The Circuit Breaker Life: 10 Things You Never Knew You Were Thankful For
Staying home during this time has made us crave face-to-face human interaction or yearn to go back to our usual routines.
In a state of boredom, people are forced to get creative. We have quickly changed up our routines such as converting our gym sessions to home workouts, or even achieving new goals such as learning a new skill online or finishing a book that we read halfway.
But there are also some who have thought of really bizarre things. For instance, a Redditor built a life-sized Jewel Changi Airport in Minecraft to curb his boredom.
Another Redditor even came up with a ‘Stay Home MRT Line’ to sum up a day of his life.
We may be stuck at home but that doesn’t stop people from thinking of creative ways to spend their Circuit Breaker life differently. One thing’s for sure though, here are 10 things that we’ll definitely miss once the Circuit Breaker is over.
1. Wake Up Later, Wear PJs All Day
Working from home brings about many perks for the lazybones.
Firstly, you get to snooze a little longer because we no longer have to be out the door by 8am to catch the train. If work starts at 9am, we can afford to wake up five minutes before and skip the shower.
Who cares if you’ve not brushed your teeth or if you’re wearing pyjamas to work?
Ultimately, this saves us a lot of time. You also do not have to style your hair or think about what to wear every day. Doing work in comfortable PJs and messy hair all day is a true luxury that comes with working from home.
2. Home-cooked Meals
As we shift to working from home amid this Circuit Breaker, we have more autonomy over managing our schedules and taking short breaks to recharge ourselves. Our mornings and evenings are now longer as we don’t have to spend time commuting to and from work.
With these extended pockets of time, many have turned to indulging in a hearty breakfast in the mornings or going for a quick run (while observing safe distancing measures, of course!). Throughout the work day, we may even steal some time to take a power nap, have a quick work-out session or even enjoy a tea break.
These simple activities definitely aid in relaxation and revitalisation. After all, when you are well-rested, your productivity will also increase.
4. Ability To Multi-Task During Work Meetings
Now that we are working from home, we have embraced video-conferencing platforms like Zoom and Skype to host online meetings instead.
The good thing about online meetings is that we can ‘multi-task’ and get other tasks done while paying attention to the meeting. Multi-tasking is not necessarily a bad thing as we can get more things done with pockets of free time.
5. Free Workout Sessions
Even though physical gyms, studios and sports facilities have been closed during this period of time, you can still get your work-out sessions.
SportSG’s Get Active TV has teamed up with some of the fitness instructors in Singapore to stream live workouts on Facebook and YouTube.
On Instagram, many influencers have also been churning out live-streaming sessions, hosting workshops and activities for their followers to join in the fun.
Local songbirds Narelle Kheng and Sandra Riley Tang of Sam Willows, for one, will be conducting a workout session via Instagram (IG) Live (do keep a lookout on their IG on April 30) as part of the #stayhomeforSG challenge, so stay tuned for it! If you would like to find inspiration on things to do at home, check out the hashtag #stayhomeforSG on social media channels to see what everyone else is doing!
You can also try to complete this month-long workout plan as part of the Box Office Fitness Circuit Breaker challenge, which includes a mix of HIIT, strength, cardio and recovery exercises, to help stay in shape.
6. Access To More Free Online Resources
As Singaporeans, it’s in our nature to love free things.
Since lockdowns have begun in various countries, virtual classes have erased geographical boundaries, with major businesses rolling out free online classes.
A few paid TV operators such as StarHub and Singtel have extended a free preview of their TV channels to curb your boredom during this time.Meanwhile, Audible has made their library of books and audio stories free to stream following this COVID-19 outbreak.
People’s Association (PA) is also conducting free ‘live’ 30-minute classes on their social media platforms for affected PA courses and activities. It conducts various classes from cooking to calligraphy, so here’s your chance to learn a new skill!
Local actress Jeanette Aw and Miele Singapore’s Chef Lennard Yeong also filmed an Instagram Live video together last week while they cooked and baked from their home kitchens. Missed it? Fret not! You can watch their completed 20-minute cooking session on both Jeanette’s and Lennard’s IG accounts.
The list of free resources is not exhaustive, so do take advantage of them while you can.
7. More Family Bonding Time
As most of your family members are now working from home, this means that you will be seeing more of them, giving you the opportunity for more family time. Who knows, you might even learn something new about them!
Beyond that, working from home together means that you can afford to have meals together, for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Since everyone shares the same working schedule (sort of), there’s no reason to miss out on family meals anymore.
Having meals together means you can get to stay updated on each other’s lives over conversations, which helps to strengthen ties and build better relationships.
8. Hanging Out With Friends (Virtually) Anytime
Packed and conflicting schedules have sometimes made it difficult for you and your friends to find a meeting time that works for everyone.
Since we are now in Circuit Breaker mode, everyone is practically confined to their houses. Besides working from home, we don’t have much else on our schedule so there is technically no excuse to not hang out with friends anymore, albeit virtually.
Take this chance to catch up with your friends and make up for lost time. Have a lunch date over video calls, host game nights on apps like Houseparty, or even sing karaoke in a virtual KTV room on apps like Quan Min Party.
If both you and your friends like playing online games together, consider checking out the DOTA and FIFA livestreams where gamers battle it out.
