HERE

an ntu sports club publicationissue mar 2016

CONTENTEVENTS

06 STREET CHALLENGE 2015

08 SPORTS EXPOSE 2016

09 SURF N SWEAT

12 PADDLES UP! SINGAPORE RIVER REGATTA 2015

14 BUBBLE SOCCER

14 2018 ASIAN WORLD CUP AND 2019 ASIAN CUP QUALIFIERS: Singapore V Japan

27 SITTING CAN KILL YOU

28 CONEY ISLAND

30 GET SET, GO!

31 TRADE YOUR HOLLANDAISE FOR GRAINS

16 PARADISE IN PHUKET

22 MAKING THE MOST OUT OF A TRIP TO TAIWAN

24 WHITE CHRISTMAS IN BEIJING

SPORTS

TRAVEL

LIFESTYLE

EDITOR’S NOTE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFSANDY TOH || ASHLEY CHEW

EDITORFELICIA PHUA || KAI XING

WRITERSCHERYL LIM || DON TAN JACOBBINA NG || NATALIE CHOYTIAH NEE YEN || SAM WEN XIN

LAYOUT PLANNERVANESSA SHEMANDER HON

executive committee

sponsor page

Street Challenge2015

ntu street challenge is an annual event where students from all faculties gather in teams to compete against one another. this year featured the launch of a new sport, touch rugby, alongside mainstays like Dodgeball, ultimate Frisbee, street soccer, Basketball, Captain’s Ball and Floorball.

The event started off a little past 8am, as participants were flustered over changing into the official Street Challenge singlets that were provided for them. Otherwise, everyone was pumped, tapping their feet to the bass beats of songs playing from the speakers; while teammates psyched each other up, a chorus of “it’s too early’s” and “just do it’s” permeated the air.

Dodgeball was a treat to watch, especially because teams that faced off against one another consisted of members who were regulars in external Dodgeball clubs. On the surface, they made jibs at each other, the atmosphere seemingly lax and fun. However, the underlying tension brought about by rivalry and the competitive spirit of not wanting to lose sprouted as soon as the whistle blew, experienced members trying quickly to take each other out.The finals was between last year’s champions, Wan Nu Hai Shi Bai Zai Hui Lai and Diversified. Spectators wanted an upset, cheering for Diversified. Under the overwhelming pressure for a turnabout, Diversified did not disappoint; the team erupted into cheers as the last member of the rival team was being taken out.

Another sport that saw intense competitive spirit was Floorball. All teams put up hard fights, the matches often played out like tug-of-war—goals scored one after another to cancel the advantage a team had over the other. The atmosphere was tense, players and spectators alike anticipating a winning shot to bring their team to victory.

This was how it played out for the Runners -Up, Powerpuff Girls. Farah Hani, a member of the team had this to say about the final match between them and the Champions, wethoughtthiswasapingpongcompetition (what a mouthful): “We had two really great experienced players but still, I missed all the shots.”

She did not dwell on her disappointment for long and commended the winning team. “They had this player, Shaun I think. He was really calm and I guess it was what steered the game in their favour.”

teXt anD pHotos bY Jacobbina nG

In the Touch Rugby event, Team no name scored the last touchdown against the Minions, taking the championship title and making a name for themselves.

Ultimate Frisbee saw a fully compatible Floppy Disc trouncing over Disctroy to win the finals. Poets and Ballers wrote their name down to take the Basketball title. Captain’s Ball ended with Team Yong as victors and finally, Street Soccer had Team Players lifting golden ware in the end.

The weather during the event was alike the tug-of-war situation. Before the event started, there were hints of greyscale in the skies—there were complaints of ‘Huh, going to rain ah?’ amongst the participants. Despite the threat of rain, all kept their spirits up by concentrating on finishing up quickly before the showers started.

Other than an outlet for friendly competition, the event also opened new doors for the first years to socialise. Amanda Tan, a first-year student, praised the Organising Committee for “great planning of an event that [she] could make new friends at, and that [she] would be glad to participate in the next instalment.”

A big thank you to NTU Sports Club and the Organising Committee for organising Street Challenge 2015. Your sleepless nights have not gone to waste as the event was carried out successfully. A big thank you also to all the participants for making every match at Street Challenge exciting and fresh; there would not have been a Street Challenge without all of you.

Now with Street Challenge 2015 behind us, look forward to the next instalment in 2016!

SportS ExpoSE 2016abuzz with peals of laughter and the hustle of activity, sports expose was a vibrant start to the new semester on the 12th and 13th of January. teXt anD pHotos bY Kai XinG

n event organized by NTU Sports Club, Sports Expose is an annual event that features the 21 sub clubs under their wing - namely, Aikido, Fencing, Judo, Shitoryu Karate, Silat, Taekwondo, Lifeguard Corps, Scuba Diving, Wakeboarding, Windsurfing, Yatching, ACES Cheerleading, Floorball, Golf, Contract Bridge, Inline Skating, International Chess, Runners’ Club, Tennis, along with Snooker and Pool. This serves as a platform for the sub clubs to promote their sport, and also provides a vibrant sporting culture for the students of Nanyang Technological University.

As with the carnival style of Sports Expose for the past few years, this year’s theme was “The Time Is Now” – encouraging students to seize the new opportunities presented to them.

