Weekender #30

WK30A / MICA (P) 144/08/2012

WEEKENDER MAY 3 - 9, 2013

YOUR INSPIRATION TO A WEEKEND filled with FUN AND HAPPINESS

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’S L ER CIA TH E O P M YS A D

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VENTS

YOUR INSPIRATION TO A WEEKEND FILLED with FUN AND HAPPINESS For a pdf copy of Weekender visit: www.facebook.com/weekendersgp

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FE AL IV ST

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European Union Film Festival 2013 15-26 May, various timings, $11 The 23rd European Union (EU) Film Festival returns this year with a record number of 28 films representing the best of European cinema. This year’s films include Belgium's Oxygen, France's Something in the Air, and Denmark's

18, 19, 24, 25 May

DBS Marina

Regatta This water sports festival by DBS features eight race categories for dragon boating, a rousing drum competition and a colourful cosplay parade on 18-19 May. The Bay Festival on 24 and 25 May includes games and activities such as dumpling fishing and watercraft workshops. There will also be musical performances by Electrico and Jack and Rai. Waterfront Promenade @ Marina Bay

W If you would like your event listed, please email the details and pictures (where applicable) to

events@weekender.com.sg 2 weeks before your event date.

Listings must arrive in email Wednesday two weeks before publication. Listings are free but, as space is limited, inclusion is not guaranteed. Nevertheless, we try our best to include every listing possible.

free admission Ayano Hattori: Intimate Strangers Until 5 May, 10am-6pm (except 1.30pm-2.30pm) Through her video works, Ayano Hattori examines the subconscious act of looking in the context of human desire and urban environments. By taking a performance-like approach to her art, her works engage viewers in observation, making them complicit in their desire to look.

Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore, Lasalle College of the Arts, 1 McNally Street

All events are correct at time of print.

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of Marvel’s Iron Man 3 movie, Marvel Studios uses groundbreaking motion-sensor technology to allow users to take on the role of the legendary comic book and movie hero Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, in an augmented reality experience, as you assemble and test Iron Man’s new state-of-theart Mark 42 armour.

Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria Street Creating Together Until 9 May, 10am-6pm (except 1.30-2.30pm), closed on Mon & public holidays This collective visual art exhibition brings together works from several disciplines such as sound, photography, painting, and sculpture. The exhibition is put together by the faculty members of the Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design Program at Sabancı University, Turkey.

Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore, Lasalle College of the Arts, 1 McNally Street

DBS Marina Bay Sailing Programme Various days and times DBS collaborates  with Singapore Sailing Federation to offer the experience of sailing to the public on the last Saturday of every month from April to November 2013, with 7 sessions per Saturday. Four people are allowed on each boat, with a skipper to London Weight Management Coupon guide them. They will be able to Mother’s Day Special: see Marina Bay • $18 for 6 Quick & Easy Slimming Sands, Singapore’s Treatments new financial • Plus! 1 set of Slimming Products worth $68 downtown, • *Guaranteed up to 6kg loss!

Customs House, the Merlion and SMS: LWWK, Name, NRIC to 73232 or call Helix Bridge 6222 1234 to book your appointment now! during the sailing Terms & Conditions: experience. Visit Applicable for new female customers aged 21 & above with www.dbs.com/ weight problems only. Promotional treatments redeemable after community/ consultation. Results may vary.

BECOME IRON MAN Until 5 May, 10am-10pm In line with the recent release

Great Gift for Mom

dbsmarinabaysailing to register.

Marina Bay Promenade – Pontoon Every Child A Gift: Exhibition by Singapore Children’s Society Until 6 Jun, library hours Singapore Children’s Society is presenting a Heritage Corner Exhibit that features the Society's history, to commemorate its 60 years of commitment in bringing relief to children in need.

National Library Building Promenade, 100 Victoria Street

EVERY TRICK ONLY NEEDS ONE TRUTH 16 May - 15 Jun, 11am-7pm (Mon-Sat), closed on Sun & Public Holidays Singaporean contemporary oil painter and sculptor David Chan presents oil paintings and sculptures. With his uncanny ability to create layers and textures through his artwork, he implores the audience to ponder the shortcomings of human perception and how our volatile and evolving judging criteria ultimately mars and forms our ‘truths’.

ART SEASONS Singapore, 1 Selegie Road, #02-021/24, POMO How To Be A Singapore Explorer 15 May, 7.30pm-8.30pm Singapore's fascinating aspects are found in its history, which sometimes requires deeper exploration. You might be inspired to embark on your own historical exploration of Singapore after photographer Darren Soh and writer Melanie Lee - Singapore Explorers for work and play - share their local sojourns. Email contact details to nhb_nm_lectures@nhb.gov.sg Gallery Theatre, Basement, National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road Lasalle Graduation Showcase 2013 Until 9 May, 10am-6pm except 1.30pm - 2.30pm, closed on Mon Artists Erika Norris, Jying Tan and Phuong Dang mark the end

Singapore Dance Theatre’s

Gala Performance

31 May & 1 Jun, 8pm, $30, $50, $70

This Life. The second-longest running film festival in Singapore, the EU Film Festival will open with a sneak preview of a new IrishSingapore production, Mister John.

Shaw Theatres Lido, 350 Orchard Road

As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, Singapore Dance Theatre presents a gala performance featuring the best and most memorable pieces from its repertoire. The performances include Goh Choo San’s Beginnings, the first ballet ever performed by SDT; Serenade, the most performed ballet by George Balanchine, the father of neoclassical ballet; and a newly commissioned work featuring the full company of SDT dancers. The gala evening also features works by The Australian Ballet and the Queensland Ballet.

Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Drive

Joe Brooks at Timbre@Gillman 22 May, 8pm, $60, $80

Deftones Concert

An honest writer, angelic vocalist and exhilarating performer, British singer Joe Brooks has sold out shows in Europe, America and Asia, and will be performing in Singapore. The pieces played include those from an upcoming album titled The Boy & The Broken Machine.

Timbre @ Gillman, 9A Lock Road, Gillman Barracks

28 May, 8pm, $88, $98, $108 (at the door) Grammy award-winning alternative band Deftones is holding a concert in support of their acclaimed seventh studio album Koi No Yokan.

Released in November 2012, it debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, with over 65,000 copies sold in the first week. Tickets from Sistic.

The Coliseum, Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa

of their Master of Arts Fine Arts programme with a graduation showcase, ‘Magic Bullet’.

Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore, Lasalle College of the Arts, 1 McNally Street Luciano Ventrone Sui Generi/s Until 9 Jun, 12-7pm (Tue-Sat), 12-6pm (Sun), closed on Mon & public holidays Sui Generi/s, curated by Cesare Biasini Selvaggi, will feature more than 50 masterpieces by Roman artist Luciano Ventrone, a master of figurative art. Be awed by his extraordinary pictorial techniques, which show in his still-life works, portraits and landscapes.

Partners & Mucciaccia Gallery, Block 6, Lock Road, #02-10 Gillman Barracks PIANO CONVERSATIONS WITH JULIAN LAWRENCE GARGIULO: THE ART OF BEING SILLY 1 Jun, 6.30pm In this piano recital, Julian Gargiulo transmits a unique concert experience by combining an informal style of presenting classical music with his rigorous Russian conservatory training.

Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Rd National Geographic Channel Free Pet Shop 4 & 5 May, 12-6pm The National Geographic Channel (NGC) Free Pet Shop brings together five dog shelters for this event with more than 100 dogs up for adoption. The also offers fringe activities and workshops that will shed new light on dog ownership. It aims to advocate dog adoption and foster greater man-canine relationship.

Dalbergia Green, East Coast Park, along East Coast Parkway and East Coast Park Service Road RAW: IN:dex 15 & 16 May, 8pm IN:dex is a performance installation exploring space through a conversation of light, sound and spatial elements.

Three artists of different disciplines interact with one another during their creative process through text and images, only revealing their final pieces to one another during the performances. Email raw@ esplanade.com for tickets.

1 Esplanade Drive

call 6737 3448 for enquiries.

82 Cairnhill Road UT POP-UP! SINGAPORE 2013 4 & 5 May, 12pm-10pm View a large installation of the Uniqlo T-shirt Pop-Up, featuring the widest range of T-shirt designs such as by Andy Warhol and Star Wars. Purchase yetto-be-released designs, explore special designs by emerging designers and photographers and be entertained by bands from Noise Singapore.

72-13, Mohamed Sultan Road

Read Carefully: An Exhibition on Book Covers 25 Apr - 25 May, 11am-6pm (Mon-Fri), by appointment on weekends Kult Magazine presents a selection of book covers that have been re-designed by 50 local and international artists working in visual culture. Each artist has chosen a book which has influenced who they are today and then interpreted the cover in their own style, so there is a huge spectrum of work and styles on display. The project aims to re-introduce these books back into mainstream culture, and the artworks were displayed in indie boutiques as part of the Singapore Design Society Festival.

Kult Gallery, Emily Hill, Block C2-5, 11 Upper Wilkie Road STILL LIFE ‘ORGANICA’ Until 20 May, 10am-6pm (MonSat), other days by appointment Artist Bary Cha Cha presents seven photographic works complemented by still life installations. It depicts photographic moments created in collaboration with nature, as opposed to just being captured.

