Lotus Seeds with Hard-boiled Eggs
Cooking time: 1 Hour
Serves: 4–6
Ingredients
- 200g dried lotus seeds or 250g prepared lotus seeds (washed and drained)
- 2 litres water
- 4–6 eggs
- 200g rock sugar
What's Cooking
Sweet Tastings
July 15, 2009
Valued for their restorative properties, tonic soups are a distinctive part of Cantonese cuisine. While savoury soups are recognised for their nourishing qualities, sweet soups – or tong shui – are well-loved for not only being a refreshing treat but also good for the body. This is a twist on a conventional dessert that is often served as a cooling pick-me-up with eggs – this time; hard-boiled eggs instead of stirred eggs give it extra substance.
What's Cooking
Sweet Notes
Terry Tan
BY TERRY TAN
While Western culture often views sweets as a treat, the Chinese have a rather different idea. Foods are assigned properties based on a theory of Yin and Yang – yin being ‘cooling’ foods that decrease the body’s heat and yang being boosting foods that raise it. The ideal is to eat from both groups of food to keep the body in balance. Sweet herbal desserts or tong shui – literally ‘sweet water’ – is part of the balancing act of a meal.
What's On
s2009 Singapore F1 Night Race
July 1, 2009
September 25–27
Marina Bay Street Circuit
Gear up for more action in the second FORMULA 1™ Singapore Grand Prix which took the world by storm in its inaugural run in 2008 as more than 110 million television viewers worldwide watched the race against the backdrop of a Singapore skyline. 2009 promises to be no less exciting. To complement the race, the Singapore GP season will begin September 18 and will offer a slew of race-themed events, from parties to retail and dining experiences, that will rev the senses in preparation for FORMULA 1™ action.
What's On
NTUC Income Kite Festival
September 12–13
West Coast Park Grand Lawn
Let your spirits soar in this fun-filled fest that will take you back to your childhood. The annual NTUC Income Kite Festival will feature kite-making competitions, kite stunts and kite fights. More than just a toy, kites symbolise cultural diversity, scientific achievement and military strategy. They also embody grace, strength, optimism and hope. As part of Singapore’s kampung culture, kites also offer a point to explore the nation’s heritage, history and culture together.
What's On
JUMP
September 11–13
Esplanade
A dynamic mix of Korean martial arts and physical comedy, JUMP is a hyperkinetic 90-minute live stage performance of amazing stunts, tumbles and of course – jumps. The non-verbal action-packed, family-friendly production act created by
Yegam Theatre Company has been called “Jackie Chan meets Charlie Chaplin”. The storyline tells of a Korean family well-versed in martial arts, with a grandfather who enjoys challenging the rest of the family in martial arts showdowns. This promises to be a hilarious and rambunctious act that features lots of great comedy, martial arts, acrobatic and gymnastic moves.
What's On
Baybeats 2009
August 29–31
Various Venues
Baybeats is back! This local indie staple promises even more aural delights in 2009
with a line-up of more than 30 local and international performances. Opening the three-day fest is The Lilac Saints, The Analog Girl, Taiwanese electronica band The Shine & Shine & Shine & Shine, and Leeson. Other acts include The Karl Maka, Indonesian band Agrikulture and American synth-pop act Joy Electric. Closing in grand style on Sunday will be Australian band Jebediah, UK rockers Transition and Elemental Gaze from Indonesia.
What's On
CHAKRA
August 29–30
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Lee Foundation Theatre
Bhaskar’s Arts Academy is taking dance to a whole new level by injecting yoga concepts into its latest production. Choreographed by Cultural Medallion winner Santha Bhaskar and dance and yoga exponent Neewin Hershall, the dance production CHAKRA will explore the concept of energy centres in the practice of yoga. Featuring eight of its principal dancers, this vibrant high-energy production is conceived as a journey of dance and music towards enlightenment. To further their quest to illumination, patrons will be able to redeem three Hatha Yoga sessions at Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society with their tickets.
Contact +65 63366537 for details.
What's On
Countdown to Youth Olympic Games
August 14
The Padang
Bask in the Olympic spirit as the world counts down to the inaugural Youth Games here in Singapore (14–26 Aug 2010). August 14, 8.10pm sharp, will mark the unveiling of the official one-year countdown clock. This historic milestone for the Olympic movement will be accompanied by a spectacular display of lights, sound and action, as well as a slew of performances. A host of fun, carnival-style activities will keep you engaged in the sporting celebrations with Singapore’s youth talents, Olympians, sports personalities and local celebrities.