The area around Koufu was certainly a carnival to be in, from the zest of

various club committee members eagerly promoting their sport, interest of spectating students and the lively hosting by emcees on the stage. Bringing life to the party were the vibrantly decorated booths of the 21 sub clubs, sponsor booths like Sports Shack and Great Eastern, along with the National Events booths; namely Surf N Sweat and Bike Rally. Carnival game booths, entertaining stage performances and stage games also actively engaged the audience.

The Surf N Sweat booth was particularly eye-catching with their giant inflatable, where onlookers could have a go at bouncing on their trampoline. Windsurfing club also brought in their windsurfing board for display, to the interest of many students. No doubt, the sub clubs went all out to decorate their booths in the spirit of promoting their sport.

Students were delighted to find out that there was also an ongoing activity for the redemption of goodie bags. Goodie bags could be redeemed by completing 3 sub-tasks on a task sheet that involved martial arts, sea sports and recreational clubs. Out of the 3 photos they had to take at the booths of 3 sub-clubs, participants would have to upload 1 photo onto their Instagram.

Not only that, there were also exciting prizes to be won, such as a Timbuk2 bag for the grand prize of the Lucky Draw segment.

Amongst the hustle of the event, a highlight of the event would have to be the talent showcases by the various sub clubs. NTU Inline Skating club put up an impressive performance, sleekly maneuvering around cones in a well-prepared line-up. Taekwondo club definitely amazed the crowd with their fierce stunts, breaking wooden planks with their routine of punches and kicks. The same went for the

fencing club, sparring skillfully with their protective gear and equipment.

Performances from hall bands and our talented singers further heightened the atmosphere, featuring bands from Hall 11, 4titude from Hall 4, Unicorn from Hall 11, Spring Euphony from Hall 15, 18 Shades of Grey and R18+ from Pioneer Hall. Singers like Hwee Eng and Pangz, along with Anthea and Beatrice also pumped the crowd with their powerful vocals. The emcees on stage were also entertaining with their humorous antics. Stage games were especially engaging where the audience got invited up to play games like Don’t Forget The Lyrics, Keeping the Balloon in the air and a speed eating competition to see which team could finish different food items the fastest.

It was a hearty sight that both audience and participants were amused by the games played on stage.

Speaking to Florence Ooi, chairperson of Sports Expose 2016, the event was said to be a success with the participants having fun, various sub clubs successfully promoting their sport and how the event managed to garner more publicity for NTU Sports Club’s two upcoming national events, Surf N Sweat and Bike Rally.

Dragon boating is a team paddling sport that originated in ancient china during the Warring states period and has a history of more than 2,000 years. Fast forward to the future, dragon boating is becoming a modern sport that has been growing in popularity in singapore. a dragon boat can be categorised into a 22 crew boat and a 12 crew boat. the 22 crew boat consists of up to 22 members – 20 paddlers, 1 drummer and 1 coxswain while the 12 crew boat consists of up to 12 members – 10 paddlers, 1 drummer and 1 coxswain.

Recently, the Singapore River Regatta, an annual dragon boat race, was held over 2 days on the 31st October to 1st November this year at the iconic Singapore River. It is one of the most anticipated and longest-running dragon boat event in Singapore which was organised by the Singapore Dragon Boat Association in partnership with the People’s Association and the Civil Service Club. This year marks the 33rd time this event was held and the racing distance was 200m.

Despite the recent haze issue that disrupted many teams from training regularly, it did not deter the determined and enthusiastic paddlers from participating and the event saw a total of about 300 dragon boat teams competing in 23 categories.

The first day of the event were mostly 12 crew boat race categories that include Public Service Senior Men, PA GROs Mixed, National Corporate Mixed, National Corporate Women, National Corporate Open, National Open, International Business Community Women, Public Service Men and Public Service Women. The 22 crew boat race categories that made up the rest of the schedule were the International Business Community Open, International Business Community Mixed and National Mixed.

The main highlight of the first day of the event was certainly the National Open 12 crew boat race and the National Mixed 22 crew boat race where the top teams in Singapore battled it out on the water for the coveted podium finish.

It was certainly more exciting on the second day of the event where it featured many more exhilarating races like the Tertiary events where the Tertiary teams battled it out in the water. The Tertiary Open category was certainly the most nerve wrecking and thrilling race out of all the Tertiary events as the winner of the race could not be determined until the official results were out.

National University of Singapore (NUS) eventually emerged victorious in this category, narrowly beating Nanyang Technological University (NTU) by a mere 0.065 second. The National category events was another main highlight as more teams were featured as compared to the first day and the competition was certainly tougher.

This event was also graced by Mr Baey Yam Keng, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth.

teXt bY Don tanpHotos bY sinGapore DraGonboat association

The National Corporate and Public Service races also did not disappoint as paddlers from various companies and civil servants took time off from their work schedule to train and participate for this event. It is also not surprising that dragon boating has also been promoted in companies where there has been an increase in participating teams in the corporate events.

The second day of the event featured more of the 22 crew boat race categories that include Tertiary Mixed, Tertiary Open, Public Service Open and National Open while the 10 crew boat race categories include National Senior Open, Public Sector Mixed, Tertiary Women, PA GROs Men, Public Sector Active Ager Open, PA Intergeneration and National Women.

Paddles UpSingapore River Regatta 2015

Huge, spherical and packed with lots of fun - bubble soccer is an attraction for many to let loose over a few light-hearted attacks and bounce-offs.

