10%OFF - PUB

GARDEN
DINING
Chill out and
dig in at ABC
Waters sites
NATURE
UNVEILED
Youths play tour
guides to the
great outdoors
APR-JUN 2012
WIN!
A pair of
Golden Village
movie vouchers
Celebrity pair Soo Kui Jien and
Sarah Tan spend couple time at the
new Kallang River@Bishan Park
INSIDE Trekking on Wheels World Water Day Eco-conscious Bathroom Essentials

Recognising outstanding
water contributions
The Watermark Award recognises
individuals and organisations for
their outstanding contributions and
ccommitment
towards protecting and
raising awareness of Singapore’s
precious water resource.
If you know of any exemplary exe
individuals or organisations,
with extraordinary contributions towards Singapore’s water
sustainability, nominate them for the prestigious
Watermark Award 2012.
Nominations open 22 March and
close 30 April 2012. For more information, visit
www.pub.gov.sg/watermarkaward

0
14
24
2 MAILBAG
Readers share what they think
about PURE
3 BUZZ
The latest events and
programmes
4 HOTSPOT
Discover the new and improved
Bishan Park
8 JIVE TALKING
Celebrity couple Sarah Tan and
Soo Kui Jien on family time
10 NOW YOU KNOW
How to have fun safely at the
Kallang River@Bishan Park
12 WORLD WATER DAY
Why is the world thirsty?
Find out the reason, and more...
14 GLOBETROTTING
Check out the planet’s
driest places!
contents
16 THE GREAT
OUTDOORS
NUS Assistant Professor
Dr Darren Yeo reveals
his ‘hidden’ MacRitchie
Reservoir Park
19 MY SAY
A day in the life of PUB’s
Assistant Director of Policy and
Planning Chew Chee Keong
20 YOUTH BEAT
Young naturalists get their
lessons outdoors
24 FOOD
GLORIOUS FOOD
Dine with a view at these
restaurants and cafes near
ABC Waters sites
24 FUN ON WHEELS
Four cycling routes that take
you closer to nature
26 SHOPPING
Green living starts in the
bathroom with these
eco-conscious products
29 ON THE WATERFRONT
Updates on the latest
happenings in the world
of water
31 PROMOTIONS
Discounts and freebies not
to be missed!
You can also download e-PURE by being a fan of PURE Facebook at
www.facebook.com/pure.magazine.sg.
APR-JUN 2012
GARDEN
DINING
Chill out and
dig in at ABC
Waters sites
NATURE
UNVEILED
Youths play tour
guides to the
great outdoors
on the cover
Photography: Hong Chee Yan
Featuring: Sarah and Kui Jien, shot on
location at Bishan Park. On Sarah: Cotton
silk jumpsuit from Max&Co. Chain bracelet
from H&M. Sandals from Wanderwit.
On Kui Jien: Cotton shirt from CK Calvin
Klein. Chino pants from Adidas Originals
Blue Collection. JS Wings Sneakers from
Adidas Originals by Jeremy Scott. Watch,
Kui Jien’s own. Styling by Neo Lirong
advisers
George Madhavan, Irene Kang
editors
Joy Tan, Nawwar Syahirah
publishing consultant
MediaCorp Pte Ltd
senior editor
Agatha Koh Brazil
editor
Ronald Rajan
assistant editor
Jolene Limuco
APR-JUN 2012
WIN!
A pair of
Golden Village
movie vouchers
Celebrity pair Soo Kui Jien and
Sarah Tan spend couple time at the
new Kallang River@Bishan Park
INSIDE Trekking on Wheels World Water Day Eco-conscious Bathroom Essentials
writers
Fairoza Mansor, Gene Khor
senior designers
Isabelle Yeoh, Frances Sim
designer
Patricia Fong
executive photographer
Ealbert Ho
senior photographer
Kelvin Chia
photographers
Hong Chee Yan, Roy Lim
account manager
Michele Kho
contributor
Elisabeth Lee, Min Chong
PURE is a quarterly publication by PUB,
the national water agency. Published by
MediaCorp Pte Ltd, Caldecott Broadcast
Centre, Andrew Road, Singapore 299939.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole
or in part is prohibited. Copyright © is
held by the publishers. Printed by
KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd.
pure
1

2 pure pur pure
mailbag
WRITE
TO US
PURE reader
Woo Chin Hoon waxes
lyrical about the transformation
of the Kallang River in this
evocative poem he wrote in 1997
about the water body. Read his letter
and poem below, and fi nd out
more about the naturalised
Kallang River@Bishan Park
in our cover feature on p4!
The
Kallang River
I remembered many years ago
When Kallang River was an eyesore;
Where all sorts of rubbish abound,
And even discarded furniture could be found.
It emitted an odour oh so strong,
Sniffi ng it made my system go wrong.
The water was black or so it seemed
With the oil spills which made it gleamed.
I wondered if things alive,
Thrown inside could still survive?
Such were my impressions of this river
Certainly no haunt of any diver!
The scenario is different now. ED'S REPLY:
Sometimes I really wonder how, Thanks for your
A river so dirty and smelly poem, Chin Hoon.
Can be transformed so beautifully?
This time it has
won you a $50
To a sight all fi nds enjoyable,
CapitaVoucher!
Upgrading the life of our people;
Improving the lot and environment,
Meant also for our future generation.
I salute the people who accomplished this feat
Sacrifi cing especially their blood and sweat.
Such is the ambition of a nation,
Realised by hard work and determination!
WOO CHIN HOON
We’d love to hear from you!
Tell us what you liked, what you didn’t, and what
you’d like to see featured. The best letter featured
next issue will win a pair of GV movie tickets.
Post your thoughts on the PURE Facebook page
www.facebook.com/pure.magazine.sg
(start your post with “PURE Mail”), email us at
PUREmail@mediacorp.com.sg or send your letter
to PURE Letters, MediaCorp Pte Ltd, Caldecott
Broadcast Centre, Andrew Road, Singapore 299939
A river
transformed
I was pleasantly surprised to read in
"Come to the river" in the Jan-Mar issue of PURE
which mentioned that the Kallang River, which used
to run in a concrete canal, has been transformed into
a river and integrated into Bishan Park. About 15
years ago, I wrote a poem about the Kallang
River for a contest. I’m glad to note that my
vision of the river has come true!

