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Saturday, November 30, 2024
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Idyllic Island Time

Offering a plethora of water sports, adventure activities and spa offerings, plus a well-run kids’ club, The Residence is a calm, friendly oasis.

Leaving it all behind
A short ferry ride from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and my family are docking at Bintan – the largest island in Indonesia’s Riau Archipelago. Quickly clearing customs we’re met by smiling The Residence staff, who hand us reviving lemongrass-scented cold towels and fresh cookies. It’s about a 90-minute drive to the swish, new luxury resort, which boasts 127 breezy, oversized villas. We’re happy to sit back and take in the passing scenery of deep green jungle, and tranquil winding rivers. The final destination is well worth the wait. The resort lies on the remote eastern coast of the island, blessed with some of the region’s best beaches and panoramic views of the South China Sea. It’s blissfully removed from the busy golfing resorts and has a beachy, laidback vibe. The staff are mostly local, and always happy to go the extra mile for guests. Bikes are parked outside your accommodation, and it’s lovely to cycle slowly around the expansive resort.

Spa sessions
Before checking into our villa, we grab a quick lunch from the main restaurant, The Dining Room. The meals are fresh and Indonesian-inspired, and I tuck into delicious chicken skewers, impaled on fragrant stalks of lemongrass (the resort’s signature scent!), and served with a spicy peanut dipping sauce. Sipping on a fresh watermelon juice, we gaze over untouched jungle and mountains, and enjoy the cooling sea breeze. My first stop is to the spa, with products and treatments by award-winning British spa brand, ila. Inspired by natural indigenous therapies and ancient Ayurvedic treatments, the pampering and wellness program is staffed by experienced, peaceful therapists, and features eight well appointed treatment huts. It’s hard to choose from the heavenly menu, but I settle on the signature Restu Suci (Earth Blessings) a 120-minute massage, featuring a fresh ginger and pandan foot wash in a copper bowl, resonating singing bowls and a Hawaiian style lomi lomi full body massage, which deploys long sweeping strokes of the elbow and arm. It’s a very nice way to ease into leisurely island time. We locate our beach villa, a chic luxury pad with its own living room, enormous bathroom with freestanding tub and rain shower, and all the mod cons (hello, coffee machine). The pièce de résistance is the private plunge pool on the deck, which spills onto a sandy stretch of beach and a calm bay. There’s nothing to do but immediately sink into the cool waters and exhale.

Out and about
It’s tempting to hole up in our villa for the duration, but there’s so much to see and do, it would be a crime not to make the most of our few days away. I rise at 8am to join an open-air yoga session on a deck overlooking the ocean. Today’s class is taught by Anabel Chew of Webarre. The poses and sequences are challenging and dynamic, and it certainly wakes up my muscles for the day. Free 45-minute stretch sessions are offered daily at the resort – there’s also a full gym, if you want to offset the sundowner cocktails and delicious food. After breakfast, we head to the activities area, thoughtfully situated a distance away from the main resort. There’s an obstacle course with challenging high and low elements, jet skis, kayaks, archery, paintball, rock climbing, wakeboarding and ATV vehicles. Whetting our appetite for adventure, my husband and I grab a couple of sturdy ATV’s and head off into the bumpy, muddy jungle track, for some rev head action. Active older kids will adore this area of the resort, while my eight-year-old is kept well entertained at the free Kakatu Kids’ Club. The club is open from 9am-6pm and keeps kids aged 3-17 busy with tie dye, tote bag painting, batik and cooking. There’s also beach marine discovery walks, volleyball, and giant board games. Although to be honest, most kids will be happy splashing in the gigantic main pool, or wading out to the double wooden swing in the middle of the shallow bay.

Island hopping
Boat trips are a great way to see more of the natural beauty of the archipelago, and we head out by speed boat to nearby Mapur Island, 16 kilometres and a 45-minute-high speed ride away. Although it’s bucketing down when we leave, it miraculously clears up when we drop anchor offshore from a stunning white sand island, famed for its rich marine life.
Submerging into the warm, clear emerald waters with flippers and snorkel masks, we discover a healthy reef, teeming with colourful tropical fish. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the pristine, deserted beaches, framed by smooth boulders. Or if you’re dive certified, take a deeper look at whale sharks, manta ray, barracuda and shipwrecks. If lazy rivers are more your scene, a mangrove tour winds through stilted fishing villages and ancient mangroves. If you’re lucky you’ll spot a snake coiled in the trees, cheeky monkeys, monitor lizards and kingfishers. Night tours are magically lit up with fireflies.