HERE!: How did you tackle it?Ian: It was tough but we made it. A lot were mainly from feedback from friends in the corporate sector, as well as helpful customers. With a more polished modus operandi*, we slowly became more efficient and reliable. In addition, partnerships with key organisations have also helped us maintain profit margins while keeping costs low.

HERE!: What were the significant problems along the way?Ian: We initially had problems finding suitable part-timers, where facilitators had to conduct our games in an engaging manner. The turnover rate due to various commitments also hindered our progress as a company. However, we have worked that out and trained enough staff to fulfil our schedule requirements.

HERE!: I also understand that you guys are only undergraduates. Can you share with me how you guys manage your time between studies and Bubble Soccer?Ian: For the both of us, they are certainly sacrifices we had to make, taking time out of the less important stuff like the various optional school activities. As with most things in life, it’s all about priorities.

*modus operandi: a particular way and method of doing something

For those interested, do check out their website at bubblesoccer.sg. Those that would like Bubble Soccer services at external ventures can also get in contact with BSS, which provides transportation of bubbles to various locations.

It is no wonder why there is much hype about these bubbles. If you had no clue about them, you’re certainly living in your own bubble!

Bubble Soccer Singapore is the Official Bubble provider for Surf N Sweat 2016.

BUBBLE SoCCErteXt anD pHotos bY tiaH nee Yen

Bubble soccer can be played at Offside - where Bubble Soccer Singapore (BSS), an organisation that specialises in loaning and facilitating bubble soccer, holds most of their games. Offside can easily be found at 2 Whitley Road where they feature a few other sports as well.

At Offside, my personal experience at bubble soccer was an unexpected one. Truth be told, bubble soccer did not sound daunting to me at first given my repertoire of experiences with various sports. Having had my go after a good 10 minutes, I took my words back.

Running around in a bubble was truly a definitive test of my physical endurance. After a while, the weight of the bubble suit really put a strain on my muscles, along with the heat and stuffiness generated within the bubble suit. I was exhausted!To wear the bubble suits, they are donned like backpacks, with the inflated circumference protecting the players like an armour. Sounds easy? Perhaps for the first few minutes. A fully inflated bubble is actually quite heavy, weighing up to 10kg. That’s approximately three times the mass of a regular backpack!

At BSS, there are also 3 variations played alongside the conventional Bubble Soccer – Bubble Dodgeball, Bubble Invasion, Bubble Captain.

Bubble Dodgeball holds an objective of knocking opposing team members down, where a team loses once their all of their players are out. The rule is that once knocked down, players are unable to get back up. Should players be forced to the fence, it is also marked as an elimination.

However, Invasion and Captain do bear some striking similarities. Whilst both games are a race of teams reaching the ends of the fields in the shortest time, Bubble Invasion involves the entire team getting across and Bubble Captain instead involves only a single nominated player. Whichever team or captain that reaches the end first, wins.

Bubble Captain, however, offers more room for strategy as a team loses immediately once the Captain gets knocked down. This creates a heightened sense of anticipation, as more stakes are placed on the Captain.

After my game, I got a chance to catch one of the two co-founders of BSS, Ian Lam, whom shared with me the essentials of Bubble Soccer.

Did you know that bubble soccer is actually one of the most sought-after team-building games in Singapore? Having originated from Norway, it quickly gained popularity after it was released, and has since taken over the world by storm.

Interestingly, bubble soccer is taken more seriously in countries like the United States, where tournaments and leagues are organised for competition.

The rules of Bubble Soccer are straightforward. It is played like street soccer with a duration of around ten minutes each game. In fact, Bubble Soccer is loosely based on soccer with the exception of players putting on bubble suits. Whilst variations exist, a standard set of rules apply for a game with 5 players on opposing sides.

HERE!: I’m curious, how did Bubble Soccer in Singapore begin?Ian: It actually started because of the huge publicity Bubble Soccer was receiving overseas. With an interesting to the conventional sport of soccer, we found it very feasible to establish this locally after some research.

HERE!: Given that there are already a number of vendors providing bubble soccer services, why did you choose to enter the market?Ian: When we first started, we felt that Bubble Soccer was not particularly accessible to the average consumer with how expensive and troublesome it was to organise a game. This meant that there still existed an untapped market with potential consumers new to this sport and we wanted to tap on that.

HERE!: I understand that BSS is doing well now. What vision do you have for your company?Ian: Well, I see a market for cohesion and company bonding games. For BSS, we’re moving towards Cohesion.sg being the leading service provider for corporate and public team-building games.

HERE!: Were there any difficulties you faced when you first started the company?Ian: There were a few hiccups here and there, and we came to a realisation how pure passion could not pull us through. Businesses are serious ventures, and we had to find good structure, organisation and dedication to lead us far. Our focus was mainly on quality, where we tried to find the best balance on affordability without compromising on quality, to make it appealing to both the middle-class and corporates.

HERE!: What sets your company apart from the rest?Ian: We are strict on quality which means that each of our facilitators go through stringent assessments to gauge their suitability for the job.

HERE!: Where do you see yourself and your company in 5 years’ time?Ian: Personally, I see myself with another start up once the company is bigger. We definitely have hopes that Bubble Soccer Singapore would continue to be a leading service provider. There is a need to diversify and hence we’re partnered with Cohesion.sg. This allows us to bring in Laser Tag and Archery Tag to the current spectrum of activities we offer.