uzz
Wheeling
with Water Wally
It may not be a new Transformer vehicle that can shift its form to a
robot action fi gure, but the super-cool Water Wally car has got some
‘powers’ of its own. TEXT BY FAIROZA MANSOR
Just did a double take because you
think you saw a fl ashy, multi-coloured
car — with PUB mascot Water Wally’s
smiley face on its side — drive pass
you on the road? Don’t be alarmed. You’re
not hallucinating, and no, rehearsal for the
next Chingay parade has not begun.
The national water agency is just taking
the Mitsubishi i MiEV, an Electric Vehicle
(EV), for a spin as part of a test-bedding
programme to assess the viability of different nt n
EV prototypes and recharging technologies. .
Though its design is based on the
gasoline-driven 660cc “i” minicar, this
new eco-friendly ride features a major
departure from the original — it’s a
zero-emissions vehicle that runs on
rechargeable batteries. Even when taking
into account the carbon dioxide emissions at
the power plants that generate the power
needed for charging the i Mi MiEV MiEV, EV EV, V, , it rel r rreleases
el e el e ea ease ea ease se ses s
CATCH
ME IF
YOU CAN
Snap a shot of the Water Wally car when
you spot it on the road, post the photo on
PURE’s FaceBook page and stand to win limited
edition Water Wally prizes! Log on to www.
facebook.com/pure.magazine.sg pp
now!
only about 30 per cent of the carbon dioxide of
its gasoline counterpart.
Fully-charged, the i MiEV can cover a
distance of 160km — meaning an average driver
in Singapore can cruise around for approximately
three days before the power goes fl at.
And because it uses an electric motor — that’s
free of the vertical vibrations associated with
ga gaso ga ggasoline so soli so soli li line li l ne eng e eeng
engines ng n ng ngin in ines in ines es —
thi t tthi
this hi his hi his s EV EEV run r rrun
runs uns un uns s extr ex extr extremely tr t tr trem em emel em emel el e el ely y qu quie qu qquietly. ietl ie ietl tl ttl tly. y y. y
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTThhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee lllllatttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssstttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
events,
ppppppppppppppprrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooggggggggggggggggggggggrrrrrrrammes aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanddddddddddddd
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttttttttttttttter nnnnnnnnnnnnnnewssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Road image courtesy of the Singapore Tourism Board,
photos of Water Wally and car by Hong Chee Yan
pure
3

hotspot
4 pure
TEXT BY FAIROZA MANSOR PHOTOS BY HONG CHEE YAN
Want to see more photos of Sarah and Kui Jien
at the new Kallang River@Bishan Park? Log on to
www.facebook.com/pure.magazine.sg
Styling: Neo Lirong. Grooming: Manisa Tan. (This page) On Kui Jien: Raglan crew tee, blue chino shorts and sneakers all from Adidas Originals. On Sarah: Yellow silk dress from Sportmax, bangles from H&M and Sandals
from Wanderwit. (Opposite page) On Kui Jien: Cotton tee, Oxford shirt and blue chino shorts all from Adidas Originals. On Sarah: Silk dress from Max Mara, straw hat from Boss Black and Bangles from H&M.

Purple Heron
Celebrity husband-and-wife pair
Soo Kui Jien and Sarah Tan put a brief
pause on parenting to spend precious
couple time at the newly-rejuvenated
Kallang River@Bishan Park.
As they stroll into Bishan Park
and take in the lush lawns and
meandering waterway, television
host Soo Kui Jien and his wife Sarah
Tan, let out a collective “wow”.
It’s the couple’s fi rst time at this 62-hectare
park that serves as an expansive green oasis
between the housing estates of Bishan and
Ang Mo Kio since its makeover — and the
pair can’t get over the transformation. The
Kallang River which once ran in a utilitarian
2.7-kilometre-long concrete canal along the
park's edge has been transformed into a natural
waterway that meanders through the park.
Gentle slopes covered with greenery now
border the stream, allowing park-goers to walk
along or just chill out by the water’s edge. The
natural-looking river has been constructed using
soil engineering techniques involving natural
materials such as rocks and plants to stabilise the
slopes and prevent erosion. The slopes also serve
as natural habitats, encouraging wildlife to settle
and thrive.
Little Egret
Aerial view of the new Kallang River@Bishan Park
The greenery has increased biodiversity in the
park by 30 per cent, and the introduction to the
a naturalised river has brought birds, dragonfl ies,
waterhens and little egrets closer to people.
“It’s so lovely,” exclaims Sarah, 32, a
former model and VJ and now a 987FM radio
deejay. The landscape prompts a discussion
about whether they should take their slightly
nervous Golden Retriever, Charlie, to the park.
Eventually, they agree that Dylan, their
four-year-old son, would appreciate it more.
And which bright-eyed child wouldn’t?
The park is now home to not one but
three new playgrounds — the Water
Playground for those who love getting
wet, the Adventure Playground
with its range of climbing facilities
for bigger children, and the sand-fi lled
Bubble Playground.
Gabions
Photo courtesy of Mendis Tan
pure 5

hotspot
SAFETY BY THE STREAM
During heavy rain, the land next
to the river serves as a channel to
carry water downstream. To ensure
that the safety of park users is not
compromised, the following measures
have been put in place.
� A river monitoring and warning
system with water level sensors,
warning lights, sirens and
announcements will provide early
warning when heavy rain or rising
water levels are expected.
� Warning signs, red markers and
lifebuoy have been put up
along the river.
� Park users should move out of the
river when the monitoring system
triggers warning lights as well as
sirens and announcements.
� Safety lines with buoys are provided
at selected locations, along with
CCTVs and round-the-clock
patrol surveillance.
See 'River Safety Dos and Don'ts' on
pages 10-11
Warning lights, sirens
and lifebuoy
6 pure

“It’s great to see so many
people strolling, jogging,
chilling out, fl ying kites, playing
touch rugby — and kids right in
the middle of the river”. — Kui Jien
On Sarah: Cotton tank, vest, tights and sneakers all from Adidas Originals. On Kui Jien: Sweatshirt, blue chino shorts and sneakers all from Adidas Originals.
Cleansing Biotope
The water in the Water Playground is from the ponds
and river and is maintained without the use of any chemicals.
Instead, a cleansing biotope of specially selected plants located
at Pond Gardens help to fi lter pollutants and clean the water.
Adults have plenty to do at the park as well. A fi tness
corner is sited next to the Water Playground and there is a foot
refl exology footpath by the Bubble Playground. Open fi elds
and event lawns — covering more than 40,000 sq metres
— are interspersed throughout the park and are available
for public booking for recreational sports or private events.
Wooden lounge chairs and benches have also been installed
throughout the park.
A touch rugby match in progress catches the attention of
Jien, a self-professed sports junkie.“It’s great to see so many
people strolling, jogging, chilling out, fl ying kites, playing
touch rugby — and kids right in the middle of the river,” says
the 40-year-old. “The dogs are all out here too. It’s fantastic!”
Jien is referring to the dog run area where certain breeds are
allowed to run free without a leash.
For sweeping panoramic views of the park, visitors can
head up to Recycle Hill, which was formed using concrete
slabs from the former canal. On top of the hill is an awardwinning
sculpture by local sculptor Kelvin Lim Fun Kit, called
‘An Enclosure for a Swing’.
It’s quickly apparent how a stroll around these verdant
environs can prove a mesmerising experience, one that
visitors would surely want to repeat. “We would defi nitely
bring Dylan here the next time. He would be ecstatic to cycle
or ride his scooter around the park,” says Jien, promising to
make a return visit. And we’re betting that will be sooner
than later.
Recycle Hill
pure 7

