ISSUE 61A December 6 - 12, 2013 MOVIE PREVIEW
TO THE DRAGON’S LAIR
THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG THRILLS WITH A NEW VILLAIN LURKING
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
bonnie & clyde’s HolLi Grainger SHINES
T r a ve l
ENLIGHTENED BY SHANGRI-LA
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EVENTS
DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
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This week’s highlights Rendezvous with French Cinema
an injustice carried out by a lord. This pious and simple man raises an outlaw army and lays waste to the country by war in order to establish his rights once again.
WEEKENDER
FUN-TO-DO
5 - 8 Dec, varied timings, $11, $12 Rendezvous With French Cinema will be returning for its third outing, featuring 14 films making their Singaporean debut across four locations – The Cathay Cineplex, Shaw Theatres Lido, Golden Village Marina and the Alliance Française de Singapour. This year’s delegation, comprising directors and a screenwriter, brings the focus to the process behind making the movies. Below are a few of the movies on showcase.
IDEAS
Le Contes de la Nuit (Tales of the Night) 8 Dec, 4pm Alliance Francaise Theatre Every evening, a girl, a boy, and an old technician get together in a small movie theater. The three friends invent, draw, dress up, and become characters in any story they feel like telling during one magical night when everything is possible.
Michael Kohlhass [M18] 6 Dec, 9.15pm, Alliance Francaise Theatre 8 Dec, 2pm, The Cathay The Cévennes in the 16th century. Michael Kohlhaas, a horse-dealer, leads a happy and prosperous family life until he suffers
L’ecume des jours (Mood Indigo) 7 Dec, 7.30pm Shaw Theatres Lido This is the surreal and poetic story of Colin, an idealistic and inventive young man, who meets Chloé, a young woman who seems to be the incarnation of a blues song by Duke Ellington. Their idyllic marriage turns to sorrow when Chloé becomes ill, due to a water lily growing in her lung. To pay for her medical care, in a fantastical Paris, Colin must work in increasingly absurd conditions, while their apartment falls to bits around them
Casse tete chinois (Chinese Puzzle) 6 Dec, 9.30pm, Shaw Theatres Lido, 7 Dec, 6.30pm, Alliance Francaise Theatre In the third chapter of the Spanish Apartment trilogy after L’Auberge Espagnole (2002) and Les Poupées Russes (2005), we find Xavier, now 40 years-old, with Wendy, Isabelle and Martine – 15 years after the l’Auberge Espagnole and 10 years after Poupées Russes. Everything appears so simple but Xavier’s life doesn’t stop taking unexpected detours between Paris and New York. www.rendezvouswithfrenchcinema.sg
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Eye for Detail
BY GUINEVERE SOFER
It doesn’t take a hawk’s eye to see the difference in these pictures. Here are two photos, one taken with a Compact Digital Camera, the other with a phone cam. Can you spot which one is which? And how?
Photo B
Exclusive Charter Flights to
now on Check out these events over the next two weeks #LiveGreat Hashtag Movement To Raise Funds For Needy Children 15 Nov – 31 Dec Great Eastern Life has launched a #liveGreat movement in Singapore to raise funds for needy children. To participate, the public can submit their favourite moments and pictures with family and friends and attach the #liveGreat hashtag. Visit the website for more details. www.livegreatforacause.com NEW! Flea For Good – Christmas Edition 7 & 8 Dec, 12pm – 9pm Looking for a gift for your loved one this Christmas? Head on down to the Christmas edition of Flea For Good, where you can do good as you shop! Flea For Good hopes to promote various social causes while encouraging shoppers to shop with a heart. A portion of proceeds collected from booth rentals will be donated to the Singapore Children’s Society for their work with needy children and disadvantaged families. City Square Mall, Basement 1, 180 Kitchener Rd, adrenalin-portal. wix.com/fleaforgood NEW! The Hawker Sessions @ Maxwell Road Food Centre 6 Dec, 7.30pm – 10.30pm To ring in the season of giving, The Hawker Sessions is bringing live performances, music, back rubs and much much more in their fourth installment at Maxwell Road Food Centre. Do your part for charity as they aim to raise at least $5,631.80 to help three patients from the Tan Tock Seng Hospital Community Charity Fund HELP (Help ElderLy Patients) Programme. Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street Christmas PopUp Store @ Epigram Books 7 & 8 Dec, 10am – 6pm, cash only It’s time to share the love of books this holiday season. Epigram Books Christmas pop-up store will be on for two days as you get to grab your Christmas presents earlier this season. Visit the Facebook page for more details. Epigram Books, 1008 Toa Payoh North, #03-08, www.facebook.com/ events/415260101937162
See Page 12 for answers. Photo A
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Chiangmai!
5D Chiangmai Free & Easy/ Chiangrai + Golden Triangle + 1N FREE Bangkok (Total 6D)
Places of interest: Chiangmai/ Three King Monument/ City Moat/ Wat Chedi Luang/ Chiangmai Night Bazaar, Doi Suthep Temple/ Handicraft Village/ Candied Fruits and Candies/ Leather Products/ Artistic Hand-Drawn Umbrellas
tour includes: 4N in Chiangmai + 1N in Bangkok - One-way air ticket from Senai to Chiangmai, domestic flight from Chiangmai to Bangkok, one-way air ticket from Bangkok back to Singapore and airport transfers 2014 Countdown Special Departure: Dec 26, 27 Price: From $399* Excludes taxes of $230
Visit www.asaholiday.com or call 6303 5303 / 6303 5318 for more details today. *Terms & Conditions apply
NEW! Catch A Star @ 313 Until 29 Dec, Sun – Thu; 10am – 10pm, Fri & Sat; 10am – 11pm It’s the season of fun, games and prizes as 313 invites you to catch as many Christmas stars as you can in their larger-than-life motion sensor game. The more stars you catch, the more points you collect. Plus, get a chance to win $3,000 worth of 313 shopping vouchers as well as an Xbox 360 Kinect gaming system worth over $600. 313@Somerset, Level 1 Atrium, 313 Orchard Road, www.313somerset.com.sg
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DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
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EVENTS
DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
PAGE 4 (SLO) Children’s Choir in This Joy - A Choral Concert. SLO Children’s Choir will be singing memorable holiday tunes including those in French, Italian and Spanish. In concert with the Children’s Choir will be the Opera Chorus, The Expressos as well as guest choirs from SLO’s Singing For All outreach programme. Tickets available at all Sistic outlets. Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Drive, Marina Bay, www.sistic.com.sg
FREE! The Christmas Tree Project 2 Dec – 1 Jan 2014, open 24 hours daily Sentosa Boardwalk will be showcasing ten quirky Christmas trees, measuring 1.6-metres each, made of unusual materials like wooden chairs and kitchen ladles this holiday season. The creative minds behind ‘The Christmas Tree Project’ are 40 students and staff from Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Design who designed and built these trees from scratch. Out of the 30 design proposals submitted, only ten design proposals were selected to be showcased. www.sentosa.com.sg This Joy - A Choral Concert 7 Dec, 7.30pm, $20, $35 There is no better way to ring in this festive season’s good tidings than with the merry performance of the Singapore Lyric Opera
Celebrate Christmas with Doraemon @ Downtown East 8 Dec, 11am - 1pm, $8 (public) Downtown East will be celebrating Christmas with the loveable Doraemon and his friends from the popular anime series. Step right into the ‘Anywhere Door’ and be transported to the wonderful world of Doraemon, his best buddy Nobita and a host of other loveable characters from the popular Japanese anime named after the iconic blue robotic cat. Regardless of age, take part in attempting to set the Singapore Book of Records for the ‘Most Number of People Painting Clay Figurines’. Visit the website for more details. Courtyard, Downtown East, 1 Pasir Ris Close, www.downtowneast.com.sg
Coming Soon Mark your calendars for these events happening in three to four weeks
The Ultimate Fighting Championship live from Marina Bay Sands 4 Jan 2014, doors open at 6pm, prices to be confirmed Singapore will be in the global limelight as it hosts the first-ever UFC event in Southeast Asia. The ten-bout card will feature world-class fighters from America, Asia, Europe, South America and Southeast Asia with the first fight starting at 7.30pm. Visitors to the Marina Bay Sands during Fight Week can learn just why UFC is the undisputed global leader in mixed martial arts by checking out the exciting UFC Fan Experience (admission is free). Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, www. marinabaysands.com/ticketing NEW! #Focusonyourfamily This Festive Season 17 – 23 Dec, Mon – Fri; 3pm – 10pm, Sat & Sun; 12pm – 11pm Do something special for your loved ones this Christmas. A booth outside Wisma Atria will approach shoppers to write postcards to their family members and loved ones (postage free) and pledge their commitment to family via a photo booth. Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Road, www.family. org.sg/christmas
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Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk, www.sportshubtix.sg
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Editorial Director Frank Young frank@weekender.com.sg Editor Lester J Wan Writer Cheryl Chia Junior Writer Brandon Era Sales Director David Phey Sales Seth Leow seth@weekender.com.sg Cheryl Lim Redzwan Mohamed
Art Director Nicodemus Aw Distribution Lawrence Tan Coordinator Syarila Zainal Advisor James Yip
Mohd Asri
GETTING HARD COPIES:
Besides delivering to hundreds of thousands of homes island-wide, you can also find some copies at these locations (while supplies last): NEW EXPANDED MRT AREAS:
Every Friday A.M. peak period. Subject to weather and traffic conditions.
