OCTOBER 2019

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HOMES • FAMILY • ARTS • FOOD • TRAVEL • FASHION • HEALTH • BEAUTY

OCT 2019

SINGAPORE

Storage... Sorted! Steakhouse Stake Out

Getting Arty Workshops, Collectors & Favourites

Student Spotlight Preschool Outings, Toddler Tips & BoardingDiaries

Women 's Health Routine Checkups &ACancer Survivor’s Tale

Japan Skiing Laos Tales Win a Family Staycation!

EDITOR’SNOTE Is anyone having to adapt to a new job, new school or the Singapore heat? When I climbed to the top of Mount Oberon in Australia lately, I was thinking about adapting versus being prepared. We knew it was going to be cold and windy, so I had thermal leggings on under my gym leggings, plus a thermal top, a thin jersey, a thick jersey, a Kathmandu vest and a Kathmandu jacket. And a beanie and gloves. I was prepared… However, I hadn’t thought about the actual walk, except the amazing view from the top. We set off through gorgeous forest up a 45-degree slope and after ten minutes I had stripped off most layers. At the stage where I was thinking simultaneously, “This is really going to be good for my thighs,” and “I want to go home now!”, it changed to a 60-degree slope. At the last stage, I met a family with two young kids, and I thought, if they can do it, I can do it! A rocky climb took us to the top, where the sea, gorgeous beaches and miles and miles of forest lay before us. It was all worth it! However, the wind was coming straight off the Antarctic and we definitely needed all the gear we’d bought! Coming down was wonderful and we got to really enjoy the scenery. But, the interesting part was the uphill climb and the associated thoughts: “If I hide behind a tree and join up with them on the way down will anyone notice? Will I miss out on anything if I turn around now?” I realised how, when something is not quite what we had imagined, we have to adapt or give ourselves a bit of a push to keep going. It also helps to do as much prep as possible – research, attention to detail and planning. Then things have a better chance of being better. Look out for more adventures with us on page 158 of this issue. There are no group walks this month, but our new Expat Living Travel Club is going on a spa retreat, and we have plenty of other events for you to look forward to.

REBECCA BISSET Editor-in-Chief

View from the top

OCTOBER2019

Editor-in-Chief REBECCA BISSET

Group Editor SHAMUS SILLAR Editorial Team HOME & PROPERTY: KEL FLANDERS EDUCATION: MONICA PITRELLI WINE & DINE, HEALTH: AMY GREENBURG LIFE & FAMILY: LINDSAY YAP HAIR & BEAUTY, FASHION: ANTHIA CHNG Copy Editor JULIET KEYS Online & Digital Content MICHAELA BISSET IT & Web Support RENE YUTIAMPO | HANADDI REY DIAZ MAMBA Client Services & Production LEANDA RATHMELL | LIANA KEDDIE | NUR HANANI KAMAL LUDDIN Graphic Designers MICHAEL BERNABE | JEANNE WONG Marketing, Circulation & Administration ANNA TSERLINGAS | VEENA GILL SITI SHAHIRAH KHIRUDEEN Advertising Sales KARIN GALLEY | DANIELLE ROSSETTI | LARA SAGE | JACQUI YOUNG Events Curator SUSAN KNUDSEN-PICKLES

Special Projects MELINDA MURPHY Chief Operations Officer COLIN PURCHASE Contributing Writers HARSHARAN KAUR | REBECCA SIMPSON

Contributing Photographers KEN TAN (WITHINIMAGES.COM)

CONTACT US General Enquiries: +65 6812 1780 | info@expatliving.sg Advertising Sales: +65 6812 1781 | sales@expatliving.sg Subscription: +65 6812 1783 | subscription@expatliving.sg Production: +65 6812 1787 | production@expatliving.sg Editorial & Media Releases: editorial@expatliving.sg Calendar of Events: calendar@expatliving.sg Events: events@expatliving.sg Websites: expatliving.sg | expatliving.hk

Printed by Times Printers Pte Ltd (timesprinters.com)

Published by Expat Living Publications Pte Ltd 37 Jalan Pemimpin, #07-06 Mapex Building, Singapore 577177

Image courtesy of Kiroro Resort (kiroro.co.jp)

OCTOBER2019

CONTENTS

NEWS 16 Calendar Updates: 22 Readers’ Letters 24 EL Forum: Our online antics and our upcoming events 26 Singapore Pages: HOME & PROPERTY 30 News 34 Home Showcase: An art lover’s dream 41 Readers’

54 Storage ideas for every room

What’s on in the coming months

Exploring the island’s past and present

Recommendations: Choosing artworks for your home

46 Buying Guide:

Find your statement piece!

50 Creative Corner:

Workshops to create your own masterpiece

53 Store Spotlight:

Gailey Griffin talks silk sheets

54 Buying Guide:

Fantastic storage solutions

66 Street Talk:

What it’s like living in Telok Blangah LIFE & FAMILY 72 News 78 Noticeboard: Birth announcements and pet adoptions 81 Online Shopping:

SCHOOL SPECIAL 90 Lucky kids on excursion! 92 Repton’s two new campuses 95 Adjusting little ones to preschool 96 How to help with Mandarin 98 A chat with the founder of IIS 99 Boarding life in Sydney

100 Teen Troubles: How to handle angst 102 Forward Female: Life lessons with Batya Shulman 104 Environment News 106 Plastic Straws: The hard truth! 108 Helping Hands: Our latest on volunteer opportunities 110 Around Town: Photos from openings, events and more

Baby products at the click of a mouse

82 Mama’s Day Out:

Steal some “me-time” in Dempsey

84 Digital Deepavali:

A hip way to explore Little India

86 Reviewed:

Popular podcasts and Netflix shows

89 Family Fun:

An EL editor takes the brood trampolining

OCTOBER2019

CONTENTS

148 Sun and snow in Hokkaido

WINE & DINE 120 News 123 Best of Breakfast: 5 local treats to start your day 124 Bar Tab: A new spot for a cooling beverage 127 Sake to Sushi: The Japanese market that has it all 128 Standout Steaks: The cuts to try in Singapore 132 Recipe Corner: Fail-safe favourites for your repertoire

TRAVEL 138 News 142 Staying Put:

Three staycations you’ll love 145 Destination Focus: Laos tips and reader recommendations 148 Skiing in Spring: Japan’s golden season 154 Aussie Island: Five Stradbroke highlights 156 Whiz Kid: Blazing a trail for young travellers 158 Expat Living Travel Club: Join our first adventure!

