金曲，对于翻唱者具有极大的挑战性。 张敬轩对歌曲改编力度并不算大， 甚至相对保守，更多是用弦乐来调节氛 围，烘托出不一样的感受。作为实力派 歌手，张敬轩声音富有细腻的质感，唱 出属于自己的深情。 张敬轩对歌曲改编力度并不算大， 甚至相对保守，更多是用弦乐来调节氛 围，烘托出不一样的感受。 《值得》一改原作较为大气硬朗的风 格，以弦乐作为编曲主线，在德国压碟 的高保真技术保证下，突出张敬轩柔和 的唱腔，带出深厚绵长的情感，甚至不 逊色于郑秀文的原唱。 压轴的《不舍也为爱》，凭歌寄意， 句句都是张敬轩心声。深夜反复聆听， 脑海浮现的是轩仔11年来在环球唱片的 风风雨雨，经历过事业高低浮沉，直至 2007年凭借《酷爱》真正跻身一线男歌 手……不正是歌词“遇过风风雨雨/才能 有我现在庭园/一花一草/谁人悉心灌溉/ 但我即将远去/也有百般感慨”的现实写 照吗？ （文／卢凌之）

Opinions frankly, my dear

EDITORIAL

State Of the univerSity AT THE inaugural Celebrate NTU! event, President Bertil Andersson spoke of a wave of renewal across the entire universit y, not just in its facilities and infrastructure but a lso i n it s spi r it a nd culture.

He called for a “student democracy” — it is now part of NTU policy that the university will consult student leaders.

Before making any major change to campus facilities— be it the design of a new hall, the revising of bus services or t he cha nge i n ca nteen vendors.

T h i s ne w c on s u lt at i v e approach on matters affecting st udent life is a welcome move. And the State of the University address expressed a commitment that must be honoured in action.

Since more consultations are called for, students would also do well to embrace this new space responsibly — not only through social media, but also by coming forth to express their views to the universit y with their own suggestions and inputs.

It is important to recognise that in an age of social media where v iews prol i fer ate

r apid l y, c on s u lt at ion h a s become more t ha n ju st a t wo-way exchange. It is now an open market where perspectives of all kinds fight for salience. This means that t he process can no longer begin and end with a feedback box.

Rat her, con su ltat ion s s h ou ld r e m a i n o p e n a n d conversational — much like a forum.

A n d t h i s ‘d e m o c r a c y ’ w i l l on ly happen when t r a n s pa r e nc y i s t he c or e guiding principle to ensure that both parties can be held accountable for their words.

The call for a consultative approach will be tested, and it is only natural that this results in debate.

Too often, a debate is framed a s a s q u a r e - of f b e t w e e n winners and losers, but such divisions would be missing the point. In fact, it is the process of engaging one another that is most valuable, regardless of the outcome.

Now, i f t he u n i v e r s it y community can treat debates a s a hea lt hy mea n s of bolstering its heartware, then that would be an achievement worth celebrating.

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE ChieF editor Wong Pei Ting mAnAGinG editor Wan Zhong Hao sub-editors Fiona Lam Han Hui Jing Ronald Loh Steffi Koh neWs editors Cynthia Choo Isaac Tan Miranda Yeo LiFestyLe editors Bernice Koh Nicole Tan revieWs editor Charmaine Ng LAyout editors Carolyn Turgeon dApper editors Phyllicia Wang Wilfred Lim opinions editors Dipshikha Ghosh Redzwan Kamarudin

Chinese editors Hong Yuan Liu Ting Ting sports editors David Lam Nazri Eddy Razali photo editors Lim Mu Yao Yeo Kai Wen GrAphiCs editor Chin Li Zhi onLine editor Agung Santoso Ongko business mAnAGers Lim Pei Yi Vivian Lionel Lim Ng Wei Ying Xiu Xian Ho produCtion support Ng Heng Ghee Ong Li Chia teACher Advisors Andrew Duffy Debbie Goh Zakaria Zainal Lim Hai Yen

A students’ newspaper published by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) Nanyang Technological University 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718 Tel: 6790 6446 Unsigned editorials represent the majority view of the editorial board of The Chronicle and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of Nanyang Technological University, its employees, the students or the Council of the University.