Creative workshops
The Residence hosts regular workshops and retreats, and we attend a two-hour botanical painting workshop and high tea with Singaporean artist Lucinda Law. Sipping on a ginger tea, it’s the perfect way to spend a drizzly afternoon, as we learn how to use watercolours to capture the stunning tropical plants and flowers that surround the resort. Our final dinner is a seafood barbecue, at the relaxed Rica Rica restaurant by the beach, where we indulge in more local Indonesian flavours including King prawn with honey and garlic sauce, red snapper with local herbs and sambals, and mushroom rice wrapped in banana leaves. The finale is a version of the beloved Chendol dessert – with green noodles, a coconut pandan custard, adzuki red beans and ginger ice-cream. It’s a sweet end to a truly decadent island escape and we all agree we’ll be back soon for a second helping.

Travel essentials
Get there: Bintan Resorts Ferry offers five fast ferry services daily (from 9.10am to 8.20pm) from Singapore’s Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Sri Bintan Pura Terminal in Tanjung Pinang for $58 return. reservations.brf.com.sg
Best time to visit: The northeast monsoon season is the wettest part of the year and falls between the beginning of October and the end of May. The best time to visit is June-September.
Local life: Bintan is home to 300,000 locals, and is a true mix of cultures including Malay, Bugis, Chinese and the Orang Laut (sea people).
What to pack: Bug repellent to combat biting sand flies and mozzies; wet weather gear for tropical downpours and boat trips; and local currency Indonesia Rupiah (IDR) as most stores won’t take Singapore dollars.

www.cenizaro.com/theresidence/bintan

Learning To Spell With AIS

The English language is one of the most widely spoken and written languages in the world, but for young children who are learning to spell it can be challenging to navigate the complex minefield of silent letters, rules and anomalies. As adults, we all remember learning to spell at school – memorising word formations in preparation for the dreaded Friday afternoon spelling test. “I before E except after C” was drilled into us, along with many other baffling rules that still make little sense to us.

At the Australian International School, we take a more collaborative approach to spelling, by evaluating each child’s individual learning style and providing differentiated teaching methods to ensure they learn in a way that is best suited to them. Our Assistant Head of Elementary School  – Amy Paul, talks us through the spelling teaching methods used in our classrooms…

Tailored Learning To Meet The Needs Of Every Child

Spelling is taught in stages and each child works through these stages at a different pace. Becoming a competent speller takes time and it’s important that we don’t place too much expectation on children to reach certain milestones at certain ages. At AIS we understand that every child is unique, which is why we assess all of our students individually to determine their competency, and we tailor spelling exercises that are appropriate to their skill level.

In the early stages of learning to spell, we focus on phonics and mastering the different sounds of the English language. There are 44 different sounds in the English language and it can take time to become familiar with all of them, particularly for those students who are transitioning from a non-English speaking environment. Children are encouraged to repeat what they hear, and we use songs and rhymes to build phonemic awareness.

Once the phonics have been mastered, we move on to looking at how letters and sounds can be combined to make words. Using their knowledge of phonics, we break words down into sounds, prompting children to identify the sounds they hear at the beginning, middle and end of a word.  We encourage them to look for patterns and identify combinations of letters that make one sound (e.g. ch, sh, all, ate, tion.) and to sort and categorise individual words based on the letter and sound patterns they observe.

 An Inquiry-Based Approach To Build Confidence And Curiosity

The AIS Elementary School curriculum follows the framework of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (PYP) which encourages inquiry and student-led thinking. We apply these principals when teaching spelling, by encouraging children to ‘have a go’ at spelling unknown words and exploring alternatives rather than pointing out errors when they get it wrong. This builds confidence and ensures children do not develop a fear of making mistakes.

