weekender.com.sg
FREE
PAPER
ISSUE 121 mar 6 - mar 12, 2015
found!
Are you
WEEKENDER’s new FOOD photojournalist?
PAGE
11
movie review
Lang TONG: not enough or too much?
PAGE
07
t r av e l F eatu r e
The real Inner Mongolia:
not as ulu as you might think
Food Feature
count the cost of your new year snacking
PAGE
18
PAGE
09
25 MAGNERS ST PATRICK’S PARTY KITS WORTH $150 EACH
TO BE WON!
Arsenal, man u & LIVERPOOL SEEK CUP GLORY
PAGE
10
PAGE
05
WK121A/MCI(P)119/08/2014
MARCH 6 - 12, 2015
W
Entertainment
All ‘Bout beauties, BEasts, ballet & balladeers Chris Botti
1
new! free! NATAS Travel Fair
6-8 Mar, 10am-9.30pm NATAS is back better than ever this time, it’s opening its doors without charge! Discover the best holiday deals for your mid-year getaway; be it an adventure, an exotic retreat or a romantic escapade. Take your pick from the vast selection of choices from the best in travel, all in one big fair. And don’t forget the cash and attractive prizes to be won at the grand draw! Singapore Expo, Halls 8 & 9, 1 Expo Drive
2
Air Supply 40th Anniversary Tour
7 Mar, 8pm, $78-$168 With their music being described as pop rock to adult contemporary and everything in between, the legendary duo Air Supply has mastered the art of bringing musical entertainment live to their fans. It will be a special show, being their 40th Anniversary Tour. The Star Theatre, www.sistic.com.sg
3
new! Free! One Team Singapore @ Orchard Rd
7 Mar, 6pm-8.30pm With only three months to go to the 28th SEA Games, take a walk down Orchard Road dressed in red to be part of One Team Singapore!. Enjoy performances by local musicians and get up close and personal with Team Singapore athletes. Orchard Rd
4
Photo: Slavko Sereda / Shutterstock.com
Sing Jazz Festival
5-8 Mar, 3pm - 11.30pm It’s a big party spanning three days with a host of international artistes coming to town for the Singapore Jazz Festival. With great acts like Chris Botti, Charlie Lim, Yuna, and pop star Jessie J, this year’s Sing Jazz Festival will be a celebration to remember! Tickets available at Marina Bay Sands and Sistic. Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue
music Weekender is bringing back our popular Hello, World! photo column for babies! Immortalise your precious baby in print by getting his or her photo published! What better way is there to celebrate your newborn or toddler than to show off your baby to the rest of the world?
show off your precious newborn or toddler
Our Xinyao Concert 8 Mar, 7pm, $38-$98 Featuring prominent Xin Yao singers of different eras from past to present including Ken Chang, Roy Loi, Pan Yin, Jiu Jian, Calvin Soh, Jim Lim, Joe Tsoi and Tang Wei En. Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre Lvl 6, www.sistic.com.sg
Simply E-mail your cutest or sweetest photo of your baby to:
general@weekender.com.sg with your Baby’s Name, Date of Birth, Your Name, Tel No., NRIC & Postal Code Incubus “Live” in Singapore
Submit your BaBy’S BEST Photo and get a chance to be published!
9 Mar, 7.30pm-11pm, $108 Having sold over 13 million albums worldwide, Incubus’ extraordinary career has spanned over two decades with hits like “Megalomanic” and “Drive”. Don’t miss their first show in Singapore since 2008. The Coliseum, Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, incubus.peatix.com
W
For more interesting weekend ideas and entertainment stories, like & follow us at www.facebook.com/weekendersgp
One Direction: On the road again tour 2015 11 Mar, 8pm, $88-$388 In just over three years, One Direction has notched up an incredible 36 million sales worldwide. Experience the band performing all their hits live for the very first time in Singapore. National Stadium, www.sportshub.com.sg
PAGE 3
weekender.com.sg a chance to win fun-tastic prizes in the Lucky Draw. Suntec Convention Halls 401 & 402, www.kidsfiesta.sg
Saddle Up at City Square Mall Bobby McFerrin
Photo: haak78 / Shutterstock.com
13 Mar - 12 Apr Celebrate the March School Holidays with ponies galore and a plethora of fun-filled activities for the family! Iconic characters from My Little Pony take to the stage to perform and entertain the entire family. Catch familiar characters like Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash in exciting song-and-dance action live on stage. City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road, www.citysquaremall.com.sg
exhibition Free! Tokyo Cinderella Dolls
Photo: Nicolethen Studio
Jessie J
5 Yuna
Sleeping Beauty
12-15 Mar, various timings, $30-$70 Set to a rich score by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, this latest staging by artistic director Janek Schergen features choreography by Marius Petipa, and more than 150 stunning costumes designed by Tracy Grant Lord. This full-length classical ballet is the perfect treat for all ages! Esplanade Theatre, www.singaporedancetheatre.com
Until 8 Mar, various times Japanese photographer Karin Shikata makes her Southeast Asian debut in this exhibition of 15 whimsical images that tell the story of two dolls who wished to be real girls. The dolls explore the city, experiencing the everyday lives of Japanese youths, eating street food, taking a selfie and riding the train. SPRMRKT, 2 McCallum St, www.sprmkrt.com.sg
Festive
8 Mar, 3pm Join kidsphilharmonic@sg in an orchestral fantasy of much loved tunes such as Camille Saint-Saëns’ The Carnival of the Animals, George Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suite and Symphonic Dances from the musical Fiddler on the Roof. Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Drive, www.esplanade.com.sg
including Avicii, The Prodigy, Afrojack, Fatboy Slim, Public Enemy and more. Changi Exhibition Centre, 9 Aviation Park Rd, www.futuremusicfestival.asia
family
new! free! sg50 concert series in the park
Future Music Festival Asia 2015 13-14 Mar, 4pm, $178, $228(two-day pass) Purveyors of live music, the region’s largest music festival will be taking place in Singapore this year. The festival is set to feature its biggest line up to date
14 Mar, 4pm-10pm In celebration of Singapore’s 50th birthday, this is the first in a series of free outdoor concerts to be held. Enjoy performances by Kit Chan, Olivia Ong, Sebastian Tan and more. Look out for exciting fringe activities like retro food and game stalls too! Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Grand Lawns I & II
Aesop’s Fables Until 21 Mar, 10am & 2.30pm (Tue-Fri), 10.30am, 2.30pm & 5pm (Sat-Sun), $30-$32 A show and tell of a selection of Aesop’s most famous, and most interesting stories, using marvellous mask, puppetry, live action and song. With a mixture of fun, excitement and silliness, be lead through the lives, lunches and misadventures of a band of scruffy, silly and sometimes stubborn creatures, as they learn life’s little wisdoms, and bigger secrets. Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel, www.sistic.com.sg
Kids Fiesta 2015: FUNTASY Adventure 13-15 Mar, 11am-9pm, $20 Grab a FUNTASY Passport and go on an adventure to the Laser Maze Island where you compete between your parents and friends! The Orbitor Island is also not to be missed! Plan your trip wisely to enjoy all islands. Stand
featured creative event FREE! 60 Intriguing Installations at SingaPlural 2015 10-15 Mar, 11am-10pm SingaPlural is a design event that celebrates and showcases the best design elements from the creative spectrum, from advertising, architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture to interior, furniture, graphic and fashion design. Organised by Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC) and hosted with eight other network partners of DesignS, SingaPlural returns for its 4th edition and is the anchor event of Singapore Design Week. Themed “Process”, SingaPlural 2015 is planned around the six pillars of Project X, Design Installations, Talks + Symposiums, Tours, Recognition and Partnering Events (Retail and F&B Partners). With various collaborations and 60 installations by designers, makers, manufacturers, builders and design schools, one can expect a variety of diverse installations – some of these present the significance of this year’s SG 50 celebration, which build on our national identity and love for Singapore. From the memorable places close to our hearts to visual showcases reflecting the creative play of national identity, be treated to experiential and interactive installations. 99 Beach Road, www.singaplural.com
others
theatre
free! Chong Pang Public Forum on Animal Protection Policies
Magners St Patrick’s Day Party
free! Beautiful Sunday: Carnival
Royal Stinker by Salad Landscape
15 Mar Magners, the Original Irish Cider, will be celebrating the St Patrick’s Day Festival at Boat Quay from Mar 13 to 15, and invites you to join in the fun and revelry! You can partake in Magners, the Original Cider, St Patrick’s Day Party celebrations at Boomarang at Boat Quay, on Mar 15. Magners will also be giving away a set of Magners St Patrick’s Party Kit inclusive of merchandise from its food and beverage partners Harry’s, Fern & Kiwi, soon to open McGettigan’s Singapore, and lifestyle partner, Quiksilver. See Pg 10 for the Weekender Giveaway details. Boomarang, Boat Quay
7 Mar, 12.30pm-2.30pm Have your say and give animals a voice! This is an opportunity to have your say about issues that matter to you, to give your feedback and suggestions, and pose your questions related to animal protection. There will be a public forum with Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Law and MP for Nee Soon GRC (Chong Pang) and Mr Louis Ng, Chief Executive of ACRES. Please RSVP to www.facebook.com/ events/821110444612440/. Chong Pang CC Hall, 21 Yishun Ring Road
new! Strut your bump 8 Mar, 9am-1pm, $20 (single), $25 (couple) Be part of Singapore’s largest workout for expectant parents to support an active and healthy pregnancy. Pick up simple fitness moves that are beneficial to you and your growing baby and make new friends with fellow mums-to-be! Husbands are encouraged to join in the fun and interactive workout session. Asia Square, The Cube, www.supermom.com.sg
Photo: Eduardo Rivero / Shutterstock.com
Beauty and the Beast 21 Mar - 12 Apr, various timings, from $65 From the original creators of the Broadway production with music by Alan Menken, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast tells the story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed into to his former self. Grand Theatre, MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands, www.sistic.com.sg
sports Runninghour 2015 22 Mar, 7am, from $45 Run in complete darkness and without your sense of sight! Runninghour is a national event where participants will run alongside over 200 visually, intellectually and physically challenged runners. Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade, Event Square, www.runninghour2015.com
MARCH 6 - 12, 2015
W
Entertainment
Feat u r e d e ven t
Irish Flavours During the Festivities
St Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival by the Singapore River
The following are some of the highlights. Even the French bistro, O Comptoir, on the corner of Circular Road, will join in the fun with its stylish crepe emblazoned with a green sugar three-leaf clover. This St Patrick Crepe is $6. 79 Circular Road, Tel: 6534 7645
St Patrick’s Day has evolved from a religious holiday to into a big celebration of dance, drink and food – join in and party the Irish way! It’s odd how St Patrick’s Day, a holiday which represents the Irish and their culture, honours a man who wasn’t Irish at all! St Patrick was from Roman Britain – the areas of Britain ruled by the Roman Empire. Through a series of life-changing events, Patrick’s grand destiny was to convert the pagan Celts to Christianity in the 5th Century. For his efforts in banishing paganism from Ireland, Patrick was accorded sainthood after his death and Mar 17 (his supposed date of death) honours him.
