April-June 2011

SingaporeGROUND

LEVELAROUND BHUTAN

BY BUS FOR VOLUNTEER

GERMAINE CHEONG

A WISH FOR PEACECELEBRATING VESAK DAY IN SINGAPORE

LONDONCALLINGQuirky touches at country clubs

give expatriates a sense of home

April-June 2011

INSIDE INDIA

HOW TWO S’PORE

BUSINESSES MADE IT

EH,GOONDU!SYLVIA TOH PAIK CHOO ON LOCAL HUMOUR

CONTENTS

Singapore is a quarterly publication of the Singapore International Foundation. The views expressed in Singapore are those of the authors and do not necessarily refl ect those of the Foundation and its Governors. Copyright 2009 by the Singapore International Foundation. Printed in Singapore by KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. MICA (P) 091/02/2009. For more information, please visit www.sif.org.sg or read Singapore online at singaporemagazine.sif.org.sg

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JEAN TANMANAGING EDITOR REBECCA LIMEDITORS LEONG WEN SHAN, NOELLE PERERAPUBLISHING CONSULTANTMEDIACORP PTE LTDCorrespondence can be addressed to The Editor at singapore@sif.org.sg

COVER PHOTO WILSON PANG

30 Singapore Internationale

24 My Singapore

18 Island Gems

7 Scene

2 From the Editor-in-Chief

3 Buzz

4 Biz.sg

SCENE

10 People

12 Society

15 Go Figure!

16 SIF News

18ISLANDGEMS

22 Going Local

24 MYSINGAPORE

26 Culture Fix

28 What’s Cooking

SINGAPOREINTERNATIONALE

32 I Say

Crossing boundaries

Said and done in Singapore

A tale of two businesses in India

Giving an international touch to interior decor

A veteran fundraiser’s view

Tasting the world from Singapore

Singapore by numbers and on the web

Recent activities + SIF volunteer Germaine Cheong

Quirky touches at country clubs give a sense of home

Clifford Wong’s sporting life

Humorist Sylvia Toh Paik Choo’s take on local humour

The various observerances of Vesak Day

A taste of Persian fare

Showing Singapore’s creativity to the world

Inside Ramesh Meyyappan’s artistic world

30

7

2 singapore

GOING LOCAL

After the recent natural disasters in New Zealand and Japan, we are reminded that our worlds are truly intertwined and that, wherever we are in the world, we need each other through the good and bad. It’s in times like these that the human spirit rises above adversity, crossing geographical and

cultural boundaries.In this issue of Singapore, we profi le the local and global communities that are bridging the

distance through new friendships, cultural exchange and a compassionate spirit.Two Singapore businessmen share with us their journeys to set up shop in India, creating new

partnerships and fortifying an already strong relationship between the two countries. We also spotlight the Singapore artists making waves by collaborating with their overseas peers and bringing their artistic works to foreign shores.

We hear from two Singapore volunteers doing their bit for communities at home and abroad—Germaine Cheong, back from a 10-month stint integrating IT systems in Bhutan’s classrooms; and Celeste Basapa, a veteran fundraiser for locally-based organisations.

With food often a catalyst for meaningful conversation and a discovery of shared experiences, we fi nd out how members of Singapore’s international community are introducing the smells, sounds and fl avours of cuisines from their neck of the woods, through cooking classes they conduct in their new neighbourhoods.

As the Singapore International Foundation edges towards its 20th birthday, we are—more than ever—committed to making this world a better one. Whether through business ties, cultural exchange, or a shared meal, gaining a deeper understanding of those around us is instrumental to making that happen. Through this issue of Singapore, we hope you discover that the potential to effect positive change lies in each of us, and that together, we can make a better world a reality.

Jean Tan

Editor-in-Chief, SingaporeExecutive Director, Singapore International FoundationEmail: singapore@sif.org.sg

FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

FANCY AN ‘INSIDER’S BREW’?

BE A FRIEND OF SINGAPORE KOPITIAM

Read up on Singapore on www.singaporekopitiam.sg

Brought to you by the Singapore International Foundation

Crossing boundaries

BUZZ

I’m someone who can shine under pressure, and remaining here in Singapore keeps me pushing to the edge, which will be better for my career.Singaporean singer-songwriter Charles J. Tan, on making Singapore the base for his debut album tour around Southeast Asia.

If you have an open mind, you can come and enjoy yourself. If not, pleasedon’t come.Cross-dressing comedian Kumar about his recent show in which he tackled racial stereotypes that Indians face.

In the coming 10 years, it will be a very exciting place for students to study and play. We’re going to make NTU a tourist attraction — almost.President-designate Prof Bertil Andersson on the Nanyang Technological University campus—Singapore’s largest—that will be remade into a lifestyle hub in 15 years.

Let us keep Singapore competitive, viable and comfortable. But more important than these, keep Singapore affordable. Then the average Singaporean will have time to make babies and improve his quality of life.Reader Peter Loon in a letter to The Straits Times about the rising cost of living.

I am excited…because I may get a chance to step into a voting booth at such a young age.28-year-old bank analyst Bernard Tay, on the upcoming Singapore General Elections.

Ask questions. Don’t be shy, but don’t be rude by focusing your questions on whether an artwork will make money.Art consultant Lindy Poh on how one can find more about art.

A bigger car and home are really not necessary.Seah’s Spices founder Seah Seow Khiang on his modest lifestyle, despite a successful spice mix business which sells 18 million packets a year worldwide.

singapore 3

...[it’s] designed to make you want to squeeze the hand of your partner or, if not, someone else’s partner.Laservision CEO Paul McCloskey on how the company’s 13-minute nightly light and water show at the ArtScience Museum is designed to stir the emotions.

4 singapore

INSIGHTS INTO INDIA

Perseverance paid off for V S Kumar. The 48-year-old Singaporean invested about a

quarter of a million dollars as well as a year of his time in getting the Chennai branch of his courier service company operational in 1994—twice the amount of capital and time he had originally estimated it would take.

For him, though, giving up was never an option. “It took me eight years as a lone dispatch rider in Singapore to accumulate enough clients to start my own company, Network Courier, in 1990. So I wasn’t about to give up on my fi rst venture outside Singapore,” he says.

The catalyst for this decision to expand overseas presented itself 17 years ago, when Kumar read in the newspapers comments made by Professor S Jayakumar, then Singapore’s Foreign Minister. “He was encouraging local businesses to explore foreign markets,” says Kumar. “Chennai, as the capital city of Tamil Nadu, looked like a good choice because I speak Tamil, the primary language there.”

In the mid-1990s, 51 per cent of any foreign business venture in India had to be owned by an Indian national. Kumar acquired a local partner but

the partnership was dissolved in 1997 due to personal differences. The Indian government had softened its stance on business ownership by then, so after buying over his partner’s share, Kumar set about cementing Network Courier’s Chennai presence.

But losing his Indian partner meant he had to negotiate his own way around a business environment he was then unfamiliar with. Getting the paperwork done was an eye-opener as there were multiple documents to be obtained and approved. “On top of my courier licence, I needed a letter from the airport authorities to allow me to bring packages

With trade on the rise between India and Singapore, two local businessmen tell Singapore how they made inroads in the Indian market. BY GENE KHOR

PHO

TOG

RAPH

S C

OU

RTES

Y O

F N

ETW

ORK

CO

URI

ER

BIZ.SG

singapore 5

into the airport,” Kumar remembers. “Then, I needed another one to bring them onboard a plane.”

He was also surprised by how the offi ce rental came with an 11-month contract—with an additional 10-month deposit payable upfront. Looking back, Kumar admits that he had taken for granted that “doing business in India wouldn’t be very different from Singapore”.

Of the experience of investing more time and money than anticipated, Kumar likens it philosophically to “wanting to buy a fi shing hook, but ending up buying the fi shing boat”. Not that he now has any regrets. The “boat” weathered whatever storms came its way, and last year Network Courier—of which he is managing director—recorded a turnover of $3.2 million from the Chennai branch, about half a million more than in 2009. This sum

was “quite a signifi cant” percentage of the company’s total turnover, he discloses.

Kumar attributes the surge to the exposure India has been receiving of late thanks to international events such as last year’s Commonwealth Games. “Now international name brands like [car manufacturers] BMW and Audi have opened factories there, while retailers like MAC [cosmetics] and [clothing brand] Timberland are available in the huge malls,” Kumar observes.

All these developments mean he has no shortage of clients. His Chennai business boasts a database of around 1,500 clients, serviced by 35 staff. Chennai is India’s fi fth most populous city, but that’s not the main reason Kumar—who spends around a week there every three months or so—receives a host of applications each time he advertises a job vacancy.

“I’ve earned respect by showing that I don’t quit once things get tough; that’s why I’ve had around 20 people apply for one dispatch rider’s position.”

India—the world’s second-most popu-lous country—doesn’t have a one-child policy, unlike China, which currently ranks fi rst.

And that was the main reason Dr T Chandroo felt that the Indian market had enormous potential for a Modern Montessori International (MMI) preschool.

“MMI’s options are limitless in India,” says its chairman and chief executive offi cer.

The middle-to-high income group are the school’s key clientele. “In a country with a population of close to 1.3 billion, what percentage does this group make up?” asks the 57-year-old Singaporean rhetorically. “Even if it’s just one per cent, that’s still 1.3 million. At full capacity, my schools there still wouldn’t be able to cover even half my targeted demographic.”