We avoid teaching rules when it comes to spelling – we understand that children need explicit instruction in some instances, but we always try and balance this with an authentic application of the skills learnt. Children are given the opportunity to sort words according to their own observations, and they are encouraged to discuss the patterns they have identified with their teachers and fellow students. We develop children’s curiosity by talking about new words and their meaning, leading to discussions on how these words might be spelled.

Developing Spelling Skills At Home

There are many ways that parents can support children with their spellings at home, and none of these involve spelling tests! Spelling and reading go hand in hand, so it’s important to read with your child regularly at home and discuss words you notice that have the same patterns. Use old newspapers and magazines for word finding games, for example highlighting every word that ends with ‘ing’ or starts with ‘ph’. It’s also helpful to keep a dictionary in the house, or make use of an online dictionary to confirm the spelling or definition of unknown words.

Word games such as Boggle, Scrabble and Hangman can be great for developing vocabulary and spelling skills – try building these into your family nights as a way of having fun together and learning along the way. Another fun way to teach spelling is through the use of letter fridge magnets, which can be picked up in almost any toy store. Form a word with the magnets, then either take some letters out or scramble them around and ask your child to unscramble it.

Find out more about our Elementary School here.

Singapore Grand Prix Guide 2018

Photo: Singapore Grand Prix

With new cars, new drivers and new rules and regs, this year’s 10th edition of The Singapore Grand Prix is sure to deliver gripping racing action. All the big name F1 drivers will take to the track, including Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes, Daniel Riccardo for Red Bull Racing and Fernando Alonso for McLaren.

Entertainment highlights
The Grand Prix isn’t just about fast cars going in circles, check out this year’s sizzling entertainment options …

Friday 14 September
Jay Chou: This Taiwanese superstar has sold over 30 million albums, and he’s back in Singapore to showcase hits from his 14th album: Bedtime Stories. Don’t miss seeing the current King of Asian Pop strut his stuff.

Saturday 15 September
The Killers: Las Vegas-based rock band The Killers are headlining with their smash hit singles ‘Mr Brightside’ and ‘Somebody Told Me’.
Liam Gallagher: The former Oasis frontman will perform hits from his latest album As You Were. But will he sing the cult classic ‘Wonderwall?’ You’ll have to be there to find out!
End of the World (aka Sekai No Owari): Ultra-kooky Japanese band End of the World perform hits from their massive album, Tree, including ‘One More Night’ and ‘Stargazer.’

Photo by Mark Kolbe/Singapore GP via Getty Images

Sunday 16 September
Martin Garrix: Aside from the guys on the track, Dutch electronic-pop superstar Martin Garrix is the main attraction on the final day of racing. Expect powerhouse performances of his hits ‘The Name of Love’, ‘There for You’, ‘Don’t Look Down’, ‘So Far Away’ and more.
Dua Lipa: This rising Brit singer-songwriter, will belt out her record-breaking UK chart hits including ‘Be the One’ and ‘IDGAF’, as well as the UK #1 single ‘New Rules’.
Simply Red: Old school British soul and pop band Simply Red will refresh our memories of the 80s smash hits ‘If You Don’t Know Me by Now’, ‘Stars’ and ‘Holding Back the Years’.
And the rest… Over the three days, other well-known music names will grace the stage including Aussie ABBA tribute band Bjorn Again, hip-hop legends The Sugarhill Gang and Scottish trio Young Fathers.

Circuit Park
There are tons of fun activities across all zones – race simulators, complimentary Airbrush Tattoo booths, and roving entertainment and selfie opportunities. Reckon you could change a tyre in less than 12 seconds? (that’s what the real crew aim for!). Try the Pit Stop Challenge and experience getting a replica Formula One car back on the track in blistering speed.

Party on!
Head to the official after party at Podium Lounge at the Ritz Carlton Millenia ballroom from 10pm until late. Catch a live set from former Westlife and Boyzone pop stars Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy on Friday; a DJ set from Joel Madden on Saturday and Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas on Sunday. VIP tickets and tables from www.podiumlounge.com/sg/ Other race-themed revelry will take place in restaurants, bars and clubs all over the city – take your pick!

Food & Drink
Peckish? Grab some nosh from a wide range of restaurants and bars at Market Street Global Cuisine (Zone 1), Uptown Village under the Bay Grandstand (Zone 3), and Portside Hawkers and Dockside Hawkers (Zone 4).