128

Calling all carnivores!

OCTOBER2019

Fashion forward footwear 164

CONTENTS

Get party- ready! 166

STYLE & BEAUTY 162 Style News 164 Cool Collab: Superga meets Alexa Chung 166 Party Picks: Dresses and accessories on our hit list 168 Sparkle Spotlight: Jewels for all ages

170 Beauty News 172 Hair Heroes:

Why we love Korean beauty salon Leekaja

174 Erasing Eyebags: Solutions without surgery 176 Tried & Tested:

The EL team’s favourite moisturisers

HEALTH & FITNESS 184 News 186 Healthy Habits:

Tips for women’s wellbeing

190 Cancer Survivor:

We hear a first-hand account

194 Going for Gold:

Chatting to Singapore’s netball coach

197 Home Workouts: No gym? No problem! REGULARS 203 Numbers & Websites 204 Horoscopes for October

206 Advertiser List 208 Parting Shot:

A Singaporean take on British quirks

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OCTOBER2019

CALENDAR

THISMONTH

SHOPPING & FAIRS

DANCE, THEATRE & CONCERTS Voilah! France Singapore Festival (3 OCT – 17 NOV) Back for six weeks in October and November, this annual French festival will feature more than 50 programmes showcasing French culture and lifestyle, and experiences in culture, education, science, lifestyle and sports. Multiple locations. voilah.sg Merdeka (10-27 OCT) Written by award-winning writer Alfian Sa’at and playwright Neo Hai Bin, this new play by Wild Rice examines how Singapore’s history and humanity have been shaped and shattered by the forces of colonialism. The Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre at Wild Rice. Tickets from Sistic. Da:ns Festival 2019 (10-20 OCT) This October, catch some of the world’s best dancers on stage, including Carlos Acosta and his Cuban dance company, and award-winning street dance crews from the USA, Japan and Taiwan. Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. Tickets from the Esplanade website.

Anita Dongre Trunk Show

Anita Dongre Trunk Show (5 OCT)

Anita Dongre will be showcasing her Autumn Winter 2019 collection for the first time in Singapore. The collection will feature both women and menswear. For designer appointments, email info@melangesingapore.com. Malaysia Room, Hilton Singapore HotLotz Online Modern & Contemporary Art Auction (10-30 OCT) Get your hands on stylish and sophisticated pieces to display in your home. Drop by the HotLotz showroom to view the paintings. Bidding closes at 8pm on 30 October. Register online to see the auction catalogue. hotlotz.com

Da:ns Festival

SOCIAL

Gala of Light (4 OCT)

Photo: Johan Persson

This fundraising ball aims to honour the work done by two Singapore charities, Beyond Social Services and Compassion Fund. Enjoy cocktails, a sit-down dinner, a fashion show by Anita Dongre, a live auction and an after-party with Bollywood DJ Suketu. For ticket inquiries, email galaoflight@melangesingapore.com. Marina Bay Sands Lunch & Cooking with Paul Askew (22 OCT) Enjoy a cooking demonstration and delicious three-course lunch with celebrity chef Paul Askew as part of the Singapore Cricket Club’s bicentennial celebrations. He has over three decades of experience in the restaurant industry. The Padang Restaurant, Singapore Cricket Club. scc.org.sg/sccbicentennial

OCTOBER2019

CALENDAR

FAMILY

UWCSEA Annual High School Open Days (8-11 OCT) Hear from students and parents about their experiences and about the school’s learning programme from teachers. Besides going on a campus tour, get the chance to talk to the admissions team and find out more about the school’s annual application cycle. UWCSEA Dover and East campuses. hubs.ly/H0k6wwV0 Experience House on the Hill (12 & 19 OCT) The family-run Montessori preschool will be having open houses at its Pasir Panjang and Mount Sophia campuses this month. The events will include a presentation by the principal, a sneak peek into a Mandarin class and a fun scavenger hunt for little ones. houseonthehill.com.sg/openhouse SCC Family Day & Open House (20 OCT) Have fun with pony rides, games and other activities for all ages at the SCC Family Day. There’ll also be an antique roadshow by HotLotz Auction House, plus tours of the clubhouse. Singapore Cricket Club. scc.org.sg

UWCSEA

DUCKS Open Morning (30 OCT)

At this Dulwich College Kindergarten and Infants’ School (DUCKS) event, hear from Headmaster Nick Magnus, meet the Head of DUCKS and leadership teams, and learn about the school’s dual-language approach. Also, take a tour around the campus. Register for a spot at singapore.dulwich.org .

