SG Magazine, Dec 4

w w w. s g n o w. s g | 2 0 1 5 M PA S W e b s i t e o f t h e Ye a r

Your FREE independent guide to the next two weeks

Drink responsibly

Free inside: Your dining, partying and shopping guide to the festive season.

SG MAGAZINE | ISSUE #691 | DECEMBER 4, 2015 since 1995

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

what’s on what’s new what matters

Photographer Darren Soh takes surreal night time landscapes in his new exhibition at the Esplanade tunnel.

See PHOTOGRAPHY , page 10, for an interview.

CHARITY

DINING

Giving Back in Singapore

Hot New Openings

EVENTS

54 Exciting Things to Do

TRAVEL

Bangkok’s Chinatown Bars

w w w. s g n o w. s g | 2 0 1 5 M PA S W e b s i t e o f t h e Ye a r

marinamandarin.com.sg

SG MAGAZINE | ISSUE #691 | DECEMBER 4, 2015 since 1995

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

Your FREE independent guide to the next two weeks

page 3

Art Attack 14

volunteering

Singapore’s Social Initiatives 8 bars

8 events

Hot Watering Holes

Zoukout

11 Pick Up Lines You’ll Hear at the National Gallery 1. You’re here, too? Odette’s such a coincidence!

2. I love your body of work—those lines are so fine.

10 photography

12 attractions

3. Girl, would you hold it against me if I said you’ve got such great Aura?

Nightscapes by Darren Soh

Sisters’ Islands Dive Trails

4. Either you’re really into me, or you’re all Smoke & Mirrors.

5. Pa-dang girl, you so fine.

16 shopping

18 dining

Stylish New Stores

Exciting New Places 22 interview

Bangkok’s Chinatown Bars

Shitji Nigam on Humans of Singapore

9. Are you single? Because I could totally picture us together.

10. If you were an exhibition here, it’d be Beauty Beyond Form.

11. Can I take a peek at your viewing gallery?

Who's in charge?

Publisher & General Manager Ric Stockfis countrymanager@asia-city.com.sg Editorial Managing Editor Mrigaa Sethi editor@asia-city.com.sg Features Editor Chelsia Tan Digital News Reporter Xie Shi Min Branded Content Writer Prabhu Silvam Design Associate Art Director Carmen Louise Ho Senior Designer Fishy Toh Designer Carmen Chua

Where to find us!

7. I can totally picture you cooking in my National Kitchen.

8. I’d like to brush up my strokes on a gorgeous work of art—you.

20 travel

Bangkok Asia City Media Group 9/F, Room A, Sathorn Nakorn Tower, 100 North Sathorn Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Thailand Tel: 66-2-624 9696 Fax: 66-2-237 5656 bkmagazine@asia‑city.co.th

6. Good thing this ain’t the Supreme Court anymore, or you’d be locked up for looking so good.

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

Finance Senior Finance Associate Nai Rohmat finance@asia-city.com.sg

Senior Manager, Media & Marketing Shernan Plameras

Finance and Admin Assistant Rusydi Ya’akup

Executives, Media & Marketing Chan Xin Yee, Lee Wee Keong

Group Directors Chief Executive Officer Gretchen Worth gworth@asia‑city.co.th

Media Coordinator Sharon Leong

Group Digital Director Greg Duncan gduncan@asia‑city.com.sg

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

On the cover Darren Soh

Who are we?

Published every two weeks (with daily updates at sgnow.sg), SG (previously I-S) delivers honest, independent and irreverent coverage of the Singapore lifestyle scene. We’ve been recommending what to do and where to go here for 20 years—and we’ve never been more excited about the city than we are right now.

The Asia City Media Group

Singapore Asia City Publishing Pte. Ltd. Block 211 Henderson Rd. #07‑02 Henderson Industrial Park Singapore 159552 Tel: 65‑6323‑2512 Fax: 65‑6323‑2779 contact@asia-city.com.sg

Distributed by

Awesome events, cool new places, the very best of the next two weeks

High-end, hawker and everything inbetween: news on the drink and dining scene

Hot topics, local initiatives and ideas for making Singapore even better

Because Singapore is only so big: the best deals and destinations around Asia

Fashion, fitness, tech and more SG Magazine is published 24 times a year by Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd., 211 Henderson Road, #07‑02, Singapore 159552.

Tel: 65‑6323‑2512 • Fax: 65‑6323‑2779. Copyright ©2015 Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. The titles “SG Magazine”, “I-S Magazine” and their associated logos or devices, and the content of SG Magazine and I-S Magazine are the property of Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. SG Magazine may not be distributed without the express written consent of Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. Contact the Publisher for ad rates and specifications. All advertising in SG Magazine must comply with the Publisher’s terms of business, copies of which are available upon request. Printed by KHL Printing Co. Pte. Ltd., 57 Loyang Drive, Singapore 508968. ISSN 0218‑8872 MCI (P) 174/12/2014

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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015

daily updates on news and events

sgnow.sg

hot new spots, exciting giveaways

facebook.com/sgnow.sg

last word Irreverent interviews with people who make Singapore great

We hope you like what you see: email us at editorial@asia-city.com.sg to let us know how we’re doing.

latest news and trends

@sg_now

see what we’re up to

@sg_now

up front

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

NUMEROLOGY Youtube

HOT OR NOT

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

Fancy food delivery service Deliveroo launches in Singapore

8 years Hot: Pet therapy

Not: Animal abuse

Hot: Green spaces

Erwin Soo

Urban Revelopment Authority

First, there was the opening of a cat therapy center Cats Safari at Sunny Heights, which lets you cuddle kitties for a fee, and now a group of NUS students have banded together to provide pet therapy sessions. It’s great that these critters are receiving love, but recent reports about the dismemberment of community cats and the video of the torture of a Japanese Spitz also highlight the importance of better animal welfare here.

Jail term for former City Harvest Church pastor Kong Hee, for misappropriating church donations to fund his wife’s pop career.

20% Rise in the number of patients at Singapore General Hospital’s sleep disorders unit over the last three years.

2.3 meters Not: Urbanization

Hafitz Maulana

Becca D’Bus

The eco-tour at the BKE linkway, nature trails at Coney Island and interesting plans for the Rail Corridor are all great. But we are also mourning the loss of more rustic locations like the Bukit Brown Cemetery and the last remaining Kampung in Lorong Buangkok—the enclave’s wooden houses have been undergoing upgrades to replace these structures with metal and brick.

