Thaipusam is happening on Thursday, 28 January 2021 and we've always seen the roadblocks and the celebrations as we walk by or drive by, want to join in the celebrations and go "behind the scenes"? The Arts House will be presenting a virtual edition of the festival’s pilgrimage route through a web app - "வேல் வேல்Vel Vel A Sonic Walk" and through this interactive audio-visual-text experience, you will be able to discover the cultural significance of this festival.
The thanksgiving festival is celebrated by the Tamil community to honour Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war. Believers express their appreciation by participating in the processions and seeking blessings from the deity.
The pilgrimage route on the web app will cover the historic neighbourhoods of Little India, Selegie, and Fort Canning. Presented through a combination of audio recordings of the music, sounds of the locations, along with archival images of Thaipusam over the past five decades, audiences will be able to learn more about the intersection of the rituals with historical locations and significant buildings in Singapore.
“Throughout human history, art has provided for our needs, which at times include solace, ritual, and togetherness. With Thaipusam being substantially scaled-down this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, The Arts House felt it was important to create opportunities for the community to come together nonetheless and perhaps reconnect with the festival in different ways.” --- Rupert Thomson, Head of Artistic Programmes, AHL Venues.
In response to both the Thaipusam experience and locations along the pilgrimage route, the young theatre collective, Brown Voices have created five short monologues on the rituals conducted in the locations. Through these monologues, visitors will get a glimpse of how kavadi (sacrifice at every step), milk pots, turmeric, sandalwood feature against the backdrop of the Thaipusam processions. The writers who will be featured are Karthik Somasundaram, Rebekah Sangeetha Dorai, Mumtaz Maricar, Lewin Bernard and Hashisha Nazir, responding to Perumal Temple, Selegie Point, Dhoby Ghaut, Overhead Bridge at Fort Canning and Thandayuthapani Temple at Tank Road. They also provide the voiceovers for the recordings, directed by Grace Kalaiselvi.
“This digital experience of walking the Thaipusam route will allow listeners to connect with the quieter, more introspective aspects of a pilgrimage, while also staying connected to the sense of community which makes the procession such an integral part of the festival. They will also be able to understand how integral Thaipusam is to Singapore’s identity through monologues written by writers from the Brown Voices Collective that situate the experience of the festival in the personal, and in iconic spaces of central Singapore.” --- Shridar Mani, Programmer, The Arts House.
Feel free to log onto the website and explore the pilgrimage route to learn more about the historical significance of Thaipusam. Have a nice weekend, my Huneybees!
Yay! I've been waiting ever since I got news of the launch of LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier. It's LG's revolutionary wearable personal air solution and is now available in Singapore!
Embodying the company’s vision to bring greater convenience and health benefits to consumers’ daily lives, this new air care solution device comes just at the right time during this pandemic. High-performance filters and sensor-controlled fans are used to ensure clean air and optimal breathing comfort anywhere, any time.
LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier utilizes two H13 HEPA filters to prevent up to 99.95 percent of harmful airborne matter such as viruses, bacteria and common allergens from entering the respiratory system.
DUAL Fans and a patented Respiratory Sensor will allow users to effortlessly breathe pure, filtered air in almost any environment. The sensor detects the cycle and volume of the wearer’s breathing and automatically adjusts the three-speed DUAL Fans accordingly, speeding up when inhaling and slowing down to reduce resistance when exhaling.
Designed after extensive ergonomic facial analysis to fit snugly on most adult faces, LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier minimizes air leakage around the nose and chin and is comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. The built-in rechargeable 820mAh battery delivers up to eight hours of operation at low speed and two hours on the highest setting. And because key components such as filters, inner cover, face guard, ear straps and strap extenders are easy to remove or replace, the PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier is easy to keep hygienically clean.
The LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier can be paired with the PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier Case featuring LG’s UV dszcxnano sanitization technology to eliminate 99.99 percent of harmful germs in just 30 minutes using UV-C LED lights. The case can also remove moisture from internal components caused by the wearer’s breath, charge the device from empty to full in just two hours and even send a notification to a smartphone via the LG ThinQ app when filters need replacing. The Wearable Air Purifier Case is sold separately for S$199.
