ScandAsia Singapore - June 2012 by Scandinavian Publishing Co., Ltd.

JUN 2012

Singapore

Fredrik Härén’s Global World

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Opinion

Population in the Asian Century The world’s population grew by two per cent per annum in the late 1960s, and if this rate had been maintained, it would have exceeded 18 billion in 2050.

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Today, the United Nations Population Division projects a population of around nine billion by that time. The world’s population is now estimated to be half of what it might have been primarily because of the widespread success that Asian countries have achieved in reducing their birth rates. In their classic 1958 book, Population Growth and Economic Development in Low-Income Countries, Ansley Coale and Edgar M. Hoover argued that a reduction in fertility would reduce the number of children that a country needed to support while, at the same time, having little or no impact on the size of the labour force for the following two decades. They argued that the reduction in child dependency would reduce consumption and increase savings and investment, which, in turn, would stimulate economic growth. Additionally, greater emphasis could be placed on the education and development of the next generation so the country’s pool of human capital would also be enhanced. Many Asian countries accepted this idea, leading to family planning programs that have had a huge impact on population growth in the past 40 years — and, in China, the idea also led to the one-child policy. It is hard to argue that rapid economic development in most of the countries that lowered their birth rates — including Japan, South Korea, China, India and some Southeast Asian countries — is not associated with this strategic approach. Today, very few countries in Asia have birth rates above three children per woman. The remaining countries with high fertility, countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Timor-Leste and Iraq also support the case that high fertility is a major obstacle to economic development. Population growth rates in Asia have fallen despite significant increases in life expectancy. For Asia as a whole, life expectancy at birth has risen from 48 years in 1960 to 70 years in 2010. Substantial and simultaneous falls in both fertility and mortality mean that Asian countries are ageing much more rapidly than has been the case in Western countries. With 30 per cent of its population aged 60 years and over, Japan already has the oldest population in the world. Japan will get a lot older than this in the next 40 years, with nearly half of its population projected to be 60 and over in 2050. Again, in comparison with the West, Asian countries have had little time to develop policies that prepare them for rapid ageing. The emergence of very low fertility rates, particularly in East Asia, has exacerbated this trend toward ageing populations. The average number of births per woman in 2010 was 1.39 in Japan, 1.15 in South Korea, 1.16 in Singapore, 0.91 in Taiwan and 1.11 in Hong Kong.

The fertility rate in China is disputed but is probably between 1.2 and 1.4 births per woman. These are the lowest fertility rates in the world and are a real cause for concern: a country with a sustained fertility rate of 1.3 will see the grandchild’s generation fall to 40 per cent of the size of the grandparent’s generation. But well before population decline becomes a problem, such countries will experience a sharp fall in the size of their labour forces, which will coincide with the most rapid expansion of the number of citizens making up a country’s aged population. This process is more advanced in Japan and is referred to as a demographic malaise. Countries may well adjust to gradual falls in labour supply, but it is unlikely that they can adjust easily to precipitous falls, especially at a time when the aged population is increasing rapidly. All Asian countries with a fertility rate of under 1.5 births per woman, except China for the time being, see this as a major issue and are looking for policy approaches to increase fertility. So far, they are failing badly. For small countries like Singapore, immigration is a possible approach, but it is faced with popular resistance. A shortage of young, skilled workers is a greater problem in periods of rapid technological change because young workers tend to be the assimilators of new technology. Under these circumstances, China would be wise to end the one-child policy. But its government remains under the illusion that fertility would rise rapidly if the policy were to be ended. Will other countries such as Japan and South Korea be able to raise their fertility rates in the future? Very low fertility often results from the difficulty that many women face in combining paid employment with having children. But there is little sign that employers in low-fertility East Asian countries like Japan and South Korea are willing to make the changes to employment conditions that would facilitate the combination of work and family. Consequently, very low fertility is expected to continue. Peter McDonald is Professor of Demography and Director of the Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute at the Australian National University.

This post is part of the series on the Asian Century which feeds into the Australian government White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century.

CONTENTS 18

JUNE 2012

8 Coming Events 10 Past Events 14 ScandAsia News Brief 18 Fredrik Härén’s Global World 20 Natural ‘Jamu’ Shrinks Mummy’s Tummy After Baby

22 Three Reasons

Why Expats Choose Singapore

24 Exotic Skin Handbags at Caspoll 26 Health Tips for Heat Exposure in Singapore 28 Smart Travelling: Singapore to Kuala Lumpur

30 Sudoku & Rhubarb Desert 28

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Coming Events Young Professionals Singapore: Midsummer Party Date: Friday 22 June 2012 to Sunday 24 June 2012 Location: Lawn of Raffles Hotel The Young Professionals of Singapore will be celebrating midsummer raising a Midsummer pole or a maypole decorated with leafs, flowers and flags. They will proceed to dance and sing around the pole, play traditional games and enjoy the variety of delicious food and drinks. Contact young.professionalssg@gmail.com for further information.

Luncheon Talk: Professor Torger Reve from BI Norwegian Business School Date: Tuesday 19 June 2012 Location: Pan Pacific Orchard, 10 Claymore Road , Singapore 229540 The Norwegian Business Association is organising yet another luncheon with guest speaker, Professor Torger Reve of the BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo who will present the main findings from his large study of 13 Norwegian industries. Please visit http://www.nbas.org.sg/ for further information.

Singapore National Day Parade Date: Thursday 9 August 2012 Location: Marina Bay The Singapore National Day Parade 2012 will be held at Marina Bay. Look forward to this huge event held every year as thousands gather to watch spectacular and colourful performances as well as bursting fireworks. Visit http://ndp.org.sg/ for further information about the parade.

ScandBizBar Date: Thursday 2 August 2012 Chill out with friends from all the business associations in Singapore after work while enjoying some refreshing drinks.