Height of Singapore’s first baby giraffe in 28 years, which was born to parents Roni and Growie at the Singapore Zoo.

$1.088 million Price of a five-room flat at the Pinnacle@Duxton, a record high for the resale property market here.

788,600 tons

Hot: Art at music festivals Not: Hipsters Art, indie music and delicious street grub collide at Neon Lights— if you’ve missed it, there were stand-up comedy showcases, poetry slams and even a circus act with acrobatic stunts at the two-day music event on Nov 28-29. And up next, St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival in 2016 is promising some cool partnerships with lifestyle, retail and food vendors too (we’ll keep you posted). If only there was a dearth of Instagramming, Native American headgear-wearing hipsters.

NEWS FROM SGNOW.SG

Weight of food thrown away in Singapore last year

Sources: The Straits Times, Channel News Asia

BE GOOD

Say goodbye to greasy, late-night takeout. Londonbased gourmet food delivery service Deliveroo has launched in Singapore, Deliveroo promising to deliver food from your favorite restaurants to your house or office in about half an hour, all for a flat $3 fee. It almost sounds too good to be true, but we’re willing to keep an open mind.

Already established in places like Australia, Hong Kong and the UK, Deliveroo in Singapore already has quite a collection of restaurants it’s working with. Just some light searching on their site revealed the option to order from the likes of MeatLiquor, Potato Head Folk and Park Bench Deli, PS Cafe Petit and OFC. Try them out for yourself at www.deliveroo. com.sg.

Website of the Year MPAS 2015

S I N G A P O R E ’ S H OTT E ST L I F E ST Y L E N E W S

OB INDEX NOV

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

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Facebook has revealed in their Global Government Requests Report that the Singapore government made a total of 198 requests for data on user information from 213 users or accounts on the social media site in the first half of 2015, which is an 11.9% increase from July to December 2014. The report also states that the United States government made the most requests for user data (17,577), followed by India (5,115) and the United Kingdom (3,384)—out of the 92 countries listed, Singapore is ranked 20th overall.

Get this issue to go.

Do yoga for charity In conjunction with Giving Week by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, local TV host turned yoga guru Denise Keller is holding a charity yoga session to support the Autism Association on Dec 5, from 10am-1pm at Asia Square, The Cube. At $40 per person, the one-hour work out is a beginnerfriendly one, and participants will receive a door gift worth more than $80. Funds raised will go to the charity organization. Register at www.yogawithdenise.eventbrite.com.

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Curbside Café & Wine Bar

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Group Therapy @ Duxton

21 Biopolis Road, Nucleos #01-21 www.facebook.com/CurbsideCafeSG

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Or see every venue (200 of them!) at sgnow.sg/distribution 6

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015

now

The essential guide to what's on in Singapore

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Send your events news to art@asia-city.com.sg, nightlife@asia-city.com.sg, stage@asia-city.com.sg

EXHIBITIONS

FILM

Watch foreign films with your Tinder date

1

SGIFF is wrapping up, but you can still check out the fifth edition of Rendezvous with French Cinema (Juliette Binoche visited last year—swoon!), with over a dozen comedies, documentaries and dramas. The big highlight this year is Palme d’Or-winning Dheepan, in which a Sri Lankan Tamil Tiger flees to Paris. Dec 5-13, various venues, www.rendezvouswithfrenchcinema. sg. $7-13.

Visit the National Gallery, of course

The city’s newest art museum boasts the largest array of Singapore and Southeast Asian artworks, so you can’t miss Siapa Nama Kamu? and Between Declarations And Dreams exhibitions—there are a total of 800 pieces covering Singapore’s art history from the 19th century to present day and the region’s social and political past respectively. National Gallery Singapore, 1 St. Andrew’s Rd., www.nationalgallery.sg. Free (Singaporeans and PRs); $20 (Visitors).

FOOD

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SHOPPING

Do your Christmas shopping at Kilo

Sunset Pasar will have lots of second hand goods, local singers, performance poets and artists taking the stage at the open mic event. Dec 5, www.facebook.com/kilokitchen.

ART

PARTY

Ponder Singapore’s evolution at an interactive exhibition

The Future of Us showcase is closing Singapore’s SG50 celebrations with exhibits revolving around the question of Singapore’s progress and how locals can live, work, learn and care here in the future. There are multi-sensorial installations which let you participate by sharing your thoughts on the topic, too. Through March 8, Gardens by the Bay, www.thefutureofus.sg. Free.

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Last call for Meatliquor’s anti-brunch

Stay up all night at a certain beach party

With big name DJs like Kaskade and Tiesto, it looks like Zoukout is going to be bigger and louder than ever.

There’s also local rapper Shigga Shay making an appearance. Grab your tickets while you can because this event is selling out fast. Dec 11-12, Siloso Beach, www.zoukout.com, $258 for a two-day pass.

Meatliquor rolled out an anti-brunch series that is soon concluding. The very last one is on Dec 12, but it’s sold out, so this one is your last chance to gorge on mac and cheese, buffalo wings and gunpowder shrimp—and Champagne if you shell out an extra $30. Dec 5, www.meatliquor.com/singapore. $90-120.

DRINKS 6 new reasons to drink in Singapore 1. INVENTIVE NEW COCKTAILS AT GIBSON The folks at Jigger and Pony have launched their latest addition Gibson, a cocktail and raw seafood bar. The 60-cocktail menu is divided into Finding Comfort (easy classics), Forging Friendship (complex flavor combos) and Sharing Happiness (stuff to drink abundantly all night) and Reserve (made with top-shelf stuff).

20 Bukit Pasoh Rd., www.gibsonbar.sg.

2. CHYE SENG HUAT'S RARE AND FANCY BEERS This hip specialty cafe is now an equally cool craft beer bar by night. Incognito serves up an interesting mix of both tap and bottled beers from Rogue and Deschutes to barrel-aged special releases from breweries in UK (Wild Beer Co.), NZ (Yeastie Boys) and Sweden (Omnipollo). Bottles start at $12, while special releases start at $35 for a tall pint. 150 Tyrwhitt Rd., www. facebook.com/incognito.sg.