Email art@artforum.com.sg or

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WEEKENDER ABOUT US We are a Social Enterprise!

Besides enriching the lives of our readers, we provide training and employment for disadvantaged Singaporeans from CDCs, ISCOS and IMH. Our humble team:

Editorial Director Frank Young frank@weekender.com.sg Editor Lester J Wan Writer Cheryl Chia Contributor Chia Hui Jun Art Director Nicodemus Aw Graphic Designer Foo Dun Jie Sales Director David Phey Senior Manager Seth Leow CONTACT US: Advertising Sales: seth@weekender.com.sg Enquiries: +65 6493 2001 general@weekender.com.sg Weekender Group Pte Ltd 80 Playfair Road, #02-03, Blk A, Singapore 367998 CRN# 201212438E MICA (P) 144/08/2012 Disclaimer: The illustrations, photographs, views and statements expressed by our contributors, bloggers, illustrators, or writers do not necessarily reflect the views of Weekender Group Private Limited.

Weekender Group Private Limited does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of those views or statements and do not accept any legal liability whatsoever arising from any reliance on the views, statements and subject matter. © Copyright Weekender Group Pte Ltd. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all rights including those in copyright in the content of this publication are owned by or controlled for these purposes by Weekender Group Pte Ltd. Copyrights to photographs, Illustrations, or any other forms of work which appear in this publication provided by non-Weekender Group Pte Ltd contributors are owned and controlled their respective creators.Except as otherwise expressly permitted under copyright law or Weekender Group Pte Ltd, the content of this publication may not be copied, reproduced, republished, downloaded, posted, broadcast or transmitted in any way without first obtaining our written permission or that of the copyright owner.

YOUR INSPIRATION TO A WEEKEND FILLED WITH FUN AND HAPPINESS

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ticketed admission

FairPrice Walks With U 29 Jun, 8am, $12, $15; $43, $55 (group of four) Sign up for a 4km walkathon from Marina Barrage to Gardens by the Bay for a good cause. FairPrice Foundation will pledge $100 in FairPrice vouchers for every registered participant, which will go to families who have qualified for assistance. Register at www. whatsupatfairprice.com.sg/walk Marina Barrage, 260 Marina Way FORWARD with Kirk Degiorgio 11 May, 10pm, $20 (includes drink) Supported by Norman C & Ramesh

YOUR INSPIRATION TO A WEEKEND FILLED WITH FUN AND HAPPINESS For a pdf copy of Weekender visit: www.facebook.com/weekendersgp

K in this gig, Degiorgio has a unique electronic sound that combines jazz, soul, techno and funk. He recorded material before signing for As One To New Electronica for the albums Reflections and Celestial Soul, which made it to Muzik Top 30 albums. In May, international guests like Ian Pooley, Eddie Niguel and Zig Zach will also be performing at Kyo. Keck Seng Tower, 133 Cecil Street, #B1 -02 Glass Anatomy The Musical 3-12 May, 8pm (Tue-Fri), 3pm & 8pm (Sat & Sun), $69, $89, $109, $129 Inspired by the award-winning Taiwanese movie released in 1983, Papa, Can You Hear Me Sing?, Glass Anatomy follows the journey of a speech-impaired army veteran and his adopted daughter - played

by Della Ding Dang - who wrestles with the dilemma of pursuing her dreams versus being filial.

Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Drive

Hello Paige!

4-5 May, 11am, 2pm, 4pm; 7-9 May, 9.30am, 11am, $15 Join little Paige and her cute kitten, Neko, as they follow the mysterious sounds. Help Paige and Neko to find each other when they get lost on their adventure. In this lively production, children can also learn adjectives to describe the sounds that they hear, and find out how they can be heard and seen too.

Esplanade Recital Studio, 1 Esplanade Drive Journeys of Inspiration Concert 12 May, 4pm, $20 To celebrate the 80th Anniversary of KLM, the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Band collaborates with the Singapore Wind Symphony orchestra to present a concert conducted by Adrian Tan, Jan Schut and world-renowned Dutch composer and conductor Johan De Meij.

School of The Arts (SOTA) Concert Hall, 1 Zubir Said Drive

Light v Dark: Star Wars & Singapore Philatelic Museum Exhibition Until 30 Jun, Mon (1pm-7pm); Tue-Sun (9.30am-7pm), $6 (adult), $4 (foreign child), Free (Singaporean & PR students, children & senior citizens) This is a Star Wars stamps and collectibles exhibition in collaboration between Singaporean Star Wars memorabilia collectors and the Singapore Philatelic Museum. View an impressive array of Star Wars collectibles such as figurines, a fleet of model ships, costumes, and stamps. Look out for the breath-taking diorama of “The Emperor’s Arrival Scene”. There will be interesting programmes during the exhibition, such as “May the Fourth Be With You”, making your own 3D Star Wars figurines, dressing up as your favourite Star Wars characters, meeting the Stormtroopers live, and more. The Stormtroopers will be marching in on May 4, 18 and 19, and Jun 2 and 16, from 2pm to 4pm.

Singapore Philatelic Museum, 23-B Coleman Street Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb From 27 Apr, 10am-10pm daily, $8 (Child), $13 (Senior citizen), $14 Featuring more than 100 artefacts and six mummies from the collection of the British Museum, this exhibition also introduces interactive programmes and a 3D look into the Egyptian Mummy, and give it a new lease of life. Cuttingedge CT scanning technology and computer visualisation techniques were utilised to produce 6,500 images of Nesperennub, a mummified temple priest, and to make a 3D film about his life and death. Children can join a quest with age-appropriate bags with activities and tools to complete their mission.

The Amulets for the Afterlife workshop allows participants to make their own scarab or amulet.

ArtScience Museum, 10 Bayfront Ave National Achievers Congress 10-12 May, 8.30am-8pm, (all 3 days), $88 Glean the secrets of success from the best at the National Achievers Congress. CEO and Founder of Virgin Group Richard Branson, Les Brown, Keith Cunningham and other speakers will share about Forex trading, Real Estate Investment, Leadership Training and more.

Singapore Expo, 1 Expo Drive

Selena Gomez stars as Faith, an apt name

MOVIE PREVIEW

All events listed here are accurate at the the time of print, or are listed as stated by the organisers. Please check with the relevant organisers and contacts for more information and to book tickets.

Playing With Patterns Until 26 May, Saturdays, 12.30pm2pm, free with Art of the Brick ticket Forget the usual paint brush! In this colourful workshop, you can use Lego bricks to create a variety of print patterns on different surfaces.

Suitable for all ages.

ArtScience Museum, Art of the Brick exhibit, 10 Bayfront Avenue Shakespeare’s Globe: The Taming of the Shrew 2-13 Oct, 7.30pm (Mon, Wed-Sun), $98, $108, $138 Performed on an intimate Elizabethan-style stage, the allfemale cast breathes new life into Shakespeare’s most outrageous comedy about two wealthy sisters who must be married off.

Fort Canning Park, Cox Terrace Shakespeare in the Park: Othello Until 19 May, 7.30pm, $45, $55, $88 Singapore's Shakespeare in the Park presents the dark and treacherous world of Othello, one of Shakespeare’s great tragedies of love wrecked by jealousy. Immerse yourself in this classic story of love, deception and greed.

Fort Canning Park, Cox Terrace

The Art of the Brick Until 26 May, 10am-10pm daily, $8 (Child), $12 (senior citizen), $13 In this acclaimed and first major exhibition to use Lego bricks as the sole art medium, artist Nathan Sawaya transforms them into amazing sculptures, elevating the toy to the realm of art. It showcases 52 sculptures, including a six metre long T-Rex dinosaur skeleton.

ArtScience Museum, 10 Bayfront Ave

The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) 1-13 Oct, 7.45pm (Tue-Fri); 3pm, 7.45pm (Sat); 3pm, 7pm (Sun 6 Oct), $68, $88, $108 London’s longest-running comedy takes the audience through an irreverent, fast-paced journey through the Bard’s plays. Join these madcap men as they perform all 37 of Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories and Tragedies, in 97 minutes.

Tickets from Sistic.

DBS Arts Centre, 20 Merbau Rd To Unwritten Chapters 3 & 4 May, 8pm, $10 (Concession), $15 This showcase features works by internationally-acclaimed choreographers Emilyn Claid (UK) and Yvonne Ng (Singapore/Canada) which were created with students from Lasalle College of the Arts. It will also premiere Lasalle’s Dance Programme Lecturer Albert Tiong’s new work. Tickets from Sistic.

The Singapore Airlines Theatre, Basement 1, 1 McNally Street Tulipmania Until 20 May, 9am-9pm daily, $7 (Child & senior citizen), $10 Singapore’s largest tulip-themed floral display features 20,000 multicoloured tulip bulbs in shades of red, pink, yellow, white and purple, with four miniature windmills from the Netherlands to complete the display. There will also be other beautiful spring blooms such as hyacinths, narcissus, and muscari.

Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive

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MOVIE PREVIEW

Identity Thief: Hunting an impersonator Horrible Bosses’ Jason Bateman and Bridesmaids’ Melissa McCarthy lead the cast of this all-star comedy where a man goes to great lengths to clear his name repercussions soon follow.

Diana is brazenly living it up on the outskirts of Orlando, charging to Sandy’s credit card a host of expenses including luxury spa services, jet skis, and anything that catches her fancy in the stores.