jive talking
Marriage isn’t a fairy tale and parenting is hard
work. But for Soo Kui Jien and Sarah Tan, raising
their four year-old son — and going about that in an
eco-friendly way — is a labour of love that both of
them are committed to.
Once upon a time,
television host,
Soo Kui Jien (or
Jien, as he is often
known as) and former model
and Channel [V] VJ, Sarah Tan,
fell in love and got married on
a beautiful beach in Bali. The
bride walked down the sandy
aisle in December 2007, and it’s
pretty much been ‘happily ever
after’ ever since.
They say marriage has an
ageing effect on people. But
four years on and the celebrity
couple, both Singapore
Permanent Residents, must
have inherited Peter Pan’s agedefying
genes.
Sarah, now 32, hasn’t lost
any of her magazine cover
model looks. And Jien, now
co-host of weekly sports
programme Tiger It's Your
Shout! on mio’s Stadium
channel, doesn’t remotely look
40 even though he is. Indeed,
his Wikipedia page refers to
him as “Handsome Jien”.
"The entry was from an
interview eons ago when I
was still hosting for Disney
Channel!” says Jien laughingly.
8 pure
He also works full-time as a
Brand Manager for Asia
Pacifi c Breweries.
Meanwhile, Sarah’s Wiki
entry is up to date — she is now
a radio DJ on 987FM. “You
know what? I think she’s been
updating the site herself!” says
Jien teasingly about his wife.
Making playful jibes at
each other is part and parcel
of their relationship. But their
marriage is not all fun and
laughter. “It’s been great but
it’s not all easy. You've got to
work at marriage,” says Jien.
“We do get stressed out or
frustrated, but I think having
a clear goal ahead about our
family really helps.”
“We fi ght less now,” Sarah
says. “I think it’s because once
you get married, you take the
option to 'break up' off the
table. We’ve put in a lot more
effort and our communication
has gotten a lot better.”
HAPPY TOGETHER
Their son, four year-old Dylan
Robert Soo, completes the
picture-perfect family.“We
really lucked out with Dylan.
He’s lovely,” says Sarah, who
loves her working hours because
it allows her to be her son’s
primary caregiver.
“He’s great,” agrees Jien.
“Though sometimes I can’t help but
get sensitive because it’s all about
mum. He’s a mummy’s boy. When
we come home, he always picks
Sarah. I am always his number two.”
To this, Sarah retorts: “It’s all
about me now but I’m going to be
jealous of you two later on when he
gets into sports.”
Motherhood is something Sarah
is quite hooked on and the couple is
planning to expand the brood. “Make
no mistake of it — if you don’t stop her,
she could be 50 and go, ‘I think it’s time
for another baby!’” Jien jokes.
“And if a baby is ever abandoned
at our front door, to Sarah, he or she is
family immediately.”
“We do talk about adopting quite a lot,”
Sarah says. “For me, it’s a possibility, but we
both have to be on-board about this.”
AN ECO-FAMILY LIFE
Being green with a kid in tow can be tricky,
according to Sarah, especially when Dylan
was still a baby and using disposable diapers.
But the couple makes an effort. Sarah for
instance, insists that containers from takeaway

meals be washed and reused.
“I make an effort to recycle
all plastic, glass and cans.
In England, it’s illegal not to
recycle. Each household is
assigned a recycling bin,” says
Sarah, who visits the country
once a year to see her relatives.
“Dylan knows where the
recycling bin is in our home,
and we teach him not to
waste food.”
Dylan may still be a tyke
but Sarah and Jien believes in
leading by example.
“When he’s bigger,
of course we’ll tell him to
switch the lights off when he
leaves the room or turn the
tap off when he’s brushing
his teeth,” says Sarah.
“But right now he’s not tall
enough to reach the switch!”
“It’s important to care
about the environment
but I also think that
it can be diffi cult for
some people. It’s cheaper
to use certain products
which are not eco-friendly
for instance,” says Jien
candidly. “At the end of the
day, it’s all about doing the
best you can for the planet,
and to be aware of your
actions and habits.”
TE TEXT XT B BBY
Y FA F IR IROZ OZ OZA A MA MANS NS NSOR OR
PH PHOT OT OTOS OS B
B Y HO H NG CCHE
HE HEE E YA Y N
Styling: Neo Lirong. Grooming: Manisa Tan. On Sarah: Cotton silk jumpsuit from Max&Co. Chain bracelet from H&M. Sandals from Wanderwit.
On Kui Jien: Cotton shirt from CK Calvin Klein. Chino pants from Adidas Originals Blue Collection. JS Wings Sneakers from Adidas Originals by Jeremy Scott.
Catch Jien on
Tiger It’s Your Shout
every Monday at 10pm
on mio Stadium channel
102, and tune in to
987FM with Sarah Tan
every weekday from
10am to 1pm.
pure
9

now you know
10 pure
DON’T feed the fish in the
river. Doing so will change the
balance in the ecosystem.
And remember, don’t
release animals
into the water or
the park.
River safety
Do's and Don'ts
MIN MINN M CH CH
CHONG ONG ONG ONNGG
DO stay out of the river when
it rains—even if it is a light
drizzle. The river is linked to a
network of drains. When it rains,
water levels in the drains may
rise rapidly, which may lead to a
sudden surge in the river.
Yes, you can dip your
feet into the naturalised
Kallang River@Bishan Park.
Before you start splashing
around in the water,
here is a guide on how
to make your
visit to the river
safe and fun.
DON’T bring your bicycle into
the river. Also, boating activities
such as canoeing or kayaking are
not allowed. Swimming in the river
is also not permitted. When the
water level is low, visitors can
enter the river. However,
please be careful when
doing so.

DO wear covered
footwear when entering
the river. This is to protect
your feet from the rocks
embedded on the
river floor.
DON’T bring
pets into the river.
This is to keep the
environment clean
and free from
pollutants.
DO keep an ear out
for warning sirens as well as
watch out for blinking lights on
the safety nodes. When the red
lights go off, listen carefully to
the announcements and move
away from the river beyond
the red markers.
DO leave the wildlife as
they are. You will spot a variety
of animals—from insects to birds
around the river and the park. These
include purple herons, white-breasted
waterhens, American bullfrogs and
apple snails. To ensure that these
species thrive and contribute to
the biodiversity of the park,
it is best not to pick
them up.
DON’T use rods, drop
lines and hooks for fishing
in the river. You can use
nets to scoop fish from
the water as long
as you release
them back.
DO keep the river and park
free of litter. All rubbish, food
packaging and leftover food
should be properly collected,
packed and disposed
into the bins in the
park.
pure
11