Gibson

Antidote

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Incognito

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015

3. ANTIDOTE'S NEW COCKTAILS Fairmont Hotel got their best bartenders worldwide together (including our all-American sweetpea Tom Hogan) to do The Revivals, a new cocktail menu for their hotels. You can try stuff like very floral Right Note and the Fairmont Old Fashioned at Antidote. Fairmont Hotel, 2 Stamford Rd., www.fairmont.com.

4. ALL-LOCAL CRAFT BEERS AT LITTLE ISLAND BREWING CO. Changi's Little Island Brewing Co. has been open for a few months now, but they only just got their license to brew. Following a big launch party in late-November, their craft beers are now on tap. So head over to try their pale ales, golden ales, amber ales and more.

Changi Village, www.libc.co.

5. ANOTHER COCKTAIL BAR OPENS AT SOUTH BEACH Laugh, one of the newest bars at South Beach Quarter, is lined with large wall spaces dedicated to witty one-liners, and glam retro-inspired furniture. The drink menu is decent, with in-house signature cocktails, like Laugh Laugh ($18), a mix of vodka, butterscotch syrup, lime juice and fresh raspberries. 1 The South Beach, 30 Beach Rd., www.thesouthbeach.com.sg.

6. WITNESS FOUR MIXOLOGISTS SHAKE UP THE COCKTAIL SCENE At The Gathering of the Ginger Ninjas, the theme is, of course, ginger. Top bartenders from around the city, such as Timothy Barnes (La Maison du Whisky) and Ryan Rhodes (House of Dandy), will come together to create ginger-infused cocktails at this one-night-only event. Dec 6, LongPlay, 4 Haji Ln. and 33 Arab St., www.longplay.sg.

For more on new places to eat and drink, turn to page 18.

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ADVERTORIAL

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The Essential Christmas Dinner Checklist

Honey Bake d Chicken H am

Santa’s C upcakes

The best part about holidays—other than the gifts—is dinner with family and friends. Here’s what every table needs.

Turkey with a Twist

Traditional turkeys with stuffing are a dime a dozen at Christmas time. Why not do something with a local twist? The Peranakan roast turkey ($108) at Jack’s Place is marinated with Nyonya spices for 24 hours and consists of generous fillings of buah keluak, polenta and other fruity bites. Your guests will thank you for the change.

Home-style Ham

Hand in hand with the turkey goes the Christmas ham. Jack’s Place is doing a special Honey-Baked Chicken Ham ($75) that everyone at the table can dig into—coated with a sweet and crunchy glaze and packed with their signature smoked flavoring.

Decadent Desserts

It’s hard to imagine having any space left after all that turkey, ham and salad, but Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a log cake. Order up the Chocolate Log Cake ($49.50) from Jack’s Place—a soft bamboo charcoal sponge cake, generously layered with salted egg cream and glazed over with dark chocolate mousse.

Cupcakes for the Kids

Before they get too bored at the grown-ups table, be sure to have something fun and delicious for the little ones. They’re going to love Santa’s Cupcakes ($18), an assortment of chocolate-filled mini cupcakes all iced and decorated with a colorful Christmas theme.

Something green aND Healthy

O rder U p For a full menu of takeaway options this Christmas and to place your order, www.eatzi.com.sg.

Last date for orders is Jan 3 while takeaway collection is until Jan 10.

All takeaways are available for collection at the following Jack’s Place outlets: • Blk 730 Ang Mo Kio • Woodlands Civic Centre • West Coast Recreation Centre • Great World City • Payar Lebar Square • 123 Defu Lane 10 (Main Office)

With never-ending servings of meat, cheese, pies, cakes and wine, it’s easy to get carried away with the Christmas feasting. Be sure to have plenty of greens at the table. The King Crab Salad ($45) from Jack’s Place is packed with Romaine lettuce, rocket leaves, cherry tomatoes and—before you think it’s a bit too wholesome—hearty chunks of Chilean king crab.

Peranakan

ey Roast Turk

BROUGHT TO YOU BY JACK’S PLACE

Roast Striploin

Yuan Yang Lo g Cake

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

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now Send your events news to art@asia-city.com.sg, nightlife@asia-city.com.sg, stage@asia-city.com.sg

PHOTOGRAPHY Nighttime Landscapes by Darren Soh

Open space, off Punggol Road, 2015

FOOD

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Eat at this theatrical dinner Inspired by the underground dining subculture of London, Andsoforth’s latest interactive dinner is The Auction, where you have to find the stolen Golden Cup, which is on sale at one of the blackmarket auctions—all while you eat a delicious dinner.

Location and details will be revealed once you sign up. Dec 4-5, 10-12, www.andsoforth.com.sg. $98.

Malaysia-Singapore water pipes

CONCERT

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Pier, Upper Seletar Reservoir, 2015

MRT Line and Green Corridor, Kranji, 2015

We have previously featured Darren Soh, who is known for taking gorgeous pictures of Singapore's buildings and neighborhoods. This time, he re-visits a series that he took 10 years ago, and explains his renewed interest in this project. The exhibition In the Still of the Night (While You Were Sleeping), explores Singapore's often neglected landscapes and shows how surreal they look at night.

What are some of the locations you shot at?

I needed to shoot where there was as little ambient light and light pollution as possible, so I ventured to some far flung corners of Singapore. Punggol, Kranji and Tuas were areas where I spent a lot of time photographing.

What was the hardest shot to get?

One of the hardest shots to get was MRT Line and Green Corridor, Kranji, 2015. When I made this image, it was completely dark save for the lights from the cabins when a MRT train would pass. This part of the rail corridor in Kranji required some trekking to get to as it was far from any road and the undergrowth was really thick. So access-wise it was fairly tough and trying to compose the image in near complete darkness was also quite an experience.

How did you work in such low-light conditions?

In the past, I would bring a powerful torch light with me to illuminate whatever I was trying to focus on before making my images, but the new work was all made using digital

cameras that could really see in the dark with their Electronic Viewfinders (EVF) and this really helped. Many of my images were exposed for several minutes for a usable image to form.

How is this collection a sequel to the one ten years ago?

In the Still of the Night is a sequel because I basically went out and made images with the same sensibilities and mostly the same objectives as before. As you may know, I am much more of an architectural photographer than a “natural” landscape photographer of any sort, but ten years ago I challenged myself to make nocturnal landscapes in Singapore that showed signs of human intervention but were not cityscapes per se and this time around, I did the same. The only changes from before were the medium and also a realization that many of the sites I was photographing were liminal transitional sites that were not going to last very long at all, because big open spaces usually don’t remain that way very long in Singapore.