Happening across two channels on May 2, from 12pm to 4pm, watch Sylvia from Night Owl Cinematics compete against local pro-gamer iceiceice in a DOTA game! You can catch Sylvia on NOCplays YouTube channel or iceiceice over on Twitch in the livestream as they battle it out.
If you are a FIFA fan, be sure to catch local actors Charlie Goh and Noah Yap attempt to score against Hibidi, a local FIFA pro-gamer. The livestreams will be held on May 3, 8pm, on Charlie and Noah’s IG and Hibidi’s Facebook page.
9. Supporting Local F&B Businesses
While F&B businesses see their sales take a hit as the dining-in ban has kicked in, they can only count on takeaway and delivery orders.
There is no better time than now to do our part to help local F&B establishments tide over this difficult period of time and #supportLocal by buying from them.Through the ‘Hawkers United – Dabao 2020’ Facebook group initiative, we have seen how Singaporeans come together to preserve the hawker culture and help our favourite stalls to continue their business.
10. Being At Home To Receive Your Parcels
One of the things we would appreciate about staying at home is being there to receive our online deliveries in person. It is also something to look forward to while we are at home.
Nothing beats the happiness and excitement we get when the delivery man appears on our doorstep with a box. For now, we no longer have to wait in anticipation to arrive home to unwrap our online purchases – we can do it instantly.
This is one of the little things that we would be thankful for when the Circuit Breaker life is over.
Stay Home For Singapore
COVID-19 has made us realise the importance of keeping ourselves active, having a work-life balance and staying connected with our family and friends.
Even after the Circuit Breaker has ended, we should not cease practising these important and positive habits.
Everyone, including you and I, has a critical part to play in fighting the battle against COVID-19, so we need to be socially responsible and take precautions to help safeguard one another and save lives.
While it’s indeed a tough time for the nation, it’s imperative to stay positive. Just because we are encouraged to stay at home, it does not mean that we cannot continue to stay active and engaged, or care for one another.
Join the SG United Telegram channel to receive the latest updates on COVID-19 content and ongoing community initiatives. Also, share what you are doing at home during this Circuit Breaker period on social media by tagging #stayhomeforSG and #SGUnited. You never know – you may inspire others with ideas on what they can do at home!
Remember, Singapore can pull through this only if we do it together! #stayhomeforSG #SingaporeTogether #SGUnited
This article is written in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth.
Header Image Credit: Inc42 / Shutterstock
Also Read: This HDB is so #instaworthy, every spot is perfect for pictures
Immersive Installation Explores SG Youths’ Vision For The Future: 5 Reasons To Check It Out
As millennials and Gen Z-ers, we love any stunning visual
installation that makes a great photo-op for our Instagram feed, but to call us
superficial would be wrong.
We’re also the same people who crave to go deep and talk
about the meaning of life, our hopes and dreams, and how we envision a better
world.
A new roadshow called Spark
The Next: Youth Hangout will let you do both. While it sets a dazzling
backdrop of swirling colours for the ‘gram, it’s also packed with many
insightful things to discover, based on topics that we care about.
Here’s why you should check it out.
Psychedelic Spaces Come Alive When You Step Inside
If your favourite installations are the kind you can
interact with, Spark The Next: Youth
Hangout will let you unapologetically be the ‘itchy-fingers’ your parents
used to call you.
Step inside the various installations, snoop around and
see what happens. Each of its psychedelic spaces isfilled with interactive elements — every action you take here
triggers a reaction that may just surprise you!
In fact, the installations quite literally won’t show you anything special unless you work with them. So go ahead and don’t hold back your curiosity!
Learn How Your Habits Can Make The World Around You Greener
Many young Singaporeans are on board with the idea of
sustainability. But frankly, we know it’s going to take SO much more than just
metal straws to fix waste, pollution and climate change.
For the eco-conscious who want to know how they can do
their part, Room For Change will
show you where to look.
What do you do with your old phone when you upgrade to a
newer model? Did you know your fashion choices could be leaving a nasty trace
too? The good news is, switching to better habits can make a positive impact.
Explore this installation to find out how your little
changes can go a long way!
We Don’t Have To Hide What We’re Dealing With Inside
We’re the generation that’s ready to stop shying away and
get real about mental health and many other complications of growing up. But it
isn’t always easy for these conversations to happen. When everyone constantly
tries to put their best ‘face’ forward, sometimes we don’t know who’s actually
struggling.
The Invisible
Gallery shows you blank canvases at first, just like the way
emotional strife is often hidden beneath the surface. There’s a simple trick to
revealing what lies beneath. We won’t tell you how, but here’s a hint: your
handphone will help you out.
Once you find out what to do, you’ll start to see stories of struggles come to light. Prepare to have your heartstrings tugged as Singaporeans share about their personal experiences with mental health, addiction and other unseen struggles.
Find Out How Successful Singaporeans Were Once #YouthsLikeUs
Everyone could use a motivator now and then, to remind you that you’re doing great and to keep going towards your goals!
Who better to do that than fellow Singaporeans who have
been through the hustle and made their mark?
Youths-Like-Us lets you ‘meet’ Michelle Chong, Fandi Ahmad, MasterChef Asia finalist Lennard Yeong and Tanglin actress Eswari Gunasagar as their younger selves pursuing their passions, and they each have a few words to help motivate you along your own path to success.
Besides getting some nuggets of wisdom about how they made personal progress on their journey, you could also win exclusive workshops with each of the four personalities!
