Apa macam? Are you in the mood for some fun as we celebrate Singapore’s 46th birthday? Flip these pages for ideas and rediscover our t iny i s l and. From myths and legends, to the origins of road names and loca l architecture. There’s something here to surprise you. Confirm?

Double confirm.

21 -28 pages of tips to get you around

July/August 2011

Staid Singapore apparently has its share of lovers who can’t keep their hands off each other – so much so that the Mandarin Gallery has had to ban it from happening at its rest areas.

Raffles Hotel... where the food is as excellent as the rooms are bad. Let the

traveller take note: Feed at Raffles and sleep at the

Hotel de L’Europe.– Rudyard Kipling,

writer, 1889

REST HERE, BUT NO PLEASURE PLEASE…

It ’s true. The iPhone has bitten off a hefty 8.5 per cent chunk from the smartphone market here, making Singapore the nation with the highest iPhone penetration. bit.ly/highestiOs   

wE LOvE APPLE

We are a wacky nation, according to the Guinness World Records.

Longest human tooth extracted:3.2cm from Loo Hui Jing in 2009

Highest number of CDs signed consecutively: Singaporean pop singer J J Lin signed 3,052 autographs in two and a half hours in China, 2007

Most couples on a blind date: 536 people at a Nanyang Tech-nological University combined Hall of Residence event in 2005

Largest body mass index check:3,594 participants on National Healthy Lifestyle Campaign Day 2004

Most number of people sitting on one chair: 1,058 backsides at Springfield Secondary School in 2008Can’t imagine? Watch this and other Singapore Book of Record feats at bit.ly/recordchair

SiNgAPORE SUPERLATivES

SingaporeSurprises

SEEN OUR UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL BIRD BEFORE? It’s the crimson sunbird, that topped a 2002 Nature Society poll for a national fowl. Virtually unknown, it’s red and tiny, like our spot on the world map. But if you ask us, we think the construction crane gets the vote. tinyurl.com/sgbird

TRIVIA

3.2c

m

Bite!Bite!

Bite!

FRUiTY FLAgFor a digital art contest, an American who lived here for four years constructed our flag from fruit. Jillian Kooper used a red cloth, a banana, and starfruit slices. Tropical freshness. bit.ly/proudsg

FOOD wASTE TO FUELAsia’s first and largest organic waste “bio-methanisation and renewable energy” plant is right here in Tuas. Processing up to 800 tons of organic waste daily, the plant halves the amount of food waste sent for incineration and generates enough power for more than 10,000 households.

TRIVIA

Algo Half-boiled egg maker, $12.90 from Takashimaya

For a more complete breakfast in double-quick time, try this. The hawker centre – indispensable

Singaporean institution, cultural crossroad, islands of pleasure and enlightenment, the

perfect place to get a meal fast.– Anthony Bourdain in No Reservations

MAKAN APA?Kopi with kaya toast dipped in soft-boiled eggs (plus pepper and dark soya sauce) is a local breakfast must-have. Make your own kopitiam-styled breakfast with these gadgets that promise perfect soft-boiled eggs. Just pour boiled water to a marked level according to the number of eggs, and once all the water flows down the hour-glass contraption, your eggs will be suitably runny.

Egg-and-Muffin 2-Slice Toaster and Egg Poacher from Amazon

Now all you need is some kopi. tinyurl.com/eggtoast

OK• Condiments like oil, vinegar, mustard, ketchup, pickles, syrup, honey (without honey-combs), jelly and jam• Baking items like flour, candy and chocolate

NOT OK• Bird’s nest• Fresh fruit• Fresh curry leaves• Rice (can harbour insects)• Meat, milk and other animal products

EATiNg LiKE A SiNgAPOREAN OvERSEASGoing overseas but can’t live without your sambal belacan? Here’s how to please your palate without getting your food tossed out at Customs. (PS: Make sure you check each country’s restrictions before you fly!)

• Prima Taste food mixes are great bets, so are chilli sachets• Pack food in vacuum-sealed packaging• Dry, processed food with labels and country of origin in English will prevent food from being tossed• Forget about meat or food with meat products due to avian flu, swine fever or mad cow disease precautions• Pack liquids in check-in luggage and declare all food products

04

Pound the dough into

an evenly flat circle.

Make sure the spread dough

lands flat.

With right hand facing up and left hand facing down,

use your right hand to flip the circle anti-

clockwise towards you and downwards.

Once flipped enough times,

spread the dough out thinner.

05Fold it into a

square, and fry.

