Tour of the Heartlands - Ang Mo Kio

By Judy Smith

On March 13, Dolores Parker, Debbie Milne and Kelly Woodward were our intrepid guides on this Out & About Tour of Ang Mo Kio in north central Singapore. Our visit started with a lighthearted discussion of the possible origins for the name Ang Mo Kio.  Depending if Hokkien or Malay sources are consulted, one comes up with: red hair, red tomato or the red hairy fruit – ambutan. A short history of the development of this distinctive heartland neighbourhood followed, including the basic characteristics of hawker centers, wet markets and the numerous apartment blocks built by the Housing & Development Board (HDB).

The Out and Abouters were fascinated by the Bird Corner, with different species of colourful birds singing in beautifully decorated cages. There are bird-singing competitions held regularly around Singapore, with prizes for the most melodious singers.

We then proceeded to a nearby temple that featured four separate altars, each to a different deity. We saw people worshipping and making offers of fruit, flowers and money.  Our next stop was a handicraft store where large paper houses, painted in vivid colours, are made for use at funerals.

After our time at the handicraft store we made our way to the Tay Guan Heng workshop. This family-run business manufactures joss sticks and hand-crafted figurines. Our lively and gregarious host, Amos Tay, gave us a very entertaining demonstration of wood clay art – an almost lost art form that he and his family are trying to keep alive in Singapore. Amos and two brothers continue to produce joss sticks in various sizes.  They also make figurines that are becoming increasingly popular with visitors and residents alike.  We all had an opportunity to model a small hand and some participants showed definite talent.

We continued to the Ban Choon Hiang shop which sells joss paper and a vast array of boxed items that are also used for funerals: everything from packages of cigarettes to sets of liquor, beer bottles, hand phones and toiletries.  Not long thereafter we ended our tour at the adjoining hawker center that offered many tasty choices for Lunch.

Thanks to Dolores, Debbie and Kelly for scouting out and presenting this vibrant area of Singapore that few tourists or foreign residents readily know.

Living the SLOWLIFE in Paradise

By Sandra Johnson

More and more, hotels and resorts are making an effort to do their part for the environment. The lovely Soneva Gili resort in the Maldives is no exception. In fact, this Six Senses hotel has taken going Green a step further by instilling several environmentally-friendly initiatives. The resort aims “to create innovative and enlightening experiences that rejuvenate our guests’ love of SLOW LIFE.” SLOW LIFE stands for SUSTAINABLE – LOCAL – ORGANIC – WHOLESOME   LEARNING – INSPIRING – FUN – EXPERIENCES.

Sea water is desalinated through a reverse-osmosis mechanism for drinking and bathing purposes, and is heated by solar energy. The hotel uses laundry detergent that is environmentally friendly. Recycling and composting programs are also in place. Soneva Gili has its own organic vegetable garden, from where ninety percent of the lettuce consumed at the resort is grown.  Many other wonderful vegetables are produced in the ever-expanding garden are also enjoyed by guests. Local non-endangered species of fish are caught fresh daily. Therefore, transportation and refrigeration are not required.  You won’t find any rainforest teak, coral, or turtle shells used for building or decorative purposes here. What you will find is a coral garden, where baby corals are harvested and replanted on the local reefs to replace those damaged by the extreme water temperatures in prior years. New and used items, such as linens and clothing, are donated to a local orphanage. The orphans are also taught useful life skills to ensure they have a brighter future. 

Staff members are required to undergo a “Green Module” on an annual basis, and, for guests,  environmental awareness is created through displays, management action and supporting programs. “Knowing what the resort does and what the resort could do to protect the environment and to keep it unspoiled is the first step to minimize environmental damage.”

More information on Soneva Gili’s Environmental and Social responsibility can be found at: http://www.sixsenses.com/soneva-gili/Environment/Environmental-Responsibility.php

Breathe Better – Banish Bad Breath!

Dr Helena Lee, Periodontist, Specialist Dental Group

Unpleasant-smelling breath is more than a small nuisance as it can affect one’s social life. The first step towards solving this problem is to find out the causes of bad breath (or halitosis).

Causes of Bad Breath

• Localized dental problems, such as infection, ill-fitting dental fillings or dentures;
• Periodontal or gum disease;
• Consumption of certain foods – e.g. garlic, durians, etc; 
• Poor oral hygiene – caused by food particles between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums which collect bacteria; 
• Dry mouth condition (xerostomia) which can occur due to hormonal changes (e.g., menopause) or due to certain medications;
• Smoking;
• Other medical conditions, such as digestive system problems, diabetes, ear or nose infections, Sjogren’s Syndrome or some forms of cancer.

Practicing good oral hygiene is the first step to minimizing bad breath

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day, making sure that the gum and tongue areas are cleaned, 
• Floss at the end of the day,
• Make regular visits to the dentist, i.e. at least twice yearly, to ensure that any potential problems are detected early and treated. 

When to Seek Dental Help

You should see your dentist when the bad breath persists despite your best efforts at maintaining good dental hygiene. 

With a proper examination, your dentist should be able to trace the possible causes of the bad breath and give you the best treatment options. You may also be referred to the appropriate medical specialist, if it is determined that the source of the halitosis is non-dental. 

Having a Ball at the Ball!

By Franca Ciambella

Photos of the Maple Leaf Ball, click here.

The legendary Maple Leaf Ball was held on Saturday April 17 and the 350 guests who arrived at the Fairmont Singapore were met with not one - but 2 red carpets in line with the "Walk the Red Carpet" theme.  The first carpet, sponsored by 3M, was truly innovative and consisted of the maple leaf pattern on an adhesive backing.  The second carpet was more traditional and led the guests to the stage and more importantly, to the dance floor.

Guests ate, drank and danced into the very wee hours of the night, but still found time to support this year's charity the Singapore Cancer Society.  Thank you to all our generous sponsors and guests for their strong support of CAS.  There are 500+ photos of the event posted on our website at: www.canadians.org.sg.  Due to popular demand, Ms. Moonlake Lee has graciously offered to forward soft copies of the photos to guests.  Please email your request to: mlee@specialistdentalgroup.com, with "MLB Photo Request/your last name" in the subject title and include the photo number(s). Please allow 7 days turnaround time.

See you next year!