NEW! Disney On Ice Presents Treasure Trove 19 Mar 2014 – 23 Mar 2014, timings and prices to be confirmed Audiences will enjoy a gem for every generation when Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove skates into Singapore for 11 performances. Disney On Ice sets the gold standard with a magical medley of Disney tales spanning the years from the first animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to the 50th film, Tangled. Tickets for performances at the Singapore Indoor Stadium will go on sale from Dec 14 at 10am.
• Raffles Place • Chinatown • Dhoby Ghuat • Cityhall • Orchard • Somerset • Newton • Bugis • Woodlands • Bukit Gombak • Choa Chu Kang • Tampines • Admiralty • Tanjong Pagar • Buona Vista • Yishun • Khatib • Clementi • Redhill • Queenstown • Serangoon • Boon Lay • Jurong East • Tiong Bahru • Toa Payoh • Marina Bay • Ang Mo Kio • Mountbatten 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.
DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
SPECIAL FEATURE
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GO SingTel With a fresh look and clearer details, SingTel Prepaid gives you more reasons to go with SingTel
SingTel Prepaid now offers you even more value. Latest in Technology SingTel’s prepaid cards now come with the latest 4G technology that enhances your mobile data usage, and also offers you Singapore’s fastest and widest mobile coverage. With the most affordable data plans available, SingTel caters to all of your needs, whether you need it for a short period or long term. You can activate SingTel Prepaid data plans by simply calling *363 on your mobile phone or go online at www.singtel. com/hi.
New Look With the newly-designed SingTel prepaid and top-up cards, it is now easier to identify the various cards they have on offer, with greater clarity of the details of the different packages available. The top-up cards are split into two different types, with the first covering data plans and add-ons and the second offering a bundled value for a good price. You can purchase the various prepaid cards at any SingTel Retail Store, SingTel Exclusive Retailers and other authorised prepaid retailers. Additional Benefits SingTel will continue to offer its exclusive social media plans with Whatsapp and Opera Mini. These rates will cater to the various needs of customers, ranging from one day to month-long plans. Customers will also be able to use the brand new hi!Share service, which allows a SingTel user to share his or her talk time with another SingTel prepaid user. On top of all these, all customers will also be able to enjoy up to 30 days of free incoming calls whenever they purchase a $10/$20/DataTalk$22 Top-up Card. Buy a SingTel Prepaid Card today to enjoy all of these benefits, at any SingTel Retail Store, SingTel Exclusive Retailers and other authorised prepaid retailers! Visit www.singtel.com/prepaid for more information.
Buy a SingTel hi! Prepaid Card of at least $15, get a free stationary set
Present this coupon at any SingTel Retail Shop Promotion ends 20 December 2013 or while stocks last. SingTel Retail Shops: AMK Hub #B1-54/55/56/57; Bedok Mall #B2-14; Bugis Junction #01-50/50A; Causeway Point #03-03/04/05; Clifford Centre #01-05; Comcentre 31 Exeter Road; Compass Point #B1-04/05; Jurong Point #B1-98/99; Parkway Parade #B1-01/02; Tampines Mall #02-13/14/15; West Mall #01-38/39
Prepaid
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ENTERTAINMENT
DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
PAGE 6
MOVIE PREVIEW
Evangeline Lilly of “Lost” stars as an elf maiden
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The Last Days On Mars: Another ominous space thriller Life on Mars MAY not BE a good thing
The Desolation of Smaug another exciting adventure through Middle-Earth ENSUES, with a primeval villain lurking Martin Freeman is back as reluctant hero Bilbo Baggins
F
ans of fantasy and The Lord of the Rings can rejoice once again as the next exciting instalment of The Hobbit is set to hit the big screen this December. Enticingly titled “The Desolation of Smaug”, this is the second in a trilogy of films adapted from the enduringly popular masterpiece, The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien. The film is set 60 years before The Lord of the Rings. More Adventure & Creatures The adventure of Bilbo Baggins continues as he journeys with Gandalf the wizard and the 13 dwarves led by King Thorin Oakenshield. Their epic quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost The dwarves ponder their tremendous task ahead
Kingdom of Erebor will reach fever pitch as they encounter the ultimate villain: a dragon named Smaug. The 15 of them make up a different Fellowship. Having survived the beginning of their unexpected journey, this motley band continues East, encountering all manner of creatures along the way. Among them, an unnerving swarm of giant spiders in the treacherous forest of Mirkwood. After a not-so-pleasant experience with the WoodElves, they journey to Lake-town, and finally to the Lonely Mountain itself, where they must face a creature more terrifying than any other. Their gargantuan task tests not only the depth of their courage but the limits
of their friendship, and even the wisdom of the journey. Familiar Faces Reprising the roles of Gandalf the Grey and Legolas are Ian McKellen and Orlando Bloom. With many viewers familiar with The Lord of the Rings trilogy, they will undoubtedly find it comforting to see two of the main characters of The Lord of the Rings appearing in director Peter Jackson’s latest masterpiece. Martin Freeman (of “Sherlock” fame) will reprise his pivotal role as Bilbo Baggins, while Richard Armitage also returns as the brooding yet brave Thorin Oakenshield. Look out for Evangeline Lilly, from the series “Lost”, as an elf. What might surprise some is that voicing the terrifying antagonist, Smaug, as well as the sinister Necromancer, is none other than Benedict Cumberbatch (also of “Sherlock”, and Star Trek: Into Darkness). Expect a thrilling adventure. W
Fading Hope on a Distant Planet The routine excavation turns to disaster when the porous ground collapses and he falls into a deep crevice. He dies, and his devastated colleagues attempt to recover his body. However, when another crew member vanishes, There is nowhere to run
they start to suspect that the life-form that they have discovered is not yet dead. As the group begins to fall apart, it seems that their only hope is the imminent arrival of the relief ship, Aurora. Fear & Loathing on Mars Liev Schreiber, who plays the lead character, Vincent, found the idea of Vincent’s claustrophobia and anxiety immediately appealing. He said, “One of the things we started talking about when I became involved was, ‘How do you articulate that claustrophobia?’ ‘How do you express something as complex as his
sort of anxiety?’” “The walls are closing in, and humans aren’t built to survive like this,” said producer Andrea Cornwell. She adds, “Mars is vast, but there’s nowhere to hide. And that almost makes it a counter-Western: there’s no town over the hill to run to.”
The Last Days on Mars [PG13] Director: Ruairi Robinson Starring: Liev Schreiber, Olivia Williams, Romola Garai, Tom Cullen and Goran Kostic Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller Run Length: 98 min Release: Dec 5
Sunset at the beach in Goa
TELEVISION Photos: Marshmallow Media Ltd & TLC
The Hobbit:
On the last day of the first manned mission to Mars, a crew member of Tantalus Base believes he has made an astounding discovery – fossilised evidence of bacterial life. Unwilling to let the relief crew claim all the glory; he disobeys orders to pack up and goes out on an unauthorised expedition to collect further samples. Of course, this does not bode well.
What would you do if you discover life on Mars is not friendly?
Soak up the sun &
THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG [TBA] DIRECTOR: Peter Jackson STARRING: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Join TLC’s newest host, Richard Angela Kan, as she travels Armitage, to five of Asia Pacific’s most Evangeline beautiful beaches in her quest Lilly to discover what it means to GENRE: Adventure live life on the water’s edge. RUN LENGTH: 161 min From the coastal city of RELEASE: Dec 12 Cairns, Australia to the idyllic island of Boracay in the Philippines, Angela is scouting the Asia Pacific region for the best beaches and most interesting personalities.