Signed opinion columns, letters and editorial cartoons represent the opinion of the writer or artist and are not necessarily those of The Chronicle.

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Facebook: The Nanyang Chronicle Website: www3.ntu.edu. sg/chronicle General enquiries: chronicle@ntu.edu.sg

A column by Chronicle Editors on issues close to their hearts

GRAPHIC: CHIN LI ZHI

Isaac Tan news edITor

I

magine going for a university entrance interview.

You’ve got your portfolio in your right hand, a tie around your neck and your breath reeking of alcohol from the night before.

You step in the room trying to maintain your composure and you sit down before three stern looking individuals who could make or break your academic dreams.

After the casual exchange of pleasantries, you know the next 30 minutes would be worse than an episode of Jersey Shore.

No fake tans or unnecessary conversation topics — you know these guys mean business. You calmly and slowly share your answers, hoping not to slur.

But at the back of your head you’re wondering how you managed to even get home last night.

Finally, they get to the grand question: Why do you want to be here?

On a good day, a ny sa ne person would spew countless praises of the institution and its accolades.

But when I sat in that very room, my answer baff led even myself.

To date, not even I remembered the exact answer to that ver y question.

When asked why I wanted to pursue jour nalism despite majoring in it during my poly days, I said: “If you wanted me to write you an article, I could do so from anywhere. Even if I was in my boxers drinking a coffee you would get that article.”

Well, fresh from my duty of ser ving the nation and armed with a polytechnic diploma, the only way for me to get into a local university was through an interview.

Thankfully, the portfolio I built for myself over the three years in polytechnic overshadowed my mediocre grades.

Yet the pressures of getting a place locally, especially as a diploma holder, were very real for me.

I wanted to make my parents proud, I worried about the future.

As such, higher education seemed like the only solution to my predicament.

T he fear of not get ting a place was the biggest hurdle to overcome.

After hearing stories of peers who had done better than me in polytechnic but had recieved rejection letters, I wasn’t psyched about my chances.

Furthermore, shooting myself in the foot with a crazy unplanned response certainly didn’t increase my c ha nces t he lea st bit , or so I thought.

Weeks later, I received my acceptance letter from NTU and was simply ecstatic.

Beyond the drinks and my inebriated talk, I appreciated that the school was willing to accept my merits and give me the chance to pursue university education at the university level.

Stepping through the doors of the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information opened my eyes to realising the fact that every individual was just like me.

W het he r you ca me i n by sterling grades or a portfolio, we’ve all made it.

The equal opportunity that the school has given to every student is testimony to this year’s Open House theme: “Life@NTU – A World of Possibilities”.

Regardless of your background or way of life, you now have a chance to mould what happens from here on out.

Ever yone is gifted in their ow n way s , a nd t h i s i s you r opportunity to make the most of your university days.

It took me a year to realise t he sig n i f ica nc e of a l l t hat happened.

At the core of it all, whether by sheer luck by liquid courage, this is finally where I belong.

Getting here is only the first step and all that’s left is up to you — and I to make a real difference.

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CHRONICLE 09

canteen talk Do you think Singapore deserves to be dubbed the most innovative city in South-east Asia?

Innovation means something completely new.

Singapore has relatively newer concepts in Asia, but this is not new on a global scale.

Soham Ghosh, REP, Yr 1, 18

I think infrastructure and technology-wise — Singapore came up the fastest. The youth scene is good too.

Natalie Huam, WKWSCI, Yr 1, 19

I don’t think so. The government keeps going for the tried and tested. Look at the fines: they’re efficient but not innovative.

New imperfect face of Hollywood reDzwan kamaruDin opinions eDitor Many of us relish the excitement of being pundits, if only for the few weeks featuring the Golden Globes, Oscars and the Grammys.

But to m a n y ot he r s , t he celebration of film and musical achievement takes a backseat to the furious snapping on the red carpet.

All eyes are trained on the glittering celebrities, who are literally analysed from head to toe: who they’re modeling for, what jewellery they’re wearing — even their nails get air time via a ‘mani-cam’.

In the age where every slip-up is caught on camera and subject to endless criticism by anyone with access to the Internet, actors and actresses seem to be on the job whether they’re in the studio, or not.