Hot tip: Get your cameras ready and look skywards once the chequered flag is waved on Sunday! A spectacular fireworks display will light up Marina Bay in a stunning photo opp.

GP Essentials:
What to wear: Dress in cool, comfortable clothes and wear good walking shoes – you’ll need them to explore Circuit Park and to last the distance to public transport. Pack light, and remember there’s a limit of 600ml of water per person. Sunblock and a hat are essential, ear plugs or ear defenders are advised for both kids and adults, and bring cash as not all vendors accept credit card payment.
Bringing the kids: Kids love the buzz and excitement of race day. But don’t forget children under the age of seven need a signed indemnity agreement for admission into Circuit Park. Download the form at singaporegp.sg
Getting there: Ditch the car and take Singapore’s super-efficient, cheap public transport instead – all gates are within walking distance to a MRT station. If you’re taking a Grab or a cab, check your designated drop off points at www.singaporegp.sg
Buy tickets: Tickets are priced from $78 for a single-day ticket or $298 for a three-day ticket. To purchase visit singaporegp.sg, call the hotline 6738 6738, or buy from authorised ticketing agents.

Happy 70th ANZA!

1948-1961
Where it all began
ANZA began as a registered society in the Colony of Singapore in 1917 and was known as the Australian and New Zealand Association of Malaya. In 1948 ANZA was founded, and the original association ceased to exist. It took until 1961 for official registration to begin, as there was re-building to be done after the Second World War and the administration process took some time. ANZA’s goals in the early years were to provide support to Australian and New Zealand families based in Singapore: a home-away-from-home and a place where expats could meet fellow countrymen, relax, build important friendships, and give back to the community.

1960-1970s
Although ANZA started as a male-only club, it soon became a family organisation, with women at the forefront of organising activities, fundraising and events. The Women’s Auxiliary Committee was formed in 1974, with a focus on raising money for local charities. The ANZA Ball was held at the Seaview Hotel in the 1950s-60s and was a very formal affair. Over the years it was held at Raffles Hotel, The Churchill Room at the Tanglin Club, and the Goodwood Hotel. Sport was thriving during this period. ANZA Soccer sent out its first registration letter to parents in 1979 inviting young players to join the ANZA International Junior Soccer League. ANZA Tennis also began in 1979, with social games played on Thursday mornings at the Minden Road Courts. ANZA Swimming was popular, with meets at the Singapore Swimming Club and Island Country Club.

1980-1990s
By the 1980s ANZA was running a range of classes for expats, ranging from craft to cooking, and regular cultural tours throughout Singapore. Events were in full swing, with the ANZA Fashion Parade a hit throughout the 80s. The ANZA ‘Black and White’ Ball was a roaring success. A Children’s Christmas Party was a yearly highlight, with families turning up in droves to meet Santa and be entertained by children’s performers. In 1987 a Newcomers Coffee Morning was introduced – which still runs today as Casual Coffee! ANZA’s Keep Fit aerobics classes set to 80’s pop music were a sell-out!

1990-2000s
ANZA celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1998. To commemorate the occasion, a team of members compiled a book entitled Snippets from the Past, documenting ANZA’s history and formation. A grand Golden Jubilee Ball was held at the Shangri-La ballroom to mark the occasion. Also in this year the Women’s Auxiliary Committee (now known as ANZA Action) celebrated its Silver Jubilee. ANZA Netball began in 1991, catering to demand for the popular girl’s sport in Singapore. Tours ventured to Palau Ubin, Little India, Changi Prison Chapel and more. Classes were held in computing, hat making, perfect dinner parties, and mahjong.

2000-2010s
The ANZA office was located inside the Tanglin Shopping Centre, and it was always buzzing with volunteers. A Newcomers Wine Night was held to welcome new arrivals. Events included an Art & Craft Fair, trivia nights, and the longstanding Melbourne Cup Lunch. The Writers’ Group began meeting twice a month, and the first ANZA Scouts group was introduced. ANZA Ladies Golf played in Batam, Bintan and Singapore and ANZA Cycling was gaining popularity. Classes were held in ‘Introduction to the Internet’ and ‘Writing and Sending an Email’! The ANZA Volunteer of the Year Awards were initiated (the first awards night was held in 2011), as well as a regular Girls Night Out (now known as Ladies Night). ANZA Secret Men’s Business, ANZA Wine Club, Book Group, and ANZA Click! Photography were established as popular social and interest groups.