Free Entry To An Immersive Experience
The best part is that
Spark The Next: Youth Hangout is completely free for anyone to enjoy. If
you’re tired of expensive outings with your friends or S/O, this makes for a
memorable activity you can try without spending a cent.
In fact, you can also look out for instructions at the
installation to redeem free bubble tea, and stand a chance to win mall vouchers!
You’ll definitely leave with something new learnt, and maybe even feel inspired to start a change IRL.
The installation will be hopping across a few locations around Singapore, including Plaza Singapura and Our Tampines Hub. You can catch it first at Jurong Point from 20 November!
Spark The Next: Youth Hangout
Location: Jurong Point
Date: 20 – 24 November 2019
Location: Plaza Singapura
Date: 27 November – 1 December 2019
Location: Our Tampines Hub
Date: 4 – 8 December 2019
Click The Secrets of City Hall Unveiled at National Gallery Singapore’s Latest Exhibition
Experience A Slice Of 50s And 60s At Chinatown Opera Festival 2019
Many of us are familiar with Getai, but the
art form that truly captures the charm of ancient Chinese performing arts is
Chinese Opera.
It’s ostentatious costumes, over-the-top make-up, and the dramatic falsetto singing are symbolic of a fascinating art form that can be traced way back to the Tang Dynasty. And although Chinese Opera isn’t as popular today, there’s still so much value and beauty to this traditional performing arts, which you can experience at the upcoming Chinatown Opera Festival!
Experience
Traditional Chinese Opera at Chinatown Opera Festival 2019
This 20th to 24th November, Singaporeans
will get to travel back in time and experience the performing arts on the 50s
and 60s at the Chinatown Opera Festival 2019!
The first ever opera festival showcasing
Singapore’s rich local heritage and culture will feature a range of exquisite
performances as well as activities and food that encapsulates the nostalgic
days of the past.
You can expect an array of performances by local troupes like the Qiong Ju Society of Singapore and
For the younger audience, fret not as there are also
‘introductory programmes’ that will guide you in navigating the eclectic world
of Chinese Opera. There’s even a live demonstration of Chinese Opera weapons,
which is sure to excite even the most unenthused!
Other highlights of the shows include puppet shows, face-changing performances, the beautiful water sleeve dance, and also a special Pop Music & Opera segment featuring local artistes Sylvester Sim, Nick Shen, and Gavin Xie.
There will also be food stalls offering assortments of
traditional snacks, so you can indulge in some dragon beard candy, egg tarts,
and our all-time favourite ice cream bread as you explore and shop for Opera
merchandise.
Win A Brand New iPhone 11 At The
#ChinatownSG Contest
On
top of that, stand a chance to win a brand new iPhone 11 at the #ChinatownSG
contest! To participate, follow Chinatown Singapore on Facebook (ChinatownstreetmarketSG) and Instagram (@ChinatownSingapore).
Post
any two photos of yourself in operatic costume or with any of the opera
characters at the event venue, Banda Street carpark, or Kreta Ayer Square and
on your Facebook and Instagram with the hashtags #ChinatownSG #VisitSingapore
#PassionMadePossible. Remember to also tag @ChinatownstreetmarketSG on Facebook, and
Featured Image Credit: Chinatown Business Association
This article was written in collaboration with Chinatown Business Association.
The Secrets of City Hall Unveiled at National Gallery Singapore’s Latest Exhibition
We all know City Hall as an MRT station and the bridge between the ‘red’ and ‘green’ train lines, but the ‘real’ City Hall is actually a three minute walk away, at National Gallery Singapore.
Unbeknownst to some, City Hall was once known as the Municipal Building, and provided the backdrop for many significant—yet sometimes lesser-known—moments in Singapore’s history. For example, did you know that it was on the steps of City Hall that the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew recited the Proclamation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963?
In conjunction with the Singapore Bicentennial, National Gallery Singapore has launched a new exhibition that opens the window to these lesser known stories, taking you on an immersive multimedia experience where you will get to witness these moments come to life.
Free for Singaporeans and PRs, this exhibition marks the first time that National Gallery Singapore is hosting a long-term exhibition within the City Hall Chamber.
Embark On A Historical Journey With ‘Encik Awang’
Begin your experience with ‘Encik Awang’, a character inspired by a real-life caretaker, who will guide you through key events that happened in and around the City Hall building. Before that however, have your photos taken at the photobooth and download them via a QR code. You’ll also be in for a surprise as these photos will be incorporated into a part of the show!
Embark on a journey through time to learn about the origins of the building, its name, and the other stories within the building’s walls.
Image Credit: National Gallery Singapore
The 20-minute multimedia show will immerse you in these stories through several interactive elements, like diffusing the smoke caused by a Japanese air raid during the war.
Image Credit: National Gallery Singapore
Besides the evolving roles of the building, you will also learn about some lesser-known trades like lamplighters. Overseen by the Municipal Council, they climbed up lamp posts daily to illuminate the streets which were lined with gas-powered lamps.
Muse Over Our History And Culture At The Social Wall
After bidding goodbye to Encik Awang, head on over to Singapore Courtyard at level 3 of the City Hall building, where you’ll get to deepen your understanding of Singapore’s past through art at the Social Wall, a life-sized multi-touch interactive screen.
