AWA BT May/June 2020

AWA

MAY · JUNe

Bamboo Telegraph ALL WOMEN, ALL WALKS OF LIFE, ALL NATIONALITIES

THE BEST PLANTS FOR YOUR SINGAPORE HOME AND HOW TO KEEP THEM ALIVE A NEW WAY TO GET ANSWERS FOR YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT BEING AN EXPAT FAMILY FUN COLUMN DEBUTS WITH GREAT LOCAL ADVENTURE

STAY CONNECTED WITH AWA WHILE STAYING AT HOME

2020

the

Dates

Welcome Fair 2nd September

Carpet Auction 25th September

Thanksgiving Picnic 22nd November

Holiday Lights 5th December

Holiday Lunch 11th December

These dates are subject to change, depending on circumstances beyond our control

Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash

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Contents

AWA Singapore's Membership Magazine

11

may june 2020 02

President's Message

Bits & Bites of Expat Life 03 04 07 08 10 11 12 14

Ask An Expert Expat Exploring Singapore Fork & Chopstick Member Spotlight You're Not Alone Family Fun Adventures Let's Go Singapore Blooms

AWA Group Scoop 16 Local Tours/

Virtual Gatherings 18 Virtual Workshops 19 Chorus Spotlight 20 Photography 22 Community Service 23 Writers' Block 24 Tennis 25 Pilates 26 Golf & Running 27 Walking Group 28 AWA Potpourri

Editor-in-Chief Tori Nelson bt_editor@awasingapore.org

Staff Managing Editor - Emily Oberton Technical Director - Celine Suiter Graphic Editor - Gina Vono Copy Editors - Helena A. Cochrane - Amanda Jaffe Photographer - Elena Boyce Advertising Katherine McCall Jasmine Wells-Yao bt_advertising@awasingapore.org

www.awasingapore.org

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Visit us on the internet: www.awasingapore.org Facebook: American Women’s Association of Singapore - AWA Instagram: awaofsingapore Questions, comments and administrative issues, please email us: office@ awasingapore.org Printed by Xpress Print (Pte) Ltd 6880-2881, fax 6880-2998 von@xpress.com.sg

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MCI (P) 085/07/2019 Please be advised that any names listed in this publication, the AWA directory or any other material published

by AWA are for the exclusive use of AWA members only. Any commercial use is strictly prohibited. The Bamboo Telegraph is published 6 times per year. The American Women’s Association and the Bamboo Telegraph neither endorse nor take responsibility for the opinions expressed herein. Please address all comments and queries to the Bamboo Telegraph Editor. AWA does not endorse or promote any product or service offered through any advertisement that may appear in the Bamboo Telegraph.

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President's Message

American Women's Association Of Singapore

SAD FAREWELL

Mel Rice Presidente

This has not been an easy message to write. Not only will it be my last President’s message, but so much has changed in a very short time here on the Little Red Dot. What we thought would be a spring filled with the annual Fashion Show, Night at the Races and our Volunteer Appreciation/AGM has now become a time when we must “stay inside and stay safe.”

During these challenging times, I feel that the mission of the AWA is more important than ever in keeping our sisterhood of women from around the world connected. There have been several ladies who have been working tirelessly to keep our members informed and united.

They have been working “behind the scenes” drafting messages, keeping our social media current with the latest guidelines, updating the website with the latest news from MOH, and adapting our advertising strategies as well as developing new content for the Bamboo Telegraph (BT). It has been an amazing TEAM effort. With that said, I would like to thank the following: Sarah Cockerill, General Manager and Lorraine Graybill, Communications Director. While so much of this was uncharted territory, you both were steadfast in offering your time without being asked.

You continually went well above and beyond the expectation of your role. For that, I am truly grateful.

Nilam Shah, Broadcast Email Manager and Dianne Donadio, Communications Administrator. Both of these ladies worked extremely hard to make sure that the latest information was made available to our membership in a timely manner.

Felicia Di Salvo and Arielle-Maree Bertone, our Facebook Social Media Managers as well as Kanika Karu, our Instagram Social Media Manager.

I appreciate your creativity in keeping our social media platforms prevalent and positive.

Katherine McCall and Jasmine Wells-Yeo our Advertising Team Duo. I appreciate your willingness to help out wherever needed. Your flexibility and commitment have helped to make things run smoothly.

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Tori Nelson, BT Editor. The endless hours that you have spent working on this issue of the BT and the professionalism that you continue to uphold in these uncertain times is remarkable. Thank you for always putting up with my procrastination on writing this message. :) I hope that we will continue to build a strong, capable organization of women who come together to offer a listening ear, a helping hand and meaningful connections to support one another. Seeing what AWA means to people — to the communities and to the AWA members themselves — has deepened my affection and admiration for all that AWA is and does.

As I look back on all the things I have been a part of and the people I have met since becoming a part of this organization, I am certain of this: AWA has the capacity to transform lives for the better.

I thank you for your loyal support in these unprecedented times. Stay well, stay safe.

Mel

American Women’s Association of Singapore 15 Scotts Road #03-01 Singapore 228218 General Manager: Sarah Cockerill Main: 6734-4895 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:30 am to 4:00 pm www.awasingapore.org

FAQ’s/Important Information • The AWA welcomes all nationalities, not just Americans.

• AWA guest fees apply to Singapore residents. Out of town guests and family members pay the AWA member price.

• Guests are entitled to attend 2 events (in total, not per year) before we ask them to join the AWA to continue participating.

• You can register for membership and events any time on our website: www.awasingapore.org

AWA MISSION STATEMENT: The American Women's Association is a sisterhood of women from around the world, who come together to enhance their Singapore experience through fulfilling volunteer run events and activities.

Bamboo Telegraph - May/June 2020

Ask An Expert Expat

answering your questions about expat life Written by Tanya Arler We are pleased to launch a new column, Ask an Expert Expat, by Tanya Arler. Being an expat spouse comes with a unique set of circumstances, and even more so now with this pandemic and shelter-in-place orders in Singapore and all over the world. As a coach and seasoned expat herself, Tanya can address some of your dilemmas during this challenging time.

Hi, I’m Tanya.

Welcome to Ask an Expert Expat. I’m here to offer insight and advice on questions pertaining to the personal challenges you face as an expat spouse.

An expat's all-important suitcase To get the ball rolling I thought I would share my story with you. learned is that you never get used to living in limbo, I have a bit of a mixed history, as my father was rebuilding your identity is always a challenge, the American and my mother is Belgian. Although I emotional wringer doesn't get easier, and there's was born and schooled in the US, I spent 10-12 nothing worse than seeing your child struggle.

I've also learned that expat friendships are some of the most profound friendships you can have and that expat children are bold and tolerant, offering a much needed voice in this world. From the outside looking in, it’s easy to believe that "expats have it all," but life is life. Moving to a foreign culture doesn’t change that, it just offers a different set of ups and downs.

Tanya with her kids in Tokyo in 2008

Tanya at the top of Mt Fuji

weeks each summer in a small town in Flanders with my grandparents and Belgian friends, none of whom spoke English. Strictly speaking I was not an expat child, but I was certainly a Third Culture Kid. At 19, I moved to Belgium, and since have lived in Italy, Japan, Sweden, Belgium (3 times), and Singapore (twice).

What I cherish about expat living is that life is never dull. The friendships forged and memories made are truly beyond my wildest dreams, but the constant need to adapt and change is relentless. What I've www.awasingapore.org

Fifteen years ago I became a coach and started focusing on expat spouses. It's been a joy to work with such brave women, and I found that often the smallest insights or shift in perspective can make all the difference.

I hope to shed light on some of your dilemmas to help you navigate life as an expat spouse more easily. I would be honored if you entrusted me with your quandaries and shared situations you struggle with. Your questions remain confidential and will be handled with the respect they require. My goal is to offer support by addressing the real-life issues of expat spouses, so that you can make the most of this fantastic experience.

To submit questions, please email expert@awa.singapore.org

Tanya Arler is the founder of A HAPPY EXPAT, offering expat spouses practical tools and advice on how to navigate the staggering changes they face. For more info, visit www.ahappyexpat.com

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Exploring Singapore observations of an expat in Singapore

Singapore’s Steamy Side

Written by and Photography by Amanda Jaffe

Much of what I write these days seems outdated or out of reach days later. Sadly, this installment of Exploring Singapore feels like one of those pieces.