ARTS & CULTURE

Siah Armajani: Spaces for the Public. Spaces for Democracy. (UNTIL 3 NOV) The highlight of this Iranian-American artist’s exhibition is a large installation called Sacco & Vanzetti Reading Room #3 . It includes two rooms, tables, chairs and racks with books, magazines and pencils. NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore Karen Knorr: Migrations (UNTIL 16 NOV) At this solo show, American/British photographer Karen Knorr will be showcasing a series of photos that explore ideas of migration and multiculturalism. Sundaram Tagore Singapore, Gillman Barracks

Karen Knorr: Migrations

OCTOBER2019

CALENDAR

PLANAHEAD

BESSA: British Education & Schools Show in Asia (2 NOV) This is an opportunity to meet representatives from top British schools and education consultants and get helpful advice from experienced tutors about preparing for entrance tests and more. Jurong Ballroom, Shangri-La Hotel. bessa.asia/bessa-singapore Halloween Family Carnival (2 NOV) An annual event by Power Kids Gym, the carnival this year includes family- friendly activities such as face painting, a haunted castle and dance arena. There’ll also be a costume contest with fun categories including best family costume and funniest costume. Skylight Atrium. Tickets from Eventbrite. Melbourne Cup Day (5 NOV) At this charity event, enjoy a three-course luncheon with free-flow sparkling wine and beer. All proceeds will be donated to breast cancer research. Buy tickets at Shopping At Tiffany’s (#02-03 Tanglin Mall). Tables of 10 are available for booking. Four Seasons Hotel Singapore Boutique Fairs: The Gifting Edition (15-17 NOV) Shop from over 300 independent retailers, including design-led and socially responsible labels. Also, enjoy food and wine from dedicated food and drink spaces at Collective and Social on level three. F1 Pit Building. boutiquefairs.com.sg

A Spoonful of Sherman

A Spoonful of Sherman (20-30 NOV)

Look forward to beautiful sets and nostalgic tunes from childhood films such as Mary Poppins , Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Winnie the Pooh , all written by renowned American songwriting duo, the Sherman Brothers. The musical production will showcase a talented local cast including Hossan Leong. SOTA Drama Theatre. Tickets from Sistic. Peter Pan in Serangoon Gardens (21 NOV – 22 DEC) Directed by Ivan Heng, this new musical tells the story of Wendy and her brothers who go on an adventure with Peter Pan. The Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre @ Wild Rice Singapore International Film Festival (21 NOV – 1 DEC) Back for its 30th edition, the Singapore International Film Festival returns with refreshed programmes this year, including short films produced by Akanga Film Asia. sgiff.com Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (29 NOV – 1 DEC) This year’s edition will feature a new 6pm evening flag-off on 30 November for the marathon, half marathon and Ekiden distances. There will also be a Kids’ Dash and 5km and 10km races. singaporemarathon.com

: www.expatliving.sg

For even more things to do every week, go to our online calendar or sign up for our newsletter

OCTOBER2019

LETTERS

DESTINATION FOCUS

FACTFILE Population: 270 million Capital: Jakarta Religion: Predominantly Muslim,with Hinduism dominant inBali

BEST LETTER We want to hear from you! Send us your thoughts on the magazine, or on any subject under the sun.

Ideasforan Indo Escape Didyouknow that Indonesia ismadeupofover 17,000 islands?Here, wediscoverwhatyoucandoonandaroundahandfulofthose islands, fromdivingandcruising to relaxing ina luxuryvilla.

Thekeydates 23-24May2020: Eidal-Fitr (referred toas Lebaranor IdulFitri in Indonesia)– theend ofRamadan, amonth of fasting andprayer. Celebrations include breakfast, brunch or lunchdishesof rendang (spicybeef), ketupat (rice dumpling), opor ayam (chicken and coconut) and more, along with snacks of peanuts,biscuits, kue andothersweets.Dates vary each year. Thehotspots Popular destinations include Bali, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Lombok, Aceh and Bintan. The eightWorld Heritage Sites include the Borobudur temple, Komodo NationalPark and Sumatra’s rainforests. Thehealthadvice

Whileyou’re there, pleasedon’t…

For best letter, Soumita will receive a divine candle from To Be Calm. Each month, there’ll be one of their signature candles to choose from tobecalm.com .

... climb over monuments or places of worship; it’sconsideredhighlydisrespectful. Also, talkingwith yourhand on yourhip is seen as impolite. Beforeyougo, read… ThisEarthofMankind ,byPramoedyaAnanta Toer–a love story that takesplaceat theend of theDutch colonialperiod. Flight 714, by Hergé – Snowy and Tintin’s 22nd adventure sees them snarled up in a kidnapplot takingplace in Indonesia.Read it to your children, or yourself. Beforeyougo,watch…

“The firm treedoes not fear the storm.” – Indonesianproverb

“Bali isoneof the few cultureswith origins inoneof thegreatancient cultureswhich is stillalive.” ArthurErickson,architect “Long livemy land, long livemy state, Mynation,my people,entirely, Letusbuild its soul, letusbuild itsbody, For theGreat Indonesia” –First stanzaof Indonesia’s nationalanthem

WORLD-CLASS DIVING

Malariaanddengue feverexist inmanyparts of the country, so use adequate protection and keep antimalarial medicine on you. Avoid swimming in freshwater streams and lakes as disease-causing organisms can be present. Unlabelled bottles of the locally distilled rice spirit called arak are best avoided because of dangerous additives sometimesused in theproductionprocess.

LaskarPelangi (“TheRainbowTroops”)– tells the storyof10 schoolchildrenand their two teachers on a Sumatran tinmining island. The Year of LivingDangerously –MelGibson plays a rookieAustralian journalistwho gets caughtup in the Indonesiancivilwar in1965. Beforeheadinghome,buy... Shadow puppets ( wayang kulit ), orwooden dollpuppets ( wayang golek ).