NOW
ANZA has now grown to a membership base of more than 7000, representing a range of nationalities and age groups including Australian, New Zealand and British, as well as from countries as diverse as the USA, The Netherlands, Germany, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. Current sports groups include Cycling, Soccer, Netball, AFL, Nippers, Cricket, Fishing, Yoga, Walking, Athletics, and more. Our annual ANZA Ball and ANZA Melbourne Cup Race Day events host around 500 guests each, and ANZA runs 60 events every year. These range from Casual Coffee to Ladies Nights, AFL Grand Final, wine evenings, Thriving in Singapore and Understanding the Job Market. Our annual Great Australia Day BBQ with the Australian International School (AIS) attracts nearly 4000 people. ANZA Action now supports over 15 local charities.

ANZA magazine through the years:
In the 60s a simple ANZA newsletter reported on the Women’s Auxiliary, travel, charity work, and life on the red dot.
In 1979 a publication called First Edition was printed and a competition was held to name the magazine. The winning title was ANZA Antics.
In the 1990s came ANZA News, a black and white bound booklet which kept members updated with ANZA events, tours and classes.
The 2000’s saw the development of ANZA Magazine – a glossy lifestyle publication with bold covers and colour printing.
ANZA now communicates both via the monthly ANZA Magazine, our website, EDM and though our Facebook page, which has 4200+ followers.

Join us at the Australian High Commission for a very special event celebrating 70 amazing years of ANZA. Enjoy live music and sample delicious produce and products. Register at anza.org.sg/events

What’s On: September

8-9 September
Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention 2018
Marina Bay Sands
Singapore’s largest pop culture convention returns with dazzling displays of cosplay, eSports contests and appearances from famous comic artists. Kids will love the Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle made of 6,000 Lego bricks! From $13, free entry for families on Sunday.
singaporetgcc.com

8 September
The Smash Hits Concert
Star Theatre
Dust off your shoulder pads and hairspray – 80s pop princesses Tiffany and Debbie Gibson perform together in Singapore for a retro reunion. Get nostalgic with hits including ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’, and ‘Lost in Your Eyes’. From $108. sistic.com.sg

12-13 September
Glamourous Giving
Orchard Parade Hotel
Browse an eclectic mix of fashion, homewares, accessories, art and furniture to raise funds and support the Singapore Committee for UN Women.
www.facebook.com/Glamorous.Giving

13 September
Jimmy Carr Greatest Hits Tour
Kallang Theatre
British comedian Jimmy Carr returns to Singapore this September, bringing a selection of his very best jokes, alongside brand new material for the ultimate comedy show.
From $88, sistic.com.sg

25 September
The Piano Guys Live in Singapore
The Star Theatre
Catch global YouTube sensation The Piano Guys – Steven Sharp Nelson, Jon Schmidt, Al Van der Beek and Paul Anderson. The talented quartet are best known for their remakes of hit songs including ‘Let It Go’ from Disney’s Frozen and wedding fave ‘A Thousand Years’.
From $98, sistic.com.sg

27 September – 31 October
Halloween Horror Nights 8
Resorts World, Sentosa
This month-long Halloween event features five terrifying haunted houses, three killer live shows, and two scare zones. Step inside the world of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, with a themed haunted house that will transport you to the Hawkin’s Lab and the eerie Upside Down.Tickets from $58 (non-peak) and $68 (peak)
www.halloweenhorrornights.com.sg

Photo: The Color Run

29 September
The Color Run Sentosa, Palawan Green
The Color Run is a 5km, un-timed event in which the runners are doused from head to toe in coloured dust. Wear white at the start line and finish plastered in a rainbow! This year is the Hero Tour – so grab a cape and enjoy a super fun day out. $35 (kids) $65 (adults) thecolorrun.com.sg

28-30 September
Oliver Jeffers Lost and Found
Sota Drama Theatre
Oliver Jeffers’ classic book becomes a beautiful stage show. Kids 3+ will love this classic tale of friendship and what home means, as a penguin and a boy set out on a journey to the South Pole.
From $38, sistic.com.sg