Of course, artifice has always been at the core of fame and celebrity. Part of the appeal of Hollywood, after all, lies in the image of perfection it projects, however contrived.

Now, under so many watchful eyes, sustaining that mirage only becomes harder.

Celebrities have to act and

talk in a certain way; inter view questions and even the answers are carefully rehearsed with a bevy of public relations consultants.

T h at ’s w h y t h e world eagerly takes notice when a whiff of spontaneity suddenly breaks the suffocating sta leness of t he celebrity routine.

T h i s i s e x ac t l y what happened with Mila Kunis’s recent i nter v iew w it h t he BBC — she gleefully threw her script aside.

Instead of talking about her latest film — Oz the Great and Powerful — as she was supposed to, Kunis went off-script for a whole minute and talked about her favourite beer, her dislike of the colour yellow, and even agreeing to support the interviewer’s local football club.

Fans lapped up the interview, but Hollywood pedants insisted that her off-the-rails interview was unbecoming of someone who had been in the business for nearly 20 years.

Jen n i fer Law r ence, too, endeared herself to even more fans when she tripped over her own gown while going onstage to

GRAPHIC: CHIN LI ZHI

receive her Oscar.

She also drew unexpected praise on the Internet for just how graceful her brief slip-up looked.

For decades, we’ve celebrated the cool elegance of actresses like Audrey Hepburn and Cate Blanchett.

Their fine features, almost perfectly propor tioned smiles enthralled the entire world.

And that is perhaps why so many loved Kunis’s and Lawrence’s less-than-perfect moments.

Ultimately, they remind us that countless of hours in the gym and tons of make-up can only get you so far.

Even in Hollywood, a strong personality still counts.

Knowing when to fold Dipshikha Ghosh opinions eDitor

Nor Hashanah, MAE, Yr 4, 23

The diversity of Singapore makes it more innovative than others. This is primarily how ideas emerge, now and in future.

Zhao Xiwei, CEE, Yr 1, 21

If innovation equals modernity then I feel Singapore universities are teaching their students to look forward.

Martina Coltro, HSS, Yr 3, 21

PHOTOS: CHERIE YEO

W

H E N Po p e B e n e d i c t X V I a n nou nced h i s resignation, St Mark’s Squa r e, toget he r w it h t he international Catholic community, fell silent.

At least for a while. For the past 600 years, his predecessors have always served until their deaths.

Every news channel in the world seemed to resound with the same question: Why did the Pope resign?

While the decision must have been difficult for him to make, it was even more difficult for the rest of the world to understand.

But few of us know what it means to stop struggling and take a step back.

Perhaps it’s time to take a leaf out of his book. By a certain age, too many of us are convinced we can move mountains.

Taking up main committee posit ion s for mu lt iple cocurricular activities probably resemble a bad idea — especially at 5am when your assignments just keep piling up and your grades begin to slide. But those hall points are crucial, aren’t they?

It can even be a matter of love and relationships. I can

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vouch for the fact that many of us been through the phase where we thought we had met ‘The One’.

It could have been the way his eyes crinkled, or how she smiled: something about that person triggered a fuzzy feeling inside, but many text messages and unsuccessful dates later, everything would seem to be on the verge of falling apart.

Then, it happens and we think, is it time to get over it?

It might even be parental pressure standing in the way.

We are no stranger to stories

of students with a passion for literature who are pushed by their parents to study the sciences instead. Pursuing their dreams becomes tough.

Even if sonnets speak to us, we f lip open the engineering textbook on the desk because it makes our parents happy.

In the end we realise that giving up isn’t always a bad thing, for it often gives way to something bigger.

The multitude of problems we have to deal with barely gives us time for introspection.

In our struggle to give our lives purpose, we lose sight of what really matters.

Sometimes, happiness simply lies in doing what we have to do, and letting our gut feeling lead the way.

Perhaps the former Pope was wise to call it quits at the right time, leaving with grace and dignity. We all plan how far we want to go, but sometimes success lies in knowing when to fold.

Taking a step back requires wisdom and courage, something that our former Pope displayed in his statement to the world.

No mat ter what sit uat ion we are faced with, sometimes w i n n i ng l ie s i n le t t i ng go, changing direction, and moving on.

Now is the time.