Pretend you’re yawning and spread your arms vertically

apart as wide as possible – just remember you’re

handling two hot tins of tea. Alternate positions and

repeat till frothy.

Grip handle tightly. Flip wok back and forth while stirring ingredients

with a spatula in the other hand. Practise until you can master this

move without making a mess.

KiTCHEN wORKOUTS (so we can eat even more)

It’s hard work making your own food – just try these tough drills. Now you can have your prata and eat it too.

Tone up tricepsFLIP A PRATA

work the deltoids for nice shouldersPULL TEH TARIK

Strengthen wrists and forearms

TOSS wOK INgREDIENTS

OLD SCHOOL SNACKS

OLD SCHOOL SNACKS

SiNgAPORE SPiRiTThe scarlet-coloured Singapore Sling has a muddled identity. There really isn’t a definitive recipe, with the Washington Post recently suggesting a colourless one. wapo.st/sgsling

A popular recipe mixes 30ml gin, 15ml cherry brandy, 120ml pineapple juice, 15ml lime juice, 7.5ml Cointreau, 7.5ml Benedictine, and 10ml grenadine with a dash of angostura bitters, topped with a pineapple slice and cherry.

If you want the real McCoy (and not a premixed one), get the bartender to make one on the spot for you.

NOT YOUR USUAL FOOd

REviEw BLOgSPeek into the kitchens of ordinary Singaporeans.

Cuisine Paradise ellenaguan.blogspot.comSimple recipes yet novel creations. Sago gula melaka with avocado or durian, anyone?

Happy Home Baking happyhomebaking.blogspot.comA stay-at-home mum shares easy adapted recipes. Check out her Angry Birds chocolate cake.

Kuidaore brandoesq.blogspot.comSteal culinary secrets from Joycelyn Shu, a self-taught chef who teaches at Shermay’s Cooking School.

Whine & Dine dubdew.comWorth a look for her wit and for cooking up authentic nasi lemak while living in Hong Kong.

Which popular Singapore export uses a Malaysian icon?

TRIVIA POTATO wHEELS

CHOCOLATE wAFERS

wAFER STICK

AIS gEMS

RediscoverSg, a student project to record Singapore’s heritage, highlights how neighbourhood convenience stores are disappearing because of competition: bit.ly/rediscoversg

Available from BiscuitKing.com.sg. Their physical store at 130 Casuarina Road is a rainbow of candy colours and stacked high with golden biscuit tins along the walls.

MERLION- SHAPED COOKIES

BEE-BEE SNACK

APOLLO MILK CHOCOLATE

wAFER

Like comfort food, these snacks hark back to our childhood days.

Other places that also sell biscuits out of tins:• Hwong Wing Kee Blk 124 Hougang Ave 1 #01-1446 • Sheng Siong Supermarket Blk 108

McNair Road • Old School Delights 215M Upper Thomson Road

Before the actual Parade, fireworks will be launched during the Preview show on July 30.

There will also be smaller, scaled-down displays (along with smaller crowds) during the National Education rehearsals every Saturday starting July 9.

WHEN: WHERE:Ballot for a space at Pinnacle@Duxton’s 50th storey skybridge. There are 100 ballots for non-residents, with two tickets to a ballot. Tickets at $10 each.

Raffles House atop Fort Canning Park is good for romancing a date with a view of fireworks launched from the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark.

East Coast Park’s quieter spots may offer a glimpse of fireworks in the city. Try breakwaters 27 to 29 near Laguna National Golf & Country Club. Another option is the west end of the park nearer to the city.

Reserve seats at Marina Bay restaurants at least two weeks in advance. Try: One Fullerton restaurants, Equinox Restaurant at Swissôtel and Orgo Restaurant at Esplanade.

With very good timing and 30 bucks, you might catch the fireworks from inside a Singapore Flyer capsule.

• The colourful MICA building was formerly Hill Street Police Station and World War II headquarters for the Japanese secret police. The Chinese believe it has bad feng shui as it sits at the bottom of a hill and turns away from the river.

• At the National Museum of Singapore, rumour has it that someone died falling down a narrow iron spiral staircase on the second level. Visitors who have tried to climb it report a phantom sensation of being pushed. Security officers will say the staircase remains cordoned off because it is merely a replica prone to damage. Or is it?

TIPTurn up several hours early and be prepared. Bring your own ‘goodie bag’: a tripod, camera and batteries, refreshments, a cap or brolly, even a picnic mat.

If you missed out on tickets to the National Day Parade, you can still watch the f ireworks in person:

TRIVIA

The Singapore Paranormal Investigators are Singapore’s very own ghostbusters. They record and explain ‘paranormal instances’ at www.spi.com.sg

Stories behind haunted government and public buildings...