8 ScandAsia.Singapore â&#x20AC;˘ June 2012

June 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ ScandAsia.Singapore 9

Norwegian National Day Celebration

t was a good time on 17 May when Norwegians all around the city of Singapore gathered at the Fort Canning Park to parade in celebration of the Norwegian National Day. More than 800 guests joined in the parade that evening. Everyone gathered at the visitor centre of the park before parading together holding little Norwegian flags to where tents and tables had been specially set up for the occasion. Although the sun was not bright, it was very humid that evening in the park as it had just rained. To cool the guests down, drinks were served to them while they enjoyed the performances and speeches on stage. Surrounded by the tropical trees, the heat might have been a challenge to some, but did not in any way manage to break the festive spirit. Despite the humidity, all adults and children alike were dressed up in suitable formal attire and beautiful dresses to celebrate the occasion. Some even attended the event wearing the Norwegian traditional costume. Many of the adults present had already been exercising their vocal chords earlier in the day at the reception at the Ambassador’s residence. Led by the choir “Kor i all verden”, they received a loud applause from the crowd after their performance of the national anthem. The Ambassador also gave a speech and presented a greeting from the King and Queen of Norway. Also performing were many of the pupils from the Norwegian Supplementary School. They gave speeches, sang songs and recited poems. The highlight of the day however, for many of the children, was the snake charmer. Cries and squeals of both joy and fear were heard from the audience as they laid eyes on the slithery animal. The bravest of the children even had the chance to hold the snake on their shoulders while getting their picture taken. Norwegian priest, Eva Jansvik, along with Lise, from the Norwegian Seamen’s Church, were present at the event. After all the performances and speeches, the guests were led to the feasting area where they helped themselves to the delicious food provided. Even the children were treated to fun with a huge bounce house and bubble machines along with the variety of food and snacks provided. The tradition of celebrating May 17 in Fort Canning Park keeps getting more and more popular. And although they were not physically in Norway, everyone was able to celebrate and fun on right here, in Singapore.

The guests at Fort Canning Park waving their mini flags and enjoying themselves with entertaining line-up of performances. 10 ScandAsia.Singapore • June 2012

Swedish Kikki.K at Audi Fashion Festival

s the official fashion stationery partner of Audi Fashion Festival in Singapore, a Swedish Fashion stationary brand, Kikki.K, unveiled its unique, specially designed paper dress made of its stationery products on 12 May at its store in ION Orchard Boutique. Kikki.K was founded in Australia by a Swedish stationery lover, Kristina Karlsson. The brand also celebrated its 10th anniversary in conjunction with the 2012 Audi Fashion Festival in Singapore featuring a fashionable paper dress. Kikki.K got Elite Model 2011 Winner and Official Face of AFF 2012, 16-year-old Fiona Fussi to parade the paper dress which was on display in the fashion stationery inspired feature window during the festival. Designed by its Australian Design Studio team, the dress consists of hundreds of pages from the kikki.K ‘365 Days Journal and white paper’, with accessories including a belt and necklace made from the kikki.K ‘Black Cube Notepad’.

Fiona Fussi posing for the crowd as they take snapshots of her in the window modelling the Kikki.K paper dress.

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8/29/11 1:57 PM June 2012 • ScandAsia.Singapore 11

Mercuri Urval celebrates a decade in Singapore

ercuri Urval celebrated its 10th anniversary in Singapore with a party held at its office on Phillip Street on 3rd May. Around 100 guests from major local and multinational companies gathered for this event. The guest-of-honour for the event was the Swedish Ambassador, His Excellency Ingemar Dolfe. The ambassador said that he is impressed with the growth of the consulting firm in South-East Asia. Also present at the party were Mercuri Urval Chairman, Christian Kurt Nielsen and Mercuri Urval South-East Asia Managing Director Vincent Maillard. According to Mr. Maillard, the party had a good turnout and was a success. He appreciated that some clients flew in from Europe and Asia specially to attend the event, in a show of support for the firm. He felt that it is a proof of the strong relationships that Mercuri Urval has forged with their business partners. Mercuri Urval is an international management consulting firm focused on human capital consultancy. The firm helps its clients build people capabilities to bring its strategy to life. Its services range from talent acquisition and selection to talent and team development. Describing the firm’s philosophy and expertise, Mr. Nielsen said Mercuri Urval has more than 40 years’ experience in making sure organisations have the right people. “We believe that with the right people, the company’s vision will become a reality,” he said. Mr. Maillard is proud of the progress that the company has made over the last 10 years. He added that Singapore is the hub for South-East Asia. The office actively supports assignments in the region in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Walk n’ Talk Again

he ladies of the Scandinavian Women’s Association had another great walk on the morning of 25 April. The walk started on the clear day from Harbour Front Centre towards Henderson waves to Labrador Park. The 14 ladies had a good time and exercise walking 9km. On the way however, they had the opportunity of coming across a snake leaving them feeling a little shaky. Nobody was hurt and continued the walk back to the Harbour Front Centre where the parked their cars. It was an overall good day as they all got some good exercise and had some good chats with each other. After the walk, some of the ladies headed to the Danish Seamen’s Church to buy some Danish specialties.

The regular SWA ladies pose for the camera while taking a walk. 12 ScandAsia.Singapore • June 2012

NTU Students at Norwegian Ambassador’s Residence

orwegian Ambassador Janne Julsrud recently welcomed students from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to her residence for an evening reception. The local students invited are those who pursue an Undergraduate Degree in Maritime Studies. Introduced in 2004, the program is in cooperation with the BI Norwegian School of Management which requires students to take an exchange semester at BI’s Oslo campus. Thus, the exchange students had many questions about Norway and its people. Some were concerned about the cold while others were eager to hear more about an insider’s traveling tips. Later, there was a Q&A session in order to answer the students’ questions. The aim of the reception was to prepare the students for the different cultural and environmental. Guest speaker Heidi Aakre, the President of Statoil Asia Pacific, shared her thoughts on business cultures in Norway and Singapore. Students also received complimentary moose t-shirts, drinking bottles, pens and travelling brochures from the Embassy. With the presence of representatives from well-established Norwegian companies in Singapore that employ many local students who went for education in Norway, the reception allowed local students to network and present themselves to these companies for future job opportunities.