James Franco is unrecognisable as ‘Alien’

Spring Breakers:

Bizarre bikini babes Four sexy college girls plan to fund their Spring Break getaway by burglarising a fast food shack. But that’s only the beginning

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aith (Selena Gomez), Brit (Ashley Benson), Candy (Vanessa Hudgens) and Cotty (Rachel Korine) have been BFFs (Best Friends Forever) since grade school. Together, they live in a boring college dorm and are craving for excitement.

These four friends plan to go on a Spring Break vacation but don’t have the money to. They need to save up enough for Spring Break, to get their shot at having fun.

A Shaky Ride You know it’s not just going to be a fly-high fun fest when Brit and Candy start off by robbing a fast food restaurant, and using violence at that. Faith is a little shaken but overlooks their misdemeanour, as they travel to Florida for Spring Break.

While they think they are going to have the party of their lives, subtle signs point otherwise.

At a room rave, the girls are arrested and taken to jail. Hung over and clad only in bikinis (who’s complaining?), the girls appear before a judge but are bailed out unexpectedly by the rapper “Alien” (an unrecognisable James Franco), a local thug who takes them under his wing.

A Shady Companion The encounter with Alien promises to provide them with the thrills they are looking for.

With the encouragement of their shady new friend, it soon becomes unclear how far they will go. This

comes with its perils, of course.

Faith becomes uncomfortable with Alien and his lifestyle, and decides to leave after learning that he’s a drug dealer.

Selena Gomez says her character is a reflection of her in real life.

“I think a lot about something before I do it,” she says.

From Bad to Worse Alien then brings Brit, Candy and Cotty to a strip club, where he runs into rival drug dealer Big Arch, who asks Alien to stop selling drugs in his territory.

Alien continues doing so, as well as robs spring breakers with the girls' help. Big Arch reacts to this with a drive-by shooting.

Risqué to Ridiculous?

After getting shot, Cotty decides to leave too. Alien, Brit and Candy decide to take revenge on Big Arch. They make their way to Big Arch’s luxurious waterfront mansion in Alien's boat.

We can’t reveal more without revealing how the story ends.

Franco gives a laudable performance as Alien, and is truly unrecognisable. He says that he couldn’t get out of character, even when he wanted to.

“I went to the hotel and I waved at people, and they looked at me like they were scared or whatever,” he says.

This is a bizarre, boisterous and buxom film that can be pretty thought-provoking. Dudes will watch it for the chicks. Chicks will watch it for the, well, chicks. W Spring Breakers [R21] Director: Harmony Korine Starring: James Franco, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, Vanessa Hudgens, Rachel Korine Genre: Crime, Drama, Comedy Run Time: 92 Min Release Date: 2 May

Teenagers on Spring Break often get out of hand

The tension between Sandy and Diana is palpable

Millions of people unknowingly leave their personal data unprotected when they perform banking and credit card transactions on their personal computers or smartphones. Identity Thief could well be a precautionary, yet funny, tale.

With easy-to-guess pass codes and the technology to make life more efficient, identity theft is growing.

Every year, nine million American residents have had their identities used fraudulently, resulting in financial losses.

This movie, however, gives you a good laugh out of a bad situation.

Falsely Accused Set against this contemporary information-driven landscape, this poignant film is easily relatable.

Sandy Bigelow Patterson (played by the everyouthful Jason Bateman) is an average Joe with a wife, two kids and a good job in Denver as an accounts rep.

Sandy arbitrarily gets his identity stolen

by Diana (played by Melissa McCarthy), and becomes accused of a litany of crimes. Hilarious

The Hunt Sandy attempts to defend himself to the police to no avail, and decides to head South to track Diana down himself. His supportive wife Trish (played by the beautiful Amanda Peet) is initially resistant to his idea of hunting Diana down but soon realises that it’s the only way to get out of the financial mess that Diana has caused.

With one week to find the slippery con artist, he tries to bribe, coax and wrangle with Diana, and finds out just how hard it is to reclaim his identity.

Scenic ‘Road Trip’ The majority of the movie takes place during Sandy and Diana’s journey by road from Florida to Denver.

It was mostly shot in Atlanta, Georgia, as there are a lot of different landscapes and terrains there.

All in all, it is one helluva ride. Don’t miss this endearing comedy, which traverses 10 states and 94 sets.

Be amused and entertained by the antics and hilarious exchanges between Sandy and Diana.

IDENTITY THIEF [M18] Director: Seth Gordan Starring: Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, Amanda Peet, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Genesis Rodriguez Genre: Comedy Run Time: 112 min Release Date: 1 May Amanda Peet adds some beauty to the brawn

Melissa McCarthy is annoyingly hilarious as Diana

MAy 3 - 9, 2013 • WEEKENDER • 05

YOUR INSPIRATION TO A WEEKEND FILLED WITH FUN AND HAPPINESS For a pdf copy of Weekender visit: www.facebook.com/weekendersgp

BE HAPPIER

Chillin’ with

Homeboy

Tim Oh

While some may think of him as Peter Pan, Tim Oh of Gold 90.5FM is a radio veteran. We ‘chilled’ with our Homeboy and caught up

Lester J Wan

By Lester J WAN

T

I always take her calls. She complained that when she couldn’t reach me on the phone, she would get depressed and take sleeping pills. Very alarming!

im Oh first started out as a National Serviceman (NSF) with Safra Radio’s newlyminted Power98FM in 1998. After his ORD (Operational Readiness Date), Tim continued being a presenter with Power98.

From his debut as a greenhorned (and uniformed) rookie to today, Tim has seen and done it all in the name of radio. In fact, Tim is a radio veteran despite his Peter Pan looks.

Today, he is a popular DJ on Gold 90.5FM and hosts the Homestretch with Maggie Lim. We squeezed some time to ‘chill’ and catch up. After all, we studied Mass Communication together.

What’ve you been busy with?

Finding a balance between work, sleep and going to the gym. I’ve been resolving every year to lead a more active lifestyle and this is the year I finally decided to follow through with it. Obviously, because of the nature of the job, my schedule’s pretty topsy-turvy at times, so just finding a balance between friends, family, work, romance, gym and sleep can be a little challenging.

What makes you smile?

A plate of chicken rice. I’ve always maintained nothing brings instant gratification like a steaming serving of our nation’s favourite food. A professional chicken rice seller taught me how to cook it, so now I try to make other people smile by preparing it for them.

Who is your musical icon?

Bob Marley. I’m not the biggest Reggae enthusiast but I respect the man and what he stood for. He

Which has been your most embarrassing moment?

Having Adam Lambert apply makeup on me in the radio studio!

believed you could cure the world of hate and racism, by injecting it with love and music. So do I. Which is your favourite genre?

My taste is really eclectic. I love anything from sappy cheesy songs from Barry Manilow to the hard rocking riffs of Guns ‘n’ Roses.

Obviously, because of Gold 90FM, I have an affinity with the classics.

Give me anything from James Taylor, and you’ll have me singing.

If you had a time machine, wheN AND WheRE would you go?

Back to the swinging ‘50s in New York and Chicago. I’m a big fan of the rat pack and their music.

Gangsters, mobsters and cool cats like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin! It would be a thrill!

What has been your strangest request?

A listener once called to request

How would you compare yourself during your school days and now?

I think I’m still pretty much the wise-cracking corny kid I was in school. These days I just get to do it over the airwaves. I do think I’m a lot less impulsive these days though. “Old age” has taught me to take a breath and mellow out my temperament a bit.

What makes you happy?

Feeling that I matter - whether it’s to my listeners, friends, family or that special girl in my life.

What is your next project?

Work-wise, right now I’m just focusing on Radio. The Homestretch team of my partner Maggie Lim and I are celebrating our first year on air together so we’re planning on giving out free ice-cream. Last year was filled with wonderful eye-opening experiences like acting and TV hosting. But until the next project pops up, I’m going to focus on my listeners, the gym and house hunting. W Tim Oh can be heard hosting the Homestretch on Gold 90.5FM, from 5pm to 9pm, with his co-host Maggie Lim.

FAMILY & FRIENDS Great

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Aiden Lim Zheng Hong Born Mar 27, 2012

Reagan Tan Born Oct 23, 2012

HELLO Pan Kaiyi Born Nov 1, 2012

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Babies - aren’t they the cutest things ever? That’s why Weekender dedicates a section to your adorable darlings in diapers. Send us your favourite photos of your newborn, so the rest of us can coo and ‘ahh’ over him / her too! What better way is there to celebrate your child than to share him / her with the rest of the world?

WORLD

Aarav Patel Born Jul 20, 2012 Val Tan Xin Ya Born May 31, 2012

Email your photos to

general@weekender.com.sg .

Please make sure to include your baby’s name and surname, gender and date of birth. We look forward to receiving photos of your loved one!

Ang Jia Loong Born Feb 14, 2012

Zarabelle Leong Born Jul 21, 2012

Dylan Chong Zhe Lun Born May 9, 2012

Minerva Toh Born Dec 2, 2012

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06 • WEEKENDER • MAY 3 - 9, 2013

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YOUR INSPIRATION TO A WEEKEND FILLED WITH FUN AND HAPPINESS

For a pdf copy of Weekender visit: www.facebook.com/weekendersgp

S.Pellegrino celebrates Luciano Pavarotti S.Pellegrino, together with Acqua Panna, pays homage to the Maestro, Luciano Pavarotti, with a limited edition bottle

In 2013, a year of momentous celebrations and anniversaries in the opera world, the S.Pellegrino bottle will feature a new look celebrating the greatest tenor of all time and the Italian opera, with a special edition Luciano Pavarotti label.