World Water Day
USA
Oregon
Most of us are
used to the luxury of fresh,
clean water right from the
tap, but did you know
that more than 1 billion
people in the developing
world walk an average
of 3.1 miles (about five
kilometres) a day just to
get water? To highlight
this fact, Portland Global
Initiatives has put together
12 pure
The theme for this year’s World
Water Day is “Water and Food
Security” which hopes to inspire
people to think about how to
make sustainable consumption
choices which use less water.
PURE looks at how some countries
are making this message heard.
BECAUSE WE ARE HU N GRY
THE WORLD IS THIRSTY
TEXT BY ELISABETH LEE
the Walk for Water 2012.
Participants will walk
or run a 3.1 mile route
through downtown
Portland on March 24
to raise funds for the
construction of water-wells
in Kenya and Malawi.
www.worldwaterdaypdx.com/
Arizona
Deep in the dry southwest,
celebrate World Water Day
with Mermaid Odette and
the Tucson Arts Brigade’s
third annual Water Festival.
With art shows, workshops,
music performances and
more, the festival hopes
to raise awareness about
issues related to water and
the community. Festival
goers can also party hard at
Solar Rock, a solar-powered
music festival, or pedal
down to Cyclovia — an
eight kilometre loop of
car-free fun and games.
www.waterfestivaltucson.org/
Canada
The average Canadian
consumes nearly 6,400
litres of water every day
– that’s the equivalent
of taking a 10-hour-long
shower! What most
people don’t realise is
that the bulk of water
consumption comes from
the unseen processes
behind the food you eat,
the clothes you wear, the
energy resources you use
— and yes, even the water
you drink. To drive home
this point, the Rotaract
Club of Toronto will host
a March 22 screening of
the movie Tapped which
examines the role of the
bottled water industry and
its effects on our health,
climate change, pollution,
and our reliance on oil.
canadawaterweek.com/
terweek.com/
event/3355
United Kingdom
Most of us s know kkno
no now w the th the e
biblical story ory ry about aabo
bo b ut water wat w at ater er e
turning t into to wine, w wwin
in ine, e, e but bbut
ut u
how ho about t
the th the reverse? e?
WaterAid Wa Wat is is s
a UK-based UK U - d
charity ch char ar a it i y which hic ic ich h is
celebrating World Water
Day 2012 with a “Wine
into Water” fundraising
appeal. Clubs and societies
around the country are set
to host wine tastings and
cheese and wine parties
in a bid to raise funds for
water charities.
www.wateraid.org
Japan
The children of today
will play a huge role in
determining the world of
tomorrow, so bringing
children together for
World Water Day
celebrations is crucial
to its success. In Japan, an an, ,
the city of Enoshima plans
to host a “Children’s
Parliament” to debate at ate e
water issues at the World Wo Worl rl rld d
Water Day Kids Summit mi mit t
2012 on March 22.
wwd-japan.org/index.html html

Do your
part to help
conserve water
by finding out
how to make better
consumption choices on
March 24, when Singapore
celebrates World Water Day.
Check out www.facebook.com/
SingaporeWorldWaterDay and
www.singaporeworldwaterday.com
for more details!
}World Water Day on March 22 is an annual initiative
that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED) that celebrates
the importance of water and advocates the sustainable
management of water resources.
THE WORLD IS THIRSTY,
BECAUSE WE ARE HUNGRY
Did you know that it takes 1,500 litres of water to produce 1kg
of grain, and 10 times that to produce 1kg of meat? Nowadays,
agriculture accounts for about 70 per cent of total water use — an
increase that has greatly outpaced the increase in industrial and
domestic uses of water.
The average person drinks about 2-3 litres a day — but it takes
about 3,000 litres of water to produce the food you need every day.
The average person’s water footprint — the water used to produce
all the goods you buy — is more than 1.3 million litres a year!
LEAVE A SMALLER WATER FOOTPRINT
Be aware of the water footprint
created by your consumption choices.
Food that has to travel a long distance
to get your plate (think imported
strawberries) will leave a bigger
water footprint than food grown
locally or nearby (think papayas from
Malaysia). Meat leaves a larger water
footprint than vegetables — so
think twice before you tuck into that
T-bone steak.
MORE TIPS ON HOW TO USE
LESS WATER:
� Take a shorter shower and turn off
the shower when you’re applying
shampoo or soap.
� Only run your washing machine
when you have a full load. Use
your washing machine’s rinse
water to flush your toilet or mop
your floor.
� Water your plants with a watering
can or bucket, instead of using a
gardening hose.
� Install thimbles or water saving
devices on household taps with a
high-flow rate.
THE PUB 24-HOUR CALL CENTRE AT
1800-2846600 FOR A FREE WATER SAVING KIT.
wCALL
pure
13

the great utdoors
16 pure
Right On
Think you know MacRitchie
Reservoir Park well? Well,
maybe you haven’t met zoologist t
Dr Darren Yeo. TEXT BY FAIROZA MANSOR ANS ANNS N NS OR O
r Da Darren Yeo was interested in
na nnature tu ture re bbe
b bbefore
he even knew what
‘b ‘bio ‘biodiversity’ io i di d ve vers rs rsit it ity’ y’ y meant. Growing up, he
fi fish fi shed sh s ed e iin
in n lo long longkangs ng ngka ka k ng ngs (drains) for guppies, dug
around in the ground for worms and wanted to
touch every cat and dog he saw. Never mind if
he sometimes got bitten when he tried to get
near them.
“I knew that I wanted to
be a zoologist — whatever that
meant,” Dr Yeo says, chuckling.
The schoolboy who grew
up in Changi did indeed get a
degree in Zoology — Dr Yeo,
40, graduated from the National
University of Singapore (NUS)
with a PhD in 2001. He has
contributed his knowledge and
research on several publications
on the subject including Singapore
Biodiversity — an encyclopedia with a
collection of essays detailing Singapore’s natural
environment and conservation efforts.
He joined NUS’ Department of Biological
Science in 2010 as an Assistant Professor and was
involved in developing its Biodiversity course.
Forest stream by Darren Yeo
Track
Jelutong Tower by Kelvin Lim
Dr Yeo, who is married, used to take his
students or visitors of the Department to
MacRitchie Reservoir Park on his favourite
trail. He doesn’t really know how long the
trail is, nor how long it takes to walk from one
end to the other because as he says, “it really
depends on what you see along the way”.
The trail starts at a point along
Sime Road, near the Bukit Timah
Expressway. It then cuts through
the forest, and continues for a
while before turning south-west
and passing the Jelutong Tower
— a viewing platform within the
park — before ending at the
western edge of the reservoir.
“I like this route because
you can see lush secondary
forest and meandering and
criss-crossing natural forest
streams; the original ones that haven’t been
canalised or concretised,” says Dr Yeo. Work
commitments means he doesn’t get to hit
his favourite trail often these days, but it is
clear that the area still holds a special place
in his heart.