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June 2012 • ScandAsia.Singapore 13

ScandAsia News Brief

Angry Birds Adventure on Mount Faber

rom June to December 2012, Angry Birds fans in Singapore can experience the “Angry Birds Adventure” from the Singapore’s iconic Cable Car Ride atop Mount Faber. The Finnish Rovio Entertainment is opening its first officially licensed Angry Birds Theme Park in Finland in June however, if Finland’s just too far, here is the next best thing the first Angry Birds cable car ride. Thirty of the Singapore Cabins will turn into Angry Birds cabins at Mount Faber with the familiar soundtrack fans are familiar with, snorting and chirping. There will be interactive game stations featured as well as creative workshops and quirky Angry Birds meals offered. A complimentary Angry Birds face mask and a mocktail in a fun-designed cup are offered. Only in June, three specially designed, fully wrapped Angry Birds cable car cabins will depict the Angry Birds chasing after an evil green pig. For more information, check out the Angry Birds Adventure Facebook page. Singapore Cable Car tickets are on sale at counters at Imbiah Lookout on Sentosa, Harbourfront Tower 2 and The Jewel Box. Ticket Prices are S$29/person for adults and S$18/person for kids.

Norbreeze makes Top 14 for Emerging Enterprise 2012

orbreeze Pte Ltd, the sole distributor of Skagen watches in Singapore, made top 14 finalists in the of the Emerging Enterprises 2012 award organised by OCBC Bank and Business Times. The inaugural Emerging Enterprise Award in 2008 was first launched to recognise outstanding small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore. Winners receive attractive prizes to support their growth and development. This year, up to 3 top SMEs will each receive S$150,000 interest-free loan, S$90,000 worth of professional services and training programmes as well as support from Spring, Singapore in capability development. In addition to that, two finalists will each win a “Best Innovation Award”, comprising S$30,000 worth of Information and Communication Technology prizes from SingTel. The Danish founders of Norbreeze Singapore first came to Singapore in 1998 to pursue their studies and noticed that watches then were rather big and bulky. So, being fans of slim and classic watch designs, Anders Peter Juel Sauerberg and his wife, Anne Trads Hansen, decided to bring in Danish watch brand Skagen Designs to fill the gap in the market in 2004. But it was an uphill task introducing a new brand, and Mr. Sauerberg had to knock on many doors with a suitcase full of Skagen watches before someone finally gave him a chance. Norbreeze Singapore is now just part of the bigger Norbreeze Group that has offices in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

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Chef Sara La Fountain Visits Singapore

he American-Finnish celebrity chef Sara La Fountain cooked up a storm for the fourth edition of the Celebrity Chef Series, jointly presented by American Express and the Asian Food Channel (AFC). This edition of the Celebrity Chef Series cooking demonstrations was held at the AFC Studio in Orchard Central, while dinners were hosted at Gattopardo Italian Restaurant & Pizza Bar at Hotel Fort Canning. Former model, Chef La Fountain, played host to a series of exclusive dining-related experiences as part of the tour titled A Taste of Finland with Sara La Fountain from 30 May to 1 June 2012. Maria Brown, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Food Channel said they want to provide the viewers and food enthusiasts with the best gastronomic experiences that extend even beyond the great television programming. “These dining experiences with American Express have been a tremendous success and we are extremely excited to have Sara enthrall Singaporeans with her unique take on Scandinavian dishes, which will add to the many cuisines offered in this food-loving nation,” she stated in a press release. Audiences witnessed demos of delectable dishes such as Goat Cheese Salad with Beetroot, Dark Sweet Bread Croutons, Marinated Red Onions and Blueberry-Balsamic Vinaigrette; Fried Fish with Summer Potato Vegetable Salad; Summer Pavlova with Passionfruit Cream served with Strawberries and Pistachios. June 2012 • ScandAsia.Singapore 15

ScandAsia News Brief SAS and Singapore Airlines Sign Joint Venture Agreement Neste Oil Renewable Diesel from Fish Fat

este Oil has expanded the range of renewable raw materials it uses by beginning to produce NExBTL renewable diesel from waste fat sourced from the fish processing industry at its Singapore refinery. The waste fish fat used as raw material comes from freshwater Pangasius farmed in Southeast Asia, mainly in Vietnam and Thailand. Farming fresh water Pangasius is one of the fastest growing types of aquaculture in the world. Neste Oil, can now produce a premium-quality NExBTL renewable diesel from the gutting waste generated when processing freshwater Pangasius after the fillets have been removed for human consumption. “It makes good ecological sense to use waste and side-streams to produce advanced, premium-quality renewable fuel, which is why our goal this year is to increase the amount of by-products and waste we use as raw materials by hundreds of thousands of tons compared to 2011,” says Matti Lehmus, Neste Oil’s Executive Vice President, Oil Products and Renewables. A particular strength of Neste Oil’s NExBTL technology is that it is capable of processing a very wide variety of different bio-based raw materials - such as vegetable oils, waste animal fat, and by-products from vegetable oil production - into NExBTL renewable diesel.

he CEOs of Scandinavian Airlines and Singapore Airlines, Rickard Gustafson and Goh Choon Phong have signed a joint venture agreement in Singapore. This follows the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed in January and covers routes between Scandinavia and Singapore. SAS President and CEO Rickard Gustafson said they are pleased that the joint venture agreement has been signed and enabling them to proceed with expanding the partnership and thereby also improve the service and benefits for Scandinavian travelers. “Singapore Airlines will be a vital part of our Asian strategy and we look forward to jointly explore further growth opportunities in this exciting and important market,” he said. The partnership is expected to lead to growth in existing air services between Singapore and Scandinavia, and, subject to market conditions at the appropriate time, pave the way for a new route between Singapore and Stockholm. Singapore Airlines currently operates three weekly flights between Copenhagen and Singapore in a code-share partnership with SAS. “This agreement is a win-win for SIA and SAS, and benefits our customers by making air travel more convenient between Asia and Scandinavia. We look forward to co-ordinating schedules to enable more seamless connections to points in Northern Europe, as well as Asia and Southwest Pacific, through our respective hubs,” said Goh Choon Phong, CEO, Singapore Airlines.

