JAN 2014
Singapore
Fast forward for Sweden in Singapore ScandAsia.dk
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Opinion
My New Year’s Resolution
M
any people make a firm decision to change something in their lives with the beginning of the New Year. Starting a difficult project like stop smoking is more likely to be successful if you attach it to a specific starting point that is easy to remember. Others refuse to make a new year resolution because if there is something they really would like to change, then why not start right away? An early 20th-century New Year’s postcard carried this most ambitious resolution:
Your FREE ScandAsia Magazine in Singapore ScandAsia is the only magazine that covers all the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish residents in Singapore. We also publish a ScandAsia magazine in China, Thailand, and the rest of South East Asia.
Please sign up for your own FREE copy: www.scandasia.com Publisher : 211 Soi Prasert Manukitch 29 Prasert Manukitch Road Chorakae Bua, Lad Prao Bangkok 10230, Thailand Tel. +66 2 943 7166-8, Fax: +66 2 943 7169 E-mail: news@scandasia.com Editor-in-Chief : Gregers A.W. Møller gregers@scandmedia.com Assistant Editor: Wachiraporn Janrut wachiraporn@scandmedia.com Advertising : Frank Leong frank@scandmedia.com
I will every day try to live a simple and sincere and serene life and repelling promptly any thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity and self-seeking and cultivation cheerfulness and magnanimity, charity, and the habit of holy silence and exercising economy in expenditure, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust and a child-like trust in God. On a lighter note, Time published last year this list of “The Top 10 most commonly broken New Year Resolutions”: • • • • • • • • • •
Lose Weight and Get Fit Quit Smoking Learn Something New Eat Healthier and Diet Get Out of Debt and Save Money Spend More Time with Family Travel to New Places Be Less Stressed Volunteer Drink Less
Another website I found went a step further and asked visitors to come up with their funniest New Year Resolution. Here is my pick of their list: • • • • • • • •
I will stop saying,” Ooh, that feels nice” whenever the security guys frisk me at airports. I promise to suppress my urge to stand next to the bathroom door and scare my wife when she comes out, whenever she visits the loo at night, taking me to be fast asleep. My New Year resolution for 2008 is 1024 by 968 pixels! What’s yours! For my new year’s resolution I will stop using Facebook as the primary communication method with my wife & kids I will never again take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. I resolve to not see any movie in which the octogenarian hero dances with a teenage heroine. I will do less laundry and use more deodorant. Start buying lottery tickets at a luckier store.
So what is my own New Year Resolution? Well, I promise all ScandAsia readers always to keep a spare opinion piece in the drawer.
Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com Piyanan Kalikanon piyanan@scandmedia.com Nattapat Maesang nattapat@scandmedia.com Graphic Designer : Supphathada Numamnuay supphathada@scandmedia.com Distribution : Wanvisa Rattanaburi wanvisa@scandmedia.com Printing : Advance Printing Services Co., Ltd.
Daily news and features here: www.scandasia.com
Gregers Moller is the Editor-in-Chief of ScandAsia and the founder of the Scand-Media Group. He has lived in Thailand since 1988.
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News Brief
Finland’s Navis deepens ties with SE Asian shipbuilders
N
avis Engineering has completed work on its latest project involving Singaporean offshore specialist Miclyn Express Offshore (MEO), following the commissioning of the DP-2 system onboard the Resolution, a 70-m (230-ft) ROV and diving support vessel. After successful sea trials and a christening ceremony at the Keppel Bay Marina in Singapore, the vessel has departed for Indonesia, on a three-year charter to Seascape Surveys. The Seascape charter agreement called for modifications to Resolution, with the newbuild lengthened by 6 m (20 ft) during construction at the MEO Batam Shipyard. Enhancements included a mezzanine deck extension and installation of a crane, two ROV generators, a moon pool, an air compressor, A-frame, and additional PRS (taut wire and HPR). This latest project reflects the strategic investment made by Navis in establishing operations in Singapore two years ago. The company’s Singapore office has also taken responsibility for overseeing relations with shipbuilders throughout southeast Asia, with current projects including work in Vietnam.