What's On
Nine Inch Nails ‘Live’
August 10
Fort Canning Park
Catch industrial rock gods the Nine Inch Nails (NIN) in their first ever visit to Singapore – and what could be their last world tour before an indefinite hiatus. Driven by the creative vision of front man Trent Reznor – hailed as the ‘Godfather’ of Industrial Rock – NIN has sold more than 20 million albums and been nominated for 12 Grammy awards, winning two. The band’s first album, Pretty Hate Machine, has gone triple platinum. Topping that was the second album, The Downward Spiral, which sold more than 5 million copies worldwide.
What's On
National Day Parade 2009
August 9
Marina Bay
Partake in the celebration of Singapore’s 44th National Day by the marina or in front of the telly. This year, the national ceremony will again be held atop the Marina Bay Float against the backdrop of the CBD. This year’s parade and National day show will be integrated into one event and viewers can expect more spectacular lighting effects.
What's On
The Legend: The Journey Begins…
August 1–2
University Cultural Centre Theatre
The Hindu epic, the Ramayana, comes on stage through the varied representions of Asian dance in this international collaboration between Maya Dance Theatre, National Culture and Heritage Academy of Malaysia, I Nyoman Budi Artha (Bali), Ajith Baskaren Dass (Malaysia) and lighting designer, Naomi Shoko Matsumoto Japan). The performance will showcase classical Indian dance, the Bharatha Natyam as well as the Balinese and Wayang Wong.
What's On
Ballet Under the Stars 2009
July 17–19
Fort Canning Park
Enjoy a night of dance in the great outdoors at this year’s Ballet Under the Stars 2009 – the 15th edition of Singapore Dance Theatre’s highly popular event. This year’s highlights include Pop!, a 20-minute ballet pastiche set to popular tunes from Annie Lennox, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and They Might Be Giants. This year’s line-up also includes Stand Up for Singapore, a piece originally commissioned for National Day 2007, Double Contrasts, Goh Choo San’s widely toured piece, and excerpts from Raymonda and Sleeping Beauty.
What's On
Night Festival
July 10–11
Various venues
Partake in a dazzling weekend of outdoor theatrical Festival, spectacular the Bras will feature Bersama a spectacular and vocals. The festival will dazzle the night as it culminates with a pyrotechnics show by Pan.Optikum from Germany.
What's On
Life of Imitation
June 7 – November 22
Singapore Pavilion, Venice
Berlin-based Singaporean artist Ming Wong represents the Singapore Pavilion at the 53rd Venice Biennale in his solo show, ‘Life of Imitation’. He revisits Singapore’s golden age cinema in the 50s and 60s – which has been little known to the world – and presents in three multi-screen video installations, the legacy of Singapore’s socio-political and multi-ethnic transitions before independence in 1965. The Singapore Pavilion is located at Palazzo Michiel del Brusá within a 14th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal near the Rialto.
What's On
The Little Singers of Monaco
July 7–8
Victoria Concert Hall
Hear heaven on earth as the Little Singers of Monaco, or Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco, bring to life Renaissance music. Under the royal patronage of H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco, the choir of 31 comes from a century-old tradition of European choirs. This widely acclaimed choir appears in aid of the NAFA Student Relief Fund.
What's On
Jazz by the Beach
Every Saturday from
July 4–25
Siloso Beach, Sentosa
Enjoy sun, sand, sea and some jazz at Jazz by the Beach at Sentosa. Every Saturday in July, soak in the tempo and enjoy a double bill of jazz musicians such as Joanna Dong, Roberto & Friends, Smokey & the Bandits, ChromaZone, Xian Yang Group, Acapella Jazz, Denise Mininfield and Big Band Sounds.
SIF News
5 Questions
Mrs Chou Bun Eng (left) with the children at the Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home.
Her Excellency Mrs Chou Bun Eng, Cambodian Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior
Mrs Chou was in Singapore from May 4–8 as an SIF Distinguished Visitor. She shares her passion to address gender and human trafficking issues in Cambodia with Singapore, as well as her experiences under the Khmer Rouge regime.
SIF News
Talking about Women
A discussion on the opportunities and challenges faced by expatriate women working here.