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PARTY

Space out to Mike Hadreas’s ethereal vocals

Relive the '90s at a cool shop house party

Seattle-based composer Perfume Genius is back in town after Laneway, bringing more introverted, fuzzy, piano-backed songs from his latest album Too Bright, which was universally adored by the likes of music guide Pitchfork and entertainment site, Metacritic. Dec 4, Orchard Hotel,perfumegenius.peatix.com. $55.

At REWIND, get down to classic ‘90s hip hop tunes from Notorious BIG, Eve, Tupac, Mary J Blige and more. DJs Sha, Gravity and Alvin will be spinning, so bring your Gen Y friends for a dose of nostalgia in Kampong Glam. Dec 5, BluJaz, www.fb.com/rewindrnb. $10.

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ART

Be a feminist at SAM

Swing by Rally, an arts festival by anti gender-based violence org We Can!, where the Singapore Art Museum’s gallery and Glass Hall are taken over by dance, spoken word, exhibitions and more. Especially intriguing is the UN Women’s Super Heroes workshop that celebrates female superheroes in comics. Dec 6, Singapore Art Museum, www.wecansingapore.com Free.

Laugh at the new Wild Rice production Wild Rice’s year-end show, The Emperor’s New Clothes, makes fun of the SG50 phenomenon, with a vain emperor who decides that he must have the most expensive and over-the-top National Dress Parade ever.

The cast includes Benjamin Kheng of The Sam Willows fame as well as veterans Lim Kay Siu and Siti Khalijah Zainal. Through Dec 12, Drama Centre, National Library, www.wildrice.com, $50-80.

THEATER

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Darren Soh’s exhibition In the Still of the Night (While You Were Sleeping) is on display at the Esplanade Tunnel till Jan 3. You can read the full interview on sgnow.sg. MRIGAA SETHI

w w w. s g n o w. s g | 2 0 1 5 M PA S W e b s i t e o f t h e Ye a r

Your FREE independent guide to the next two weeks

Drink responsibly

Free inside: Your dining, partying and shopping guide to the festive season.

SG MAGAZINE | ISSUE #691 | DECEMBER 4, 2015 since 1995

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

what’s on what’s new what matters

Photographer Darren Soh takes surreal night time landscapes in his new exhibition at the Esplanade tunnel.

See PHOTOGRAPHY , page 10, for an interview.

CHARITY

DINING

Giving Back in Singapore

Hot New Openings

EVENTS

18 Unmissable Things to Do

TRAVEL

Bangkok’s Chinatown Bars

Cover Up SG Magazine covers celebrate local artists, photographers and illustrators and their remarkable depictions of Singapore.

They look so good, we’ve even started hanging them on our walls.

To suggest someone we should feature or to partner with us on this initiative, email editor@asia-city.com.sg

10

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015

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FILM

Watch your local indie films

The Heritage Outdoor Screenings were postponed due to the haze, but the eight-film showcase is finally here, with the winners and finalists of the Singapore Heritage Short Film Competition. Titles include I Am Eurasian, which deals with identity, and Beneath the Spikes, about an Indian man who is pierced a hundred times to thank the gods for his son’s well-being at the Panguni Uthiram festival. Dec 11-12, The Screening Room, www.facebook.com/ sghsfc. Free.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

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now Send your events news to art@asia-city.com.sg, nightlife@asia-city.com.sg, stage@asia-city.com.sg

BOOK AHEAD Get your tickets now for these big-deal shows

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St. Jerome's Laneway Festival

Bon Iver

Death Cab for Cutie

Social media has been abuzz with announcements of exciting indie names coming to town early next year. Better get booking.

ST. JEROME'S LANEWAY FESTIVAL The sixth edition of this festival will have with a few big acts making an appearence, like dream pop duo Beach House, award-winning Scottish electronic band CHVRCHES and majestic electro producer Flume, probably best known for "The Greatest View" with Isabella Manfredi of Australian band The Preatures. While these acts will no doubt be the apple of the headgearwearing, fringe-clad attendees' eyes, there are a ton of other under-the-radar and local acts performing, too. Jan 30, The Meadow, Gardens by The Bay. $180.

BON IVER One of the hottest indie acts in recent years, Bon Iver will be performing at The Star Vista on Feb 26. You probably know that his first album For Emma, Forever Ago was hailed as one of the best break-up albums by Rolling Stone.

The one-man band, best known for

"Skinny Love" melts hearts with his ethereal tunes and use of synthesizers.

Apart from this track, expect other hits like "Holocene," "Towers" and "Calgary."

Feb 26, 1 Vista Exchange Green, The Star Theatre. $68-148.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE No self-respecting indie music lover will want to miss Death Cab For Cutie's next showcase. The champions of alternative emo, comprising Ben Gibbard, Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr, are performing tracks like "Black Sun" and "Little Wanderer" from Kintsugi, their eighth studio album. But of course, we are also hoping for fan favorites like "The Sound of Settling" from Transatlanticism and We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes. But if you're really only looking forward to "Meet Me On the Equinox" (from Twilight), we are not judging...much. Mar 7, The Coliseum, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway. $99-190.

EXPLORING New dive trails on Sisters’ Island Avid divers, there are now two Marine Park Dive Trails on Sisters' Islands. The two trails opened Nov 8, and each one is 100m in length.

The shallower trail is about five to six meters deep, and leads to the more advanced deep trail, which lets divers plunge to a depth of 15m. You may see some feather duster worms (ew or cool?), giant clams, anemone and clownfish. There are 20 stops along the way with signs highlighting what creatures can be found there.

Sisters' Island If you're a new diver, you'll have to log in more dives because an advanced level of certification is required. You also have to have good buoyancy control, and be able to deal with rough currents and low visibility.

Check out the official website (sistersislandmarinepark.blogspot.sg/) that will inform you of future dive dates. Prices vary depending on the operator.

Not experienced enough yet? Get some inspiration at the Sisters' Island Facebook page (http://ow.ly/UMRfO) where there are lots of images of the creatures you can expect to find at the dive trails.

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FILM

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015

WELLNESS

Be at one with the force

Say what you will about the recent prequels, the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Dec 17 is going to get many people in a lather.