Study in Sweden: Apply for scholarships
T Nordea opens currency desk in Singapore
N
ordea Bank, the Nordic region’s largest bank, will open a full-scale currency and money markets desk in Singapore to offer clients trading around the clock as it expands services for customers with operations in Asia, the Bloomberg news agency reported. The Singapore desk will initially employ eight people, including three traders and two currency sales people, and will probably add more staff in the future, said Mr Peter Dalmalm, head of sales and research at Nordea Markets in Stockholm. “This will enable us to offer clients online trading 24/7 from our currency desks in Copenhagen, New York and Singapore and improve our coverage of the currency markets,” Mr Dalmalm said. “We see Singapore and Asia as a very important location for us to be in in the future, given the region’s strong growth and the strong development of our customers there.” Nordea already offers corporate banking services to its Nordic clients and their affiliates doing business in Asia and international ship finance from its office in Singapore, which it established in 1980. Nordea’s expansion in Singapore comes as some of the world’s biggest banks face probes into potential manipulation of currency markets. Regulators in the US, Britain and Switzerland are among those investigating the foreign-exchange market after Bloomberg News reported in June that some traders had pooled information about their positions with counterparts at other firms and tried to manipulate the benchmark WM/Reuters rates. At least 12 traders have been suspended and about a dozen banks, including New York-based Goldman Sachs Group and London-based Barclays, have said they’ve been contacted by authorities.
4 ScandAsia.Singapore • January 2014
he call for the Swedish Institute Study Scholarships for the academic year of 2014/2015 is now open. The application period is 3-11 February 2014. Information about the procedure and eligibility can be found on study-in-sweden-living-in-swedenstudyinsweden.se. The Swedish Institute Study Scholarships target highly qualified students and are awarded for master studies in Sweden starting in September. The scholarships are intended for full-time master’s level studies in Sweden and cover both living costs and tuition fees. In the last application period the Swedish Institute granted 240 scholarships and this year the programme will grant a larger number of scholarships. The exact number of available scholarships will be announced in early January 2014. Check out www.studyinsweden.se
Past Events
The road ahead for Asia
T
he Norwegian Embassy invited on the 5th of December the Norwegian community to a most unusual “Policy Briefing”. The event took place at Goodwood Park Hotel where the participants were treated to a selection of speakers talking about trends that will shape South East Asia’s politics and economy ahead. The website of the Norwegian Embassy shares this account of the evening and the subjects covered: “The Policy briefing was the first of its kind, and over 70 people came to learn more about the disputed claims in the South China Sea, the economic future of Asia, and Singapore’s policies with regards to foreign workers. Professor Geoffrey Till and Dr Euan Graham from S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) started the session off with a commentary on the potential consequences of China’s claim of a new Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The researchers pointed out that the sea is “a road which leads everywhere” and is “vital to the modern structure of civilization”. Several representatives from the Norwegian maritime industry participated, as the political dynamics in the region might affect their business in the future.” “Chief Economist Mr Rajiv Biswas from IHS and author of an interesting book entitled ‘Future Asia’ followed with an overview of the economic outlook and key risks in the Asia-Pacific. He predicts that 2020 will be the tipping point where emerging markets will outgrow the developed countries in terms of nominal GDP. Mr Biswas also suggested that the Asia-Pacific will have a 5.7 % growth in real GDP in 2015 compared to a 1.3 % growth in the Eurozone.” “The audience was also briefed by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on their recent policy changes with regards to foreign workers. Singapore’s GDP has doubled over the last decade, but the real wages for Singaporeans have lagged behind. The result is that MOM is now tightening control of foreign manpower in Singapore in order to promote local job opportunities. Mr Koh shared various tools and guides MOM have developed to guide companies through the new rules to try to provide some transparency on permits for new hires.” “The insightful evening was rounded off with some Christmassy food, jingles and mingling. The Embassy would like to take this opportunity to wish the whole Norwegian community a Merry Christmas!” http://www.norway.org.sg/News_and_events/norwaysingapore/The-road-ahead-for-Asia/#.Uro6htIW3E
January 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 5
Fast forward for Sweden in Singapore “The embassy’s dialogue with Swedish companies will greatly determine how our resources will be spent,” says Håkan Jevrell, Ambassador of Sweden to Singapore. By Joakim Persson
6 ScandAsia.Singapore • January 2014
M