ST ANDREw’S CATHEDRAL Neo-Gothic, 1856-1864

RAFFLES HOTEL Neo-Palladian, circa 1840 -1904

CENTRAL FIRE STATION Edwardian, 1908 - 1909

THE FULLERTON Neo-classical, 1924 - 1928

ARCHiTECTURE THROUgH THE YEARS

FOR A FiERY viEw

The old Cathay building in Dhoby Ghaut was Singapore’s first skyscraper and air-conditioned public place. The cinema played an important role in the development of the local film industry.

TRIVIA

Put on your walking shoes and let G. Byrne Bracken’s A Walking Tour Singapore be your guide. The handy b o o k h a s b e a u t i f u l s k e t c h e s o f Singapore’s architectural treasures plus trail routes to follow.

READ

Bukit Timah Hill is Singapore’s highest natural point at 164m. The tallest building is One Raffles Place Tower One (formerly Overseas Union Bank Centre) at 282m.

TRIVIA

did YOU

KNOw?The alleyways

between LASALLE’s

six glass-faceted buildings are

inspired by lava flowing through

valleys and canyons carved by natural

geological processes, much like the flow of creative forces

from students and faculty.

TIPS foR PHoTogRAPHINg

fIREWoRKS Be in the city on parade rehearsal

days to find the best vantage points. Other tips:

1. For the sharpest shots, be ready for the first few explosions before smoke clouds up the sky.2. Turn off the camera flash. It only extends several metres and can wash out the night sky.3. Use a lower aperture setting. Mid to small ranges of f/8 to f/16 work best.4. A longer exposure (slower shutter speed) better captures the movement of fireworks. 5. Take as many photos as possible to get the best shots.

LEgEND: The Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals) tells of a time when Singapore was attacked by flying swordfish. The king of Temasek ordered

fishermen to defend the shoreline in a futile attempt. A boy, Hang Nadim, suggested putting up a barricade of banana trunks that trapped the

swordfish when their spikes got stuck in the soft trunks.

Hang Nadim earned great respect in the fishing village, but the King’s council which felt threatened by his popularity ordered him to be killed.

The boy was stabbed in his sleep, and his blood flowed from his hut down the hill, staining the soil red. Hence the name Bukit Merah today.

fACT: The soil at Bukit Merah and Tanah Merah appears red because it is red laterite clay.

HOw REdHiLL gOT iTS NAME

CAPITOL BUILDINg Neo-classical, 1930

LASALLE COLLEgE OF THE ARTS Contemporary, 2007

THE CONCOURSE Modern (New Brutalism), 1994

ASCOTT SINgAPORE Art Moderne, 1955

Which decade did you live through and remember best?

QUiZ TiNY TECH iNvENTiONS

Acclaimed local f ilms not to be missed

Sandcastle Boo Junfeng2010

A teenager’s move-in with his grandparents just before National Service reveals guilty family secrets.

My MagicEric Khoo2008

An alcoholic single parent and struggling nightclub cleaner turns to magic to regain his son’s love.

Singapore DreamingColin Goh &Woo Yen Yen 2006

Singapore gagaTan Pin Pin2005

12 StoreysEric Khoo1997

The President called it a story of “life in its reality”. This heartfelt drama shows that, if things seem too good to be true, they probably are.

Turns out there’s more to the local soundscape if we just stopped to listen.

Like the Addams family in an HDB block. What’s a tale about dysfunctional families without a few ghosts?

SG

who or which group was banned from Singapore for having long hair?A. None that I know of in my time B. Huh? What ban on long hair?C. KitaroD. Led Zeppelin

Television entertainment:A. At the community centreB. Cable TV rocks!C. Came through SBCD. Finally appeared in colour

The first fast food chain opening you experienced was:A. A&W at Dunearn RoadB. MOS Burger at Isetan ScottsC. Burger King at Peninsula PlazaD. KFC at Somerset Road

If you chose mostly...As: Booming 60s Bs: Gen Y 90s Cs: Rocking 80s Ds: Hippie 70s

A 90s tourism icon is set in stone on the banks of Singapore River, but its origins are murky like the water. The rare Singapura, one of the smallest cat breeds, nevertheless kept its name and was later nicknamed the Kucinta (hybrid of ‘cat ’ and ‘love’ in Malay).

In search of the perfect national costume, what’s a sunny island with four different cultures to do? Local fashion designers tell us.