The new series “Beach Life with Angela Kan” takes viewers to various destinations to explore blissful island living
have fun with Angela
Beyond Tourist Traps In each episode of this fivepart series, Angela travels to one exotic destination – in Australia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand – and immerses herself in everything that these beach towns have to offer. Through people, food, art
and activities, Angela soaks up the diverse cultures and lifestyles of these places while enjoying the sun, sand and sea. Whether Goa in India, Koh Phangan in Thailand or Bali in Indonesia, she digs deeper to uncover a different side to these popular spots beyond typical tourist pursuits. Local Life & Living Angela dives into the experience by cooking with local fisherman, trying barefoot tango in the sand, sailing the paraw (sail boat), participating in a festival procession, and taking in the sights in a vintage convertible. There’s nothing more relaxing than living in paradise and Angela, along
with her newfound local friends, provide fascinating insights into the lives in these beachside destinations. “Beach Life with Angela Kan” premieres on Dec 9, 9pm, on TLC, StarHub Ch 427.
Join Angela in the beach life
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DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
TELEVISION
Bonnie & Clyde:
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ENTERTAINMENT / BE HAPPIER
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Emile Hirsch and Holliday Grainger star as Bonnie and Clyde
Smokin’ Holli Grainger Holliday Grainger of Great Expectations and “The Borgias” is now the gun-toting Bonnie Parker. our editor, lester j wan, catches hold of her This is Holliday’s first action film
Holliday Grainger (of Great Expectations and “The Borgias”) and Emile Hirsch (of Speed Racer) star in a new mini-series chronicling the legendary Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, the Depressionera outlaw couple whose exploits assured them lasting fame. A feature film had been made in 1967, starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty. This new four-hour epic retells the captivating tale in a new perspective. We managed to catch a hold of Holliday. What have you been busy with? Have you been filming a new show? I’ve just finished filming an indie movie in England called Posh. It’s set in contemporary Oxford, about a fraternity called the Riot Club. I’ve also been filming in the new Cinderella, as one of the wicked stepsisters. It’s really fun! The role is lighter and adds comedy. Your name, Holliday, is interesting. Why were you given that name? Billie Holiday [the legendary
BE HAPPIER Dream Academy’s annual Crazy Christmas returns with a bang, with the return of the Dim Sum Dollies By Cheryl Chia
American jazz singer] was the inspiration. How do you feel about Bonnie & Clyde? It’s an interesting story. I read about it, growing up. These are iconic American figures, and it’s a tragedy. It’s a real story of its time. These are rebels, really. You could say they are products of the Depression and were trying to deal with the times. How did you feel about your role as Bonnie Parker? It’s the most terrified I’ve been upon receiving the part! Bonnie’s an American icon, and I’d never done an American accent before. She had panic attacks, there was dancing, holding guns… It was challenging, and there was a lot of prep involved. I did a lot of research, including reading Bonnie’s diaries and letters. What was most memorable about filming Bonnie & Clyde? It was like an adventure the whole time! Running through forests and hills, sliding into
ditches, shooting guns... [Laughs] What makes you happy? Spending time with friends and family. Which is the happiest moment in your life? My proudest moment was when I finished my degree. I was doing work alongside it.
What kind of role would you love to play, that you’ve yet to have the
It’s a Crazy
Christmas again T
Denise Tan is the latest Dolly
I’ve read that you got good grades or did well in school. were you a bookworm or did you get into trouble? A bit of both! [Laughs] In school I was known for talking in class, being late for lessons...
he Dim Sum Dollies return to the stage with their newest member, Denise Tan. The Dollies – Selena Tan and Pam Oei – had gone on hiatus to grieve the loss of their fellow Dolly, the late Emma Yong. Emma had been part of the group since their debut in 2002. We speak with Denise on putting on new shoes as well as her festive reflections. How has joining the Dim Sum Dollies been for you? So far, so great! It’s been a pretty seamless integration, because Pam and Selena are friends I’ve worked with for many years; so in terms of working style, getting along, everything’s been smooth. Plus, they’ve been very warm, welcoming and super supportive. What can we expect from the Dim Sum Dollies this Crazy Christmas? The same bold, bright, beautiful, loud, over the top, irrepressible spirit of good fun, zingy observations on life,
three-part harmonies and great festive entertainment. We’ll definitely be singing, dancing and skit-ing up a storm! Any future plans you can share with us? Besides Crazy Christmas this year, we’re planning a fulllength Dollies show next year, but that’s all I can say for now. What are you happy for this Christmas? Finally, a break! I’ve been juggling TV, radio and theatre non-stop since May. And always my family, my friends, and a chance to feast festively without guilt. Now, pass the champagne and buttery mashed potatoes! [Smiles] If you could pick three people to visit, in the past, present and yetto-come, who would they be? I’d like to go back to the past and meet myself at 19 – best and worst age to be! Not quite an adult, last legs as a teen. I’d tell me everything would be ok and my worst fears
chance to? I’d love to do a big action film! Now that I’ve had a taste of it, I’d love to do a big action film with high kicks and guns. [Laughs] Bonnie & Clyde will be simulcast on History (StarHub Ch 401) & Lifetime (StarHub Ch 514) in a same-day telecast as the US, on Dec 9 & 10, 9pm.
were nothing, but I’d also like to learn from 19-year-old me how to be as confident, happygo-lucky and gung-ho about doing new things. For the present I’d like to meet my favourite females, Wonder Woman and Miss Piggy! We’ll drink beer, eat (beef) burgers and fries and gossip about men. Then they can show me how to fight bad guys/frogs. For the future, I think leaving a little bit of life’s mysteries intact makes things more exciting, don’t you? So let’s leave the future for me to discover as it happens! What can people expect at Crazy Christmas? You’ll laugh, you’ll sing, you’ll clap your hands and tap your toes to the infectious performances and it’ll put you in the mood for a very merry ‘ting tong’ Christmas. W
Catch Denise Tan and the Dim Sum Dollies in Crazy Christmas: Ting Tong Belles, at the Esplanade Theatre from Dec 11 to 22.
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FASHION
DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
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weekender.com.sg
Stirrings in the fashion world you would want, need and love to know about
Melissa
For the season of Spring/ Summer 2014, Melissa’s “We Are Flowers” collection pays tribute to a floral theme with radiant colour combinations, feminine design details, and botanical inspirations. Armed with its signature bubble gum scent, the shoes emanate a sweet scent with its floral designs.
IWC Schaffhausen
70 years after the publication of the world-famous book “The Little Prince”, Sotheby’s and IWC have joined forces to support the Antoine de Saint-Exupery Youth Foundation. A special Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” was presented in Sotheby’s Geneva auction of important watches on Nov 12 and the proceeds went to building a school with a library in Cambodia.
Uniqlo
Moiselle
Moiselle’s Autumn/Winter collection, “Lost in Russia”, takes you on a romantic journey with threedimensional floral designs and feminine silhouettes. The collection is available at the Moiselle boutique at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.
Triumph
Give yourself a sexy boost with Triumph’s Cleavage on Demand. The Cleavage on Demand range can add up to a 5cm cleavage boost for an instant seductive statement by tightening the satin lace to accentuate the bust with maximum boost.
Photo: JustJared.com
Uniqlo collaborates with ten Southeast Asian designers to create “Feel the SEA”. Out of the ten, five hail from Singapore – Mae Pang, Mash-Up, OwnMuse, Revasseur and WSDM. Designers from the other SEA regions are Nikicio (Indonesia), Joe Chia (Malaysia), MOBO (Philippines), Greyhound (Thailand) and Painkiller (Thailand). In stores now.
Lee Hwa Jewellery
Lee Hwa Jewellery’s “Destinee Voyage” collection features an intertwining black rhodium and white gold braids held together by a brilliant cut Destinee diamond. The pieces represent the intertwining of soul mates united by the unshakeable and eternal bond of love.
Celebrity Sighting
Kirsten Dunst was spotted in Isabel Marant pour H&M. The dress is currently in stores in Singapore at H&M Orchard Building.
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DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
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FOODMANIA
DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
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Beautiful and yummy
festive logs O
nce you’re done with the ham, turkey, and the rest of the savoury goodies, you’re going to start hankering for something sweet. Here are a few log cakes you can share with your loved ones.