Where Did the Snakes Go? One of the legends of St Patrick credits the Saint with driving snakes from Ireland. However, experts say Ireland never had snakes. The myth is symbolic for banishing paganism from Ireland.
The Clover Isn’t Just for Decoration The green three-leaf clover motif, commonly used as decoration on St Patrick’s Day, was used by the Saint himself. St Patrick used the three leaves of the clover to represent the
Top: Partake in the fanfare, food and festivities of St Patrick’s Day Left: St Patrick’s Day commemorates the saint who converted Ireland to Christianity – today, it is celebrated around the world as a day of eating, drinking and making merry
three persons of the Holy Trinity in one god – God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Not-So-Lucky Leprechauns Leprechauns also frequently feature in St Patrick’s Day celebrations. These little greenclad men of folklore have nothing to do with the Saint, though they remain symbolic of Ireland’s mythological (or pagan) past. Weren’t they supposed to be banished?
Join the Parade Traditionally, St Patrick’s Day was a minor religious feast day [read: sober] ending with a big meal. With a bit of American influence, the holiday has been super-sized.
Today, it has become a festival for celebrating Irish dance, music, beer drinking, and wearing gaudy green clothes. Many around the world celebrate St Patrick’s Day, even in Singapore. For a decade, Boat Quay has been the venue for Singapore’s St Patrick’s Day Street Festival honouring the patron saint of Ireland! This year, the parade will begin in front of The Arts House and end at the UOB Plaza on Sunday, Mar 15. Parade participants include the Singapore Pipe Band Association, The Irish Chamber of Commerce, Down’s Syndrome Association, St Patrick’s Society, The Irish Graduates Association, Gaelic Dragons Dragon Boat Team, USA Girl Scouts Overseas (Singapore) and the SJI International School & Samba Band.
St Patrick’s Day Festivities Join the festivities along Boat Quay from Mar 13 to 15 and enjoy Irish music, cultural performances, food and various fringe activities for the whole family. And don’t miss the numerous pubs and restaurants participating with promotions on Irishthemed food and drink in the Boat Quay area. With music, dancing, and beer flowing, it will be fun to be Irish for a day! By Frank Young St Patrick’s Day Street Festival 2015 – 13-15 Mar, Circular Road & Boat Quay area St Patrick’s Day Parade 2015 – 15 Mar, 3.30pm, Raffles Landing Site
Congratulations to the winners!
Editorial Director Frank Young
frank@weekender.com.sg
hungry heroes vouchers giveaway
carlton hotel tuxedo cafe giveaway
Goh Jia Qing Lam Ngiuk Chin Lim Teck Huat Kua Boon Chye Chia Wee Siang James
June Wee Sim Guan Thye Mak Khye Wing Henry Kwok Felicia Tan
SXXXX020G SXXXX191I SXXXX278J SXXXX565H SXXXX993C
SXXXX999G SXXXX328H SXXXX923D SXXXX026H SXXXX064D
Sales Director David Phey Head of Sales Karin Ng
Editor Lester J Wan
karin@weekender.sg
Art Director Sabrina Cao
Team Leads Erwin Lim
Designer Zoe Lai Writers Pamela Chow
erwin@weekender.sg
Team Members Syarila Zainal Anabel Ang
Down the road, at Hero’s Bar, indulge yourself and friends at one of its tables that comes with two fully-functional draught beer taps! Book early in order to get these limited tables. They will also be serving The Paddy’s, a sandwich made from thinly-sliced corned beef with Irish Cheddar and a side of fries ($12). Who knew that a brined and boiled beef brisket, or “corned beef”, was an Irish dish? 69 Circular Road, Tel: 6438 6058 Molly Malone’s will be serving its famed Guinness stoutbattered Fish and Chips for $10. Add a glass of Guinness for $7 more. Or, try the Mussel Fritters served with lime mayo and paired with Jameson’s Irish Whisky for $17. 56 Circular Road, Tel: 6536 2029 With a view of the Singapore River along Boat Quay, have a pint of Red Dot Brewhouse’s signature Monster Green Lager. It’s a strangely-beautiful beer brewed naturally from green spirulina to give it its iridescent green colour. A pint of this together with the Spring Irish Lamb Stew is $38++. 33/34 Boat Quay, Tel: 6535 4500
Advisor James Yip Distribution Lawrence Tan Coordinator Riki Zou Events Chris Chow
chris@weekender.sg
Contributors Igert le Roux Victoria Shareen Wong Basil Lee
WEEKENDER
www.facebook.com/weekendersgp www.weekender.com.sg
Weekender Group Pte Ltd 71 Ubi Road 1, #06-37, Oxley BizHub 1, S408732, Tel: +65 6493 2001 E-mail: general@weekender.com.sg CRN# 201212438E MCI (P) 119/08/2014 GETTING HARD COPIES:
Weekender is delivered to hundreds of thousands of homes island-wide. You can also find copies (while supplies last) at: Over 200 selected 7-Eleven locations island-wide
For actual locations, visit our website
NEW EXPANDED MRT AREAS:
Every Friday morning peak period. Subject to weather and traffic conditions.
Don’t miss out on more great giveaway prizes & exclusive lifestyle experiences. Like & follow us at www.facebook.com/weekendersgp
Winners will be contacted directly on the collection. Look out for more Weekender giveaways in upcoming issues.
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. Information accurate at time of writing.
• Raffles Place • Chinatown • Dhoby Ghaut • City Hall • Labrador • Downtown • Orchard • Yishun • Somerset • Newton • Bugis • Clementi • Woodlands • Admiralty • Sembawang • Marina Bay • Yio Chu Kang• Khatib • Ang Mo Kio • Bishan • Toa Payoh • Redhill • Bukit Gombak • Choa Chu Kang • Tampines • Tanjong Pagar • Buona Vista • Lavender • Queenstown • Serangoon • Boon Lay • Jurong East • Tiong Bahru
PAGE 5
weekender.com.sg
Footba ll F ever
Arsenal, Man U & Liverpool seek to rekindle FA Cup romance We’re now at the quarter-finals of the English FA Cup and the big guns of the Premier League look to fire their way to cup glory While there are a number of lesser teams who’ve managed to reach the quarter-finals of the English FA Cup, the three Premier League giants – Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool – seem the stronger contenders by far. The rest of the opposition appear significantly weaker, while these three stalwarts are in fighting form in the top portion of the Premier League table. Which of these phoenixes will rise from their ashes and reclaim past glory?
