Banyan Tree Bintan’s sustainability team are due to guide their new baby turtles to the sea this Thursday 26 March. To celebrate and share this exciting event, they have special deals for day trips and overnight stays.
If you missed the last hatching, there is anther opportunity this Friday, 10 Apr 2015. Travel for the day or stay overnight with special deals. Contact their reservation team to visit the baby turtles!
Education access for foreigners living in Singapore is often a difficult mine-field to navigate, with blogs, forums and advice from colleagues often contradicting the reality of the school landscape.
To help choose the right school for your child, always ask yourself these 5 questions first:
You know your child better than anyone else. Recommendations can be useful, but only you really know the environment that suits your child best and what the future may hold for the family.
2. Do I believe in the leadership of the school?
Meet with the Head of School and, where possible, the School Principal. Ask them about why they are in education, how they best support teachers, as well as what they look for when hiring educators. If they don’t even have time to meet with you, how would they have time for your kids? And if they are not able to convince you that they are passionate about children and education, go somewhere else!
American, Canadian and Australian schools generally place a strong emphasis on sports whereas Asian schools are strongly focused on academics and math/science. If you’re still unsure of where your child’s strengths lie, it might be best to put him in an International School, which tends to involve a balance of arts, science, sports and awareness of various cultures and perspectives. International Schools such as GEMS World Academy also tend to have excellent track records in terms of students graduating directly into the Ivy League and top UK universities.
You might already have plans to return to your home country, or you might be moving to another continent in a few years. Pick an educational system that will ensure undisrupted education for your child even if your plans change or you have to move. International Schools tend to provide the most widely accepted curriculum globally, and tend to develop well-rounded students, so this is a good choice if you believe you will be constantly relocating. However, there are only a handful of truly International Schools in Singapore right now (Overseas Family School, GEMS World Academy, United World College) so you don’t have many choices. If you’re planning to return soon to your home country, then you might want to consider putting your child into a school with the same education system you have back home for easier re-integration.
Review the ECA programme, commitment to sports, arts and academics. Children change over time and all every parent wants is to ensure that regardless of where their talents and interests lie, their child will be given every opportunity for success.
Take a bow, Inbee Park so Singapore can heartily congratulate you on winning the much-coveted golf title of “HSBC Women’s Champions winner”, unofficially known as “Asia’s major”. Hailing from South Korea, (World No.2) Inbee’s stellar performance over four consecutive days distinguished her from her closest competitors, Lydia Ko (No.1) and Stacey Lewis (No.3). Inbee’s demeanor of calmness, focus, confidence and consistency also led to her achieving an extraordinary feat of playing all four golf rounds bogey-free (playing each hole according to its par or better) – the first time such a feat has been recorded in professional women’s golf.
The HSBC Women’s Champions Event 5th – 8th March 2015 brought together most of the world’s top female golfers in a field of 63 players. Held in Singapore for the past eight years now, HSBC has partnered with Sentosa Golf Club for the past three years, hosting the event at the magnificent Serapong Golf Course. Exceptional course conditions and overall event management served to ensure the tournament remained a strong favourite with the competitors themselves.
Watching professional golf in person is a genuinely profound experience. Spectators greedily witness the intimacy between players and their caddies. Crowds of people stand in collective awe and hallowed silence, willing the players to perform yet another spectacular golf shot. Spectators see first-hand how these professional athletes conduct themselves in the public eye, while handling the pressure of their competitive environment.
Funnily enough, while the world places a higher monetary value on professional male golf, many spectators find watching female competitors more enjoyable for a number of reasons. Female golfers bring an element of glamour to the sport, presenting a diverse mix of physiques, making it easier for all spectators to relate to them. They tend to swing the golf club somewhat slower than their male counterparts, which is fascinating to see given the significant distance they still hit the ball. So spectators benefit from seeing what is physically possible through applying correct technique as opposed to sheer brute strength. Despite incredible mental discipline and concentration as they prepare for each shot (their pre-shot routine) many of the golfers appear quite relaxed in between shot-making, enjoying some group camaraderie.
Following a golf tournament over any or all of the four days is revealing. Sometimes players will shine, other times struggle. Seeing this unfold is a privilege not granted to many spectators of professional sports. So if you have the chance to attend next year’s HSBC Women’s Champions golf tournament, wear comfortable walking shoes and you won’t be disappointed!
Catherine Flanagan is an ANZA Member and new contributor to the ANZA Guide to Singapore.
ANZA Action and the ANZA Needlecraft group have been working hard getting our chapter of the 5000 Poppies Project out into the community to commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli landing this on ANZAC day this year. New Zealand artist Tony McNeight asks for the support of all New Zealanders to create the world’s biggest poppy in the Auckland Domain.