HERE!: What advice do you have for young aspiring entrepreneurs?Ian: Failure is okay as long as it’s cheap (laughs).

2018 Asian World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup Qualifiers:

Singapore V JapanSINGAPORE — Asian Qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup. Japan swears revenge after stalemate back in June.

It was in 2014 on June 16 at the Saitama Stadium 2002 in Japan. Despite local stars Irfan Fandi Ahmad and Sundramoorthy being side-lined, our young Lions went head to head with Asian footballing giants, Japan, emerging in a goalless draw and shocking the footballing community across the world. Needless to say, it was a historical moment for sunny Singapore.

The moment was made more prominent when we take into account that the Samurai Blue squad had many European-based players such as Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa, Milan’s Keisuke Honda, and recent rising-star Yoshinori Muto who was said then to be scouted by Chelsea/who is now playing for the Mainz 05 side. Surely drawing with such a star-studded ensemble requires some sort of high praise.

In all 90 mins of the match, the Japanese side attacked relentlessly. Yet, their ball could not find the back of the net. The Singapore side owes this result to stand-out goalkeeper Izwan Mahboud who was in top form that night, pulling off a jaw-dropping total of 18 convincing saves to keep a clean sheet for the Lions. After the match, even Japan head coach Halilhodzic

praised Izwan for his remarkable performance, however bitter that his team could not capitalise on their many chances to score goals. That truly was a moment that would go down in the footballing history of Singapore.

Then came November 12, a home match for the Lions; the players were filled with hope to perform as well or even better than they had in June. But Japan had other plans, swearing to exact revenge against the Singapore side who rendered them a goalless draw. A win here at the National Stadium would catapult them to first in the group table. Once again, Izwan was the short stopper for the team.

The beginnings of the first half saw yet again a dominant Japanese team, with our Lions constantly on defence. Izwan also proved again why he was chosen as starting keeper again, convincingly saving three strikes from the ruthless Japanese forwards, surging the home crowd to loudly chant ‘Singapore, Singapore!’ The Asian giants surely were having flashbacks of the stalemate back in Saitama a few months prior, because they then began to up the ante.

teXt anD pHotos bY Jacobbina nG

In the 20th minute, Honda dribbled the ball down the right flank and lobbed a deadly ball into the penalty box to find Yoshinori Muto, who headed the ball down to national team newcomer, Mu Kanazaki of Kashima Antlers. Kanzaki then chested the ball down perfectly at first touch, his left boot striking the ball right into the top right hand corner of the net. Izwan, who had been consistent so far, had no chance of saving the ball at all. The Antlers’ man also almost doubled the lead for Japan after a few minutes, a pass from skipper Makoto Hasebe headed wide.

The first half also saw a second goal for Japan. A cross by Hiroshi Kiyotake from the right found Muto in the penalty box once again, who laid the ball off for Honda to strike. The shoot was not clean, coming off the left boot of one Nazrul Nazari and was unluckily deflected into the goal past Mahboud.

With the home team trailing behind a 2-0 at half time, head coach Bernd Stange took action by introducing forward Sahil Suhaimi in the second half. From then, the home team had more passes connected and more attempts at goal. The set of fresh legs indeed brought a new attacking power for the Lions; the best chances for the team emerged after Sahil was substituted in.

In the 65th minute, Singapore was awarded a free kick, taken by midfielder Izzdin Shafiq. The long kick found defender Safuwan Bahamudin in the scuffle in front of goal but was headed wide. Another excellent opportunity in the 72nd minute—a cross connecting Faris Ramli and midfielder Hafiz Sujad was also glanced wide. Seeing the two close chances lit a new fire within the home fans, the cheers steadily growing louder and louder, hoping for their strikers to put one or two into the back of the Japanese net.

However, with fifteen minutes left on the clock, coach Halilhodzic decided for Borussia-star Shinji Kagawa to come into the fray. Despite the presence of the quick-footed playmaker the last thing that the home side needed, the loudest cheers erupted from the stands when he was called onto the field, home and away fans alike—excited to see the superstar play.

The final nail in the coffin was hammered down in the 88th minute, when Southampton centre-back Maya Yoshida tapped in a loose strike from Gamba Osaka midfielder, Takashi Usami, earning Japan their third and final strike of the night.

Despite the loss, the home fans cheered loudly for them, several standing up to clap loudly, looking at the Singapore national team with pride in their eyes. After all, our boys fought to the very end.

For now, it seems at the Singapore football is still outclassed by other Asian teams. However, we can see that there is indeed steady improvement in the national standard, as evidenced by Izwan Mahmoud’s spectacular performances in both matches, as well as the team’s effort in the stalemate at Saitama Satdium 2002 back in June. These positive signs are encouraging to youth football star wannabes. Perhaps in the future, we will soon reach an unprecedented standard in the footballing world.

p aradise in huket

Last December, my family and I embarked on a 5D4N trip to Phuket, Thailand for a much needed getaway after a hectic semester.

Hailed as one of Thailand’s most popular travel destinations, this teardrop-shaped island is home to 35 beaches that boast stretches of soft white sand and crystal clear waters.