More than 40 expatriate women got the chance to network and share their concerns and experiences about living in Singapore at the SIF Xpats Dialogue on March 26, 2009 entitled “Opportunity and Challenges for Expatriate Women Working in Singapore”.
SIF News
Reliving Balestier
Expatriates got to learn about Balestier's rich history during an SIF-organised trail.
It may be a food haven for many, but there is more to Balestier Road than tau sar piah (bean paste pastries) and bak kut teh (pork rib soup). Seventeen expatriates from America, Britain, Germany, Malaysia and Taiwan got to learn about Balestier’s rich history during an SIF-organised trail on April 25. Auspiciously, the day coincided with the first day of the lunar month which is a day for worship.
SIF News
Bringing peace in the end
Professionals and caregivers are being trained in the end-of-life care for children.
Having to cope with terminal illness is difficult and it is more so if the one facing death is a child. To help improve the palliative care for Indonesian children, the SIF launched a new Singapore Volunteers Overseas (SVO) project in Jakarta on April 21.
I Say
Rachel’s Legacy
At least 650 children are stricken with cancer every year in Jakarta alone, according to the Indonesia Childhood Cancer Foundation. Driven to do something for dying children in Indonesia after a close friend succumbed to cancer, investment banker Lynna Chandra (left) founded a hospice to bring hope and sunshine into their lives. BY SHERALYN TAY
Lynna Chandra
“Rachel fought cancer for a long time … but when she knew she was at the end of her fight, she told her husband to send her to a hospice.” It was the first time that Lynna Chandra, 42, had heard of the concept of hospice care – a principle of holistic management for those with terminal illness, and it spurred her interest.
After her close friend Rachel died, Lynna, an Indonesian-born Singapore citizen, thought about the people who could not afford or have access to the ‘good death’ that Rachel had. “Rachel had a lot of pain management and good end-of-life care,” recalled Lynna. “More importantly she had a lot of personal contact with her caregivers. I found that touch played a very important part in her final days and it brought a lot of comfort to her.” It was this personal care and comfort that Lynna wanted to ensure for the dying –particularly for children.
Culture Fix
The Kopi Lexicon
The ubiquitous kopitiam (coffeeshop) is a hallmark of Singapore culture and a focal point for meals, neighbourly chats, family dinners and even soccer fans. For newcomers to the city, what makes a cup of kopi different from the lattes and cappuccinos served elsewhere? Here’s a look at some kopi culture. BY LIM SAY LIANG
Eng Lan Lam, proprietor of Nanyang Old Coffee
When it comes to Singapore coffee – or kopi (pronounced as koh-pee) as the locals call it – it all boils down to the way the beans are prepared. Roasted with sugar and margarine, local coffee is dark, strong and retains the smooth caramel and butter character of its roasting companions. As with many other local delicacies, Malaysia’s robust blend is a close cousin. The latter however, is brewed from Liberica beans while Singapore’s is from a blend of Robusta and Arabica.
Kopi is also different from some international gourmet coffee, says Eng Lam Lim, proprietor of Nanyang Old Coffee because of the quantity of coffee in each serving. “The punch is there because we use a lot of Robusta. Cappuccino for example, is twenty percent of coffee and eighty percent of milk. For us, it’s eighty percent of coffee.”
Going Local
Climbing the Heights
From the lofty mountains of the Himalayas to the south of the equator, Nepali businessman Ajambar Basnet shares what’s possibly the most memorable ‘trek’ of his life: settling in sunny Singapore. BY SHERALYN TAY
When he first arrived in Singapore in 1995 to embark on his diploma in business administration, Ajambar Basnet, then 25, was homesick for the taste of native Nepalese food. “In the initial three or four months, I couldn’t take the smell of Chinese, Malay and even Indian food! Nepalese cuisine is very much like North Indian food, but the Indian food here is mostly from the south and the curries smelled strange to me,” he told Singapore.
That was then. Fourteen years on, Ajambar, now 39, lists all manner of local dishes among his favourites, from bak kut teh (pork rib soup) and char kway teow (fried rice noodles) to carrot cake (savoury fried radish cake) and roti prata (Indian style crepes).