Pre-orders for the wearable air purifier are now available through official LG Lazada and LG Shopee stores for S$229. The wearable air purifier will also be available at authorized retailers Best Denki and COURTS from January 15, 2021. From January 15 to 31 March 2021, receive 30 pieces of complimentary inner cover (worth S$20 each) with purchase of the LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier.
Then, comes the LG TONE Free FN7 model that comes with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), providing greater listening pleasure to enhanced personal audio experience with hygienic UVnano charging case, intuitive user experience, incredibly comfortable in-ear fit, noise isolation performance, and Meridian-tuned premium sound.
LG TONE Free FN7 builds on the already great passive noise isolation of LG TONE Free FN6 by neutralizing external sounds using three microphones in each earbud that monitor soundwaves coming from all directions. The inner microphone cancels out unwanted noise when you turn on the ANC function, upper microphone reduces noise and cancels echoes while the lower microphone picks up and amplifies your vocals, offering advanced call quality, especially useful for answering calls while on-the-go. With ANC activated, environmental noises are now almost completely neutralized, making every note and voice sound clearer, more natural, without losing the details from turning up the volume to maximum. Whether you are at the gym, at an outdoor café, or on a noisy street, everything sounds as though you are in the quiet comfort of your personal space. Switching to Ambient Sound Mode to hear what’s going on around you is also made easy with a press of a button, making it easy to listen to an announcement on public transportation or when crossing a busy street.
Fully charged, the LG TONE Free FN7 is able to provide up to seven hours of usage with the UVnano case delivering three full charges for up to a total of 21 hours of listening enjoyment.
The LG TONE Free FN7comes in two colours: Stylish Black and Modern White, and retails at a recommended price of S$298. From January 22 to February 4, enjoy a special pre-order price of S$238 and receive a complimentary premium coffee card worth S$40. The product is available through LG Lazada and LG Shopee, as well as authorized retailers and distributors Best Denki, COURTS, Harvey Norman, Challenger, Gain City, Stereo Electronics and ConnectIT.
With the encouragement of less social interaction amidst this Covid-19 situation, it seems the festive Chinese New Year mood has dampened. Therefore, to allow their customers to continue ushering in the Year of the Ox joyfully and safely, DBS is bolstering its suite of digital offerings during this period.
Comprising digital gifting alternatives like the DBS eGift and DBS QR Gift, and a line-up of interactive experiences including games and a virtual Chingay event, so their customers can continue to keep long-standing festive CNY traditions alive even in the new normal.
Gift safely, conveniently and sustainably with DBS eGift and DBS QR Gift
Customers can beat the queues for CNY new notes and enjoy contactless, hassle-free gifting with digital alternatives such as the DBS QR Gift and DBS eGift. Hosted on DBS PayLah! (one of Singapore’s most popular mobile platforms with over 1.8 million users) these also serve as more environmentally friendly options as compared to cash: according to the Monetary Authority of Singapore,the production of new notes for CNY each year is estimated to generate about 330 tonnes in carbon emissions.
To make it even easier for customers to obtain their DBS QR Gift cards, from tomorrow to 26 January, customers will be able to order their desired amount of DBS QR Gift cards online and DBS will deliver them by mail, at no cost, by 10 February.
The DBS QR Gift, which aims to replace cash while preserving the meaningful CNY tradition of exchanging physical red packets, has grown increasingly popular with customers since its introduction in 2019. The number of DBS QR Gift cards used during CNY in 2020 tripled from the previous year, with the amount of money loaded on them in the same period nearly doubling to SGD 2.8 million.
This CNY, DBS is also introducing a new customizable expiry feature that allows customers to choose their preferred expiry date of up to eight weeks from the date of loading. DBS QR Gift cards not redeemed by this date will be refunded to the givers thereafter. This new and enhanced version of DBS QR Gift has a shelf life of up to three years.