I strongly encourage you to visit Sembawang Hot Spring Park -- when it’s a good time to explore Singapore’s distant corners once again. Until then, enjoy the story and the pictures. Like hope, these waters spring eternal.

Looking for a “spa” with a twist? Look no farther than Sembawang Hot Spring Park, mainland Singapore’s only natural hot spring and foot onsen. If you’re seeking anything remotely approaching glamour, look elsewhere. But if you’re seeking a uniquely Singaporean experience, this may be your spot.

While Sembawang Hot Spring Park was opened to the public in January 2020, the hot spring was discovered in 1908 on what was then a pineapple plantation. The spring water was tested in London with good results, after which it was bottled and sold over the years under different brand names. It was the hot spring’s reputation for the curative properties of its waters, though, that became the key to its longevity. The spring and a nearby well became popular with local villagers, who sought the healing waters but also came by to boil eggs, wash clothes,

Wooden ladles (and buckets) available for use

the war, plans to turn the spring into a spa never came to fruition, but locals kept visiting. When Singapore’s Ministry of Defense (MOD) acquired the hot spring and surrounding land for the expansion of Sembawang Air Base, the public lobbied to keep the spring open. While development of the Air Base went forward, MOD allowed the public continued access to the spring during daytime hours. Over the years, the spring was reduced to a concrete slab with

Newly renovated Sembawang Hot Spring

and de-feather poultry. Eventually, the nearby village became known as Kampong Ayer Panas (“Village of Hot Water”).

a few pipes and the old well, but people continued to visit. Finally, in 2016, Singapore’s National Parks Board began developing the grounds into a park.

During the Japanese occupation, the Japanese built thermal baths in the area for the use of officers.

A bomb dropped during an allied air raid damaged the spring, temporarily slowing the water flow. After

Today, Sembawang Hot Spring Park offers an upgraded visitor experience but remains delightfully low key. The Floral Walk leading to the hot spring is beautifully landscaped with information about

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Bamboo Telegraph - May/June 2020

fruit trees and edible plants that used to be found in Singapore kampongs. Sunbirds flit from tree to bush as you make your way toward the spring. Just before the spring you’ll find Sembawang Eating House, which offers traditional fare such as kaya toast and nasi lemak. From there, it’s a short walk to the spring, just past an awe-inspiring banyan tree.

The National Parks Board (NParks) has reconstructed the hot spring, creating a series of tiered pools that cool the water as it cascades down, from a scalding 70°C to a hot tub-quality 40°C, optimal for soaking.

The spring is designed as a foot onsen, with seating around the bottom level. This affords wonderful opportunities to pass the time with locals, like the Singaporean dad I met who drops his kids off for lessons every Saturday morning and then heads over to the hot spring to soak his feet. (I’m pretty sure he doesn’t tell them where he’s going.)

Around the spring you’ll find bamboo buckets available for use, if you prefer to join the many Singaporeans soaking their feet in the shade.

Carefully scooping up steaming water

two-level collection point designed to allow children to fill smaller containers. Whether by design or default, the Main Water Collection Point doubles as the Egg Cooking Station, where you can make your

Off to one side is the other highlight of this most unusual Singapore spot – the Main Water Collection Point.

With typical Singaporean efficiency and forethought, NParks has designed the Main Water Collection Point to cater to visitors of all ages and abilities. There’s the general collection point where buckets of all sizes can be filled on the ground, a shielded water collection point designed for wheelchair users, and a

Egg cooking station closeup

own soft-boiled onsen eggs. It’s a hive of activity as people bring their eggs, pails for boiling, and all the accompaniments, including sweet soy sauce.

Sembawang Hot Spring is a geothermal spring. While its source has never been definitively determined, it’s believed to be groundwater that has seeped through cracks in the Bukit Timah Granite, one of Singapore’s five major geological formations. (Rest assured, though. While the water is heated deep within the earth, Singapore does not sit on a volcano.)

Getting to this park takes some commitment. From the Sembawang MRT, it’s an easy 25-30 minute walk to the entrance. After your visit, you can walk another 25 minutes to the Yishun MRT, a route that takes you through a lively HDB with numerous eating and everyday shopping options, including an extensive produce market. This truly is Singapore’s heartland.

AWA walkers pass by Sembawang Eating House

www.awasingapore.org

In addition to exploring Singapore for Bamboo Telegraph, Amanda Jaffe writes about her travel adventures on her blog, Rambling Llama (www.ramblingllama.com).

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Watering Holes

The best places in singapore to find coffee & cocktails

Atlas Bar

Written by Silvia Fernandez

600 North Bridge Rd, Parkview Square Singapore 188778

Atlas Bar; photo credited to EK Yap and ATLAS

Mark my words: you will never get tired of this place!

When bars and restaurants reopen, you’ll want to put Atlas Bar at the top of your must-visit list. It’s inside the Parkview Square, an iconic office building located near Bugis MRT. Take a minute to enjoy I.M Pei’s Gateway building and Ole Scheeren’s Duo Towers nearby. The Parkview Square was designed in the Art Deco style and has the nickname of the Gotham Building. I am never ready to absorb the full beauty of the lobby every time I go there: the 15-meter-high ceiling with hand crafted details is amazing! You may have heard about the “wine angels” of days gone by. They were female bartenders hoisted to the massive drinks cabinet by cables, to retrieve the

requested bottle! That is now a thing of the past, but you can still imagine the “wine angels” floating around in this amazing space. I recommend making a reservation before going to avoid a long wait.

Once you are seated, choose your cocktail and if in doubt, talk to the waiter/waitress because they are highly prepared to suggest the one right for you: they seem to know you or read your mind! The Gin selection is legendary, so a G&T is always an easy one to start with. You will be back here, I am sure.

What about a lunch with friends during the week? It is five o’clock somewhere. Also please note the strict dress code of no shorts or sandals after 5pm.

Atlas Coffee House

6 Duke's Rd, Singapore 268886 Here’s another place you’ll want to patron after the circuit breaker is lifted. After enjoying a walk or family time in the Botanic Gardens, there is always the dreaded question: where do we go for a coffee and a pastry? There are many options and all are good. But if you feel like something different, head to this little, modern coffee house nearby. It has a nice corner location with an outdoor seating area, which is good if you are in a group or with kids. Every time I go there, it is after a walk through the lovely garden grounds, and I look forward to the freshly squeezed juices and good quality coffee. Try something new and give this place a chance.

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Atlas Coffee House barista Mushroom basil pesto pasta photos by Elena Boyce

Bamboo Telegraph - May/June 2020

The Fork and Chopstick

To highlight the off the beaten path, heritage, or just plain fun chomping grounds

The French Ladle

Written by and Photography by Jenni & Eric Lee

2 Pandan Valley Singapore 597626

Run by a local couple serving homey and comfortable French cuisine, The French Ladle provides a good choice in supporting the local restaurant scene. The restaurant is located within the Pandan Valley condo complex, nestled between shops for tutoring, music schools and nail salons. This is not the usual place to find a French restaurant. When you walk in, there is a tiny kitchen and a cozy dining room that reminds you of what a small French restaurant would look like if the whole scene were transported to Paris.

Saturday Dinner Chomp: You would expect to find typical dishes from a bistro, albeit meeting local expectations: escargot, onion and mushroom soups, foie gras and pates. The escargot was garlicky with plenty of parsley ($15).

Ample crusty bread was provided to sop up the lovely sauce. The portobello mushroom was well prepared and came with a well-matched dressing ($13). The duck rillette and pate were also very tasty.

The rack of lamb was a special for the day, moist and supple with a light sauce ($36). The beef cheeks were melt-in-your-mouth tender and well paired with potato puree that helped to catch the sauce ($35). Other popular dishes included the well-liked duck confit and of course a steak.

Ambience/Clientele: Simple but cozy bistro. Diners appeared to be mostly local, some of them regulars, with a scattering of non-Singaporeans.

Rant & Rave: We found that our dishes needed additional salt and pepper to satisfy our taste buds. The rubber tablecloths were unbecoming, and we wished they would invest in more salt and pepper shakers. (If you are looking for a contemporary fine dining French meal, you could consider Gunther’s.)

Many diners brought their own bottles of wine to take advantage of the reasonable $20 corkage charge. A bottle of champagne may be in order if you are looking to make the occasion more festive.