Bradford City Vs Reading (SAT, 7 Mar, 8.45pm) Hmm. Bradford City is loitering around mid-table in the English League 1 (3rd tier) while Reading is hovering just above the relegation zone of the League Championship (2nd tier). Aside from being literally a league apart, Reading has the advantage of better players in its squad, including former Russian international Pavel Pogrebnyak and Australian international goalkeeper Adam Federici. The FA Cup regularly surprises, so no result is certain until the final whistle. Still, one can’t help but feel that Reading will finally better its quarterfinal showing of 2010 and 2011, in spite of its current league and position. Prediction: Bradford 0-2 Reading
The Demon Chef is known for his intimidating demeanour yet invaluable culinary insight on MasterChef Canada
ASTON Villa vs west bromwich albion (SUN, 8 MAR, 1.30am) With Aston Villa entrenched in the Premier League relegation zone and West Bromwich Albion flirting with danger, this is potentially the least interesting match to watch. Do you think it would be worth it? Get some rest and catch the other matches. Prediction: Aston Villa 0-0 West Brom, replay
Liverpool vs Blackburn Rovers (Mon, 9 Mar, 12am) Those old enough will remember Blackburn being one of the top clubs in the Premier League, and winning the 1995 Premier League title after edging out Manchester United. Gone are the glory days for Blackburn, and it doesn’t bode well that it’s now in mid-table in the League Championship. Liverpool has won the Cup seven times and looks good to at least secure a semi-final berth, even if it is unlikely that Liverpool will win the competition. Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn
Manchester united vs Arsenal (TUE, 10 Mar, 3.45am) Both sets of players must have groaned when this draw was read out. Both teams are currently fighting for 3rd place in the Premier League, and automatic qualification for the UEFA Champions League next season. Despite all its troubles and inconsistency, Arsenal is now doing well. The Gunners are also defending their Cup, which they won last season. While Manchester United’s romance with the FA Cup seemed to have sputtered out since its last win in 2004 (a good 11 years), it has won the FA Cup the same number of times as Arsenal, a joint-record 11 times. The question is, which lucky XI will claim this quarterfinal clash and likely go on to take the Cup? The 1990 FA Cup win for United sparked the beginning of a glorious trophy-laden age for the Red Devils under Alex Ferguson. Will the 2015 FA Cup rekindle United’s romance with the Cup and finally fan the fire of a new age under Louis van Gaal? This clash of the former titans is set to be the match of the season. Prediction: Manchester Utd 1-0 Arsenal
By Lester J Wan
Seasoned Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney scored the two goals against Sunderland. Can he fire United into the semi-finals and to cup glory?
weekender exclus i v e
The Demon Chef reveals devilish secrets Whether you know the Demon Chef Alvin Leung from MasterChef Canada or his Michelinstarred restaurants in Hong Kong and the UK, you’re about to find out more juicy bites Many people know celebrity chef Alvin Leung as the “Demon Chef”, one of the judges of the MasterChef Canada series. You might have also heard of or tried his unique “X-treme Chinese” cuisine in his Michelin-starred restaurants Bo Innovation, in Hong Kong, and Bo London. Now, in an exclusive interview with Weekender, the Demon Chef reveals some devilish secrets about himself, his cooking, as well as upcoming plans.
In your TV shows, such as “The Maverick Chef”, you’ve had a few guests on the show. Who has been your favourite guest so far? I don’t like to choose favourites but I must say I had a lot of fun with Bernice Liu, who not only is a great foodie but a wine connoisseur as well. I also enjoyed the episode with Singapore’s Joanne Peh. She was exceptionally professional. I learned a lot from her.
You’re famous for your “X-Treme Chinese” cuisine. What led you in this direction? “X-treme” is a way of saying I want to create exciting experiences, to push Chinese food into a different paradigm, make it more exhilarating and expansive, then set it in an elegant and refined environment. I don’t want to be limited. I want the whole palette from Sichuan to Cantonese. From hot, sweet, spicy, savoury, bitter to sour, it’s such a large library of flavours to play with.
What’s your next X-Treme food idea that you’re going to try? Since I’ve been working on refining the concept of Chinese fine dining, lately I feel I should go YinYang on my followers and go into the opposite direction. I want to now reinvent Chinese street food, which I have started experimenting with.
What made you decide to partner Nespresso to create recipes for Chinese New Year? I am quite a coffee connoisseur... Actually, addict is more like it. I do drink over eight cups a day, so I decided to take up this project because it’s right up my alley. I do enjoy the flexibility of Nespresso coffees. The individual cartridge system allows me to experience different blends, depending on the time of the day or my mood.
Singapore is such a sophisticated foodie destination. With its diverse cultures of Chinese, Malay and Indian and excellent food offered from hawker stalls to the very best in fine dining, the standard of cuisine is very high, so I would love to take up the challenge even in this ultra-competitive city. do not have a long tradition of drinking coffee because they are not used to its bitterness. I utilise that essence of bitterness to resemble some of the herbal medicinal aromatics in dishes like Bak Kut Teh.
What is your favourite Chinese dish? Is that your comfort food? Being a Cantonese Hongkonger, by far my ultimate comfort food is hot soup and congee. It’s warm, tasty and simple. It takes me back to my childhood, eating it at breakfast and when I’m sick. It tastes like love in a bowl.
Please tell us about one hawker stall that’s “die, die, must try”. There are a few places that I always go back to. Two of the best that come to mind are the famous Hainan Chicken Rice stall “Tian Tian” in the Maxwell Food Centre and 328 Katong Laksa (both in Singapore).
Will there be a new TV series of yours we can look forward to? I recently finished the second season as a judge on MasterChef Canada. The first show was aired after the Superbowl and it is the most popular food programme in the country. I have a few other fascinating projects and I will let you know what they are as soon as I am allowed.
Any thought of opening a restaurant in Singapore? Singapore is such a sophisticated foodie destination. With its diverse cultures of Chinese, Malay and Indian and excellent food offered from hawker stalls to the very best in fine dining, the standard of cuisine is very high, so I would love to take up the challenge even in this ultra-competitive city.
What’s unique about your recipes? Photo: Kostas Koutsaftikis / Shutterstock.com
The recipes I created incorporate the aromatic fragrance of coffee with Chinese food. The Chinese
By Lester J Wan & Alison Chu
MARCH 6 - 12, 2015
W
Entertainment
f e at ur e s to ry
5 best
escape games in Singapore the thrill of escape rooms as a fun experience for family and friends seems to be gaining greater popularity – we tried most of them and share with you the best
F
ancy yourself a master detectiv e, a zombie apocalypse survivor or a spy? From eluding an undead army to solving a murder, you can put your skills to the test in these extreme situations. I flung myself deep into suspense and found Singapore’s top escape games. Don’t be discouraged if you’re not able to clear these rooms. Most of them have a mere 10 per cent success rate, with some as meagre as 5 per cent. If this was reality, most of us would be trapped forever.
Most value for money: Freeing SG
Most challenging: LOST SG
Most family-friendly: Room Raider
Largest scale: Real Escape Game (REG)
Recommended Room: Unmask Brains Needed: 4/5 Bravery Needed: 4/5
Recommended Room: Aokigahara Brains Needed:5/5 Bravery Needed: 2/5
Recommended Room: Where’s Cuddles Brains Needed: 3.5/5 Bravery Needed: 0/5
Recommended Room: – Brains Needed: 3/5 (may vary with game) Bravery Needed: 0/5 (may vary with game)
Unlike many other escape rooms that utilise padlocks, LOST’s games use motion detection and actionspecific triggers to progress. Don’t be surprised if you end up playing an instrument in one of the rooms! LOST’s Aokigahara room, inspired by Japan’s Suicide Forest, is touted as one of its scariest. But the only thing that’s scary is how obscure some of its puzzles are, and the fact that it’s not even the toughest room under LOST. So I’d recommend you clear Aokigahara before trying its hardest room, called Isometrick.
If you’re familiar with Orchard Central, you’ll know that it has a bright, open layout. This doesn’t do wonders for immersion, but it means you’ll have less to be scared by. The “Where’s Cuddles” game looks like an explosion of soft and fuzzy goodness, with its rooms colourfully decorated with murals and soft toys. Not that you’ll have time to play with them – the puzzles are mind-bending, requiring a lot of concentration and observation.
Freeing SG has ten different themed rooms, and some specialise in shock value. If you step in and you’re underwhelmed by the setting, just remember that there’s more hiding behind the locked door… You’re only allowed one hint per game, so astute observation is a must. Oh, and in the “Silent Blood” room, you start out being chained up in a dungeon. Plus points for making you feel like the star of Fifty Shades of Grey. $14-$22 per pax. More information and booking at FreeingSg.com
$20.90-$26.90 per pax. More information and booking at Lost.sg
$22-$28 per pax. More information and booking at RoomRaiderSg.com
$33 per pax, price may vary. More information and booking at RealEGame.sg
3 Tips to survive any escape room game 1. Empty your mind Go in with a blank state of mind – that includes your expectations of the storyline and game logic. Almost none of the puzzles requires general knowledge or even common sense. Don’t overthink it!
2. Fake it ‘til you break it It’s frustrating when you’ve combed the room some 14 times but still can’t locate the last code number. Forget the final hint – you can take the rote approach and do guesswork to break the lock.
A few times a year, the folks of REG put together a mystery of astounding scale. This year started off with Last Garden, a hunt for the missing orb of life that spanned Gardens by the Bay. Many of the puzzles were relatively easy to crack, but the final few had me stumped. You don’t have to rush with the freeand-easy option, where you can take your time and even head out for grub – as long as you solve it before the game closes at night. REG returns in June this year with an islandwide edition, with difficulty raised to regular (challenging) levels.
3. Touch Everything Boxes? Push them. Loose books? Pull them out. Dead ‘body’? Don’t be surprised if you have to dismember it. These rooms are designed to be interactive, so resting on every couch you see won’t help.
