Colours, Sights & Patterns At Kampong Glam

In the 19th century, Kampong Glam was essentially an ethnic district with a strong Malay-Arab influence. It was a place where locals patronized for their Arab-Muslim traditional foodstuff and merchandise...

Immersive 4K HDR Viewing Experience With Sony Projectors

Sony’s latest innovative laser light source projector is High Dynamic Range (HDR) compatible with native 4K resolution, creating an amazling clear lifelike experience, as if you are there yourself…

Back 30 Years To Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre

Iconic along this stretch of road is the rectangular block of a nondescript beige-tiled building. The facade of this building is blocked by an overhead bridge. And this is the front entrance to a shopping centre - the Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre… (USSC).

Monti - Singapore's Longest Brunch Every Sunday

Enjoy brunch by the bay concept, complete with stunning views of the Marina Bay and its surroundings, and a fabulous menu and music programme to match at Monti…

Where Freemasons Convene

In 1886, the Masonic Club was established to support Singapore freemasonry. Guess who was the first Freemason in modern Singapore?

Dakota Crescent - Life Slows Down

The 17 blocks of low-rise brick-clad flats were built by the Singapore Improvement Trust in the British colonial days of 1958 and handed over to its successor, the Housing Development Board (HDB), in 1960.

Located near the old Kallang Airport, the name Dakota was taken from the American transport aircraft Dakota DC-3, which commonly landed at Kallang Airport before it was closed.

Of the 648 two and three-room flats in the 17 blocks, only 60% are occupied presently. Most of the occupants are elderly residents and low-income families under HDB's public rental scheme.

Going to Dakota is like stepping back in time when life slows down...

Kiddie machines of yore - when all it takes is a 20c or 50c ride for a kid to be happy...

When fishing is the time to meet up with your friends, chat and spend a relaxing day...

A notice about a home-run business, operational from Mondays to Saturdays, with Sundays off...

Even the cat has time to slow down and curiously observe what you are doing with a camera...

To add to the nostalgia, a trishaw and an antique Mercedes were spotted too...

But then, maybe some things are different these days...

A foreign worker rests in front of his lorry, taking an afternoon siesta in the noon day heat...

While another, plants something below a tree nearby...

A couple from a nearby condominium bring their newborn out for a stroll...

New blocks of flats amidst a cleaner greener Kallang River, perfect for water sports...

Dakota Crescent will be vacated by the end of 2016 to make way for new developments under Mountbatten's estate renewal plans. Visit it now to enjoy a slice of Singapore-style nostalgia...


Cosentino Launches Ultra-Chic Dekton Surface Range

Cosentino is all set to take Singapore by storm with its latest uber-stylish Dekton by Cosentino range. Made of TSP (Technology of Sinterized Particles) technology, the Dekton ultra-compact surface developed exclusively by the Cosentino Group is a new and innovative category of surfaces created by Cosentino with the objective of becoming a global leader in the world of architecture and design.

Distinguished guests at the launch Cosentino by Dekton
include the Spanish Ambassador, 
Miguel Angel Navarro Portera...
     
It is the result of an investment of 128 million euros and 22,000 hours of research and development, with physical features which make it resistant, durable, and versatile, yet elegantly aesthetic aesthetic. Being the perfect choice for both indoor and outdoor, vertical and horizontal use, whether for floors, stairs, facades or wall surfaces - these characteristics, together with the large size of the Dekton slabs, offer innumerable creative possibilities for architects and designers but more excitingly, recently in the retail and dining environments.


Dekton projects include eateries, cafes, hotels, and homes - Classy yet durable...

Singapore's top Chef, Andre Chiang from Restaurant Andre, ranked third in 2016 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Awards list and first in the Best Restaurant in Singapore list for fourth year running, recently signed on as Asia's First ambassador for Dekton.


As an ardent supporter of Dekton by Cosentino, he recently refurbished his restaurant using the innovative ultra-compact surface from the entrance to the heart of the restaurant, instantly injecting elegance and sophistication to the establishment. 