r Håkan Jevrell, Sweden’s new ambassador to Singapore presented on October 30th 2013 his credentials to the President of the Republic of Singapore Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam. But at that time he had already been busy for a month, basically, as he describes it, jumping on board the train and then fast forward. His intense first few months peaked in December with the finalisation of the budget proposal for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Sweden for the activities planned for the year 2014. Håkan Jevrell feels it is too soon to outline more precisely what will be most in focus but he is still able to share some ideas with ScandAsia. And on the private front he has already been able to find his feet in his new home Singapore, the first position as Ambassador for him. “There are good reasons to continue with the same activities from previous years, we’re looking forward to that. And we’ll see where we land in the planning, if we should find new angles,” he begins. “We are here to support Sweden, and help Swedish companies, and we want to see Singapore investing in Sweden. But with the fairly limited resources we have the question is how to best use our resources, where to place our emphasis.” He says the embassy is navigating how to focus on companies – those established since many years back as well as newly arrived and smaller companies. “Spontaneously I can say that the dialogue with the companies is decisive for how we should use our resources.“ “We look at all things of interest but we have the fundamental priorities. The work to find various ways to place Sweden on the map here will continue,” he states.
Happy to be in Singapore Håkan Jevrell gives the impression of being comfortable in his new role and an ambassador who is easily approachable for anyone with needs and ideas. It shines through that he is clearly more than satisfied to be in Singapore and in this capacity. In fact he learned about it on the last day one could apply to the Ambassador position. So he did, after consulting his wife who is well versed in the world of Sweden’s foreign missions, having grown up abroad as the daughter of one the country’s former ambassadors. She encouraged her husband to apply, being of the opinion that if one gets the chance one should definitely take it. “She also thinks that this is a fantastic. We’re a team having come here, regardless of official roles, and that is what will create the preconditions,” says the Ambassador. “I applied – and here I am,” he smiles, having been awarded this top ambassador position most certainly applying in competition with many who have been on previous ambassador positions.
Unusual career Different than the traditional diplomat background his career up until the appointment include Secretary of State at Ministry of Defence during fives years (as his most recent position),
working at the Moderate party’s parliamentary secretariat developing their rights policies ahead of the 2006 election, political expert at the Cabinet Office and several periods as prosecutor at a district court in Stockholm – which he did until coincidence led him into politics. “I come from a navy family, so I love the marine life, and being here in Singapore in that perspective. I was the black sheep in the family who is reserve and not professional officer.” As Secretary of State he gained large international experience and also visited Singapore. “That was an eye-opener when I was here in 2009 – it’s a fantastic place to be in. So when I saw that this job was on the market I reacted with excitement.”
Hosting local events During the autumn the Ambassador and the embassy have hosted and attended a variety of events and functions, including meeting invited Singaporeans who has studied in Sweden, host a Santa Lucia Christmas celebration, receiving the Swedish Minister for Financial Markets on a visit, hosting a Nobel reception (in recognition of the close research collaboration between Sweden and Singapore celebrate the spirit of research, in memory of Alfred Nobel), and also a business delegation to Vietnam. The annual tradition to invited former Singaporean students to Sweden to the Ambassador’s Residence is done with intention. The more than 400 Singaporeans going to different universities in Sweden (most popular destination in the EU, after the UK for exchange students) every year bring back positive views on the business climate in Sweden, Swedish entrepreneurship and leadership style. “Those invited are the most recent returns from Sweden so it’s about catching them and making them remembering Sweden and staying in touch and making sure we also remember them. What is so fantastic is the very positive image of Sweden from these students,” thinks the Ambassador. “Our message is that of course they should start working within Swedish companies, and I think many would want that. So we are looking at ways of expression to meet Swedish companies, some form of networking onwards. It’s a matter of continuing to catch them into the network.” It is a focus area for the embassy. Singaporean students’ knowledge and relationship to Sweden contributes to strengthening the close ties between the two countries. The Ambassador sees them as valuable for Swedish companies also when it comes to going about their business and adapting products and services so they can work well over here.