Image Credit: National Gallery Singapore
Here, you can choose from curated themes like Portraits of Lives, Architecture and Stories, Conflicts and Concerns, War and Adversity, Places and Inspirations, and Changing Landscapes, which will present you with a selection of artworks that inspire you to think about the historical and cultural contexts of their creation.
There’s also a ‘Surprise Me!’ function to personalise your experience, which will create a journey based on your profile.
You can even go on a hunt for the original artworks presented on the Social Wall! Download a digital map via the QR code on the Social Wall, which will lead you to the pieces displayed in the exhibits at Siapa Nama Kamu? Art in Singapore since the 19th Century.
Image Credit: National Gallery Singapore
Immerse Yourself In The Unique Stories At The Memories Of City Hall
After celebrating the history of City Hall and the events surrounding the building, get a different perspective of history through the lenses of people who used to walk the hallways of this grand monument at the Memories of City Hall. The personal stories of these people who have played an important role in the building’s history makes for a great way to wrap up your experience.
Located at Singapore Courtyard at level 2 of the City Hall, the exhibition completes the City Hall story with a selection of oral history interviews and archives of unique stories and memories of people who were based in City Hall from the 1960s to 1980s. These include stories of former civil servants in the early days of Singapore’s independence.
You can also download the Gallery Explorer App to read more about the compelling stories relating to key moments in Singapore’s history, such as the unveiling of Singapore’s State Crest and National Flag, and the first public performance of the national anthem.
Celebrate City Hall’s Rich History
Whether you’re a history or art buff, or simply looking for an exhibition to check out, City Hall: If Walls Could Talk will be an engaging journey of discovery, and will surprise you with little known facts about a majestic building that we are visually familiar with.
Check out City Hall: If Walls Could Talk from 1 September 2019 at the 3rd floor, City Hall Chamber, National Gallery Singapore.
General admission applies to the exhibition (free for Singaporeans and PRs). For more information, visit www.nationalgallery.sg/cityhall!
This article is written in collaboration with National Gallery Singapore.
Header Image Credit: National Gallery Singapore
Also Read: Singapore Bicentennial – The History And Debate Around It
From Rental to HDB: Part 2
This is a Part 2 of Zuraidah’s story, click here if you missed Part 1.
Planning for our own home
Once we decided together as a family that we wanted to own
our own home, we did a lot of homework:
- To calculate the maximum amount our home could
cost if we only wanted to use CPF for monthly loan repayments (without topping
up cash) - To calculate how much CPF we needed for the down
payment and loan - To find a job with CPF contribution (as my
husband found work as a cleaner which gave him employer CPF contribution) - Checking regularly with HDB on BTO locations to
apply for which were within our budget - What grants we were eligible for
But how can I own my own HDB when I was not working?
When my youngest daughter was four years old, we had a
family conversation about me returning to work.
My children and husband were supportive, and the CDC allowed
us three extra months of financial assistance until I was stable enough in my
job to stop the assistance.
With Beyond’s help, I enrolled in a parenting
workshop to regain my confidence and computer classes to upgrade my digital
skills. Beyond also found subsidised childcare places for my two youngest
children while we applied for KidSTART.
With my children’s education settled, I could have peace of
mind to look for a job. I saw an advertisement from an eldercare centre looking
for a cleaner, and called the manager to apply.
He was very kind, and after speaking to me, he said I should
try applying for the position to run programmes for the elderly. “Just because
you might not have the qualifications now doesn’t mean you cannot learn and be
qualified for this role. I’m sure you can learn,” he said.
That was how I secured my current job in an eldercare centre,
taking in a steady income with employer CPF contributions (as well as
Workfare).
How we paid for our flat with our CPF
In 2013, we successfully applied for a 3-room BTO flat in
Sengkang which cost $189,000.
My husband then utilised his first-timer grant of $25,000
and we used some of our CPF to fulfil the down-payment. We also appealed to HDB
to add the $20,000 resale levy to the total cost, this meant we could then use
CPF to make the monthly repayments.
For the HDB loan, I had enough CPF in my bank account (saved
up over the years since I worked as a teenager) to shave off a large amount of
our loan.
This meant that my husband and I only had to fork out $350
collectively every month to pay off our 20-year housing loan, and our CPF
earnings based on our permanent jobs could cover this $350 without having to
fork out extra cash.
I was so amazed I could save up so much over the years in
CPF, so I always tell my children to get a job with CPF employer contributions.
Paying for a HDB we own vs rental housing
In the past, my husband and I paid $450 a month for our
rental flat based on our gross salaries. There were times that we were not able
to afford the rent and had to contact Social Service Offices for help. Thankfully
after they spoke to HDB, HDB allowed us to pay the outstanding rental bill in
instalments. This incident also made me want to own my own HDB.
Looking at the math, paying $350 a month in loans to own our
own HDB is indeed much better than paying $450 for a rental flat.
After learning how to plan and buy my own HDB, I’ve also
helped my sister plan and apply for her HDB.
This is #myHDBstory
We renovated our home simply, with brown
cabinets for kitchen and I decorated my TV console with flowers.
I like to spend time with my family at home, and am grateful
I can talk to my children about topics such as purchasing a HDB flat.
I want to share my journey so more people can learn how to
own their HDB, to have a space they can call their own.
Author’s footnote: After she moved out of her rental
flat in Lengkok Bahru to Sengkang, Mdm Zuraidah still returns to Lengkok Bahru
regularly to volunteer with Beyond Social Services.