While the biggest allure of this tropical island has always been its palm-fringed beaches and beautiful waters for diving and snorkeling, it also hides a treasure trove of other activities that are not to be missed. Phuket’s vibrant and ever-bustling nightlife and lush greenery for outdoor activities cater to a wide range of needs and interests, making it an ideal destination for everyone.

teXt anD pHotos bY natalie cHoY

Patong is the main tourist hub in Phuket and the heart of the island’s nightlife and beach activities. It is an hour’s drive away from Phuket International Airport. Minibus and taxi services are readily available at the airport and they cost about 800 THB (S$32) per trip.

GettinG tHereParasailing, jet skiing, windsurfing and banana boat rides are some of the popular activities available at Patong Beach.

For scuba enthusiasts, Phi Phi Island and Similan Islands are some of the best snorkeling and diving sites and are easily accessible by speed boats. Sea kayaking is also great leisure activity in Phang Nga Bay, where one gets to maneuver through limestone caves and explore the natural, hidden gems of the island.

beacH actiVities

Their local cuisine -think seafood pad thai, tom yum goong, mango sticky rice, Thai

green curry- is a must try. Roadside food carts selling French crêpes and rolled ice cream are

aplenty in Patong, perfect to help cool off in the sweltering heat. There are several seafood restaurants offering fresh ocean catches near

Soi Bangla but if you’re daring enough, do try the prawn and saba fish from roadside vendors

flipping them on portable grills.

FooD

I had my first All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) experience in Phuket and it was a thrilling adventure to trudge through the rugged off-road trail. The 2-hour ride had me bash through vegetation, cross a shallow river, explore a hidden waterfall as well as nail a challenging up hill trail to the peak of a hill where I was rewarded with a scenic, aerial view of Patong.

lanD actiVitiesElephant trekking, white water rafting, go karting, thai boxing, bungy jumping as well as eco tours in national parks are also some of the other popular activities for thrill seekers and nature lovers.

For those looking to immerse in Thailand’s rich culture, there are guided day tours to Big Buddha and Phuket Old Town as well as cooking classes conducted by locals.

Phuket is world famous for its bustling nightlife and Soi Bangla (Bangla Road) swiftly replaces the picturesque beaches as the main attraction of the island when the sun sets. Bars, beach clubs, restaurants and food carts line both sides of the road and scantily-clad ‘katoeys’, or lady boys, vie for your attention on the street.

niGHtliFe anD sHoppinGIf you’re not into cheap booze or game for a night of hardcore partying, Soi Bangla is still worth a visit as Phuket’s night scene differs vastly from Singapore’s, making it an eye-opening cultural experience.

Shopping can be done at Jungceylon Shopping Mall, which houses a major departmental store and international brands like Mango, H&M and Nike. Roadside stalls offer lots of handmade knick knacks and of course, the iconic elephant printed pajama pants that has since become a must-buy for every tourist in Thailand.

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maKinG tHe most out oF a trip to taiWan

TAIWAN IS A COUNTRY THAT HAS MUCH TO OFFER – BE IT SCENERY, STREET FOOD OR THEMED RESTAURANTS. WHILE IT IS GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO COVER THE WONDERS OF TAIWAN IN ONE SHORT ARTICLE, BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF THE MUST-GO PLACES WHEN YOU’RE IN THE LAND OF BUBBLE TEA.

Getting around Taiwan is fairly easy with the High Speed Rail which takes you to the various cities, along with the public buses and taxis available all round the city. Interestingly, it can sometimes cost the same to take a public bus and a taxi.This will never happen in Singapore!

To get there, take the Taipei Metro to Ximen Station (Blue Line) and exit at Exit 6.

Xi Men Ding boasts a variety of stalls that sell popular Taiwanese food, such as Ah Zong Mian Xian, Hao Da Chicken Cutlet and Tian Tian Li.

The queues for these stalls are usually snaking, especially in the case of Ah Zong Mian Xian. What gives the broth its taste are the pig intestines that simmer in its pots for hours, and a must-try for pig organ lovers. With no seats available at this outlet, it is a normal sight to see crowds hogging around the entrance, hankering after its cult favourite - a tantalising bowl of Mee Sua. The average queueing time is about 15 mins, but it is definitely worth the wait.

At Tian Tian Li, you must definitely try the Lu Rou Fan as it beats the ones served in Singapore. Priced at NT$45, it comes up to slightly more than SGD$2 for a huge bowl of yummy goodness.

Most shops only open after 12pm. I recommend that you visit from 4pm onwards, to get some shopping done before the sun sets and experience the glitzy lights and neon signboards that only come on at night.

Xi men DinG

Touted as “one of the best night markets in Taiwan”, its 3-in-one package boasts food, shopping and atmosphere. It is easily accessible through the Metro to Jiantan Station (Red Line) and takes only a short 5 minute walk from Exit 1.

Some local favourites that top the list are:大肠包小肠 (pork sausage wrapped in glutinous rice), Oyster omelette, Prince Cheese (potatoes and various toppings coated in cheese), Chinese Hamburger and the various fried street food.If you want to try them, be mentally prepared to queue for these delicious items because these snaking queues definitely stretch up to one whole street.

Lanes of carnival games that you may want to try your hand at line the road, including the ever popular darts. They usually cost about NT$100 per try which is fairly reasonable. If you get tired from walking around, you can always head to the food court at the basement.