There’s no additional service charge or GST.

www.awasingapore.org

What Others Are Saying: 4.5 and 4.8 stars (out of 5) on Google and Eatigo, respectively. “Cozy little place. Easy on the wallet,” “Really a hidden gem,” “Run by a husband and wife team,” “An honest good meal with home-cooked flavors that everyone can enjoy.”

Not a sophisticated gourmet French meal, but rather, home-style comfort cooking from the heart. Overall, a satisfying and slightly quirky off the beaten path meal.

Happy Chomping ... once we can dine in restaurants again!

Jenni & Eric Lee live to eat and explore local eateries and bars. Originally from New York, they have lived in Singapore since 2012.

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Member Spotlight

getting to know our members beyond the usual chitchat

Member Spotlight - Rachana Mathur In 1998, Rachana, her husband and two young sons moved to Singapore on an expat assignment after having spent time in Canada, London, and San Francisco. After 4 years in Singapore, they moved to London, where Rachana taught kindergarten

Written by Christin Gustafson

Singapore was! And, the fact that there was no language barrier allowed us to slip in and quickly get on with the settling in process.

What has been the most pleasant surprise returning to Singapore after 16 years?

I am again amazed by the country’s passion and drive for constant change and growth. It has no natural resources, but it has tremendous human resources. The innovative architecture that has come up in recent years, such as the MBS complex, is genius and mind blowing. Where there was once swampy land now stands one of the island’s largest draws for tourists.

Conversely, what have you struggled with that you didn’t expect to be challenging?

The price of wine!

What about Singapore culture has surprised you the most?

Having Deepavali be a national holiday, I feel inspired to celebrate more traditionally in my own home. I now use traditional oil lamps and make a fresh flower Rangoli on my balcony. Visits to Little India’s Deepavali markets with the lights, colors, decorations and foods transport me to the streets of old Delhi.

What has been your funniest or worst mishap while living in Singapore?

Rachana soaking up the sun

and first grade and raised her boys. But life is full of surprises and, after 16 years, she has returned to Singapore with her husband. Their now grown sons have branched out on their own, one living in New York and one recently arrived in Singapore on his own expat assignment. Rachana’s unique experience as a returnee has given her interesting insights into Singapore.

When I lived here the first time, I went to Raffles Hotel for a friend’s baby shower. At the end of a fun but rainy afternoon, I was racing to the taxi stand to meet my sons’ after school bus. (Before Grab and the current vast MRT system, getting a taxi in the rain was difficult). I rushed toward the taxi stand ahead of a group of businessmen, but the Raffles doorman put his arm out to prevent me from boarding my taxi. Confused and very annoyed, I voiced my objection to the doorman and to the

What assumption or belief about Singapore did you have that was wrong?

When I was very young, my parents often talked about family in Delhi traveling to Singapore and returning with boxes of electronic goods. I knew it would be more advanced than India, but imagined it to be quite rustic. When we arrived in 1998, I was blown away by how developed, clean and modern -- 8 --

Rachana with her two sons and husband

Bamboo Telegraph - May/June 2020

What hobby have you been able to enjoy in Singapore that you didn’t previously?

During our first assignment to Singapore, I went back to school and completed my Bachelors of Education in Early Childhood. Having a helper gave me the opportunity to be a hands-on mommy during the day and attend classes in the evenings. This time we have come as empty nesters. A different experience, one that’s inspiring me to explore opportunities I couldn’t fit in as a busy mother and student. I am enjoying activities such as Mahjong, Cultural Cooking, movie club, DISH, walking groups, coffee mornings, KidsRead, RMHC and the list goes on. So much easier now to be in the know and sign-up compared to my time here before Facebook and an AWA website What life lessons have you learned during your time as an expat in Singapore?

Enjoying some sweet treats

gentleman I thought was out of turn and taking my taxi. However, the gentleman was not taking my taxi, he was being ushered into his car by security guards. He very politely said “the taxi is yours.” With a nod and a frown, the doorman said, “Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General.” Oops! I had forgotten there was a conference that afternoon.

www.awasingapore.org

Make the most of your time here. Expatriate placements are unpredictable. Rediscover yourself and revive your passions. It’s a magical “me time” opportunity to indulge, involve and challenge yourself. So, get out there!

Christin is a seasoned expat who enjoys learning how others adjust to their adopted hometown. She is a member of the AWA Writers Group, a busy mom of two sons and has lived in Singapore since 2018.

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You're Not Alone... Really

coping wtih the ups and downs of being an expat Written by Andrea McKenna Brankin

How to Care for Yourself Like an Orchid This issue is blooming with flowers and fun events to pursue when life returns to some semblance of normal.

Let’s take a page from Helena Antolin Cochrane’s article on taking care of orchids (see page 14) and see how we can apply it to our own ideas about self-care.

Orchids, the national flower of Singapore, are alluring, to be sure. What once was an out-of-reach price range at my local Chicago Home Depot now is a relatively affordable staple of plant and flower shops here in Singapore. But, as we all know, orchids can be difficult to care for, not dissimilar to how difficult it is for us women to take care of ourselves sometimes.

Here are some ideas on self-care, as an ode to orchids: Interestingly, orchids come in different shapes, just like we do. There’s the difficult one—the curvy stem with the moth-shaped blooms—and there’s the easy one, called a cane orchid that features many flowers on one straight stem. I suspect that along any randomly selected time stretch, each of us can be either kind, and we need to be OK with

with a cool cocktail on the veranda. The orchids that need direct sun on their roots may equate to a week on the beach in Bali or Bintan with said cocktails and maybe a detox spa treatment to go along with it.

Indeed, all orchids have a down phase where they go dormant and just don’t bloom, sometimes for a long time. Even as we may have down days or weeks or even months in our human lives, it’s important to remember that we’re still alive inside despite that withering feeling. It’s just a matter of time when, with the right light, the right water and the right care, we can become vibrant again. In this way, there’s always hope to bounce back, like most orchids I’ve ever owned always manage to do. I bounce back too, sometimes.

Though we often see orchids looking fabulous whilst in the shop windows, we know that behind that façade may be some sadness or just stuff that feels not very attractive. In our daily lives, surely, we put on a good dress and a good face to show the world, but inside we may feel like life is hard to manage. In this light, I suggest we remember the “orchid” part of ourselves: We’re all beautiful and special and we’ll be OK with the right self-care.

that. Accepting that feelings and situations change is part of rolling with our expat life. Know that it’s OK to change back and forth from easy to hard.

A couple of points about orchids are that they are hard to get the light right and hard to get the watering right. Some orchids need only indirect light, an ice cube of water, some air flow and mist around their roots. For us, this might mean a brief get-away to see temples in Siem Reap or elephants in Thailand -- 10 --

We have growing cycles just like orchids. As Helena’s article recommends, be patient and enjoy the process, as it “tests your resolve to obtain a longterm bloom”!

Andrea runs the AWA Listen Ladies Group, providing confidential support at monthly meetings. listenladies@awasingapore.org Bamboo Telegraph - May/June 2020

Family Fun Adventures

finding cool things to do in and around singapore

Written by and Photography by Christi Elflein

Day Trippin' to Pulau Ubin

The Elflein kids enjoy the view

Since travel outside of Singapore may be restricted for a while, a day trip to Pulau Ubin is the perfect playday for kids and adults alike. It offers nature, history and adventure, all on one bikeable island a short bumboat ride away from Singapore’s northeast shoreline.

Rental bikes along the main road

your way to the Changi Point Ferry Terminal (not Changi Ferry Terminal). There are no reservations necessary. Just show up and get in line for the next bumboat to ferry you over to Pulau Ubin. It’s a ten-minute ride and costs $3 (add $2 if you bring your own bike).

Pulau Ubin is a boomerang shaped, 1,020-hectare (four square mile) island. In Malay, “Pulau” means island and “Ubin” means granite, which was mined there from the mid-1800s until the last quarry closed

After you disembark and take your landmark picture under the Pulau Ubin gateway sign, wander into the village. There you will find several bike shops eager to pair you with the right bike. There are comfort bikes, mountain bikes, bikes with baby seats and kid bikes

Exploring along the boardwalk

A waterfront hut on stilts

in 1999. In its heyday during the mid 1900s, hundreds of families lived on the island. Today, it still feels like it’s the 1960s, but the quarries are now scenic lakes and only about 100 people live on the island, which is now under the care of the National Parks Board.

renting for between $5 and $20 for the day. Spend the extra for a non-rusty bike and take it for a spin to ensure it works properly before you commit. I learned this the hard way, as my bike seat broke off when we were deep into the trails. I peddled standing up back to the village to exchange it, which the shop owner graciously did, no questions asked.