Special thanks to Mdm Zuraidah and Beyond Social
Services for the interview and for sharing her #myHDBstory.
Feast Like A King On Board A Cruise, With These 5 Luxurious Dishes Approved By Royalty
You can scour the city to experience some of the finer things Singapore has to offer, but a chance to live like actual royalty will still be worlds apart.
From the view of our local life, gazing upon kings and queens on their regal thrones is a faraway concept. We can’t relate, but we’ll admit it’s fun to imagine what it might be like.
If you want to get a taste of the high life, take to the seas and Dream Cruises will lay out a spread fit for an emperor.
Their signature culinary extravaganza “Taste The Dream – Wine and Dine at Sea” returns this year with a royal spin, thanks to two internationally acclaimed chefs who’ll be making their debuts on board the Genting Dream and World Dream cruise liners.
In East-meets-West fashion, Chef Darren McGrady and Chef Ivan Li present two unique dining experiences to choose from, The Queen’s Feast and The Forbidden Banquet. The craziest thing is, they’ll be serving dishes that have been tasted and praised by the royals themselves.
In his 15 years of service at Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, Chef McGrady has been trusted with crafting the favourite foods of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Harry. He brings to the table some of his culinary wonders that have gotten their seals of approval.
Chef Ivan Li is just as impressive, coming down the line from his great grandfather who headed the imperial kitchen to the last Qing emperor. He’s now the second generation owner of Family Li Imperial Cuisine, a prestigious restaurant that has carried on the legacy feeding numerous dignitaries and celebrities since 1985.
Here are some dishes they’ll be serving at sea that are bound to make anyone feel grand.
Juniper Crusted Venison with Truffle Oil Risotto
Combining two of The Queen’s most favoured delights in one masterpiece, Chef McGrady’s venison takes your taste buds to the grounds of Balmoral Castle.
Queen Elizabeth loves a serving of game for her main courses, and this dish was prepared for her with the abundant venison on the Balmoral Estate.
If you’re a chocoholic, that’s one thing you can say you have in common with The Queen, before you get swept away by the surprising twist of a chocolate-infused grand veneur sauce topping this delectable cut of meat.
Another dimension of flavour comes from the fluffy bed of risotto it lies upon, made with wild mushrooms and truffles, and adored by Prince Charles.
Ballotine of Salmon, Tomato & Dill Mousse, Herb Marinated Lobster Tail
The life of royalty sure looks magnificent, but it isn’t all indulgence either. When Chef McGrady was the personal chef to Princess Diana at Kensington Palace, she had him turn her meals fat-free to help her maintain a healthy lifestyle, and he did this with her favourite tomato and dill mousse.
His new rendition does away with the full-fat mayonnaise and heavy cream, while it still packs a rich flavour and smooth texture.
Served alongside a fresh piece of lobster was just the way Princess Diana loved it. On top of that, guests will enjoy the addition of a supple ballotine of salmon, finished with avocado and caviar.
Bread and Butter Pudding
Chef McGrady’s bread and butter pudding was another dish famously treasured by Princess Diana. In fact, she loved it too much to keep it to herself and often raved to her friends that it was the best in the world.
It became so iconic that many have tried to recreate it, describing it as a heavenly cross between a traditional bread pudding and a crème brûlée, sprinkled with raisins and slivered almonds. But none can match up to the original, of course.
The treat gets sweeter as it’s drizzled with salted caramel sauce, and accompanied by the chef’s masterfully made drambuie blueberry compote and vanilla bean ice cream.
Mashed Green Beans with Minced Scallops and Ginger
If you’d prefer a taste of oriental grandeur, Chef Li’s imperial menus will take you deep into the Forbidden City. More than just delicacies, some of his creations are rightfully a work of art too.
Specially invented for Empress Dowager Cixi, who was a great lover of jade, this unusual appetiser is coined ‘Tofu of Jade’ for its distinctive pale green hue. Achieved by mashing green beans into a smooth, silky, curd-like texture, it truly shows that the simplest ingredients can be turned extravagant in the hands of a master.
Along with it, savour Chef Li’s delectable deep fried prawns wrapped with egg, and duck meat with sweet sauce.
Bird’s Nest with Pheasant Meat and Vermicelli
Just like it is today, bird’s nest has historically been prized in Chinese cuisine. Back in the courts of the Qing dynasty, it was one of the most highly favoured ingredients to use.
Bird’s nest with rock sugar was served to Emperor Qianlong for breakfast every morning, while Empress Dowager Cixi would request to have different dishes made from it on a daily basis.
Chef Li makes this dish even more classical with the addition of pheasant (we’d like to think of as the nobleman’s chicken), also another symbolic favourite of the royals of China.
Ready Your Crown, It’s Time To Set Sail!
If you’ve been holding out for the perfect opportunity to #treatyourself, it probably doesn’t get more luxurious than being served with the royal treatment out at sea.
Catch Chef Li on his voyage with World Dream from 13 – 20 October 2019, followed by his next sailing on Genting Dream, departing from Singapore for a 3-night getaway from 17 November 2019.
Chef McGrady embarks on Genting Dream from 11 – 13 November 2019, before he sets sail on two back-to-back sailings on World Dream from 29 December 2019 – 3 January 2020.