If exploring under the sea is your thing,Wakatobi Resort in Southeast Sulawesi is recognised as being one of the planet’s premier diving destinations – and a stunning spot for snorkelling, too–with someof the finest coralyou’ll find.Stay here andyou’llhave access to aprivatemarinepreserve,which ishome to thriving reefs and an incredible arrayof animal life. Back on shore,Wakatobi’s private villas and bungalows are tucked into a beachside palm grove, where there is five-star service andgourmetdining to enjoy– allwithwhatyoumight call a toes-in-the-sand charm. You can reach the resort via a direct charter flight fromBali. Special offer: Aside from offering diving packages,Wakatobi is currently offering a 10-night Unlimited Snorkelling package from US$4,997 per person, including flights from Bali, all

chef-prepared meals and snacks, activities, three guided boat snorkels, plus discounts and bonuses. There’s a Light Snorkelling package too, covering a seven-night stay.

148

SEPTEMBER2019

Formoredetails, call +62 361 759669, email office@wakatobi.comor visitwakatobi.com.

SEPTEMBER2019

149

Booze-free Beers Hey, can I suggest an article that highlights the bars in Singapore that are selling zero percent alcohol beers? I know you’ve done a mocktail option before, but I think the pure beer version would be great. – Mark Cowan Ed: Yes, we’d love to hear from you! We publish readers’ travel tips and tales on a different destination each issue – this month is Laos, next month is Thailand. Just email your story (it can be any length) to contribute@expatliving.sg and we’ll do the rest. And follow us on Facebook to find out more about upcoming destinations we’re covering. Travel Tale We have a funny story to share from our family trip to Bangkok – well, it wasn’t really funny at the time, but now we look back and laugh! Just wondering if this is something we could share with the readers, because it actually includes a good bit of travel advice in it too. – Sarah Haley

STYLE&BEAUTY

TheBirds off-white

W earingprints? Keep the restof your outfit simpleby sticking tohuesof the same shade

Julie jumpsuit, $360,Capsule

Collection by Juliette

Gathery

Veniceblue long silk kaftan,$269, Shopping atTiffany’s Chic Update yourwardrobewith these stylish, summerypicks fromour favouritebrands across town! 1

rgirlfriends foracosy tête-à-têteoverhigh tea andbubbly!Thismonth’sspecialphotoshoot issetagainst the stunning backdrop of the Pan Pacific hotel lobby.

STYLE&BEAUTY

Heirloom bohemian jacket,$259, Shopping atTiffany’s

1.AaltoCola sunglasses,$280, Retrosuperfuture 2.2730Nappa leatherpink sneakers, $129.90, Superga 3.Ballet rose slim flip-flops,$30, Havaianas 4.Anyabag,$175,Elyse& I

CREATIVEDIRECTION,STYLINGANDWORDS: ANTHIACHNG PHOTOSHOOTASSISTANT: MICHAELABISSET PHOTOGRAPHY:

MICHAELBERNABE HAIRANDMAKEUP: TRIMMINGSSPA&SALON, 123TANGLINROAD LOCATION: PANPACIFICSINGAPORE,7RAFFLESBOULEVARD FOOD: ATRIUMENGLISHANDPERANAKANAFTERNOONTEA MODELS: MONICAPITRELLI,AMISHIJARIWALA,SUSANKNUDSEN-PICKLES

1.Lunablue silkhalter neckdress,$259, Shopping atTiffany’s 2.UNOde50PopEye ring,$175, Embrace Jewellery

E xude cool vibes in these stunning shadesofblue, perfect for your upcomingbeach vacayorpoolparty

AswornbyMonica: Shanti dress, Capsule Collection by Juliette,$179, ccbyjuliette.com Rose mahogany espadrilles, Superga,$99.90, superga.com.sg

155

AUGUST2019

124

JULY2019

AUGUST2019

154

Clothes that Fit? Dear Rebecca, every month when I flip through the fashion section of the mag, I find myself in a brief bout of depression. Then, I pull myself up with quotes of wisdom, like “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, “I’m happy being me” and so on. Still, a wishful tinge lingers on.... a wish that I could fit into the wonderful attire your pretty models put on! Just a thought: Could we read about clothing stores that feature dresses for “bodily prosperous” women like myself? And with similar models too? Plump women might be rare on this super-fit island, but we still exist! It’s heartbreaking shopping for clothing when you simply love a dress but the label doesn’t come in your size. – Soumita Bhattacharya Ed: Hi Soumita, for our own photo shoots we often use members of our team, who are all shapes, but it’s difficult when using other companies’ fashion shots. We’ve featured a few stores that stock all sizes before, though I’m not sure there are many dedicated plus-size shops in Singapore. We have an online article that might help: “Shopping in Singapore: Where to find clothes that fit!” There’s also a story on finding big-sized shoes. I have a problem that if something fits me around the chest, the sleeves are about half a foot too long, and the shoulders are downmy arm– it’s very annoying! Thanks for your letter, and we will see what we can do to find a wider range of images and clothes in the mag. 125 JULY2019

Ed: Will look into it – thanks!

Email us at info@expatliving.sg

OCTOBER 2019

FRESH EVENT UPDATES AND GREAT CONTENT TO HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF LIVING HERE

Check out some of the best places to unwind.

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Visit expatliving.sg/print

OCTOBER2019

Our upcoming events! Visit expatliving.sg/ELevents to register.