The most popular activity on the island today is bicycling, although kayaking, fishing and hiking (yes, it’s jogger stroller friendly) are also common. Trails crisscross the island with a multitude of interesting sites along the way that give you a glimpse into the history of the island. And there are plenty of resting points along the way.

If you are ready to go, here are the logistics. Pack a backpack with water, cash and bug spray. Then make www.awasingapore.org

Now let’s go for a ride!

Christi is an urban planner for an architecture firm in Florida. She moved to Singapore and joined AWA in 2019 and is loving exploring her new city with her husband and two kids.

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Let's Go!

Ideas for Future Travel Around Southeast Asia Written by AND PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY Meg Sine

Travel plans have changed radically in the last couple months. But once we are able to fly again, here’s a great place to check out.

Eddie recognized by name, each of which had been rescued, rehabilitated and released by the rehab center.

Indonesia is vast and diverse. Where do you start to plan a visit to sample the essence of this archipelago nation of over 300 distinct cultures and 10,000 islands? Here are a few places I recommend

Java In Central Java, my husband booked us a private villa at the Plataran Borobudur Resort, a lovely,

Some of the islands in Sumatra

that can be visited stand-alone as short trips or combined for some island hopping, depending on your timing, interest and budget.

Sumatra At the very top of my Indonesian bucket list was meeting our Indonesian primate cousins, the orangutans. I was so eager to see the wild but loveable face of this orange-haired ape. The Ecolodge resort in Bukit Lawang was recommended to me due to its proximity to an orangutan rehabilitation center and trekking tours into Gunung Leuser National Park. The resort’s proximity to the rehab center and a feeding platform in the jungle would guarantee a 100% chance of seeing at least one of these endangered creatures.

We hired a local guide, “Jungle Eddie,” for a oneday trek along the wet, steep trail of the national park. After only one hour, we came across a wild female orangutan with her baby, swinging safely above us in the trees. I suddenly felt the wonder and hushed excitement of a small child. During the hike, we also encountered two other females that -- 12 --

upscale boutique hotel about one hour from Yogyakarta, aka Jogja (actual pronunciation).

Set on a hillside, each spacious villa has a pool terrace that overlooks the fertile valley containing the hilltop on which Borobudur stands. For a bit of adventure on top of the art, history and culture of this epic destination, we hired a guide to take us to the temple by bicycle through local villages and their tobacco fields. Life in the shadow of this amazing monument is surprisingly quiet and simple.

Borobudur is the world’s largest Buddhist monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 8th century, this massive construct of six tiers of carved

Borobudur in Java

Bamboo Telegraph - May/June 2020

stone had already stood for 400 years before Europe’s greatest cathedrals were started and was already disappearing under layers of jungle and ash by the 12th century when Angkor Wat was being built. Historians speculate that Borobudur declined because the dynastic power shifted to East Java or there was a deadly volcanic eruption.

The temple’s “rediscovery” in 1814 is credited to Sir Stamford Raffles. Based on ancient Javanese manuscripts that described a stone monument buried in the jungle, Raffles commissioned a Dutch engineer to uncover the sagging structure that once represented an amazing, ancient civilization.

of a velvet green landscape carved by the deep blue sea and slivers of white sand beaches. Our steep climb was rewarded with postcardperfect photos.

Komodo Island offers guided dragon-spotting tours to safeguard both the native inhabitants and their human guests. The males of the species can grow up to ten feet long and weigh 200 lbs.

An orangutan in Sumatra

Manta rays at Manta Point

Meg and her husband behind a komodo dragon

At the temple, we lucked out, finding an elderly tour guide named Subarno,who was the author of the local destination guide. He led us up and through the monument in the Buddhist tradition of walking clockwise, explaining the symbolism and cosmology of the architecture and the meaning of the carved stone images. Subarno proudly related how his country had restored this national treasure after centuries of neglect and destructive earthquakes.

This island is not a petting zoo despite the iconic photos. Just in case, the guide carries a long stick.

Flores

Watching from above, their flat, sleek bodies matched the color of the water except for the bright white of the cephalic lobes that protruded out on either side of their mouth. What insanely beautiful creatures to watch glide by! This experience alone was enough to merit a return trip to Indonesia.

Moving farther eastward past the islands of Bali and Lombok, Komodo National Park comprises several islands and a rich marine sanctuary just off the coast of Flores Island and its tourist gateway of Labuan Bajo. We opted for the hospitality of the Plataran Komodo Resort, conveniently located close to the airport but on a quiet beach outside of town.

We joined a one-day speedboat tour from Labuan Bajo to see the highlights of the national park. Our first stop was at Pulau Padar, an island whose trail to the summit offers the most amazing 360-degree views www.awasingapore.org

Komodo National Park is also breathtakingly beautiful below the water. The most awesomely exciting adventure of my snorkeling life was jumping into the water at Manta Point. Again, I was that over-eager six-year-old! I had my mask and snorkel on and the GoPro ready. My first view was of a half dozen majestic manta rays swimming right towards me!

Meg lived and traveled all over Asia for almost 25 years before moving to SIngapore in 2018. She enjoys biking, walking and quilting with AWA Creative Hands.

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Singapore Blooms

ORCHIDS AND OTHER PLANTS THAT THRIVE HERE Written by and photoGRAPHY by Helena Antolin Cochrane Like many of you, I struggle with envy, which I try to mask as admiration, when I spy a beautifully thriving selection of house plants in someone else’s home.

The beautiful, air-purifying, calm-inducing greens and blooms do wonders for a home’s atmosphere, especially now that we’ve all spent so much time at

Moisture and light in balance, whether our plants are exposed to direct sun or not, and the growing medium (dirt) we put the plants in all determine their health and longevity.

From easiest to most challenging, here are some species that can add color and oxygen to your home.

Monstera Alfonsii or Swiss-cheese plant

home. This begs the question: How can I make my urban balcony an attractive green space featuring lush blooms? If Singapore is a garden in a city, it ought to be a snap for me, too, to “Make Singapore

Zamioculcas zamiifolia or ZZ plant

Zamioculcas zamiifolia, better known as the “ZZ plant,” was introduced to Singapore around the year 2000. It has grown in popularity for its beautiful, glossy, succulent, green leaves, and is auspiciously nicknamed the “gold coin plant,” in a nod to the Chinese New Year’s penchant for prosperity.

ZZ plants’ leaves retain moisture, so they do not demand frequent watering.

Monstera Alfonsii, or “Swiss-cheese plant,” is in the family of epiphytes: plants that thrive in environments where they can climb, as well as having their roots exposed to air, since they gather moisture from the environment through their leaves. Swiss-cheese plant leaves have striking holes that add to their tropical beauty, and they require neither full sun nor heavy watering.

Sansevieria, a.k.a. “snake plant” or “mother-in-law’s tongue,” is highly popular in apartments and office The experts at the NParks Horticulture Centre advise buildings, on balconies, and even in the ground, home hobbyists to take the route of the tried and for its ease and adaptability. Studies performed by true. In Singapore, that can mean allowing for NASA have shown that the snake plant removes conditions in an air-conditioned office or flat, though formaldehyde and benzene from the air. This makes many of us are hoping to beautify a condo balcony. it a particularly healthy plant to keep in your home Our Garden.”

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Bamboo Telegraph - May/June 2020

or office, where you may not ever have the windows open. Others that are known for their adaptability to a wide variety of conditions and can withstand the neglect that could spring from our busy work or travel schedules are tillandsia (air plants) and chlorophytum comosum (spider plants), which literally hang around, producing offshoots even in the quietest, most indirectly-lit corner.

Finally, let’s turn our attention to the national flower of Singapore: the orchid. All the experts I’ve consulted caution that while an orchid may be the most attractive plant for my balcony, it is not the

Any species of orchid must have plenty of air circulating around the roots, lest they get “wet feet” leading to crown or root rot, the final blow before expiration. Many orchids that appear deceased are not dead, however. They are dormant and will regenerate with patient care. After trimming the dry stems and stalks, minimal watering and plenty of circulating air in the root area should give you some hopeful shoots that bloom again in several months.