Business Sweden moving in The transformation of Swedish Trade Council that lead to Business Sweden being created is soon also bearing fruit, as the new organisation is posting a representative in Singapore in 2014, which the Ambassador welcomes with enthusiasm. “It’s great, from several points of view: you now have something like 250 Swedish companies
here and that means there are many things to do and not only within Singapore but the perspective of outlook towards the region. But I think we are increasingly seeing smaller companies coming here and, of course, if we can together – Business Sweden, SBAS and the Embassy – help newly arrived companies to navigate in the landscape in such a way that they can avoid making the same mistakes as others did before – then we can ease the process and contribute to further growth back home too.” “I see it as precondition that resources from the Swedish state must work well together, so we will make sure to do that,” is his message. “Of course we have different tasks and interests, but the overall interest is that Swedish companies should do better here.” SBAS is equally a significant local stakeholder.
The service companies As for smaller and new companies entering the market it is still early days for the new Ambassador to assess. “Now, with a layman’s evaluation of the development, but my feeling is that Sweden has been present here for a long time with the Swedish multinationals. Then the development in society has been the one that now you cannot deliver a product but it has to come with a service package around it, so the larger companies have also developed into offering service around their products.” This, he believes, will increasingly lead to that these companies must also bring a professional service sector along with them and that understands the markets here and that are able to join with them, their clients, closely. “Now they are seeing this need so I believe strongly in the service sector – which in itself is very broad; you have all types of services that can be delivered.” “I have seen from back home service companies with customers having operations here and realising that they must join here. And since the companies have their regional hub here the services, even if they are to result in business in the surrounding countries, will have the point of departure from supporting the companies here.” Singapore is a winner on this, because things are fast and efficient in terms of starting up a company and with transparency, whereas surrounding countries still have challenges, thinks the Ambassador. The Swedish Embassy can only do so much within their resources, so collaborating with the business community and applying for project funding are key. “Of course, with more resources we would be able to participate more and be a driver in creating own Swedish or Nordic events. Two dilemmas here where are: first, making your voice heard here is not easy by any means - so many things are constantly happening here. Secondly, it is extremely expensive, to rent event space etc., so I think it’s a matter for us to be smart, together with SBAS and Business Sweden to be seen and heard in ways and places that are unexpected so we get the attention we need.” January 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 7
Amy Yuan Zhuang is a senior analyst in Nordea Markets’ global research team. She covers Asian economies with a primary focus on China. Born and raised in Northeast China, Amy speaks fluent Mandarin, Danish and English. She is a CFA charterholder and holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Copenhagen. Nordea Private Banking To serve the growing community of Nordic individuals in Asia, Nordea has opened a private banking branch in Singapore. In Asia Singapore is the centre for private banking. Nordea’s financial strength and the AA-rating is clearly an added attraction for wealthy clients looking for a safe and reliable private banking partner. The Singapore team is composed of experienced, senior private bankers with financial market expertise. In the Singapore team are Eric Pedersen and Kim Osborg Nielsen (Danish), Haavard Farstad (Norwegian) and Jonas Bergqvist (Swedish).
Asia is still the engine of growth With a GDP growth above 6% until 2018 Asia is expected to contribute to about half of world growth. By Amy Yuan Zhuang
A
sia is a diverse region in terms of economic development. Matured economies like Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan will naturally see lower and stable growth. The remaining countries, such as China and the Southeast Asian countries, have not finished the industrialisation process. They will enjoy a period of high growth and benefit their matured neighbours through close trade ties.
Growing importance for the Nordics Thanks to industrialisation and abundant cheap labour, Asia’s importance to the rest of the world is growing rapidly, including the Nordic countries, which are trading more with Asia. Finland is the Nordic country that exports most (in relative terms) to Asia and Norway imports most from it. The Nordic countries’ export exposure to Asia can be explained by competitive advantages. For instance Finland ships its woods to Asia for paper production. Sweden exports machinery that is used in various industrial production in Asia.