EL TALK

Maternity in Singapore How to get baby-ready

DATE: 22 October 2019 TIME: 7pm — 9pm PLACE: Mother and Child

163 Tanglin Road, #03-11 Tanglin Mall PRICE: $10, including refreshments

EL WORKSHOP

DATE: 25 October 2019 TIME: 10am — 11.45am PLACE: Hotel Jen Orchardgateway 277 Orchard Road PRICE: $10, including refreshments Conscious meditation that will transform your life

EL TALK

WHO IS MY AUTHENTIC SELF? Be a step closer to finding YOU

DATE: 30 October 2019 TIME: 10am — 11.30am

PLACE: WTP, 3 Kung Chong Road PRICE: $15, including refreshments

25 OCTOBER2019

LIFE & FAMILY THE SINGAPORE PAGES Investigating the island past and present, with tips, trivia and time travel – and the occasional tricky challenge for readers!

Exploring

CATALOGUE OF CRITTERS Expat Living has launched a new hiking club, and we’ve already taken to the paths of MacRitchie Reservoir with our friendly readers. There are so many amazing nature spots to explore in Singapore – and so many critters to see. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the wildlife you might just encounter on a walk, if you’re lucky. #1 Oriental pied-hornbill These are among the coolest birds you’ll ever see. The trademark honeycombed bill is not as heavy as you might assume, and it helps them make a racket when they call. The knob on top is called a casque; the male’s is bigger, with fewer black marks than the female. Hornbills nest in holes in tall trees. The male brings the female mud and she seals herself up in the hole leaving a narrow slit so he can feed his family. #2 Civet Often called a civet cat, this strong-smelling creature isn’t a cat at all – more like a mongoose with a long tail, long muzzle and small ears. It eats fruit including mangoes and bananas, but also small snakes and birds. Civets are nocturnal, so you’re most likely to spot one on an evening walk. If you see babies, don’t pick them up or the mother may abandon them. #3 Monitor lizard There are three varieties of these huge lizards in Singapore, growing up to three metres long. The monitor’s saliva contains over 50 kinds of bacteria, and they also secrete venom – bad news for prey, Don’t worry if you see one; they’ll likely scurry away immediately (at speeds of over 30kph!). #4 Long-tailedmacaque It’s exciting to see a monkey when you first spot one, but they can also be a bit scary, and aggressive when looking for food. Whatever you do, don’t feed them! Just the same, monkeys are cool creatures with incredibly interesting female-led, social hierarchies at work, so they’re great to observe. One trick to scare them away? Carry a rubber snake with you; they don’t like snakes. (For more tips, see the Fact File opposite.) #5 Malayan colugo When you’re on a day hike, look up and you just might see a colugo hanging upside down in a tree, napping. At night, these nocturnal creatures fly through the air – not on wings, but thanks to a skin membrane that stretches from their neck, around the body, limbs and tail. A bit like those wingsuits those daredevils wear on all those YouTube videos.

SPOOKY SENTOSA?

Flashback

If you’re making your way to Sentosa for Halloween festivities – perhaps for the annual Universal Studios “Halloween Horror Nights” party – it’s worth remembering the island has something of a scary past. In fact, it used to be known as Pulau Blakang Mati, which means “island of death behind”. While some researchers connect this name to a period when piracy (and murder!) was rife, others pinpoint a huge malaria outbreak in the 1840s, which nearly decimated the population of original settlers. At the time, the deaths were blamed on “Blakang Mati Fever”, believed to stem from the island’s swampy water and decaying leaves; mosquitos were later found to be the cause. Sentosa was given its current moniker in 1972, after the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board held a contest to replace the existing name. The winner was something far from scary: sentosa is a Malay word that means “peace and tranquillity”.

OCTOBER2019

Fact File

#6 Otter

Folks here just love their otters – so much so that there’s even an entire Facebook group devoted to them (facebook.com/OtterWatch). And why not? They’re so much fun to watch – particularly in the morning when they’re most active. There are now about 60 otters in Singapore, across ten separate families, each with its own space. They can squabble over territory, especially when pups are around. #7 Sunda pangolin

MONKEYING AROUND

If monkeys approach you: #1 Stop whatever you are doing immediately. #2 Remain calm and quiet. Do not make sudden movements and do not maintain direct eye contact with the monkeys. #3 Look away and back off

You’re unlikely to spot one of these rare and endangered guys, but if you do… what a treat! Pangolins are mammals, covered in scales that are soft at birth, but harden in adulthood. When threatened, they curl into a ball for protection. They lead solitary lives, meeting only about once a year to mate. These insectivores are often hunted in the mistaken belief they hold medicinal powers that can cure cancer. #8 Bat Singapore is full of bats, but don’t freak out! These animals are great for controlling the insect population. You’ll often see them flying at dusk, but if you look carefully you can also see them hanging about by day, catching a few z’s. If one flies towards you, stay calm; it isn’t trying to land in your hair, just gobbling up a mozzie that was trying to bite you! #9 Wild pig Yes, Singapore has wild pigs – lots of them. Pulau Ubin and Pasir Ris are hot spots. Take heed when you see signs warning you that they’re in the area, as they can be a bit aggressive, especially if there are piglets around. Give them a wide berth and don’t feed them, and you should be fine. #10 Malayan water shrew No need to climb on a chair if you spot one of these. It’s not a mouse, though at first glance you might think it is. Look for a longer nose and darker coat. They’re kind of cute, actually. Want to learn more about Expat Living’s hiking club? Email us at info@expatliving.sg, and keep an eye on our Events page online.

slowly. Do not turn away from the monkeys and run. #4 If you are holding an object which is attracting the monkeys, conceal or discard it. #5 Do not try to hit the monkeys. #6 If you have a child with you, put him/her on your shoulders. This will increase your perceived size, which could deter the monkeys from approaching you and your child. #7 Keep away from the area until the monkeys have left.

Source: nparks.gov.sg

Think you know Singapore well? What street is shown here? (Hint: It leads off another very famous street...) Click!

See these pages in our December issue for the answer!

Last time: The two places pictured in our August issue were Maxwell Food Court and Lau Pa Sat.