S.Pellegrino & Pavarotti The Maestro brought opera to the ears of a larger worldwide audience, and exported the same joy of being Italian that S.Pellegrino communicates.

S.Pellegrino and its still-water companion, Acqua Panna share Luciano Pavarotti’s devotion to the ideals of Italian excellence such as talent, passion, culture, togetherness and beauty.

The radiant tenor was an international ambassador of the Italian way of living, with his grand yet simple approach to life and his authentic passion for people, life and above all, music.

A momentous year This special tribute, “S.Pellegrino celebrates Luciano Pavarotti”, takes place in a year that stands out for its wealth of important events and anniversaries in the world of opera: This year, the world commemorates the 200th anniversary of both Giuseppe Verdi’s and Richard Wagner’s births, with opera theatres across the globe featuring programmes in memory of the two composers.

the spirit lives on Today, the Maestro's name and influence live on through the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation.

The Foundation operates with the double goal of keeping his memory alive and of supporting talented emerging singers who are keen to take their first steps onto the opera scene.

Just as he always paid close attention to young singers and took care to give singing lessons to deserving students, S.Pellegrino has always supported aspiring chefs in the fine dining world.

Special Edition “This Limited Edition bottle represents a new and important landmark in the Italian Talents project, which S.Pellegrino launched in 2010, aimed at nurturing and creating synergies between the most excellent Italian companies and celebrities, symbols of style, innovation, culture and prestige,” says Stefano Agostini, CEO of Sanpellegrino.

“Following the special editions that S.Pellegrino launched with Missoni and Bulgari, in a year full of extraordinary happenings in the world of music and Italian opera, we would be remiss not to celebrate the greatest, most illustrious representative whose splendid voice and great personality helped to develop a strong, positive image of Italy and of the Italian way of living throughout in the world, just as S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna have done ever since,” he adds.

The exclusive special edition “S.Pellegrino celebrates Luciano Pavarotti” bottle will temporarily replace the standard S.Pellegrino bottle in restaurants around the world for a total of 50 million bottles. The same tribute will be paid by Acqua Panna.

7 mother's day

treats 2 I

Mother’s Day is coming soon. Treat mom like a queen with these ongoing promotions especially for her

By Cheryl Chia

t is seasonal goodies and set menus galore when Mother’s Day rolls around.

Now's the time to show mom how much you really care for her, which you already should have been doing on a daily basis. We gather some of the Mother’s Day promotions available to help you.

Italian Tiramisu Caffe B Style

Eggs & Berries

Serving up hearty American gourmet food with generous portions, Eggs & Berries’ Mother’s Day special set menu ($38.90) on May 11 and 12 features a three-course meal with Cream of Chicken and Leek Soup with a Poached Egg, a choice between a Gratinated Sea Bass or a Grilled Chicken Breast, and a fruity Homemade Apple Strudel with Vanilla Ice Cream.

All mothers also get a glass of red wine or juice and a door gift when they dine in.

Eggs & Berries, Changi City Point, 5 Changi Business Park Central 1, #01-37/38, Singapore 486038, Tel: 6636 4212

By Cheryl Chia Vermilion Prawns

Beef N Burger

Being barely a year old, Cups N Canvas seemed fairly packed on the day that we were there. The usual crowd of art school students, expatriates and yuppies filled the airy art-café space. Located along Selegie Road, this is definitely not a place where you’d expect to find a hip café.

Cups N Canvas serves up a small selection of appetisers, pastas, sandwiches and mains.

The food is made upon ordering, resulting in a slight wait.

We loved the Blanc Bacon ($15.90) pasta, which is essentially a rich and sinful carbonara, and the Vermilion Prawns ($17.90), a tomato-based pasta with lemon juice resulting in a lovely tangy aftertaste. The PK Duck Sandwich ($9.90) is a sweet Peking Duckinspired sandwich with bits of tender marinated duck with a thin crepe skin in between ciabatta buns. Thumbs up.

Their Beef N Burger ($10.90) was a bit on the small side but tasted well cooked with a pat of

If you are feeling decadent, Caffé B is serving a special one day only set menu on May 12. For $70, you can enjoy a European five-course meal.

Start off with a Saffron Rice Croquette with Potato Cream, a choice between two refreshing appetisers, entrees and main courses and a dessert of Caffé B’s signature tiramisu.

Caffé B is a nouveau Italian fine dining restaurant and bar concept that marries Italian tradition, style and cuisine with the soul and sensibilities of the Japanese culture.

They will also be giving out carnations to mothers dining on that day.

Caffé B, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, #B1-15 & 01-83, Singapore 018972, Tel: 6887 3311

4 3

Feng Shui Inn

For mums who love traditional Chinese cuisine, treat them to a Cantonese-style feast at Feng Shui Inn. Specially created by Chef de Cuisine Yip Cheung Shui, the menu features exquisite specialities such as Steamed Longevity Buns Infused with Bird’s Nest, Baked and Shredded ‘Kampong’ Chicken, and Braised Ee-Fu noodles in Lobster Broth topped with bacon.

The set menu for ten persons includes a complimentary bottle of Magnum Bruno Paillard Premier Cuvee Champagne, as well as a Mother’s Day cake. Available from May 10 to 12, the Mother’s Day Set menu is available at $1,088++ for ten persons.

Feng Shui Inn, Hard Rock Hotel, Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269, Tel: 6577 6599

They also have all-day breakfasts such as their Eggs Ben-Addict ($14.90) and the Breakfast Canvas ($16.90).

Check out their glass counter for an assortment of cakes and pastries as well.

Cups N Canvas also has art courses for children, such as painting, drawing, life drawing and print-making.

The stripped down, industriallooking side of the café is where the workshops are held, and is closed off to the café when classes are on-going.

Simply pay a one-time registration fee of $50 and purchase a package or go for a la carte lessons, whichever you prefer.

Lovely murals have been hand-painted on the wall

Hua Ting

For other options in Cantonese cuisine, try Hua Ting at the Orchard Hotel. Available until the end of May, there are three menus ranging from $788 to $1,188, for eight to ten persons. With special delicacies such as Braised South African Whole Abalone with Seasonal Greens ($38, a piece) and air-flown Kobe Beef ($42 per person), spoil mom with only the best.

Masterchef Lap Fai of Hua Ting was crowned Asian Cuisine Chef of the Year at the World Gourmet Series Awards of Excellence 2012.

Hua Ting is located at Orchard Hotel Singapore.

Hua Ting, Orchard Hotel, 442 Orchard Road, Singapore 238879, Tel: 6734 7766

Chicken Ballotine

By Lester J Wan Yvonne Low was impressed and inspired by the indie cafes she had encountered on her trips to Japan. Their attractive aesthetics and the feelings they evoked led her to create her own quaint haven in a quiet corner back home in sunny Singapore.

L’Etoile Café’s décor is in a charming French-Japanese theme. The furnishings are actually highly-intriguing. You can find French-style paintings and Japanese posters, handpainted wall motifs, retro couches, antique clocks, a sewing machine, an old TV from a forgotten era, and many other knick-knacks.

Visit www.cupsncanvas.com for more. Cups N Canvas is located at 139 Selegie Road, Singapore 188309.

Tel: 6884 6855

Savour life in a lovely FrenchJapanese cafe L’Etoile Café, meaning “the star café” in French, is a lovely place to rest, relax and savour life

By Lester J WAN

Artworks are on display and courses are available

fries on the side. Also try their assorted drinks such as the Sweet Potato Latte ($4.80), a pretty purple concoction with creamy latte art atop, and the Sticky Date Shake ($6.80) if you like your drinks sweet.

Find travel great

Kurobuta Pig's Trotters Rice Dumpling

Caffé B

Have a cup of art Seven-month-old café Cups N Canvas offers art courses while you sip a cup of creamy sweet potato latte

Stewed Ox-Tail with Garlic at Hua Ting

Hua Ting at Orchard Hotel is a lovely setting

Page 11

packages

“Cups N Canvas also has art courses for children, such as painting, drawing, life drawing and print-making.”

The Cappuccino is heavenly

All these come together to create an ambience that is at once sweet, romantic, nostalgic, peaceful and thought-invoking. This would make a perfect place to rest, relax and to savour life. It is also an ideal setting for reading or writing.

The cosy second level, where most of the curious furniture and decorations are, is spacious and enchanting. Not surprisingly, it is popular for company events and wedding photography shoots. In fact, on the day I paid L’Etoile Café a visit, a young couple was in the midst of playing the fool with each other, as they sweetly posed for the camera.

In the kid's corner, there is colourful furniture, friendlylooking plush toys as well as Studio Ghibli anime jigsawposters on the wall, with scenes from the animated film My Neighbour Totoro.