You can follow Nordea on Twitter
Investments domestically financed
21 selected Nordea Markets analysts have their personal Twitter accounts. You can follow the analysts and get updated on the specific markets. On Twitter they provide insightful research on current issues affecting markets and economies.
The Asian boom in recent years was fuelled by investment, which has largely been domestically financed through savings. Both governments and households in developing Asia have had tendency to save rather than consume, leading to absurdly high savings rate. This is prevalent in the less developed part of the region, where insufficient public services fail to provide a sense of security to the people. Another reason for high savings is
@NordeaMarkets on Twitter you will find a total overview of the 21 Nordea Markets analysts. 8 ScandAsia.Singapore • January 2014
the perception that the 1997-98 Asian Crisis was caused by insufficient domestic savings and overreliance on external capital.
Big spenders The current trade pattern may change in the coming few years, as Asia will gradually move from a production centre to a consumer market. Asia as a region has become the largest consumer of many commodity classes. China is a part of the explanation, but other Asian countries as well. Currently Asia Pacific accounts for a third of world’s oil consumption, where China takes about 12% of world total. The share will be much large for coal, because China alone accounts for half of world demand for coal. Asia represents 65% of total steel consumption in the world, 46% of it comes from China.
Irrational currency sell-off In a long time Emerging Asia was perceived as the place to be, leading to massive speculative inflows. The currencies kept trending higher vs. the US Dollar. Not surprisingly the Asian currencies were severely hit when money began to leave. The ugly memories from the Asian crisis exaggerated the sell-off irrationally. However, the correction this autumn has proved that some of the Asian currencies, such as Thai Baht and Philippine Peso, may have been unfairly punished. Other currencies, such as Indian Rupee and Indonesian Rupiah, will remain under pressure because of their relatively weak fundamentals, i.e. large current account and fiscal deficit.
Danish Vets in Bangkok:
Stray dogs’ miserable lives Around November each year, a Danish veterinarian Geneviève Jorgensen and her assistant travel to Thailand to lend their local colleagues a helping hand in the desperate campaign to put the number of stray dogs under control. Bangkok alone is home to more than 100,000 stray dogs. By Sine Neuchs Thomsen
stray dogs are also known as soi dogs or street dogs 10 ScandAsia.Singapore • January 2014
“C
an we postpone the appointment to another day? We are so busy, the dogs just keep coming. I am in the middle of an operation right now,” said Michael Martinussen on the phone. We met a couple of days, or about 40 speyed dogs later, at the hotel where Vet Geneviève Jorgensen and her assistant Michael stayed in Bangkok. They travelled all the way to Thailand to help local vets sterilising mainly female street dogs. Their free service is financed by donations collected at Geneviève Jorgensen’s pet shop in Copenhagen.
A privilege “It is a nice way to use your privilege as a vet. The need for sterilisation of strays is huge. Wherever we set up a makeshift surgery, the dogs just keep coming in an endless stream. One more, yet another one, and then also the last,” said Geneviève Jorgensen, who appeared exhausted after a long day at the makeshift operating table, where they do the minor surgeries. They swooped in town for just one week, but they could easily work full-time with the number of free-ranging dogs on the streets. The number of stray dogs in Bangkok alone is estimated at over 100,000. All over Thailand, the number is put between 200,000 and 300,000, depending on which organization you speak to. A female stray dog can have two litters of 6-8 puppies per year. “No wonder they’ve got so many strays,” said Michael Martinussen, the vet assistant, who travelled to Thailand with Geneviéve Jorgensen for the third time.
Can’t just destroy Since she founded “Save The Street Dog” in 2007, Geneviéve Jorgensen has been to Thailand once every year. The two-person team can sterilize up to 20 female dogs a day during their week-long stay. Over the past six years, Geneviéve has operated on more than 600 street dogs. “They live a miserable life in the streets with plenty of diseases, and it is really exhausting for a female dog to get pregnant every time she is in heat,” said the vet, who graduated from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University of Denmark. They are often asked why they even bother to operate on the dogs when they could simply introduce culling. “One thing is that if we kill some of the dogs, the rest will get stronger. That is simple survival of the fittest,” said Michael Martinussen. To which Geneviéve added: “With that said, it is not an option to kill them when we are in Thailand, because of the Thai people’s Buddhist approach to life. We have to accept and deal with that when we are here.” She said it could be tough sometimes. “We see dogs with diseases in our makeshift clinic we would never ever see in Denmark. When that happens we just try our best to help the dog, cross our fingers and pray for it,” she added.