Most terrifying: Encounter – The Apartment Recommended Room: The reception counter; it’s the safest Brains Needed: 3/5 Bravery Needed: Superhuman levels You don’t want to know the horrors that lurk here. Absolute mystery creates the scare, as do the owners’ wry smiles. Encounter is one of Singapore’s top attractions on TripAdvisor.com for a good reason. I thought I had adapted to escape rooms by now – I was terribly mistaken. Surrounded by creepy sounds, barely-lit rooms and uncanny triggered events, I was close to breaking down the emergency escape door. Although we eventually made it out, I’d lost my voice from shrieking. My lack of courage was, indeed, truly terrifying. $30-$35 per pax (it’s worth it). More information and booking at Encounter.sg
Weekender would like to thank all the escape room operators who kindly hosted our media trials, including the above mentioned as well as Breakout, Escape Artist, Lockdown.sg, Xcape, Exit Plan, Trapped SG and Escape Hunt. By Pamela Chow
PAGE 7
weekender.com.sg
ALS O I N THEATRES
Angeline Yap (left) became infamous overnight, owing to her racy scenes in Lang Tong with male lead William Lawandi
The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water 3d [PG] Just when you thought Spongebob Squarepants was confined to Bikini Bottom, he launches into a super-heroic adventure when he comes ashore into our world! This crazy sponge and his motley crew of mates are up to more silly antics. STARRING: Antonio Banderas, Tom Kenny & Clancy Brown GENRE: Adventure, Animation RELEASE: Mar 5
Chappie [TBA] Chappie is a child full of promise and, like any kid, he will face the influence of his environment and rely on his heart and soul to become his own man. But there’s one thing different: he’s a robot; the first to think and feel for himself. Chappie’s life story will change the way we see human beings and artificial intelligence. STARRING: Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Sigourney Weaver & Hugh Jackman GENRE: Adventure, Sci-Fi RELEASE: Mar 5
Unfinished Business [M18] Daniel, a hardworking small business owner, flies to Europe with his associates to close the biggest deal of their lives. But what begins as a routine business trip is rapidly derailed in the most ridiculous way possible, and they find themselves in the most unimaginable of situations. STARRING: Vince Vaughn, Tom Wilkinson, Dave Franco, Sienna Miller & James Marsden GENRE: Comedy RELEASE: Mar 5
Focus [PG13] While pulling off his most high-risk scheme - scamming an international race car mogul - expert con man Nicky Spurgeon encounters a vengeful old flame. Will Nicky be able to pull off this heist in the face of his femme fatale? STARRING: Will Smith & Margot Robbie GENRE: Suspense, Dark Comedy RELEASE: Feb 26
Triumph in the Skies [PG13] Young pilot Branson takes over his family’s aviation company, only to discover his ex-lover Cassie is a flight attendant there. Harbouring hidden emotions for her, Branson must juggle managing his relationships and headlining the company’s demanding campaigns. STARRING: Louis Koo, Sammi Cheng & Charmaine Sheh GENRE: Drama RELEASE: Feb 19
A Glimpse at Nudity in Singapore Cinema Bugis Street (1993) Director: Yonfan A collaboration with Hong Kong, Bugis Street explores the transvestite scene in Bugis before it became the popular shopping belt of today. It featured Hong Kong actor Michael Lam in full-frontal nudity. 15 (2003) Director: Royston Tan
m ovie review
Lang Tong: Not enough or too much? With all the buzz about Lang Tong and its startling levels of exposure, some hope to see more while others feel it’s too much. The question is, how did it slide past Singapore’s censors? Indisputable fact: Singapore is notorious for censoring anything that may rub anyone the wrong way. Well, there’s a lot of rubbing going on in Lang Tong, so how did this erotic thriller slip past the censors with barely a few cuts? The trailer alone is lascivious enough that I’m shocked it hasn’t been removed from YouTube yet. There’s more supple, bouncing flesh in those 90 seconds than at a meat market in the morning. It dodged online censorship but how did it get past our strict film restrictions?
Pleasure Factory (2007) Director: Ekachai Uekrongtham
“Lang Tong” means “nice soup” but the film may be unpalatable to some
Past the Censors So how did Lang Tong and its heavy meatmashing make it to the big screen? Singapore is renowned for censoring anything remotely suggestive. Explicit films such as Pleasure Factory (2007) and Female Games (2009) were put through the shredder before being rated R21.
I wanted to change people’s mindset about nudity being taboo.
Set in the seedy alleys of Geylang, Pleasure Factory takes a daring look at subjects normally taboo in Asian society, such as prostitution and homosexual relationships. Singaporean actor Loo Zihan masturbates on screen in this movie. Female Games (2009) Director: Kan Lumé
Scandalous Scenes If you think the trailer was juicy, you’re in for a treat. When Lang Tong – Cantonese for “nice soup” – opened at the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) in Dec 2014, many locals went into a frenzy. The main cause of this? Actress Angeline Yap’s, ahem, exposition as nymphet Li’er. She spent most of the movie devouring something other than nice soup. Li’er swiftly became the face (or body) of the movie for her lurid sex scenes with Zack (William Lawandi). But she’s not the only one flaunting her assets on screen. Stephanie (Esther Goh) and Li Ling (Vivienne Tseng) also engage in torrid affairs with Zack. Whatever you say, Yap doesn’t think stripping for the camera was a bad thing. “To me, it’s a form of art. I don’t see it as sleazy,” she told Life! “I wanted to change people’s mindset about nudity being taboo,” she said. Of course, she clarified that she took the role only because of its story and characters – it wasn’t just “porn or mostly about sex”, she explained.
15 is a purely local film about the lives of teenage gangsters in the Singapore suburbs, and features a full-frontal close-up of male genitals. It stars three real-life juvenile gangsters, and was largely unscripted.
Be prepared for some extreme scenes
Even director Sam Loh was surprised by how it fared. He told The Business Times: “I really didn’t expect it to be passed, (so) I guess you can say that censorship here has changed a bit from ten years ago.” That’s a lot of change to permit Lang Tong’s highly-provocative content, which features [spoilers here] violence and incestuous, heterosexual and homosexual acts. Perhaps censorship laws have in fact changed – and that may have a world of impact (creatively, academically and socially).
All Steam and No Substance? But pull back the shower curtain and you might question if Lang Tong’s artistry may just be steam and smoke. It may gain points for its bravery but there are many other Singaporean films that have made the mark for being even more controversial – some without even having to use nudity. From explicit homosexual content in Female Games (2009) to the “politically insensitive” To Singapore, With Love (2013), our nation has seen controversial works with more thought-provoking subject matters. Lang Tong tips its hat to a repertoire of thriller masterpieces such as Dumplings (2004) and Audition (1999) but does it have any originality of its own to hawk? With explicit sex, violence and deviant behaviour, to some, Lang Tong may be a gratuitous slasher flick at best and some level of pornography at worst. What would you think of it? Personally, I think it’s worth catching. And, having been sold out at SGIFF indicates that
This film treads boldly on the theme of lesbianism in its portrayal of two female models vying for the same career opportunities. It features some explicit scenes between the two friends, as well as with a sugar daddy. Hush (2010) Director: Jeremiah Oh
Actress Evelyn Maria Ng returns from Female Games to star as Alice, a woman confused with her sexuality and caught between her family and friends. In this short film, Ng goes full frontal, with multiple sex scenes. Screen captures from YouTube trailers
Lang Tong has some substance. But step in with an open mind – you’re going to need it. This film is not for everyone, and not for the young. By Pamela Chow
Lang Tong [R21] Director: Starring:
Sam Loh Angeline Yap, Vivienne Tseng, William Lawandi & Esther Goh Genre: Thriller, Erotic Run length: 82 min Release: 5 Mar
PAGE 8
MARCH 6 - 12, 2015
w
Entertainment
weekender.com.sg
NEW ON TV
Oscar winner Anne Hathaway stars as anthropologist Franny, who is pulled back to New York by her young brother’s near-fatal accident
Photo: Babak Fakhamzadeh, Wikipedia Commons
Meet “Asia’s Got Talent” judges Mel C & Anggun
Left: Anggun performing her song "Echo (You and I)" during the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 Grand Finale in Azerbaijan Middle: Melanie Chisholm aka Mel C of The Spice Girls
“Superstar”, to select the lead actor for the musical.
movi e pr eview
Song One: The relationship between love & music This inspirational film uses the weight of Oscar winner Anne Hathaway to deliver what might actually just be a romance flick What do you get when you put together a young musician, a near-fatal car crash, and Oscar-winner Anne Hathaway? If you guessed “an inspirational movie”, you’re only half right. At first glance, Song One has all the elements of a motivational film. The story follows estranged anthropologist Franny (Hathaway, of The Dark Knight Returns and The Devil Wears Prada, etc.), who returns to her family in New York when her young brother Henry (played by Ben Rosenfield of A Most Violent Year and “Boardwalk Empire”) is rendered comatose in an accident. In the hopes of reviving Henry and his musician dream, Franny seeks out significant people in his career. Along her quest, she learns about the magic of music and human connection. Sound inspiring? Nonetheless, the film’s description on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) implies otherwise. It says about Song One: “A young woman strikes up a relationship with her ailing brother’s favourite musician.” So, which is it really?
A Story of Love Director Kate Barker-Froyland believes that Song One is first and foremost about the love of music. She said, “Song One tells a story about how music connects and transforms people.” In the movie, Franny discovers the struggles that musicians go through to realise their dream, while finding love through this journey. On the other hand, it also has the tear-jerker tropes of a romantic flick. While Franny’s brother is lying in hospital, she develops a strong romantic connection with his musical idol, James Forester (portrayed by Johnny Flynn of Clouds of Sils Maria). From then, the story seems to veer away from Henry and music and to gravitate more towards romance.