Dr Chandroo became a franchisee of MMI London by opening a teacher training and preschool enrichment centre in Singapore in 1989.

But it wasn’t until 14 years later that the wheels to venture overseas were set in motion. “Unlike other businesses, education [in India] still adheres to the 51 per cent Indian citizen ownership rule,” says Dr Chandroo. “Though op-portunities with smaller establishments had presented themselves before, work-ing with a bigger corporation would take

our company to the next level, allowing us to build ourselves up to their standing in the business hierarchy.”

Enter the Jaipuria Group, Pepsi- Cola franchise holders for North India and Nepal, and the largest bottlers

FINDING THE RIGHT PARTNER

Dispatch riders at Network Courier’s branch in Chennai

V S KUMAR

At full capacity, my schools still wouldn’t be able to cover even half my targeted demographicDr T Chandroo on the opportunities for growth in the preschool industry in India

6 singapore

BIZ.SG

6 6666 6 6 6666 666 66 6666 sissinnnngagagagaaagappppopopopooooooooooooooooooooopooooooooooooopooooooooooopooooooooooooooooooooooopooooooooooooooooooooooooopoooooooopooooooooooop rererrererererererererrrreererrrrerereererererreereereererererererrreeereerereererrreeerereerrrererererrerrereeererererrereereerrereeeeerrerereree

been copycat institutions, claiming to have similar —albeit uncertifi ed—early childhood programmes.

Today, MMI India makes about $2.5 million per year from its schools, but Dr Chandroo hopes to grow this amount to $25 million in the next fi ve years. He

also has plans to open 1,000 schools in India within the next decade.

“You’ve got to know what your market is, and capitalise on it,” he says. “But the most important part of any venture is fi nding a strong, reputable partner who shares your vision.”

in Asia. “They were already running the Delhi Public School, which covered primary and secondary school classes,” explains Dr Chandroo. “So they wanted to diversify and introduce early childhood education as well.”

MMI’s teaching system, which originated from the United Kingdom, was what the Jaipuria Group was looking for.

The fi rst Indian school was opened six years ago in Gurgaon, the sixth larg-est city in Haryana, considered one of the most prosperous states in India. “As Haryana’s industrial and fi nancial centre, it is a densely populated area that has many young couples with children—our key demographic,” says Dr Chandroo. “We also considered Mumbai, India’s most populous city, but rental was too expensive.”

There are now 14 other MMI schools in Indian cities, including New Delhi and Bangalore. There have been few hiccups in the expansion. “With their reputation and connections in India’s business landscape, the Jaipuria Group had no problems with the administration involved in setting up the schools,” explains Dr Chandroo. The only problems encountered have

UP AND UPThe fi rst of its kind, the India

Show in January 2011 at the

Suntec Singapore International

Convention & Exhibition

Centre gave Indian companies

a platform to showcase their

strengths and capabilities.

The timing of this exhibition

was apt, as 2010 saw $30.7

billion in bilateral trade

between Singapore and India, a

substantial increase from $6.9

billion in 2001.

This distinct climb can

be attributed to the India-

Singapore Comprehensive

Economic Cooperation

Agreement of 2003.

Under this agreement, basic

customs duties and tariffs for a

range of goods between the two

countries were reduced

or eliminated, in addition to

other benefi ts.

The ASEAN–India Free

Trade Area Trade In Goods

Agreement was also signed

in August 2009. Under this

agreement, India offers four

different concession types for

Singapore-originating goods by

eliminating and reducing tariffs

for Singapore exporters.

According to a Ministry

of Commerce and Industry

report on India’s Foreign Direct

Investment (FDI) in December

2010, Singapore is India’s

second largest investor with a

cumulative stock of FDI at over

$14 billion.

A Modern Montessori International preschool class in session in Gurgaon

DR T CHANDROO

PHO

TOG

RAPH

S C

OU

RTES

Y O

F M

OD

ERN

MO

NTE

SSO

RI IN

TERN

ATIO

NA

L

singapore 7

PHO

TOG

RAPH

S BY

WILS

ON

PA

NG

AN

D K

ELV

IN C

HIA

SCENE

SETTING UP SHOPUpon their arrival in Singapore, these expatriate women identified gaps in markets that they have expertise in—

and decided to plug them. BY ANITA YEE

Lifestyle women: (Clockwise from top) Helle Espersen, Majella Skansebakken, Daniele Jarvis and Rebecca Forwood

8 singapore

SCENE

Many women who move to Singapore with their families usually do so on the backs of

their spouses’ job requirements. And while many fi nd their plates full with getting the hang of things in a new coun-try, there are those who are driven to add on that little bit more.

Inspired by everything from a love for Chinese antiques and the need for sturdy children’s furniture to simply “I just couldn’t fi nd what I wanted”, these women are among a number of expatriate wives who have started their own lifestyle businesses.

HAVING FUNHelle Espersen is what you could call a niche operator—a Caucasian woman selling Chinese antiques and reproductions of such furniture in Singapore. She moved here with her family almost a decade ago, and set up Fair Price Antique with a partner from Shanghai who had contacts in China.

Her early days in the tourism industry in her native Denmark, and her family’s experience of living in the Netherlands and Australia have inculcated a sense of adventure in the 44-year-old, ideal for her unlikely undertaking. Helle acknowledges that she has been lucky with the business, despite having to run it on her own for the last fi ve years since her business partner moved overseas.

Still, it hasn’t been an easy ride throughout. For one thing, her Western background isn’t always a bonus as some local customers blatantly ques-tion her knowledge of the goods. Her

solution is to work with just one local supplier. This way, she says, she is assured of the authenticity of her pieces, has ‘insider’ access to information, and also gets to learn more about the industry.

“Some may say it’s a challenge for an ‘ang moh’

(Caucasian) lady selling Chinese antiques,

but I see it as an opportunity. Most of my customers are expats and they feel com-fortable dealing with another expat,” she says.

And if there is one thing that Helle has learnt, it’s that having a fancy showroom matters less than catering to customers’ needs. After fi ve years in a shop at Henderson Road, rising rents forced her to move to a fl atted factory

building along Outram Road, where she has been since 2009. Her customers have followed her, and Helle has a theory as to why.

“Customers sense when your focus is to be of service and they reward you with their loyalty,” she explains.

Since starting the business, she has also come to realise that you can’t do it alone, but that great things can be achieved with good staff and a strong support system. This is especially apt as her family will return to Denmark in a

couple of years, and Helle is deciding between keeping the business, selling it or starting a similar one in Denmark.

Rising material costs and the increasing scarcity of quality antiques and reproductions are also major factors weighing on her mind.

However, the satisfaction derived from running your own business is unbelievable, she says, stressing that anyone who does so must advertise.

“You have to keep your business in people’s minds otherwise where will you get your customers?” But she adds, “Most importantly, you must have fun doing it!”Fair Price Antique

#01-10 Tan Boon Liat Building,

315 Outram Road

LOVING WHATYOU DOni-night, a children’s furniture, clothing and accessories business, is the brainchild of Majella Skansebakken from Sydney, Australia. Her family home in the eastern part of Singapore doubles up as the showroom where Majella’s designs are translated into pieces of sturdy, kid-friendly furniture that “dress up” her three children’s bedrooms.

While the majority of her items are produced in Vietnam, some of them are made in Cambodia at an orphanage

Some may say it’s a challenge for an ‘ang moh’ lady selling Chinese antiques but I see it as an opportunity.Helle Espersen, owner of Fair Price Antique

Helle of Fair Price Antique

Majella of ni-night designs furniture that

can be reconfi gured as children grow

88 88 88 8888 sssssssssiiiiisssiiississssissssiisssssssssiissssssisssssssssssssisssiisssssissssssssssssssiiisssssssssiiiiisiisssssisssiiissinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngaggagagagagagagggg pppopopooooooooooopooopoopooooooopopopoporrrerererrreererererereererereereererereererrereeeeeeerer

solution is to work with julocal supplier. This wasas ys, she is assured authenticity of her has ‘insider’ acceinformation, and alsto learn more ththe industry.

“Some may saychallenge for an ‘an

(Caucasian) lady Chinese an

Helle Price

SCENE

singapore 9

and vocational training company that she supports.

“My husband and I adopted our eldest son from the orphanage about seven years ago and we have been donating to it ever since,” says Majella, 37. The couple are also involved in an annual house-building project there.

The catalyst for her business? “After living and working in Singapore for seven years, I saw a market opportunity for good quality children’s furniture, says Majella. “A lot of businesses use medium-density fi breboard and soft woods that don’t last… so I designed a hardwood range to suit children of all ages.”

The rubberwood she uses can better withstand changes in tem-perature if the furniture is moved overseas. Her children’s furniture also adheres to the stringent standards set in Australia.

Running a business while juggling the needs of three young children, aged seven, fi ve and almost two, does present challenges, but Majella admits she’s been fortunate. Her “great husband” translates

her ideas into drawings and travels to the furniture factory in Vietnam to check on samples.

For her, rising warehousing costs and rentals are the main challenges to any business in Singapore. But these should not be a deterrent to anyone thinking of setting up shop here, she says.

“There are so many opportunities in Singapore for expat women. I have met some who’ve had wonderful ideas that have worked out really well for them.”