Can see the change The actual surgery is only a small part of the whole process, which starts when the dogs are caught in the streets. A team of Thai helpers hit the dogs with anaesthetic darts to immobilise them before they are transported in cages to the clinic. Here they will get vitamins, antibiotics and another anesthesia, before they get shaved and go under Geneviéve’s scalper. Aside from preventing the dogs from reproducing, the minor surgery actually helps improve the dogs’ quality of life. After sterilization they simply start to feel better in general, they explained. “Last year was our second time in Hua Hin, and for me it was clear to see, that there were fewer dogs in poor health than the year before, when almost all of them were thin and starving after having litters of puppies,” Michael Martinussen explained and remembered that some of them even greeted them with wagging tails. “Such experience makes it all worthwhile. It was so obvious, what the treatment had done to the dogs,” he added.
Need more sponsors The sterilization of stray dogs is a relatively costly campaign in Thailand, and Geneviéve and Michael pay for and bring along all the instruments and medicines that they need. The money comes from sponsorships and from the collections at the clinic in Copenhagen. “After six years the companies which support us are starting to realize that we are serious about this. They see that we continue year after year, and it makes them want to continue to support. Besides we have a group of nice customers who often chip in to support us,” said Geneviéve Jorgensen. Expats living in Thailand are encouraged to provide financial support to the campaign. “The best thing you can do is to get street dogs sterilized. It is way too expensive for most Thai people to pay, but for many foreigners it is not. So just go out there, find a dog and bring it to the veterinarian. It helps!” said Michael Martinussen.
Since she founded “Save The Street Dog” in 2007, Geneviéve Jorgensen has been to Thailand once every year. The twoperson team can sterilize up to 20 female dogs a day during their week-long stay. Over the past six years, Geneviéve has operated on more than 600 street dogs.
January 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 11
Float away in the
After five days in a boat house you are ensured recharged batteries and scores of stunning views on the inner memory board. To wake up on the lake, go to sleep on the lake, eat breakfast on the lake, while green mountains and small uninhabited islands slowly disappear behind the boathouse is the most relaxing and peaceful way of travel I have tried. By Sine Neuchs Thomsen
12 ScandAsia.Singapore • January 2014
S
angkhlaburi is located northwest of Bangkok near the Burmese border with one foot in the tropical forest and one foot in a lake. The lake appeared after 1983 where the Khao Laem Dam was constructed across Mae Nam Khwae. Only the dead bold trees standing meter high in the lake and the half-submerged Mon temple tell that this has not always been a lake. With Visit Beyond’s Lake House Adventure, you literally live on the lake. From the moment the boat house leaves the starting point it will stay off shore until it reaches its final destination five days later. The lake has not yet been run over by plenty of tourists, so it is more or less yours during the trip. It gives a unique opportunity to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere that appears especially around sunset, where the red and orange gleam from the sun reflects in the water surface and envelopes the boat house. Every day has a new destination and a new adventure. We visited the coconut island and tasted an exclusive type of coconut. We visited an abandoned and overgrown but very charming hidden little temple that appeared out of nowhere a short walk from the bank through bushes and trees. We also had the chance to get close to the submerged Mon temple, a fishermen village and flushing waterfalls. When not exploring and searching the banks for monkeys and other exotic animals, there are
plenty of opportunities for relaxing. You can sail around in the kayaks, fish from the boat house or just enjoy an afternoon cocktail in a swim ring while the sun sets behind the mountains. Looking for a unique experience in the Northwest part of Thailand, the Lake House Adventure offers great opportunities fulfilling a need for nature, silence and best of all relaxation. With no access to wifi and constant electricity, you really have the chance to float away and enjoy the silence, the lovely wooden made boat house and breathe in some fresh clean air. The friendly staffs on board make sure you are neither hungry nor thirsty at any time of the day. And when the night falls over the lake and lights are turned on they mix a great selection of cocktails. Booked to full capacity the Lake House can accommodate 25 people. We were 13 people, and that was appropriate. Travelling alone, as a couple or in a group the Lake House Adventure is ideal if you want to mix the opportunity of complete relaxation with beautiful nature and stunning sights along the lake bank. If you seek action and true adventure, Visit Beyond will help you find more thrilling experiences. Though the trip had an amazing elephant ride and Bamboo River rafting it was not something that gave you a racing pulse or made you sweat more than you normally would in Thailand.