Leaves of the Macaranga
bancana by Cheryl Chia
A secondary forest is a woodland area
that has re-grown after the original forest was
removed. In Singapore’s case, such forests were
removed for plantation purposes in the 19th
century, says Dr Yeo.
When regrowth happens, a community
of plants that are different from the original
will appear. These plants are able to thrive in
degraded soil, which is soil in which nutrients
have been drained by small-scale agricultural uses.
“One of the secondary forest plants that
a lot of people are familiar with is the Dillenia
suffruticosa,” he lets on. The common name
for this distinctive plant with large leaves, bright
yellow fl owers and red fruits that break open
when ripe, is the Simpoh Air.
“The interesting thing about this plant is
that the fl ower is pollinated by carpenter bees
through a process called buzz pollination,”
Dr Yeo discloses. “That’s why you often see a big
bee buzzing close to the fl ower, collecting nectar
and at the same time gathering pollen.”
The Macaranga bancana is another tree that
can be spotted along the trail. It can grow up
to 20 metres in height and has tri-lobed leaves.
According to Dr Yeo, Heart-shaped Gaster Ants
“will jaga (protect) the plants against other
pests, and the plants in turn, give them a home
and produce special protein bodies which the
ants feed on”.
“Cool right?” he quips.
Sun Skink by
Raffl es Museum of
Biodiversity Research
Heart-shaped Gaster
Ant by Darren Yeo
Malesian Frog by Kelvin Lim
Simpoh Air (Dillenia) fruit
by Wang Luan Keng
The streams are teeming with fi sh, shrimps
and crabs. In the forest, lucky visitors can spot
animals like the Malesian Frog, one of the largest
native frogs in Singapore as well as the Slender
Squirrel, named so because of its svelte tail
which resembles a bottle brush. Some creatures,
though, you can only hear and not see, such as
the Common Sun Skink.
“Many hikers and joggers will come across it
but usually all they hear is the rustling of leaves,”
says Dr Yeo. “The Common Sun Skink likes to
bask in spots of sunlight that break through the
forest canopy. But they are very alert and will
take cover at the lightest movement.”
pure 17

the great utdoors
Stork-billed Kingfi sher
(Halcyon capensis) by
Raffl es Museum of
Biodiversity Research
Pygmy Rasbora
(Boraras maculatus)
by Raffl es Museum
of Biodiversity
Research
18 pure
MALAYAN
PYGMY HALFBEAK
Its upper jaw is shorter than
the protruding lower jaw. It
glides close to the surface of
the water, to catch food such
as insects that drop into the
lower jaw.
Pygmy halfbeak
(Dermogenys collettei)
by Raffl es Museum of
Biodiversity Research
PYGMY
RASBORA
It’s tiny, with a prominent
black dot on its body which
sometimes appears silvery
under water. The Pygmy
Rasbora swims in
shoals.
FRESHWATER
PRAWN
(MACROBRACHIUM
MALAYANUM)
The female produces large eggs gs
which release larvae when hatched. ched.
The freshwater prawn is hard rd to
spot because it is puny, being
no more than 60 milimetres
in length.
Birds, on the other hand, are easier to sight.
Bird enthusiasts with binoculars can spot winged
wonders like the Purple Heron, the cute-as-abutton
White-breasted Water Hen and the Storkbilled
Kingfi sher, the largest kingfi sher in Singapore.
“Walking through this trail never gets old
for me. People are amazed when they see for
themselves what it has to offer,” says Dr Yeo.
“The best part is, you don’t even have to be able to
name or identify the various plants and animals to
appreciate the area and its biodiversity”.
WHAT’S
SWIMMING?
The streams — both
shallow and deep — are
home to an array of
freshwater creatures. Here
are a few you might
spot:
SPANNER BARB
OR T-BARB
It has a horizontal broad black
stripe on its bottom half, and two
broad black bars on its top side.
These resemble a spanner hence its
name. In deeper waters, it swims
freely at fast speed, instead of
taking cover under leaves.
Macrobrachium
malayanum by
Tan Heok Hui
T-Barb by
Choy Heng Wah
PLATYTHELPHUSA
MACULATA
One out of the six species of
freshwater crabs you can fi nd in
Singapore, it usually scavenges,
feeding on dead leaves. In doing
so, it breaks down the nutrients
for fo absorption back to the
environment.
e
Freshwater crab
(Parathelphusa
maculata) by
Tan Heok Hui

Forming a complete
Chew Chee Keong says his work in ensuring
water sustainability is like a “puzzle”.
TEXT BY ANITA YEE
PHOTO BY KELVIN CHIA
When Chew Chee Keong took
up a PUB Scholarship, little
did he realise then that he
had started upon a journey
that would take him across the world.
As a Civil and Environmental student
at Imperial College London in 2002, Chee
Keong took up an internship at an engineering
consultancy in Florida in the United States. A
couple of years later, it was on to a challenging
posting — to manage PUB’s water treatment
operations in Kota Tinggi, Johor where he honed
a better understanding of water supply systems.
A secondment to the Ministry of
Environment and Water Resources in Singapore,
and subsequently to the Water, Sanitation,
Hygiene and Health Technical unit at the World
Health Organisation’s (WHO) headquarters in
Geneva, Switzerland, then followed.
In WHO, Chee Keong’s work entailed
collaborating with various technical agencies
and donors to improve global and sustainable
access to safe drinking water. There, he
worked with experts in water quality, water
management and climate change, and learnt
of the myriad water supply challenges facing
developed and developing countries.
Back with the PUB in Singapore in 2011
after his two-year secondment, he has been
tasked with setting up a Strategic Futures team.
AN EYE ON THE FUTURE
The team, says Chee Keong, seeks “to better
understand the driving forces and emerging
trends and issues for long-term water planning”.
my say
picture
“For example,
urbanisation, climate
change impact and
resource constraints
posed by land scarcity
and energy needs will
strain current water
supply systems and
infrastructure,” says
Chee Keong. “We
need to have a better
appreciation of the
systemic impact of
these driving forces
so that we can
continue to meet the
challenges to provide
a reliable, sustainable
and affordable
water supply for
the population, and to sustain
economic growth in the future.”
His current portfolio is “still in its infancy
within PUB”, but Chee Keong compares it to
a building a puzzle where “we need to build
capability and tap on the right networks, get
the right sources of information, analyse and
understand what’s relevant before connecting
the dots, and project what could be the
possibilities in the future.”
But lest you think, it’s all work and no play
for Chee Keong, the father of one lets on that
for leisure, he plays football with his kakis, chills
out with friends over wine, and tickles his taste
buds trying beer from different countries.
pu pure
pure 19