Her advice? “Get your branding right from the start. Also, you must love what you do!”ni-night,

9 Margate Road

RAISING THE BARAustralians Rebecca Forwood and Daniele Jarvis set up their two-year-old fi rm Bambù Interiors because when it came to interior design, they couldn’t always fi nd the materials they wanted in Singapore. “We realised that there was a space in the Singapore market for a boutique interior consultancy. A place where you could fi nd beautiful fabrics and objet d’art that are not available anywhere else,” explains Daniele.

The idea of setting up the consultancy took root as people began asking them for ideas and contacts, and, Daniele adds, “we couldn’t just give it away for free!”

Their timing could not have been more apt. With the opening of the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort came the opportunity to be part of the interior design team for Ku Dé Ta, the newly opened restaurant, bar and lounge on its rooftop.

It was the perfect commission for the duo. “We prefer one-of-a-kind projects,” says Rebecca.

Daniele, who moved to Singapore with her husband in 2002, says settling into life here has been relatively easy. The mother of a six-year-old has been a freelance interior stylist on and off for 15 years.

Rebecca, a mother of two girls aged nine and six, and a boy aged four, is part Hong Kong Chinese. The 40-year-old took up interior design when she moved to Australia.

Through their consultancy, the women feel they have raised the bar on quality. In Singapore, they initially found low prices but also a need to improve workmanship. They have since remedied that by forming close relationships with manufacturers who know their standards.

“If something comes back that isn’t to our expected standard, we won’t accept it and they’d need to do it again. Luckily this doesn’t happen very often!” says Daniele, 41.Bambù Interiors

Phoenix Offi ce Campus, #01-06,

314 Tanglin Road

Rebecca (left) of Bambù Interiors with business partner Daniele

There are so many opportunities in Singapore for expat womenMajella Skansebakken, owner of ni-night

SWEET CHARITYA Catholic upbringing set Celeste Basapa on the path to being one of Singapore’s most passionate fundraisers.

BY THERESA TAN

Exquisitely made-up, and dressed in a formal evening gown for the purpose of this photoshoot and interview, Celeste

Basapa—a regular fi xture in the pages of many a society magazine—has the air of a youthful woman. The vision belies the fact that the slender fi fty-something is also one of Singapore’s most formidable fundraisers.

The events she organised or helped put together last year included those for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) Gala, the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco Gala and the Kidz Horizon Appeal Gala.

She devotes the bulk of her time to rais-ing funds for four organisations: the Chinese

Always remembering that your work is

voluntary is a maxim Celeste abides by

PEOPLEPH

OTO

GRA

PH B

Y KE

LVIN

CH

IA S

TYLIN

G B

Y FU

RQA

N S

AIN

I/90

27 7

157

MA

KEU

P &

HA

IR B

YGRE

G-O

/ 98

26 2

681

Women’s Association (CWA) which helps the elderly, Kidz Horizon for children with terminal illnesses, the SSO and the Singapore Repertory Theatre. In between, she helps in various fundraising efforts for other organisations, the Red Cross among them.

Celeste’s foray into volunteer work began when her husband Lawrence Basapa was posted to the United States in 1990.

“I joined the Fairfi eld County Junior League, an organisation of women who helped the less fortunate in various states. It was a short stint, but I learned that anyone can make a difference to the lives of the less fortunate by donating their time,” she says.

She returned to Singapore in 1993, and got involved in a local fundraising effort a few years later, serving on the committee to raise funds for a new church building in 1998.

Of the countless fundraisers she had since put together, Celeste names raising money for the earthquake victims of Turkey in 1999 as the most special.

“I visited Turkey and the devastation was unimaginable! I’d never encountered such grief until that point, and the unadulterated gratitude of the victims on meeting the Singapore contingent remains indelible in my memory to this day.”

Fundraising should be approached as a business, she states. “It should really be run like a public-listed company, because we are accountable in all our practices, and must never take another person’s generosity for granted.”

The indefatigable volunteer advises that a fundraiser must pace herself, take on only the causes she believes in, and always remember that her work is voluntary.

Her maxim is never to “feel compulsion, which results in unsavory competitiveness”.

It is a cliché that high-society women organise galas, but Celeste doesn’t shy from the ‘socialite’ label. “People in general have a misconception of the term ‘socialite’, thanks to Paris Hilton,” she says wryly.

“In Singapore, they think ‘socialite’ means ‘party animal’. But traditionally, a socialite is the epitome of grand society, someone who possesses exemplary social

etiquette and meticulous grooming. “Fundraising is like gold prospecting.

Whether your gold comes from one rich person who donates while enjoying a good party or from the man on the street, the value of that gold is still the same. The money does the same good.”

In her own quest to do good, Celeste has proven that she’s prepared to go the extra mile. There was even a time when fundraising was hazardous to her health.

“There was an event during the Fashion Festival in 2003, at the height of SARS. “The venue was St James Power Station, before [nightlife veteran] Dennis

Foo turned it into what it is today. We had all been told not to go to crowded indoor spaces during that period,” she recalls. “But to our surprise, about 500 people showed up!

“Even my husband asked ‘Must you go?’ I had to, so I said all my prayers and put on all my [Catholic] medals and went. We had a committee but they were afraid of being indoors, so it was left to me and the chairperson to stay inside and shake hands with guests! That was a truly memorable event. We stuck to our cause through thick and thin.”

Of her ‘success’ in what she does, she says, “I love my work! Success as a fundraiser is simply the achievement of

Success as a fundraiser is simply the achievement of awareness of your cause. It must never be measured by the amount of money you have raised. Achieving the desired monetary goal is a bonus.Celeste Basapa

awareness of your cause. It must never be measured by the amount of money you have raised. Achieving the desired monetary goal is a bonus.”

That said, without mentioning the sum, she reveals that the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco Gala last year was her “personal best for funds raised”.

Celeste credits her zeal for fundraising to her upbringing, and to being “deeply spiritual”.

“I had a strict Catholic upbringing, but not without the joys of a carefree and loving environment. My fondest memory is that of being elected head prefect and organising my fi rst fundraiser—a concert called ‘4 O’Clock Date’ which featured guys as well!”

Of her school days at the then CHIJ Victoria Street, she recalls, “One of the things I used to do with my friends was to change into colourful clothes after school and look for SJI boys!” St Joseph’s Institution, a Catholic boy’s school, was located just down the street at the time.

Celeste did end up with an SJI boy. Today, Lawrence and Celeste have been married for over 30 years, and they have one daughter.

Her years in convent schools not only paved the way for a happy family life but also instilled in her a sense of charity.

“In school we were taught to help others and make sacrifi ces. We had to present to the Mother Superior a list of sacrifi ces and good deeds done. If you do the will of God, every-thing falls into its place,” Celeste says.

“Charity is the giving up of one’s personal resources—be it money, talent or time—to alleviate the pain of the less fortunate.

“We are not all Bill Gates or Mother Teresa, but we can use our various talents to do things for a worthwhile cause.”

Her spiritual leanings stem from her keen interest in major religions like Christianity,Islam and Buddhism. When at her second home,located north-east of Bangkok, Celeste spends time visiting ancient Hindu-Buddhist sites.

So what would God say to her when the time comes? “I think He would ask me, ‘Celeste, did you do all your good works for the glory of God, the good of mankind or for your own ego?’

“My answer would be ‘A bit of all three, Sir, as I was only human!”

singapore 11

12 singapore

OTH

ER P

HO

TOG

RAPH

S C

OU

RTES

Y O

F P

EOPL

E’S

ASS

OC

IATI

ON

MA

IN P

HO

TOG

RAPH

S A

ND

BLIN

I PH

OTO

BY

CO

RBIS

FISH

AM

OK

PHO

TOG

RAPH

BY

GET

TYIM

AG

ES, P

AEL

LA A

ND

SA

NG

RIA

PH

OTO

GRA

PHS

BY IS

TOC

KPH

OTOW

hile travelling, enjoying authentic local cuisine is often an indispensable part

of sampling a country’s culture.After all, what more satisfying way

is there of experiencing a country than through the aromas and fl avours of its food?

One can now have these authentic cultural experiences without having to

KITCHEN TRAVELSGot a taste for something exotic? Forget the passport, and head for a heartland cooking class instead!

BY ELAINE NG

leave home. The myriad international culinary workshops organised by the People’s Association (PA) enable local food lovers to taste the world from Singapore.

From sampling exotic Persian cui-sine to exploring fusion foods like you tiao (fried dough fritters) with choco-late, over 450 international culinary classes were held under PA’s “Global

Red Square, Russia

singapore 13

SOCIETY

Cultures” and “Singapore Culinary Journey” series in 2010.

Organised since 2008, such courses span a wide range of themes and cuisines and offer attendees a chance to—as the PA website states—“discover beautiful Asian traditions, go on a Mediterranean culinary journey or even embark on an exotic Egyptian and Turkish odyssey.”

Also offered last year were “sweet surprises” from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain and Switzerland, in the form of dessert-making classes.

Upcoming courses this year will see participants learning to prepare Khmer dishes like Banana Blossom Salad and Fish Amok, and to concoct beverages including Spain’s signature sangria and coffee.