Get primed for it by rounding up your geeky friends for The Original Star Wars Trilogy Marathon. The $5 booking deposit is refundable when you show up. Dec 12 *SCAPE Gallery, Level 5, screen-dec. peatix.com, $5.

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Do yoga with The Naked and Famous

Participate in outdoor yoga classes with instructor Sianna Sherman and Space & Light Yoga at Blissout. The day ends with indie band The Naked and Famous and local singer Inch Chua, who just put out a Pulau Ubin-inspired EP. Dec 12, The Meadow—Gardens by The Bay, www.blissout.com. sg, $90-110.

LITERARY

Nod to poems by Singapore migrant poets

The inaugural edition last year was covered by international news agency, the BBC. Don’t miss this year’s Migrant Worker Poetry Competition, where the finalists perform their pieces along with their translations. Entries tripled last year, and included contestants from Bangladesh, the Philippines, China and elsewhere. Dec 13, Possibility Room, The National Library, www.singaporeworkerpoetry.com. Free.

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Go to a fancy designer exhibition

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Get your friends something Naiise

FASHION

Hot on the heels of Hermes’ Leather Forever exhibition, another French fashion house has unveiled a showcase covering the brand’s evolution. The Louis Vuitton Series 3 explores the works of artistic director Nicolas Ghesquiere and the making of Louis Vuitton products.

Through Dec 23, South Crystal Pavillion at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, www. louisvuitton.com. Free.

Local design retailer Naiise is launching their annual Christmas pop-up store. The store, spanning over 3,400 sq ft, will be selling food, fashion, stationery, books and Christmas gift sets and cards. There is also a pop-up cafe featuring a different F&B name each week, and also an architecture-focused walking tour of the area by Archiwalks.

Through Dec 24, Telok Ayer Street, www. naiise.com.

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EXPLORING

Solve your way out of an escape room

Organized by Captivate, known for their challenging and fun escape rooms, the new Black Out has you playing a part of an amnesiac who wakes up in a boarded up room with no memory of what happened. Find clues and solve puzzles with your friends to find your way out.

Through Jan 31, Singapore Shopping Centre, www.sistic.com.sg/events/ blackout2016, $20-115.

SHOPPING

Season’s Greetings ’s a z iz p S h it w ! ls ia c e p S Christmas 31 Dec – 1 m o r f Available ery v li e d d n a in for dine

Double your Christmas joy when you unwrap your presents and unbox Spizza’s Christmas Special: Pizza Natalizia topped with Tomato, Mozzarella, Turkey, Porcini Mushroom, Brussels Sprouts & Lobster Ravioli.

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city scape

The People’s Movement to Stop Haze

VOLUNTEERING

Lend a Hand Give back to a cause—from environmental issues to humanitarian efforts, here’s how you can be good. By Chelsia Tan Habitat for Humanity (Singapore

Culture KItchen

C

hristmas is about giving back, so sign up to help one of these worthy causes in town.

ENVIRONMENT

The People’s Movement to Stop Haze Launched following the aftermath of the 2013 haze fiasco, the worst in Singapore’s history, this 20-odd outfit aims to encourage Singaporeans to take a proactive stance against the haze problems, instead of whingeing about it. Besides avoiding palm oil products (yes, chocolate is one of it), you can also volunteer to be part of their outreach efforts. www.pmhaze.org

Nature Society (Singapore) The non-government, non-profit organization spreads the importance of conserving Singapore’s natural environment through a wide range of activities such as guided nature-appreciation walks, talks, overseas eco-trips and collaborations with schools and the community. Join as a member to participate in their events or volunteer with the group’s various eco projects. www.nss.org.sg MIGRANT WORKERS

Culture Kitchen Put a lid on xenophobia through your stomach; share a meal with new friends from different countries, ethnicities or heartlands and exchange cultures and experiences at the organization’s free dinner parties. Contribute further by signing up as an event planner, social media manager, writer, photographer and more. www.culturekitchen.sg

Transient Workers Count Too (TWC 2)

LGBT

Fighting for the welfare of migrant workers exploited by their employers, this non-profit charity takes on cases of unethical practices such as negligent workplace safety, long working hours, low wages, unpaid salaries, forced repatriation and poor accommodation. Join the cause as a member or volunteer to help with these issues. www.twc2.org.sg

The T Project

The Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME) Besides championing the rights of migrant workers in Singapore, the local organization also helps victims of human trafficking and forced labor while emphasizing on building an inclusive community. The group also provides support to those with grievances through counselling, consultation and representation services. You can volunteer with their outreach programmes, publicity efforts and also by manning the helpline. www.home.org.sg ANIMALS

Three Legs Good Injured and disabled dogs also make loving pets, and that’s what this non-profit organization strongly believes.

They aim to encourage the adoption of Singapore Specials, or local breeds through education, adoption and fundraising drives and outreach efforts. You can help by, of course, volunteering and fostering these pooches—you’d get lots of cuddles while saving a life at the same time. www.threelegsgood.org

Mutts & Mittens This community for dogs, cats and rabbits provides boarding services for pets and even a pool facility for dogs, but it also helps re-home rescued and mostly mature dogs and cats at the shelter. Join their team of volunteers by registering at their website. www.muttsnmittens.com

Can’t find a copy?

Don’t miss out on this ultimate guide to all the festive fun—Christmas feasts, places to catch fireworks, staycation deals, gift ideas and more.

Head to is.gd/SGholiday to download the digital guide, it’s free.

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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015

This local transgender support group provides Singapore’s first shelter for homeless individuals of the community as well as championing various causes like empowerment, equality and creating an inclusive environment for all gender identities. www.facebook.com/TheTprojectsg

The Purple Alliance Here’s another group seeking to empower individuals of various gender identities by addressing issues of acceptance, societal prejudices and equality faced by the LGBT community. Supported by volunteers, the committee organizes events like mixers, and provides healthcare and counselling services. www.thepurplealliance.com HUMANITARIAN

ONE Singapore The fight against poverty, climate change and sustainability may seem like an idealistic vision, but it’s still a worthy battle. This organization not only spreads awareness about environmental issues and those living on the fringes of a marginalized society, but also connects corporate and non-profit businesses with programmes advocating the movement. You can be part of their campaign by joining as a volunteer. www.onesingapore.org

Habitat for Humanity (Singapore) This non-profit, global organization tackles housing poverty by building modest homes for those in need. You can either sign up for stints to help build houses abroad, or lend a hand here-the Singapore outpost is behind Project HomeWorks, which cleans homes of disadvantaged seniors. www.habitat.org.sg

RDA Singapore It’s the only organization here providing Equine Assisted Therapy and Hippotheraphy to those with disabilities, a form of physical therapy for cognitive improvement. These free horse-riding sessions also benefits by boosting the morale of those with physical impairments. You can help by signing up as a side-walker, accompanying the riders.