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The road not taken

Marguerita KweK

S

ca n n i ng t h rough t he annual career fair booklet, you run your finger down the seemingly endless list of companies that are looking for an engineering or business student.

On the other hand, you can count on 10 fingers how many are willing to consider. This is the stigma literature faces. He sits, a forgotten dunce, in the corners of society.

Choose science over ar ts; you’ll look more intelligent, the cousins say.

It will get you higher up the academic ladder to university, the parents say.

Then you can get the degree t hat of fe r s t he most ca r e e r options, which certainly isn’t literature, the friends say.

No wonder so many upper secondar y students are disinclined to choose the road less taken.

I n 19 92 , t he nu m b e r of students taking pure literature in Singapore was said to be nearly 17,000 by the Straits Times.

Today, it has dropped to a mere 3,000.

Perhaps the introduction of new subjects like the combined humanities, coupled with students finding it hard to score in literature, have led to the erosion of interest in the subject, suggested Ms Indranee Rajah, Senior Minister of State for Education and Law. In any case, one can easily deduce the truth: Singaporean students have bought into the mindset t hat ta k ing science subjects is the only way to have a successful future, and that the only choices worth taking are those that display immediate, material benefits.

After all, literature appears to lack practical application in our daily lives.

Why spend hours scouring through old literature texts filled with antiquated vocabulary we would never use in real life?

Why learn the structures of sonnets, haikus, and odes, which are only useful if we become poets?

Why analyse the psyches of fictional characters who we have never met?

But considering literature in such a cursory manner, we only ser ve to set ourselves up for disappointment.

While other subjects in the O-level syllabus will tell you the answers to what and how, literature spurs you to voice the perilous yet vital question — why?

In fact, there is an indispensable incentive to expose oneself to literature. While other subjects in the O-level syllabus will tell you the answers to what and how, literature generates a fizz of curiosity in one’s mind, that spurs you to voice the perilous yet vital question — why?

As a student, I discovered that the question why was not welcomed in certain scholastic doma i n s. Du r i ng JC, my H1 Mat hemat ics t utor w rote a n

GRAPHIC: JEREMY TEO

elaborate differentiation equation on the board, to which my friend asked: Why? The tutor was momentarily st u n ned , before giv i ng a cur t answer bef it ting of t he Singaporean mentalit y: “Just memorise. Don’t ask questions.”

Yet in literature class, it was an entirely different stor y —

asking why was an imperative.

We learnt early on to question: “Why did the character say this?

Why did the author use such a technique?” Indeed, the question why is necessary for self-reflection and individuality.

Literature compels one to search for the answers to this everrelevant question. In pursuing

answers, one is forced to see the world from a different sort of perspective.

Author of the Narnia series C S Lewis once said: “Literature adds to reality. It does not simply describe it." Why stop students from treading on the road less travelled? Why deny them (and yourself) the fictional adventure?

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A fallen leader and his cause Gillian Seetoh

T

iger Woods. Lance Armstrong.

Oscar Pistorius. These athletes defied sporting boundaries and built charities that helped millions, becoming our real-life heroes.

Multiple Tour de France winner A r mstrong, for example, was an inspiration for athletes and fans alike, wit h his spor ting achievements and philanthrophic contributions.

Yet he also showed himself capable of human failings when found guilty of doping throughout his cycling career in the Tour de France.

Li kew ise, Ni ke recent ly s u s pe nde d it s cont r ac t w it h Pistor ius amid allegations of murder of his girlfriend.

An ambassador of the Mineseeker Foundation — an organisation providing communities affected by landmines with prosthetic limbs — the Paralympic sprinter was also a role model to many.

No doubt , fa me i ncreased the visibility of their charities’ causes, drawing large donations a nd at t r ac t i n g h i g h -pr of i le supporters.

But their falls from grace also leave the public wondering what would happen to their endorsed charities.

Media scr utiny, bad press, and negative attention — do these

become a burden to the charities these former heroes helped create?

W he n sca nd a l s t r i ke s a n athlete, the charity he is associated with inevitably becomes involved.

“People were shocked to hear about the murder charges against Pistor ius. I think they might be more hesitant of supporting charities and brands linked with him now as they would rather not be associated with him,” says Jim Tan, 24, an avid sports fan

louder than words : Up, Up and Away

Chin li Zhi

and second-year student at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The Mineseeker Foundation and its fundraising efforts have unfortunately been called into question, leaving it in limbo.