There are also many kitschy keychains unique to Taiwan, with most of them having the name of the country itself carved onto it. Here, you can find the classic wooden keychain with a plastic cover and Chinese sayings or well-wishes inscribed onto it.

sHilin niGHt marKet

From Zhongxiao Fuxing station, leave from Exit 1 and take bus route 1062 (Keelung Bus) and alight at Jiufen.

If you are planning to buy souvenirs and little trinkets back home, this is a good place to go as there are many shops selling handcrafted items. The bulk of the shops are along Shuqi Road, but the few hidden shops in the alleys are hidden treasures which you need to unearth yourself.

With some shopping lanes lead uphill and routes aplenty, it’s important to clutch a map in your hand just in case you get lost.

The weekend crowd can honestly overwhelm you as well, so do head there early (before 11am) if you prefer a shopping experience sans crowds.

Other things you can do at Jiufen include hiking on Mt Keelung and visiting the Gold Museum. From Jiufen there is a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean as well. In fact, 70% of Taiwan is covered by mountains, so there is beautiful scenery to be admired just about everywhere.

Four Guo Guang buses run daily from Taipei West Station (accessible from Taipei Main Station) to Sun Moon Lake. To depart, one can purchase bus tickets to Taichung High Speed Rail Station. It is not easily accessible, but the trouble taken to get there is definitely worth the view. Often touted as a must-see when in Taiwan, the view of the Sun Moon Lake is truly breath-taking. It is the largest lake in Taiwan, and comprises of a diamond shaped Sun Lake and a curved Moon Lake.

Crowned as one of the Eight Wonders of Taiwan, Sun Moon Lake is also one of the most famous sources of hydroelectric power. It may seem odd to visit a lake during your travels but there are more than photo-taking activities available. You can take a boat tour around the lake, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, you can rent a bike from the Shuishe Visitor Centre at a low price of NT$100 per day. For the religious, there is also the famous Sun Moon Lake Temple and you can make your offerings there.

JiuFen olD street

taroKo national parK

Don’t forget to do the typical touristy things like the

lighting of Kong Ming Deng and visiting the various hot

springs in Taiwan!

While there are many more things to see and do in Taiwan, this list covers the places you can go to get a full

immersion of the Taiwanese culture.

teXt anD pHotos bY sam Wen Xin

Getting here is quite inaccessible, but you can purchase a combo ticket from Taiwan Railway Administration that combines a shuttle bus between Taipei and Luodong and a train between Luodong and Hualien.

This is Taiwan’s fourth national park, and here you can enjoy the amazing sigh of the Gorge where torrents of river water cut through marble and granite over the years, creating a beautiful arch complete with a mountaintop ravine. Nestled in the heart of the mountain is the Wen Shan Hot Springs, which most people would be unable to visit if they go in large tour groups as it is very small. To get here requires a steep descent to the river level and may take about 20 minutes.

Another must-see sight while at the park is the Qing Shui Cliffs. There is a span of clear blue water untainted by pollution which makes for a breath-taking view.

sun moon laKe

As the capital of China, Beijing is one of the most populous cities in the world with a population density of 1,300 per km2. Coming in after Shanghai, Beijing is the second largest Chinese city by urban population and is the nation’s cultural, political and education centre.

With a history that dates back three millennia, it is no wonder that Beijing is a world asset, home to renowned palaces, temples, parks, gardens, tombs, walls and gates.

teXt anD pHotos bY tiaH nee Yen

On the last week of 2015, my family and I flew to Beijing for a 8D7N winter vacation.

Upon landing and stepping out of Beijing Capital International Airport, I was quickly greeted by the cold. It was out of my expectation that this cold was only a teaser to the biting colds to come, where winter temperatures in Beijing ranged between

-6°C to 3°C.

Beijing is home to an impressive seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, namely the Forbidden City, The Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, Zhoukoudian, Great Wall and the Grand Canal. It was a pity I could only visit three out of the seven.

Spreading 961 metres north to south and 753 metres east to west, the Forbidden City consists 980 surviving buildings and 8,886 bays of rooms. It was an impossible feat to visit the entire Forbidden City in a day alone! A tip would be visit the Forbidden City in summer when walking around in the cold would not be so torturous.

WHite Christmasin Beijing

Lastly, the highlight of my trip was the visit to the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall measures a whopping length of 21,196km which is almost equivalent to 5 times the distance between Singapore and Beijing.

Originally built in 220-206 BCE by the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, the main purpose of the Great Wall was to protect the Chinese from raids and invasions from the Eurasian Steppe.

The wall was built whatever the Chinese could find in the region. Where only stones can be found, the wall would be built with stones and where only bricks can be found, the wall would be built with bricks. However, little of the original wall remains. The Great Wall that we now see had been rebuilt, enhanced and maintained from the Ming dynasty.

As I slowly trekked my way up the Great Wall, I could not help but admire the grandeur of this enormous structure. Despite the cold, I perspired so much on the way up that I had to remove two of the three layers that I was wearing. At such great heights with a wondrous view, the sight before me certainly left me breathless.

The Forbidden City is named as such because of the fact that no one could leave or enter the palace without the emperor’s permission.

The Temple of Heaven was a significant complex in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Emperors from both dynasties make visits to the temple for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest.

Surrounding the temple is an extensive park occupying 660 acres with trees that are over 600 years old. While enjoying the fresh air in the park, I experienced the first snow of the trip and I count myself very lucky. It was indeed a white Christmas.