youth beat
Long-tailed Macaque
20 pure
Nature makes for a conducive and highly
effective learning environment. Just ask
these students from Hwa Chong Institution!
TEXT BY FAIROZA MANSOR
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HWA CHONG INSTITUTION
By students, for
students — that’s
what the ecoRitch
Trail is all about.
To be launched on World
Water Day on 24 March,
this learning trail for primary
school students has MacRitchie
Reservoir as its classroom.
And for Hw Hwa
Chong
Institution In I st stit it i student
Ja JJarel re r Tang and three
ot oth other schoolmates
wh wwho
volunteered to
de des design and develop
th the
three-kilometre
bi biodiversity trail
la last year, it was six
mmonths
of letting their
im imaginations run wild.
“This is the fi rst
ssuch
learning trail so
th tthere
was no precedent
fo for us to follow. But it
al aalso
meant that we were
free e to imagine from
scratch what we wanted it
to be like, and develop our ideas
into reality,” says Jarel, 17.
The trail begins at the
Prunus Trail on the eastern
end of the reservoir. From
here, participants will proceed
along the boardwalk, learning
about the different trees and
plants found in the area along
the way. So instead of sitting
through a lesson in a classroom
on a species of plant with
a multi-syllable, mouthful
name like the melastoma
malabathricum (the Singapore
Rhododendron), the pupils
can spot, touch and feel this
fi ve-petal pinkish fl ower in its
natural habitat for themselves.
On the Petai Trail, which
follows after the Prunus Trail
and takes the pupils inland,
participants will be able to spot
native forest creatures like the
common sun skink, clouded
monitor lizard, orange-bellied
and slender squirrels, as well as
the long-tailed macaque. If they
are lucky, they may even catch
a glimpse of native birds such as
the white-bellied fi sh eagle as it
soars across the sky.
“Most pupils would rather
spend their Saturday morning
sleeping in or watching
television than walking around
at a reservoir,” says Jarel. “So
White-bellied
Fish Eagle
we hhad d tto make k sure our ttrail il iis
both educational and enjoyable
— to pack in as much as we
could without making it too
long or boring.”
Jarel and his three fellow
volunteers have also put
together an activity book
which will be given to each
participant. These have been
designed to be used together
with the information that
can be found at the seven
stations along the two trails.
At each station, there is
information about the impact
of weather and climate on
nature, the classifi cation of
plants, how their leaves adapt
to the environment, and even
how to distinguish between
similar-looking insects like the
dragonfl y and the damselfl y.
“I have never done
anything like this before
— taking part in creating
an interactive educational
package,” says Chong Kai En,
15. “But through this process, I
experienced fi rsthand the sights
and sounds that MacRitchie
Reservoir has to offer.”

For Jarel, it was the realisation
that not only humans depend on
water for sustenance, but that this
precious resource supports the
entire ecosystem, including plants
and animals. “After spending
so much time at MacRitchie
Reservoir, water to me is no longer
just about the utilities bill my
parents receive each month, but a
personal responsibility — a cause
I believe I have taken personal
ownership of,” he says.
“We really should treasure and
protect water resources and not
take it for granted.”
The ecoRitch Trail is not the
Institutions fi rst involvement in
organising an outdoor learning
programme. Earlier last year, the
school also conducted the Active,
Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters)
Learning Trail @ MacRitchie Reservoir
fo for
r se seco secondary co cond nd ndar ar ary y st stud students. ud u en ents ts ts.
White-throated
Kingfi sher
SPOTTED!
Here are some of the things you
can see on the ecoRitch Trail.
PLANTS AND TREES
• Singapore Rhododendron (Melastoma
malabathricum), from which Poh Chai pills — a
traditional Chinese medicine for tummy upsets
— are made
• Rubber tree
• Ant plant
• Leaf litter plant
• Petai (yes, those beans with the strong odour r
that some like to eat)
• Chestnut tree
NATIVE CREATURES OF THE FOREST
• Common sun skink
• Clouded monitor lizard
• Orange-bellied and slender squirrels uirre
• Long-tailed macaque
NATIVE BIRDS
• Greater racket-tailed drongo
• Pink-necked green pigeon
• Banded woodpecker
• Collared kingfi sher
• White-throated kingfi sher
Petai
Ant Plant
pure
21

food glorious food
MEALS
The food is scrumptious too, at these eateries located at ABC Waters
sites. TEXT BY FAIROZA MANSOR PHOTOS BY KELVIN CHIA AND ROY LIM IM
âCornerstone
Bishan Park 2, 1380
Ang Mo Kio Ave 1
The décor may be a tad posh,
and the dishes elegantly plated,
but dining at the Cornerstone
feels as if you’re just chilling on a
friend’s patio. You sit on wicker
chairs, and no matter if you are
clad in Bermudas and T-shirt;
chef and co-owner Yeo Kian
Tiong will warmly welcome
you to his “western-fusion”
restaurant. Share a plate of
the Charcoal Grill Hokkaido
Squid ($16) or opt for the
St Nicholas
Beef Short
Ribs
22 pure
St Nicholas Beef Short Ribs ($22)
which is dressed with the chef’s
signature red wine veal sauce.
Leave room for the decadent
desserts, especially the Bombe
Alaska ($14) with strawberry and
chocolate gelato fi lling.
Open from 12.30pm to 10.30pm,
Tuesday to Sunday.
Charcoal Grill Hokkaido Squid
âMushroom Mushroom Café
The Cornerstone nestles
within the lush greenery
of Bishan Park.
MacRitchie Reservoir Park, Thomson Road
This open-concept café makes for a fuss-free
rest stop after a physically rigorous day out
at MacRitchie Reservoir Park. Conveniently
located near the park’s multi-storey carpark
and restrooms, the café is a family favourite.
Adults can chow down on its signature
dishes dish — Laksa ($3.90) and Curry Chicken
($4.90) ($4 which contain no coconut milk.
Kids Kid can opt for the the Mixed Nuggets
Platter Pla ($4) that comes with fries, chicken,
fi sh s and prawn nuggets.
Open O from 7am to 9pm daily.
Nasi Lemak
Get discount coupons for these eateries at
www.facebook.com/pure.magazine.sg

âGallery Café
Marina Barrage, 8 Marina Garden
Drive #02-04
Offering a great view of Marina
Reservoir, Singapore's fi rst reservoir
in the city, and value-for-money
local and western dishes, it is no
wonder that yuppies working in the
Marina Bay area make a beeline
for it during their lunch breaks. For
a thirst quencher, nothing beats
the Barrage Freshburst ($5.20), a
mixture mi of freshly-squeezed green
apple ap and calamansi juice, with sour
plum plu extract. A popular dish is its
generous ge serving of Fish and Chips
($10.60). ($ Give your meal a sweet
ending en with the Barrage Sundae
Delight De ($7.90), a vanilla ice cream
treat tre with pistachio nuts, chocolate
chips ch and a dash of espresso.
Open Op from 9.30am to 10pm on
weekdays, and 9.30am to 11pm
on weekends.
Fish and chips
Barrage Sundae
Delight
Marina Barrage
âCanopy
Garden Dining
Bishan Park 2, 1382
Ang Mo Kio Ave 1
This Australian-style café sits
amid lush greenery, and is the
perfect getaway for families,
couples and pet lovers (your
four-legged buddy is welcomed
here) — whether you choose
to lounge indoors or outdoors.
The menu is revamped every
four months so you can be sure
that there’s always something
new to whet your appetite.
âThe Green Room
Bishan Park 2, 1382
Ang Mo Kio Ave 1
This is a vegetarian’s haven for its
inspiring take on plant-based and fruit
dishes. Where possible, the ingredients
used are locally or regionally sourced,
and grown without the use of
pesticides. A bite of the refreshing
Wakame Salad with sesame wasabi
dressing ($12) is so heartily fl avourful,
Diana’s Signature II Spiced
Island Apple Crunch
The chef’s recommendation
this season is the Pork Cordon
Bleu with Candied Apple ($18)
served with a side of homemade
apple sauce and fragrant truffl e
mashed potatoes. Choose a
bottle of wine to complement
your meal from the café’s fully
stocked cellar.
Open from
9am till late on n
weekdays, and d
8am till late
on weekends.
Pork Cordon Bleu with
Candied Apple
Canopy Garden Dining
the most-diehard carnivore will be
converted! For dessert, try Diana’s
Signature II Spiced Island Apple
Crunch ($12), with layers of apples
seasoned with cinnamon and
nutmeg, and topped with crunchy
nuts and vanilla custard.
Open for lunch from 11am to
3pm, and for dinner from 6pm to
10pm, daily.
The Green Room
pure
23