New Danish Law for Family Unification

new bill has been passed in the Danish parliament making unification between spouses in Denmark a lot easier. The new rules have already been implemented. Some of the main points are that the immigration test will be abolished. The test will be replaced by a new test in Danish language which the applicant has to complete six months after the applicant has been granted a residence permit. This test is still under development, and it is expected be ready on 1 January 2013. The point system, after which the applicant must achieve 60 points if both of the spouses are over 24 years of age, and 120 points if one or both of the spouses are under the age of 24 is being abolished as well. Instead, the age requirement, where both the spouse living in Denmark and the applicant has to be 24 years of age has been reintroduced. Finally, the bank-backed collateral is reduced to 50.000 Danish kr. (2012 level). Details are on the official webpage of the Danish Embassy in Indonesia. 16 ScandAsia.Singapore • June 2012

Norwegian Delegation Visit Myanmar

he Norwegian Chambers of Commerce in Thailand and Singapore in cooperation with the Embassy in Bangkok and Innovation Norway organised a trade delegation of 30 Norwegian companies on a visit to Myanmar from May 2 to 5. The delegation was welcomed by President Thein Sein and Industry Minister U Soe Thein in the capital Nay Pyi Taw. The President thanked Norway, especially Ambassador

Nokia Lumia 900 Hit Singapore

Katja Nordgaard, for her efforts in the peace and democratisation process. After the visit in Nay Pyi Taw, they travelled to Yangon where they met the Myanmar Chamber of Commerce Federation (UMFCCI) and members of the telecommunications, banking, infrastructure, energy and maritime environment. According to the Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce Telecom, energy and manning of Norwegian vessels are possible areas of cooperation.

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he anticipated Nokia Lumia 900 is now available for purchase in stores, either Nokia retails shops or mobile operators. The sale hit Singapore on 26 May. Those interested to get it will be able to choose from the colours white, cyan or black at $849. ome of the smartphone’s features include an eight megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash, a wide-angle focal length of 288mm and autofocus. There is also a one-megapixel frontfacing camera. The phone carries Microsoft Phone 7.5 operating system and is powered by a 1.4 GHz single-core Snapdragon processor. When it comes to the technical side of the Lumia 900, expect the phone to come with the 1.4 GHz single-core Qualcomm APQ8055 Snapdragon processor, 512MB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory. A 1830mAh battery gives it a claimed talk time of seven hours

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June 2012 • ScandAsia.Singapore 17

Fredrik Härén’s Global World A perfect world for author Fredrik Härén would be one that acknowledges people not by their nationality but by their human values and expertise. By Kristene Silva Marie

etween the years 1995 and 2011, Fredrik wrote and published eight books, seven of which were business based and one a novel entitled De Ickesynliga, which translates as “The Unvisible”. Although he started out writing about the internet and the digital divide, he soon branched out into a different spectrum of thoughts which generally revolved around creativity, ideas and businesses keeping up with the changing times. During his interview with ScandAsia, Fredrik mostly spoke on what the world was beginning to look like and how businesses are known for what they do rather than where they come from. “It is almost unacceptable that many still identify companies by where they started up when in fact that has nothing to do with the company’s current position in the market,” he said.

An example he quoted was Swedish furniture giant IKEA. He said that IKEA is a global company and the new one launched in Thailand is not known as Swedish IKEA in Thailand but rather as Thai IKEA. The brand is full of, what IKEA calls, “Swedishness”, but the company is not Swedish as it has, for example, been registered legally outside Sweden for decades, with a founder who is living in Switzerland. “By confining these companies to the countries they started up in, when in fact they are globally available would mean in a small way excluding locals who wish to identify themselves with the brand,” he said. “Many of the companies don’t even have their headquarters in their countries anyway, what’s the use of still tying them up to it?” he added. “Do you recognise Skype or Rovio’s Angry Birds by where they were created? No. You know them

18 ScandAsia.Singapore • June 2012

as a popular videoconferencing programme and a fun video game,” he continued. He then shared about his novel, which is currently only available in Swedish. It mainly highlights how people see each other and how this interaction changes when an entirely different race of people come into play. “Of course I am Swedish, my roots are Swedish and nothing can change that but I identify myself first as a human,” he explained. “In the book, there exist a different race of people known as the ‘non-visible’ and being strange and unknown to humans, naturally the humans come together to strategise how to kill them,” he continued. Although the human race used to segregate themselves based on their race and roots, the new, perceived threat, forms an unspoken unison between all these races making them come together as just, humans.

Around the world In 2005, Fredrik moved from Sweden to Beijing, China, where he stayed three years before moving again to Singapore in 2008. The reason that drove him to move to China in the beginning was the fact that he had been interested in the creative aspect of developing countries. He was curious about results and comparisons between developed and developing nations. “Since it is usually a question of what people in the developing world can learn from those in developed nations, what I wanted to get out of this research was what those in the developed countries can get out of those in the developing world,” Fredrik said. Developing nations are constantly finding new ways to improve and grow. Many by taking examples and strategies from these developed nations fused with the ever evolving

technology. He believes that this could enable a wide array of new findings. To gain useful insight and sufficient results for the book he started to work on, ‘the Developing World’, Fredrik visited 18 countries, meeting up with various individuals in creative industries. Those he met included web designers, advertisers and even the Innovation Minister of Indonesia.