 

 

Save the Dates
12 Sept
On Track & On trend
19 Sept
Thriving in Singapore
20 Sept
ANZA’s 70th Birthday
29 Sept
AFL Grand Final

 

ANZA Magazine September 2018

5 Reasons to Try: ANZA Nippers

1. Learn surf lifesaving skills that could save your life

Our endless summer allows us to swim year round. And living on a small island means we’re surrounded by water and plenty of opportunities to swim in the sea. Knowing how to handle yourself in open water, as well as swimming pools is vital. Nippers is great way for kids and parents to increase their awareness and skills in a beach environment – knowledge that could help save their lives and the lives of others.

2. Beat the heat and spend Sundays at the beach

If you’re sleeping in on a Sunday morning and you have kids, then thank your lucky stars and stop reading now. The rest of us, if you’re up early you may as well make it count. Do the hard yards to get down to Tanjong Beach at sparrow’s on the weekend and we promise you it will be worth it. There is nothing better than escaping the big city island for the smaller one, digging your toes in the sand and getting back to nature. Plus, latte’s are nearby. Refresh, reset, reconnect and relax, ready for another big week.

3. A unique activity that you can do alongside your kids

Not a drop-off activity?! Nope. No way. You don’t want to miss this. How many activities are there where you can get as thoroughly involved as your kids? If you’re as busy during the week as we are, Nippers is a rare chance to spend some quality time with the family in the great outdoors. Fun and laughter is guaranteed as you help facilitate your child’s personal growth. They’ll be acquiring perseverance, courage and respect and you’ll be getting some happy memories.

4. Build mind and body strength no matter what your appetite is for competition

Running in sand, swimming in the ocean, paddling boards, rehearsing rescues, practicing CPR, learning signals and having adventures – Nippers is no ordinary way to get fit. Although the purpose of surf life saving is to make the enjoyment of our beaches safe, the ways to learn are so varied and challenging that it suits a variety of kids. Through both core Nipper events and many fun activities, participants will get stronger and smarter in an environment where being the best is celebrated, but so are problem-solving skills, teamwork and determination.

5. Feel vital and be part of a warm and welcoming community

No matter what you do and where you come from, everyone is welcome at Nippers and everyone can play a role in our community. From training to trivia nights, we exist because of the valuable time that our members give. As a volunteer club we are only as good as the collaborative contribution that you make. Come and get involved in our home-away-from -home and feel the satisfaction of helping to build a positive community.

The season is nearly here, but there might be a few spots left! ANZA Singapore Nippers caters to kids 5-13 and focuses on beach and ocean awareness through fun activities. 8:45am to 10:30am, Sunday mornings, 2 September – 2 December (a second season runs from March, 2019) anza.org.sg/sports/nippers/ 

 

ANZA Action: Volunteer in the Arts

Making resources for low vision children
ANZA supports IC2 Prephouse – a social enterprise for helping low vision children. Volunteer to make tactile books – with accompanying braille – so that kids can read and learn about their environment.
ic2.com.sg

Arts workshops in hospitals
Singapore General Hospital run weekly art and craft sessions, provide concerts and music therapy. If you are a crafty performer, or just want to help out with the weekly workshops, you can find information here:
www.sgh.com.sg/about-us/arts-for-health/pages

National Arts Council (NAC)
NAC needs volunteers to help run their exhibitions and events, wrangle artists, publicise, photograph, or help plan the programmes.
www.nac.gov.sg/

Kids with disabilities
Very Special Arts (VSA) is a charity that promotes creativity in people with disabilities – they run performing and visual art classes on a regular basis, as well as school holiday workshops. You can help the teachers and the students in these classes or lend a hand with administrative work.
www.vsa.org.sg/volunteers

Child’s play
Love working with kids? Volunteer as an artist or scientist or help facilitate sessions at Playeum Children’s Centre for Creativity at Gillman Barracks. Donate goods or materials or help out with sessions.
www.playeum.com/volunteer

Hotspots: Salt Grill & Sky bar

Photos: Salt Grill and Sky Bar

The pressure is on to find a restaurant that ticks a few boxes. It’s Father’s Day and a catch-up with an aunt stopping over in Singapore, and we have our eight-year-old in tow. Scouring Google, I decide on famed Aussie chef Luke Mangan’s relaxed “semi fine dining” flagship restaurant, Salt Grill and Sky Bar, located close to the hotel where my aunt is staying.

