Chinatown, March 27, 2013

By Lynda Sellars

We began our morning in the lobby of the beautiful Park Royal on Pickering Hotel where we were warmly greeted by David Sullivan, the general manager of the hotel (and also a friend and neighbour). We enjoyed a light breakfast in the Orchid Lounge - the top floor of hotel. Surrounded by windows on all sides, we were given a fantastic view of the Chinatown area.

We then proceeded to the Presidential Suite. It is not quite finished, but the features of the suite amazed us. Natural wood and fibres have been incorporated into wall coverings, flooring, and furniture. The room amenities are similar to the furnishings and all rooms have soaring views with remote blinds for privacy.

There are sky gardens on 3 different levels and as the plants mature, the hotel will truly have living walls. The infinity pool is spectacular with unique hanging birdcage cabanas and the eco features of hotel include rain water harvesting and solar panels which have earned the hotel a platinum rating.

Next, it was a short walk to Yixing Yuan Teahouse (30/32 Tanjong Pagar Road). Vincent Low, is a former banker with an MBA from London, but his heart belonged to China. He studied at Taiwan’s famous Lu Yu, “university of tea” and returned to Singapore to establish the Teahouse.

Mr. Low gave us a fascinating talk on tea. He showed us the difference between a fresh tea and a supermarket type. The fresh tea still had proper colour (green, white, or black) and a lovely scent. Chinese tea making is an elaborate process designed to draw out the drink’s finest nuances and to be savoured over good conversation with friends. The doll-house-style cups and pots are deliberately sized to slow you down and relax. We did just that were seated in preparation for a dim sum lunch. Delicious dumplings, pancakes, and fried rice were savoured by us all along with generous servings of tea. The teahouse sells varieties of tea and lovely tea sets. Make your way to this quaint teahouse and enjoy a good cup of tea in a lively cultural scene!

Drill The Dental Myths! – Part 2

In last month’s issue, we have drilled on a few dental myths that were common at both ends of the life cycle, i.e. toddlers and seniors. In this issue, we want to chew on some common dental myths related to teenagers and pregnant women.

MYTH During puberty, it is normal to experience bleeding gums or ulcers during menstruation due to an increase in hormones

FACT: Menstruation is a normal cycle in women's life, but red, swollen and bleeding gums need not be present when a woman is menstruating. Prevention is best – you can maintain a good healthy lifestyle, with a balanced diet, regular exercise, sufficient sleep and keeping good oral hygiene. See your dentist or gum specialist if you are having persistent gum problems.

MYTH Visiting the dentist during pregnancy is not safe for the baby

FACT: This is not true. If a woman who is in the first trimester informs the dentist during her visit, the dentist could perform an examination to determine the state of oral hygiene and offer professional advice and instruction to help her maintain proper home care. When her pregnancy is more stable in the second trimester, she can then do a proper cleaning when the woman feels less nauseous.

Feel free to contact us with your questions. To find out more about other dental solutions or to make an appointment, visit www.specialistdentalgroup.com

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Specialist Dental Group is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). CAS members enjoy a special rate for dental services. For details, send an enquiry via www.specialistdentalgroup.com or call 6733 7883

Tiger Tales: Haw Paw Villa

By Janey Schueller

Photos by Fran Wilson

Previously known as ‘tiger balm gardens’, Haw Par Villa was definitely a colourful, must-see, stop on the CAS out & about tour map this year.  It is like no other place in the world (that I have seen) and reportedly consists of over 1,000 statues and 150 dioramas that depict Chinese legends and folklore.

Haw Par Villa was later renamed after its former owners, the Aw brothers – Boon Haw and Boon Par, who made a fortune in the early 1900s selling Tiger Balm, a cure-all paste created by their father.  Tiger symbolism is scattered throughout the park and although the historical mansion is no more, the tiger-themed car is displayed for all to admire.

Based on Chinese legends and values, this unique theme park has statues of all shapes and sizes that depict famous legends and feature characters like Fu Lu Shou, Confucius and the Laughing Buddha.

There was less laughter in the infamous Ten Courts of Hell exhibit – which depicts very graphic scenes of punishment and reincarnation popular to Buddhist belief, but we found it educational nonetheless and we will continue to be law-abiding citizens as
a result!