To use a DBS QR Gift card, customers simply need to scan its QR code via DBS PayLah! to load their desired cash value, then gift it to a recipient for redemption via DBS PayLah! or PayNow. Teens below the age of 16 can also scan and receive DBS QR Gift cards directly by registering for their own DBS PayLah! wallets, which can be done with their parents’ authorization via SingPass. Up to 10 DBS QR Gift cards with the same cash value, message, expiry date, and animation can be loaded at once, providing greater convenience to time-strapped users.
DBS QR Gift cards (Design 1) for CNY
DBS QR Gift cards (Design 2) for special occasions
This year’s DBS QR Gift cards come in packs of eight, with each pack featuring two designs: one specifically designed for CNY festivities, and a generic design suitable for all special occasions such as weddings and birthdays. DBS QR Gift cards can be collected for free at all DBS/POSB full-service branches and DBS Treasures Centres as of 11 January, and at POSB new notes pop-up ATMs starting 25 January.
For customers who prefer a fully digital option, DBS eGift allows them to gift loved ones from the safety and comfort of their homes. Customers simply need to tap the in-app ‘eGift’ icon in DBS PayLah! and indicate their preferred amount, along with a message and animation of their choice. Both DBS eGift and DBS QR Gift can be redeemed by users of DBS PayLah! and PayNow.
A range of interactive games and experiences for families and friends to enjoy
DBS has also lined up a series of interactive digital games and experiences for families and friends to enjoy this CNY. These include the return of the DBS TapLah! Contest, a scaled-up version of the highly anticipated POSB #HuntYourZodiac virtual game, and virtual showcases at Chingay 2021.
Up to SGD 888 in cash prizes to be won in the DBS TapLah! Contest
Hosted on DBS PayLah!, the DBS TapLah! mobile game challenges players to collect as many gold coins (+3 points) and red packets (+25 points) as possible within 30 seconds, while avoiding “bombs” (-10 points). DBS TapLah! exceeded 36,000 gameplays in a span of 15 days last CNY.
The game will go live on DBS PayLah! from 12 to 26 February (“game period”). Daily prizes of SGD 88 will be awarded to the top 10 players at the end of each day, while the player with the highest score of the entire game period will walk away with the grand prize of SGD 800.
To participate, customers simply need to partake in a qualifying transaction - defined as the giving and receiving of a DBS eGift or DBS QR Gift (minimum transaction of SGD 2) between a unique giver-receiver pair (i.e. multiple transactions between the same giver-receiver pair are counted as one transaction) – between 16 January to 26 February, both dates inclusive. Customers gain one chance to play for every qualifying transaction made.
Game On! POSB #HuntYourZodiac goes island-wide
POSB #HuntYourZodiac, an interactive virtual game designed for River Hongbao (RHB) last year, is back bigger and better this year!
POSB #HuntYourZodiac creates an immersive virtual experience where players can search for, encounter, and hunt the twelve Chinese zodiac animals via their mobile screens, in exchange for cash prizes and specialized Chinese horoscope predictions based not only on their zodiac animal but also the zodiac element (metal, wood, fire, water, earth) corresponding to their birth date. Piloted last CNY, the game site racked up more than 19,000 unique visitors over five days.
Previously confined to RHB grounds, #HuntYourZodiac is leveling up this year to be an exciting island-wide hunt with over SGD 150,000 worth of prizes to be won! From 10 to 14 February, customers will be able to join the nation’s largest virtual hunt for zodiac animals from anywhere in Singapore.
Chingay Parade 2021: Going digital with virtual showcases and talent shows
Organised by The People’s Association (PA), the Chingay Parade 2021 will be conducted as a digital showcase to be aired live on television, online and social media channels on 20 February 2021, 8pm – 9pm.
As a longstanding partner of the Chingay Parade, DBS is sponsoring the ‘We’ve Got Talent’ segment, which seeks to inspire and spark creativity by giving local talents a chance to showcase their skills. DBS will also leverage this platform to highlight homegrown small and medium-sized merchants, including social enterprises, by offering them more opportunities to reach out to more people in the community.