First timers might need a map to find the entry to the restaurant, which is accessed via an unassuming front desk in busy ION shopping mall. Once you’re in the lift up to the restaurant, the appeal is clear. An optic illusion makes it feel like we’re soaring above the clouds as we ascend to the 55th level. Stepping out into the restaurant is magical. From every floor-to-ceiling glass pane there is a stunning view of Singapore – and we’ve got a front row seat with a window table.

As the view twinkles down into night lights, we focus on the food – and it’s pretty special. Not only do they have an appealing kid’s menu (tick) but they bring out a wooden board to show my husband the impressive cuts of meat on offer (tick, tick). Our table tries a bit of everything, and no-one gets a case of food envy. The spelt and pearl barley risotto pops with fresh, spring flavours of peas, broad beans, gremolata and shavings of truffle pecorino. The Cape Grim pasture fed rib-eye with sides of creamy mashed potato with truffle butter, and bitter leaves with orange and verjuice is also declared a winner.

My aunt’s perfectly-cooked Cone Bay Barramundi with cuttlefish, citrus and herbs and a tasty kids carbonara pasta declared yummy by Miss Eight round out one of the best fine dining experiences I’ve had to date in Singapore. Because it’s a special occasion, we also try a few desserts, with the delicate, moreish petit fours the stand-out.

Verdict: If you’re looking to impress, Salt is a slam-dunk. Great service, sweeping city views, and thoughtful, well-prepared cuisine.

Salt Grill & Sky Bar
2 Orchard Turn, #55-01 ION Orchard 238801
www.lukemangan.com/restaurants/salt-grill-sky-bar-singapore/

Top 5 Art Classes

Warung Seni

This mobile art studio runs brilliantly inventive kids arts classes all over Singapore. Art leader, Zaki will come to you, bringing everything your little artists need to whip up colourful creations and boost their artistic confidence. Great for birthday parties, school holiday boredom busting, and more. Zaki also runs regular Art in the Park sessions – outdoor classes held under shady trees on the East Coast Park.
www.facebook.com/sgwarungseni/
instagram.com/warungseni

Cabaleiro Art School

Artist Patricia Cabaleiro teaches workshops and abstract acrylic painting classes for adults in Singapore, Germany and Austria. Beginners paint together with advanced students in an inspiring and fun environment, learning about colours, different techniques and honing your individual style. Look out for Patricia’s short courses, and unleash your inner Picasso.
www.cabaleiroartschool.com

Goodman Arts Centre

There’s a ton of art workshops to choose from in this rambling art precinct, which includes kid-friendly restaurants, Café Melba and La Barca. Head to the ceramics centre for lessons in making pottery, try your hand at batik panting, paper marbling, mosaic glass art, clay family fun, mandala art or tribal art painting. Swing by on Saturdays and Sundays for Weekends at The Artground – drop-in programmes for families and children to engage in together. These thirty minute sessions include arts and crafts, and other creative pursuits like storytelling, music, dance, movement and theatre. $10 per parent-child pair.
www.goodmanartscentre.sg/events

Sip & Paint, Merchants Wine Store

Art and wine lovers will relish the popular Sip & Paint Series held at Merchants Wine Stores in Duxton Hill and Joo Chiat. The fun evening class encourages inspiring artists to let loose over a canvas, and plenty of vinos! Classes are scheduled 2 and 26 August and cost $68 (the ticket price includes art supplies, apron and a generous, guided wine-tasting of a range of boutique Australian and NZ wines)
merchantsofsingapore.com.sg

Sg Art Class

If you’re looking to dabble in lots of art mediums, then SG Art Class can help. They run mobile and studio classes with expert teachers. Try your hand at cartoon and comic drawing, graffiti, Chinese calligraphy and brush painting, manga, digital drawing, photography, decoupage and more. They also offer art therapy, corporate and group bonding workshops.
sgartclass.com

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