But the extent of the negative impact on the charities may depend on what caused each athlete’s downfall.

For Tiger Woods, the Tiger Woods Foundation had nothing to

GRAPHIC: JEDIDAH TAN

do with his personal life, and it was his sexual trangressions that sent his career spiralling downwards.

On the other hand, Livestrong, Armstrong’s personal charity, was built upon his success in surviving testicular cancer and his dogged fight to secure his record seven Tour de France wins.

When Armstrong’s titles were stripped, so was his role with Livestrong.

While Mineseeker has yet to

feel the full effects of the Pistorius trial that has been adjourned until June, Mike Kendrick, the founder of the charity, still counts Pistorius as one of its ambassadors.

The key, though, lies in how the organisation handles the backlash.

Concrete steps should also be taken to make amends and regain public trust.

For example, Greg McLaughlin, president of the Tiger Woods Foundation, offered spectators a refund when Woods was absent from the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament in 2009.

In the short term, it’s also crucial for athletes to apologise and voluntarily disengage from the charities, lest they implicate the organisations.

That was what Armstrong did when he stepped down from the Board of Directors of Livestrong last November.

While he wasn’t automatically pardoned, he at least lessened the damage by distancing himself from the organisation — allowing the charity to make itself over and to show its mission was bigger than its ambassador.

Ultimately, it’s a matter of winning back the trust of their supporters.

A nd hopef u lly, over time, t he public can lear n to tr ust the charities and support them again.

Perhaps then, these athletes can be on the road to redemption.

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sports talk

The fall from grace

Fighting For recognition: Although wrestling can re-apply for inclusion as a core olympic sport, its chances of being selected are slim as other sports have been in queue for a longer time.

Nazri Eddy razali SportS Editor

C

hokeslams, neckbreakers, a nd facebu ste r s — aggressive, but legal, wrestling moves that are part of the Olympics.

But come 2020, they will be no more after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced their decision to drop one of the oldest Olympic sports entirely from its line-up.

I n fac t , t he aba ndon ment of wrestling would have been a travesty to the Olympics just decades ago — but only because confrontation was then the order of the day.

Soothing tensions

During the Cold War, when USSoviet relations were at their worst, even people who knew nothing about wrestling would root against wrestlers who represented an opposing political faction.

Proxy wars were fought not only in Vietnam, South Korea, and Afghanistan, but also on the wrestling mat in the Olympics — albeit in a non-fatal fashion.

Viewer s cou ld relate to wrestling’s laws of primordial violence, in all its unfettered s i m pl ic it y : dom i n ate , or b e dominated.

As such, the loss of the sport back then would have met with volatile disapproval.

The IOC dropped both GrecoRoman and freestyle wrestling

from its list of 25 core sports for the 2020 Summer Games.

The committee made no explanation for its removal of the sport — one that has been a staple in both the ancient and modern Olympics since 1896 — only saying that the decision was reached by the 15 Executive Board members in a secret ballot.

Viewers could relate with wrestling’s laws of primordial violence, in all its unfettered simplicity: dominate, or be dominated.

In theory, the selection criteria for a spor t is clear, and wrestling makes the cut in more than one aspect.

It scores well on global part icipat ion, w it h 71 count r ies fielding athletes, as compared to the 26 from pentathlon, a core Olympic sport.

Wrestling in the Olympics also defines the sport and its athletes in a symbiotic way.

Oly mpian Yogeshwar Dut t said in an interview that most countries don’t give wrestlers muc h r e c og n it ion , a nd t h at wrestlers would be unable to

prove themselves if the Olympics denied the sport.

The bronze medalist at the 2012 London Olympics is even ready to return his medal if the sport is not reinstated.

Also, unlike most other core sports in the recent Olympics, wrestling has upheld the ideal of amateur participation, as conceived by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the IOC. While the popularity of wrestling lagged behind many sports in the London Olympics, its lack of fanfare hardly justif ies its removal from the 25 core sports.

58.5 million viewers watched wrestling on telev ision at its highest point, as compared to the 33.5m people who tuned in to pentathlon at its peak.