Courses are conducted by native trainers and renowned chefs. Last

year, they included acclaimed Italian specialty chef Michele

Pavanello, and Daniel Koh, a judge for MediaCorp’s

cooking shows including Easy Cooking and Home on a Plate.

Bernie Utchenik, the founder of the Botak Jones restaurant and

café chain was also on hand to whip up American

dishes like Cajun Chicken

Pasta and Sliced Beef and Cheese Steak Sandwiches.

The number of participants vary with each class, most of which are held at community centres, are hands-on, and cost $15 to $50 each.

“Participants who come to these international culinary workshops are able to glean cultural knowledge from native guest trainers as they [the trainers] share their local traditions and interesting customs while imparting recipes,” says Toh Lay Hoon, PA’s Lifeskills and Lifestyle Division Director.

“The open sharing and the sampling of food allows people to break the ice in a very natural way.”

The classes are largely attended by Singaporeans, although certain workshops draw a few expatriates.

“These classes are a brilliant idea, as we [chefs] can reach out to different community groups,” says Chef Daniel Koh. His classes last year included one on “East-meets-West Cuisine,” where he demonstrated dishes that included wok-charred salmon with sautéed leek and garlic.

Executive Chef Mohammad Hosseini of restaurant Shiraz Authentic Persian Cuisine also believes that food is one of the best ways to bridge cultures.

“In Singapore, sometimes, people bear some misunderstanding of

A fl ipping good time was had by all at ‘Blini! Russian Pancakes, Tea and Friends’ last year

trainers and year, t

ItalianPav

a c

Jca

handishe

14 singapore14 singapore

what Iran is like. During a class, I talk about my country and my culture. In return, everyone shares their countries and cultures,” says Chef Mohammad, who conducted the “Authentic Persian Cuisine” classes last year.

Through the common currency of food, PA hopes to promote greater intercultural appreciation and under-standing among people from different ethnicities, nationalities and walks of life.

Singaporean Callista Yeo, who attended “Blini! Russian Pancakes, Tea and Friends” last August, says PA’s efforts have borne fruit. “During the lesson, everyone bonded quickly through exchanging what they knew

about Russia. It’s also the culture that I appreciate learning about.”

Besides learning how to make blinis (Russian pancakes), the festivals and traditions shared during the class revealed the rich culture and customs of the country to Callista, a 34-year-old homemaker, who is now planning to visit Russia.

Some workshops take place at restaurants, where participants get to mingle over a meal.

“If you come for Persian cuisine at Shiraz, you see the unique Persian-style interior decoration, enjoy Persian music and watch Persian belly dance. The appreciation of other cultures is always the fi rst step to crossing

barriers,” says Chef Mohammad, the restaurant’s executive chef.

Kristina West, 39, signed up for one of the chef’s classes last October. “I was already familiar with Shiraz as one of the most authentic Middle Eastern restaurants in Singapore. The fact that I could learn directly from their chef was a bonus,” says the Australian expatriate.

This year’s courses can be viewed at

http://www.lifeskillslifestyle.org.sg/

modernliving/2011/download.asp

SOCIETY

A three-course meal was included in the Persian culinary class helmed by Chef Mohammad Hosseini (right)

* Turn to page 28 for ‘A taste of Persia’ which features two of Chef Mohammad Hosseini’s recipes.

At this year’s classes, participants can learn to concoct the Spanish cocktail sangria and cook dishes like paella (centre), as well as the Cambodian favourite Fish Amok

GO FIGURE!

Singapore by numbers

Visit www.clubsnap.com for ideas on the best spots for photo-taking in Singapore and, if you’re part of Singapore’s international community, show your best shots off at

www.singaporekopitiam.sg/shiok

Want to find out the latest local sporting action on the university and college scenes? Get your fix of competitions and up-close

interviews with Singapore’s rising stars. Visit voxsports.net

Read about the different performances, exhibitions and discussions the third Singapore Biennale —featuring 60 artists from 30 countries —has in store this year.

It runs from 13 Mar to 15 May. Visit www.singaporebiennale.org

… AND ON THE WEB

226,000The total number of plants from every continent (except Antarctica) that will be on display at the upcoming Gardens by the Bay—three waterfront gardens in the heart of Marina Bay. The first garden, Bay East, will open in Nov 2011.

100The number of seconds Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) trains will run at each interval by 2018, down from the current 120 seconds.

1.16Singapore’s Total Fertility Rate in 2010, a historic low. It was 1.22 in 2009.

$365mThe amount of money from the $6.6 billion Singapore Budget 2011 allocated to Singapore’s arts scene annually for the next five years, an increase of more than 50 per cent.

The number of individuals aged over 60 who got married in 2009, the highest in the past decade.

370

singapore 15

SIF NEWS

WORDS ON WHEELS IN HANOIVietnamese children can soon expect to enjoy reading, playing multimedia games and surfi ng the Net when Words on Wheels, a mobile library project by the SIF, comes a-visiting.

Launched on March 24, the mobile library will provide some 4,000 children in Hanoi’s rural villages with a window to the world through regular access to education materials. These include 1,500 English and Vietnamese storybooks, educational games and toys, and six computer terminals that will reach 10 villages on a rotational basis each weekend for the next three years.

Volunteers from Keppel’s staff, the Singapore public and the staff of Hanoi Public Library will serve as storytellers.

The project is sponsored by Keppel Land with support from its Vietnamese joint

SINGAPORE INSIGHTS FOR INT’L POST-GRADSAssembling and installing bio-sand water fi lters in rural households in Siem Reap, Cambodia, may not immediately come across as the activity of choice for MBA students. But that’s just what a group of international post-graduate students were inspired to do after their fi rst brush with the Singapore International Foundation’s (SIF) new Singapore Insights programme. Thanks to this programme, these students, as well as gap year visitors to Singapore, now have an opportunity to fi nd out what makes the country tick. It offers participants study visits and dialogues with experts and practitioners on Singapore’s strategies, innovations and way of life. It also provides a platform for developing professional and personal networks, as well as opportunities to take part in the SIF’s international volunteerism projects.

Last November, the fi rst installment of the series featured water as its theme. Attended by 23 Masters of Business Administration students from INSEAD, it included a dialogue with policy experts of the Public Utilities Board. Inspired by the programme, 14 of the participants decided to take part in the SIF’s Water for Life project and went to Cambodia from 28 Feb to 1 Mar to help assemble and install water fi lters in villages.

In February, the Singapore Insights’ second installment took place, with a focus on info-communication technology. Some 30 post-graduate students from INSEAD, the Singapore Management University and the National University of Singapore learnt about the developments at One-North for infocomm and media industries at a dialogue with Jurong Town Corporation offi cials. Themes for the future include arts, social innovation and urban planning.

venture companies International Centre and Quang Ba Royal Park. It is implemented in partnership with Hanoi Public Library.

The SIF is looking to fi eld groups of volunteers from Singapore to conduct fringe activities like storytelling and arts and craft. More information is available from www.sif.org.sg

16 singapore

A HELPING HAND FOR JAFFNA LIBRARYIt’s often said that reading broadens minds and makes the world a smaller place. Seeking to do just that, librarians from Singapore are joining in the efforts to help promote a vibrant reading culture among Sri Lankan children in the city of Jaffna.

Since September 2010, the librarians have been conducting workshops to help their counterparts from the Jaffna Public Library develop reading and outreach programmes, as well as train them in making full use of the library’s facilities.

The nine-month project is taking place over three workshops in Jaffna,

and a week-long study visit to Singapore for six Sri Lankan librarians, hosted by the SIF. The library will be remodelled as part of this project.

Following the success of the workshops, the SIF signed a memoran-dum of understanding with the Jaffna Munincipal Council for a three-year partnership in November 2010.

The SIF is serving as project manager of these workshops while the National Library Board is the project consultant. The project is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Singapore’s Sri Lankan community, with the Prima Group as a contributor.

SIF NEWS

Germaine Cheong, a Chemistry teacher with Hua Yi Secondary School, was the second

Singapore International Foundation (SIF) in-fi eld volunteer assigned to Bhutan W.I.R.ED—a three-year project to help Bhutan’s education system employ IT for learning and teaching. During her 10-month stint—co-funded by the SIF and Singapore’s Temasek Foundation—Germaine worked with fi ve schools in Bhutan to enhance training for their teachers, with the objective of integrating IT into their classroom curriculum. She returned to Singapore in December 2010.

HOW DID YOU GO FROM TEACHER

TO VOLUNTEER?

I thought my dreams of volunteering for a cause I strongly believed in would fi nally materialise when I chanced upon SIF and its volunteering projects in a magazine article many years ago. As I delved more into SIF’s activities, I stumbled upon the Bhutan W.I.R.E.D project, which was looking to recruit its second volunteer for the next phase of its project. And the requirements of this project required my teaching skills —it was perfect! WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN BHUTAN

W.I.R.ED?

My role was to provide guidance and

assistance to 25 selected teachers from fi ve pilot-project schools in the crafting, development and implementation of pedagogy-driven and ICT-infused lesson plans, as well as their School ICT Plan. I was also the facilitator for training workshops for the 25 project teachers, conducted by visiting Singaporean lecturers and trainers from the Ministry of Education and the National Institute of Education.

WHAT WAS A TYPICAL DAY OR

WEEK FOR YOU?