“The opportunity to work with Cosentino came pretty naturally to me. At Restaurant André, we pride ourselves in the food we serve so it's important that our facilities and environment makes for an effective and efficient space. I especially love Dekton’s multi-facted properties like its resistance to stains, heat and scratches which are important aspects to look for in a commercial kitchen. Another plus is Cosentino’s wide variety of designs and colours that ensures the products are in sync with my design philosophy.” 
-- Chef Andre Chiang  --


The Dekton range is available in more than thirty different references, grouped into five collections: Solid Collection, Natural Collection, Tech Collection, Wild Collection and XGloss Solid Collection. These collections fully reflect the natural references of the base materials with solid colours and natural tones of stone, slate, cement, wood and rust. For more information on Dekton, visit www.dekton.com.


   

Improved Sunwolves Draw With Powerful Stormers

National Stadium
Kallang, Singapore
14 May 2016

On a hot and humid evening in Singapore Sports Hub, the Sunwolves almost pulled off an upset win over the more experienced South African Stormers on 14 May 2016 in the Super Rugby League game.

Introducing the players, with their vital stats flashed on the huge LCD screens
as they run out into the pitch from the Players' Tunnel...

In this match, Sunwolves rested their captain Shota Horie, giving Game Captaincy to Harumichi Tatekawa, who led the side for the first time. Timothy Bond returns after a ban to take over from Ono, and in the back-line, Atsushi Hiwasa comes in for Kaito Shigeno.


Adorable Sunwolves fan spotted using FaceTime with his friends...


While the adults grab a beer and toast to a good match ahead...

The Stormers kicking off to a shaky start...

After conceding penalties by both sides in the early stages of the game, the Sunwolves scored the first try with Akihito Yamada taking it over the line. The conversion is missed but Sunwolves led by 5 points.


During the match, the Sunwolves was denied a second try five minutes into the second half but the score was cancelled out by the television match official after replays showed that the player Akihito Yamada had not properly grounded the ball. Yamada, who had already scored four times in his team's two previous matches at their adopted second home, took over as the tournament's leading tryscorer with his eighth touchdown this season when he dived over for a earlier try in the 13th minute.


In the beginning of the game, the Sunwolves which were the tournament newcomers, had a commanding 17-3 lead before the Stormers took control and used set plays to gain points. The Sunwolves wasted an 18-point lead when they lost to the Cheetahs at the same venue in Singapore two months ago and the Singapore Sports Hub supporters feared another breakdown when the Stormers scored a try off the back of a driving maul and also had the rugby conversion to reduce the margin to seven points with 20 minutes left of the game.



The future players in a game during half-time...



Rough play at times as the pressure intensifies...




Injury time as play was stopped momentarily...

The Sunwolves had the chance to get more points from a penalty that would have given them a 10-point lead with three minutes to go before the game ends, but opted instead for the lineout and paid poorly when the Stormers launched one last raid in the final minute which ended in managing to draw the game.

Much of the play was just mere inches away from the goal posts...

Just one more centimetre...

The game was super exciting at the closing stages. Sunwolves looked certain to pull off a huge upset only to fade in the last 20 minutes on a humid night in Singapore. South Africa’s Stormers' Vincent Koch scored a late try in the last minute as the team came from 14 points down to manage a 17-17 draw against the Super Rugby newcomer Sunwolves at Singapore's National Stadium. The supporters were disappointed that the Sunwolves did not get a win in Singapore - the team’s second home ground, besides Tokyo. The Stormers extended their lead in the group standings with the draw while denying the Sunwolves their second Super Rugby win.

At the final whistle, the Stormers cheered, while the Sunwolves stared in disbelief at the score...

While the Stormers walk off the pitch, to the cheers of their fans...

Fatigued faces on the Sunwolves team despite the draw.
They were all still at the pitch. Their disappointment was palpable...

Yet, moments later, they overcame their dejection to stand up again, and bow to thank their friends.
Incredible sportsmanship, Sunwolves!

Game Captain, Harumichi Tatekawa, being interviewed...

During the press conference, Head Coach Mark Hammett of Sunwolves and the Game Captain to Harumichi Tatekawa explained that with this experience, the team has gained newfound confidence, and will fight even harder to win the coming matches in the Super Rugby league.

Sunwolves' positive Head Coach Mark Hammett...

A disappointed Harumichi Tatekawa...

Stormers' coach, Robbie Fleck, frankly admits -
"We don't deserve the two points. We were not good enough."
And gives credit to the Sunwolves who "played really well".

We agree, Robbie. But your team played well too!

Keep up the good play, Sunwolves and Stormers!

Your fans will always be rooting for you...