27 OCTOBER2019

HOME & PROPERTY

46 Wonder Walls: Make a statement with a striking artwork

“Sea Landscape” by Gaggioli Design, oil on canvas, $925

36 Kranji Showcase: When a home becomes a gallery

41 Readers Recommend: Where to buy great art

64 Street Talk: Living in Telok Blangah

HOME & PROPERTY

WHAT’S NEW

Originals Following its move to a new mega- showroom at Bukit Batok, Originals has announced an expanded range. The Outdoor Collection – with fresh designs and cool colours – blends both gorgeous looks with durability. The all-weather collection is contemporary and will help to make your outdoor spaces comfortable, nomatter the size. You can now also see the new collection of indoor and outdoor rugs from Armadillo&Co, designed inAustralia and handmade by artisans in India. The products, available in more than 30 designs and colours, are handwoven and sustainably crafted using fair trade practices and natural fibres for added luxury andwarmth. 1 Bukit BatokStreet 22, #05-02/03. originals.com.sg New at

Bloomin’ Lovely Atelier &Co has brought together its two businesses – The Wedding Atelier and The Floral Atelier – under one giant, delicious-smelling roof. The new global headquarters stretches over 7,000 square feet and has three main areas. In Curated Products, the brand will feature collections by local and global artisans, like the exclusively available Soohyang, a cult Korean fragrance brand. The Floral Atelier has collaborated with Asia’s Best Pastry Chef, Janice Wong, to create customhand-painted flower bonbons in one-of-a-kind floral-inspired flavours. If you’re looking for flower inspiration, a glass-walled flower cellar known as The Crystal Cube showcases the amazing blooms. As well as being a design studio, you can also hire the space and use the showpiece bar, fully functional kitchen and catering facilities. Open now at Level 8, Delta House, 2 Alexandra Road .

OCTOBER2019

HOME & PROPERTY

Vibrant Exhibition Showing her work at Gnani Arts Gallery thisOctober, Sandhya Wadhwani’s paintings incorporate nature but in an abstract impressionist style, using a knife to create “controlled splatter” on canvas. Sandhya g r a du a t e d f r om Mumbai University and went on to study

Under the Hammer!

Love Your Furniture Again!

Have you ever walked into someone else’s home and realised you’ve both shopped at the same Swedish flat-pack store, and have some of the same things because you both needed furniture quickly? It really doesn’t have to be this way. If you need to fill all (or a part of) your home with elegant furniture, art or accessories, and you want to be more sustainable, why don’t you pop along and see us at HotLotz? Not only is our saleroom team super friendly but we have opening hours to suit everyone, and a weekly “Interiors” timed auction on a Thursday night – some lots even have Buy Now prices (so you can have it straight away!). You can view, bid and buy the items online at hotlotz.com or download our app. Or, why not do what the stylists do – come and view. Our saleroom is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 6pm, Thursday from 10am to 8pm and Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

Modern Shanghai Scene Another local brand has opened in the revitalised Raffles Hotel. Scene Shang, the much-loved contemporary furniture store on the East Coast, has added an additional showroom in the iconic hotel. Come here if you’re looking for Art Deco Shanghai with a modern twist, award-winning furniture designs, art collections, home fragrances and limited-edition collectibles – and don’t miss the new made-in-Singapore Yan sofa! Scene Shang Raffles Hotel also offers a monogramming service, so you can personalise furniture, homewares and gifts with names or well-wishes. 328 North Bridge Road, #02-09 . photography in the same city, at the JJ School of Arts and Fashion at Sophia College. She switched from porcelain painting to watercolours, but finally found her true calling in the medium of oil. She has held exhibitions in Malaysia, India, Dubai, Indonesia and Singapore. View her works at the gallery at #02-41 Tanglin Shopping Centre , from 19 to 21 October.

What’s on for October? This month, we have our q u a r t e r l y “Mo d e r n a n d Contemporary Art” online timed auction, featuring a great range of affordable, hand-curated regional and international art. The sale catalogue will be published on 10 October and close on 30 October. Top lots include this charcoal on paper by Dutch artist Johan Rudolf Bonnet (1895-1978) depicting a

MATTHEW ELTON is the founder of HotLotz Auction House, which holds curated auctions of hand-picked, eclectic items every week. Visit hotlotz.com for auction catalogues, download the app, or pop in for a visit at 120 Lower Delta Road, #01-15 The Cendex Centre. Balinese man. It stayed in the same family for two generations, and was originally given as alternative payment from the artist in exchange for some dental work!

OCTOBER2019

HOME WITH THE

Who lives here: Asif, Sharmeen, Rayan (13) and

Farhana (21) Chowdhury Time in Singapore: Five years Size and type of home: Three-storey landed home with four bedrooms Décor style: An ode to Asian art

When you’re passionate about art, your collection can stretch from street art to famous pieces, and even artworks done by your own family members. We take a look at the Chowdhurys’ impressive home gallery.

BY KEL FLANDERS PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL BERNABE

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HOME & PROPERTY

“We’ve tried to maintain our American-style living room. After dinner (we cook a lot), we transform our living room into a movie theatre,” says Sharmeen.

From Bangkok’s famous floating market, painted by a father and sold by his son.

“We saw this antique Chinese door turned into a table at Lee’s Antiques, and Laura, the owner, let us take it home so we could try it out; they even took away our old table! We love it and it’s such a conversation starter at dinner parties,” says Asif.

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One of the few pieces the Chowdhurys have from their birth country of Bangladesh, brought with them when they moved from the US.