When it comes to orchids, enjoy the process, and be patient with the product. Remember that even here, a growing cycle will test your resolve to obtain a

Sansevieria, or snake plant

Phaleanopsis or moth orchid

one that an impatient gardener will be able to foster successfully.

long-term bloom. You can always behold the other plants, which don’t promise a blossom, to savor the tropical Singapore atmosphere.

There are two main species of orchid. Phalaenopsis, or “moth orchids,” are grown with curved stems to allow the moth-shaped blooms to descend downward from an arch. They typically are sold at florists or markets looking their very best at the height of bloom, but it’s hard to keep them that way at home. They can be kept indoors, in bright

To beautify and add a natural air purifier to your home, consider any one of these plants. Your local wet market is very likely to have a flower stall, where you can purchase many of these beauties. In Bedok, as well as along Thompson Road, garden centers carry a broader variety of plants.

Since moving from Philadelphia to Singapore, Helena has pursued her interest in art and writing. Her participation in the Urban Sketchers of SIngapore has brought her to many beautiful garden spots on the island.

Dendrobium or cane orchid

indirect light, with minimum watering (an ice cube once a week) and need air flowing around their root systems. As in nature, where these epiphytes grow high up in trees, moth orchids appreciate having their roots gently misted in an airy, breezy environment. Dendrobium orchids, according to Wilson Wong (greenculturesg.com) and Jon Van Stile (TheSpruce.com) are the “easy orchids.” Also known as “cane orchids,” they display a series of small blooms along a willowy stem, and can be kept in direct sun, especially on the roots. www.awasingapore.org

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Local Tours and Virtual Gatherings AWA in Action Online

Gatherings Even a circuit-breaker can’t keep AWA members down! Approximately 18 of our groups are still meeting, virtually, thanks to AWA chairs who are finding creative ways to keep us all engaged and active. Here are some examples of ways that you can safely socialize and talk with others online. If you are interested in something new or looking to connect with other members, check out Circuit Break Activities in the Resources section of our website www.awasingapore.org

Bridge Mondays 1pm - 4:30pm

Trivia Nights Thursdays 7:30pm

While in-person Bridge meetups are on hiatus, we will continue to play Duplicate Bridge online on Monday afternoons from 1pm - 4:30pm. We follow American standard five-card major rules, and players do not need a partner to join. We randomly determine partners the day of the game, or you can pair up ahead of time. Register on the AWA website and email duplicatebridge@awasingapore.org with any questions.

Keep your Thursday nights open, because the Singapore Quizmaster is now hosting virtual trivia night sessions.

These weekly sessions are a great way to test your trivia knowledge and connect with your AWA friends (and make new ones!) The event opens at 7:30 pm and begins promptly at 8 pm. It is limited to five members, but be sure to join the waitlist if it is already full because if we have enough interest, we will form another team.

Creative Hands Thursdays 10am

Listen Ladies

This group includes crocheters, knitters, embroiderers, cross stitchers, needle pointers, beaders, and more. We welcome all members who want to be surrounded by positive women who use their hands to create. We are holding weekly virtual meetings and we are participating in mask-making efforts.

For more information, please email creativehands@ awasingapore.org

Happy Hour Wednesdays 5pm Grab your cocktail, mocktail, or another favorite drink and join your AWA friends for the virtual happy hour version of our Wednesday Drop-In Drinks! Sign up on AWA’s website and you’ll receive the meeting log-in information via email on Wednesday morning.

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Is the situation with Covid-19 getting you down? Are you stressed out from being cooped up at home? If so, you’re not alone! Many of us are feeling stressed from dealing with this global crisis, and AWA’s Listen Ladies are here to support you. Instead of meeting monthly in-person, we will now support each other real-time via a WhatsApp chat group. Email listenladies@ awasingapore.org if you’d like to connect.

Book Clubs AWA’s book clubs are continuing regular discussions of member-selected books via online meetings. If you love reading and would like to join one of our five book clubs, please sign up on AWA’s website.

If the groups are full, please register for the general book group waitlist. If you do not hear back from a group you registered for, please contact the group’s coordinator at bookgroups@awasingapore.org.

Bamboo Telegraph - May/June 2020

High Tea Tuesday, May 26

3pm - 4:30pm $55 for members only

Even if we can’t be together in person, we can still all share the same delicious meal. Please join us for a very special Virtual High Tea. The Regent Singapore will prepare a array of High Tea delicacies and offer contactless delivery to your home. The menu includes classic scones, smoked salmon sandwiches, spinach and cheddar cheese quiche and strawberry shortcake.

As a special treat the Tea Lounge's Senior Chef will join our chat and explain the high tea offering.

You will receive a Zoom invite the morning of the 26th and your High Tea meal will be delivered between 1:30 and 2:30. This is a no cancellation event and menu substitutions are not permitted.

To sign up, please go to the calendar section of our website www.awasingapore.org

Photo credited to Regent Singapore

Writers Group Thursdays 10am - 12pm

Drop-In Coffee Fridays 10:30am

Preserve a record of how you lived and changed during this strange period of history by opening up a portal between you and a paper or online diary.

Let the thoughts flow. No need to be nice. Pour your heart out. Imagine releasing feelings and trapping them inside your journal. For more inspiration and camaraderie, join our Writer's Group by signing up on the AWA website. Until we can meet again in person, we are now meeting virtually the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month from 10 am to noon.

Join us for the virtual version of our very popular drop-in coffee! It will happen every Friday morning at 10:30, for as long as we’re unable to meet in person.

We limit the sign-up to 15 participants, but will host multiple sessions at the same time if there is enough interest, so please join the waitlist. Sign-ups are open and available on the AWA website. You'll receive the meeting log-in information on Friday morning. If you have any questions about this activity, please email coffee@awasingapore.org.

Local Tours AWA’s Local Tours have always been one of the best ways for our members to explore and learn more about Singapore as well as spend time with friends and meet new ones. Sadly, with the current circuit-breaker in place, all local tours have been suspended through the end of June. Anyone already registered will receive an email notification regarding this, and a refund within 30 days. Once it is safe to hold these tours again, you can look forward to all sorts of exciting experiences, including learning more about colorful shophouses, Singapore's "black and whites," trendy Bukit Timah and Pulau Ubin, just to name a few. We look forward to resuming these tours very soon. Keep an eye on the AWA website for the latest information.

www.awasingapore.org

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Virtual Workshops Zoom online meeting

Laughter Yoga Need a laugh? Join us for a free online Hasyayoga (laughter yoga) class. This modern yoga exercise involves prolonged voluntary laughter, and is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides similar physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter. Intentional laughter often turns into real and contagious laughter.

Hasyayoga is a fun, non-committed way to release toxins and stress from our body. Many believe laughter is the best medicine—in fact, as little as 20 minutes of laughter is sufficient to achieve full physiological benefits. You’ll feel a difference immediately!

Date:

Monday, May 18

Time:

10am to 10.45am

Venue: Zoom Online

register on AWA website Cost: None

Dharma Drums

Manage stress through sound and rhythm Release your stress octa-cogna style with the beautiful sounds of the drums. Latin percussionist Christo Pellani will serenade you with Dharma (metta) drums for this workshop. Soothing, relaxing, dreamy metta drums guide you as you move your body to express the flow of the sounds as it speaks to your soul. This technique offers a therapeutic way with movement-immersion of self. Benefits include: • Sensitize to the energy awareness of your body • Develop skills for managing stress and achieving balance • Experience deep relaxation and self-healing strategies • Express your creative communication skills Date:

Wednesday, May 20

Time:

10am to 10.45am

Venue: Zoom Online

register on AWA website Cost: None -- 18 --

Bamboo Telegraph - May/June 2020

A WA Chorus Spotlight international Women's Choir

photos by Michiko Quinn

The AWA International Women’s Choir is a dynamic, truly international kaleidoscope of women. We sing both accompanied and a capella songs in English, Japanese, Chinese and Malay. We have singers and accompanists from six nations in the 2019-2020 season. Our favorite activity is to take our repertoire on the road, by singing at senior and hospice facilities around Singapore. Due to the current contagion,

we’ve had to suspend our outreach activities, and to improvise our rehearsal schedule, meeting in small groups at people’s homes, instead of as a full 20-person choir at a local church. We hope our musical spirit will be more contagious than the COVID-19 virus. Good music and companionship have helped us keep calm and carry on.