Goodwood Park If you like your cakes creamy and rich, the Blonde Chocolate Florentine Log Cake from Goodwood Park Hotel is a treat. This layered cake comprises a crisp almond Florentine base, hazelnut sponge cake and trinity of hazelnut mousse, a blonde Dulcey 32 per cent chocolate mousse with a touch of cream and caramelised milk with a dark cherry centre. Available for order from Dec 1 to 26. Bakerzin This year, Bakerzin features three unique log cakes: the Hazelnut Dacquoise Log Cake, The Traditional Chocolate Log Cake and, our favourite, the highly delightful Strawberry Mousse Log Cake. Each layer has a soft genoise sponge, mascarpone cheese mousse and strawberry jelly, encased in a mirror glaze. We like how it is topped with macarons. Available for order at all Bakerzin outlets until Dec 25.
Antoinette Antoinette has an array of Christmas goodies. The star of the show, the Eden Log Cake, is made out of 64 per cent dark chocolate mousse, caramel, flourless chocolate cake and almond biscuits. Available at Antoinette from Nov 11 to Dec 24 at Palais Renaissance, #B1-08.
WORD OF MOUTH Seen and heard of the best of local Singaporean Food
The One And Only Burger That We Have
With this rainy yearend weather, we find ourselves hankering for a nice steaming hot pot or steamboat. Here are some hot options for you this weekend.
Laksania This social enterprise does a unique laksa hot pot, with a vegetarian option. Ingredients include laksa favourites such as tau pok and a choice of noodles. Bugis+, Nex and 382 East Coast Road
York Hotel If you like things classic and simple, the Chocolate Log Cake from York Hotel would be ideal. The decadent and rich cream will satisfy chocolate fiends. They also have English Fruit Cakes and Christmas Cookies. Available at York Hotel from Dec 1 to 31.
This is a suitable place to hang out or for a catchup session with friends By Cheryl Chia
Chill Sessions The amount of craft beers and ciders is astounding, with brands such as Hitachino, Hipster Ale, Thatcher’s cider, Victory Monkey, Stone IPA, and so on. Prices are reasonably cheap, starting at about $7.50. They also bring in Dutch Colony Coffee from Pasar Bella, Windowsill Pies, as well as Fluff Bakery and Ice Cream & Cookie Co. items to add to their desserts and teatime goodies.
Tian Tian Steamboat This place serves both a la carte and buffet-style hot pots with a wide array of ingredients from cuttlefish, fish balls, shrimp and meat to assorted vegetables and soup bases. 101 Building, 101 Beach Road, Singapore 189703
Fat Fish Steamboat If you are a fan of ‘fish glue’, try the steamboat here. The chef makes it fresh. eHub @ Downtown East, 1 Pasir Ris Close, Singapore 519599
The Icing Room The Icing Room shows log cakes can be playful, with its reindeer cakes. Looking like a slightly startled reindeer with a red-nose, you can choose Chocolate Ruldoph or Reindeer Blush. The latter is made of chocolate chiffon, hazelnut mousse and praline feuilletine covered in strawberry-flavoured chocolate glaze and with white chocolate ears and a milk chocolate nose. Available from Nov 14 to Dec 31 at The Icing Room outlets.
Beer, bites and banter
Steamboats & hot pots
Hai Di Lao Manicure and hot pot? Who would’ve thought? Sichuan hot pot place Hai Di Lao provides free manicure services and a play corner for children. Soup bases here include Sichuan spicy hot pot, tomato soup and mushroom soup. 3D River Valley Road, Clarke Quay, Singapore 179024
Apart from the usual savoury goodies of the Christmas season, log cakes can add a sweet and fun touch
“The amount of craft beers and ciders is astounding...”
Attached to the Shophouse Hostel, the owners of Working Title have transformed the lobby space into a cosy, laidback yet quirky place to catch up with friends over a few beers and bites. Lively banter is sure to follow. The cafe décor appears mismatched with the Wi-Fi code stuck onto now useless diskettes, used beer bottles as vases, as well as mismatched chairs.
House Specials Food choices here are a bit limited. Their One And Only Burger That We Have ($9) is a basic beef patty burger in between a wholemeal bun. The Truffle Tater Tots ($5) were crispy and with parmesan cheese and truffle oil – great for pairing with beer. The ice cream sandwiches ($7) from Ice Cream & Co. are to die for. From Milk and Cookies to After Eight and more, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Try the Butterscotch Bacon in between brown sugar cookies. Not a great place to dine, but ideal for a little tete-a-tete with friends. Working Title, 48 Arab Street, Singapore 199745, Tel: 9734 4187
weekender.com.sg Crab & Avocado Bruschetta
DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
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Giving Jamie Jamie Oliver’s restaurant in Singapore has refreshed its menu
MasterChef Australia’s Season 4 contestant Amina El Shafei shares her unique take on the Chinese wonton
Grilled Pork Chop
Since its opening earlier in the year, Jamie’s Italian – brainchild of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver – has had mixed reviews. Its menu has now been refreshed with a few new dishes. Brand New Dishes The new appetisers include Crispy Tomato and Mozzarella Arancini ($10.90) and Crab and Avocado Bruschetta ($14.50). The arancini is a great starter with its chewy cheese centre and tangy rice encased in a deepfried shell. The bruschetta wasn’t bad, with sourdough topped with
Crispy Pork Belly
Devonshire crab, avocado, and Yeo Valley yoghurt with apples, chilli, mint and lemon. For the mains, we absolutely loved the Grilled Pork Chop ($38.50), marinated and cooked under a brick, with parsley bagna cauda [hot dip], apples, kohlrabi [a cabbage], mint and lemon. It comes with a side of pork crackling.
Jamie’s Italian, VivoCity, #01-165, Singapore 098585, Tel: 6733 5500
Unique
and great views Here are excellent reasons to make the trip up Mount Faber
Serves four
RECIPE
Wonton • 16 egg wonton pastry wrappers • 130g Philadelphia Cream Cheese block • 1 vanilla bean, insides scraped & reserve pod • 2 tablespoons finely-chopped walnuts • Vegetable oil for deep frying • Fresh baby basil or dill fronds
METHOD • Segment oranges and put cut pieces aside. Using the unused oranges, squeeze half a cup of juice and strain. Use the juice for the syrup. • Combine the orange juice and sugar in a saucepan on high heat. Bring to the boil and reduce heat to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes until well combined and slightly thickened. Remove vanilla pod and leave aside to cool. • In a bowl combine cream cheese, walnuts and vanilla. Mix together well. Take a wonton wrapper, and lightly dampen the edges with water.
More Interesting & Yummy Food For the main course, try the Crispy Pork Belly ($26). The chef only prepares about 12 portions a day. The pork belly is slowcooked with a yuzu sauce until the pork is tender but the skin completely crisp. It is served with homemade pineapple pickles. The Tobiko Crusted Cod Fillet ($28) is
TO WIN, SIMPLY:
ONLY 1 ENTRY PER PERSON, PLEASE. CLOSING DATE: 11 Dec 2013 THE BRANDS & FOOD PRODUCTS
Spuds & Aprons, 109 Mount Faber Road, Level 2, Singapore 099203, Tel: 6377 9688
• Place a small ball of the cream cheese filling in the centre and fold the edges into whatever shape you prefer. Repeat the process until all 16 wontons are made. • Heat vegetable oil to 180 degrees Celsius. Carefully drop wontons in the hot oil, a few at a time, and cook until golden. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels. • Assemble warm. MasterChef Australia Season 5 airs on Lifetime, StarHub TV Ch 514, on weekdays at 7pm and 11pm.
FOOD GIVEAWAY
1. Like & share our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/weekendersgp 2. Drop us a private message with the words “Weekender Tabloid”. 3. In the message, include your particulars: Name, NRIC, E-mail, Mobile No.
oven-roasted, topped with tobiko [flying fish roe] and served with green tea soba noodles and aged ponzu sauce. We also liked their Braised Five Spiced Oxtail ($22), a wagyu oxtail rubbed with “five spice” and braised for three hours. It falls apart at the slightest touch of a fork. Complete your meal with the Chempedak Bread & Butter Pudding ($10) topped with vanilla ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s. It is certainly worth making your way up.
Orange syrup • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, strained • 1/3 cup caster sugar • Reserved vanilla pod
1ST ANNIVERSARY STAND TO WIN 1 OF THE FOLLOWING: - A bottle of Jaillance Semillon French Sparkling Wine - A bottle of Jaillance Muscat, Clairette French Sparkling Wine - Albert Menes Sliced Pure Butter Cake with Candied Fruit - Albert Menes Provençal Gâteau de Visan with Almonds and Chocolate cake - Cafedirect Machu Picchu gourmet terroir instant coffee
Tobiko Crusted Cod Fillet
for garnishing • 2 oranges, segmented
WEEKENDER In celebration of Weekender’s 1st Anniversary & the launch our new tabloid format, we are giving away gourmet food items to our readers!