Besides a gastronomic experience, guests on the cruises can also enjoy a lineup of programmes including a Peking opera, British garden tea party, workshops and concerts on board.
To view the full menus and find out more about A Taste of the Palace, click here!
This article was written in collaboration with Dream Cruises.
Also Read: Museum Or Shopping Experience? This Japanese Beauty Showcase At Orchard Road Has Us Intrigued!
From Rental to HDB: Part 1
My name is Zuraidah. This is my story of home.
My first home was a 3-room HDB flat with my parents and
siblings at Bedok Reservoir.
At 13 years old, I quit school to work at a confectionery to
support my family.
When I was 17 years old, I got engaged to my first husband
and married him when I turned 21.
We wanted to stay near his parents, so we bought our first
HDB flat, a resale unit, at a block next to my in-law’s flat. As first-timer
HDB buyers, we tapped on the first-timer grant which reduced our cost by
$40,000.
With our new home, we started a family.
I gave birth to our daughter at the age of 22 years old.
Both of us worked to raise our family and pay the bills. I
worked hard over weekends doing shift work in the sales line.
But… we drifted apart, our marriage broke down. My daughter
was only 4 years old, and I was expecting a son.
We sold our home, the matrimonial flat, at the current
market price, which was unfortunately not in our favour. We made a loss, but it
couldn’t be helped.
I moved back home to my parents’ 3-room HDB with my two
young children. When I worked, my mum helped me look after them at home.
It was tough being a single mum.
I yearned to be independent, to have a home to call my own,
as I have been working since 13 years old.
In 2003, I applied for a rental flat. I was actually shocked
how fast the application went through!
Three months later, I moved to a rental flat in
Lengkok Bahru.
The location was a bit far from Bedok, but this didn’t stop
my family of three from travelling back to Bedok to visit my parents often.
Finding love.
Throughout all these upheavals, I met my current husband. My
daughter looked up to him as a father figure, a role which was absent in her
earlier years.
We got married in 2005 and had two children of our own. In
2008, my parents sold off their 3-room flat and my mum stayed with us for a
year before moving to my brother’s house.
Our humble rental flat was then home to 3 adults and 4
children – it was a bit of a squeeze, but we made it work.
We all slept on mattresses that could be folded and kept by
the side. We took turns to use the only toilet based on how early we had to
leave the house to get to school or work.
Worrying about home.
After I had my fourth child, I quit my job to look after my
children.
I didn’t know I would be unemployed for five years. My
husband fell ill and could not hold a full-time job.
We struggled to pay our bills – I worried we would be
homeless.
Thankfully, when I approached the Community Development Council,
they were able to offer some financial assistance for our rent and electricity
as well as $350 a month to put food on the table.
Being unemployed was very stressful.
In the past, I tried different jobs, whatever I could do
with my set of skills, as long as employers were willing to give me work. At 16
years old, I was a department store cashier. At 21 years old, I became a sales
assistant.
With my time divided amongst my children, I had very little
time left on my hands. I also did not have skills that I could use to earn
money while working from home such as sewing or baking.
On top of that, I breastfed my children and was
not ready to stop breastfeeding as it meant a lot to me being able to provide
for their nourishment as a mother.
At the gathering, I met neighbours who were fellow mothers I
had avoided speaking to for years. These mothers were very nice and shared their
stories. I didn’t know that many had similar struggles, some even worse than
mine.
The feeling I had was so warm and welcoming that I had a
brief respite from the problems I faced and enjoyed the company of the
community.
For the community, by the community.
At events organised by the community of neighbours, for our
community, I opened up about our situation. Beyond staff helped my family with
diapers, milk and food rations.
More importantly, being involved in the community brought
out the positive side of me.
I learnt how to emcee, how to have good teamwork. I found
out that by sharing, I was able to receive even more help and support.
The community of parents like myself organised several
events, such as a 3D2N workshop for single parents. Instead of others planning
for us, we planned and executed it ourselves, with support from Beyond.
We knocked on doors to identify homes with single parents,
invited them, planned the programme, arranged the transport, divided the
responsibilities, booked the venue and ran the event – I felt good that I was
able to do something for others.
Community conversations – revealing our dream for a home
We had been living in a rental flat for so long that I did
not imagine the possibility of owning my very own home.
If not for the Beyond core workshop that the community of us
parents organised for fellow parents, my family would not have thought about
discussing the dreams we wanted to achieve in five years’ time.
My children shared they wanted to have a place for our family
to call our own, and that struck a deep chord in me, because I realised I
forgot my dreams while struggling with our daily lives.
Photo: Being part of the community has given my family more
opportunities to bond. It was at one such event that we had a chance to discuss
our dreams in five years’ time, and realise we wanted to have our own home.
(Source: Beyond Social Services)
Will Mdm Zuraidah and
family achieve their dream? Read the second part to learn Mdm Zuraidah’s
#myHDBstory
Museum Or Shopping Experience? This Japanese Beauty Showcase At Orchard Road Has Us Intrigued!
Are you a fan of Japanese beauty?
Do you want to experience a new and innovative way to shop for your beauty needs?
Well, there’s a new shopping experience in town that we’re sure you’ll enjoy!
From now till 20 October, popular Japanese brands under the Shiseido family Anessa, Senka, and Tsubaki have partnered with personal care chain Watsons Singapore to open the world’s first My Japanese Beauty Pop-Up Store.