Lots of laughs are shared at every session and the opportunity to outreach with gifts of song to beneficiaries at local charities is a tremendous blessing to all of us.

What is better than doing what you love and blessing others, which brings you joy? That’s exactly what we’re doing at AWA choir - a bunch of international ladies with the hearts to spread the joy with their special voice. Such a blessing! Such a joy!

- Linda Auyong

- Carol Lam

I love being part of our choir; such a beautiful group of international women who have all come together for the love of music.

People who sing together, learn new music and words in languages we don’t speak at home, are bonding in a very special way. In the choir we make something together that’s bigger than any one of us, but that relies on each one in her turn.

- Nicole Gooding

- Helena Antolin Cochrane I’ve done one season so far with numerous heart-warming outreach events which culminated in a wonderful Holiday concert.

- Anu Rudra

www.awasingapore.org

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Photography Group

The awa Photography group welcomes both new and returning Members

Highlights from Chinatown & Gallop Extension Walks The photography group had some wonderful photo walks before the circuit-breaker and we look forward to resuming our outings once it’s possible to do so.

Back in February, members went to Chinatown with volunteer walk leader Christina Haist to capture the atmospheric Chinese New Year festivities and decorations at night.

In March, they explored the new Gallop Extension at the Botanic Gardens with volunteer walk leader Karen Lucas. The gardens have recently opened and still need time to become established to be fully appreciated. Nevertheless, our group of photographers found plenty of pretty flowers, plants and insects that were beautiful to photograph. The Gallop Extension is not fully open yet; stage 2 will open in the second half of 2020.

photo by Christina Haist

Update: Due to the suspension of the MBS Light & Water Show, the Marina Bay Sunset Photo Walk scheduled for March 12 will take place at a later date.

photo by Alison Stanton

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photo by Connie Miller

photo by Manuela Kinscher

photo by Karen Lucas

photo by Tiffany Sukay

Bamboo Telegraph - May/June 2020

Photography Group

The awa Photography group welcomes both new and returning Members

Cloud Forest Photo Walk Join the AWA Photography Group at the Cloud Forest in the Gardens by the Bay and enjoy taking wide angle shots of the dramatic vertical gardens and cascading waterfall, or zoom in for some beautiful close-ups of the luxurious plants and exotic flowers.

Date: Thursday, July 9 (if Gardens are open) Time: 9:30am to 11:30am Place: Cloud Forest, Gardens by the Bay Cost: Free (please purchase entry ticket in advance) Limit: 15 people

www.awasingapore.org

photo by Karen Lucas

Suitable for: All levels of photographer with any camera or mobile phone What to bring/wear: Comfortable walking shoes and a sweater as it can get chilly inside the dome. A camera with a range of lenses from wide angle to telephoto and a cleaning cloth to wipe off droplets on the lens from the waterfall and misting.

Volunteer Walk Leader: Alison Stanton

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Community Service

awa members contributed over 1,900 volunteer hours last year AWA’s Community Service supports 5 featured charity organizations where we’ve designed programs so members can choose from a variety of schedules and volunteer options. In this issue, we highlight kidsREAD. Calling all bookworms, educators, and performers!

Volunteering for kidsREAD is an opportunity to share your love of storytelling and related educational activities with young Singaporeans.

The kidsREAD program was officially launched in 2004 and is a collaborative effort by the National Library Board, the People’s Association (PA) and four self-help groups. The objectives include promoting a love of reading among Singaporeans and providing an avenue for children of various races to interact from an early age. The target is children between the ages of 4 and 8 from low-income families, regardless of race or religion.

activities specifically tailored to that particular story.

The children thoroughly enjoy the stories, activities, and gifts (bookbags, t-shirts, and other kidsREAD themed items) provided during the club sessions. It’s entertaining for us volunteers, too!

All kidsREAD volunteers complete one 3.5-hour training session, held at the National Library, during which they learn to “bring books to life.” The program operates from a structured curriculum using selected stories to meet designated criteria.

Club sessions of one to one and a half hours consist of a volunteer reading aloud to the group, followed by all participating volunteers and children completing one or more related educational

19 AWA volunteers currently support three kidsREAD clubs within primary schools: Greenridge, North View, and Ang Mo Kio. The club at Greenridge Primary School is run solely by AWA volunteers, while AWA volunteers join local Singaporeans in the clubs within North View Primary School and Ang Mo Kio Primary School. Clubs are also found at community centers and libraries. There are no standard meeting days or times for clubs, as they are based on each club’s need. You can find a club that suits your preferred location and schedule as there are currently 170 kidsREAD clubs spread across Singapore.

If you would like to volunteer for a worthy cause when this program resumes, please email kidsread@awa.singapore.org.

The Community Service Committee would like to let members know there are still ways to help out during these uncertain times.

SG United has donation or volunteer opportunities; www.giving.sg And two of our partner organizations serving the food insecure are still running and in need of volunteers: Food from the Heart: www.foodfromtheheart.sg and Willing Hearts: www.willinghearts.org.sg

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Bamboo Telegraph - May/June 2020

Writers' Block

a monthly contribution from our AWA Writers Group members.

Singapore Writers' Festival Magic Though wilted after a sleepless red-eye home from Delhi, I was pulled to the Singapore Writers’ Festival (SWF) with its magic of literary presentations, discussions, book browsing, snatched encounters with friends, and the promise of new rapports. The extravaganza began for me on a Saturday morning at the Arts House. An imposing cream and white structure by the Singapore River, the Arts House is one of a cluster of colonial buildings across which the annual ten-day writers’ festival spreads.

“

Language is a powerful element of identity, both individual and communal.

”

Getting out of a taxi, I spotted the familiar white balloons with the logo—S W F in outsize pink letters— tethered to the front gate. Beyond them a stage had been erected under a white canopy, with colorful beanbags strewn in front of it. I welcomed the cool of the Arts House interior on a muggy day. Upstairs I took my seat in the Chamber, a stately, high-ceilinged room with shiny wooden floors where Singapore’s parliament used to meet for forty years, from 1959 to 1999. Pico Iyer and Meira Chand, who have much in common besides being writers—India, Britain and Japan feature in both their identities—talked about home and belonging. I could finally relax, having reached my destination. Lulled by the speakers’ genteel voices and the cool darkness of the room, I felt my head loll for a moment—but the austere leather and wooden seats of the Chamber (custommade in London in 1954) don’t allow for sleep.

Later in the National Gallery and then at the Asian Civilisations Museum, I listened to Linda Collins speak on two different panels. She discussed language and trauma in one, and the use of metaphor in making meaning in the other, both with reference to Loss Adjustment (Ethos Books, 2019), her wrenching memoir about her only child’s death by suicide. In death Collins’ daughter Victoria spoke in her own voice with poetic eloquence through her journal entries that feature in the book. I was moved by Collins’ regarding Victoria as her co-author. The SWF theme was fittingly “A language of one’s own.”

Language is a powerful element of identity, both individual and communal. Long interested in colonialism and culture, I went to a session on www.awasingapore.org

Written by Mandakini Arora language and the colony. Melanie MununggurrWilliams and Waubgeshig Rice, an Australian and Canadian respectively, shared their literary endeavors to keep alive languages and stories that had been threatened by European colonialism. In conversation with them, Farish Noor, the Singapore academic, reminded us that the erasure of languages also meant an uprooting of knowledges to which the languages were organic.

Outside afterward, I chatted with a woman who had attended the same session and, in that moment, the seed of a new circle of writing and friendships was planted. Late evening, I had enough of a break to both visit the popup bookstore and fuss over my buys. I welcomed chance meetings in the store, particularly one with a poet-friend who is my neighbor at home and of whom I see more in the ten days of SWF than in the whole rest of the year. I bought books by Min Jin Lee and Roxane Gay, two of the festival’s star draws, and found a beanbag to settle into under the white canopy. After thirty-six hours of no sleep, I felt like every part of my body ached. But I was determined to stay until the last session—on getting published in Asia—that I had earmarked for the day.

A young man appeared with a survey form. He gasped, making a swatting gesture at my “Fiftyseven” in response to his “How old are you?” I was indignant. “So sorry, so sorry!” He practically bowed.

“There was an insect on my arm.”

