Pearly White Smile

A pearly white smile not only increases a person’s confidence and self-esteem but also makes him or her look younger.  Teeth whitening or bleaching is a quick method to restore the sparkle back into your smile by brightening teeth that are discolored or stained by extrinsic causes, e.g. coffee, tea, soft drinks, tobacco, and other foods.

Intrinsic discolouration could be the result of a dead or infected tooth or a result of medication. Bleaching alone may not be sufficient, and other types of treatment, such as veneers or crowns may have to be considered.

While most people will be suitable candidates for whitening, those with gum problems, tooth infections, ulcers or sensitive teeth may have to address outstanding dental issues before having teeth whitening done.

During your visit to the dentist, shade charts may be used during the consultation stage to customize the optimum shade of white for your teeth. Whitening gel is then carefully applied to the teeth.  A safe, whitening light is used to activate the gel and bleach away stains on the teeth. One visit of about an hour's duration is generally sufficient for results to be seen. For teeth that are badly stained, more than one session may be needed.

Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential to keeping your teeth sparkling white. Dental cleaning, combined with regular check-ups to your dentist will help in giving you healthy teeth and a good looking smile.

For more information on Teeth Whitening, visit http://www.specialistdentalgroup.com/services/serv_teeth_whitening.php

Light On The Lotus Hill

Article and photo  by Hélène Vigeant
Photo Below: Shuang Lin Monastery

Judy Smith has again demonstrated her uncanny ability to uncover Singapore’s off-the-beaten track and well-kept secrets with the March 9th “Light on the Lotus Hill” Tour. Led by anthropologist and author, Chan Chow Wah, we discovered the little-known story of Buddhist Venerable Pu Liang, the 10th Abbot of Shuang Lin
Monastery and fervent supporter of the China Relief Fund in Singapore during the dark days of the Sino-Japanese War. The Venerable Pu Liang was the only Buddhist Abbot executed by the Japanese during the Sook Ching, the Japanese occupation of the island.

Mr. Chan generously shared his considerable knowledge of Singapore and China in the 1930s leading up to the Sook Ching. To evoke the spirit of the times, our guide started the tour at the Ee Hoe Hean Club in Chinatown, the Chinese Millionaires’ Club and the headquarters of the China Relief Fund in South-East Asia during the Sino-Japanese War. He also played some of the then-popular music and even passed around some rose-distilled water on perfume-sampling paper to vividly conjure up the ambiance of the times.

At the Shuang Lin Monastery, we learned about the remarkable fund-raising event held on May 28th 1939. The Abbot showed superb marketing skills, even providing bus service to ferry the supporters to and from Balestier Road. He succeeded in raising $10,000, a very handsome sum for the times.

Some of the money raised went to training the 3,200 drivers who travelled on the vitally important Burma Road that spanned between China and Lashio in Burma. Unfortunately, half of the drivers and mechanics (men and women) did not return home. Sadly, the story ends with the Abbott and his two assistants being detained in Jalan Besar Stadium before being taken to Changi Beach where they were executed.

The book “Light on the Lotus Hill” admirably retraces the Abbot’s life, compassion and humanity in difficult times.

Quiz Night – March 18, 2010

Text and photos by Kim Norman, CAS Member

More photos on the CAS website photo gallery:

http://www.canadians.org.sg/gallery.php

An exciting and successful CAS Quiz Night was held at Brewerkz on March 18th.  We had seven six-member teams flexing their grey matter in the competition for first prize and, more importantly, bragging rights until the next event.

It was a close match with the “PHDs” narrowly out-smarting “5 Plus 1” by a single correct answer.  The PHDs posted an impressive score of 45 correct answers out of a possible 70.  Rounding out the podium, there was a two-way tie for third between the “Canadian  Dragons” and the “Mad Expats” with scores of 42.  If you haven’t been to a CAS Quiz Night you’re missing out.  The nights are always good fun and there are usually some great lucky draw prizes to be won.  This past event included gift vouchers from Brewerkz and a hamper from the High Commission of Canada.

A big thank you to our host and quizmaster, David Barker, who kept everyone entertained and challenged with some fantastic questions.  Thanks also goes to Brewerkz and the High Commission of  Canada.  Look out for another CAS Quiz Night coming up soon in May!

A Different Kind of Office Building

By Sandra Johnson, CAS Member


In May last year, Standard Chartered Bank’s new building at Changi Business Park was  awarded the Platinum Green Mark Certification by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA). This is the highest environmental award in Singapore, recognising projects that demonstrate a minimum of 30% energy and water savings as well as environmentally sustainable building practices and innovative Green features.

This first-of-its-kind office building integrates energy and water efficient features and is expected to reduce energy consumption by up to 36 percent compared to conventional buildings in Singapore. Another proud fact is that 20 percent of the plants across the building’s 70,000 square feet landscaping will be of the endangered variety, with educational areas focusing on a range of endangered plants and their practical, everyday uses as food and medicine.

Steve Riley, Project Director, Singapore Relocation Project, Standard Chartered Bank offers more insight:

Was the idea of designing a Green building the vision from the beginning, or did it evolve in the later planning stages of the project?
At Standard Chartered, minimising the impact of our business on the environment, especially in the area of energy consumption in our buildings, has always been an integral part of our company’s Sustainability agenda.  As a policy, all new buildings we are involved in must incorporate environmental features as part of the overall design consideration.

Was it difficult to source energy efficient materials in Singapore?  Are the materials readily available here or were they imported from abroad?
Most construction materials are imported into Singapore, and so they are energy efficient.  However, this results in a slight increase in material costs and limited choices. We do however notice that, in recent years, the number of products available here and endorsed by the Building & Construction Authority have increased dramatically, both reducing the cost and increasing the Green choice.  In addition, recycling capabilities are constantly being improved.

There were extra costs incurred to incorporate the energy efficient features.  Was this difficult for management to approve?
Standard Chartered is committed to protecting the environment by reducing our operational environmental impact. This commitment also applies to our sustainable design strategy of buildings, where we aim to achieve efficiencies in resource consumption while minimising environmental impact. The Bank believes that having sensible Green designs in buildings usually leads to cost savings in the long run. We plan to incorporate sustainable building designs in our real estate to make Standard Chartered a great place to work, as well as creating a balance in economic objectives and environmental viability. Yes, there were additional costs, but these were offset by the reduction in energy and paper consumption, reduced waste and more efficient use of space.  All in all, this means reduced long-term expenses for the bank for a minor initial capital spend.

What is your favourite feature of the building?
It will be the roof-top garden on Level 6. This a place which not only provides a Green feature for the building, but also a recreational space for staff to relax and unwind after a hard day’s work; thus enhancing work-life balance.

What a fresh idea!