“We should just adapt the Singapore Girl’s uniform as our

national costume! It is the ONLY attire

that people the world over would identify as being

Singaporean.” Jo Soh of Hansel

“A silk jersey embroidered with modern oriental

prints, draped and pleated into a sari-inspired outfit for

the female.” Afton Chan of

Reckless Ericka

SiNgAPORE STYLE

“An off-white kebaya top with deep red

embroidery of orchids along the

trimmings... with an unexpected Chinese collar... worn with an

off-white sari cloth with subtly embossed

orchid prints.” Erin Loh of

The Prodigal Son

“No Merlion or floral orchid prints! Just play with our

national flag colours of red and white.

Keep the silhouette simple and timeless

so that every Singaporean will be

proud to wear it.” Keith Png of KOOPS

Palm-sized Singapore tech inventions that pack a punch

The founder and chief executive of Razer gaming gear firm is Singaporean Tan Min Liang.

NOT A LUCKY STRiKESingapore has one of the highest rates of lightning activity in the world, with an average of 171 thunderstorm days a year.tinyurl.com/171days

FiLM FESTivAL FLiCKS

TheKube is a tiny and colourful cube-shaped mp3 player designed in Singapore by Ollo Technologies, with a six-hour battery life.

The thumbdrive was invented by Singapore-based Trek Technology, who worked with IBM to sell the USB flash drives commercially.

X-mini speakers: Singapore’s XMI Pte Ltd created the pocket-sized speakers with a patented pop-up design.

CHOPE!Tiny Singapore is getting so crowded, no wonder we are obsessed with carving out spaces for ourselves.

In public transport: (As seen on twitter) A new Reserved Seat sign idea, perhaps? “If you can run for this seat, you’re not an eligible candidate.” -@Raggay

All eyes on you Security cameras and snap-happy STOMPers have competition from aspiring artist Lester Lee. See the diversity of the MRT’s reserved seat occupants through Lester’s eyes with his sketches on The Reserved Seat. www.facebook.com/reservedseat

His twitter account @thereservedseat collects the thoughts of Singaporeans in transit as they seethe and muse about being on the reserved seat.

did YOU KNOw?Before the first F1 night race at Marina Bay, we had the Singapore Grand Prix at Old Upper Thomson Road racing circuit. A treacherous section known as Devil’s Bend took many racers’ lives.

Watch a snippet of the 1966 Grand Prix: tinyurl.com/sggrandprix

• The most expensive route by ERP is travelling southwards from Yishun on the CTE to the city. Between 8.30-9.00 am, ERP charges can go up to $9.

• Bukit Timah Road is Singapore’s longest road (not including expressways) at 25km while Tua Kong Green in Bedok is the shortest road at just 25m.

ROAD TRIVIA

teacher’s estate

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Still RoadScotsman A W Still

was such a reputable journalist that Lorong

210 East Coast was renamed Still Road in 1933. He was editor of The Straits Times from 1908 to 1926.

Lim Tua Tow Rd

Lim Tua Tow Road is named after a wealthy

Hokkien landowner. We wonder if he had a ‘big head’ – that’s what tua tow means

in Hokkien.

Bugis

Bugis and Tanjong Pagar MRT stations

would’ve been named Victoria and Maxwell – after the British monarch and

a colonial family – if not for a desire for more localised names to be used.

Serangoon road

Serangoon Road – one of Singapore’s oldest roads – was initially spelled Saranggong, after a swamp bird

called ranggong or the Malay phrase serang

dengan gong (‘to attack with gongs’).

Swan Lake ave

Siglap’s Opera Estate street names are

themed with music, with Aida Street, Carmen Street,

Fidelio Street and Swan Lake Avenue

all taking cues from Western operas.

Makepeace road

Makepeace Road in Bukit Timah was

also named after journalist Walter

Makepeace in 1926. He was manager and co-owner of

the Singapore Free Press. (There is no Makelove Road.)

The street names of Teacher’s Estate in Upper Thomson were inspired by great Asian poets

and literary scholars such as Li Po, Munshi

Abdullah, Kalidasa and Rabindranath Tagore.

Q&ATRiP AROUNd TOwNMr Vincent Tai, a taxi-driver of eight years, shares with Challenge his experience on the roads.

What are the most confusing road names? I am English-educated so old Chinese names from impatient older folk were a challenge. Si beh lor means ‘Four Horse Street’. But there is no such street in the directory or from my training. I had to call my friends and calm down the irate passenger. It’s actually Waterloo Street.