Without a doubt, we were all fascinated by stories and images of ancient times at Har Par Villa and the colourful tales that we conjured up while touring the unique park.  Special thanks to Lynda Sellars for coordinating the tour with me, Fran Wilson for her vivid photography and the Wilson kids for joining the tour and entertaining us with their own interpretation and stories.

CelebratingDiversity at CIS

By Lisa Leland, Communications and Marketing Executive, Canadian International School

We began the month of February with Chinese New Year celebrations and then moved to our annual week long cultural celebrations, “Uniting Nations Week” at Lakeside campus and “Cultural Celebrations Week” at Tanjong Katong campus.  Festivities began with our Carnival of Nations and Global Bazaar, on 16 February, with over 4,000 people enjoying the plethora of games, rides and activities on offer.

Uniting Nations celebrations at Lakeside included various cultural performances that encompassed a traditional Japanese fisherman’s dance and a North American line dance.  A highlight for many was the delicious array of foods at the annual Food Festival, which saw CIS parents preparing dishes that hailed from all corners of the globe.  In true IB spirit, children embraced
the concept of being risk takers as they experienced foods never before tasted - this year Aussie students were beaten by a Korean peer in the annual Vegemite challenge! The week culminated with the perennially popular Parade of Nations with over 78 different nationalities represented.

Cultural Celebrations at Tanjong Katong began with an assembly that featured multilingual stories from around the world.  In true CIS tradition, the highlights of the week featured a Food Festival with tasty delights and a Parade of Nations– celebrating the diversity that is CIS.  These were remarkable events that display the true heart of the CIS community. 

Grade 7 and 8 students from both campuses applied their cultural understanding in an academic context by attending the Model United Nations conference later in February.  During the conference, students represented member countries by debating issues and passing resolutions in attempts to find solutions to some of the world’s problems.  The Model UN involved over 550 students from 28 schools representing over 80 countries.

Cultural celebrations; academic pursuits; and the application of inter-cultural understanding! All in all, it has just been a regular month at school for CIS students. 

Food Less Travelled

By Herb Pilles

We all know that the fresher our fruits and vegetables are, the better they taste.   There is nothing like the aroma, the full flavour, the bursting goodness of a big red tomato fresh off the vine.   How many of us are fortunate enough to have tasted a peach right off the bough of a tree in summer?   There is scant resemblance to the peaches we buy at the grocery store!  But here we are on an island of four million people in South East Asia.   The “Hundred Mile Diet” might make sense in Vancouver, but how does one eat locally in Singapore?  Well, the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia are 400 kilometres away, and while that is not exactly “local”, it’s a lot closer that Peru!  Produce that is unpacked from crates at the wet markets in Singapore in the dark, wee hours of the morning was probably picked the day before.  The operators of the stalls at your local wet market can tell you exactly where every item came from, and when it arrived.

One of my family’s all-time, all-Canadian favourites is Ontario peaches’n’cream corn, from the back of a pick-up truck in the Canadian Tire parking lot in August.  I have steadfastly avoided the naked cobs in shrink-wrapped pairs at the grocery store here in Singapore, but the other day the lovely woman who always waves me over at my neighbourhood wet market was more persistent than usual, pointing to a pile of fresh green cobs, with “Must try! Must try!  Two colour corn! Cameron Highland.”  It looked like peaches’n’cream, broken stalks still white and fresh moist silk at the top, so I took a dozen home for my Canadian guests that evening.  It was amazing!  Sweet, crunchy, and fragrant, and tasting of home!

Now, if you really want to intercept freshness, even before the produce gets to your local wet market, make your way to the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Market!  It is located on the West Coast Highway, near Haw Par Villa MRT station.  Bring BIG bags.  You will find an endless variety of not only fruits and vegetables, but frozen and dried foods, such as nuts, as well.  Anyone can shop there, at astonishingly low prices.  It is an enormous area, taking up several city blocks, very busy, and not set up as a shopper-friendly retail store, so watch you don’t get your ankles nipped by a fork-lift truck.

Is it possible to “eat locally” in Singapore?  Can we get “food less travelled”?  Well, you can certainly get closer to the source of your food at your local markets than at the supermarket.  Give it a go.