If the glitterati had a secret central playground, SO Sofitel Singapore would be it. Encased in a grey, gravelly building, the neo-classical elements of the former telecommunications office are not as apparent when one is walking hurriedly through the passages in the area. But look up from across the street and the quiet majesty of…
Category: Lifestyle
Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa (Event Space Review)
Ah, sunlight – it makes everything better. From illuminating perfect Instagram photos to bestowing a golden sheen to our skin, that natural gift from Mother Nature gives everything an enviable spa-glow quality. Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Spa & Resort, languishing in natural daylight, has been a choice destination for events seeking that same quality, from luxurious…
10 Easy Eco-friendly Christmas Decorations That Look Awesome
I’m dreaming of a green Christmas… The only snow we get this time of the year comes in the form of those packing Styrofoam balls when we open some of our gifts. Not surprisingly, with all that gift buying and parties, Christmas is one of those holidays where there is plenty of excess and wastage….
Masterminds (Film Review)
Let’s be honest. This is one of those SNL casting heist featuring that anti-hero with an unpronounceable name – Zach Galifianakis. With that out of the way, and in the great tradition of other awkward leading men before him such as Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller and Steve Carell, the hirsute Galifianakis drives this comedic vehicle…
The Transcendant Words of Shoko Kanazawa
It happened in a split second. As Shoko Kanazawa received a freshly-dipped brush from her mother Yasuko Kanazawa, she bent over and kissed her mother’s hand. My throat tightened – it was such a moment of spontaneous gratitude. Born with Down Syndrome, Shoko’s story is one of birth and rebirth, inked by a father’s wisdom and…
35 Quick & Easy Ideas For Awesome Christmas Cookies
Fact: Christmas magically makes any cookie calories disappear. And if indulging in them makes us a little thicker around the waist, well, there is always the New Year resolution (ahem)! Jokes aside, there’s nothing that brings a Christmas celebration together like a heartwarming recipe. What can be more fun than baking Christmas cookies with friends…
The Disappointments Room (Film Review)
I can’t help but feel like there should be an apostrophe in the title. But that’s not the only thing that is missing in this horror-mystery from director D.J. Caruso and writer Wentworth Miller. Dana (Kate Beckinsale) is an architect with a purpose, led by her well-meaning husband David (Mel Raido) to a recent purchase…
River (Film Review)
River (Gtsngbo) plays out a family’s complex relationship against the panoramic but sequestered mountains of Tibet. Director Sonthar Gyal anchors his film with stunning child acting prodigy Yangchan Lhamu, who takes us on a story arc of a jealous child rejected from her suckling habit as her mother bears a new child in her womb, while being…
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – CONTAIN YOUR EXCITEMENT (HOTEL REVIEW)
It’s a novel enough concept – having designer rooms carved out from containers to accommodate the quirky traveler. The Container Hotel in Kuala Lumpur pitches “sustainable architecture”. Freight containers and concrete pipes are compartmentalised into living quarters for the weary traveler. A small weary traveler preferably. An unexpectedly early bus arrival (4.30am) led me to…
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – COMING FROM BELLO (HOTEL REVIEW)
Boutique hotels have a lot of competition. Just like artisanal and handcrafted, boutique belongs to the family of overused words that occasionally breaks their promise. Bello & Bella Boutique Hotel is situated in the residential segment of Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. Amidst a colourful mix of businesses, the establishment manages to keep said promise as a curated stay in this…
The 9th Life of Louis Drax (Film Review)
Which came first – the over-protective mother or the accident-prone child? Aiden Longworth is the title boy Louis Drax – an intelligent but troubled kid who has an unfortunate annual ritual of getting into near-death experiences. As his mother Natalie, a nostalgic glamour figure played by Sarah Godon, saves him each year, she makes reference…
Getting Around or Going In Circles?
When Circles was launched earlier this year, I was stoked. Even in the early days, I’ve liked supporting underdogs in monopolised fields. I remember Mr Branson’s Virgin Mobile fondly with their new fangled plans and snazzy stickers. So after being “under the sun” for almost 20 years with nothing to show for it except rising bills and…
AT CAFE 6 (FILM REVIEW)
It’s strange to leave the cinema with a heavy heart and not know why. Baffled, I went for another screening the next day. I sniffed at the potential cliches but came out choking on my tears. I certainly wasn’t expecting this from At Cafe 6 (六弄咖啡馆). When You Are the Apple of My Eye became a…
Apprentice (Film Review)
“F**king scholars.” If the chuckles from the audience are anything to go by, Boo Junfeng has once again demonstrated his skill in capturing popular sentiment. And yet he likes to encapsulate these responses in forgotten and unpopular (even controversial) environments. In this case, a prison. Larangan Prison is a maximum security security fortress, and houses “punishments…
Ba Yan Ka La – Transforming the Oriental Luxury Experience
One moment I was in the urban confines of Tangs, a multi-brand departmental store in the hub – buzz of Orchard; the next, a wood cabin in the fringe mountains of Tibet, redolent with the musky aromas of hanging herbs, chopped roots and bubbling butter tea. I guess I must be more careful where I…
Cream, Custard & Christmas
Christmas in the tropics is never the same as our pole-inclined neighbours. Visions of white can only be found floating around as soapy foam; or laid out in cotton pillows on sparkly trees during the yuletide season. For bakeries, scenes of unfamiliar snow are fastidiously recreated on fallen logs of sponge and cream. So what…
The Russian Cosmonaut (From “Another Earth”)
Another Earth is a poignant investigation into a person, their life and second chances. We have explored so many “what ifs” that if personified, it might turn out to be Mike Cahill. But this is not a review of his film. I wanted to highlight a moment that left an indelible mark on me, transcribed below. Go watch…
Birth of a Book (Video)
As we venture into the realm of the e-book, the process of book-making becomes an incredibly romantic one. Here’s a video that captures it, softly and beautifully: Birth of a Book from GLEN MILNER on Vimeo.
A journey into the minds of two mad men
I walked through the mind-scape of two legendary artists, getting a chance to see their processes at two exhibitions currently at the new Art & Science Museum. Dali: The Mind of a Genius Dali’s showcase was a little “spacious”, with exhibits seemingly employed desperately to fill the arena. But I enjoyed getting to know more…
Breakfast Interrupted (Video)
Hungry for poetry. BSS | Breakfast Interrupted from Bruton Stroube Studios on Vimeo.
T&C Salad (Served with a generous helping of friends)
So in case I ever forget this self-dreamed-up recipe, or if any of my friends would like to recreate it, here’s the recipe for my salad this afternoon! T&C Salad 1 large bowl or 1 large bag of mixed greens, such as Romaine, Rocket & Arugula 12 pcs of sun-dried tomatoes ½ cup spiced feta…
MORGAN AWYONG 