Clearly, numbers fail to legitimise the exclusion of wrestling, since pentathlon should have been the sport to go if viewership was a deciding criteria.

So, wrestling’s relegation to a non-core sport doesn’t seem to make sense — or does it?

t he Ch i na v Cuba vol le yba l l bronze medal game on CCT V, according to AGB Nielsen.

In comparison, 84m viewers caught the concurrent broadcast of the men’s weightlifting 77kg final on CCTV 2.

Sy nc h r on i s e d s w i m m i ng , another team sport, which puts precision, finesse, and teamwork to the test, was also officially declared an Olympic sport at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Photo: internet

The induction of the water spor t has indirect ly compromised wrestling’s status in the Olympics. The pursuit of group synergy and aesthetic perfection is more highly valued than individual achievement and physical prowess in today’s sporting society.

Short of receiving a knockout blow, it remains to be seen how wrestling is going to jostle itself back to its former glory.

NTU Bike Rally 2013

Shift in interest

The revered status of the sport, t r aced bac k to t he a ncient Olympics held by the Greeks in Antiquity, has been eroded by the shift in interest towards team sports in modern times.

The modern viewer does not identif y with personal heroics as much, and confrontation has also lost its appeal in today’s synergised society.

D u r i n g t he 2 0 0 8 B e iji n g Olympics, 143m viewers watched

LAZY Sunday mornings in bed may sound like the ideal start to the recess week for some, but this was far from the minds of the participants at Bike rally 2013. the annual cross-island cycling event, organised by ntU Sports club on 3 Mar to promote cycling as a lifestyle, drew 1,100 participants. the public event flagged off at 7am in front of ntU’s chinese heritage centre.

Spanning 138km, the route included landmarks such as the Singapore turf club, Punggol Promenade, and Labrador Park before ending back at ntU. Up for grabs were also 20 lucky draw prizes, which included bicycles sponsored

by Monotine. teXt: LAUrA LeWiS; Photo: ntU SPortS cLUB

34-35 SPORTS

WEEKEND

When playing pickup ball or skating in the park isn’t adrenaline-inducing enough, sports enthusiasts look to amateur leagues for their competitive fix. Sports Editor David Lam goes to where the stakes are high, and personal pride and glory are on the line.

DIVERSITY ON THE FIELD: FC Protege midfielder Muhammad Safarullah (second from right) relishes the highly physical battles against his SCC Tigers Football Club opponent. Safarullah competes against players of different nationalities every weekend in the ESPZEN Sunday league.

PHOTOS: ROY PEK & CHUA KHIPIN

M

uhammad Safar ullah receives a hard, sliding tackle from his opponent and crashes onto the pitch, winded.

The FC Protege midfielder, 27, is having a torrid day on the pitch at Queenstown Secondary School.

His team goes on to lose 3-0 to their European opponents from the Singapore Cricket Club (SCC) Tigers Football Club.

Meanwhile, at the Singapore Sepak Takraw Federation, fortunes are better for Isam Nordin, 46, who volleys a rattan ball with an overhead kick, into Cast Launch Sepak Takraw’s playing zone.

He scores. His team celebrates. They go on to win all three rounds.

Though by no means professional athletes, both Safarullah and Isam are ‘weekend warriors’ who take part in their respective amateur leagues every weekend, and are no strangers to intensive and competitive matches.

The standard of play in these leagues are exemplified by the PERSES Sepak Takraw league.

Despite winning three consecutive matches, Isam explains that this rarely happens in the Marathon Cup, an opencategory competition held annually by the Sepak Takraw Federation of Singapore.

“As the standard of every team is very similar, the outcome of each match is often decided by the strategic fielding of players.”

Isam Nordin, 46 Player / Manager Workforce Sepak Takraw

“As the standard of every team is similar, the outcome of each match is often decided by the strategic fielding of players,” Isam said.

“The excitement of the league is in its competitiveness, making every match close and intense.”

Global Competition

Safarullah, who would later get up to finish the second half of the match, said: “It’s challenging to play against expatriate players, especially the Europeans, as they are bigger and more physical.”

“But it brings a new dimension to the game.”

His match was part of ESPZEN’s Sunday league, one of the three amateur leagues created by the organisation that comprises multi-tiered divisions.