MAY 3 - 9, 2013 • WEEKENDER • 07

YOUR INSPIRATION TO A WEEKEND FILLED WITH FUN AND HAPPINESS

FOO

For a pdf copy of Weekender visit: www.facebook.com/weekendersgp

Traditional afternoon tea at Mandarin Oriental

11 days of feasting comes to a close

D

The World Gourmet Summit has drawn to a close after 11 days with Michelin-starred masterchefs and artisans. We recap some events and anticipate next year’s edition Foie Gras Mousse, Chilled Lobster Tail & Chocolate Ganache with deZaan Gao by Chef Matthew Woolford & W Singapore

Chefs Jacob & Paco Torreblanca with Chef Janice Wong

Polenta Crummbed Foie Gras

5

Osia

Pamper mum with a gourmet meal at Osia where Chef Douglas Tay presents an innovative menu that showcases Western culinary techniques. All-time favourites include the Polenta Crumbed Foie Gras, tender Grainge Black Angus Beef Tenderloin served with Creamy Mushroom Risotto and Black Truffle Shallot Purée.

Osia’s signature Valrhona Hot Chocolate Soup served with Homemade Black Pepper Ice Cream and Sesame Crisp will put a smile on mom’s face. Several set menus are available for lunch and dinner on May 11 and 12 ($58-$95).

Osia, Festive Hotel, Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269, Tel: 6577 6560 The Boxing Crab

6

The Boxing Crab

Treat your mother to a meal of crabs in Sentosa. The Boxing Crab overlooks the seafront. Catch the sight of a beautifully-lit Cruise Liner that traverses the sea on Wednesday and Friday evenings.

Try the Braised Claypot Crab with Superior Broth and Pumpkin.

The crabs are doused in a pumpkin-based broth. The peppery taste complements the crabmeat well. They are also offering a one-for-one crab promotion for the month of May. The Boxing Crab, 80 Siloso Beach, Sentosa, Singapore 098969, Tel: 6274 7760

Axis Bar and Lounge Take your mother for a traditional afternoon tea at the Axis Bar and Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental. Mandarin Oriental’s Executive Pastry Chef Cassian Tan puts an interesting twist to classic delicacies, adding a feminine touch which is both visually appealing and refined for the palate. Available throughout May at $42 per person. W

7

Axis Bar and Lounge, Mandarin Oriental, Level 5, 5 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039797, Tel: 6885 3500

“Now's the time to show mom how much you really care for her, which you already should have been doing on a daily basis.”

From Apr 16 to 26, global heavyweights in gourmet and culinary excellence came together for the 17th World Gourmet Summit, an award-winning international gastronomic extravaganza.

Organised by A La Carte Productions (subsidiary of Peter Knipp Holdings Pte Ltd), this year’s theme was Artisan & The Art of Dining.

The grand extravaganza kicked off with a cocktail reception at the world’s largest aquarium, the SEA Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa.

Chefs Matt Moran (Australia), Paco and Jacob Torreblanca (Spain), Rodrigo de la Calle (Spain) and many more shared their inspiration behind their exclusive menus, known as Epicurean Delights.

Other international chefs and special guests at the World Gourmet Summit included Dario Cecchini (Italy), Wine Queen Julia Bertram (Germany) and table-setting expert Geoffrey Delhaye (Singapore), with representatives from over 11 hosting establishments and chefs, 13 venue hosts and 18 partner restaurants.

Some of the food on offer at L'Etoile

Set upon the junction of Owen Road and Dorset Road, L’Etoile Café opened around August 2011.

Yvonne says that she wanted to have L’Etoile Café in a shophouse, and she felt it would be nice for the café to be situated at the corner of a street. She also liked that this site is close to residences, and to the MRT. While we are able to continue to wax lyrical about the aesthetics and locale, one of the best things about L’Etoile Café is its fare.

The Smoked Duck Sandwich ($13.90) on focaccia has an interesting, somewhat ‘fusion’ flavour, and the taste of herbs and pepper is fairly compelling.

The Bagel with Cream Cheese & Smoked Salmon ($8.90) is excellent and tastes very, very good. It is fragrant and refreshing to the palate, and makes a good, hearty snack.

The Chicken Ballotine ($18.90) may well be the crème de la

L’Etoile Café, 160 Owen Road (near Farrer Park MRT), Singapore 218953, Tel: 6298 2872, letoile.com.sg

Other Highlights Some other highlights included Epicurean Delights Act 1 and 2, The World Gourmet Summit

Charity Dinner which raised $551,888, and the Beringer Experiential Wine Dinner by Masterchef Matt Moran, star of Masterchef Australia.

The event drew to a close with the Othello: Meet the Cast Exclusive Party, hosted by Chef Lino Sauro of Gattopardo.

For great

flights to

Australia

& Europe Page 11

A hidden gem

“You can find French-style paintings and Japanese posters, hand painted wall motifs, retro couches, antique clocks...” crème. It consists of a boneless chicken leg enveloping shitake mushrooms, roasted until its skin has a satisfying crisp. This is simply delicious and highlygratifying.

Speaking of which, the Mud Oozzz ($7.90) is a must-have, heavenly end to your meal.

This oven-baked dessert oozes warm chocolate goodness.

Paired with artisanal vanilla ice cream, it is a delight to the senses.

For those who love a good coffee – and it’s so rare in Singapore – L’Etoile Café’s Cappuccino ($4.50) was fragrant, frothy, and with a magnificent body and taste.

Tres bien! For kids, they have the adorable Babyccino, a small cup of warm milk topped with cocoa powder, which costs only $1.

“Children love this place.

Once, a little girl loved one of our soft toys so much, she asked for permission to bring it home. Later, she brought back two of her own to replace it,” says Yvonne.

Yvonne has been busy with her plans to open another cafe, in May, along Kallang Pudding Road. She says it will be the only air-conditioned coffee place in the area.

Like its namesake, L’Etoile Café is shining and constant.

It is even open daily, including on public holidays. Come, savour life here.

edible Fashion One of the highlights of the World Gourmet Summit was the Hearts on Fire Edible Fashion Show & Chocolate Dinner. In this tantalising event, Miss Singapore World contestants modelled chocolate-coated dresses adorned with edible couture chocolate designs.

The dresses were designed by Sadhwani Bhavana of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).

“This is a first in Singapore, a unique collaboration between world-renowned pastry chefs Paco & Jacob Torreblanca from Spain, home-grown talent Chef Janice Wong and W Singapore - Sentosa Cove’s Executive Chef, Matthew Woolford,” said Peter A Knipp, CEO of Peter Knipp Holdings Pte Ltd. Julie Barry, Marketing Director of Hearts On Fire, highlighted, “The culinary brilliance featured at the World Gourmet Summit 2013 is the perfect pairing for Hearts On Fire, The World’s Most Perfectly Cut Diamond.”

Jewel Café + Bar, newly-opened along Rangoon Road, serves up hearty nosh and excellent coffee

By Cheryl Chia Pan-Seared Watermelon Steaks

Jewel Cafe + Bar interior

Port & Blue Cheese

Miso Presa Iberico

“We were impressed by the OMG! Burger, a hefty beef patty piled high with bacon, luncheon meat, cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and sunnyside up egg.”

You might know artisanal coffee house Jewel Coffee located in the Central Business District. If you wish to have casual comfort food with your coffee, try their new outlet at Rangoon Road, Jewel Café + Bar. Owner Adrian Khong says, “We’ve been on the lookout for a suitable space for a second Jewel outlet that will accommodate a roasting facility, café and bar where our customers can relax and hang out with friends.”

“When we chanced upon this old shophouse, we were completely taken by its high ceilings and spaciousness, as well as the rich cultural heritage of this quaint neighbourhood,” he says.

The spacious Jewel Café + Bar serves up a mean bowl of French Onion Soup ($8) with a chewy layer of parmesan and gruyere, with a sweet caramelised broth beneath. The café's Shio-Koji Octopoke ($12), a Hawaiian fish salad with panseared octopus paired with avocado and shredded ginger flowers, is also a refreshing palate teaser.

We were impressed by the OMG! Burger ($20), a hefty beef patty piled high with bacon, luncheon meat, cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and sunny-side up egg.

The salty bacon and luncheon meat were lovely additions to the traditional American burger, completely meaty and chewy.

For those who love strong cheeses, the Port & Blue Cheese ($20) with chunks of Stilton with the beef patty, is the one for you. The side of French fries that comes with the burgers are addictively good.

Once you start, you’d find it hard to stop.

Apart from their array of burgers and

French Onion Soup

sandwiches, they also offer tender Miso Presa Iberico ($34) - tender Iberico pork marinated with miso and mirin, ovenbaked until medium doneness. This was one of the best pork chops we’ve ever tried.

Their Southern Fried Chicken ($18) has been soaked overnight with milk and spices for juicy succulence and then deep fried to a crisp for a thoroughly sinful meal.

Of course, their range of coffee is fantastic with single origin beans from different countries such as Brazil, Ethiopia and Sumatra. Using their tall, elegant Kyoto drippers that calibrate slow dripping of cold water through saturated coffee ground for more than 20 hours, their coffees such as the Portland ($7) or the San Francisco ($7), a black cold-drip coffee with half-and-half cream, makes for an excellent pick-me-up.

There is also a full bar and breakfast/ brunch menu. Happy hour is from 3pm to 7pm daily.