We are all working towards a greater purpose together to honour our brave men and women who fought for our freedom and democracy through times of such extreme hardship.
My idea for this came from an epiphany I had at the 2014 Dawn service when dignitaries were laying wreaths. I thought it would be amazing to create a Giant Poppy laid on the ground that EVERY New Zealander and (new New Zealander) can help to build. This will be the size of a football field consisting of 59,000 specially minted red metal discs.
And so it is happening – now – starting with a website for online donations.
The physical build starts in the Auckland Domain from April 16 – 24th when people can come down lay a poppy with their own personal message.
I see this as an opportunity to connect with ALL New Zealanders, whether in Singapore or worldwide.
Please visit the Giant Poppy Project website to make your contribution to this commemorative project.
Marigold Duncan writes about helping parents to save money and declutter their homes with her classifieds app, Bakipa.
Want to save money on baby and kids stuff in Singapore? Why not buy and sell your family items to save money and also save the environment by sharing and recycling with other parents.
As new parents in Singapore, Tom and I wanted to do just that. However when we tried we found that existing classifieds were cluttered and Facebook groups were confusing with all their do’s and don’ts. So we set out to design a better place for parents to buy and sell and we called it Bakipa (babies, kids parents).
Bakipa is the best place for parents to buy and sell their family items in Singapore. It’s simple, it’s organized, and best of all you can use it with one hand while you carry your baby in the other (we know what that’s like!). You can easily search by age, gender, location or brand, and if you can’t find what you’re after just save it in your Wishlist and Bakipa will let you know if someone lists it. Selling is easy too, you can save your preferences to save time and there is a Buy Now button to speed up the sale process.
The app is free to download from the App Store or Google Play, or you can visit our website for more information. Join thousands of parents on Bakipa today!
Larisa Bernholtz writes about her business importing quality kids’ shoes to Singapore.
After many years seeing my daughters wearing and enjoying the high-quality, well designed shoes we brought back from holidays in Europe and talking to many other mothers struggling to find high-quality, affordable shoes here in Singapore, I decided to start my own company to bring European designed and made shoes to Singapore.
The shoes are perfect for the hot humid weather in Singapore. They are of orthopaedic design, with fillers for arch support and ankle padding, firm heel cup and covered toes for improved stability. Premium genuine leather is used for both upper and linings. In addition the shoes are very cute, bright and elegant.
Suitable for toddlers to children of around 8 years, the shoes meet the requirements of European Safety and Quality Standard as well as podiatric recommendations on correct footwear for young children and toddlers. Every pair of the handmade shoes goes through stringent quality control.
In order to keep the price at the LOWEST possible level (which I reckon should not exceed SGD 50-70) for genuine leather and European handmade kids’ shoes, I try to minimise the expenses (Swedish concept, alright!) and at the same time providing “boutique” service for parents and children. I always welcome families to come over for a proper try-on and selection of the suitable models and sizes for their children.
Please visit www.facebook.com/euroshoes.sg where you can check the collection and order or arrange an appointment to try our shoes.
If your a keen Stand Up Paddler..get out training because for the First Time Ever in Singapore you will be able to blast out a easy 8km on the smooth waters of Seletar Reservoir. East Coast Paddlers SG and Aloha Kai Watersports SG are growing and promoting this fantastic new sport in Singapore and together they bring to you this first ever reservoir SUP Event. See the East Coast Paddlers Facebook Page for further information and updates.
Accor Hotels has a presence across the globe in almost 100 countries. Does the experience differ depending on the region, and what is unique about the Accor experience in Singapore?
For more than 47 years, Accor has been providing world-class service and quality accommodation to travelers around the world. We offer a range of hotel choices from economy to luxury, with brands including Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Grand Mercure, The Sebel, Novotel, Mercure, ibis Styles, ibis and ibis budget. We have a network of 3700 hotels around the world and in each region we adapt our hotels to provide a taste of the local culture and region. For example at Sofitel So Singapore we offer dishes that incorporate Singaporean influences such as a foie gras siew mai or a signature prawn laksa risotto; and at the Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy hotel we feature Peranakan dishes (one of the few international hotels in Singapore to offer traditional Peranakan cuisine). At ibis Singapore Bencoolen we offer the use of Handyphones that are loaded with maps of the city and listings of great restaurants, bars and attractions for them to experience during their time in the city. Sofitel So Singapore combines the best of French culture with distinct Singaporean touches such as the Lion’s Seal which was designed by Karl Lagerfeld and is based on the story of the creation of Singapore; as well as a mirrored table featuring a map of Singapore in the rooms etc. Also our staff at all hotels in Singapore are trained to be able to suggest the best local attractions so they can help guests discover the best of the city.
How have developments in technology influenced the success of Accor Hotels?