As Chinese, our main staple is rice and we had no problem growing accustomed to their meals. My family and I found great pleasure indulging in the food served to us in restaurants. Everyday, we had the same typical Chinese meal consisting of rice, cabbage and egg soup, stir-fried vegetables, sweet and sour pork, steamed fish, with the occasional Peking roast duck and many more.

Wangfujing, in direct translation, Prince’s Mansion Well, is one of the most famous shopping streets in Beijing. Most of the area is pedestrianised, making it easy for shopaholics like me to cross from side to another. Large departmental stores and many international brands such as Forever21, Adidas, Chanel can be found along the street.

In addition, there is a Wangfujing snack street which is densely packed with restaurants and street food stalls. Food stalls serve a wide variety of common and exotic street food, ranging from savoury meat kebabs to sugary churros. For the daredevils out there, you might want to try the roasted silkworm pupae and roasted scorpions. Tanghulu, or candied fruits on a stick, are among the most popular.

While you are working or studying at your desk, you can set a reminder to get up every 30 minutes to do some stretching or walking around for a minute or three, or get up to grab a cup of water every so often.

Many of us have the habit of answering phone calls while seated down. So instead of doing that, you can answer your phone while pacing around or the very least do it standing up.

If you watch TV at home, don’t just sit down on the sofa and wait for the commercials to be over. Instead you can walk around or at least stand up during the commercial breaks.

Do yoU know onE of thE moSt frEqUEnt aCtivitiES wE Do DaiLy Can aCtUaLLy BE harming US?When we are having lectures in school, we sit. When we are studying, we sit. When we are eating, well, you get the idea. The current world that we are living in is made to keep us seated down for a long period of time and the trend of living such sedentary lifestyle is increasing. However, the human body simply is not built to for such a sedentary lifestyle.

Researchers from Toronto have found in their studies that sedentary behaviour can lead to death from cardiovascular issues and cancer as well as cause chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes (See picture for more details). In addition, such physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth-leading risk factor for death for people all around the world, according to the World Health Organization.

It seems that prolong sitting is pretty scary isn’t it? Fret not, the risk of prolong sitting can actually be minimised - simply find opportunities to move wherever you can.

The rule of thumb is you should stand instead of sit and if possible, walk rather than stand. However, it is easier said than done and here are some tips:

Since many of us may have little choice about our sedentary lifestyle, for example sitting throughout lectures that last for a few hours or rushing through your work while seated at your desk, we should regularly interrupt our sitting with toilet breaks or getting up and stretch whenever possible.

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according to the national parks board (nparks), the park was built on the principles of sustainability. they aim to keep the island in its natural state as much as possible to allow singaporeans to interact more with nature instead of the urban environment we are in everyday.

also known as Pulau Serangoon, the island has been attracting much attention ever since it opened its doors to the public on 10 October 2015.

Coney Island

there are two exits namely the western and Eastern ends which lead to punggol promenade and pasir ris Coast industrial park 6 respectively. it is highly recommended to enter through the western exit.

teXt bY cHerYl limpHotos From nparKs, tHe straits times & liFestYle bloGGer @Xinlinnn

What 's T heHypeA bou t ?

By pUBLiC tranSport: take the train to punggol mrt station and search for Exit C. take bus 84 from the bus interchange and alight at the bus stop called punggol road End.

once you reached, there will be signages leading you to Coney island.

not 1, not 2, BUt 4 DiffErEnt BEaChES!

Coney Island houses a large variety of floral and fauna (Sultan Dragonfly and critically endangered plants such as the Horsfieldia Irya and Calophyllum Inophyllum. In addition, a single Brahman bull has also been spotted. To date, no one has any clues on where the cow had come from or when it will appear again. Visitors are advised to stay calm and not startle the cow if it makes its rare appearance!

wiDE array of fLoraL anD faUna

haw par BEaCh viLLa (nEar BEaCh B)

inSta-worthy SCEnEriES

CyCLing traiL

Yes, that’s right! Coney Island has 4 different beaches known simply as Beaches A, B, C and D. Also, there’s another secret stretch of beach! However, these beaches are hosts to resident sandflies and other creepy crawlies,sodo take extra precautions and apply insect repellant if you decide to visit the beaches!

So, how did Haw Par Villa come about? In 1972, the founders of Tiger Balm bought over this island and built a villa there. Sadly, it came to be neglected during the Japanese Occupation and has remained this way ever since. Visitors are strongly advised not to enter this place without any guides. The 80-year old villa, even though still standing, is structurally unstable. Also, it is situated within an area of mangroves, which means that it is frequently subjected to high tides which can pose a danger to unsuspecting visitors.

Coney Island is filled with photo-worthy spots and a photo opportunity will present itself at every turn. Lalang fields and Japanese looking trees are located everywhere on this island and they do make a fantastic background for an Instagram shot. The beaches, as mentioned above, are included in the list of photo-worthy spots too! The list of areas you can snap photos in is definitely non-exhaustive and you should head to the island yourself to explore and locate hidden gems.

However, if you are really keen to pay a visit to this villa, you can join guided tours which are organised by NParks.

By Car: Drive to the punggol Settlement and park at the outdoor public car park. From there, you will find signboards leading you to Coney island.