Beautiful views, lush green surroundings and good food and drinks. What more could you ask for from a restaurant located in the concrete jungle of Singapore? The new family-friendly Spuds & Aprons on Mount Faber serves comfort food, familiar fare and sizeable portions at reasonable prices.
INGREDIENTS
Sea to Land Try the Baked Sustainable Halibut ($29.90) with spring vegetable stew, pancetta [a type of Italian bacon made from pork belly], Roman fried artichokes, crostini [similar to bruschetta] and lemony yoghurt dressing. The Mortadella and Ricotta Panzerotti ($16 - $24.50) is filled with mortadella [Italian sausage] and chicken and coated in a blue cheese sauce. It is then topped with green apples, toasted spiced nuts, lemon and a parsley salad. Not a dish for the faint-hearted, if you dislike strong cheese. End with the Raspberry Frangipane ($9.50) topped with crème fraiche ice cream for a tart finish.
comfort food
Come Hungry, Leave Happy Humorous headers such as “Hit Your Sweet Spot” and “Eat Like A Horse” greet you as you peruse the menu. Familiar favourites such as laksa, XO Fish Noodles Soup and Hokkien noodles are on the menu during lunchtime but the Western-fusion main dishes are the main attraction. Try the Chilli Crab in a Tux ($12), which is a chilli crab stuffed potato skin.
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Walnut, vanilla bean & cream cheese wontons with oranges
a second shot
Smashed Peas & Broad Beans Bruschetta
FOODMANIA
JAILLANCE Jaillance (pronounced Ja-yans) originates from the Drôme Valley, France. The popularity of its sparkling wines is second only to Champagne in France. It is the leading French brand in Appellation d’Origine Controlée sparkling wines. Jaillance Muscat, Clairette French Sparkling Wine is an award-winning, elegant semi-sweet French sparkling wine. It is one of France’s most popular wines, loved for its tropical hints of exotic fruits like passion fruit, mango and lychee with delicate aromas of peaches and rose. $26.90 Jaillance Semillon French Sparkling Wine is awardwinning, with a dry, naturally mellow and refreshing taste. Bubbly and aromatic, it has an aroma of gooseberries with citrus notes. $29.90 Retailing at Bottles & Bottles, Cold Storage, FairPrice,
FairPrice Finest, FairPrice Xtra, Giant, Jasons and MarketPlace. Visit www.jaillance.com
ALBERT MENES The House of Albert Ménès is renowned for genuine, artisanal/historical products and gourmet recipes that express the art of traditional French cuisine. It has grown into a vibrant conservatory of fine food and offers a range of over 350 items and 21 categories of fine foods today. The Provençal Gâteau de Visan with Almonds and Chocolate cake is made with naturally-sweet almonds from Valencia and freshly churned AOC butter from Poitou-Charente. The absence of flour makes the cake a gluten-free delicacy. $22 The Sliced Pure Butter Cake with Candied Fruit is studded with 40 per cent succulent fruits, the finest quality macerated raisins, tart citron, aromatic candied orange peel and Amarena cherries from Provence. Soaked overnight in pure Caribbean rum, they add a honeyed zest that tops off the luscious pastry. $22 Available from Paragon Market Place, Jasons the Gourmet Grocer @ ION Orchard, Robinson Orchard @ The Heeren and Jasons the Gourmet Grocer @ Sentosa Quayside. Visit www.albertmenes.com Cafédirect Cafédirect is a beverage company and a leading social enterprise. It is 100 per cent Fairtrade and gives 50% of its profits back to growers. In 2007, Cafédirect emerged as the “Most Recommended Brand in the UK”. In 2013, Good Housekeeping awarded it Gold for “Best Ethical Brand”. Cafédirect Machu Picchu gourmet ‘terroir’ instant coffee hails from the Machu Picchu mountains in Peru. The natural dark chocolate-y taste is distinctive of coffee from the region. Grown on some of the steepest slopes in the Andes overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage site, the gourmet beans are hand-cultivated and picked only when perfectly ripe. Cafédirect Machu Picchu gourmet terroir instant coffee retails at only $12.90 for a 100g jar at Cold Storage, FairPrice Finest and Giant. Visit www.cafedirect.co.uk
Winners will be notified by E-mail. Terms & Conditions apply.
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FOODMANIA / SPORTS
DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
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N thing like Part
2
a fine wine
weekender.com.sg Brio de Cantenac Brown 2006 This beautiful vintage hails from the famous Margaux region, with a wonderful nose offering ripe red and black fruits. It has an elegant body with well-rounded tannins with a savoury finish. Available at www.TheFrenchCellar.sg
Complete your Christmas feasts with these wines to complement them Here are some wines that we’ve picked to go with your Christmas feasts or even dinner over the weekend.
Jaillance Muscat, Clairette This wine brings with it the richness and exotic flavours of passion fruit, mango and lychee while displaying delicacy in the aromas of yellow peaches and rose petals. It goes wonderfully with frozen desserts as well as anything off the grill. Available at Cold Storage, FairPrice and Giant, $26.90
Diamond in the rough Newly-opened Chinese restaurant Diamond Kitchen serves hearty and familiar fare Salted Egg Squid
flavourful and briny broth and garlic. This is truly a refreshing change from typical rice dishes. Their Champagne Pork Ribs, their take on the typical “Pai Gu Wang”, is sweet, tender and had a slight kick from the champagne. We almost wanted to mop up the gravy with our rice. Also try their Salted Egg Squid. This moreish dish contains golden-fried, chewy and fresh squids, coated in salted egg yolk. Mmm...
Clam Mee Hoon
It may be snugly tucked away in Laguna Park condominium in Marine Parade, but Diamond Kitchen welcomes all to dine on familiar Chinese food that most Singaporeans love. The food served here is reminiscent of that of zi char stalls but with a more sophisticated touch. The dishes mostly come in three sizes (small, medium and large) and the prices differ accordingly but stay in the mid-range.
Fresh Seafood Typically, Chinese restaurants have tanks full of fresh seafood, alive and kicking, to show you exactly how fresh the food is. It is no different with Diamond Kitchen. When we were there, there was a crab trying to escape from the tank, much to our amusement. Their take on steamed shrimps comes steaming hot in a bamboo bucket with piping hot stones beneath, so be very careful when helping yourself to the dish. Diamond Kitchen also has Chinese New Year set menus starting from $168+.
Communal Dining True to the Chinese style of dining, most of the dishes here are meant for sharing. We loved their Clam Mee Hoon. The dish is full of fresh clams and vermicelli cooked in a
Diamond Kitchen, Laguna Park Condominium, 5000F Marine Parade Road, #01-22/23, Singapore 449289, E-mail: Reservation@ diamondkitchen.com.sg
ANSWERS TO SPOT THE DIFFERENCE If you haven’t guessed, Photo A was taken with a Compact Digital Camera – specifically, the Canon SX270HS. Notice how clean and neat each strand of hair is on the cat’s face. With a good Compact Digital Camera, such as the Canon SX270HS, you can even capture the texture of the cat’s green eye. With the phone cam, the hair comes out patchy and blurry. The eye’s colour is apparent, but there isn’t much detail.
See Page 2 for question
Photo A
Mas des Agrunelles, L’Indigene 2010 From the Languedoc Roussillon region of France, this wine has a surprising nose with spicy and peppery notes. It has a fruity finish with an impressive mineral backbone. Available at www. TheFrenchCellar.sg
SPORTS
The Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) and the Swimming Coaches Education Committee (SCEC) have introduced a new programme aimed at raising the level of swimming in Singapore. The Singapore Swimming Proficiency Award (SSPA) focuses on improving the proficiency of swimmers and aims to provide a talent pool for the next generation of competitive swimmers for Singapore and to increase the level of technical expertise among swimming coaches. Award-Based Structure The award-based structure will be based on a swimmer’s ability to swim any of four recognised strokes in compliance with FINA (International Swimming Federation) rules for competitive swimming. The programme focuses on six levels of various distances (50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m) for Freestyle and three levels of various distances (50m, 100m and 200m) for Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly and Individual Medley. There are timings set for each level and swimmers will have to achieve those timings before moving on to the next level. There are a total of 20 certificates and badges to be attained and swimmers may choose to challenge any particular level of the swim test, as and when they feel ready. Centralised Test The SSPA complements the current
The Golden Glimmer with Moet Imperial The Moet Imperial reveals a bright fruitiness and elegant maturity, creating a perfect harmony with the most refined dishes, with a specially-crafted gift packaging for the season. Available at fine wine retailers and select department stores, from $99.