Our ability to constantly integrate new technologies and improve the way we serve our guests and hotels is at the heart of our innovation strategy. Accor places digital technology at every stage of the hotel experience – before, during and after their stay – adapting its hotel services to the new modes of consumption which are more mobile and connected. Accor recently announced a 225-metre Euro investment in improving the digital experience over the next four years. We also recently launched a Welcome project to enable guests to check into their rooms via their mobile phones. This is being rolled out across the network in coming months to save time when checking in and departing a hotel as these administrative formalities will be handled digitally, which in turn will enable staff to provide a more personalized greeting and be available to cater to individual guests’ needs. Sofitel So Singapore is one of the first hotels in the city to use Apple technology based guests solutions in rooms, with every room featuring an apple iPad mini that controls lighting, curtains, room service etc. We are also using technology to learn more about our guests and their preferences so we can service them better when they stay with us.
What makes Accor Hotels stand out from its competitors?
Accor is unique in that we offer a full spectrum from brands from budget to luxury to cater for every kind of taste and budget. And while many of the bigger hotel chains are American, Accor is proudly French in its heritage which shows in a certain joie de vivre that is in each hotel’s DNA. We also have a loyalty program Le Club Accorhotels which boasts better flexibility than any other program – so members can earn points anywhere in any brands participating from economy to luxury and convert them easily when booking without any restrictions.
Accor Hotels has been competition sponsor of ANZA Soccer for a number of years. How important is community engagement to the company?
Accor always strives to play an active part in the communities in which it operates. All our hotels are involved in their local communities, from protecting the environment through our PLANET21 program (e.g. tree planting, sustainable purchasing etc); to helping to feed the vulnerable; to promoting safety and well-being; to tackling child sex tourism and all hotels are encouraged to devise their own ways to give back. Ibis Singapore Bencoolen, for example, invented its own “Eco-pen” which recycles the newspapers and pens used at the hotel and makes them into a sustainable pen with a clear environmental message. The brainchild of the hotel’s housekeeping manager, it not only re-uses the 50,000 newspapers and 18,000 pens the hotel was throwing away each year but provides employment for disadvantaged communities who are now engaged in recycling the materials and making the pens. Due to its clear messaging, the pen is also a great way to engage guests in the conversation about sustainability. Accor’s sponsorship of such things as ANZA Soccer is another small way to give back to the community and is in line with our goal to play an active role in the community.
French discount sporting brand, Decathlon, established their online store in Singapore a couple of years ago. I visited one of their stores in London some time back and it could only be described as the sporting and outdoor equivalent of Bunnings.
I ordered two pairs of kids’ soccer boots ($18.90 each) and a fit ball for me ($16.90) and I added a soccer ball ($8.90) to bring my order above $60 to qualify for free shipping. I received email updates every few hours with status updates, tracking options and information about the ezyReturn service.
The parcel was dispatched the following day and delivered by Speedpost less than 48 hours after ordering. I wasn’t home to receive it, so a slip with a barcode was left and I was able to retrieve my parcel from a POPStation locker at my local post office, using a code that was sent to my mobile phone.
The goods arrived boxed in perfect condition and I was thrilled to find that the soccer boots were had velcro rather than laces, which will hopefully speed up our Saturday mornings. The fit ball is made of less sturdy material than the type used in gyms and although I ordered the size that matched my height, I would have preferred a larger size to enable use at a desk. Only time will tell if the boots last the distance, but if Decathlon have kept up the quality of the items I bought back in London I expect my kids to outgrow them before they wear out.
If you are looking for kids gifts, tennis sets (2 rackets and 2 balls for $29.90), hopper balls ($12.90) or folding soccer goals ($39.90) are good buys. There are also bikes, scooters, skateboards, skates and accessories.
For adults there is clothing, equipment and accessories for fitness and a large range of sports including Cycling, Golf, Tennis, Soccer and Rugby.
If you are into baking, cake decorating or eating, Phoot Huat is worth seeking out.
For the baker there is a treasure trove of reasonably priced supplies including equipment, packaging, cupcake cases and ingredients. Cake decorators will find a good selection of decorating equipment, fondants, icing and display stands. Those who steer away from the baking arts will find plenty of delicious things to eat: my stand-outs are the cheeses, frozen berries, nuts and dried fruits. Most prices are lower that what you will pay in the supermarket and they offer a further 5{d2c05350095ed942d62ca1635aad234a702e9575e5f9632e6c89e76dec25dfbf} discount if you pay with cash.
Phoon Huat has plenty of locations in nifty spots, like my regular, the one next-door to ANZA member benefit provider “The Butcher” at Chip Bee Gardens (Holland Village). Check their website to find your most convenient location.
If you haven’t visited before, plan your shop with their extensive illustrated Food Catalogue and Bakeware Catalogue.
Phoon Huat
12 locations around Singapore
www.phoonhuat.com