Working with the teachers from the fi ve schools—located in different areas—meant I had to travel a lot around Bhutan. Travelling to each school took about a half-day’s journey by bus and my visits usually last a week per school. The days would involve dis-cussions and meetings that explore the actual crafting, development and implementation of their lesson plans.

Thereafter, we would conduct lesson observations, followed by post-lesson refl ections to fully complete each cycle.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE

LIVING IN BHUTAN?

Those weekly bus rides became something I looked forward to at the beginning of each week—it marked the start of a new adventure and I inevitably

ended up with new experiences and

stories to share. I was told that travelling

on a local bus is quite an achievement.

Apparently even some of the

Bhutanese teachers have never travelled

on the local buses! Since I stay with

the project teachers during the weekly

school visit, it’s as close to a homestay

experience as one gets. Best of all, I get

to experience the true Bhutanese way

of living with not one, but fi ve families!

WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE FOR

VOLUNTEERING WITH THE SIF?

Don’t rush into volunteering for a

project just for the sake of volunteering.

With the Bhutan W.I.R.E.D project, I

felt that we were a good match as it

is a project where my experiences and

training could be put to good use. I knew

I could contribute most effectively and

be able to make that positive difference

I wanted to achieve.

As a volunteer on overseas assign-

ments, you may encounter challenges and

issues—cultural, work-related, social,

etc, which may start you questioning your

reasons for being there. I found it useful

at moments like those to remind myself

of my initial reason for volunteering, and

that really helped me stay motivated and

grounded throughout the year.

GERMAINE CHEONG, VOLUNTEERGERMAINE CH5 QUESTIONS…

Germaine Cheong with some Bhutanese teachers

singapore 17

ISLAND GEMS

Singapore visits a trio of clubs distinguished by their quirky touches to learn about their colourful history.

BY GENE KHOR

CLUB CULTURE1. 2. 3.

6.

5. 4.

ISLAND GEMSPH

OTO

GRA

PHS

BY S

TEV

E ZH

U, E

ALB

ERT

HO

& W

ILSO

N P

AN

G

singapore 19

There is a common reason as to why the Swiss, Hollandse and British clubs came into being;

their nationals felt the need to have a place where they could congregate. Their reasons for wanting to be together differed, though. For example, the fi rst incarnation of Singapore’s Swiss Club was a rifl e club in 1871 housed in an attap-roof hut, with its Swiss lineage indicated only by their country’s fl ag fl ying atop a pole. Today the club, as well as the British and the Hollandse clubs, have evolved into homes away from home for the local European community and country clubs with myriad amenities for many other nationalities. Yet, there are features of these buildings that make a distinct connection with theirrespective homelands.

SWISS BLISSFinding the Swiss Club isn’t diffi cult, especially since the road that leads there is named after it. “In 1902, there weren’t any roads or buildings in Bukit Tinggi [where the club is located], which was why we bought the land—for the privacy,” says Heinz Iten, its present manager. “So when they made the road, it led only to the Swiss Club, which was why they called it Swiss Club Road.”

The Swiss Club was founded in 1871 by Otto Alder, who was in the weaving industry. With little to do at weekends, he and his fellow Swiss came together to partake in their country’s national sport —rifl e shooting. First known as the Swiss Rifl e Shooting Club of Singapore, it was situated in the forests off Balestier Road. There, a wooden hut sheltered members from the heat.

The club moved to the expansive 15-hectare site at Bukit Tinggi (‘high hill’ in Malay) in 1902, but it wasn’t until 1925 that its name was changed to the Swiss Club—a natural move, as it had evolved into more of a social club for the growing Swiss community in Singapore.

MAIN PHOTO: The Swiss Club’s facade is painted in the red and white of the Swiss fl ag. 1. A cow sculpture at the Swiss Club; 2. A Dutch ship’s bell in the Hollandse Club’s bar; 3. Bronze statue of a Dutch child and his dog; 4. Antique radio in the Hollandse Club’s bar; 5. Village square fountain in front of the Swiss Club; 6. British Club General Manager Sean Boyle with the club’s iconic red telephone box

Designed by then club president HR Arbenz, the club one sees today was constructed in 1927. Inspired by the lines and turreted roofs of chalets found in the mountains of Switzerland, the building’s exterior is painted in the red and white of the Swiss fl ag.

You will no longer hear the sound of gunfi re, as the shooting range closed in the 80s and all the rifl es were destroyed about three years ago. “The only shots now are from tennis and soccer balls,” says Heinz, with a laugh. “But we still have one of the historic rifl es on display.”

Other vestiges of Swiss identity are apparent, including the numerous sculptures of cows—which bring to mind Switzerland’s famed dairy exports—dotting the garden. At the garden’s edge is a scaled-down version of a chalet, another Swiss symbol.

“The Swiss embassy donated the chalet, and members can rent it to host parties and enjoy the Swiss national dish of fondue,” explains Heinz, a 56-year-old Singapore Permanent Resident.

Though the Swiss still make up the majority of the club’s membership, there are members of 32 other nationalities. “Like Switzerland, the club has become more international over the last 30 years,” explains Heinz, who adds that the club today has 1,500 members. And with German membership almost equalling that of Swiss, the traditional German annual fair of Oktoberfest is now held on the Swiss Club’s grounds.

Embodying this community spirit is the fountain at the club’s entrance. “Such fountains are found in most village squares in Switzerland,” says Heinz. “I brought it in four years ago because the club has become like a village as well, bringing together the Swiss here, along with many others.”

A cow sculpture watches over the scaled down

Swiss chalet

TO VISITAVAILABLE VISITING MEMBERSHIPS RANGE FROM ONE TO SIX MONTHS.

SWISS CLUB

36 SWISS CLUB ROAD

A BIT OF BRITISH Getting to the British Club atop Bukit Tinggi, on land leased from the Swiss Club, means a workout if you are approaching it on foot. Reasons behind the club’s choice of location aren’t clear, though the late Mike Gorrie—its presi-dent from 1989 to 1990—is quoted on the club’s website as having said: “I can’t help wondering how it was that the fi rst three Club Presidents, and many of the original committee, were Scots, as was our much loved architect Jamie Ferrie.

“The Scots have a predilection for highlands and perhaps that is what drew us to Bukit Tinggi.”

The British Club’s history only began in 1983. Before its inception, Singapore’s British community congregated at the Tanglin Club, founded in 1865.

“Singapore was a British colony, so there wasn’t a reason for the British to have a place to call their own,” says general manager Sean Boyle of those days prior to Singapore’s independence in 1965. “As far as the British were concerned, all of Singapore was theirs at the time.”

To accomodate Singapore’s growing multi-racial society, the Tanglin Club opened its doors to all races in 1962. Still, the British community wanted a place to remind them of home.

20 singapore

This led to a decision to start the British Club in its current location at Bukit Tinggi.

That’s not to say that the club is exclusively British, as membership is open to those of other nationalities. Just over50 per cent of the 2,300 or so members are British.

Architecturally, the club isn’t ‘British’ at fi rst glance. Take a closer look though, and you’ll be greeted by two icons of British culture. At the entrance is a red telephone box fl own in from England for the club’s offi cial opening in 1987, complete with a working phone. At the entrance is a ‘lamp box’, the smallest of the post boxes introduced by the Royal Mail in the United Kingdom in the late 1800s. The one at the club is no mere ornament, as members still use it to post their mail.

Sean explains that these light touches are representative of the club’s identity—an international club with a British ambience. “We maintain the British culture through our activities here. For example, we’re having a 10-day celebration from April 22 in honour of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s impending nuptials.

“There’ll be a traditional street party, a live telecast of the wedding, a formal wedding dinner, and more. It’s a perfect opportunity for the British to come together, and for other nationalities to see how we celebrate.

“More than anything else, it shows what the club is about—being a home for British culturein a tropical sanctuary,” says the 55-year-old Singapore Permanent Resident.

ISLAND GEMS

TO VISIT

THE CLUB OFFERS A THREE-MONTH SUMMER MEMBERSHIP THAT IS AVAILABLE FROM 1 JUNE TILL END AUGUST.

BRITISH CLUB

73 BUKIT TINGGI ROAD

ing the

a re,” d t

The English ‘lamp box’

The British Club was only established in 1983.

A little touch of ‘home’

ISLAND GEMS

of neglect after the war. For the Dutch who stayed on in Singapore, however, it seemed natural that the Hollandse Club open its doors again. So Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij, together with other Dutch businesses in Singapore, pooled resources to open the club’s current incarnation at Camden Park in 1950.

The large roofs and brick exteriors of Dutch farmhouses inspired its design. “Using bricks for our farmhouses in Holland is for aesthetic and practical reasons,” explains Andrew. “There is a space of about 5cm between the concrete and brick walls where insulation material is placed to keep the house cool during summer, and warm during winter.”

Standing guard at the entrance’s doors are what Andrew considers “symbols of Amsterdam”—traffi c poles. “These are common in Amsterdam to prevent illegal parking, and feature the three Saint Andrew Crosses from the Amsterdam coat of arms,” says Andrew. He brought the poles to the club a few years ago, and even wears a traffi c pole pendant on a chain around his neck.

Also at the club’s entrance is a red mailbox donated by Dutch express and mail delivery company TNT about 45

years ago. Members still use it to post their letters, which TNT then collects and delivers to SingPost.