Jewel Café + Bar is located at 129 Rangoon Road, Singapore 218407. Tel: 6298 9216

H

08 • WEEKENDER • MAY 3 - 9, 2013

EALTH & BEAUTY Mother’s Day Hamper 2

Mother’s Day Hamper 4

YOUR INSPIRATION TO A WEEKEND FILLED WITH FUN AND HAPPINESS For a pdf copy of Weekender visit: www.facebook.com/weekendersgp

Beauty SNIPPETS The short and the long of the beauty industry for this week Crabtree & Evelyn

Known for their fresh and floral scented beauty products, Crabtree & Evelyn has launched a brand new Somerset Meadow range. A lovely scent that conjures imagery of the idyllic landscapes with the smell of bergamot, blackberry buds and ivy and fern, resulting in a clean and floral scent with an undertone of white musk. It comes in a perfume gel, eau de toilette as well as lotion, hand cream and shower gel.

Available at all Crabtree & Evelyn outlets.

Mother’s Day Hamper 1

Special health hampers for Mother’s Day Pamper your mother with MyLustre’s specially-wrapped hamper of popular health supplements filled with wholesome goodness A mother shoulders tremendous burdens and responsibilities, some of which men don’t have to bear. For this year’s Mother’s Day, show your gratitude and appreciation for your mother with a special hamper full of MyLustre health products to boost her physical wellbeing, with a handwritten message to honour her.

There are four attractive hampers to choose from.

Hamper 1 contains Women’s Plus, Collagen, AUN, Travel Pack Shampoo, Lift & White Soap, and Cocos Nucifera Oil Soap for just $150. The Hi-Grade Collagen is made from 100 per cent marine fish collagen to replenish the body’s collagen when it is depleted. Each tablet contains 500mg collagen, which gives one moist supple skin, healthy joints, stronger bones, healthier hair follicles and healthier and stronger nails.

If your mom has problems such as hair loss and dandruff, their intense hair care shampoo will tackle these at the root to restore her crowning glory. Lustre hair conditioner contains sunflower

seed extract, which is rich in polyphenols to protect against UVA damage (the shampoo does not have sunflower seed extract, just the conditioner), and nutrients such as Vitamin B for strong and healthy hair and scalp.

Alternatively, get her Hamper 2, which has Skin Pro, Collagen, AUN, Travel Pack Shampoo, Cocos Nucifera Oil Soap for $150. The soap bar contains virgin coconut oil, which helps with wrinkles and ageing, contains natural antioxidants to fight free radicals, and promotes skin rejuvenation.

The AUN cream contains apple stem cells, sodium hyaluronate and alpha arbutin to restore suppleness, elasticity and volume to the skin.

There are two other hampers you can consider getting for your mother. The $100 hamper contains Shampoo, Conditioner, Collagen, Lift & White Soap and Cocos Nucifera Oil Soap, while the $120 hamper contains Nopal Cactus Trio, Women’s Plus, Lift & White Soap and Cocos Nucifera Oil Soap.

What better way is there to celebrate your mother this

“The soap bar contains virgin coconut oil, which helps with wrinkles and ageing, and contains natural antioxidants to fight fREE radicals...”

Mother’s Day than with a hamper of products to enhance and restore her health and beauty?

Get one of these special hampers for your beloved mom today.

Become a fan of MyLustre on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ ilovelustre and find out more, or call 6275 4123. MyLustre sells direct to customers through their telesales centre via their hotline, and delivers free to customers’ doorsteps on the same day.

3

Yves Saint Laurent

2

Yves Saint Laurent has created a summer 2013 collection for nails: La Laque Couture Tie & Dye ($35 each), dressing up nails with twotone twin-sets and wild feline prints. With colour-coordinated base and top coat duos, inspired by the layered shading effect of Modern Art’s most brilliant pop trendsetters, you will be the epitome of style.

Comes in orange, pink, blue and purple. Available at the Yves Saint Laurent boutique at Ion Orchard and at Tangs Beauty Hall.

Kerastase

French hair-care brand Kérastase reaches a new frontier with its new line, Initialiste ($80) - a scalp and hair serum that creates stronger, shinier and more youthful hair. Based on native plant stem cells that act from the birth of the hair, the serum is enriched with its Regenerative Complex that protects the stem cells environment around the hair follicle to optimise the production of the hair biomaterial, thus reinforcing the quality of hair fibre at its source. Available in all Kérastase consultant salons.

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Laline For the Great Singapore Sale, Laline has put together care packages for both men and women. The Womanizer Mini Kit ($29.90) specifically for men contains, a facial cream, shaving cream, after shave balm and 2-in-1 hair and body gel. As the product tagline goes, “Only real men indulge themselves in the good life”. So, why not pamper yourself? Men need to take care of themselves too. Gone are the days of unkempt and careless men that do not bother about how they look.

Appearances give one confidence, so put your best face forward. Available at Laline outlets from May 13.

FASHION “All their products are brand new, and sold at a discounted price of up to a whopping 70 per cent off the boutique prices.”

Some of the Hermes and Chanel bags in the range

Bagging

A steal of a deal N With discounts of up to 70 per cent off branded handbags at NiMe Shop, you’ll be grabbing a steal of a deal

online Sales events are held in convention centres or hotels every month

It’s bags galore, from various brands

o outfit is complete without a gorgeous bag and matching shoes, which can burn a hole in your pocket if you usually go for luxury brands.

The well-established, Singaporebased online store NiMe Shop (www.nimeshop.com) is good news for the fashion-conscious who are cash-strapped, as it has been selling some of the world’s most popular luxury lifestyle products since 2010.

NiMe Shop guarantees 100 per cent authentic luxury products from brands such as Hermes, Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Burberry, Miu Miu, Coach, Kate Spade, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Fendi, Chloe, Loewe, Celine, Mulberry, Givenchy, YSL and more.

Be it handbags, wristlets, wallets, shoes, apparel or accessories catering to men, women and children, NiMe Shop has something suitable for you.

Huge discounts and authentic products All their products are brand new, and sold at a discounted price of up to a whopping 70 per cent off the boutique prices. You can shop in the comfort of your own home and enjoy this insider price at the same time, as well as have your purchases delivered right to your doorstep.

If there are niggling worries about fake products at the back of your mind, rest assured all the products are individually handpicked and imported from boutiques and high-end departmental stores from Europe and the USA. What’s more, there’s a Cash Back Policy for cases of non-authentic products sold, so you can shop without worry.

Shopping the traditional way, offline NiMe Shop understands that being able to touch and feel the product before purchase is especially important when it comes to luxury brands. To this end, it is one of the pioneers in organising sales events in Singapore to allow customers to do just that. Rest assured that the Prada you’ve ordered won’t be an imitation, or defective.

If you prefer the old school way of shopping, you can still enjoy the boutique experience without paying boutique prices.

There are also offline sales events held within convention centres or hotels every month, with new ranges and different products

showcased each time.

You no longer need to jostle with other women at the warehouse sales for luxury brands, and can shop at ease in the NiMe Shop Multi Brand Boutique at Bukit Batok, which is set up to provide customers the feeling of being in Paris or Milan even when they are in Singapore.

This is an attractive option for those who dislike online shopping, or dread the throng of the crowds at Orchard Road, to visit the various boutiques. Customers will be able to find all the brands housed under one roof without having to walk everywhere in town to check out every single brand, separately.

Tax-free shopping for tourists From top quality chic designer handbags to wallets and wristlets, NiMe Shop is truly too good to be true. While shopping with NiMe Shop during a sales event or in the Multi Brand Boutique, tourists leaving Singapore through Changi Airport can enjoy tax-free shopping. This is another pioneer initiative by NiMe Shop that provides additional savings for tourists.

No hidden costs As a company registered with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) for collection of GST, taxes are paid for all products imported and sold with GST in Singapore. The price you see is the price you pay, GST included.

NiMe Shop prides itself as an innovator by importing the latest season’s collection directly off the shelves in Europe and the USA, giving its customers an opportunity to own the latest collection at a fraction of cost.

Apart from that, NiMe Shop has one of the largest and most comprehensive ranges of products for customers to choose from.

With the cost savings made from getting your luxury bag from NiMe Shop, you can now splurge on your next pair of gorgeous designer shoes. That is, if it’s not available at NiMe Shop.

For more information on latest promotions and events, visit www.facebook.com/NiMeShop. luxurybag W The NiMe Shop Multi Brand Boutique is located at 21 Bukit Batok Crescent, WCEGA Tower, #02-70, Singapore 658065.

MAY 3 - 9, 2013 • WEEKENDER • 09

YOUR INSPIRATION TO A WEEKEND FILLED WITH FUN AND HAPPINESS For a pdf copy of Weekender visit: www.facebook.com/weekendersgp

HEALTH & BEAUT

Enhance your body’s

cellular energy

production

Y  CoQ10 30mg

Have you ever wondered about the mechanisms by which your body produces energy, and what your cells need? Find out what your body needs here

/50 tablets,

$33.90

 CoQ10 30mg

Y

our body needs many vitamins and minerals to support the everyday functioning of your cells, tissues, organs and systems, so that they can work together to supply nutrients to all your cells.

One of the things your body needs is CoEnzyme Q10, a vitamin-like substance which your cells use to produce energy for cell growth and maintenance.

A coenzyme is a substance that helps enzymes perform some body processes such as digesting food and protecting the heart and skeletal muscles.