My Singapore
Monsoon Memories
Snake charmers, magicians, markets teeming with life and the rich smell of spices. Like a page out of Arabian Nights, Briton Derek Tait remembers Singapore in the 60s as a lush and exotic place. So rich was this childhood experience, that Derek wrote three books on his – and others’ – memories of young Singapore. BY LIM SAY LIANG
“Those were the days” are not nearly enough words to describe the strong nostalgia that British author and photographer Derek Tait feels for Singapore. Derek got his first whiff of Singapore in 1965 when his father was seconded to KD Malaya within the Naval Base at Sembawang. They lived just across the causeway at Johor Bahru at a place called Century Gardens. The experience was an assault on his three-year-old senses.
Young as he was (and perhaps precisely because of that), Derek, now 47, recalls his experiences in vaudeville detail: hundreds of sampans (flat-bottomed wooden boats) with fruits and fish, snake charmers, street magicians and “endless shops”. “There would also be lots of hot food prepared in front of you,” he told Singapore. “The smell, and it wasn’t really unpleasant, is a smell I’ve never smelled since! Singapore then had a smell of its own and was a very busy place.
Island Gems
Landfill Eden
Seagrasses dance in the shimmering waters, hiding marine treasures such as sea conches, giant clams, sea anemone and even octopi. Overhead, a rare bird skims the air. This is no remote paradise, but an island treasure just offshore from Singapore. Welcome to Semakau Landfill – ‘garbage island’ and eco-paradise. BY EDMUND MAK
With a barely audible grunt, the guide gently lifts the sea cucumber from the water. It is a large specimen, around two to three times the size of the guide’s hand. As water spurts from the cucumber – its defensive mechanism in action – visitors gather and give murmuring sounds of approval; a little boy gapes in disbelief. After all, this is what you expect to find in a seafood restaurant, certainly not on a landfill.
While Singapore may be known for being a regional economic power house, it has also won accolades for being a garden city. Throughout the city, there are numerous parks and gardens where locals head for morning taichi sessions and evening walks. And around Singapore, there are several islands, each boasting a diverse marine habitat. It may come as a surprise that one of the islands with the greatest variety of marine life is the Semakau Landfill, also known as Pulau Semakau.
Society
Civil Society: A Coming of Age?
From the Speakers’ Corner and the growth of non-government organisations, to the rise of alternative media – the seedlings of a vibrant civil society have taken root. Coming out from under the watchful eye of the government, what has shaped the rise of an active citizenry in Singapore? BY HO LI FONG
Supporters of Aware celebrate the vote of no confidence against the new exco.
A surprise coup of a small but well established women’s advocacy group, the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware), captured both the headlines and the passionate responses from Singaporeans in April this year, animating civil society.
People
A lens on charity
What do nude celebrities have to do with charity? For locally renowned photographer Dominic Khoo, it’s got everything to do with the spirit of philanthropy. After all, the naked honesty exhibited in Pure, his collection of black-and-white photography, is what charity should be at its heart. BY LIM SAY LIANG
Dominic Khoo
As far as coffeetable books go, Pure quite simply overshadows the coffeetable. Measuring 42 x 59.4cm, the A2-sized photography book is possibly the largest book of its kind ever published. Auctioned on award-winning Singaporean celebrity photographer Dominic Khoo’s website (www.whatisthesight.com), the book has emerged as the most expensive of its kind, having been ‘sold’ for amounts ranging from $10,000 to $52,000.
The collection of journalistic portraits featuring nude socialites and celebrities such as MTV VJ Greg Uttsada, Thai actress Ploy and actors Mark Zee and Jaymee Ong, was personally shot by Dominic and was his way of raising funds in support of efficiently-managed charitable organisations.
In all, the book raised $350,000 – eclipsing the initial target of $300,000. The money was shared among six recipients that met Dominic and his team’s close scrutiny of CEO salaries, reserve figures and financial reports. “If you give money, you should be able to see everything,” said Dominic.
Scene
Beat by Beat
Local theatre heavyweights Kenneth Lyen, Stella Kon and Desmond Moey have big dreams for made-in-Singapore musicals. The team has spent the last four years nurturing musical theatre talent in Singaporeans from all walks of life and have done it with passion, drama and fl air – all the makings of a great musical. BY SHERALYN TAY
From left: Desmond Moey, Stella Kon and Dr Kenneth Lyen.
It starts as mere whimsy or a vision to take a story beyond mere words – and when brought to life on stage complete with music and dramatic props, nothing quite compares to the immersive allure of musicals. At least not for Dr Kenneth Lyen, a renowned paediatrician and veteran musical writer. “There is no art form that has the great emotional power of a musical to touch people,” he told Singapore. “It has everything – music, songs and great stories.”