Home In a year, Fredrik spends eight months in Singapore with his wife and 16-month-old son but for two months every year, they stay on an island in the Philippines, which is where his wife is from. They also make a trip to Sweden and stay there for two months in a year. However, since arriving in Singapore, he has never intended to move elsewhere because he enjoys the atmosphere there. “I can say that I have experi-

enced living with cultures, and this gives you a multidimensional idea of everything,” he said. “You see little yet significant differences through living with these cultures. One example is when it rains. In the western culture, we say to the children, ‘go out and play’ but here, it’s the exact opposite,” he pointed out. Fredrik would be launching the new book he has completed, One World. One Company. in June this year, which will be his ninth book. Having worked in over 43 countries and lived in four, it is fair to say that Fredrik has quite a broad view of the cultural and social divides. He will be in 14 countries from the month of May through June giving talks and presentations through his company, Interesting.org. The trip would start on 28 May in Indonesia and ending in Manila, Philippines on 24 June.

Since it is usually a question of what people in the developing world can learn from those in developed nations, what I wanted to get out of this research was what those in the developed countries can get out of those in the developing world.

June 2012 • ScandAsia.Singapore 19

Natural ‘Jamu’ Shrinks Tummy After Baby

For expat new mums, amid the excitement and challenges of giving birth in a different country, there is also a common issue weighing on them: How do I get my prepregnancy figure back? Luckily for healthconscious expat mums in Singapore, there is holistic solution that originates right here in South-east Asia, the jamu massage and wrap. By Andrea Hessmo

20 ScandAsia.Singapore • June 2012

amu massage, or Malay wrap as it is sometimes called, is a traditional herbal treatment long appreciated by local women for its slimming qualities – it is said to help mothers regain their pre-natal shape. It can also help to relieve headache, constipation and muscle pain. “Jamu” is a Bahasa Malay word meaning “herbs” and the art of using herbs this way has been passed down from generation to generation. It originated in the Mataram kingdom in Indonesia more than 1,000 years ago. For Scandinavian mums more used to the experience back home of hectic first weeks with a new baby, with no time to have a long shower or even change clothes, let alone enjoy some pampering, it sounds a total bliss-out. Think having massage at home every day for a week after birth to get rid of that wobbly post-

pregnancy tummy. The treatment consists of two parts: a full body massage, followed by the application of a herbal paste containing herbs, ginger and other roots onto the tummy. A binder made of cotton cloth is then wrapped tightly over the paste and your stomach, and the result looks something like a corset. This is to be kept on for as long as you can bear, preferably the whole night . Hana Ades, professional masseuse and independent jamu practitioner, jokes: “Women pay me to molest and torture them and afterwards they’re grateful.” Turning serious, Ades, explains: “The abdominal muscles open up when the baby grows, causing an over-stretched tummy, and the wrap helps in bringing it back. The ginger in the paste expels wind (in the body) and causes heavy perspiration. The

Mummy’s Many women who went for this looked beautiful and back to shape right after their confinement period, which really surprised us. I would certainly encourage women after their childbirth to go for this, with a combination of post-natal massage, a balanced post-natal diet, exclusive breastfeeding and post- natal exercise to enjoy the benefits of it.

heat of the herbs helps to heal and allow the organs to stay in place.” Jamu clearly falls under the label of “alternative medicine” but the treatment is not opposed by medical practitioners. “I don’t see any problem with the procedure,” says Professor Chong Yap Seng at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Singapore’s National University Hospital. “There is no harm, although I’m not sure whether there is any strong evidence. I haven’t done rigorous research into it, but if it helps the mother to feel good, then that is always beneficial.” Melinda Robert, midwife at NUH has seen the benefits of the treatment in her native Malaysia: “I used to see many Malay women going for and even encouraging their friends to get a Malay wrap, which we call “Bengkung” back home,” she says in an e-mail. “Many women who went for this looked beautiful and back to shape right after their confinement period, which really surprised us. I would certainly encourage women after their childbirth to go for this, with a combination of post-natal massage, a balanced post-natal diet, exclusive breastfeeding and post- natal exercise to enjoy the benefits of it,” she concludes. Other than flattening the postnatal tummy, the massage also helps the mother to recover and heal after childbirth. Ades is a practitioner recom-

mended by the Parenting resource centre Parent Link, and its director, Di Bustamante, talking of what mums can look forward to: “Hana is entirely focused on the mother throughout the massage, no day-dreaming for her.” “She has a healer’s hands and she applies each stroke with positive intention, causing better healing. She can also assist with breastfeeding and massage for the breasts to avoid mastitis and clogged milk ducts.” There are many practitioners of jamu wrap in Singapore, offering both treatment at the spa and visits at home. Each practitioner may have variations in what they do. Prices range between SGD 400-900. Indeed, Ades, who was certified by Protherapist Academy in 2003, notes that not all use the real traditional herbal paste which she orders from Indonesia. “I love my job”, she declares, herself a mother of three. “It’s great to see women recover after the whole process of childbirth. “Expats have made jamu popular by word of mouth, but now I’m worried that I won’t have enough time to treat everyone.” Outlets and branches offering jamu in Singapore: ParentLink www.parentlink.org Traditional & Holistic Post-natal Centre www.jamumassage.com House of Traditional Javanese Massage www.javanesemassage.com

My Experience of The Malay Wrap By Andrea Hessmo

s I am a great believer in the power of natural remedies, I loved the idea of the Malay wrap. The ginger and herbal part sounded particularly exotic. Even before the birth of my son, I decided to go for it ,which proved a wise decision. Hana arrived and my first question was, How fast will my tummy shrink? She laughed and said: “All you women think of is beauty. You should think of your health and then you will be beautiful!” The massage was indeed divine but I did not yet know what to expect afterwards. Hana put on the greenish Jamu paste, which had a strong, earthy smell, on my stomach and bound me in layers of cotton. Then she put on a cotton binder like a corset, which she pulled so tight it felt like an instant slimming cure. On top of it, she put a nylon binder and told me to keep it on overnight. Then she left. After about 20 minutes, the ordeal began. The treatment felt so burning hot I started to perspire heavily. I walked around in the apartment - feeling like a marinated Egyptian mummy - wondering how long was this going to last.