Going to greater lengths for swimming A new proficiency award programme aims to raise the level of swimming in Singapore national swimming programme of SwimSafer by providing Singaporeans who have an interest in swimming to progress to the next level in the sport. Stroke proficiency and accuracy is of key importance. To kick-start the programme, more than 600 coaches have attended speciallyorganised workshops to learn more about SSPA. The pilot centralised test was run on Nov 23. With the support of the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), the SSA and SCEC hope to introduce this programme in all schools nationwide by July 2014. “In the long term, we hope that this programme will develop and build a sustainable pipeline of talented swimmers for all aquatic platforms to represent Singapore in major games,” said Jeffrey Low, President of SSA. For more information on the SSPA, please visit www.swimming.org.sg or call 6258 1011.
BEAUTY DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
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Clio
You’ve gotten your manicure done for the holidays; now get your Lipnicure from Clio. This range of products includes a Lip Primer, Lipnicure liquid lipsticks and a Lipnicure Top Coat for a shiny enamel finish. It dries in 30 seconds for quick, kissable smackers. Available at selected Watsons stores.
Esthetica
Shield yourself from the harmful rays of the sun with SunShield SPF 50. It utilises SmartVector UV technology, an intelligent solar protection system using UV sensitive marine DNA micro capsules that ensures UV blockers are only released into the skin upon UV exposure. Available at Esthetica outlets island-wide.
The long and short of the beauty industry for this week
Olay
The new Olay AquAction with HydraLock Technology addresses the causes of skin moisture loss to give you supple and bouncy skin. The Olay AquAction Softening Sleeping Mask provides intense hydration all night and effectively controls skin oils and achieves balance. Available at most departmental stores and pharmacies.
Garnier
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Olia by Garnier is an ammoniafree hair colour and is the first oil-powered hair colour. It contains 60 per cent natural floral oils with a subtle floral fragrance. It covers grey and gives hair a vivid shine. Available at Watsons, Guardian and major supermarkets, in 12 shades for Asian hair.
IN BRIEF
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Innisfree
Korean skincare brand Innisfree has reached our shores. The products utilise a pesticidefree green tea and ten organic ingredients from Jeju such as volcanic stone, canola and camellia. Their Green Tea Seed Serum boosts moisture in the skin while decreasing dead cells. Available at Takashimaya, #B2-34/35.
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BEING SINGAPOREAN
DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
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weekender.com.sg
CONFIRM, SHIOK ANYHOW CHOPE ABUDEN CONFIRM CAN
Singlish not language,
meh? Who say? A young, proud Singaporean takes up arms against misconceptions about our beloved Singlish Reprinted post by Grace Teng, with foreword by Frank Young
FOREWORD Singlish is functional, entertaining and, more importantly, helps to unite our heterogeneous culture. For better or worse, it is our very own. Sadly, the notion of language is often misunderstood. A language, such as English, is not static. It is dynamic, like a moving river, ever shifting, influenced by time, geography, technology and contact with other cultures, as Grace Teng argues in her post [which you will see, right]. Language is a tool, which its users shape over time. Like many other cultures and subcultures around the world, Singaporeans have naturally done so with the English language over the years. Is Singlish a replacement for World
English that we learn in school or use in business? Absolutely not. Just as a person would not wear slippers and shorts to a business meeting, you wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) use Singlish either. They are simply different tools for different purposes. A recent question posted on Quora. com (a popular website for posing questions and crowd-sourcing answers) implied that there must be something wrong with Singaporeans because we don’t speak “proper English”. One highly-favoured and insightful response came from Grace Teng. We reprint her views here in their entirety, with her permission.
Singlish: People either love it or hate it. Despite the differences in opinion, we can all agree that Singlish exists.
Question: “Why don’t Singaporeans try to speak proper English?” Grace’s response: Oh wow. You’re spoiling for a fight.
F
irstly, Singlish is not bad English. It has its own phonology, its own syntax, and its own grammar. It is possible to speak bad Singlish, just as it is possible to speak bad English. Singlish is a creole, and while there isn’t a lot of agreement as to what defines a creole, many creole languages suffer from perception problems; they’re seen as “corrupted” forms of a “proper” language. Many creoles exist on a dialect continuum. On one end is the acrolectal form, the “proper” form of the base language (in this case it’s English), and on the other end is the basilectal form (in this case it’s Singlish). Even the terms “acrolectal” and “basilectal” are loaded terms but I’ll just use them anyway. I should say that it’s not just creoles that form parts of a dialect continuum. Pretty much any regional accent will also exist on a continuum. In the UK, for example, the acrolect is Received Pronunciation / Queen’s English, and the basilect could be Scouse, Geordie, Cockney, Brummie... If you go to Liverpool, Newcastle, East London or Birmingham and tell them they’re speaking bad English, you’re not going to
have a good time. Besides, the huge diversity of languages that we have today came from somewhere. Once upon a time, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Catalan, Galician, Occitan, Romanian, etc. were “bad” Latin. I’m going to make a bold, somewhat tenuous (but I think correct) claim here – Singlish shows many traits of natural language, it is consistently spoken the same way by a large group of what are, in effect, native speakers of Singlish, so we should consider it a language in its own right. (It’s still a creole on one end of a continuum, but for the purposes of this argument...) Singlish is under-researched, except in sociolinguistics, but here are some things about Singlish phonology and grammar that I bet you never thought about: Singlish is syllable-timed, unlike American and British English, which are stress-timed. This means that in Singlish, each syllable takes the same amount of time, while in American and British English, the interval between two stressed syllables takes the same amount of time. Vowels are usually fully articulated. In American and British English, unstressed vowels tend to be pronounced as schwa or as a lax high front vowel (the “I” in “bitter”). Not so in Singlish. “To”, for example, will be pronounced /tu/ regardless of stress. Consonant clusters are reduced and a lot of phonemes get elided, especially in running speech. How does a Singlish
weekender.com.sg
DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2013
speaker know that “liddat” means “like that” and “dowan” means “don’t want”? Those are just the canonical examples. Listen to a Singaporean the next time he says “I don’t understand”, and see what you actually hear, not just what you think you hear. Curiously, in Singlish, word-initial consonant clusters are never reduced, yet reduction can happen across a word boundary. A quirk I recently noticed: th-stopping and th-fronting happen allophonically. In non-technical terms: when “th” appears at the start of a word or after a consonant cluster, it is realised as /t/ or /d/, when it appears at the end of a syllable or between vowels it is realised as /f/ or /v/. Topic prominent syntax – the most important part of a sentence goes to the beginning, regardless of part of speech. “The camera must bring hor” (noun - object), “Blur lah him” (adjective), “Faster go if not no more seats” (adverb), all acceptable constructions in Singlish that are not acceptable in English. The set of acceptable syntactical constructions in Singlish is a superset of that of English. And if you doubt that this is even syntax, think about this: Why can’t we say “lah cannot make it”? Productive morphology – Singlish allows you to apply English morphology to any lexical item, regardless of origin. “Nuah” can become “nuahed” or “nuahing”, “kope” can become “koped” or “koping”, same with “chope”. The word “agaration”, from the verb “agak” and the derivational suffix “-ation”. Nouns, too: kopis, kuehs, goondus... This is just the tip of the iceberg. Trust me, I could go on. Nobody sat in a room and said, we shall all speak Singlish this way; let’s write a grammar of Singlish. There is a wrong way to speak Singlish, but at least two generations of Singaporeans have now learned to speak a language that is remarkably consistent in its own phonology and grammar across speakers, when considered separately from English. I also want to make a distinction here between speaking Singlish and speaking English with a Singaporean accent. To an English speaker from a different part of the world, the latter sounds like English with a different accent, while Singlish often sounds like a completely different language. Now to the other part of your question: Why don’t Singaporeans speak English more often instead of Singlish? Because, like it or not, Singlish, not English, is what we grow up speaking. It’s what we hear in our homes growing up, it’s what we hear when we go out, it’s what we hear in schools and informally in the workplace, and it’s what we become comfortable with from a young age. We think in it, its lexis and syntax are what come most naturally to us, it becomes the default medium for expression. I know my argument is tautological, but since I’ve spent all this time arguing that Singlish has many features of a naturally acquired first language (as opposed to features of an imperfectly acquired second language), what I’m really saying is, you wouldn’t ask a Frenchman why he prefers to speak French over other languages, would you? Let’s consider a different case of diglossia (two different but closely related languages coexisting): Do you ask why Cantonese speakers in Guangdong or Shanghainese speakers in Shanghai don’t speak “real Mandarin Chinese”? They do speak it when they have to, they just prefer Cantonese, Shanghainese, etc. for daily communication. Same goes for Catalan/Galician/ Aranese/Asturian/etc. and Spanish, same goes for Bairisch/Schwäbisch/ etc. and German, and same goes for many, many diglossia situations around the world. Just because Singlish is a creole doesn’t mean it’s any different from the above cases. (In this respect, the Bairisch-German comparison is probably the most accurate.) Besides being a first language of
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most Singaporeans, or perhaps because of it, Singlish also has features that make it feel unique to a Singaporean – the staccato quality (due to our tendency to insert a glottal stop before a word-initial vowel), its syntactical efficiency, its varied lexis drawn from many different languages – all Singlish speakers know what “shiok” means and yet not one person can give an accurate definition of it to a non-speaker. Some things simply do not feel the same expressed in English: Can you find a way to say, “Why you so like that?” that conveys the same measure of annoyance and curtness? Heck, why do we even have any linguistic diversity in the world, why don’t we just make everyone speak English? It’s because each language has its own fluidity, its own quirks, its own peculiar expressions that are beautiful in and of themselves, and speakers of different languages want to preserve that. I will admit Singlish is a “problem” when the speaker isn’t aware of where he or she falls on the basilectal-acrolectal continuum. It is a problem when Singaporeans think they’re speaking English when they’re not, and I have also encountered the reverse (when Singaporeans think they’re speaking Singlish when they’re only speaking English with a Singaporean accent – yes, it happens to Singaporeans abroad). But if we continue to pretend that Singlish doesn’t exist as a language in its own right, we’ll never begin to be able to sort out what makes Singlish Singlish, what’s bad English, and what is actually good English.