Fun Fu Fun on wwheel
wheels els
PANG SUA CANAL
DISTANCE: 3.5KM
If you prefer your cycling trips to be a quiet time
of refl ection, check out the Pang Sua Canal at
Choa Chu Kang. This long, level trail hugs the
banks of the canal.
If you start from Jalan Teck Whye, you’ll
soon pass the backyard of Teck Whye Secondary
School. A butterfl y garden is located here.
Supported by NParks, this garden boasts around
20 species of butterfl ies. There’s also a fi shing
and viewing deck overlooking the canal if you
want to take a break to try your luck at reeling
in a catch.
LORONG HALUS WETLAND
DISTANCE: 4.9KM
Formerly a landfi ll along the eastern banks
of Serangoon Reservoir, the area has been
transformed into a sanctuary for plants, birds
and other wildlife. The route will take you
through the Punggol Promenade Nature Walk to
which native and migratory birds fl ock.
Punggol Promenade Riverside Walk is also
along the route. You can make a pit stop here to
grab a snack, go prawning or even play a game
of pool!
The The glittery glittery night night view view from from Punggol Punggol
Promenade Promenade Nature Nature Walk Walk
24 pure
Riding
with a
Fresh air, great scenery, ample space…
what mo more r can you ask for? Pedal through these
ffour cycling li routes for a great ride. TEXT BY GENE KHOR
BEDOK RESERVOIR
A scenic stretch along Bedok Reservoir
DISTANCE: 4.3KM
On weekends, dragon boats and canoes dot its
waters while fi shing hobbyists cast their lines from
the fi shing deck. The wide, level path is easy to
navigate, na naviga ga gate te t , and there are sheltered shel elte tere red sitting si sitt ttin ing galleries ga gall ller
erie ies
should hou o ld the going
ng gget
get et ttoo
too hot.
If you
ou ffeel
feel like like going the distanc distance, n e, yyou
you ou can ccan
an cyc cycle ycle le
all al all l th the way from the reservoir res eser ervo v ir to East Coast
Park via
ia a nnet
network etwork of
park connect connectors. ctor ors. s. IIt’
It’s t s
a whopping wh whop oppi ping ng 25k 25km 5km to
30km 30 30km km journey jou o rney that’ that’ll t ll
take ake ke you tthrough
through the
park connectors in
Tampines, Tampines, Pasir Ris,
Loyang, Changi
and East Coa Coast. oa oast st s .
PHOTOS PHO PH TOS BY NPARKS NPA AND EALBERT HO

ALEXANDRA XANDRA CANAL
DISTANCE: NCE: 3.9KM
Alexandra dra Ca Cana Canal nal was wa was gi ggiven ven a
facelift last year. yyear.
The concrete
banks have ave ve been bee been
transformed,
tr tran ansformed,
creating g a softer landscape
with wooden oo oode den walkways wa walk lkwa ways ys aand
and nd
bridges, , as well as viewing
decks. de dec Water Wat ater er from ffro
rom the th the e
canal can is pumped into the
wetlands wet ds d the there, here re, which wh w ich h
treats trea and nd cleans the water r
before be bef it t is returned rret
et e ur urne ned d into in into to
the canal. al.
Alexandra xandra Canal can be
accessed acc d via the Alexandra
Park Par Connector, onnector, which starts
near nea Queenstown ueenstown MRT station.
You’ll You see ee the wetlands, as well as vegetated swales
and bioretention oretention swales — shallow ditches ditches with
carefully care y selected vegetation that help
p to fi fifil
fi lter llte
te ter r and
pur
purify rainwater ainwater as you cycle by.
make your
ride a fun and
responsible
respo
one o
� �� Keep to o the
he h left l ef eft f of the
designated tr track and overtake
on the right
� � Slow do down near speed
bumps, pedestrian pede crossings
and bends
� � Brake ggently;
don’t stop or
change direc directions abruptly
� � Look ou out for other track
users, especi especially children
and beginne beginners
� �� Be equipped equi with the
necessary neecessary
saf safety gear, e.g. a
helmet he helmet
and an kknee
guards
* Tips T from NParks
The lush wetlands that
line Alexandra Canal
Find out more about the cycling trails in Singapore at www.nparks.gov.sg
pure 25

shopping
ROOM to
IMPR VE
Pump a dose of ‘green’ power into your showers we er rs wwit
with ith h
these trendy yet environmentally-friendly bathroom th ro oom om o
fi xtures and essentials. TEXT BY FAIROZA MANSOR R
WHERE TO GET THEM • EQUIP-DESIGN & SUPPLY, PLAZA SINGAPURA #05-08 • KOHLER CO, CENDEX CENTRE #02-14
NORTH DRIVE 2 • HANSGROHE, 69 MOHAMED SULTAN ROAD • SANSEI SINGAPURA PTE LTD, 462 TAGORE INDUSTRIAL
26 pure
Keep those bathroom
essentials organised in this
simple yet chic DRAGAN
bathroom set ($19.90
for 2, from IKEA). This
moisture-resistant container is
made from bamboo—a sturdy
material grown without the
need for fertilisers, pesticides
or or much water.
Awarded with three Water Effi ciency
Labelling Scheme (WELS) ticks,
this Steward Waterless Urinal
($1,638 from Kohler Co.) can
save up to 15,000 litres of water per
fi xture per year.
Using a special fl ow regulator, the
Raindance EcoSmart Overhead
Shower (POA from Hansgrohe)
can reduce water consumption well
below the average of 20 litres per
minute to roughly 9 litres.
The Rain Dance S AIR 3jet
Hand Shower (POA, from
Hansgrohe) dispenses a soft
shower of gentle rain drops,
signifi cantly reducing water
fl ow rate without diminishing
your showering pleasure.