Countless renovations have been made to the club to accommodate its current 1,800 members. Thirty per cent are Dutch nationals—a minimum requirement—but 39 other nationalities make up the rest.

Wood is used prominently in the bar and restaurant areas to provide a homely feeling typical of a Dutch residence.

Adding to the atmosphere is a ship’s bell whose engravings state it was presented to the club by a shipping company from Groningen, Amsterdam. Andrew surmises that a Dutch ship docked here and donated it, but warns against ringing it, unless you’re feeling generous. “A club tradition is that whoever rings the bell foots the bill for whoever’s in the bar at that moment,” he discloses.

Near the gym is a bronze statue of a little boy with his dog. Andrew says it is typically Dutch, with the boy in his knick-erbockers. “What’s ironic is that it’s not from Holland—a member donated it to the club after buying it in Thailand around 30 years ago!”

GOING DUTCHThe Hollandse Club (or Dutch Club, as it’s sometimes called) has one thing in common with the British and Swiss clubs—an uphill driveway.

The Dutch presence was already prevalent in Singapore in the early 1900s, with businesses like bank Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij (known today as ABN AMRO) and the Hotel van Wijk set up in the Collyer Quay area.

“This was mostly due to overfl ow from Indonesia, one of the biggest Dutch colonies then,” says Andrew Baartscheer, a former president of the club and its current Heritage Committee chairman. “Singapore was already establishing itself as a fi nancial and maritime hub, so the Dutch in Indonesia saw an opportunity and came.”

The late businessman Jacob Christian Koopman, who was then president of Hotel van Wijk, opened the doors of his Grange Road home to his countrymen in 1908. The space quickly became inadequate, so he bought land at Cairnhill Road to construct a bigger colonial-style building, offi cially launching the Hollandse Club in 1912.

According to Andrew, a Dutch exodus from Indonesia began after the colony declared independence from the Netherlands in 1946. Singapore became a transit point for those who were torn between staying in Asia and returning to the Netherlands.

“It was a diffi cult decision for them,” says the 47-year-old Dutchman. “Many had grown up in Asia, so they weren’t sure where they could call home.”

No one knows what became of the Cairnhill Road building during World War II as all records have been lost, says Andrew. But it was in a poor state

TO VISIT

THERE ARE TEMPORARY MEMBERSHIPS FOR TOURISTS, AVAILABLE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.

HOLLANDSE CLUB

22 CAMDEN PARK

The Hollandse Club features large roofs and brick exteriors

reminiscent of Dutch farmhouses.

ISLAND GEMS

Former Hollandse Club president Andrew

Baartscheer with the club’s iconic mailbox.

PHO

TOG

RAPH

S B

Y KE

LVIN

CH

IA

GOING LOCAL

22 singapore

ROOTED IN

SPORTS

What was meant as a two-week vacation in Singapore has turned into a nine-year stay for Clifford

Call him the accidental expatriate. When New Zealand native Clifford Wong arrived on Singapore

shores to visit his younger brother who was working here, he was looking forward to a two-week getaway before relocating from his hometown of Wellington to Auckland to start a new job. But things didn’t quite turn out as planned.

He explains, “Before I got on the long fl ight, I had, on a whim, sent my CV to a Singapore company. I landed in Singapore… and I remember my brother greeting me with a handshake and a phone in his other hand! The company wanted to interview me. And the next day, I was offered a job.”

Choosing to “embrace the change in fortune”, he accepted it. Nine years

later, Clifford is still embracing the spontaneity that has changed his life. A large part of this, he says, is due to his affi nity for sport.

HANGING TOUGH

It was sports that led the 34-year old, a principal consultant for a specialist recruitment consultancy, to discover and fall in love with Singapore.

Thanks to an active lifestyle, it wasn’t that hard a stretch easing into Singapore life for Clifford Wong BY TINA WANG

singapore 23

ON THE GOCLIFFORD’S SPORTS SCHEDULE

MONDAY - Touch Rugby TUESDAY - Muay Thai WEDNESDAY - Track, Touch Rugby THURSDAY - Gym SATURDAY - Touch Rugby gameSUNDAY - Muay Thai (optional)

THE ROOT OF IT ALL

Putting up in Singapore has led Clifford to discover much more than new opportunities to keep active. A Permanent Resident since 2006, Clifford says, “My claim is that I’m a ‘born-again Asian’. I have rediscovered many facets of Chinese culture that echo traditions faithfully followed by my Taiwanese mother during my Kiwi childhood. For example, every Chinese New Year, the importance of family, piety and fortune continue to build in their resonance. Every time I am required to speak Mandarin, I am humbled by how poorly I speak it, and exhilarated by the process and the immersion.”

into Singapore life and revel in the island’s lighter side. On the site, Clifford posts regular updates on his new sports experiences.

This labour of love, he says, is his effort to raise the profi le of sports and its benefi ts, and his way of giving back to Singapore.

“There is a way for Singapore to go in becoming more of a sporting nation. The focus for a student’s learning curriculum has always been primarily academic, and the arts or sports come a distant second. Sports can really help people learn about themselves, being part of a team and having that competitive edge.

“For countries like New Zealand and Australia, talking about and playing sports is a shared bond and an enjoyable dialogue. I hope that over the next few years, Singapore will be able to confi -dently participate in that dialogue.”

Despite Singapore not equalling his homeland in natural landscapes and rugged terrain, Clifford embraced sports here in a whole new way. “In New Zealand, the main sports are rugby, cricket, soccer and hockey. Yoga is more of a fad, Muay Thai is a sport mostly seen only in movies, and people haven’t even heard of sepak takraw.

“But here, I’ve taken up Muay Thai, I’ve tried Hatha Yoga, and I’ve even played a few social games of sepak takraw. I feel that many Asian fi tness forms are grounded in a meaning greater than just exercising and competition; there is always a deeper underlying tradition.

“Now I’m such a fan of Asian sport in all its forms, I’m even keen to try Chinese ribbon gymnastics!”

Some ways of discovering and getting to know Singapore better have been through fi tness activities. “For me, the best way is to go off the beaten track,” he says. He has cycled around Pulau Ubin, and taken “bite-sized” early morning walks at MacRitchie and Pierce reservoirs. Now he’s convinced staying active and exercising will make anyone realise there is a world of things to see and do here.

An extension of his busy lifestyle is his stint as a resident blogger on the website Singapore Kopitiam (www.singaporekopitiam.sg), a Singapore International Foundation initiative that encourages netizens to tap

“Growing up in New Zealand, sports

had always been a big part of my life. As

children, my siblings and I would often

play backyard cricket. I played sports six

days a week, and on the seventh day, I

was likely to be watching sports on TV.

I also organised and coached sports

like basketball and touch rugby within

the community.”

I feel that many Asian fitness forms are grounded in a meaning greater than just exercising and competition; there is always a deeper underlying tradition.Clifford Wong

Sylvia Toh Paik Choo getsher daily dose of humour from coffeeshops and almost anywhere else

RETURN OF THE GOONDUGURU Political correctness is not funny, says Sylvia Toh Paik Choo, author of the seminal 1982 guide to Singlish, Eh, Goondu! which has recently been republished. BY THERESA TAN

MY SINGAPORE

In the 70s Singapore was much more open — we all thought of ourselves as SingaporeansSylvia Toh Paik Choo

PHO

TOG

RAPH

BY

STEV

E ZH

U

For someone who is hailed as “the Guru of Singlish”, the tall, bespectacled St Margaret’s

alumna Sylvia Toh Paik Choo, 64, speaks terribly good English. In fact, she discusses Singlish phrases the way a sociologist talks about the tribe he’s studying, with the analytical detachment of an academic.

Now, 29 years since her fi rst humour book Eh, Goondu! (Singlish for ‘Hey, Stupid!’) fl ew off the shelves, Sylvia is back. Kind of. Eh, Goondu! and its 1984 sequel Lagi Goondu (‘More Stupid’) have been compiled and reprinted as a volume.

“No, I did not rework it—this is not an update. That would be work,” admits Sylvia, who is currently a columnist for The New Paper. She did, however, write a new foreword for the collection. “The rest of it really is ‘as is’,” she says, point-ing out that many of the phrases in Eh, Goondu! are not used today but specifi c to that time. “That book really is a time machine, a social history of Singapore. For baby boomers reading it now, it’ll be nostalgia.”

Her greatest gift to Singapore is that Eh, Goondu! earned local humour a place on the bestseller list.

Singapore’s humorists, Sylvia sub-scribes, are everywhere today, in par-ticular the Internet. “I’m amazed at the stuff on the Net. People can ex-press themselves so well—they really hit the nail on the head most times. It’s a pity it has to be done under a cloak of anonymity. We have a sharp lot—what they say is very apt. But they don’t do it with their real names. “It’s the result of years of being afraid, and the Internet is a great place to let off steam.”

DAILY INSPIRATION

The humorist gets inspiration for her writing from simply going about her day. “I don’t drive so I walk a lot and take the train, and I can chitchat with anybody, from trishaw man to minister,” she explains. She observes the wit in daily exchanges, of Hokkien coffeeshop

phrases like ‘tiao hr’ (‘fi shing’, which refers to teabags) or ‘tak kieu’ (‘kick ball’, which refers to Milo, by way of the picture on the tin of a boy kicking a ball).