What CoQ10 is CoEnzyme Q10, or CoQ10 for short, is a naturally occurring, fat-soluble antioxidant that plays a fundamental role in supporting cellular energy production. It is found throughout the body, but is present in larger quantities in tissues with high energy requirements such as in the heart and skeletal muscles.

As an antioxidant, it protects the body from damage caused by

harmful molecules.

CoQ10 and Mitochondria The body’s energy comes from mitochondria, which exist in every cell in the body, and are considered the cell’s “power house”, supplying energy to carry out all the processes of the cell.

Mitochondria produce and contain a substance called Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) – the major energy source of cells and driver of many biological processes – in its inner membrane, and CoQ10 is involved in this process. CoQ10 acts as an essential molecule carrier assisting in ATP production, helps stabilise the cell membrane, and therefore preserves cellular integrity and function.

CoQ10’s background and forms The “Q10” refers to the chemical make-up of the substance.

CoQ10 occurs within the body in two chemical forms – oxidised (ubiquinone) and reduced (ubiquinol). Most people can

utilise CoQ10 in its oxidised form, although it is possible that the bioavailability (the extent to which a substance is taken up by a specific tissue or organ after it is administered) and absorption may be greater with the ubiquinol.

CoQ10 sources There are three main sources of CoQ10. One of them is endogenous synthesis, which means that it is made in the body.

The other ways are through food intake and supplement intake.

CoQ10 is naturally present in meat, fish, vegetables and dairy products, and its levels are much higher in organ meats such as liver, and oily fish such as salmon and tuna.

Why take CoQ10 supplements?

As we age, our natural ability to produce CoQ10 declines, so making it part of our dietary intake or supplementation becomes even more important than before.

A deficiency of CoEnzyme

Q10 can affect muscle status, circulation, cardiovascular health, blood pressure, as well as the immune system.

Statin drugs deplete CoQ10 stores in the body and therefore supplementation with CoQ10 may help to replenish these stores.

CoQ10 is not intended to serve as a replacement for statin therapy, nor should you discontinue taking any prescribed medication while supplementing with CoQ10.

You should definitely consider buying CoQ10 from Holland & Barrett, as it is the UK’s leading supplier of vitamins, minerals and supplements, and they offer a range of natural health products of unparalleled high quality at the best value-for-money price.

CoQ10 30mg/50 tablets retails at $33.90 while the 30mg/100 tablets retails at $69.90. Each 30mg capsule contains 30mg of CoQ10, so you can be sure that you’re getting your money’s worth. It also comes in 120mg/30 capsules in a box at $99.90. The above-mentioned CoQ10 range of products are now retailing at two

for the price of one.

One’s health and general wellbeing is crucial, and Holland & Barrett is a brand you can trust, as it is a leading brand of health supplements and food.

Having been established for 92 years, since 1920, it is owned by the world’s largest nutritional supplements manufacturer NBTY. Head down to one of their 18 outlets such as at Raffles City Shopping Centre, #B2-13/14 or 313@Somerset, #B3-08 today. W

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“A deficiency of CoEnzyme Q10 can affect muscle status, circulation, cardiovascular health, blood pressure, as well as the immune system.”

T

10 • WEEKENDER • MAY 3 - 9, 2013

RAVELATION The famed Niagara Falls

Apart from New York, few know about the East Coast of the USA. Why not explore the American cities there, and scenic Canada?

East Coast USA & Canada extravaganza The East Coast of the United States of America (USA), also known as the Eastern Seaboard, has picturesque scenery along the Atlantic Coast and inland, as well as a deep history that is connected to the soul of the USA. Thirteen Colonies & the East Coast Twelve out of the original Thirteen Colonies of the United Kingdom in America that later became the original United States lay on this very coast.

From the rising shoots of a nation to huge modern cities today, the Eastern coast of the USA is filled with history, culture, passion and pride.

Make a trip to discover the rich treasures and traditions of the USA, and modern buildings and comforts in the “land of the free, and the home of the brave”.

Must-see sites in the USA Start off with Philadelphia, the “birthplace of America”, and visit the Independence Hall and see the momentous Liberty Bell. Travel on to Washington DC, one of the most famous capital cities in the world. There, visit great structures such as the White House and the Lincoln Memorial, whose giant statue of Abraham Lincoln has been made famous by many Hollywood movies.

Don’t miss out on the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, with fossils of many imposing dinosaurs, and the legendary Hope Diamond – the largest known blue diamond (45-52 carats) in the world. You can even go on Hershey’s Great

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The recently introduced Krups Automatic Espresso EA9000 is an ingenious fullyautomated espresso machine that produces barista-quality coffee Renowned German home appliances brand Krups is proud to introduce its latest brainchild, the Krups Automatic Espresso EA9000 – a fully-automated espresso machine that produces barista-quality coffee.

Manufactured in France, the EA9000 proudly features several innovative patented technologies; hence, it is little wonder that this revolutionary espresso machine has garnered numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious international Red Dot Design Award in 2012. Other awards and ratings garnered include Kitchen Innovation of the Year (2012), from Initiative LifeCare, and the TÜV (Technischer Überwachungs-Verein) certification for safety and durability.

All aspects of the stateof-the-art EA9000 are fullyautomated: from frothing milk to achieve that perfect layer of foam, to extracting a beautiful crema from freshly-ground coffee, and even automatic cleansing of the frothing nozzle after each use.

No doubt, the Krups Automatic Espresso EA9000 is the consummate all-in-one solution for coffee enthusiasts who wish to enjoy baristaquality espresso-based coffees from the comfort of their home or small office with just the touch of a button.

Groupe SEB's Managing Director for Southeast Asia, Mr Fabrice Dupont, says, "We are very excited to introduce this luxe automatic espresso machine for coffee connoisseurs who seek out the finer things in life and wish to enjoy a premium cup of coffee at home."

Available in a sleek and stylish, stainless steel finish, the EA9000 is available at major departmental stores, such as Takashimaya, Tangs, Harvey Norman, Courts and Best Denki, at the recommended retail price of $3,500.

Each purchase comes with a two-year VIP maintenance service worth $300, as well as a welcome gift package of two tins of Illy coffee beans and a pair of Krups designer coffee cups.

Furniture Design Awards celebrates 20th Anniversary This year’s Furniture Design Awards sees a 55 per cent increase in international entries, and the FDA celebrates its 20th Anniversary

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The Furniture design Awards (FDA), organised by the Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC), celebrated its 20th Anniversary and saw Piotr Saladra from Poland clinch the Grand Award. The FDA 2013 was part of SingaPlural 2013 – Celebrating Design.

Entries & Other Winners The winning entries emerged from a total of 343 submissions from 31 countries vying for the honours in the Designers and Students categories. Merit Award winners included Denny R. Priyatna from Indonesia, Paptpimon Onplui from Thailand, Wendy Kokasih, George Soo and Sim Miao Ling from Singapore.

This year’s FDA registered a 55 per cent increase in submissions from 2012.

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The Niagara Falls One of the natural wonders of the world, The Niagara Falls is a breath-taking experience. This natural splendour will have you in awe with panoramic views and thunderous waterfalls.

Moreover, you will get to ride on the Maid of the Mist to the base of the Horseshoe Falls. Catch the rainbow at the Falls before you depart this magical place.

Cool Canada Carry on with your adventure further up North in the cooler climes. Once a French enclave, and the sacred land of native Americans [Indians], Canada has the history and culture to rival that of its Southern neighbours.

Cities you can visit include Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, and Ottawa, the capital of Canada.

15 Days USA East Coast + Canada EU Holidays has a comprehensive 15 Days USA East Coast + Canada package. The highlights of this exploration and enculturation tour include a one-day Washington DC City tour and a two-day New York City tour.

Washington DC, capital of the USA

Explore all the famous sites, including those in the movies.

To sweeten the package, there are various free upgrades including a Hilton Niagara Falls View Room, the Top of the Rock Observation Deck in New York, and a free up-close encounter of the Niagara Falls right on the lake. This package is going from $3,288 for the first person and at a discounted rate of $2,488 for the second, if you book together.

There are Fall Foliage Departures on Sep 26, 27 and 28, and Oct 3, 4 and 5. In Autumn, the maple trees are beautiful.

EU Holidays specialises in packages to Europe and the USA, and has won the 2013 Singapore excellence Award, Best Europe Tours Travel Agency 2013 and the Asia Excellence Award 2013.

EU Holidays, Tel: 6535 8535, contact@euholidays.com.sg

TECH

Fully-automated machine gives barista-quality coffee

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American Chocolate Tour Ride and fill up on delicious goodness.

Massachusetts and New York are other great cities to visit. Take a photo in the famous Times Square, or at the United Nations headquarters. You can even shop at Fifth Avenue. Must-sees include the Empire State Building, featured in films such as King Kong and the recent Oblivion, and the iconic Statue of Liberty, symbol of hope for all.

1. The Student Category Finalists and their works 2. The Artichoke by Poitr Saladra 3. The Hive by Poitr Saladra won the Grand Award

Environmentally-friendly The “CO-EXIST” theme this year challenged the designers to contemplate global issues affecting the living environment.

The result was a range of furniture designs that are not only aesthetically captivating, but

also reflect their thoughts on environmental sustainability.