A famous but private musical idol, James Forester (Johnny Flynn) develops a romantic bond with Franny amidst trying times
A Movie About Music Still, perhaps we should give Song One concessions for its genuine sentiment towards the power of music – it might even succeed in overshadowing the sappy love story between Franny and James. Barker-Froyland explained that every song in the movie was “chosen carefully to fit each scene”, and that the music came way before the script. This is certainly unusual. She said, “As I rewrote the script and developed the character for (Hathaway), we would find music that resonated and represented the world in the script… (We) would send and play each other songs throughout the process.” This musical journey, combined with the strength of Hathaway’s talent – as seen in her outstanding performances in Les Misérables (2012) and Interstellar (2014) – might just do enough to propel Song One to a high, sweet note. This is a fairly interesting film, but it may be a bit sedate for some. By Pamela Chow
Song One [NC16] Director: Starring: Genre: Run length: Release:
Kate Barker-Froyland Anne Hathaway, Johnny Flynn, Mary Steenburgen & Ben Rosenfield Drama, Romance 88 min 5 Mar
Photo: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
International Beauty & PopRock Songstress
In the second of our three-part preview for the biggest talent competition in the world, we meet the series’ two female celebrity judges As we countdown to the premiere of “Asia’s Got Talent”, first on AXN (StarHub TV Ch 511) on Mar 12 at 8.05pm, we throw the spotlight on the judges who decide which acts make the cut for the semi-finals, over the first five episodes. From thousands of hopefuls, the four celebrity judges must pick the most amazing and incredible performances including song, dance, comedy and magic, to any imaginable performing talent. Making up the female half of the judging panel are UK pop sensation and former Spice Girl, Melanie C, as well as international recording artiste and Indonesian pop-rock icon Anggun.
Sporty Spice to Starring Songbird Mel C was part of the iconic five-member girl group The Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed “Sporty Spice”. Following that, as a solo artist, she sold more than 12 million records from the six albums that she released. Mel C has the second most No. 1 singles in the UK and is the only female to have topped the charts as part of a quintet, a quartet, a duo as well as a solo artist. She also performed in the West End musical Blood Brothers, for which she was nominated for “Best Actress in a Musical” at the Laurence Olivier Awards. In 2012, Mel co-starred in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, and also judged the preceding talent search series entitled
Anggun started singing at seven years old and by 12 she released her first Indonesian studio album, Dunia Aku Punya, with the hit single “Mimpi”, recognised as one of the “150 Greatest Indonesian Songs of All Time” by Rolling Stone magazine. A series of singles and albums followed to make Anggun the biggest Indonesian rock star of the ‘90s. Anggun’s international breakthrough came in 1997 with “Snow on the Sahara” released in 33 countries worldwide and topping the music charts in Italy and Indonesia, as well as making the Top 20 in Finland, France, Japan, Spain and the USA. Following that, Anggun released five more albums and released a song that was featured in the Hollywood box office hit, The Transporter 2 (starring action hero Jason Statham). Anggun is also a judge on the “X Factor Indonesia” and “Indonesia’s Got Talent” TV series, and her credentials as international beauty, pop-rock songstress and talent scout are well stamped.
Aesthetic & Aural Attraction With these two beauties with voices as the judges on “Asia’s Got Talent”, they not only raise the aesthetic attraction of the show, but also guarantee a level of quality of the contestants selected. Tune in to see both the contestants and judges in action! The inaugural season of “Asia’s Got Talent” is presented by Marina Bay Sands, Big Cola, Pantene, Caltex and Jetstar. Don’t miss “Asia’s Got Talent” premiering on 12 Mar, 8.05pm, with subsequent episodes airing on Thursdays, 8.30pm, first on AXN, StarHub TV Ch 511. Mel C and Anggun [centre] bring their beauty and talent to the judging panel
PAGE 9
march 6 - 12, 2015
w
Foodmania
weekender.com.sg
F o o d F e atu r e
Postnew year
Calorie Guide
As we’ve just come to the end of the foodfilled lunar New Year, we weigh how much it really cost in where it really counts the calories!
Pistachios The “happy nut” (kai xing guo in Mandarin), the pistachio, is one snack that requires you to work for it – I have chipped many a nail trying to pry its shell open! Not only that, you have to work out to work it off after eating it! Each pistachio is roasted, leading to high monounsaturated fat content. At 110 to 120 calories per handful, this snack is more potent than you might think!
How much have you been snacking this Lunar New Year? I’m sure it is still fresh in your mind - relatives bombarding you with questions about your career and love life, while you try to ignore them and bury yourself in snacks. Escapism has a price and we tell you how it adds up.
DRIED Shrimp Rolls Made of a paste of dried shrimp with chilli, or haebi, this snack is the potato chip of the Lunar New Year season. Once you pop, you can’t stop! While it may look unassuming due to its small size, it actually packs a punch at 220 to 230 calories for a bunch of them. Yes, little drops make an ocean!
Pineapple Tarts
Yu Sheng The centrepiece, the grand Yu Sheng, is the king of Lunar New Year dishes. Thought that it’s healthy because it’s a salad? You’re wrong. Yu Sheng is the highest in the calorie count, measuring a staggering 500 to 550 calories per serving. For the surprised, the answer mainly lies in the crackers and the sauce. Sure, you can skip the crackers, but the sauce is kind of unavoidable.
Pineapple tarts are our top favourite! Many households make it a custom to try to bake their own pineapple tarts a few weeks before Chinese New Year, especially the Peranakans. In fact, your friends or neighbours might have brought you samples or asked if you wanted to order some from them. This oh-so-yummy tart loaded with butter is highly sinful, weighing in at 80 to 85 calories per piece!
Bak Kwa This is another classic Chinese New Year snack, so expect a staggering calorie count for this too! Bak Kwa (essentially marinated minced pork that’s grilled) is easily a favourite, with most of us making a dash for it when we go visiting! Keep in mind that one slice of bak kwa is about 220 to 230 calories. Not so eager to bite into it anymore, huh?
Love Letters Love Letters or kueh belanda is an immensely-popular snack for the young and old. “Belanda”, meaning “Holland”, points to its origin from the Dutch. They were supposedly brought over by Peranakans from the Straits colonies. A more important fact is that it’s 50 to 55 calories per piece! By Nicole Lee
march 6 - 12, 2015
W
Foodmania
C e le br i t y Chef Recipe
Salty Peanut Caramel with Taro, Coffee Milkshake with Ristretto
One of the best things on the menu is the wood-fired pizza with smoky and rich flavours
“Demon Chef” Alvin Leung Celebrity Chef Alvin Leung is better known as the “Demon Chef” and he helms Michelin-starred restaurants Bo Innovation (Hong Kong) and Bo London. He is known for his unusual and unique culinary style known as “X-treme Chinese”.
restaurant we e k p re v i e w
This wickedly-rich treat from the Demon Chef is sure to tantalise your taste buds and pick you up
Pizza Fabbrica takes artisanal cuisine to the next level
INGREDIENTS • 25ml x 2 Nespresso Ristretto Grand Cru coffee (refresh with 4-5 ice cubes in a shaker) • 120g
Taro Ice Cream
• 30g
Full Fat Milk
• 10g
Salted Caramel [To make this, add 2g of Sea Salt to 10g of Caramel]
• 10g
Peanut Butter
• 10ml
Hot Water
METHOD 1. Prepare and chill 2 x 25ml of Nespresso Ristretto Grand Cru coffee. 2. Liquefy the peanut butter by mixing 10ml of hot water with 10g of peanut butter. 3. Blend the Taro Ice Cream with 30g of milk. 4. To serve, add the liquefied peanut butter to the bottom of the glass, then layer on the salted caramel, then the coffee, and then top it with the taro milkshake.
Serves 1
Authentic Italian favourites with traditional roots and modern interpretations are the name of the game at Pizza Fabbrica Nestled within the eclectic conservation area of Bussorah Street is the modern, understated chill-out restaurant and bar, Pizza Fabbrica, a newcomer to Singapore’s vibrant Italian food scene that’s already making a splash.
PLEASANT Dining ambience The hub of this minimalist pizzeria is the lively open kitchen, which houses an impressive slick copper wood-fired oven from which the chefs prepare authentic Italian dishes under the helm of Executive Chef Matteo Boifava. Amidst the stark décor and a feel of a contemporary pizza factory, Chef Matteo and his team let the food speak for itself. Highly committed to always serving the best, Pizza Fabbrica stays true to traditional recipes while playfully reinventing them with cheeky, modern interpretations.
Restaurant Week 14-22 Mar Pizza Fabbrica will be part of this year’s 10th Edition Singapore Restaurant Week together with some of the city’s other best-loved restaurants including Lime House, Lewin Terrace and Portico, as well as Pasarbella. Along with this year’s theme “Something Old, Something New”, Pizza Fabbrica will launch a dinner set menu at just $35++, so come savour a part of Italy this March during Restaurant Week. www.restaurantweek.sg
Pizza Fabbrica, 69/70 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199482, www.pizzafabbrica.sg By Eu Shuqi
Made from scratch Diners will find that much of the condiments is homemade, including marinated olives, sun-dried tomatoes, fig and chilli jam, mostarda and pesto, to name a few. With up to 14 freshly-made pizzas on offer, the pan-Italian menu is also heavily based on artisanal produce, such as Rustichelle d’Abruzzo pasta from Italy and freshly-roasted coffee beans by the Dutch Colony Coffee.
25 MAGNERS ST PATRICK’S PARTY KITS WORTH $150 EACH
TO BE WON!