Training is provided. www.rdasingapore.org For more ideas on volunteering, see our free Holiday Guide 015 with this issue, or download it at www.asia-city.com/pdf/ holidayguide2015.pdf.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

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island

The latest openings and hottest trends in Singapore

SHOPPING

Boutique Boom

Joseph

Shop cult, luxury and local goods, ranging from clothes to home furnishings at these new stores. By Chelsia Tan

Mporium

T

he closure of M)phosis, Front Row and Inhabit may have cast a temporary pall on the retail scene here, but recent newcomers are injecting a new lease of shopping options for Singaporeans.

Joseph This British luxury label, which has been dressing stylish fashionistas since the ‘60’s, has finally brought its sharply tailored, modern designs for both men and women to Singapore.

Not impressed? Brand honcho Joseph Ettedgui had worked with and discovered some famous names in fashion such as Kenzo, Azzedine Alaia and Yohji Yamamoto before launching his own eponymous label. Prices for womenswear go from $155 for a camisole to $3,300 for a sheepskin coat, and menswear starts from $140 for a T-shirt to $2,355 for a biker jacket. #01-19/20/21, Capitol PIazza, 13 Stamford Rd., 6384-5811, www. joseph-fashion.com.

L’armoire We were sad to see local cult boutique Front Row go, but now, newly-opened L’armoire is taking over with a range of under-the-radar and avant garde designers like Austrian menswear

designer Leopold Bossert, Seoul menswear label Dgnak, South Korean womenswear designer Moon Young Hee and Rick Owens, who’s known for his provocative runway shows and progressive aesthetic. These pieces do require a little investment (prices go up to $6,500 for a leather jacket), but for those who want to stand out and look like they’re already ‘in-the-know’, it may be well worth every penny. #02-25 Raffles Hotel Shopping Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd., 63360357, www.larmoire-singapore.com.

Mporium Sure, international cult labels are cool, but if you want truly home grown flair, then pop over to this 5,000 sq.ft. haven for local and Asian designers.

The space, located in family-friendly Suntec City, stocks both familiar and emerging names such as fashion labels Aijek, Mae Pang and ceramic ware brand Joyclay among a list of 35 designers. There are clothes and beauty products for both men and

women, and accessories, lifestyle and home products on the shelves—come here if you want to discover new and creative talents. Prices start from $79 for a blouse to $700 for a dress; $19 for mustache wax to $65 for body cream and $19 for a plushie to $105 for a cushion. #01-477/478/479/480 Suntec City North Wing, 3 Temasek Ave., 6837-0566.

Finn Avenue Touch and feel modern reproductions of iconic antique furniture like King Louis chairs, 18th century balloon chairs and pieces inspired by Baroque, Oriental and Victorian styles at the new showroom by online luxury home furniture store, Finn Avenue. There are handcrafted designs like sofas and dining sets, and also accessories like cushions made from materials imported from France, Italy, Belgium, New Zealand and Spain. Prices range from $200 for a lamp to $3,780 for a sofa. #02-21 8B Admiralty St., 67533466, www.finnavenue.com.

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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015

Finn Avenue

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

L’armoire

eats

The inside scoop on Singapore’s drink and dining scene

NEW PLACES

Hot Tables From fashion-themed cocktail bars to the restaurant opening of the year, these are the places to check out on your next night out. By Chelsia Tan

Bird Bird

Odette

I

t’s official: Odette at the National Gallery is the restaurant opening of the year. Proof: you can’t get a booking until January. While you wait for a table to open up, though, check out all the other new bars and restaurants that have popped up around town. Here are a few.

DATE NIGHT

Aura This new Italian restaurant by Il Lido boasts an impressive 6,000 sq. ft. rooftop space, which comes complete with a raw bar, gourmet salad bar and cake lounge, all overlooking the Padang and CBD. On the menu are modern, regional Italian plates ranging from starters like grilled endive with truffle bagna cauda and frog legs scottadito with basil and garlic foam ($20), pasta dishes such as tonnarelli with sea urchins and trofie with truffle pesto and prawns ($48) and mains like the quail casserole with beetroot and mascarpone orzotto ($38), and kale, feta & home cured pancetta frittata ($22). Best of all, the wine bottles hover between $70-90, and cocktails at $16-18. #05-03 and #06-02, National Gallery, St. Andrew’s Rd., 6866-1977, www.aura.sg.

Maggie Joan’s The father-and-son team of Moosehead, Glen and Daniel Ballis, have recently launched a real hole-in-the-wall Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, accessible only via a back alley and with the help of Google Maps. Pollen’s Oliver Hyde takes over with modern, aesthetically driven plates like yellow tail sashimi, with carrots and brandade ($23), smoked quail Waldorf ($22) and grilled Iberico pork jowl, with prunes and cauliflower ($34) and egg with dukkah and saffron mayo ($6). The space, while intimate, is rather non-descript with typical wooden furniture and raw, exposed bricks. #01-01 110 Amoy St.,6221-5564, www.maggiejoans.com.

Odette We briefly mourned French chef Julien Royer’s departure from Jaan, but now he’s opened modern fine dining French restaurant, Odette, with the Lo & Behold Group at the National Gallery. The produce-driven, degustation menu ($88 for lunch, $208 for dinner) features gastronomic creations like the North Highlands beef tartare with pickled kohl rabi, grain mustard ice cream and smoked bone marrow. The much-talked about restaurant is fully booked till January next year, but it’s criticallylauded plates are well worth the wait. #01-04 National Gallery Singapore, 1 St. Andrew’s Rd., 6385-0498, www.odetterestaurant.com.