The other two leagues are the Saturday and Midweek installments.

The divisions are ranked, with Division One being the strongest. Each division comprises 10 teams, and they play each other twice.

All three leagues are also largely made up of players from Europe and the rest of South-east Asia.

In Division One, European expatriates

make up seven teams, while one Myanmese, Vietnamese and Singaporean team each fill up the remaining three spots.

But ESPZEN is not the only amateur league in town with diverse nationalities.

The Jammers Basketball Alliance also has players from all over the world, including USA, the Philippines and Germany.

While the basketball league is currently i n it s si x t h sea son for it s wee kday installment, and in its seventh season for its weekend sessions, the league had humble beginnings.

Coming off a bad experience playing in another amateur league, founder and manager of the Jammers Basketball Alliance, Ong Peng Kiat, took matters into his own hands.

With the logistical support from his friends, he created an amateur league where basketball players in Singapore could enjoy organised basketball to its fullest.

Ong oversees most of the games, and collects feedback on the operations.

Nathaniel Teo, 23, a second-year student from NTU’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, said: “The league

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WARRIORS manager is team-oriented and schedules matches to the benefit of the teams.

“The locations of the matches are also well-chosen, being in the central areas of Singapore.”

On a different track

Among the many amateur leagues across Singapore, the Chilli Padi Derby Grrrls stand out in many ways.

For one, they are South-east Asia’s first roller derby league.

They are also constantly battling to legitimise the status of their sport.

Despite the fact that roller derby is the fastest growing sport in the world with more than 1,200 leagues worldwide, people still perceive it as a novelty here.

“People should understand roller derby isn’t just a girly non-sport; it’s a full-on slugfest,” said skater Loretta Perera, 25.

Roller derby has two teams of five skating anti-clockwise on a circuit track concurrently.

Scoring takes place when a designated player — the Jammer — laps the rest of the opposing team.

The four other members prevent the opposing Jammer from scoring by any means necessary, with the exception of shoving and throwing elbows.

It’s not lost on the players that this is one sport that is largely dominated by allfemale amateur teams here.

“Women’s rugby, women’s football… for once you have a sport that you can call men’s roller derby,” said Perera.

Though the sport is fuelled by the dedication of a small group of regular skaters, the girls believe that they would benefit from regular trainings and increased attendance.

Sarah Alison, 29, one of the coaches of the sport, said: “While the core group within the league is very passionate about roller derby, and has been improving in terms of enthusiasm and fitness, we don’t have the numbers to improve our significance on the global scene.

“But it’s fast, fearsome, and very fun.”

PRECISION (TOP): Hazliq Bin Abdul Wahid, 25, sets up his teammate for a serve.

The two ex-national players from Workforce Sepak Takraw would eventually win their match against Cast Launch Sepak Takraw.

HUSTLE BENEATH THE HOOP (RIGHT): Keppelite Recreation Club guard, Choo Jin Fu, 25, takes a contested layup against the defense from Affinity Basketball Club.

Keppelite would triumph in a blowout win.

GEARING UP (BOTTOM): Blocker Loretta Perera (first from left) readies herself for the jam against the other skaters in full-battle order. The Chilli Padi Roller Derby Grrrls have regular trainings at Tampines West Community Centre.

Sports

On another league — Page 34 & 35

getting physical with...

Flying high Jacqueline Lim confronts her fear of heights and finds out what it takes to be a cheerleader during a session with the NTU Aces.

“ONE, Two, Down, Up!” went the cheerleaders as they readied themselves for another aerial stunt.

Those words rang through the night I spent with the NTU Aces Cheerleading Team during their training.

There was a buzz of excitement in the air. Cheerleaders from the 16 Halls were invited that night to join in Aces’ training — part of a casual exchange cum recruitment drive for potential members.

T h r ou g hout t he t r a i n i n g session, I shadowed Sim Xiao Rong, 21, a third-year student from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

A cheerleader with three years of experience, she patiently guided me through the two-hour training.

Stretching my luck

Still, Xiao Rong laughed when I expressed my horror at the thought of doing stretching exercises before the training.

I may not be stiff as a rock, but their feats of flexibility made my jaw drop.

“Chest to the ground!” someone yelled behind me.