A beautiful smile could boost your confidence level and though it has been a mask-wearing year, with our smiles hidden and travel plans cancelled, it makes a good time now to invest in your physical and mental wellness goals.
For those looking for a fuss free solution,SmileDirectClub(NASDAQ-listed andUS-based teledentistry pioneer), has recently opened a new convenient SmileShop location in partnership withNuffield Dental Holdings, for busy Singaporeans to focus on a holistic approach to oral care and clear aligner treatment.
Located at Nuffield Dental Jewel in Wheelock Place and being the first telehealth platform for direct-to-consumer teeth straightening, SmileDirectClub has been praised for its convenient and affordable clear aligner treatment and has helped over one million customers globally get the smile they love.
Singapore’s newest SmileShop location will continue to offer the same patented retail concept and digital treatment process as existing shops at HarbourFront Centre and One Raffles Place Mall that opened during the summer of 2020.
In celebration of the new year and a new smile, Singaporeans that visit any of the SmileShops are invited to use the code NEWYEAR21 to get SG$200 off SmileDirectClub aligners for a limited time.
How it works?
Visit one of the SmileShops
SmileGuides will create a digital image of the customer’s teeth using 3D scanning technology during a free 30-minute SmileShop visit. The camera takes 6,000 photos per second, creating a 3D image. Each customer will also be able to have an in-person consultation with Singapore registered dentist or orthodontist after the scan.
At the end of the appointment, customers will receive a complimentary lip balm and bright on™ premium whitening and an LED accelerator light sample set. Once a Singaporean registered dentist or orthodontist approves, the treatment plan is sent to customers virtually.
A new smile is created
Once the smile transformation is approved,custom-prescribed SmileDirectClub aligners are manufactured in FDA-registered and certified U.S. manufacturing facilities. Each aligner is custom-made from BPA-free plastic thermoformed onto personalized 3D-printed mouth moulds.
SmileDirectClub’s aligners are manufactured using a ground-breaking fleet of HP industrial 3D printers, making the company one of the largest 3D printing manufacturers in the U.S.
Delivered to your doorstep
Each customer’s aligners are shipped in an “all in one” blurple box directly to the customer’s door. An assigned Singapore registered dentist or orthodontist will have regular virtual check-ins with the customer, guiding each treatment remotely from beginning to end. Each treatment plan is on average 4-6months.
Smiles are forever
As the customer nears the end of their smile journey, SmileDirectClub encourages the ordering of a set of retainers to wear at night after treatment is complete to maintain the smile over time.
To get started, customers may visit SmileDirectClub.com.sg to schedule a SmileShop visit. SmileDirectClub aligner therapy is available for a flat rate of SG$2,500, or through its SmilePay™ option of a SG$350 deposit and SG$115 per month for 24 months.
Any plans for Chinese New Year yet? If you are looking for a slightly different style of celebrating this year, why not try out the Chinese & European Fusion (with free-flow dim sum & Chinese tea) menu at Xperience Restaurant, SO/ Singapore?
From 25 Jan – 26 Feb 2021, celebrate the Year of the Ox at Xperience Restaurant, SO/ Singapore with Yu Sheng and the 3 or 4 course Chinese & European fusion set menu including free-flow of 3 types of assorted dim sum & Chinese tea.
Yu Sheng platters are available dine-in, takeaway, or delivery between 25 Jan – 26 Feb 2021. They can be prepared for 3-4, 5-8, or 10-12 people and start from $58. You can also add premium upgrades including sashimi-style Japanese sweet shrimp (Ama Ebi) or House Cured Salmon.
As for the set menu, it is available for lunch & dinner 12 – 26 Feb 2021 (excluding weekend lunch) and starts from $38 per person. Menu highlights include “Gold Ingot” Chicken & Foie Gras Tortellini with Chicken Broth, Mint, Basil & Coriander; “Nian Nian You Yu” Steamed Fresh Market Fish of the Day with Thicken Prawn Bouillabaise; and “Nian Gao” Homemade Baked Coconut Scented Glutinous Rice Cake.
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Cheers and toss to an abundance of health, fortune, and happiness this Year of the Ox!