BRUNCH

Clinton St. Baking Company Brunch is the national past time of Singaporeans. And at

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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015

this famous New York outpost, you either order their sinfully more-ish blueberry pancakes with warm maple butter ($18), or go home wishing you did. Skip the buttermilk chicken and waffles (it was pretty underwhelming the last time we tried it) and dig right into the Southern breakfast ($18), a buttonbusting plate of two eggs in any style, sugar-cured bacon, cheese grits and fried green tomatoes. 31 Purvis St., 6684-4845, www.clintonstreetbaking.sg.

Vanity

DUDE FOOD

Bird Bird Chef du jour Bjorn Shen’s latest venture lets you get down and personal with Thai-style grilled chicken. Bird Bird at Ann Siang Hill serves up unpretentous dishes inspired by Northern Thailand, like a green papaya salad with crispy chicken skin, salted eggs and fermented rice vermicelli. All will be accompanied with beer and Thai milk tea, and set in a gritty, diner-like vibe. 18 Ann Siang Rd., 6635-2536, www.instagram.com/birdbirdsg.

The Butcher’s Club Burger Serious burger aficionados have another gourmet joint to check out. At The Butcher’s Club Burger, a Hong Kong-based burger chain, dry-aged beef patties are the name of the game. There’s no extensive, ambitious menu here—only a curated list of items like the Wu Tang Style burger with a patty fried in sriracha and topped with tempura sweet potato and kimchi ($25) and What Food Eats ($23), a vegetarian chickpea and halloumibased creation. The space, although located in the Clarke Quay watering hole stretch, is decked in cozy vinyl booths and wood interiors. #01-01B Clarke Quay, 3A River Valley Rd., 6837-0675, www.thebutchers.club/burger-singapore.

BARS

Black Nut

Giving Emerald Hill a much-needed breath of fresh air, Black Nut, a colonial-chinoserie gastrobar, offers reliable tropical cocktails ranging from the colloquial Huat Ah ($22), made of Barcardi white rum, Midori, creme de cassis and apple juice, to the standard Singapore Sling. Its bar bites menu features Asian-inspired morsels such as baby back ribs ($35), balukoo wanton ($18), stuffed with ginger, prawn, spring onion and black nut (or buah keluak) flesh, and Not A Cock Up ($20), crispy wings marinated with pinnacle vodka. 2 Emerald Hill Rd., 6738-8818, www.fb.com/blacknutsg.

Clinton St. Baking Company

Smoke & Mirrors

Expect fancy showmanship at this terrace bar located above upscale Cantonese restaurant, Yan. Using smoke as a central theme, the cocktails, inspired by Southeast Asia, include the dramatically-named Tiger Blood Daisy ($20), a mix of reposado tequila, fresh lime, homemade sour plum, Grenadine and Mombasa ginger beer. After knocking off a couple of rounds, slake your appetite with bar bites like the crispy roast pork belly ($16). #06-01 National Gallery, 1 St. Andrew’s Rd., www.smokeandmirrors.com.sg.

Vanity Our beloved Ricky Paiva, formerly of Manhattan bar, has moved to this new outfit at the long-awaited opening of South Beach Quarter. It’s touted as a posh lounge, wine bar and club, with sleek Art Deco interiors, plush red carpets and heavy velvet drapes. Drinks-wise, he shakes up creations like Envy Me ($12), inspired by a fragrance by Italian fashion house Gucci, with bourbon, aperol, amaro nonino and lemon. 38 Beach Rd., 9829-2026, www.facebook.com/SBQVanity.

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Open for breakfast

IndoChine CHIJMES Opening Soon

WHITEGRASS Opening Soon

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Late Night Dining: SINGAP

IndoChine CHIJMES ORE

Opening Soon

RESTAURAN GUIDE

T

2016

Late Night Dining & Live Entertainment:

Entertainment:

www.toptables.sg w w w.

s g n o w . s g

topta

bles.s

g

CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street, Singapore 187996 Telephone: (65) 6337 7810 Email: chijmes@perennialrealestate.com.sg www.chijmes.com.sg facebook.com/chijmes.sg chijmes_sg

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

19

escapes

Holidays, hotels and insider travel news

THAILAND

El Chiringuito

Night on the Old Town Bangkok’s Chinatown is known for its gold shops, market stalls and street food. It’s also home to some cool bars, too.

Tep Bar

B

Soy Sauce Factory

esides flea markets that occasionally happen at night and good old-fashioned tom yum soup, we bet that you didn’t know Bangkok’s Chinatown has some pretty quirky bars to chill out at, with some located in revamped shophouses, and others that double as art spaces.

El Chiringuito

Soy Sauce Factory

221 Soi Nana, Charoenkrung Rd., +66 (0) 86340-4791.

Open Thu-Sun 6pm-midnight. Nearest MRT: Hua Lamphong. www.facebook.com/elchiringuitobangkok

11/1 Charoenkrung Soi 24, +66 (0) 61835-6824.

Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm. Nearest MRT: Hua Lamphong. www. soysaucefactory.com.

Soulbar

Teens of Thailand

This shop-house bar is one of a new breed of Chinatown bars attracting Bangkok’s young and hip. There’s a charming retro ambience courtesy of reclaimed wooden furniture, classic sewing tables, old posters and an adorable chalkboard menu displaying Spanish tapas inspired by the owner’s time spent living in Spain. Try the patatas bravas and bocadillos, all washed down with a Spanish Xoriguer gin.

Soulbar is a bit like the new Adhere 13th, the long-standing blues club in Phra Athit. Tucked in a small shop-house down in the old Talad Noi neighhborhood, this simple but tastefully turned out bar plays host to live soul and funk bands every TueSat. If the crammed band room is too much for you, there’s a more laidback lounge and terrace upstairs. Drop by for the daily happy hours (6-8pm)—our pick is the Summer Beer (mint chocolate kombucha and half a pint of draft beer, about $6.30).

945 Charoen Krung Rd. Nearest MRT: Hua Lamphon. www.facebook.com/livesoulbarbangkok

ESCAPE ROUTES

This art space has held one successful event after another since it opened last year, from the shocking nudes of controversial Chinese artist Ren Hang to the reportage archives of Roland Neveu during the fall of Phnom Penh. Located in an old soy sauce factory, the bare-bones building—open-plan, concrete floors, industrial lighting— is split between the gallery upstairs and a Thai restaurant and bar downstairs.