A bite of Italy’s best
Magners St Patrick’s Day Giveaway
THREE EASY WAYS TO ENTER: Look for pinned post on our Facebook page:
facebook.com/weekendersgp
and follow the instructions
Visit contest page to enter contest:
No charge for SMS. Please check our Promotional & Contest Rules at weekender.com.sg for details.
Win a personal invitation to the St Patrick’s Day Party and a Party Kit for yourself now!
Magners, the Original Irish Cider, will be celebrating Ireland’s National Day and party festival with a big treat for you! Collaborating with a host of partners, Magners aims to share the true spirit of Ireland and fun Irish celebrations. The streets of Boat Quay will be closed from Mar 13 to 15 for the festival. Get a personal invitation from Magners to celebrate St Patrick’s Day on Mar 15 at Boomarang, Boat Quay, accompanied with a Magners St Patrick’s Party Kit for all your partying essentials! Each Party Kit is stocked full of merchandise from Magners’ food and beverage partners – including Harry’s, Fern & Kiwi, McGettigan’s Singapore – and lifestyle partner Quiksilver. The public is also warmly invited to celebrate St Patrick’s Day with Magners, The Original Irish Cider, on Mar 15 at Boomarang, Boat Quay.
Pair your preferred pizza with your preferred beer, straight from the tap!
bitly.com/stpatrickmagners
SMS to 85026567
CODE: St Patrick Magners, your Name, Age, Gender, NRIC, Postal Code, E-mail ONLY 1 ENTRY PER PERSON, PLEASE CLOSING DATE: 8 Mar 2015 Good Luck!
The combination of Chef Matteo’s Italian roots and refined cooking techniques results in dishes that are robust in flavour, hearty in size yet delicate in treatment. Diners will be treated to a range of much-loved Italian pizzas. The pizzas all feature Chef Matteo’s own style of pizza base, made with dough that has been proofed for 48 hours, using the best quality of Caputo flour from Italy and topped with fior di latte (fresh mozzarella) air-flown from Italy. For the Pizza Fabricca, the establishment’s namesake (a vegetarian pizza topped with fresh mozzarella) pumpkin cream, broccolini and sun dried tomato, the result is a thick, crispy base soaked with the pizza’s soothing pumpkin sauce. The herbivores among us would also be thrilled to know that Pizza Frabbrica lays claim to an exclusive vegetarian menu, courtesy of Chef Matteo’s vegetarian mother.
Squid Ink Pasta with Avocado and Lime for Restaurant Week
Chef Matteo Boifava stays true to traditional recipes, yet interprets them in a modern way
PAGE 11
weekender.com.sg Brought to you by:
WEEKENDER Photo contest
The winning photo
Weekender’s
next FOOD photojournalist found!
Name: Kelvin Chan Wai Meng Where: Singapore What: Cheese-Tomato Appetizer On Christmas day, we had a family party at my aunt’s place. Each was tasked to bring some food or prepare some dish for everyone. My wife wanted to prepare a dish different from the usual Christmas party food. After much consideration, she opted for something light and easy on the tummy. Vegetables is a healthy choice, that’s why she prepared this cheese-tomato dish as an appetizer before the main dish of Christmas turkey. I felt very satisfied and happy as I’m able to capture and document what my wife has made for everyone, and also this dish was all finished in a short while.
We have run the Canon Weekender Food Photo Contest over the past few months, in search of Weekender’s next Food Photojournalist. Our search is now over. We have found the one! Readers were asked to submit their best food photos to stand a chance to win. After poring through the many entries in the selection process, we have chosen our Top 10 finalists and the very best photo winner! The winner will take home a Canon PowerShot SX600 HS camera. Apart from the finalists’ photos published here for all to admire, the winner will have a chance to join us on a sponsored food tasting, to take photos of and review a restaurant or cafe.
THE BEST PHOTO WINNER HAS won the CANON POWERSHOT SX600 HS (WORTH $309) The winner will be contacted directly on the collection
The finalists
Camera sponsored by Canon
Name: Fiona Choy Where: Singapore What: Meatball Pasta & stationery products
Name: Dai Xin Where: Paris, France What: Tarte Créole
Name: Tay Teck Bun Where: Singapore What: Matcha Lava Cake
Name: Priscilla Chew Where: Boracay, The Philippines What: Medium-cooked Salmon
It’s a collaboration product shoot between new kid on the block Le Halo cafe and Chair-ish The Moments products that are stocked at the cafe (I’m co-founder). I was helping the cafe with food pictures and I wanted more of a storytelling lifestyle concept. Thus, composition was important. I thought it left a very witty old-fashioned nostalgic vibe. The intention of using warm colours in the shoot was to make viewers happy yet with a feeling of warmth inside. Even the plating was intentional where I chose Van Gogh’s Sunflowers trio set dining ware to portray the happiness and joy people get from eating the food!
This is a French dessert called Tarte Créole, a pineapple tart with coconut mousse filling and savoie sponge cake inside. Piped with Italian meringue and garnished with Malibu rum-macerated pineapples, one bite brings me to somewhere sunny and breezy. I felt proud to take this photo as it was made by me when I was learning Pâtisserie at Le Cordon Bleu, Paris. This tart was the start of our superior level and I got the highest score for it. I felt that every food can be an art as long as made with love. Taking food pictures is not about showing off fine dining moments on Facebook, but an appreciation of the good food, of the effort the chefs put and the passion they share.
My girlfriend arranged a surprise staycation for my birthday at Parc Sovereign Hotel. This was taken during dinner at the restaurant in the hotel, Babette. We ordered the Matcha Lava Cake to end our meal. The place was pretty dark so i had to find a good angle and do my proper adjustments to take a good picture. The good thing about the Canon S95 that I’m using is that it comes with some functions that allow me to capture the picture in dark conditions without it being grainy. I’m satisfied that the picture turned out well and blessed to have my beloved celebrating my birthday with me.
This is my favourite dish – a fresh, moist and tender piece of medium-cooked salmon, served on a bed of mashed potatoes and garnished with asparagus. I was trying to depict the beauty of the fish dish. This meal was to celebrate a happy couple’s union at their wedding, so my photo was to really represent the beauty and elegance of the occasion. My main objective with the camera was to take a photo of the beautiful dish for the couple – to serve as a reminder of their lovely occasion.
Name: Rudy Farhan Where: Sydney, Australia What: Tea at cafe Name: Dani Salasalan Where: Osaka, Japan What: Takoyaki from Kukuru
W
Name: Leong Kok Weng Where: Singapore What: Chicken Sandwich Toast
W
Name: Clara Cheok Yun Yan Where: Thailand What: Coconut Pancake Delicacy
Name: Chew Eng Heng Where: Thailand What: Domneoan Sadak Floating Market
PAGE 12
march 6 - 12, 2015
w
Foodmania
weekender.com.sg
NE W D I S H E S
6 Fight to be Ultimate Ramen Champion Six different ramen brands compete for the title of Ultimate Ramen Champion – Weekender lets you know what’s worth trying The Ultimate Ramen Champion is a fun contest created by Ramen Champion Singapore to determine and promote the most popular ramen in Singapore in its three outlets. With its distinct ramen food court concept, Ramen Champion Singapore offers various ramen brands from separate stalls and kitchens, where each serves its specialty ramen but all share common dining and payment areas. This year there were six contestants, of which, one is a newcomer – Tonkotsu Ikkyu. All the ramen was freshly-prepared for the event, so one can assume that these bowls of ramen represent the gold standard in presentation and taste. The winner is determined by a panel of professional chefs, VIPs, bloggers and food writers, myself included. Here are my recommendations according to rank.
No. 6: Riki Chasumen from Riki ($16) A mountain bean sprouts sits atop a generous serving of chewy ramen. Heaps of finelychopped garlic and cracked black pepper add a kick. The soft and firm cha shu is flame-torched to give a charred smoky flavour.
Generally, ramen is judged on its overall balance but this particular style veers heavily towards a boiled veggie taste due to its generous portion of bean sprouts. Even after mixing the salty and savoury broth, noodles and sprouts, it still leans towards the fresh, veggie, “sprout-y” flavour. Location: Ramen Champion outlet in Bugis+
No. 5: God Ramen from Buta God ($15) This ramen uses thinly-sliced marinated pork belly instead of thick slices, and its broth is “slightly” sweet. The pork slices tasted wonderful – light and delicate with thin strands of chewy sinews for a complex texture. Like some French onion soups where sweetness tips the balance over saltiness, the broth was a bit sweet for my expectations. For those who don’t mind sweet broths, this dish is a pleasant surprise. Location: Ramen Champion outlets in Bugis+, Changi Airport T3
No. 4: Original Tsukemen from Menban Yamagishi Kazuo ($15) Unlike all the ramen in the competition, this is a Tsukemen or dipping noodle dish. The dipping soup, comprising of a boiled egg, thick slices
of pork belly, bamboo shoots and vegetables in pork broth, is accompanied by a side plate of ramen. As thick as Italian spaghetti, the noodles are dipped into the soup, much the same way soba noodles are. The soup is nicely balanced when used as a dip for the noodles. But, sans noodles, it was definitely too salty to drink.
broth with three types of tender pork cuts, this dish was delightfully balanced and the noodles were soft and chewy. Location: Ramen Champion outlet in Bugis+
No. 1: Special Tonkotsu Ramen from Tonkotsu Ikkyu ($15.80)
Using three kinds of miso, red, white, and black, this traditional Miso Ramen from Sapporo is exactly that – traditional. Corn, bamboo shoots, soft boiled eggs and large slices of pork breech the top of this traditional broth made from miso, pork bone and chicken. It’s a classic miso ramen presented nicely – nothing more, nothing less.