Held in the heart of Orchard Road outside Takashimaya, the pop-up will allow visitors to discover the secrets of Japanese beauty and soak in Shiseido’s rich heritage while embarking on what could be described as a “multi-sensorial journey”.
Visitors can look forward to admiring eight historical products from Shiseido Corporate Museum, flown out of Japan for the first time with special escort and white-gloved treatment.
Highlights include Tsubaki’s Classic Shampoo and Conditioner, Anessa’s Sunscreen Milk, and Senka’s Perfect Whip.
A Museum-Like Shopping Experience
The pop-up is unique in the way that it integrates high-tech digital touchpoints that are triggered by footsteps to deliver sound, music and animation to further enhance the immersive nature of the experience.
At the entrance, get a personalised greeting by a digital pixie and be guided through the space via the pop-up’s microsite, accessible via the Watsons app, website or a QR code.
Navigate the space while completing interesting tasks – it’s almost as if you are visiting a museum!
Take a break and enjoy a theatrical tea-brewing experience before sipping on a special collagen tea that will make you feel beautiful inside and out!
See The Three Brands In A Brand New Light
Enter a magical garden and learn about the brand history and features of Tsubaki line of shampoos.
If you’re uncertain about which shampoo best suits your haircare needs, take a sensor-powered quiz to match your hair to the right products so you can make the best choice.
If you’re more into skincare, stroll over to Senka’s exhibition and discover how to achieve clear, moisturised bare skin at an interactive product bar.
The importance of an effective sunscreen can never be emphasised enough, so learn more about Anessa’s suncare secrets at an immersive learning bar.
For those of you who live for IG-worthy shots, take envy-inducing photos at the animated wall projection that shuffles through images of the four seasons!
Check (The Exhibition) Out, Then Checkout!
Remember the Watsons app that we talked about earlier in the piece? It’s also an offline-to-online shopping app which allows users to scan QR codes to read product descriptions and add items to their carts.
Acting like your personal shopper, simply checkout on the app, and Watsons will deliver your shopping purchases to you within the next few days!
If you’re someone who prefers to shop on the spot, you can also purchase products from a cashless vending machine, or an on-site store at the showcase!
And good news for all you bargain-hunters – you can get to enjoy discounts of up to 30% at this pop-up too.
So if you’re in town, why not check out the My Japanese Beauty showcase and experience a new way of shopping?
And good news for all you bargain-hunters – you can get to enjoy discounts of up to 30% at this pop-up too.
Get up to 20% off Anessa products, 25% off Senka products, and a whopping 30% off Tsubaki products!
What’s more, you get a further $20 off with every $100 spent!
So if you’re in town, why not check out the My Japanese Beauty showcase and experience a new way of shopping?
Shiseido My Japanese Beauty Pop-up Store
Opening Hours: 11am to 9pm (Weekdays), 11am to 10pm (Weekends)
Location: Outside Takashimaya (391 Orchard Road, S238872)
Also Read: 6 Experiences At This M’sian Island Paradise – And It Costs Less Than SGD100 To Fly There
Too Long Till Your Next Korea Trip? Savour The Flavours At This Korea Fair In S’pore
Korea is a place of enchantment, and many Singaporeans could easily write a love letter to the beautiful country once they’ve seen it in person.
Between steeping in its rich culture visiting centuries-old palaces, catching up with K-pop and K-fashion at the trendy districts, and being awed by divine coastal landscapes at Jeju Island—there’s definitely something to draw you back again.
And to save the best for last, Korean cuisine alone is a good enough reason to book that 7-hour flight.
Army stew, topokki, bulgogi beef, and Korean fried chicken with beer are some of the best creations in the world. We bet that unmistakable spicy, tangy taste of kimchi has already seeped into your mind.
If you’re saving up for your next trip, or you’ve already planned it but just can’t wait, here’s how you can get your cravings fixed real quick while you’re still in Singapore.
Let The Korean Feast Come To You
Cold Storage is bringing the flavours of Korea to us in a two-week Korea Fair from now till 10 October 2019.
When you’re craving Korean food daily but don’t feel like eating out, the best solution will be to whip up some dishes in the comfort of your home.
Don’t worry if you have limited skills in the kitchen, because many of the items available at Cold Storage Korea Fair can stack up to make a grocery list of easy-to-cook (or even ready-to-eat) dishes. Thank the heavens.
They also have a selection of snacks, drinks and even fresh fruits from Korea to top it off, so you’re well covered!
Kimchi ramen noodles
Classic staples never go wrong, and kimchi ramen is a testament to that. You don’t need anything too fancy when you have a comforting bowl of noodles, swimming in sour and spicy kimchi soup.
For Korean food lovers, this is like the ‘starter pack’ you keep returning to. Time after time, its warmth and satisfaction reaches right to your fingertips again.
Grab yourself a few packs of Jongga Kimchi Ramen Hot & Spicy, since we know you won’t just be eating this once!
On days when you need something heartier, you could give your ramen that extra touch by adding some Chung Jung OneDumplings with Kimchi & Vegetable or Hot Pepper Japchae fillings.
Topokki – spicy rice cakes
Koreans deeply treasure their topokki, a stir-fried dish of rice cakes and vegetables topped with spicy sauce. Their delightful chewiness can kind of get addictive.