I texted Hana frantically saying that I was burning up and could I please take the thing off. “Try and loosen the belt,” she replied. That helped a little. Then I rang a friend and asked if this was what it had felt like for her, too. She said that I was doing a hardcore version, that she only managed to keep it on for four hours and still got a flat stomach. Sounded reassuring to me. After a few hours, the burning sensation was gone and the more I distracted myself, the less I actually thought about it. The second day I managed to keep it on over night and at the end of the seven days, I felt proud I had managed to go “hard core” about half of the time. And the reward! Indeed already after the first day, my family could see that the tummy had gotten smaller. Although I can’t say it’s entirely flat yet (still have some work to do with it) it’s a great start. Also it should be said that everybody reacts differently to the treatment. What seemed like an ordeal to me, at least in the beginning, doesn’t have to be the same for someone else. The result was well worth any initial shrinking feeling of discomfort.

June 2012 • ScandAsia.Singapore 21

Three Reasons Why Expats Choose Singapore

Apart from being an economic giant that’s Singapore and Southeast Asia’s most modern city for a very long time, the city’s modern landscape underlined with the existing multi-cultures not forgetting, the balmy warm weather appeals to those from colder regions such as Scandinavia. By Kristene Silva Marie

or a long time Singapore has been the leading nation in Southeast Asia when it comes to development and economy. Though many say the cost of living here is quite high, expats in Singapore argue that it is one of the best places to live in. There are several aspects of Singapore that appeal to expats who have been living there for several years now and have grown accustomed to the Singaporean efficiency and urban lifestyle.

It is a safer city than most With the various rules, regulations and crime fighting actions taken, expats certainly have come to appreciate the safety that is available in the Lion City. Although they admit that the control by authorities is sometimes a little much, it is still better as it makes them feel safe to go out even at night and not worry about someone coming to rob them. With the existence of strict laws against drugs and similar offences, they are perfectly comfortable with their children using public transport

22 ScandAsia.Singapore • June 2012

in the evenings and staying out with friends in a shopping center even after dark which is not a possibility anywhere else.

Children are able to fit in well A common concern for expat families or couples planning to have a family abroad is how their children will be able to take the big move. It is a worry whether or not they will be able to adapt to a whole different culture and be seen as part of the student community. In Singapore, not only are these concerns almost non-existent, whatever doubts that are left seemed to be overshadowed by the high standard of education offered in the schools. Expat parents like that their children fill their time with a balance between work and play. While it is true that Singaporean schools are more academically driven than most schools back home, most allocate a certain amount of time in each school week to extra-curricular activities where the kids can have fun with things they like to do like dancing, drama or even charity.

Parents are given the choice of which school they would like to enroll their children in and most prefer the ones that have practical projects integrated into their syllabus. It enables their children to grow in terms of theory as well as hands-on work.

It feels like home here Being given the same hospitality and privileges as everyone else is the key factor of acceptance, and there is no doubt that expat families in Singapore have experienced this privilege. Apart from being able to enjoy the richness of culture and history, they are also able to lead safe and well-balanced lives with their families. Another plus that makes Singapore so comfortable to live in is the fact that travelling anywhere within the city is convenient and easy. Distance is almost never an issue and public transportation is very efficient. The Scandinavian expat community in Singapore has grown over the years and there is no doubt that it will continue growing with the growing business opportunities and good education for their children.

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June 2012 • ScandAsia.Singapore 23

Exotic Skin Hand mix iphone holder made of ostrich leg skin.

Some of them will be holding the purses and ask me what skin it was. The moment I mention eel skin, they drop the purse and have a totally different facial expression

Other models made of eel skin.

Caspollâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popular Grandma Purse made from eel skin. 24 ScandAsia.Singapore â&#x20AC;˘ June 2012

dbags at Caspoll Betina arrived in Singapore in the year 2006. She started Caspoll Pte Ltd with her friend and discovered it to be quite a challenge stepping into an unknown market and find its stable ground with distributing purses and handbags made of exotic animal’s skin. By Kristene Silva Marie

aving a retail sales counter in Takashimaya located on Orchard Road, the popular shopping district in Singapore, has given Betina Falster-Hansen a lot to experience. It had not been a bed of roses for her and her partner, Helle, back in 2006 when they started their very own distribution company, Caspoll Pte Ltd. Caspoll distributes women’s handbags and clutch purses, uniquely made from, eel skin by Beck Söndergaard, and ostrich leg-skin by Naledi Copenhagen. Although the idea of eel skin as purse material may have sat well with Scandinavians, it was a bit of a shocker to local shoppers. Topping that, not just the idea of what the products were made of but the designs carried by Caspoll were a bit of a damper for the brand at first. “Not knowing the market view of what was trendy and what’s not was perhaps the toughest part of the beginning. The main thing we did not take into consideration was the designs and trends that would sell,” Betina recalled. “At first, we brought in designs that appealed and did well in the Scandinavian market but very soon we realised these were not the same as what made the Singaporean fashion scene,” Betina continued. She said another obstacle was that luxury brands that existed in the market were the people’s first choice. Big names like Bonia, Prada and Gucci were what people have already gotten used to and would appear first in their minds when it comes to trendy and happening products. One of the main things she wanted to show with her products was the beautiful and unique Danish designs, which are of good quality, sold at nice and affordable prices. When Caspoll started, it was only Betina and Helle working to get the brand out into the public eye. When the business started to pick up, they began hiring some help with promoters and sales personnel. Later, Helle branched out with her own brand leaving Betina in charge of Caspoll.