A generous serving of cha shu, cooked in sous vide style, tops this dish. Sous vide preparation (food sealed in air tight bags and cooked in hot water) maintains the pinkish-ness of the pork while locking in its moisture. The off-white broth is creamy and has a deep, well-balanced, pork bone flavour. The thin noodles, from Kyushu, are refined and match the delicate sliced black fungus, egg and spring onions. The Special Tonkotsu Ramen was my favourite, and it took the title of the Ultimate Ramen Champion in Singapore this year.
Location: Ramen Champion outlets in Bugis+, Changi Airport T3, Great World City
Location: Ramen Champion outlet in Changi Airport T3
Location: Ramen Champion outlet in Bugis+
No. 3: Sapporo Miso Special Ramen from Menya Ryu ($15.80)
No. 2: Triple Chashu Ramen from Shodai Koji ($16.80) Based on Yokohama-style ramen, this ramen’s signature twist is the addition of three kinds of meats, as its name, Triple Chashu Ramen, suggests. A deep-flavoured creamy pork bone
By Frank Young Ramen Champion, Bugis+, Tel: 6238 1011; Changi Airport T3, Tel: 6214 2958; Great World City, Tel: 6235 1295, www.ramenchampion.com.sg
E T H NI C C UI SIN E
Back to our roots: Wholesome Hakka Did you know our former Minister Mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew is Hakka? You may not be familiar with all the dishes but here are some from his dialect group The Kheh or Hakka (meaning “guest families”) people and cuisine originated from the southeastern Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi and Guangxi. Our own former Minister Mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who led Singapore through independence, is of Hakka ancestry. There are many eateries across South East Asia specialising in Hakka cuisine, particularly in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore. Hakka cuisine has risen to even greater prominence recently when it was inducted into the Hong Kong Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage last year (2014). Here are a few popular Hakka dishes you can find in Singapore.
Yong Tau Foo Yes, this favourite dish of many Singaporeans is Hakka! Yong Tau Foo consists of tofu filled with a fish paste. There are many variations of Yong Tau Foo items, such as a vegetable or mushroom stuffed with fish paste or ground meat. This versatile dish can be eaten either dry with an accompanying sauce or as a soup dish. The traditional Hakka dish consists of tofu cubes stuffed with minced meat and herbs, then fried to a golden brown. Yong Tau Fu can also include other ingredients such as eggplant, shiitake mushroom or bitter gourd.
Duck Stuffed with Glutinous Rice For this dish, the duck has to be marinated, fried then stuffed with different ingredients. It is important that the duck bones are removed from the whole duck, while the shape of the bird is maintained. The cavity is then filled with seasoned glutinous rice and dried shrimp. Most chefs now add diced scallops, Chinese ham and gingko nuts, in a list of eight ingredients. Thus, it is better known as the Eight Treasures Duck in restaurants.
Kou Rou There are two variations of this traditional dish. The more common one consists of sliced pork with preserved mustard vegetables. The thick slices of pork belly are layered with preserved mustard vegetables, then cooked and served in a dark soy sauce with light sugar. In the other version, it is cooked with yam or taro. The pork belly will be shallow-fried with the yam to a brown hue before being steamed with five-spice powder and yellow rice wine. By Nicole Lee
march 6 - 12, 2015
weekender.com.sg
march 6 - 12 , 2015
W
SHOPsavvy
Uniqlo
Thinking Colourful
This season's collection comprises twice as many items as the Fall/Winter 2014 collection. Toddler sizes are available for the first time in this collection, including outerwear, cut-and-sew garments, shirts, skirts, jeans and shorts. Of particular interest this season is the expanded line of popular cardigans for boys, girls and toddlers.
Stirrings in the fashion world that you would want, need and love to know
Bimba Y Lola Bimba y Lola combines cleaner, simpler silhouettes with neoprene and stretch cotton fabrics for a dynamic fashion showcase that unveils a fascinating study in contrasts. Geometric prints artfully create a colour block effect, and alternate with beautiful prints of toucans, polka dots and exotic women for a tropical collection reminiscent of feisty, Brazilian women.
Jack Wills British brand Jack Wills showcased its latest spring collection, the debut of new Creative Director, London designer Richard Nicoll. Inspired by the music of British Youth subcultural periods from the 1960s Youth Quake through to 1990’s Brit Pop, Jack Wills showcases ‘Hockney’ rugby tops, colour blocked anoraks and a herringbone Crombie coat for men and bubble gum pink mac, and an optical rugby dress inspired by Twiggy.
Staccato
Designed with the fashionista in mind, Staccato is an international footwear label that takes its name after the Italian musical term that represents vitality and rhythm. Staccato translates runway trends into wearable everyday styles that are edgy yet sophisticated.
PAGE 15
weekender.com.sg
B e au t y i n Br ief
The pursuit of beauty There is no one solution to anything, especially with skincare – your face needs all the love you can give it to look its very best
Lunasol This spring, Lunasol brings you a collection of feminine colours and refined textures inspired by the grace and elegance of a ballerina. With a new range of vibrant lip stains, gloss and liners, delicate eye shadow colours, sophisticated coloured eyeliners, barely-there cheek colours, nail colours, liquid foundation and makeup remover, you can showcase your natural beauty with a soft and sensual look. Available at all Lunasol counters
RMK Set your skin free with RMK Casual Solid Foundation, a lightweight compact foundation that keeps the skin hydrated, glowing and naturally supple for a flawless radiant look. Packed with Fresh Clear Powder, a pure translucent smooth powder that blends seamlessly into the skin, the weightless foundation provides impeccable coverage while giving the skin a glowing finish all-day. Available at RMK counters WEEKENDER_261x160mm.pdf
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
1
3/3/15
4:30 pm
Philosophy
The Body Shop
A vibrant and romantic collection that captures the excitement of a sparkling, light spring bouquet. Loveswept’s top notes of fresh bergamot, Italian citrus and blue violets capture the spark of new love, while the heart notes of soft florals of pink jasmine, lotus blossom and purple passion fruit blooms with romance and passion.
Make the most of your nighttime with one of the first night brightening serums on the market, the Moisture White Shiso Overnight Triple Boost Serum. The secret to this is the advanced shiso complex, a brightening powerhouse of potent Japanese herb shiso organically harvested in Hokkaido to help to limit early melanin-making signs, prevent uneven skin tones and minimise dark spots.
Available at Philosophy stores
Available at The Body Shop outlets
PAGE 16
march 6 - 12, 2015
w
SHOPsavvy
home inspirations
weekender.com.sg
Get ideas for transforming your home
The entrance to the kitchen was knocked down to create an open layout – this also allowed the designers to inch the dining room closer to the kitchen, creating a seamless two-in-one workspace
The luxurious veneer floors seamlessly run from living room to dining room to kitchen, creating a unified look
Taking a leaf from its New York inspiration, the designers used only a single type of flooring in all the rooms. Our popular section continues with more inspiring ideas and home makeovers
One of the techniques the designers used to create a more spacious feel was the repositioning of walls to encourage a natural flow from room to room
The custom-built cabinetry is clad with “country-style” laminates that balance out the hard-edged cement screed walls
T
he owners of this 5-room HDB resale flat approached Pavillion Creation with a strong vision of what they wanted their home to look like. The design brief was straightforward: an open-concept home that is inspired by the airy spaciousness of the much-loved New York loft. To achieve this ambitious look, the design team reconfigured the layout of the flat and used a cohesive material palette.
Checking In
Wood Venture
Country Cooking
The entrance to the kitchen was knocked away to create an open layout that is popular in lofts. This also allowed the designers to inch the dining room closer to the kitchen, creating a seamless two-in-one workspace for the owners. As with the rest of the home, the design team picked a material palette made up of nature-inspired colours and surfaces like wood and bricks.
Loft Lifestyle Taking a leaf from its New York inspiration, the designers used only a single type of flooring in all the rooms with the bathrooms being the exception. The luxurious veneer floors seamlessly run from living room to dining room to kitchen, creating a unified look. Similarly, black track lights and conduit pipes run across the ceiling, contributing to the industrial vibe the homeowners wanted. The living room is also home to a custombuilt feature wall that acts as a storage shelf, display shelf and TV mount.
Remove and Replace One of the techniques the designers used to create a more spacious feel was the repositioning of walls to encourage a natural flow from room to room. After renovation, the front entrance now faces a faux brick wall made from lightweight fibreglass panels. The adjacent balcony has been absorbed into the design of the room to create a more spacious entryway that also acts as an isolated yet unobstructed reading corner.
The designers toned things down in the master bedroom with more polished finishes. Here, the team aimed for a hotellike feel with en suite amenities that include a built-in vanity area and customised wardrobe. In accordance with the homeowners’ request, the design team also inserted a glass window that looks into the adjoining bathroom for a cheeky peek-a-boo effect.