While topokki is popular in Korea to add some heat to their cold winters, we on the other hand, just salivate for anything spicy, no matter how hot it is in Singapore.
You can pick up an instant cup that takes just minutes to cook, with flavours like Dongwon Spicy & Sweet Topokki and Cheese Topokki.
A hard-boiled egg and some garnish will complete your topokki perfectly!
Rice porridge
When you want to ease into a great morning, a tasty bowl of porridge soothes all troubles away. If anyone says it’s an ‘old lady food’, tell them to call us up.
Dongwon Yangban Rice Porridge has really hit it up as a popular breakfast food in Korea, especially when they have Red Velvet’s Wendy and Irene endorsing it! Preparing a bowl is as easy as a quick pop into the microwave.
Unlike the typically salty (but equally heavenly) Cantonese congee we usually eat, Korean porridge can be either savoury or sweet, like the glutinous rice option with red bean and chestnut.
Sweet potato
Sweet potatoes may come humbly from the earth, but they should really be celebrated for satisfying stomachs for centuries.
Did you know they actually come in various flavours too? We didn’t, till now.
Korean Sweet Potato comes in chestnut and pumpkin ‘flavours’, which give you different appearances, taste and character.
The chestnut variant packs vitamins and fibres in its rich purple skin, while pumpkin sweet potatoes are smaller with yellow flesh and taste delicious even eaten raw.
That gives you two ways to whip up a serving of goguma mattang (candied sweet potatoes)!
Kimchi fried rice
Fried rice takes us to paradise—it’s simple to prepare and frankly just irresistible to wolf down.
It could also well be a universal language across many Eastern cultures, just cooked a little differently from one place to another.
With kimchi as the starring flavour, it’s both the familiar comfort of fried rice we always love, and a taste to make you feel closer to the second home in your heart.
To make things better, you won’t even have to whip out a wok and get to work in the kitchen. You can just pick up Jongga Kimchi Fried Rice which comes deliciously ready-to-eat!
Snacks, fruits and drinks
The happiest five minutes you’ll spend in a supermarket—okay make it 30, no judgement here—is when you walk down the snack aisle. You’ll light up at your old favourites, yet still always get to chance upon new discoveries to try.
Snacks are highly up to individual preference, but Cold Storage Korea Fair has quite a selection.
For those who love it savoury, Paldo Crab Chips and The Kims Crispy Laver Chip (laver is a type of seaweed) are some great options to have when it comes down to ‘crunch’ time.
If you’re a sweet creature, you’ll enjoy sinking your teeth into a soft fluffy bite of Haitai Oh Yes! Chocolate Coated Cake, or get addicted to Cosmos Honey Twist.
Of course, there’s an in-between too where sweet and savoury collide, and Lotte Popping Corn Chips in Original, Grilled Corn and Sweet & Spicy flavours can fill that gap.
Besides snacks, people love to eat lots of fruits in Korea since the country’s climate makes it perfect for harvesting top quality seasonal produce.
When you need to sweeten up your day, juicy yellow peaches, musk melon and shine muscat grapes from Korea are both refreshing and healthy.
Plus, don’t forget the drinks to accompany your heavenly Korean spread! Morning meals will be complete with a cup of Barista Rules coffee—try the Mocha Presso or Caramel Deep Presso if you feel like making a fun choice to start your day.
At the day’s end, it’s time to wind down, pop a can of Ark Pale Ale, and start counting down till you make your next visit to the land of the morning calm.
Earn A Holiday Through Your Shopping Spree
Cold Storage Korea Fair launched on 28 September with an exciting opening ceremony at Great World City, graced by the Republic of Korea Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Ahn Young-jip.
Attendees got to see the unveiling of a Giant Bibimbap (it left us drooling with envy!), and were treated to a live cook-off between two esteemed chefs: Park Joon Woo, 1st runner up of MasterChef Korea 2012, and Gen Lee, 1st runner up of MasterChef Singapore 2018.
To top it all off, we got into the groove with a sleek K-pop dance performance to some of our favourite songs.
Don’t miss the fair while it runs at all Cold Storage, Market Place and Jasons stores from now till 10 October!
As you make your shopping rounds, you can also hit up the sampling booths to experience as many different flavours as possible. In-store sampling will be popping up in the Takashimaya, Bugis, Plaza Singapura, Compass One and Causeway Point Cold Storage stores from 4 to 6 October, 11am – 7pm daily.
You’ll also stand a chance to enter a lucky draw and win prizes when you spend a minimum of $25 in a single receipt, including at least two participating Korean products.
One lucky winner will score the grand prize of 100,000 KrisFlyer Miles, which is worth two economy class redemption tickets to Korea! Ten other lucky winners will also each get 10,000 KrisFlyer miles in the bag.
And as a PSA for the huge K-pop lovers, you may be in for a great surprise if you stick around on 5 October and get to catch one of the K-pop flash mobs that will appear in selected stores!
Click through here to learn more about the ‘Seoul’ delicious deals you can get at Cold Storage Korea Fair.
Annyeong!
This article was written in collaboration with Cold Storage.
Header Image Credit: Pickled Plum, Instazu, My Korean Kitchen
Also Read: Feast On Food From All Around The World Without Leaving The West – Here’s How
I Was Made To Write An Article About HDB
HDB, a place I spent my childhood running around with my friends playing block catching. The place I desperately longed to go home to some nights when I was made to work overtime.