ESTEEMED JURY An independent Jury Panel comprising highly-regarded local and international furniture and design professionals included: Chairman of DesignS, Tai Lee Siang; Hans Tan from Hans Tan studio; Hunn Wai from Italian-Singapore design studio Lanzavecchia+Wai; Selwyn Low from FARM, Esther Tay from Esta; and, Yang Tah Ching from Studiorigins. International jury members included renowned Dutch designer Ineke Hans and UK’s leading furniture designer, Luke Hughes.

The FDA 20th Anniversary Special Showcase features past winners from 2004 to 2011, and their latest original works.

The Furniture Design Awards was part of SingaPlural 2013: Celebrating Designs. If you missed it, check out www.singaplural.com For more on FDA 2013, visit www.furnituredesigndna.com

Tech Bytes These bits and bytes will make you the most tech savvy Spotify

Spotify is a popular music streaming service, launched on Apr 16 in Singapore. Music fans can enjoy free, on-demand, legal access to over 20 million tracks without buying or downloading. For easy listening on computers, mobile phones, tablets and home entertainment system, simply search for artists, albums and tracks.

Spotify was launched in Sweden in 2008 and has now over 24 million users and six million subscribers. For more information or to sign up for Spotify, visit its website. www.spotify.com

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Sony Heart Thumps

Combining deep, powerful bass with hip new colours and super sleek metallic designs, Sony has expanded its Extra Bass headphone series with the MDRXB920 ($199) and MDR-XB610 ($129), providing club music lovers a whole new look that brings the party right to their ears.

The MDR-XB920 makes a bold sonic statement with huge 50mm driver units and highenergy neodymium magnets for a dynamic frequency that faithfully reproduces every note, from the deepest bass to highest treble. The MDR-XB920 is also available in either silver with black or silver with red.

The MDR-XB610 delivers a punchy bass and superb sound with a pair of 40mm driver units and is available in silver with white and silver with orange.

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LINE PLUS APP

Line Plus, the world’s leading mobile messenger service provider, had announced in early April about its official launch of the Line app, and had declared its full commitment to the Singaporean market.

This is good news for us. The Line app offers free messaging, calling and group chatting, while simultaneously integrating various innovative features, such as Sticker Shop, Home & Timeline, Official Accounts, as well as multiple family brands.

Line is available on Nokia’s Asha smartphones, for its users, as well as on Black Berry, Window Phone, iPhone and Android.

YOUR INSPIRATION TO A WEEKEND FILLED WITH FUN AND HAPPINESS For a pdf copy of Weekender visit: www.facebook.com/weekendersgp

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n the historic yet vibrant port city of Tianjin, Banyan Tree Tianjin Riverside sets a significant milestone as Banyan Tree’s first luxury hotel in Northern China and the Group’s tenth property in the country.

Building on the group’s unique urban resort concept, the property combines luxurious resort amenities and experiences with metropolitan living.

Urban oasis with historical & cultural heritage Banyan Tree Tianjin Riverside, located on the East bank of the Hai River and overlooking the cityscape, provides easy access to Tianjin’s historical and cultural sites. Staying true to the values of rejuvenation and modern Asian hospitality, the urban resort inspires guests with a new perspective of the vibrant portside metropolis.

Tianjin, which means “the place where the Emperor crossed the river,” allows travellers to journey back in time by following the footsteps of influential Chinese intellectuals and revolutionary figures who contributed to the city’s unique heritage.

Located in the former Austrian concession district, the resort is also adjacent to the Italian part of the city, a picturesque region of European-style villas, historic bridges, and churches. You can enjoy leisurely strolls along the vibrant thoroughfares and the waterfront, such as the Hai River Promenade and Italian Street.

The Mazu Temples built in the Yuan Dynasty also add a sense of awe and wonder to your journey.

Cosmopolitan elegance meets historical splendour Banyan Tree Tianjin Riverside blends local history and culture into its interior design. The 159 elegant rooms draw inspiration from the muted tones and refined aesthetic of traditional Chinese ink paintings, and embody the intrinsic charms of the Orient.

Each guest room is designed to be a tranquil haven for rest and relaxation, artfully crafted with richly-textured materials and tastefully accentuated with intricate furnishing and finishes, including a sizable “Relaxation Tub” to enjoy a delightful soak.

There are a variety of room types available, including the

Most rooms have a view of the Hai River

Banyan Tree

TIANJIN Riverside opens The Banyan Tree Group, known for its quality resorts in exotic locales, opens its first luxury hotel in Northern China The Banyan Tree Spa

Deluxe Riverside Retreat, Premier Riverside Retreat, and Banyan Tree Suite, most of which feature large French windows overlooking the river.

Award-winning spa and restaurants Banyan Tree Tianjin Riverside is styled as a tropical garden retreat and is the first hotel of the group to present the renowned Banyan Tree Spa in Northern China. The 1,000 sq ft spa includes three Double Royal Rooms with double rain mist facilities, one Double Deluxe Room, five Single Deluxe Rooms, one Facial Room, a Beauty Salon with two Foot Massage Rooms and a Relaxation Area.

Wellness facilities comprise the gymnasium, hot and warm dip pools and a 25m swimming pool.

The Premier Riverside Retreat Room

Opening Promotional Offer From now through Jun 30, Banyan Tree Tianjin Riverside will have a special Opening Celebration Offer. Guests booking a Premier Riverside Retreat can pamper themselves with a 90-minute a la carte massage in the Banyan Tree Spa for every night booked with the “Romantic Escapade” package.

The best available rates for a Deluxe Riverside Retreat inclusive of breakfast for two start from RMB 1,100 with 15 per cent service charge.

Banyan Tree Tianjin Riverside is less than 30 minutes from the city’s railway stations and airport. W For reservations, E-mail tianjinriverside@banyantree.com

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YOUR INSPIRATION TO A WEEKEND FILLED with FUN AND HAPPINESS For a pdf copy of Weekender visit: www.facebook.com/weekendersgp

Can eye help you?

Experience how a visually-impaired person goes through a day, with Dialogue in the Dark

By Cleon Ong Have you ever wondered how different things would be if you lost your sight? Indeed, it is a terrifying thought that many of us dare not imagine.

Living in complete darkness, we would have to find new ways of doing things and even to think about how we would have to live our lives without our sight to aid us. This is a scary thought indeed.

Yet, the visually-impaired greet the darkness each day like an old friend; some from birth, others as they grow older. Nevertheless, all of them share one thing in common: the only way they see is from their heart.

Dialogue in the Dark (DiD) allows us to walk in the shoes of a visually-impaired person. With a mission to raise awareness and to create tolerance for them, DiD wishes to overcome the barrier between “us” and “them”.

DiD offers visitors a simple hour-long tour, consisting of a

walk around their exhibition, a break at a café where you will be able to purchase some snacks, and even a short boat ride. Here’s the catch, the tour will be conducted in complete darkness!

You will realise that what we think of as simple daily tasks, such as moving about or going to buy food, pose an extraordinary challenge without the sense of sight. This experience can bring about great realisation.

With the aid of a cane, visitors will be led around by a visuallyimpaired guide. When you start, the guide will lead you into a world with which they are familiar with, and which seems like a different dimension altogether to people with sight. This enables visitors to experience what it is like

“all of them share one thing in common: the only way they see is from their heart.”

to live with the impairment, and to experience how to deal with it in particular situations, albeit temporarily.

The guides will be the guiding lights, and lead visitors around and aid them in their difficulty. As such, the guides need to pay close attention to the needs of visitors.

Though the movement and the activities which you will go through during the tour are challenging due to the lack of sight, the guides are used to it and experienced in dealing with such situations. While conducting the tour, the guides are constantly faced with the challenge of eliminating the visitors’ fear of complete darkness, as well as with providing repeated assurance to the visitors.

To the guides, it will always be a brand new experience regardless of the number of tours they have given before. From mingling with new visitors who have all sorts of different views and perceptions about the visually-impaired community to the different reactions towards the total darkness they are about to experience, each tour will no doubt be another learning experience for the guides.

Nonetheless, at the end of the day, what these guides hope for the visitors to take home is not sympathy, but empathy towards the visuallyimpaired community. This is a noble yet rare sentiment in our contemporary society.

Having experienced the tour myself, I found that it was indeed an eye-opening experience. You don’t know what to expect, as anything can happen in that dark room. You won’t know what is around you until it literally hits you.

Yet, from the short one-hour tour, there is much to learn. Words cannot express the surge of feelings and emotions one experiences while on the tour. It must be experienced first-hand.

Though blind, these guides see the world in all of its beauty and have a great vision for themselves and the visually-impaired community. Yet, while we can see everything, have we ever looked closely at anything?

“The only thing worse than being blind, is having sight but no vision.” – Helen Keller DiD is a social franchise system from Dialogue Social Enterprise. Other than in Singapore, there are a few other DiDs around the world. Under Dialogue Social Enterprise, there are two other franchise systems: Dialogue With Time (regarding the elderly) and Dialogue in Silence (regarding the hearing-impaired).

Dialogue in the Dark (Singapore) is open from Monday to Friday (except public holidays), 9am to 6pm, (last tour starts at 5pm). Saturday tours are subject to availability. Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Block 5, #01-03, Singapore 599489, Tel: 6460 6222

Weekender is published by Weekender Group Pte Ltd, 80 Playfair Road, #02-03, Blk A, Singapore 367998. Printed by KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd, 57 Loyang Drive, Singapore 508968.