I whipped my head around to witness former captain Mabel Huang Shumin, 23, a secondyear student from the School of Biological Sciences, being pressed flat on the ground while executing a front split effortlessly.

When it was my turn, I begged Xiao Rong to go easy on me. She had other plans, of course, and it was not long before I found myself yelping in pain.

I then spent the next 30 seconds with my face so close to the mat I could smell the synthetic rubber and study the pattern of its grooves.

In those painful moments, a l l I cou ld register was how much hard work these cheerle ade r s r e g u l a r l y pu t i n to achieve that level of flexibility.

There was clearly as much grit as glamour behind those cheerful shouts and smiles.

My night eventually brought me to face one of my greatest

fears – heights. However, in this case, I was more afraid of injuring the cheerleaders below me if I were to fall.

The cheerleaders and I started off with a basic stunt called the Elevator that involved two bases and a flyer.

I was scared out of my wits. All I could remember was “Lock, lock, lock, lock” being repeated in my head as I stiffened my whole body.

Someone’s life was in my hands and the success of the routine depended on the collective effort.

The cheerleaders told me earlier this would help stabilise my body and maintain my balance.

I was standing on only the hands of two girls and didn’t dare to look down.

But I quickly realised I could never get down properly without looking down — only to become even more paralysed with fear.

From below, Ruth Goh, 28, a second-year student from the National Institute of Education, told me to find the shoulders of the bases as I clumsily made my way down.

But in my panicked state, I didn’t register much of what she said.

Eventually, I managed to find the shoulders without looking down.

The ground never felt more reassuring when I was finally carried down.

teamwork

Seeing all the bases hard at work, I asked to be a base and felt empowered when I lifted a cheerleader — but not without Xiao Rong’s help, of course.

My impor tance, as a base, struck me — someone’s life was in my hands and the success of the routine depended on the collective effort of everybody.

No practice can be done individually and every stunt can only be completed when all team members are present.

That also explains the training hours late into the night, which are the only times when stunts can be practised.

When asked why the cheerlead-

ers’ costumes include sexy midriffbaring tops and short skirts, Ruth and the cheer captain, Brandan Chen, 22, a second-year student from Nanyang Business School, laughed heartily.

Ruth said the outfits are actually for safety as bare skin on the waist allow for more grip when performing stunts.

At the end of the training, Brandan and Ruth encouraged me to try one last stunt, the 2-2-1.

As I readied myself for this high-risk stunt, I suddenly realised the large crowd of people — the most I’ve seen throughout the session — readying for my fall.

In a morbid sense, though, I felt assured.

Prior to that, I was given a crash course on how to climb onto the hands of the two girls who would be on the second tier, as well as how to fall.

It felt manageable enough. But when the time came to execute it, I was so frightened that I took a misstep and almost messed up the stunt.

As if being up there was not scary enough, I then heard everyone shouting at me to smile for the photographer.

Only then did I realise that I was supposed to look down at the photographer below.

I had to do a trust fall from the top of the pyramid after the shot was taken. And I truly experienced the essence of the whole sport — trust.

YOU RAISE ME UP: Though she initially feared for her safety, writer Jacqueline Lim learns that trust in one’s teammates is what ensures a successful cheerleading routine.

PHOTO: CHAM TAW ZHENG

the cheerleading pyramid Base

But slowly, my fear dissipated and it felt good being at the pinnacle of the stunt and conquering my fear, even if it was only for a short while.

I had to do a trust fall from the top of the pyramid after the shot was taken. And I truly experienced the essence of the whole sport — trust.

Indeed, I never felt in better hands when I landed in the arms of the bases while releasing the breath I had secretly been holding in all night long — unscathed.

The foundation of any cheerleading stunt, bases normally come in multiples of two. Strong and trustworthy, bases have to always be prepared to catch the flyers safely.

Flyer

The lightest members of a cheerleading squad, flyers require a good sense of balance to execute high-risk maneuvers. To ensure they can be caught easily and safely, flyers have to wear tight-fitting clothes.

Spotter

Apart from boosting the flyers up at the beginning of stunts, spotters also hold on to the flyer’s ankles to help maintain a stable base.

In case anything goes wrong, spotters have to be alert and be the first to react to ensure everyone’s safety.