A Family Home “Suburban living in urban Singapore” – that’s how Americans Asif and Sharmeen Chowdhury describe their home in Kranji. The large three- storey house is at the end of a quiet family- focused cul-de-sac, complete with children playing soccer and dogs being walked. There’s a minimalist exterior to the home, but thanks to the preview photos I’ve seen, I expect it to reveal itself like a geode, with a spectacular and colourful collection of art and artefacts inside. I’m not disappointed. The couple open the door and warmly welcome me into a mesmerising space. There are paintings, drawings and beautiful lamps everywhere. My gaze eventually falls, and remains, on a huge black-and-white drawing of two elephants, hung next to the staircase.

Sharmeen loves this technique of creating flowers with the dried and painted husks of sweetcorn.

This is from a rural village in Vietnam, painted by the father of the seller. “I love the perspective and colour,” says Asif.

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HOME & PROPERTY

“We got this from Angkor Wat. It’s such a perfect depiction of the area. It was sold by a couple of teenage boys and painted by their father. It was the first piece we brought and framed when we moved here,” explains Asif.

“I painted this one especially for my daughter,” says Sharmeen.

“Bought from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, I call this one The Bridge to Nowhere!” laughs Asif.

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Oriental-style painting by Sharmeen, inspired by a piece she saw at a friendʼs house

We sit down and I ask how their impressive collection started. “We’ve always been interested in supporting local artists,” Asif starts to explain. “We used to do it in the US. After coming to Singapore, we started collecting pieces from artists in the region as we travelled around.” The family moved from Boston five years ago, but they’ve also lived in Tokyo for four years, and Seoul for three. This is where their love for oriental art and furniture began, starting with an antique step chest (which is in their home in Boston). Artists-in-residence Asif is passionate about art. “We really believe in supporting artists directly rather than the galleries they display their work in. So, we try to visit them and get to know them. And now, our home shows their art.” The Chowdhury family boasts its own “in- house” artists, too, in Sharmeen and Farhana. Sharmeen shows me a few of the incredible pieces she has created – and I’m assured there are dozens more in storage! She only started painting her Oriental-style art when the family moved to Singapore. “I enjoyed painting, and tried to help my daughter with her own art studies, but I wasn’t perfect enough for her!” Farhana, the couple’s 21-year-old daughter, is now in her final year of a mechanical engineering degree at Purdue University in Indiana, and visits twice a year. Sharmeen continues: “I was then helping out at my son’s class at school and was asked if I could help paint and decorate the room. One of the mothers suggested I take up Chinese painting, so I said ‘OK’. After I started doing it, I realised howmuch I loved this style of painting. Now, Asif tells me what he would like and I just paint it!” Lamp Lovers Asif enthusiastically tells me about his collection of lamps, which are spread throughout the house. “I found a store at Holland Village that will take any vase and turn it into a lamp. I love them.” Sharmeen then adds with a laugh, “And, as you can see, he has them everywhere !” I love the Chowdhurys’ passion for art and for the artist that created each piece. To them, every picture is a memory postcard from a time and a trip that means so much. The paintings bring themunmeasurable joy, and this is happily shared with anyone who visits their love-filled home.

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“We also bought this in Vietnam – from a little hole in the wall in Hanoi. We asked to meet the artist and waited for 30 minutes for him to arrive on a motorbike so he could sign it for us!”

Recommendations: HOME Vista & Co. (“The father is the one who converts vases into lamps, but he’s getting older and will only agree to do one if the vase isn’t too big!”) #02-30, Holland Village Shopping Centre 211 Holland Avenue | 6466 6276 Wing Ngai #03-16, Tanglin Mall 163 Tanglin Road 6235 9896

WINE & DINE CÉ LA VI (“our favourite bar and restaurant – we like to take first-time visitors here”) Marina Bay Sands, Tower 3 1 Bayfront Avenue 6508 2188 | celavi.com Samy’s Curry Restaurant (“great for local food”) 25 Dempsey Road 6472 2080 | samyscurry.com Culina at COMO Dempsey 15 Dempsey Road

6474 7338 | culina.com.sg Coriander Leaf @ Chijmes #02-01 Chijmes, 30 Victoria Street 6837 0142 | corianderleaf.com Canopy Garden Dining 1382 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 Bishan Park 2 6556 1533 | canopygardendining.com.sg

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Buying art for the home is an incredibly personal experience, as we all see something different. You may be looking for a piece to invoke amemory, to complement your interiors or to even make a big, bold statement. We spokewith readers about the artworks hanging in their homes. ChoosingPaintings BY KEL FLANDERS

Lauren Gibson, Australian

I’m actually an artist but I’ve been on a 12-year hiatus (because, well, life and children happened!) so my skills are very rusty. I was looking for a way to wake up my creativity, but without too much pressure. I saw an article about various workshops in Singapore and the Himapan Studio one stood out – it looked unique and fun. You don’t need to be an artist or have any significant skills to attend and produce something amazing. The studio is lovely – and France makes a great cup of coffee! It was such a nice way to spend a few hours not worrying about anything else. The piece I created is now proudly hanging in our guest bedroom. I thought it would be a unique way to make the room feel welcoming. It was the first piece of significant artwork I’ve produced in 12 years and everyone was just blown away by it – particularly my friends in Australia. It prompted my local Singapore friends to ask about the workshop, and two of them have attended since. While the initial canvasses all look so similar, the end results are all so different. The best part

was that it got me talking about art again and gaining confidence in my skills. It has been almost a year and I’m regularly painting again. I’ve already created three more lotus- leaf paintings with Himapan and when I get time I will probably do more. I’d like

to take some back to Australia as gifts, too!