76 Soi Nana, Charoenkrung Rd., +66 (0) 81443-3784. Open Tue-Sun 6pm-12:30am. Nearest MRT: Hua Lamphong.

Rest Your Potato Head In 2016, The Katamama (Jl Petitenget No 51B, Seminyak,+62 (361) 302-9999, www.the-katamama.com) a 58-suite boutique hotel, will be open next to Potato Head Club. The hotel has a lovely mix of Balinese exteriors and traditional touches, paired with carefully sourced vintage European furniture inspired from the 1940s and 50s. Suites all come with maxi-bars and teak furnishings and include the 320 sq m Katamama suite with floor-to-ceiling sea views and the 140 sq m Pool suite with a private courtyard and garden.

TOURS

Don’t Chicken Out The Katamama

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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015

Tep Bar

Hiding behind an ominous, Indian-style door is a small, moody bar belonging to the who’s-who of Bangkok’s art and nightlife scene, from fashion photographers and party organizers to mixologists and musicians. Do explore the vast collection of gin, from the must-try Hanami (the house pour) to the locally distilled Iron Balls. The decor is basic, mixing old shop-house charm with racy photography exhibitions.

BALI

Launched three months ago, Chickenfeet Travels (8511-1253, www.

Tep Bar

This restored shop-house has plenty of raw appeal, and specializes in potent cocktails mixed with Thai fruits, herbs and spices. There’s also a good line of home-infused ya dong (Thai herbal whiskey) as well as a kitchen dishing out Thai tapas.

Come nightfall, enjoy your meal while local musicians take the stage to play traditional music from Thailand’s Central region.

Room 69-71, Soi Nana, +66 (0) 98467-2944. Open Tue-Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri-Sun 5pm-1am. Nearest MRT: Hua Lamphon. www.facebook.com/TEPBAR

chickenfeettravels.com) is a bespoke travel operator that specializes in trips to Southeast Asia, with itineraries that involve trekking, diving and animal sighting, to name a few. According to co-founder Junxiu Lu, what makes the trips unique are the people you meet, so there will be lots of opportunities to meet locals. Send them an email here or give them a call. They will iron out all the details for your adventure. Prices vary from $280-$1,500, excluding flights, insurance and visas.

INDONESIA

Bintan Baywatch This time last year, we were oohing over the opening of Bintan’s super luxe boutique hotel The Sanchaya. This time, we’re cautiously intrigued about the new 338-hectare Treasure Bay Bintan. The

supposed “resort city” is a 50-minute ferry ride from Singapore and will have a 21-hectare wellness resort, shopping and a 6.3-hectare crystal lagoon, Asia’s biggest, where you can paddle board, sail and cable ski. Stay at the safari-themed Canopi Resort. More information at www. treasurebaybintan.com.

THAILAND

Wonder Weekend Thailand’s answer to Coachella is back.

Wonderfruit is taking place in Pattaya Dec 17-20, with a pretty international line-up of bands and DJs. The indie highlight is Blonde Redhead, but there’s also Jon Hopkins and Burning Man fave Karsh Kale. But before you think it’s a grungy campout: there will be food by Bangkok’s top restaurants, too. More info at www.wonderfruitfestival.com

A Truly Festive Feast A 3-course menu at $79.50 per person including a glass of Prosecco

1 Harbourfront Walk, #01-165/167 VivoCity Singapore 098585 583 Orchard Road, #01-04/07 Forum, Singapore 238884 www.jamiesitalian.sg

THIRSTY?

Don’t miss out on our guide to the best of Singapore nightlife scene—more than 100 of our favorite nightspots, from the best rooftop bars and cocktail gems to the coolest microbreweries and wine lounges.

Head to is.gd/SGbestbars to download the e-guide, it’s free.

www.sgnow.sg

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

21

last word

Shitij Nigam Consultant turned Youtube strategist Shitij Nigam is the amateur photographer behind the hugely popular Humans of Singapore Facebook page (www.facebook. com/humansofsg), a local take on the famous HONY phenomenon that runs portraits and short stories of Singaporeans from all walks of life. From his first viral story about a single mother saddled with three jobs to how Humans of Singapore started as a joke, he tells Chelsia Tan how the project has changed his perspective on being human.

In 2008, I came to Singapore from New Delhi for my undergraduate studies at Singapore Management University and I’ve been here since.

just having a bad day. The ratio of rejections to acceptances is about 40-60%. But it’s a healthy mix and it’s much better than what I’d started with.

I used to be a consultant for about three years, and I recently joined YouTube as part of their Strategy team in Singapore. Overall, my work is mostly analytical and data-driven.

The first viral story was Fel, the single mother juggling As long as you let them know that things are three jobs and who has invested all her money in her perfectly under their control, people are happy and jewelry-making business, has always stood out for willing to share their stories. Plus I think a large part of obvious reasons. It was the first time I kept us loves to share our stories. We’re our own in touch with someone whom I pictured story’s protagonist anyway, and if a stranger We’re our in Humans of Singapore. It almost set walks up to you and asks you to narrate it, off the page as a launchpad for people you’d love to sit down with them too, right? own story’s to help each other in some small way or The process of taking photographs is protagonist another. And that’s why it stands out for fantastic, but what’s even better is the way so many reasons and not just one. At first anyway. people respond to these pictures. Strangers when the story became popular, I thought step in and defend other strangers, and it would be a one-off—but it’s not. people offer help in some small way or the other.

When it comes to getting strangers to share personal And I guess those little acts have provided me with stories about themselves, I’d like to think that it is a truckloads of perspective into how people think and combination of my stunning personality and good looks. interpret people around them. And that’s something But it’s about building trust and comfort and breaking it which I don’t think I could’ve received anywhere else. down slowly for someone, instead of suddenly peppering them with questions. You first ask for a picture and

Humans of Singapore started off as a joke. A friend of mine and I were browsing Humans of New York and she suggested that I should totally start one for Singapore as well. So I took a picture of another friend, put it up on Facebook, and that was it!

I started by being relatively selective in choosing who to photograph, but now I just try to go for whoever catches my eye. There’s no prescribed formula, because the idea behind the whole project is that everyone has a story to share anyway.

Sometimes people have stories which they would not like to disclose, sometimes people just do not like their pictures taken, or they may be

see if they’re comfortable with the idea of it. Then you show them the picture and then ask them some generic questions to see how they respond, and so on.

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SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015