Explore the island at a quicker pace on a bicycle. Fear not! You do not actually have to take the extra effort to lug your bicycle all the way to Punggol. There are a few bicycle rental shops located just outside the island to facilitate your cycling trip! However, the entire route is only 2.4km, so visitors will still be able to complete the route easily without cycling

get set, go!DID YOU KNOW THAT RUNNING IS THE MOST POPULAR LOCAL SPORT ACCORDING TO A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY SPORTS SINGAPORE?

According to the Singapore Sports Index, Singapore’s push for nationwide

campaigns to have a healthier lifestyle have taken its effect on Singaporeans who actively seek a lifestyle that balances both work and health.

Since 2001, regular participation in sports has in fact spiked more than 50 percent in the adult population. For many in the younger generation, it has almost become a lifestyle.The surge in marathon events help provide a larger range of choice for the avid runner, evident from the two-fold increase of marathon events from 2012 to 2015 tracked by JustRunLah.com.

Every year, crowd favourites seem to be the Great Eastern Women Run and the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS). The leader of the line of marathons possibly holds its ground by offering attractive grand prizes in entertaining stage activities, as well as a well-stocked race pack.The type of runs range from fun runs such as The Colour Run to competitive ones such as SCMS or Men’s Health Urbanathlon.

SCMS is known in the running circle as the ultimate race, mainly because it is the only marathon in Singapore conducted under the morning hot sun to challenge it’s participants physical limits.

The other full marathon held in Singapore is the Sundown Marathon, where runners complete their 42.195km overnight and are greeted by a breathtaking sunrise.

While running is a good form of exercise, it is important for us to not over-exert ourselves. SCMS 2015 saw a case of a male runner who collapsed moments after crossing the finish line. A medical examination found him to have suffered from a mild case of heatstroke.

Heatstroke is dangerous and can kill or cause damage to the brain and other internal organs. Some symptoms of heatstroke include a heightened body temperature, flushed skin and an alteration in sweating. Before a run, do drink a small amount of water and keep yourself hydrated throughout the run. Avoid caffeine or alcohol as these substances will make you lose fluids and worsen heat-related illnesses.

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Located at CapitaGreen building in the CBD, brunch mainly revolves around build-your-own food bowls – 1 grain, 1 protein, 1 hot veggie, 2 cold veggies and 1 sauce for $16 nett, essentially the Western equivalent of our chap cai png.

Brown rice, quinoa and soba noodles are some of the grains available and proteins include grilled striploin steak, seared tuna, chargrilled salmon and slow-roasted pork. They also have an interesting variety of sauces such as coconut curry, wasabi sauce, beetroot feta yoghurt and asian gravy.

I decided to build my own bowl of quinoa, charred veggies, wild mushrooms, sweet potatoes and chargrilled salmon complete with basil vinaigrette. The quinoa was perfectly cooked – light and fluffy like it should be and the marriage between the salmon and the vinaigrette was truly a match made in heaven.

If you are unsure about putting together your own divine combination, the folks behind Grain Traders have 6 signature bowls to choose from, known as Hero Bowls. My friend went for El Hibaro, which consisted of grilled striploin steak, charred veggies, wafu tomatoes and beansprouts on sushi rice drizzled with salsa verde. The steak was tender and well-marinated and the tanginess of the salsa verde packed a solid punch of flavour.

The place is rather packed at noon because of the office lunch crowd. Given its small seating capacity, it is advisable to visit at off-peak hours to avoid competing with CBD dwellers for indoor seats.

With such a fun and interesting twist on clean-eating, Grain Traders is a definite must-try from us!

traDE yoUr hoLLanDaiSE for hEarty grainSteXt anD pHotos bY natalie cHoY

Here are some tips to Help improVe Your runninG, be it a simple 5Km run or a Full maratHon.

The TwO hOur rulewait for about two hours after a meal before running, as it gives your stomach time to empty the food from the stomach. If food is not fully digested, it could lead to stomach cramps and bloating.

The 10 MInuTe rule Start every run with 10 minutes of walking and slow running, and do the same thing during cooldown. A warmup prepares your body for exercise by gradually increasing blood flow and raising core muscle temperature. The cooldown is also crucial because if you stop exercising all of a sudden, it can cause leg cramps, nausea or fainting.

The “TAlk TeST” ruleThis means running at a pace where you can carry a conversation with someone you’re running with, but not slow enough to be able to sing songs and hit the high notes.

The relAxATIOn rulewhen running, you ought to let your jaw hang loose and relax your shoulders instead of tensing them up to your ears. You can also shake your arms out in front of you to stay loose.

With so many opportunities to run in Singapore, there is no reason for you not to lace up your Flyknits – I’m sure you didn’t buy them just for show – and get under the sun for a heart pumping experience!

Scroll through your Instagram feed and flat lay photos of food geotagged at a hipster café are now, I dare say, as common as selfies. Brunch is now everyone’s favorite meal of the day, and eggs benedict has become a café classic. While two perfectly poached eggs atop fluffy brioche and crispy sizzling bacon, drenched in hollandaise may be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, it is also the perfect recipe for a cholesterol spike.

Grain Traders is a healthy entrant to the ever-growing list of cafés in Singapore,

serving up bowls of hearty, wholesome food. The Instagram-worthy medley of super grains and greens now makes café hopping guilt-free and easy on the hips.

Grain Traders is a refreshing face in the café scene with it’s healthy, wholesome food concept. Its freshly prepared ingredients and impressive variety makes eating clean less daunting, and its visually appealing food bowls is always a plus for the ‘gram.

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