#01-03 CitilinkWarehouse Complex 102E Pasir Panjang Road 9062 0376 | himapan.sg

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Albert Jeremy Wong, Singaporean

Initially, I didn’t have any specific ideas for the artwork I wanted when I visited Gallery 278 . I believe that art appreciation speaks to each character – I generally go with my gut feel if something intrigues me! I ended up purchasing this portrait of Chairman Mao, with Chinese brush calligraphy. The artist is Richard Lim– he’s a local Singaporean and the resident artist at Gallery 278; he’ll even do commissioned pieces. It was love at first sight for me when I saw this piece, especially when it worked with my budget (of course!). Normally, I choose colourful art for my home, but I picked this more striking piece to complement my character. Who doesn’t recognise this revolutionary figure?!

278 River Valley Road 6737 2322 | gallery278.com

Stephanie and Jason Sentell, and Pistol, American

Being active travellers and scuba divers throughout the region, we were drawn to the large installation by Art Glass Solutions at Sculpture by the Sea at Bondi Beach in 2017 and at Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia in 2018. The piece was called Swirling Surround and evokes an emotion of being among a large school of fish within the sea, glittering in the sun. We asked B. Jane of Art Glass Solutions to do a customised version of this work to be installed in our garden. We worked with her to design a small school of nine fish, swirling in a circular pattern, oriented towards our entrance. The number, shape and direction were all purposely considered to invite positive energy into our space; plus, it’s just beautiful and eye-catching from the street. As an interior designer, I found it so much fun to be involved in the design and installation of a customised piece for my home, rather than just purchasing an existing artwork. It’s a creative journey to work directly with an artist – and a collaboration that directly involves me as the client. Together, we were able to design something suited to the environment, but also portable so we can re-install it if we move. I’mconfident this is just the beginning of many artist collaborations to come.Working directly with a professional artist makes all the difference to the experience of purchasing an artwork for your home.

8 Jalan Tembusu 9827 4760 | artglasssolutions.com

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Claire Chahil, British

I was looking for something that would work with my décor colour scheme and I’d wanted a Louise Hill Design piece for a while but was spoilt for choice! As teal is one of my favourite colours, I knew I had found my perfect piece when Louise released the limited- edition Teal & Peacock Blue print. What I love about Louise’s art is that it makes you smile. They are very friendly pieces with lots of detail and quirky accents, which makes them lovely to have in your home. The colour scheme of this particular piece and the fact that there is an element of hand finishing with gold or silver leaf makes it really special. This is my first purchase of real art for the home and I’m so pleased I took the plunge. It has really completed the interior design of my living room. My family and I are so happy with the purchase! 5 Westbourne Road, #01-01 louise-hill-design.com

Charlene Tan and Sarah Wong, Singaporean

I purcha s ed f our p i ece s f rom LivingwithArt Singapore including a customised abstract painting for my living room. I was originally looking for a blue painting with a tinge of gold to go with the colour of my sofa but there were no

pieces in the gallery that worked. It also needed to be large to fit the wall in my living area. Shu Fen came back to me the next day to say they could create a customised painting for me. I was able to give some input in terms of the colour as well as requesting a bigger splash of gold. In my opinion, this charming piece creates a calming and relaxing ambience. It took about a month for the artist to do the painting and complete the framing. It was worth the wait! LivingwithArt were very considerate and really took time to understand my preferences – including the colours in my home – before they made any recommendations. I’d strongly recommend this art gallery if you’re looking for any artwork display for your home or office. It’s a great collection with impeccable service at an affordable price. #02-05 Tan Boon Liat Building 315 Outram Road 6917 6503 | livingwithart.com.sg

I’m pretty particular that each new piece of art added to the house should work with the existing pieces. I also look for a specific colour to fit the interior design of the roomwhere I’ll be hanging it.

OCTOBER2019

WHEN ART TALKS

Need to fill awall, make a statement or buy a unique gift? A piece of art can change a room, change your mood and say something about you. We’ve curated some to show you the variety of styles available in Singapore.

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8 9

1 Artwork from Atelier by Arete 2 Acidulata by Gaggioli Design, acrylic on canvas, $1,130 each, Art and Abode 3 Sea Landscape by Gaggioli Design, oil on canvas, $925, Art and Abode 4 Chinatown Lanterns by Zhang Chun Lei, Gallery 278 5 Singapore by Philippe Matine, Digigraphie on canvas, $1,179, Art and Abode 6 Artwork from Atelier by Arete 7 Abstract with beige background, $478, WTP 8 Ziyi Zhang by Bruno Timmermans, photo print on Diasec, bidding starts at $2,000, HotLotz 9 Buddha Face, acrylic on canvas, $737, WTP

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10 11

12 13

10 Personalised canvas, from $270, C+S Art Prints 11 The Red Cloud of the Cook , $1,785, LivingwithArt 12 Ordinary Miracle IV , $3,500, LivingwithArt 13 Colonial House Set by Richard Lim Han, Gallery 278 14 Singapore Typographic from the Asia Series, three sizes, from $440, Louise Hill Design 15 Abstract On Yellow by Gemma Van Schendelen, oil on canvas, bidding starts at $900, HotLotz 16 Singapore Shophouse from the Asia Series, three sizes, from $440, Louise Hill Design 17 Personalised canvas, from $270, C+S Art Prints 18 Customised wall art for entrance areas, from $18,000, made with blown and kiln-formed glass, Art Glass Solutions 19 Baby announcement canvas, from $145, C+S Art Prints 20 Delhi Fort by Mayank Shyam, pen and ink on canvas, bidding starts at $5,000, HotLotz 21 Peranakan House, $1,785, LivingwithArt 22 Fibonacci-inspired art, $24,000, made with kiln-formed glass with stainless steel, Art Glass Solutions 23 Artwork from Atelier by Arete

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HOME & PROPERTY