Feedback done, I was lulled to sleep by the thrum of an overhead fan and the soft beanbag. And then music like nothing I’d heard before struck up. On the stage, men and a woman in red sarongs sang in a mix of languages, their voices powerful and stirring against the familiar sounds of electric guitar and drums mingled with the twang of unfamiliar stringed instruments. The music of the Borneo band Nading Rhapsody evoked old histories and indigenous languages that survived the violence of colonial encounters. This is how Bilbo Baggins the Hobbit must have felt, I thought. His indignation—bewilderment and bewutherment—at the dwarves overrunning his house and serving tea and eating his food vanished when they started to sing. The music made him think of beautiful and valorous things.

My aches dissolved. I was wide-awake.

The AWA Writers’ Group meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday to discuss their work. For more information, send an email to writers@awasingapore.org -- 23 --

Tennis

Fun, Friendship and Fair Play

A Conversation with Tennis Coach Tomas Biernacki Tomas is the tennis coach at The American Club in Singapore (TACS) and works with many AWA Tennis players. Below is a little bit about him and his top tennis tips.

Please tell us how and when you got into tennis: I started playing tennis when I was five years old.

My dad gave me a racket and a ball as a present and I started hitting against a wall on a playground nearby. I got hooked on it and begged my dad to let me join a tennis club, Fair Play Tennis. 26 years later I was the tennis director for this same club, the largest in Scandinavia with 3200 tennis players weekly.

How long have you been in Singapore and where did you move from?

Almost four years now. I moved from Malmo, Sweden. I was Davis Cup/Fed Cup National coach for Denmark before my assignment at TACS. I got headhunted by the Danish Tennis Federation to run/ coach their National Program.

Please set the record straight ...are you Swedish or Polish?

Both as I have dual citizenship. My Polish parents migrated to Sweden 1981, but I consider myself Swedish since I’ve lived most of my life there when not around the world—approximately150-200 days a year from the time I was a player and later on as a coach.

What is the most embarrassing (or funniest) thing that has happened to you whilst coaching?

Losing a bet against my Swedish women’s elite team (top 100 players in the world) so I had to play in a skirt and women’s top, in a bright pink color.

Tomas Biernacki in action

What are your top three tips for success on the tennis court and in a tournament?

Being prepared, attitude, effort/fighting spirit How many times a week should we be playing if we want to improve our game?

It depends on your goals. If you want to be a decent level player, two to three times a week. But if you want to be in the top 100 in the world, you’re talking six to seven times a week, 365 days a year, which is a very heavy grind.

What frustrates you as a coach when you are teaching?

I don’t mind players making mistakes. To learn, you will commit a huge number of mistakes, but I do mind and might get a bit frustrated when you do them over and over again without trying to correct them.

When players keep repeating the same mistakes and expect different results – for me that’s not being coachable and it frustrates me.

These are a few bullet points I expect my players to do because these require ZERO talent: • • • • • • • • • •

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Being at practice before time Being prepared Energy Attitude Passion Work ethic Effort Body language Being coachable Doing extra Bamboo Telegraph - May/June 2020

Tennis

Fun, Friendship and Fair Play It’s been a quiet couple of months for all of AWA, including our usually very busy Tennis group. Our popular annual Felicia Birch tournament and the End of Year AWA Tennis Party are postponed. We were lucky enough to hold Girls Night Out in March (photo at right) and it was all about celebrating St Patrick’s at the Hyatt Hotel on Scotts Road with Coach James from Savitar. The ladies dressed in green, drank green cocktails and ate some delicious appetizers.

Welcome back to Singapore Party: Thursday September 10 at the American Club.

Staying in Singapore this summer? Check out our website for Summer Socials. We will provide some opportunities to continue to play tennis

If things return to normal for the following two months, here’s what’s on the Tennis calendar but please check on the AWA website for the latest updates.

AWA Open: 4-day advanced tournament open to members and non-members, scheduled for midJune. Check out the website for early registration qualifications.

Felicia Burch tournament will happen at the same time as our Open in mid-June.

Girls Night Out will take place on Thursday June 11 at the Hyatt Hotel on Scotts Road.

To register for all events or for full details please see the Tennis page on the AWA website

Virtual Introduction to Pilates AWA Pilates instructor Jo Cockerill Want to try a workout that can improve your posture, balance and flexibility while strengthening your core and increasing your muscle strength and tone? Join Jo Cockerill for a series of virtual introductory mat Pilates sessions. Jo is from the UK and has been teaching Pilates for 20 years with a specialty in back care.

This class is suitable for participants who are beginners and new to the Pilates method of exercising but also injury-free as a virtual instructor won’t be able to make the necessary adjustments. You should dress in comfortable gym clothes and a pair of socks. Please sign up in the calendar section of our website www.awasingapore.org Dates: May 21, 28 and June 4,11 Time: 3pm to 3:45pm Cost: $66 per person for all 4 classes Limit: 6 person min- 8 person max

www.awasingapore.org

-- 25 --

Golf Shots

The AWA Golf Group Welcomes Both New And Returning Members Despite the intense heat, the AWA Ladies golf group still managed to brave the sun every Wednesday, playing at the limited number of golf courses still available for non- member bookings. We also were able to include a day trip to Malaysia as well as a round of night golf at our favorite Marina Bay course, capturing the beautiful, iconic Singapore

AWA golfers at Marina Bay Golf Course

skyline. As travel restrictions get more intense, we hope to resume our golf rounds very soon and enjoy good times together with friends out on the links.

For more information, contact 18holegolf@awasingapore.org

Enjoying a beautiful day at the Marina Bay Golf Course

Running

Running Around SIngapore... And Beyond This year has been a year of transformation for the AWA Running Group. We had a surge in new runners and have even had record-breaking participation in our Tuesday 5k runs. So it was bittersweet when we had to suspend our running to implement the new safe distancing guidelines due to Covid-19.

Although we all understood it was the safe thing to Rebecca Meurer and Caroline Beaumont do, it was hard to coordinate their orange tops & street name stop running with our friends, meeting for coffee and cancelling our participation in the Vietnam Jungle Run. Nevertheless, the Running Group decided to transform once again into a virtual running group.

We created an AWA Running Group on the Strava app, which allows us to share our runs on a daily basis and offers encouragement at a time when we all need it. To add a level of friendly competition, fellow runner Eleonor Doyle introduced the group to a Singapore Tree and Flower Bingo game. Our runners -- 26 --

were encouraged to post selfies with a designated tree or flower on our FB page. Suzanne Hizzey Murphy took the challenge one step further by designating colors to each day of the week and asking runners to post pictures of them wearing the assigned color.

We can’t wait to see what the group does next!

We have welcomed many new members in the last couple of months. The new runners are: Claudia Maurer, Jennifer Metz, Julie Shoemaker, Nishka Rangwani, Suellen Lee and Bernie Tretta.

Suzanne Hizzey Murphy on Red Day

Newest runner Bernie Tratta

For more information, contact running@awasingapore.org Bamboo Telegraph - May/June 2020

Walking Group Update leaders share their favorite scenic walks The AWA’s walking group, Walking With Women, started a trend last year with new walks that feature “Postcards of Singapore.” We’ve had lots of fabulous members leading our weekly walks, which are Mondays from 8:30-10:30 am and Wednesdays from 9-10 am, which we hope to resume soon. Here are some of our leaders’ favorite walks around Singapore.

resting at the stables or being taken for a walk at the Bukit Brown Cemetery. What a treat to look at these animals!” says Silvia.

New Jerseyan Amanda Jaffe features a striking Temple Trek that passes through the Mahallah surrounding Mt. Sophia, past the temples of Waterloo Street, all the way to Tank Road’s Sri Thendayuthapani

AWA walkers at Sri Krishnan Temple

Donna Bose, from Montreal, Canada, likes to lead walks around Sentosa, including visits to the old Merlion statue and Continental Asia’s Southernmost Point. This walk is often followed up by coffee on the beach. “Sentosa is far, but you always feel like you’re on vacation once you get there!” says Donna.

Argentinian walk leader Silvia Fernandez enjoys leading walks around Singapore’s National Equestrian Centre and nearby Bukit Brown Cemetery because

Photobombed by the Merlion on Sentosa Island

Temple, the endpoint of the annual Thaipusam procession. What makes this walk special is that so many different faiths are represented, including Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Jewish. “This walk captures the essence of Singapore’s amazing religious diversity in a surprisingly compact area. It’s really Singapore in a nutshell,” she says.