Reactions Some of the customers’ first reactions to the purses made of these exotic and rarely used skin types were a mix of surprise, horror and sometimes even mild disgust. “Some of them will be holding the purses and ask me what skin it was. The moment I mention eel skin, they drop the purse and have a totally different facial expression,” Betina recalled about her customers’ reactions. She said that some of the main question she got from them included “Would the skin dry out or peel?” and another popular one was “Does it smell of fish?” They would ask this while trying to smell the purses. She explained that since the original colour of an eel is grey, manufacturers put these skins through tedious processes to be able to dye them with a variety of attractive and vibrant colours for sale. On another note, to answer the issue of animal cruelty, Betina clarifies that none of the animals are killed to produce these purses. Eel and ostrich

meat are consumed in some countries which is where they are sold.

Personal Betina lived and studied in Denmark. She graduated a Market Economist in the year 2000 but worked for several fashion stores, H&M being one of them. She came to Singapore on a short holiday to visit her friend in 2006. She met her would-be husband the first day she got to Singapore. They got to know each other and even kept in touch when she went back to Denmark. Nine months later she moved to Singapore to be with the man she loved. Soon after they got married and had a daughter, Zoe. She gave birth to her son, Mason, in April 2012. She has recently also taken Copenhagen Delights, a Danish clothing line for children, under her wings. Currently, running these businesses and managing her family takes up most of her time but she seems to be enjoying her every day.

June 2012 • ScandAsia.Singapore 25

Health Ti in Singap Heat is a part of living in Singapore or anywhere in Southeast Asia. There are plenty of ways to ensure we get to enjoy the sun while keeping ourselves away from troublesome heat related illnesses. By Kristene Silva Marie

he Southeast Asian region is known for its culture as well as its hot and humid weather, which is in many ways appealing to those who live especially in the colder regions such as Europe. Like most of Southeast Asia, Singapore’s hot and humid weather has a temperature almost never dropping below 20°C (68°F), even at night. It usually climbs to 30°C (86°F) during the day, or in recent times, 35°C with a very high humidity level. Although most buildings are airconditioned, there is really no way of escaping exposure to the sun. However, there are plenty of ways to manage our health and avoid falling ill due to its blasting heat rays. The best defense against any heat related illnesses such as heat strokes, heat cramps, sunburn and other bodily discomforts caused by heat is to maintain the temperature of our body and keep it from heating up. Drinking plenty of fluids is essential when dealing with heat related illnesses as it keeps the cool while replacing salts and minerals in the body. You do not have to wait until you feel thirsty or until the activity level heightens before you drink water. Take caution, of course, to your doctor’s advice if you have a limit when it comes to drinking water. Discuss with your doctor how much 26 ScandAsia.Singapore • June 2012

water you are allowed to drink in hot weather. It is important to avoid drinking liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar as these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Many feel cooled down with the knowledge that they just had a good gulp of iced drinks however these may cause stomach cramps. During mid-day hours, which are usually the hottest time of the day, limit exposure to the sun especially in places of potential severe exposure such as beaches. Try spending more time in cooler areas like shady areas or air-conditioned buildings. If you are absolutely required to be outdoors, well then, try going out during morning or evening hours when it is cooler. Put on a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses to keep you comfortable and cool, while looking the part. Although exercising is also not encouraged when the weather is too hot, it is just unavoidable. Therefore, while exercising, be sure to hydrate with two to four, cool, non-alcoholic, fluids hourly. Sports beverages replace the salt and minerals you lose with sweat. Also to help cool off, taking regular cold showers can help. These days it is important to slap-on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher before leaving your house for protection from the UV rays of the sun.

ips for Heat Exposure pore

Heat related problems Here are some tips on how to handle these common heat related illnesses you may face being in Singapore. 1. Heat stroke • Heat stroke mainly occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature. Body temperature rapidly rises, sweating mechanism fails therefore the body is unable to cool down. May cause death or disability if not treated immediately. What to do • Get someone to call for medical assistance. Get victim to a shady

area while cooling them down using any means possible, even if that means immersing them in a tub of cool water. Make sure to monitor the victim’s body temperature. Do not give the victim fluids to drink. 2. Heat Cramps • Heat cramps usually affect people who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body’s salt and moisture. The low salt level in the muscles may be the cause of heat cramps. What to do • Rest is the only way to solve

heat cramps. Stop all activity, sit quietly in a cool place and drink clear juice or sports beverage. Even after cramps subside, do not return to strenuous activity for a few hours as further exertion may lead to a heat stroke. Get medical help if the cramps do not subside in an hour. 3. Sunburn and Heat Rash • Although the discomfort of sunburn is usually minor and healing often occurs in about a week, more severe sunburn may require medical attention. • Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating

during hot, humid weather. It can occur at any age but is most common with young children. What to do • If the sunburn affects an infant younger than one year of age or if symptoms such as fever or fluid filled blister are present, consult a doctor. Immerse sunburned area in cold water and apply moisturising lotion on affected areas. • The best treatment for heat rash is to provide a cooler, less humid environment. Keep the affected area dry. Dusting powder may be used to increase comfort.

iss ! All the Stuff You M

SCANDINAVIAN SHOPPE Scandinavian Shoppe • 30 South Buona Vista Road Tel: +65 6476 2575 • Email: scandishoppe@singnet.com.sg How to get there? • MRT to Buona Vista. Bus no. 200 to Lor Sarhad. • MRT to Harbour Front / Vivo City. Bus no. 10, 30, 143 to Redwood West. Walk up South Buona Vista Road

‘Gamle Ole’ Vintage Chee se

s$ 49.90/kg June 2012 • ScandAsia.Singapore 27

Smart Travelling:

Singapore to Kuala Lumpur While flying may be the fastest alternative for the route between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, it may not be the best, if you are not running on a tight schedule that is. By Kristene Silva Marie

n hopes of saving a couple of hours on a journey, many turn to flights as the only reasonable transportation there is. People tend to turn a blind eye to other forms of transportation that offer to get them where they wish to go simply because it seems more troublesome and complicated, when in all honesty, that is not the case. An inter-city train between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (KL) for example may be a smarter and better alternative of travelling. The process of boarding a train in Singapore bound for KL Central is actually easy, more so now with the extended MRT line to Woodlands. Since the customs check is right there, passengers would no longer have to get down from the train once their journey has begun, contrary to how it was before July 2011. There is a comfortable, airconditioned waiting room at the Woodlands checkpoint, which is also where the tickets to KL can be purchased. As the time of the departure approaches, passengers are to move on to the first floor of the building to line up for the customs check and passport control. Constant demand for speed and efficiency has spread to all types of transportation including trains. They are no longer miserably slow or uncomfortable, rather may even be more assuring than certain flights. This is especially true since most intercity travelers these days seem to be turning to budget airline companies where the leg space is limited,

There is a comfortable, air-conditioned waiting room at the Woodlands checkpoint, which is also where the tickets to KL can be purchased. As the time of the departure approaches, passengers are to move on to the first floor of the building to line up for the customs check and passport control.

seat reclining level is unreasonable resulting in getting off the plane feeling sore and thoroughly exhausted. The journey from Singapore would take around seven hours. Though this may sound extremely long and boring, the journey could turn out to be unexpectedly comfortable, interesting and much more relaxing than a flight. Upon reaching KL Central, there are various types of transportation available to take you to the hotels or addresses in the city.

Coaches There are two types of coaches to choose from depending on the time of travel, the sitting coach or the sleeping coach. Bookings for the desired coach can be made via the Internet, or by visiting the ticket office at Woodlands. It is wise to make necessary arrangements in advance as the availability of tickets depends on the season. Choices available for the sitting coach are First Class at S$68 and

28 ScandAsia.Singapore • June 2012

Second Class at S$34. Although both coaches are air-conditioned, the First Class has only three seats per-row, making it more comfortable with the extra space. If travelling alone, the single sitter is quite convenient. The sleeping coach offers two options as well, the First Class which is a private compartment or the Second Class, the public sleeping coach. However, the public bunk beds have curtains to ensure the passenger does not feel exposed. Tickets for the Deluxe Night Sleeper, which is the private compartment with a bathroom and toilet, can be purchased at S$257. As for the Superior Night Sleep, the public sleeping coach with a toilet and 40 beds (upper and lower) is priced at S$46 for the lower bunks and S$40 for the upper. There is an onboard cafeteria in all coaches; however as an extra service for passengers in the First Class coaches, both sitting and sleeping,

there would be two meals served on-board. The air-conditioning on the coaches may be a little overwhelming mid-journey so it is advisable to pack a sweater, shawl or something warm to wrap around.

Experience On the train bound to KL on 26 January 2012, a young Finnish couple had decided to board the train. Juha and Suvi Kivi were on vacation and had plans to travel some of the Southeast Asian countries. They had just landed that very day from Tampere, Finland before boarding the train to KL. While getting to know their plans of travelling to the many interesting cities here, I couldn’t help but question their mode of travelling. Why had they not taken a flight instead? Juha, the husband, then expressed that the both them wanted to experience being around locals and actually didn’t like the unpleasant familiarity of the airport experience. They found it interesting to experience the journey from an “inside eye”. “We just wanted to escape the whole situation where everyone went around with their Samsonite bags and beers shouting ‘Harry Potter!’,” he said jokingly. I missed bidding them farewell and all the best as they had gotten off the train at KL Central with everybody else when I had been soundly sleeping, however rest assured, Juha and Suvi will have had an interesting time in Asia.

Staff Changes at the Danish Church T

horbjorn Holm, Junior Assistant at the Danish Church in Singapore, assisted on Sunday 3 June 2012 Danish Vicar Kirsten Eistrup with the Christ Service for the last time during his tenure at the Church. Thorbjorn will be replaced by Rasmus as Junior Assistant at the Church. Leaving for Denmark, Thorbjorn has still not landed a new job, so here is an opportunity for a Danish company! In another move, Laila Folke has recently taken over the position as the Assistant at the Church, replacing Madeleine Haywood.

The photo shows Thorbjorn Holm, Kirsten Hougaard Eistrup, Laila Folke and Carl Eistrup by the Church bell.

June 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ ScandAsia.Singapore 29

Medium

Rhubarb Desert

By Gregers Moller n my mind stewed rhubarb - rabarbergrød - is the essence of an early summer dinner on the terrace. It is also quite easy to make and if there is anything left it tastes great with plain yoghurt the morning after.

Evil

INGREDIENTS • 1 pound fresh rhubarb • 4 deciliter water • About 175 sugar • 1½ tablespoons cornstarch or 4 spoons potato flour • Vanilla sugar • Full cream fresh milk

Are you done?

hen you have completed the above puzzles, please send your solution by fax to +66 2 943 7169 or scan and email to puzzles@ scandasia.com. We will make a lucky draw among the correct answers. Five lucky winners will receive a ScandAsia polo shirt. Name:

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Deadline for submitting your solution is 15 June 2012 30 ScandAsia.Singapore • June 2012

PROCEDURE • Wash and cut the fresh rhubarb into small pieces. Cook in the water until soft and mushy - probably for about half an hour. If you don’t like the texture – I love it – you can put the mixture through a sieve. Sweeten to taste – it should be distinctly both sweet and sour. • Blend the cornstarch or the potato flour with a little cold water and stir gently into the pudding. Cook until clear and slightly thickened. • Served cold or at room temperature with ice cold fresh milk. Or with vanilla ice cream. I was once a guest in a home in Copenhagen where they served a variation. They made a sauce of whipped cream with and egg yolk folded into it. Then they beat the thickened pudding into the cream mixture and serve it at once lukewarm. They also added a dash of cinnamon and sprinkled a few ground nuts over it. That was sophisticated – but the basic version is what I dream of when I miss early summer in Denmark.

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