of giving It’s the season to show your loved ones how much you really appreciate them. Weekender presents gift options for you
If you ever need a reason to buy your loved ones a present, the time is now. This festive period brings limited edition as well as unique products. Here are some gift ideas for you to show your love and appreciation to your friends and family.
For the House-Proud Guru
If you have a Martha Stewart wannabe as a friend, consider the Gilded Chestnut Fragrance Botanicals ($48) from Crabtree & Evelyn. This delightful array of potpourri can be refreshed with the Gilded Chestnut Home Fragrance Oil ($18) for a sweet scent of apples, pear and seasonal berries combined with musk and sweet cream accord. It’s starting to smell a lot like Christmas. Available at Crabtree & Evelyn stores.
We would like to hear your thoughts. E-mail us at frank@weekender.com.sg or grace@ pelicularities.net. Visit pelicularities.net for more about Grace Teng.
For the Philanthropic Shopper
YA YA PAPAYA
For the friend who loves to buy items in support of a social cause, try these flip-flops from Gandys. Started by a pair of British brothers who lost their parents to the 2004 tsunami, Gandys donates 10 per cent of its profits to its Orphans for Orphans mission which provides orphans and underprivileged children with food and education.
ACT CUTE
PIA
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‘Tis the season
Grace Teng
PANTANG
BEING SINGAPOREAN
Available on www.gandysflipflops.com
For the Fashionista
Being constantly ahead of fashion trends is no easy feat. Help your loved one out with the aid of the newest i.t. Store that has opened in Bugis Junction. The multi-label store has brought in another brand from Hong Kong, :CHOCOOLATE. The style draws inspiration from modernism with their iconic monotone detailing. Available at Bugis Junction, #02-11, Singapore 188021.
For the Colour Lover
Bright clothing with pops of neon is all the rage and that extends to accessories. These Candy Button Bangles ($38) from Ted Baker are made from resin and come in shades of orange, fuchsia, glitter gold, purple and pink. Available at Ted Baker Stores and Robinsons at JEM and The Centrepoint.
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TRAVELATION
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hether you’re at Arab Street or the Grand Canyon, quite often the most interesting object is far away. That’s why, I always carry a Compact Digital Camera that can go the distance. Zoom, Zoom, Zoom Almost all phone cams can zoom but the magnification is weak and the image is grainy. With a Compact Digital Camera, it’s different. Here’s why. Compact Digital Cameras have superior optical zoom compared to phone cams. This means that a glass lens does the magnification. The results are sharper and higher definition. However, in a phone cam, the sensor (the electronic component that catches the light) “digitally” zooms. This means that the sensor selects the area you want and artificially enlarges it. It’s like how MSG boosts the flavour in food – with unhealthy effects. Likewise, digital zooming has bad side effects. The images come out coarse, they’re duller, and they look fuzzy. So, why lose the magnificence of breath-taking scenery, when you simply need to bring your Compact Digital Camera along?
Last zoom Series A: At widest angle for both formats - phone cam (left), Compact Digital Camera (right)
How They Compare In the photo examples, Series A is shot with a phone cam and a Compact Digital Camera. The one taken with a Compact Digital Camera (right) exhibits better shadow clarity. Series B represents the maximum magnification that a very high-end, popular phone’s cam (left) can muster, versus a Compact Digital Camera (right). The phone cam’s image has degraded, with the palm fronds being blurry, while the Compact Digital Camera’s photo retains its resolution. In Series C, there is only one picture, because the Compact Digital Camera’s magnification is significantly more powerful than the phone cam’s. Moreover, note how the fronds and the crescent on top of the mosque remain sharp. So, don’t lose out on all the beauty and details in your travel photos. Take a Compact Digital Camera with you, and come back with great photos! W
standing Good images will never be out of reach with a strong and powerful zoom. Guinevere Sofer demonstrates
Series C: At Compact Digital Camera’s maximum zoom using the Canon SX270 HS model.
Series B: At the phone cam’s maximum zoom (left) and matching intermediate zoom of the Compact Digital Camera (right).
Reading Weekender is Rewarding. Thank you for participating, and congratulations to our winners. Look out for more upcoming Canon camera giveaways! Here are the winners of the Canon PowerShot SX270 HS compact digital camera. THE WINNERS ARE:
Nikita Hazlina Tay NRIC: SXXXX455G
Weekender CANON CAMERA GIVEAWAY
Suhaila Senin NRIC: SXXXX326E
The winners will be notified by post. Terms & Conditions apply. Visit weekender.com.sg/terms.html for Terms & Conditions.
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PART 2
weekender.com.sg
Stupas and prayer flags, icons of Tibetan culture, add mystique to Old Town
Shangri-La Enlightenment
Named after a mythical site in the novel “Lost Horizon”, Shangri-La in China may be as close as it gets to the utopian place by Frank Young
Shika Mountain (4200m above sea level) on a clear day
Tiger Leaping Gorge is about twice the depth of the Grand Canyon but the riverbank is conveniently accessible
– the name he conveniently uses for foreigners who may have trouble remembering his ethnic name. He is Tibetan – the dominant ethnicity in this region of China – and he was our guide. a Fabled Past Ever since the novel “Lost Horizon” was published in 1933, ShangriLa has been a place that many people aspire to visit. The name, “Shangri-La”, is a siren call to all who seek inner peace, tranquillity and longevity. It’s no wonder that spas, hotels, restaurants and waterparks around the world use that name. This concept hasn’t escaped the attention of tourism officials in the region, either. Several places in the area claim to be the inspiration for the mythical utopia. One of these places is Zhongdian County in the Yunnan province of China. It was renamed “Shangri-La” in 2001 to help to attract tourists who visit nearby Lijiang and Dali to the area. It worked. Who wouldn’t want to visit paradise on earth, in only two extra days’ stay?