Language in Singapore, she notes, is being affected by Twitter and SMS—two things she has no plans to master. “I neither understand Twitter or Facebook,” Sylvia adds. “ I still write with pen and paper — the act of scribbling is like notation.”

Still, you can’t take Singapore out of the girl—she owns an iPad, which she uses exclusively for sending emails.

With the face of Singapore chang-ing rapidly, given that 25 per cent of the population are from abroad, Sylvia observes, “It will take two years to see their humour merging with ours.

“They are very quick, especially the mainland Chinese. One day it’s shi bu shi (‘yes or no?’) and two weeks later, they would have added a lah!”

If there is one funnyman she particularly likes today, it is cross-dressing standup comedian Kumar. “If he is properly managed, Kumar could be a hit in Las Vegas!” she declares. “I fi nd it sad that he has to make jokes at himself to get laughs. He should be able to make jokes about Singaporeans than just about Indians.

“Our humour has grown up... but such comedy is insular; it cannot travel. If someone like Gurmit Singh attempt-ed something not Singlish, he would be laughed offstage for the wrong reasons.”

Beyond the parochial nature of what makes Singaporeans laugh, she has noticed a shift in the consciousness between races. “Now, there exists in Singapore humour a ‘comfort factor’—the presence of ‘comfortable with this

joke’, ‘not comfortable with that joke’—because we are made aware of our multi-racial culturality. In the 70s Singapore was much more open—we all thought of ourselves as Singaporeans.

“We have become politically correct to death on the outside, but on the Net, behind the cloak of anonymity the jokes can be vitriolic, nasty.

“The humour as such can be borne out of fear and cynicism, that’s what it is. When it comes to humour, the sky’s the limit. Look at (Jewish-American satirist and comedian) Lenny Bruce—no holds barred. But today’s PC-ness has guillotined all this.”

BEING FUNNY IS GENETIC

Her ability to fi nd things funny is, ap-parently, genetic. “My grandmother was Burmese, she had a deadpan sense of humour. My father is like that too. So my sense of humour is third-generation.” Her mother, on the other hand, has felt Sylvia’s displays of mirth could be more genteel. “I would be watching something funny, and my mother would come up the staircase and say to me, ‘As if you’re the only one who got the joke—I could hear you from downstairs!’

“When I watch TV, I can see it coming, and I’ll laugh before the punchline. I’m not a gratifying person to tell jokes to.”

Conversely, Sylvia admits she is not the joker strangers expect her to be. “Sometimes people say, ‘My goodness, that’s Paik Choo? She looks so stern, like a hygiene teacher! Bin chow chow (‘face like thunder’)!’ People are always wait-ing for me to say something funny. I’m actually the shyest person on earth—I can’t get up on stage and speak.”

Despite her demurring, when warmed up, she can be lethal.

“Once someone asked me, ‘Is Paik Choo a pen name?’ And I said, ‘No, Parker and Sheaffer are pen names. Paik Choo is my Chinese name.’”

The Complete Eh, Goondu! (Marshall Cavendish International) is available at

major bookstores at $18.65 before GST.

singapore 25

26 singapore

CULTURE FIX

In Singapore, Buddhists make up 33.3 per cent of the population (according to the Singapore Census of Population 2010). Among the Singaporean and foreign residents who celebrate Vesak Day here are Chinese, Indian and Myanmar devotees.

THE CHINESE

Chinese Buddhists practice Mahayana (‘Greater Way’) Buddhism, and form the majority of Buddhists here. The Shuang Lin Temple in Toa Payoh is the oldest Buddhist temple in Singapore, but one of the biggest and most popular is the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple M

AIN

PH

OTO

GRA

PHS

CO

URT

ESY

OF

KON

G M

ENG

SA

N P

HO

R KA

RK S

EE T

EMPL

EO

THER

PH

OTO

GRA

PH B

Y G

ETTY

IMA

GES

at Bright Hill Road. Up to 20,000 people gather there annually to mark Vesak Day by carrying out the “three-step, one-bow” ritual. Devotees take steps on both knees and bow at every third step as they pray for world peace, personal blessings and repentance. The two-hour procession begins 24 hours before Vesak Day.

Acts of generosity known as dana are also observed, and some Buddhists free caged birds and animals and give alms to the poor and needy. Buddhist youth are also known to organise blood donation drives.

THE INDIANS

Indian Buddhists know Vesak Day as Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti, and mark the occasion in various ways. Besides abstaining from meat to show compassion to animals, they gather at the popular Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple in Little India to offer fl owers, candles and joss sticks at the feet of bhikshus (monks). They also observe full-length Buddhist sutras, which are similar to prayer services.

One of the most well-known cultural events in Asia, Vesak Day is a celebration among

Buddhists, whose religion is based on the teachings of the historical Shakyamuni Buddha, who hailed from northeastern India. Vesak Day is celebrated in various Asian countries, including Malaysia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, to reinforce a universal message of peace.

Vesak Day commemorates three major events—the birth, enlightenment at age 35, and death at age 80 of Buddha. This day is celebrated in different ways given the diverse Buddhist cultures around the world.

Discover how Vesak Day will be celebrated in Singapore on 17 May this year by Chinese, Indian and Myanmar Buddhists.

BY TINA WANG

FOR PEACE AND HARMONY

singapore 27

CULTURE FIX

ON VESAK DAY DEVOTEES FLOCK TO THESE POPULAR TEMPLES TO

PARTICIPATE IN PRAYER SESSIONS, PRESENT OFFERINGS

AND SEEK FORGIVENESS.

Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple

88 Bright Hill Road

The temple, also known as Bright Hill Temple, was founded in 1921. Today, it draws thousands of Buddhists each year to its various attractions including a crematorium, the Hall of Ten Thousand Pagodas and a sapling from the Bodhi tree in India under which Buddha attained enlightenment. On the top fl oor of its four-storey Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall is one of Asia’s largest bronze Buddha images, measuring 13.8 metres in height and weighing 55 tonnes.

Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple

366 Race Course Road

Often called the Temple of 1,000 Lights, this popular temple—located at a busy intersection in Little India—boasts a 15 metre-high statue of a seated Buddha that weighs nearly 300 tonnes. There are also wall murals depicting the various life stages of Shakyamuni Buddha and a sacred, stylised footprint of Buddha in ebony and mother-of-pearl, among other images and effi gies. Behind the main hall is a statue of the Dying Buddha reclining under a Yellow Seraka tree.

Burmese Buddhist Temple (Maha Sasana Ramsi)

14 Tai Gin Road

The replacement of a smaller predecessor located at 17 Kinta Road, this majestic temple is home to a 3.3 metre-tall marble sculpture of Buddha. It is the fi rst and only Myanmar Buddhist temple built outside Myanmar in the traditional style, and its magnifi cent pure white marble Buddha is the biggest enshrined outside Myanmar.

The temple is also a venue for traditional Myanmar celebrations likeThingyan, the Myanmar New Year.

Freeing caged birds is one activity carried out

on Vesak Day

MAIN PHOTOS: Monks and devotees carrying out the “three-step, one-bow” ritual at Kong Meng San Phor

Kark See Temple (above); up to 20,000 people throng the temple on Vesak Day (left)

Kheer, sweet rice porridge, is commonly served to devotees to recall how a young maiden called Sujata offered Buddha a bowl of it as his last meal before a long fast towards enlightenment.

THE MYANMAR

Myanmar devotees practice Theravada (‘Ancient Teaching’) Buddhism, which focuses on seeking one’s own path to salvation. Vesak Day is better known among this community as Ka-sone-la-pyae or “Fullmoon Day of Kasone”, Kasone being the second month of the Myanmar calender. Traditions practised include the watering and taking special care of Bodhi trees, in reverence of Buddha attaining enlightenment while meditating under such a tree. Like the Indians, Myanmar devotees also mark the occasion by eating kheer.

The Singapore Buddhist Federation is organising a Vesak Day Celebration at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza on April 30 and May 1. Full details are available at www.vesakcelebrations.sg

A t an age when most are still in school, Mohammad Hosseini had already started working as

the part-time help in a kitchen. It was there that the young man discovered an interest in cooking and set his heart on becoming a great chef.

The current executive chef of Shiraz Authentic Persian Cuisine, who turns 30 this year, was working at Dubai’s Intercontinental Hotel when he was offered a job by the restaurant in Singapore.

So the young chef, who hails from the Zanjan province in northwest Iran, in an area known as Iranian Azerbaijan, moved here. Although he is experienced in Western, Arabic and Italian cooking, chef Mohammad specialises in Persian cuisine in which ingredients like parsley, cinnamon, saffron, dried limes, prunes, raisins and pomegranates are frequently used.

Chef Mohammad, who has been in Singapore for fi ve years now, has even created a Persian version of yusheng, a staple of Chinese New Year feasting in Singapore, by including pomegran-ate, which symbolises happiness in his culture.

Through the many dishes he whips up in the kitchen, he hopes to share his cooking skills as well as the Persian culture with as many people as possible.

Says the chef, who gives private cooking lessons and conducted culinary workshops organised by the People’s Association last year, “I take my teaching seriously and would love to continue sharing the essence of Persian cooking with everyone. It’s such a wonderful experience!”