magic of silence International Baccalaureate
- an alternative to the Danish ‘Studentereksamen’ • internationally recognized • gives admission to universities all over the world • taught in English You can stay at Nyborg Gymnasium’s boarding school.
Contact us for more information about the programme and the boarding school.
Deadline for applications: 15th of March
Nyborg Gymnasium & Kostskole Skolebakken 13, DK-5800 Nyborg, tlf +45 65 31 02 17 post@nyborg-gym.dk, www.nyborg-gym.dk
January 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 13
Medium
g u r o k o Ch A few years ago the Danish bakery chain Lagkagehuset invented something that for many Danes was a genius combination of two good and beloved ingredients in one bakery item: rye bread and chocolate in a bun. As it is very common to eat chocolate in thin slices on top of bread, this new product, called “chokorug” quickly became a popular thing for the Danes, either to bring home as a semi-healthy snack or just to grab on the go.
Evil
By Sine Neuchs Thomsen
Ingredients: Rye bread mix (found in e.g. Ikea) 200 gram chocolate, preferred dark 70 % 100 gram hazelnuts You can vary the recipe as you like it. Replace the chocolate with dry fruits such as dates, figs or raisins, and if you like it more as a savory, add sundried tomatoes or olives.
Are you done?
W
hen you have completed the above puzzles, please send your solution by fax to +66 2 943 7169 or scan and email to puzzles@ scandasia.com. We will make a lucky draw among the correct answers. Five lucky winners will receive a ScandAsia polo shirt. Name:
___________________________________________________
Age: ________________________
Mobile:
___________________
Address:
__________________________________________________
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Email:
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Deadline for submitting your solution is 15 February 2014 14 ScandAsia.Singapore • January 2014
The easy version is to buy a rue bread ready mix and follow the instructions on the packaging before following these steps. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Mix the content as told on the packaging Chop the chocolate in coarse pieces and add it to the bread mix. Shape the buns with two tablespoons with the amount of a small handful Let them rise in 60 minutes Roast the hazelnuts on a pan a few minutes. Rub them so the shell fall of the nuts before chopping them. Sprinkle the nuts over the buns Bake the buns at 200 degrees in 25 minutes. (if gas oven, use mark 6)
What if...
explore what if
Student liam catches a glimpse of his hero Miguel in the library
…yoUr CHild WAlked AMonG HeroeS? Would they learn that they also have the power to improve the world? That’s one of the inspiring ideas in a UWCSeA education. Take the day Grade 6 student liam met Grade 12 student Miguel. Miguel had survived living in hiding in the jungle during the war in Timor leste. He came to share his story with liam’s class when they were studying the effects of conflict on communities.
With this meeting, liam learned the reality of war and that among his schoolmates is a real-life survivor and hero. He saw that attitude triumphs over adversity, and is now more inspired to help others in any way he can. liam’s met another hero at UWCSeA—himself. what if your child joins UwCSEa? Visit www.uwcsea.edu.sg to find out more.
Miguel explained he is now on scholarship at UWCSeA and hopes that in the future, he will return home with his education to help the people in his country. UWCSeA dover is registered by the Cpe Cpe registration no. 197000825H registration period 18 July 2011–17 July 2017 UWCSeA east is registered by the Cpe Cpe registration no. 200801795n registration period 10 March 2011–9 March 2017
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