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fter two hours of driving from Lijiang, our tour bus stops at a little dusty town en route to Shangri-La. A young man boards our bus. He is tall, strikingly handsome, and earthy-looking. His skin is tanned bronze from exposure to the sun’s intense rays at high altitudes. The young man sports a short and rugged black overcoat trimmed with white yak-fur lining and cuffs. He obviously isn’t a tourist and, despite his Asian features, he doesn’t look Chinese at all. This is rather mysterious, since we are deep in the middle of China. He introduces himself as Richard
Cultural Paradigm Shift On long journeys, in between destinations, good tour guides will take the opportunity to share the culture’s backstory, legends and myths. For over an hour, Richard introduced us to the mysteries of Tibetan culture to help to enrich our visit and there are at least two anecdotes worth telling. Given a choice between money and a yak, a Tibetan would choose the yak. (It’s not surprising that many Singaporeans were dumbfounded by this choice.) He went on to explain that there aren’t many shops to buy things in the first place, so money isn’t very useful. On the other hand, every single part of the yak is useful – hair for making coats, tents and ropes; milk for producing butter and cheeses; bones to be made into combs, ornaments and handicraft; and even dung for fuel. Moreover, the meat from one yak can feed a family for months! If
you’re snowbound at home for four months during the winter season, I guess, the yak would be your best friend too. Culturally, Tibetans practice polyandry – marriage between a woman and several husbands, who are typically brothers to one another. When it comes to identifying the biological father of a child, the mother may not actually know. She can choose to stay silent for the sake of family harmony, leaving the eldest husband to carry the title of ‘father’ in the family. With these cultural perspectives and approaches toward topics such as money and spouses, it’s no wonder Tibetans are considered mysterious by many people. Still, there was more to experience and to realise. One of the World’s Deepest Canyons Several scenic stops punctuate the long bus ride to Shangri-La, which also provide Richard with some rest. A major stop we visited is one of the world’s deepest canyons. Flanked between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain the roaring river has, for thousands of years, carved a gorge ever-deeper. Its legend tells of a tiger that leapt from one side of the canyon to the other to evade capture by hunters, hence its name – Tiger Leaping Gorge. The main attraction of Tiger Leaping Gorge is a steep 20-minute descent by stairs, to view the rapids from the riverbank. As we alight from the bus, local porters enthusiastically offer to carry us on shoulder-mounted red sedan chairs to the bottom of the stairs. They charge by weight: Thin people – RMB100 (about $20), fat people – RMB150 (about $30). As a seasoned traveller, I wasn’t suckered into such a tourist gimmick. Moreover, after spending over an hour on the bus, it seemed like a good idea at the time to walk. A series of safe, well-crafted stairs descend the side of Haba Mountain to the riverbank where you can see the rage of the river – churning,
weekender.com.sg roaring, and battling the boulders breaching the riverbed. With a tiger’s agility and ability to leap long distances, one could easily believe how a tiger could have evaded capture by leaping over a series of boulders. Richard admits it’s very plausible but adds that he has never seen a tiger in this region in his entire life. Going down to the riverbank is easy enough. However, climbing back up on the sheer steps at 3,200m above sea level, where the air is thin, is a challenge for some. On the ascent, my legs and lungs were burning. Drawing breath was as if sucking bubble tea pearls through a very skinny straw. I cursed my decision to do it on my own. Where are those darn porters when you need them! Tibetan Charm Shangri-La County is sparsely populated. It’s more like farmland dotted with yaks and many recentlybuilt Tibetan houses. These are two-storey rectangular abodes constructed with timber supports and clay walls. Draped upon numerous A-frame structures, hay is sun-dried as livestock feed in preparation for the long winter. On the second day, we visited Shangri-La’s Old Town – the main tourist attraction in the county. Overlooking the town square, on top of a hill, is an impressive lamasery. The lamasery’s collection of roofs cascade down the hill. A large glittering brass prayer wheel rises above the treeline, pointing towards the sky. As impressive and immense as it looks, I was told that there was a grander lamasery (Yunnan’s largest), Songzanlin Monastery, just a few kilometres away.
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In the town centre, one can take photos with yaks. When you’re able to, try the yak meat ‘satay’, which tastes like beef. You can also try the local barley cookies, or yak yoghurt. Shop houses line the charming cobblestone streets, selling trinkets and souvenirs. Don’t forget to haggle hard and start at 20 per cent of the offer price. Colourful Tibetan prayer flags draped along small lanes give them an artsy, bohemian, laid-back appearance. After a long stroll, we retreat into one of the shops and try the local power drink, Tibetan butter tea. It’s salty, lightly-buttery, and packed with calories to stave off the cold. Clarity Atop Shika Mountain At Shangri-La’s altitude of 3,200m, I started to feel the strain of laboured breathing from the thin air. The easy solution is simply to reduce physical exertion and to slow down. If one is feeling the effects of high altitude in Old Town, then it will be even more pronounced at the next attraction – Shika Mountain, 4,200m above sea level. A series of cable cars efficiently carries tourists to its permanent snow caps within minutes. At the top, there are elevated wooden trails for people to follow. For many who have never experienced snow, it is indeed a real treat to make snowmen and snow angels for the first time. Temperatures are well below zero at the top. Fortunately, thick, quilted overcoats and gloves are available for rent for unprepared tropical travellers. It’s all very well-managed and safe – assuming you don’t have altitude problems. Even if you do, cans of oxygen (RMB45) are readily available for people who may be
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The must-have multi-purpose appliance: a heater and stove
affected by the thin air. I recommend checking for clear weather before you decide on the time to visit. If clouds roll in, visibility drops to just a few hundred metres. On a clear day, there are snow-capped mountains as far as the eye can see. It’s a clarity that truly evokes awe. Perhaps Shangri-La wasn’t the inspiration for “Lost Horizon”, but the mystique of Tibetan culture, its people and the majesty of its mountains is just as alluring. Although I have not found enlightenment in Shangri-La, I was enlightened by this intriguing journey. W
“In the town centre, one can take photos with yaks... Try the yak meat ‘satay’, which tastes like beef.”
This trip was possible thanks to ASA Holidays.
This happy woman is hawking yak yoghurt and barley cookies
Elderly tourists or domestic tourists displaying their wealth may ride in red sedans shouldered by porters
Modern designs & amenities in paradise Guilin is renowned for its peaks and picturesque scenery. That doesn’t mean you can’t stay in a modern hotel with the latest amenities The picturesque lake view at Club Med Guilin
Club Med has unveiled its new resort, nestled in the breath-taking mountains of Guilin, China. Club Med Guilin provides an unprecedented experience to discover nature and local culture, along with modern and comfortable accommodation and amenities. Most Beautiful Natural Landscape Famed for its astounding natural scenery of rice terraces, karst peaks and meandering rivers, Guilin is ranked the “No. 1 Most Beautiful Natural Landscape” in China. Located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, it is also a designated UNESCO World Heritage site and has been listed by the World
Tourism Organization as China’s “Best Holiday Resort Destination for Mountain and River Sightseeing”. The magnificent landscape surrounding the resort will give guests a feeling of serenity from the moment they arrive. Modern Innovations Club Med Guilin is the first Club Med resort to feature a Nature & Sculpture theme. Its Modern Sculpture Park spreads across its 46-hectares and complements the natural scenery, showcasing over 100 giant artworks by more than 150 internationally-renowned artists. Club Med Guilin also houses the first Natural Pool for Club Med and in China. Using no chlorine at all, the
pool’s natural cleansing process is developed through the clever use of various plants and micro-organisms. This is a truly unique and au naturel facility for eco-conscious guests. Another first of its kind is the rooftop restaurant and accompanying terrace which offers guests a 360-degree scenic view overlooking the landscape. The Guilin resort is also pioneering new activities for Club Med resorts. These include art classes for guests taught by local artists and professors, tea ceremony sessions and cooking classes. Fantastic Facilities Club Med Guilin offers 330 guestrooms across two distinctive hotel wings. The rooms feature a fresh, contemporary style inspired by local landscapes. Guests can choose from Red China or Tribal Teal colour themes, inspired by the traditional costumes of the local ethnic minority tribes. Apart from all-day dining available with two restaurants, a noodle bar, four bars and the 360-degree rooftop restaurant and terrace, guests will be treated to nightly circus performances and parties in the Theatre with an indoor flying trapeze. Fun for the Whole Family Club Med Guilin offers adventure and nature for the whole family. Outdoor enthusiasts can even try their hand at rock climbing on the famous karst mountains. Flying trapeze, archery, biking, yoga and golfing are some of the other activities available. Club Med
The limestone cave is beautiful and well lit
The Superior Room at the Homa section
also offers dedicated activities and professional care for children of all ages, giving parents peace of mind. Club Med is offering a special 5D4N Club Med Guilin package in which DJ Dasmond Koh will host guests on their trip. This special package is valid for travel from Mar 15 to 19, 2014. Prices start from $1,395. Guilin is accessible from Singapore via Hong Kong or Guangzhou, followed by a domestic flight to Guilin airport.
“Club Med Guilin houses the first Natural Pool for Club Med, and in China.” Visit www.clubmed.com.sg for more information.
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