Helena Antolin Cochrane, from Philadelphia, heralds Jurong Lake Gardens for its open space and water views. This walk includes grassy fields, beautiful palm trees, a community garden, birdwatching spots, and a superb, five-kilometer loop inside the gardens.

“The feeling of openness and fresh air is unrivaled in Singapore,” she says.

Intrepid AWA walkers on Chinatown walk

the area is so peaceful. Tucked between the HDBs of Toa Payoh, MacRitchie Reservoir, and the Botanic Garden, this area makes walkers aware of institutions such as the Polo Club, National Equestrian Centre, Equestrian Federation of Singapore and Riding for the Disabled Association. “[Y]ou can see the horses www.awasingapore.org

Meg Sine is from Pocono Pines, PA, but has lived in Asia for 25 years! One of her favorite neighborhood walks is a jaunt around Chinatown. Meg likes this walk “because it shows the proximity of those fun bar and restaurant streets in the shophouse districts, including Keong Saik, Duxton Hill, Ann Siang and Club Street and Telok Ayer.”

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A WA Events and Activities Social & Special Groups

After Ni Hao – Mandarin conversation every Thursday at 10am.

Hyesung Laffey & Manju Banka, afternihao@awasingapore.org Arts & Culture – Monthly talks and events focusing on Asian arts & culture. Kristi Miller & Seema Shah, artsandculture@awasingapore.org Bar Night – Ladies’ nights, couples’ nights each month.

Kristin Bemowski, barnight@awasingapore.org Beauty & Fashion - From fashion talks to workshops, there’s no age limit to brilliant beauty & unlimited style.

Florence Sorgini, beautyfashion@awasingapore.org Book Groups – Morning, afternoon & evening books groups, held monthly. Kate Breslin, bookgroups@awasingapore.org Bunco – Play this simple dice game once a month in the evening at Boomerang Bar, Robertson Quay. Anne Roberts, bunco@awasingapore.org Cancer Support Group – Meets the third week of the month, with a focus on mutual support and information sharing.

Rosa Liu, cancersupport@awasingapore.org Christian Connection - Provides information and resources to help you connect with local Christian community groups.

Barbara Winkler, christianconnect@awasingapore.org Couples’ Bridge – Meets monthly on a Saturday evening. Spouses are welcome. Amy Starling, couplesbridge@awasingapore.org Creative Hands - Bring your handiwork project to work on and share with other creative women every 2nd, 4th & 5th Thursday.

Charisse Litteken, crafters@awasingapore.org Cultural Cooking – Ready to learn your way around the international kitchen? Monthly cooking classes are for you!

Donna Bose & Sarah Beutelschies, cooking@awasingapore.org DISH – Monthly lunches at a variety of interesting venues. Caitlin McNeal & Alison Coriel, dish@awasingapore.org Drop-In Coffees – Meets at Orchard Tangs Providore Café, on the 2nd floor every Wed & Fri from 10.30am - 12.30pm. Open to everyone, no need to register. Laurie Day, coffee@awasingapore.org Duplicate Bridge – American Standard five-card major rules every Monday. You don’t need a partner to join. Esme Parish, duplicatebridge@awasingapore.org High Tea - Enjoy monthly teas at Singapore’s top hotels.

Debra Minnock, hightea@awasingapore.org International Choir – Rehearses every Wednesday. Performances in the spring & winter. Michiko Kinoshita, intlchoir@awasingapore.org Listen Ladies – A compassionate group of ladies who have a confidential and supportive meeting every 2nd Monday.

Andrea McKenna Brankin, listenladies@awasingapore.org Local Tours – Professionally guided tours of Singapore, multiple times each month. Cathy Barshop, localtours@awasingapore.org Mahjong - International style in a low stress FUN friendly atmosphere on every Monday afternoon & 3rd Tuesday evening at Boomarang Robertson Quay. Siew-Wei Ngiam, mahjong@awasingapore.org Mixology & Mingle - Learn to make cocktails and mingle with new friends, 1st Friday of the month. Lisa Smith mixology@awasingapore.org Movie Lunch – Monthly lunch followed by a movie in the Orchard Road area. Michelle Reeb, movielunch@awasingapore.org Photography – Meets once a month to have fun practicing and improving our photography. All levels are welcome.

Alison Stanton & Karen Lucas, photography@awasingapore.org

Playgroup - For moms with kids under age 3. Meets every Friday

morning at a member's home plus a monthly "Moms Night Out". Ashley Fagan & Morgan Steinman, playgroups@awasingapore.org Podcasting – Meets every 3rd Wednesday to share information & ideas on the podcast process. All levels welcome. Anne Morgan, podcasting@awasingapore.org Trivia Night – Trivia Night is a fun way to make new friends while testing your trivia knowledge! Meets monthly on a Monday night.

Karla Popper, trivia@awasingapore.org Workshops - Expand your mind and learn something new about yourself, about Singapore or about the world - the possibilities are endless. Leezibet Heinzraiden, workshops@awasingapore.org Writers’ Group - Beginner and published writers discuss their work the 2nd & 4th Thursday of every month. Anne Morgan & Elissa Viornery, writers@awasingapore.org

Sports

Golf - The 18-hole group plays on Wednesday & the 9-hole group

on Thursday. Hanna Appelt, 18holegolf@awasingapore.org Health and Fitness – A variety of health and fitness activities & informative seminars to help everyone stay fit.

Stacey Raza, fitness@awasingapore.org Hiking – Meets at MacRitchie Reservoir every 1st & 3rd Thursday morning. Tori Nelson & Christine Schooling, hiking@awasingapore.org Pilates - Mixed ability classes bookable monthly. Jo Cockerill, pilates@awasingapore.org Running - Group runs for all levels on Tuesday & Thursday mornings at locations around Singapore. Marangeli Wouda, running@awasingapore.org Tennis - A variety of singles and doubles play including tournaments, and team tennis for players of all levels. Georgina Webster & Gigi Scott, tennischair@awasingapore.org Walking - Walk all over this amazing island. Mondays are 10K, Wednesdays are 5K. Andrea McKenna Brankin & Mercedes Bainbridge, walking@awasingapore.org

Community Service

Community Service - Connecting AWA members to volunteer

opportunities with AWA’s featured organizations and more.

Christa Boncimino, commservice@awasingapore.org Ronald McDonald House Charities - Support the families of children at Singapore’s National University Hospital. Sheila Weidner, rmhc@awasingapore.org

Humanitarian Organization for Migrant Economies

Volunteer to assist residents at HOME’s shelter for migrant workers in Singapore. Christa Boncimino, home@awasingapore.org Food From The Heart - Help pack and/or distribute food bags to families in Singapore who cannot afford to feed themselves.

Janet Stride, ffth@awasingapore.org

People’s Association (A Singapore Government Body)

Connecting AWA members to government volunteer opportunities. Christa Boncimino, outreach@awasingapore.org Willing Hearts - Monthly shifts to prepare food for the less fortunate.

Allison Burden, willinghearts@awasingapore.org kidsREAD - Help local children develop a love of reading.

Rekha Kumar, kidsread@awa.singapore.org For more information, visit our website: www.awasingapore.org

A WA Potpourri

Flower Photos to brighten your day Please enjoy these flower photos submitted by AWA members on our social media platforms as our way of honoring Mother’s Day and all the graduates who will be celebrating that special milestone in very different ways than originally planned.

Alpha Singkoh

Anne Roberts

Debra Kearl Minnock

Karen Stakes Anderson

Kristi Miller

Theresa Young

Lena Sharpe

Peggy Feeney Kershaw

Barbara Winkler

Mia Sn

Narelle Wallace Scritchley

Neha Yadav

Noelle Speers

Typhaine Zagoreos de Bure

Elena Boyce

Red St Pierre

Lynn Saeger

Sarah Beutelschies

Reasons To Join

The AWA is a wonderful resource and offers a fantastic range of activities - it is relevant whether you’ve just arrived or been around a while - Membership Survey 2019

It’s a great group and I’ve gotten so many benefits from being a member - Membership surver 2019

I’m too much of an extrovert to just sit in the house.

I’ve always worked and because I’m not working here, AWA was a way to get out and meet people - AWA Member

I really love the diversity, I’ve made friends who come from about 15 different countries! - AWA Member