What have you learnt from years of driving? Clarifying things is very important. Places like Sunset Avenue and Sunset Way are in totally different places. Once, some visitors from India wanted to go to West Coast Rd. When we reached there, they were stunned: “Uncle, I want to go to Race Course Road.” Now whenever foreigners come in, I listen more carefully. Playing tour guide to passengers enhances the journey. It makes for good conversation to highlight interesting insights and history of a particular location.

How can passengers get cabs more easily? It depends on the time of the day. Passengers may wonder why cabbies turn a blind eye to them during peak hours. It’s just a matter of being more enterprising. Passengers just outside Tanglin, for example, will surely not get taxis because cabbies nearby can get an extra $3 CBD surcharge. Of course – just joking here – if a customer is dressed attractively like a peacock, maybe three or four cabs will rush to pick up the passenger!

HoSay! teaches you how to pronounce Singlish phrases and what they mean. Audio tips come with a delightful local accent. bit.ly/hosay (iOS)

MAdE iN SiNgAPORE APPS

15 ideas for places to go and things to do...

wHERE dO YOU wANT TO gO TOdAY?

fleas & fairs shows you where to hunt down the best deals from local flea markets and bazaars.bit.ly/fleasfairs (iOS)

Kopi helps you order local brews like a pro with easy- click buttons of different kopi combos. bit.ly/orderkopi (Android)

Tong Mern Sern Antiques Arts & Crafts. The store is stocked with old typewriters, suitcases, furniture, enamelware and more.51 Craig Road. Tel: 6734 0761

The Adelphi, Peninsula Shopping Complex and Excelsior Shopping Complex along Coleman Street are a treasure trove of vinyl records and vintage watches.

Straits Records stocks obscure music records from the hardcore and punk genre, as well as T-shirts and books. 24 Bali Lane. on.fb.me/straitsrecords

Eng Tiang Huat sells Chinese cultural items like traditional music instruments, Chinese opera and lion dance equipment, and even martial arts weapons. 284 River Valley Road. www.dunhuangmusic.com

Trippies (it used to be known as Grandfather’s Collections) takes you down memory lane with collectibles on display, some for sale. Upstairs, there is a Children’s Little Museum of toys and stationery from the 50s to 70s. Great for grandparents too.Entry to the museum is $2.42 Bussorah Street. Tel: 6298 2713

OLd iS gOLdCharming places to get antiques.

ADvENTuRERS • Laser Tag Round up

some friends to play laser shootout, a laser skirmish

combat game. Like paintball, but without the bruises. www.lasertag.com.sg

• go-Karting Skip Escape Theme Park’s mini luge and head to Singapore’s first competition-length karting race track.

511 Upper Jurong Road #01-05 www.kartright.com

NATuRE & HERITAgE LovERS

• Go star-gazing at Pulau Semakau with the Astronomical Society of Singapore.

www.tasos.org.sg

• Trace the heritage of our airforce at the Air Force Museum.

400 Airport Road. bit.ly/rsafmuseum

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ART, DANCE & MuSIC LovERS

• Urban Sketchers wander around the city they’re in, sketch locations on the go and

share their drawings online. Join them at urbansketchers-singapore.blogspot.com

• watch short local films for free at the Substation arts centre every first Monday of the

month. 45 Armenian Steet www.substation.org/

first-take

SHoPAHoLICS • Buy apparel from local fashion

designers’ boutiques at Parco nextNEXT and Orchard Central.

Parco next NEXT, Millenia Walk, Level P2, 9 Raffles

Boulevard & Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road.

• Support Singapore brands. Learn more about local brands and products at

www.getsingapore.sg

Imperial Cheng Ho Harbour Cruise

See Singapore’s busy port, Southern

Islands and city skyline from aboard a

replica of a Ming Dynasty imperial

sea vessel. www.watertours.com.sg

fooDIES• Riders Cafe Have brunch in a colonial

house nestled among lush foliage. You may even get a glimpse of horses trotting by.

Ideal for family outings. 51 Fairways Drive, Bukit Timah Saddle Club.

www.riderscafe.sg

• Bumbu Restaurant Enjoy retro 70s music amid restored Peranakan furniture

while you dine in this conserved shophouse. 44 Kandahar Street.

www.bumbu.com.sg

Take a cooking

class in a Pulau Ubin

kampong house with

Cookery Magic.

www.

cookerymagic.

com

Yixing Xuan Teahouse Learn

about the art of making Chinese tea, and

buy some tea leaves or pots. W

orkshops by

appointment only. 30/32 Tanjong Pagar

Road. tinyurl.com/yx-teahouse

Buy new books at discounted

prices online and save on shipping

charges at Singapore-based

opentrolley.com.sg