With a freer floor plan to work with, the Pavillion Creation designers could separate the dry and wet zones of the kitchen. In the wet kitchen, they wanted to build a space that easily blends with the rest of the home and, yet, is functional and versatile enough for both Asian and Western cooking. The custom-built cabinetry is clad with “country-style” laminates that balance out the hard-edged cement screed walls. Also of note is the stainless steel countertop that adds a touch of industrial chic to the space. By Redzman Rahmat www.lookboxliving.com.sg
Article first published in Lookbox Living #36 May/Jun 2014 Lookbox Annual 2015 is out now! Available at major bookstores and news stands! For more interior projects, visit www.lookboxliving.com.sg
PAGE 17
march 6 - 12, 2015
w
TRAVELation
weekender.com.sg Dig Away
Bucket List Exceptional ideas to experience in your lifetime
Rare fossil of a crocodile-like reptile
What’s fantastic is that you can keep all of the common species that you find, regardless of the size! However, rare species must be kept by the quarry – but you’ll have the glory of having uncovered a rare or unique prehistoric animal! Moreover, you don’t have to worry about fruitlessly hunting for fertile ground to mine. At Fossil Safari, the staff has done most of the tough digging for you, so many of the fossils can be found within rocks at the quarry. Tools, safety equipment and a basic guided lesson are provided when you walk in. That’s right – you don’t have to make a booking at Fossil Safari, which is why it’s one of the more popular dig sites in the USA.
Getting to the Quarry
Fossil of Diplomystus that can be found at the Fossil Safari
Hunt for dinosaurs It’s not too late to live your childhood dream of finding dinosaurs – you may just uncover the next Jurassic giant!
w
Rare fossil of a stringray
I don’t think I’m alone in wishing that I was one of those palaeontologists in Jurassic Park, digging up dinosaur bones and then seeing them brought to life, and chomping on people. Well, the latter might still be a fantasy (and don’t judge me) but you still can fulfil your childhood dream of discovering dinosaurs. In fact, you can unearth ancient fossils in existing fossil quarries right now! Numerous dig sites around the world, mostly in the USA, are open to the public. So, you don’t have to be a scientist or an expert researcher to uncover a prehistoric species.
Land Before Time These quarries are located on rich soil that was once sea bed, making them perfect lands for mining Paleozoic remains. One popular site is Fossil Safari at Warfield Fossil Quarries in Wyoming, where you can walk in without a booking. The quarry, elevated about 2km, was a major watering hole for wildlife and humans for aeons. The abundance of fossils that can be found here date from 40 to 60 million years – far back in the Eocene Age – and span common fishes like Diplomystus and Mioplosus to rare species like gars and reptiles.
Fossil Safari is also one of the most affordable there – an hour’s hunt costs US$30, four hours cost US$75, and a full day from 8am to 4pm costs only US$100. Children 12 years old and below get in for half the price, and online reviews state that they’ll let toddlers and the elderly in for free. The quarry is located about 35 minutes north-west of Kemmerer, Wyoming. You’ll have to rent a car and drive there. It’s about three hours from the nearest airport in Salt Lake City, Utah. So the next time you’re in the Wild West, take some tools and head out to the quarries. Who knows? You may get a new dinosaur species named after you! Now that would be a splendid bucket list entry to check off.
By Pamela Chow
SHOPsavvy
Hom e M ak eover Ideas
Handy for housework Tired of time-consuming chores around the home? Get help!
Clean Wash Samsung’s 2014 line-up of washing machines feature intuitive, user-centric designs. Gone is the confusing mess of knobs and buttons on the front of most washing machines. Instead, Samsung’s streamlined washing machines are elegant and minimalist. The new machines are also equipped with features such as the Eco Bubble Technology that quickly dissolves your detergent, Super Speed Wash feature for quick yet powerful washing cycles, and Digital Inverter Motor for superior energy efficiency and minimal noise. www.samsung.com
No More Chores! Not many Singaporeans consider the dishwasher a must-have appliance like they would a washing machine or the refrigerator. Household appliance brand Bosch, however, hopes to change that perception with the recently-opened Der Spüler by Bosch. Head down to this one-stop shop at Harvey Norman Millenia Walk to get a better understanding of the benefits and misconceptions of having a dishwasher at home. Consultation services are provided by specialists, who will help you to discover how much time and money you can save by letting a simple dishwasher make doing your daily chores more efficient. www.bosch-home.com.sg
March 6 - 12, 2015
W
TRAVELation t rav e l F eatu r e
The real
Inner Mongolia: Not so ulu
Kai Tamin-Goh is surprised to discover how modern Inner Mongolia is and she shares her uncommon experiences with us In my teens, I had romantic notions of Mongolia, fed by my history teacher’s stories of Genghis Khan’s conquests and the mystique of the deserts and grasslands. I finally joined a Singapore tour group expecting to experience scenic Mongolian plains and real yurts (tents used by nomads) in the desert. My husband and I flew on China Airlines via Beijing and took another flight from there to start our tour from Hohhot, capital of Inner Mongolia.
All the yurts are designed like modern three-star hotels complete with attached showers and toilets, as well as flat-screen TV and working air-conditioners! Islamic Street in modern Hohhot, capital of Inner Mongolia
At the Xiangshawan Sand Gorge or Resonant Sand Gorge in Xiangshawan Desert, the highlight was the ‘singing’ sand. Also known as the Singing Sand Ravine, the sand is said to make echo sounds. On the buggy ride on the sand dunes overlooking the vast expanse of Mongolian grassland, I failed to hear the whisper of the sands. Nonetheless, tourists who tried sand sliding swore that they heard a light “shhh” sound. If the typical tourist fare of acrobatics on a tightrope or dance troupes offering entertainment is not your cup of tea, try sand sliding, riding a cable car or camel, or simply walking on the sand dunes. Cloth shoe covers and face cloth ‘masks’ are available for 10 yuan apiece – and they are much needed for protection against the sand as the winds are strong. Before you go, remember to pack plenty of sunblock and a cap, and drink plenty of water as the weather there can be very dry.
Not Quite What’s Expected In reality, Inner Mongolia is not quite what I expected. The capital, Hohhot, is like any bustling city with the usual fanfare of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, shopping malls and hotels. Really, we could be anywhere in China. The cityscape is dotted with familiar brands – Shangri-La hotel, Starbucks, KFC, McDonald’s and Louis Vuitton. Singapore’s own Toastbox outlet is within walking distance of our hotel and Japanese retail giant Uniqlo was scheduled to open. In contrast, on a more-than-1,200m-long commercial street in Hohhot, the buildings are built in Islamic design and colours. We saw signs of Muslim influence in the two mosques, a school, department stores, residences and restaurants there. Islamic Street is now a major tourist attraction. Islam is said to have been introduced into Inner Mongolia during the Yuan Dynasty and most Muslims there are Hui Muslims (one of the recognised ethnic groups in China. However, the large majority of the population of Inner Mongolia adhere to old folk religion or shamanism.
Singing Sand in the Desert?
Herdsmen wrestling in Xilamuren Grassland
Acrobats entertain high up, at Xiangshawan Sand Gorge
The Rolling Plains of the Mongols Apart from the desert, the Xilamuren Grasslands are what draw tourists to Inner Mongolia. I pushed away any lingering notion of horse riding into the sunset or sleeping in a real Mongolian yurt. The grasslands are pitch black at night and all the yurts are designed like modern three-star hotels complete with attached showers and toilets, as well as flat-screen TV and working air-conditioners! While offering comfort to pampered city folks, this luxury left some of us yearning for a real Mongolian experience. So much for a taste of the primitive nomadic life of the Mongols of medieval days! As for Inner Mongolia’s so-called scenic grasslands, my group unanimously agrees that we had seen greener pastures. On the plus side, cool evenings were welcome respite from the merciless afternoon heat. The enterprising Mongols offered ‘customised tours’ around the grassland by self-drive jeep or on a guided horse tour. My husband and I paid 400 yuan (S$80) per person for a one-and-a-half-hour horse ride.
PAGE 19
weekender.com.sg
picture perfect Picturesque spots to experience & capture with your camera
The Crystal Caves of Vatnajökull Get ready for adventure, and have your camera ready – these are among the best places on Earth to experience and to snap that perfect travel photo! Whoever said Iceland was full of greenery and without ice probably hadn’t discovered Vatnajökull National Park’s gorgeous ice caves. These tunnels are encrusted with glowing walls that reflect the sunlight, creating a glimmering and iridescent underground wonderland. The ice caves take shape from autumn and can last until around the end of March. You can take a flight or bus out to Vatnajökull National Park from Reykjavík and Höfn airports. The Park is located 327km from Reykjavik, about four hours by car. A place of worship in Inner Mongolia with colourful hanging flags
Want Exciting Weekend Ideas?
Horses used to be the main form of transport to traverse the Mongolian plains but there are modern vehicles too now
Preparing For Inner Mongolia Before heading for Inner Mongolia, make sure to pack extra batteries and bring your own battery chargers, adaptors and memory cards for your camera. If you will be travelling with older folks with knee or joint pain or other medical conditions, don’t forget to bring along whatever medication is needed. While travelling outside Hohhot, bring (antiseptic) wet wipes even though squat-type public toilets are accessible and generally clean. You’ll never know when they’ll come in handy. The best advice I can give you is to keep an open mind and moderate your expectations to get the most out of your holiday. First-time visitors should also note that Inner Mongolia is in northern China, close to Shanxi province. It is different from Outer Mongolia, or simply Mongolia, which is landlocked between China and Russia, and is an independent parliamentary republic. By Kai Tamin-Goh
EVENTS. FOOD. TRAVEL. SHOPPING. Packed in every weekly issue!
Like us on
/weekendersgp
ADVERTISEMENT