Round Up
Her Excellency Chou Bun Eng 3
SIF Distinguished Visitor Chou Bun Eng on challenges in policing prostitution in Cambodia
Biz.sg
Café for the Urbanite Dog
Pampered pooches today have more than fancy tinned food and grooming to look forward to. The pet business – organic food, spas and even cafés – is becoming a well-established niche in Singapore. Meet Raye Tan, the owner of Urban Pooch Café, a well-loved place where every dog has its day. BY HAZZEL TAN
Raye and one of her furry clients
When Raye Tan sunk her savings into a pet café and boutique, her mother was the first to object – and she is still against her daughter’s choice. After all, Raye gave up a comfortable income as a leasing agent to pursue a dream as an entrepreneur when she started Urban Pooch Café. Today, the 36-year-old spends almost every day at work. “Now, I can’t even go on holidays easily because my customers only trust me to be around for their dogs,” she said. While she acknowledged that she would probably earn more working for others, Raye has not regretted her decision despite the many challenges in running her own show.
Round Up
Her Excellency Chou Bun Eng 2
SIF Distinguished Visitor Chou Bun Eng shares about her experience during the genocide regime
Round Up
Her Excellency Chou Bun Eng 1
SIF Distinguished Visitor Her Excellency Chou Bun Eng talks about her visit to Singapore
Policy Buzz
In Parliament
- Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) – opposition politicians who did not win a seat during an election but have the next highest percentage of votes – will be increased from six to nine. This means at least a-tenth of the 84 directly-elected Members of Parliament with constituencies, may be made of the opposition.
- Singapore got its first full woman minister when Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, 50, was promoted to Minister in the Prime Minster’s Office in April. Mrs Lim was also designated as second Minister for Finance and second Minister for Transport.
- State-owned investment company, Temasek Holdings, came under scrutiny after it sold its 3 per cent holding in the Bank of America. It explained its decision a week later after calls for transparency were made. Members of Parliament have asked for a comprehensive review of the management of Singapore’s reserves.
Round Up
Eye on YOG
Building buzz for YOG
In a bid to further empower and engage youth for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games and build even more buzz in the lead up to the games in 2010, the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee and the National Youth Council launched a seed funding initiative called the Singapore 2010-Young ChangeMakers Grant.
Round Up
H1N1 hits Singapore
Aiding in the fight against the Influenza A (H1N1) virus – a new strain of infl uenza for which the global population has almost no immunity against – the National Public Health Laboratory (part of the Ministry of Health) – successfully developed a diagnostic kit to confirm cases.
Round Up
Women on top of the world
Esther Tan (left) and Jane Lee
Five Singaporean women have made history by scaling Everest – the first female Singaporeans to do so. This achievement came after five years of gruelling preparation and training – and an uphill battle to find sponsors.
Round Up
LUSH push for more high-rise greenery
To make Singapore even more of a Garden City, the Urban Redevelopment Authority has launched Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises (LUSH) so that developers can get additional gross floor area of up to 50 per cent of the roof area or 200 square metres if they provide more rooftop greenery.
Round Up
Ms. Lynna Chandra
Founder of Rachel House, Indonesia’s first paediatric hospice, Ms. Lynna Chandra talks to Singapore magazine about the motivations and reactions to her work, her introduction to hospice care and leaving a career in banking.
Round Up
Singapore ranks second in global stress test
A global ‘stress test’ by Swiss business school IMD of how resilient countries were against economic stresses during a recession placed the Republic in second place, just behind Denmark.
Round Up
More diversity in Parliament
Prompted by the call for more debate and greater political participation, the government has made sweeping changes to the Singapore political system. The changes aim to boost the diversity of voices and views and to give non-PAP members a larger share of Parliament.
Blog
Greetings from Singapore!
If you’ve noticed, you’re reading quite a different issue of Singapore. Yes, we’ve had a makeover. Why, you ask?
In the last couple of years, the Singapore magazine has been expanding its contents and reach. Many of us are finding new and exciting developments around us, where talking about Singapore in the classic categories of ‘society’, ‘policies and ‘business’ isn’t going to cut it. Which is why we’re refreshing the stories (more on that later), adding new content and more pages to the magazine.