WHAT S COOKING

LARI CHICKEN

SERVES: 4

INGREDIENTS1 kg boneless chicken thighs200g Greek yogurt2 yellow onions, sliced1 tsp crushed black pepper½ tsp white pepper powder1 tsp salt¾ cup olive oilA little butter, melted

Skewers for barbequing the chicken

METHOD 1. Mix onion slices, black and white pepper together thoroughly by ‘squeez-ing’ the mixture in your hand. 2. Coat the chicken thighs with the yogurt. 3. Add the on-ion/pepper mixture. 4. Add the olive oil and mix thoroughly. 5. Skewer the chicken thighs and cook over a hot grill. 6. When cooked, take them off the skewers. Dip the chicken in the melted butter, and serve with rice.

PHO

TOG

RAPH

S C

OU

RTES

Y O

F M

OH

AM

MA

D H

OSS

EIN

I

A TASTE OF PERSIABY ELAINE NGRECIPES BY MOHAMMAD HOSSEINI

28 singapore

KHORESHT GHAIMEH (LAMB AND SPLIT PEA STEW)

SERVES: 4

INGREDIENTS

750g stewing lamb or beef, cut into small pieces250g split peas3 onions, fi nely sliced500g potatoes, cut into small pieces½ cup cooking oil3 tsps tomato paste3 dried limes, crushed, or freshly-squeezed lime juice1 tsp mixture of turmeric and paprika1 tsp black pepper 3 cups waterSalt to taste

METHOD 1. Soak split peas in warm water for 2-3 hours, then drain. 2. Fry onion in oil until golden. 3. Add meat pieces and fry together with the onion until meat colour changes. 4. Add water and bring to the boil. 5. Turn heat down, and simmer for 1 ½ hours or until meat is almost cooked. Add more water if needed. 6. Add potatoes, split peas, salt, pepper, turmeric and paprika mixture, and tomato paste and con-tinue simmering until meat is cooked. Add the dried limes now if they are being used. Add more water if needed. 7. If lime juice is used, add it about four minutes before you turn the fl ame off. 8. Adjust seasoning according to taste, and serve the stew with white rice.

Shiraz Authentic Persian Cuisine

Blk 3A Clarke Quay

#01-06 River Valley Road

singapore 29

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONALE

30 singapore

DERBY, UNITED KINGDOM, ON UNTIL 17 APR 2011For The Blind, Zhao Renhui uses a series of images that documents the use of an invisible cloak to observe animals at intimate distances. This visual art installation/photo exibition will be held at the Pickford House Museum.

UPCOMING

CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO, 18-23 APR 2011With her body as the object on display, Chia Chu Yia offers a performance art piece in Communication Laboratory – Belief . This visual performance, based on interactions with the natives in Mexico through body language, will be held at the Tarahumara Mountain Range.

SHOWING SINGAPORE’S

CREATIVITY TO THE WORLD

Applications for Singapore Internationale are open from 4 April to 27 May 2011, for works that will be exhibited abroad from 1 July 2011; and from 4 July to 26 August 2011, for works that will be exhibited abroad from 1 October 2011. For more information, please write to contactus@sif.org.sg.

CENTRAL JAVA, INDONESIA, 22 APR – 1 MAY 2011For Butterfl ies In My Stomach; Bees Around My Head, multi-disciplinary artist Angeline Seah will use the sounds of Indonesian children’s heartbeats. This sound/action performance will be held at the 15th century historical Hindu temple Sukuh, Padepokan Lemah Putih Solo premises in Karanganyar.

The Singapore International Foundation’s arts and culture grant, Singapore Internationale, has supported the presentation of

Singapore’s creative works overseas and cross-cultural collaborations between Singapore artists and their foreign peers for over a decade.

Here’s a look back at the recent performances that have brought the Singapore arts scene to the world, and a line-up of upcoming

performances and exhibitions that continue the exchange.

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONALE

singapore 31

PAST PERFORMANCES

TOKYO, JAPAN, 8 JAN 2011 Children from Singapore and Japan joined hands and lent their voices to stage a fundraising concert for ChildAid Asia 2011 at the Shinjuku Bunka Centre, Tokyo.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 19-22 JAN 2011 A thought-provoking production by The Necessary Stage, Model Citizens explored how people become model citizens, as well as contemporary topics in human relationships. The Singapore production has since scored fi ve nominations for this year’s Life! Theatre Awards for Production of the Year, Best Director, Best Script and two for Best Actress.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 18 DEC 2010 In Seeking Sita, the Maya Dance Theatre used a new approach to tell the timeless tale of the Ramayana. This production connected dancers from different countries and backgrounds.

TOKYO, JAPAN, 23-27 FEB 2011 Xuan’s paintings centre on existential issues, a

subject close to her heart. Her Tokyo exhibition, Consciousness Precedes

Universes, was held at the Okarina B Gallery. “It is tremendously exciting

to show my work overseas, especially in such a vibrant

and artisitic city as Tokyo,” said Xuan.

BEIRUT, LEBANON, 14-17 JAN 2011Singapore musician Marc Chia, aka One Man Nation, wowed the crowd at the All Jazz Club with his experimental performance. This included implanted contact microphones hidden in the machines he used.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO, JAN-FEB 2011 Vertical Submarine, an award-winning collective of Singaporean artists, presented its two latest works from their A View with a Room project. The Flirting Point and How We Learned to

Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb focused on the relationship between the representation of text and images.

I SAY

Singapore-born, but now based in Glasgow, Scotland, Ramesh Meyyappan is a multi-faceted

performer. Not one to allow his hearing impairment to deter him from pushing boundaries, the last decade or more has seen him develop performances—solo and collaborative—in a range of visual and physical styles.

“Language and having to explore how people communicate has infl uenced me greatly, and the desire to be able to communicate in a universally accessible way has always been the challenge that keeps me going,” he says.

Ramesh, who started his arts and the-atre career in Singapore, left in 2000 for England, where he obtained a First Class degree from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. He discovered then, and still observes now, that regardless of the country or culture, “work by a deaf person can be pigeon-holed”; that often work by deaf artists is considered less good than that of those who can hear.

This has spurred him on, together with his desire to reach a wider audience —and not because he has something to prove;Ramesh says his biggest challenge

Not lost in translation Having a hearing impairment doesn’t mean you can’t push boundaries, as performer Ramesh Meyyappan shows. BY ANITA YEE

PHO

TOG

RAPH

CO

URT

ESY

OF

RAM

ESH

MEY

YAPP

AN

today is making work that can be viewed as mainstream. That means ensuring he is able to reach and attract a wider audience while challenging those who perceive theatre created by a deaf person as less than adequate.

He goes on to say that he has been steadily pushing himself as he develops his “skill levels and builds an extensive visual vocabulary”.

The 36-year-old received the Singapore International Foundation’s (SIF) Singapore Internationale grant in 2010. Of this he says, “The SIF has always been very generous and support-ive of my work. Without them, Snails & Ketchup and Gin & Tonic & Passing Trains would have taken longer to get started. I appreciate their faith in my work.”

Singapore Internationale is an arts and culture grant that supports the presentation of Singapore’s creative works overseas.

Of his current production Snails & Ketchup, which is inspired by Italian journalist and writer Italo Calvino’s The Baron in the Trees, and in which he plays all the characters, Ramesh says, “It’s a work in progress... It’s a simple story but I was inspired by the setting and the characters.

“As the boy in the story lives in trees, I’ve been engaged in intensive training to develop aerial skills; a great deal of the performance is above ground and on a rope!”

The fi rst performance of the fully developed Snails & Ketchup will be showcased in Paris from 8 to 11 June. There is also a possibility that it will be performed in Singapore in July before Ramesh takes it to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August.

He is hard-pressed to pick a favourite production. “I think each solo piece I’ve created has provided a different experience for me. However, Mistero Buffo was quite signifi cant as it was my fi rst full-length solo performance, and my fi rst time adapting a text to develop a purely visual narrative.”

Among the awards he picked up for his interpretation of Italian playwright and director Dario Fo’s piece was the Best Actor award at The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards in 2003.

Mistero Buffo is memorable for him because through it, he became more aware of the diffi culties communicating a full narrative in a visual way. The process involved in bringing it together left him “with much food for thought”, making him aware that he has much more to learn and areas to develop.

Of his future plans, he says simply, “I just want to create work that audiences will want to see.”

I just want to create work that audiences will want to see

32 singapore

Getting his work accepted as mainstream is a challenge Ramesh faces.

You Could Be The Reason For Their SmilesIt is estimated that more than 30 percent of Cambodians have no access to improved drinking water sources. The country also has one of the highest infant mortality rates in Asia and the majority of these premature deaths could be attributed to water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, hepatitis A and typhoid.

The SIF is calling for organisations who wish to make a difference to this situation by forming groups of 10-12 individuals to travel from Singapore to Cambodia to volunteer with Water for Life, the foundation’s first direct-service project.

By assisting in the assembling and installation of bio-sand water filters, conducting basic hygiene

education and/or refurbishing a rural health centre, you can play a part in helping to improve the quality of life of some 2,000 Cambodian villagers in Siem Reap.

Water for Life is kindly sponsored by Deutsche Bank and Ngee Ann Development Pte Ltd. The project partners are Middletown Rhode Island Rotary Club U.S.A and the Angkor Hospital for Children.

Volunteer today! Visit www.sif.org.sg for more project information and application details.

Working with Communities | Exchanging Ideas | Showcasing Singapore