It’ It’s s p ppecu
peculiar ecu eculia lia liar r t tto
to o d ddesc
describe e ribe a water
clo closet
set (W (WC)
C) as “cu “ “cute” te” but the
Sca Scarab Scarabeo rab rabeo eo Pla Planet
n Water
Closet (POA from Sansei)
really is that, and more. Awarded
with two WELS ticks, you’re
sure to conserve water and save
money with every fl ush.
The Radius Intelligent g Toothbrush
($1 ($15 5 f ffrom
rom Ch Choos Choose. oos oose. ose.
e by Oli Olive live ve v Ven Ventur Ventures) tures) es)
is
s a a“ a “
“smart sma rt too to toothbrush” thb thbrus rush” equ equipp equipped ipp ipped ed e wit with h a
two tw two-minute wo wo-mi -mi minut nute e ttime
timer imer r aand
and nd d a 90-day 90-d 0-day ay a wea wear r mmete
meter eter r
tha that ha hat ttell t tells t
teell
el s you y yyou
ou when whe when n to tto
o change chan han ha ge e the t bristle. br brist istle. le. The Th The
han handle andle dle is
is pu purpo purported rporte rted d tto
to o last
ast a a lif lifetime—simply
ifeti et me— me—sim sim simply ply
rep replace ep e lac lace e tthe
the he e head hea head h d like l ike yyou
yo yyou
u uw u w wwould
oul ould d a
ra razor
zor bl bblade. ade ade. .
Designed to resemble a
giant drop of water, the iB
Rubinetterie Drop Series
Showerhead ($205.44
from Equip-Design &
Supply) helps you to conserve
water by limiting the fl ow to
just 12 litres per minute.
The Christina Bollicine
Basin Mixer (POA from
Sansei) with its slender spout
allows water to cascade out
like a waterfall. This elegant
beauty is equipped with special
aerators that add air to the
water fl ow, offering a reduced
water rate independent of the
pressure selected.
Containing Co C natural and
organic org ingredients, Weleda’s
Plant Pl P Gel Toothpaste
($15.90 ($ from Choose. by
Olive Ol Ventures) gently but
thoroughly tho th tho cleans the teeth.
What’s W more, the packaging is
made ma of recyclable materials.
• CHOOSE. BY OLIVE VENTURES, OLIVEVENTURES.COM.SG • IKEA SINGAPORE, 317 ALEXANDRA ROAD/60 TAMPINES
AVENUE * POA = PRICE ON APPLICATION, CONTACT SELLER FOR QUOTE
pure 27

Every drop counts
Use only what you need
Do not wash dishes
under a running tap
For free water saving kits, please call
PUB 24-hour Call Centre
1800-2846600

You Y could say
Autumn’s A Drought,
Ng N Jiawei’s red and
grey g scanned image
of titanium dioxide
(TiO2) (TiO and strontium
tinanate tinan photocatalyst
(SrTiO3) (SrTiO3), is a work of art
— albeit of a scientifi c kind.
The National Nationa Research
Foundation (Environment and Water
Technologies) PhD scholar has blurred the
boundaries between science and art with his
microphotograph of microscopic molecules
which won the fi rst prize at the Materials
Research Society (MRS) Fall Meetings and
Exhibits 2011 Science as Art competition held in
Boston in November last year.
Reservoirs
CORRECTION
Go Postal
The article ‘Saying I do with a lake view’, which appeared
in the Jan-Mar 2012 issue of PURE, misspelt the name of
the groom who held his wedding ceremony at Jurong Lake
Park on 9 October 2011. The correct name is Ivan Low, not
Alan Loh. Mr Low married Ms Chng Hui Ting.
Science as art
The hybrid nanostructure of Autumn’s
Drought is actually based on Jiawei’s doctorate
research on advanced water decontamination.
The uniformly-dispersed ‘autumn leaves’
are nanorods assembled to form bundles
of dendrites (the branched projections of
a neuron).
The artistic design of the piece expresses
a message about environmental concerns —
the blood-red ‘autumn leaves’ signify energy
harnessed from sustainable research, while the
grey background signifi es barren land.
The MRS Fall Meetings & Exhibits is a series
of conferences that cover multi-disciplinary
topics concerning energy and environment,
and the Science as Art competition aims to use
images to convey scientifi c information in a way
that tables of data or equations cannot match.
Fancy owning a set of miniature
watercolour paintings of Singapore’s
scenic waterways such as Jurong
Lake, Lower Seletar Reservoir,
Bedok Reservoir and Marina
Barrage? With the Reservoirs of
Singapore stamp issue, you
can add these beautifully-recreated
scenes to your philatelic collection.
This special stamp issue has been
launched to coincide with World
Water Day on 22 March.
Prices for the Reservoirs of
Singapore Si Sing ng nga ap apor or ore e stamps st stam am a ps p start s
at $3.80
for fo for r a set se set t of o 10 mint or
cancelled-to-order
ca c nc n
stamps. st s They
are ar a available at
all al a Singapore
Post Po P Offi ces.
on the
waterfront
As AA easy
as A-B-C!
The ABC Waters rss
ss
projects explained ed ed e
Saying “I do”
with a lake view
On 9 October 2011, Chng Hui Ting tied the knot
with her ex-hall mate Alan Loh against the stunning
backdrop of the Jurong Lake Park. The Jurong West
residents are the first couple to hold a marriage
solemnisation ceremony at the 42-hectare garden that
spans the perimeter of Jurong Lake.
The decision to hold the wedding there was a
mutual one.“Both of us wanted somewhere spacious
and outdoors,” says Hui Ting, 27. “We’ve been
running at the park regularly since we became
friends…So the place has sentimental value for us.”
The newlyweds exchanged their vows on the
platform extending over the lake, in the evening
just as the fountains in the lake were scheduled
to shoot into the twilight sky. With entertainment
from an a capella group, the overall ambience for
the newly-weds and their 200 guests was relaxed
and enchanting.
Even though the park had already been opened
since April 2006, it was the first visit for many of
the guests. The couple had to print a map on their
invitation cards to guide everyone to their location.
“Everyone was pleasantly surprised and
enjoyed t
JUNGLE
JAUNT
Exciting discoveries ies
at Nee Soon Forest st st
Fun Fun un in in the sun at
Punggol Pungg u gg Waterway
for for or acto actor and host Utt
TH TTH TH TH TTH THEER
ER ER ER ERE
INSIDE Gone fishing Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme Quirky wate
err e EEfff ffiicciiency Labellin
on the
waterfront
WIN!
$50
CapitaVoucher
JAN-MAR 2012
pure 29

Water and Fitness
Downing the recommended eight
glasses a day isn’t the only way
that water can aid in good health.
Getting wet while you exercise is a
great way to burn calories.
30 pure
TEXT BY JOLENE LIMUCO
INTERESTED TO GIVE
AQUA AEROBICS A TRY?
HERE’S WHERE TO GO
YWCA Fort Canning Lodge
6 Fort Canning Road
Tel: 6223 1227
Website: http://nof.ywca.org.sg
Amore Living at Tampines 1
10 Tampines Central 1
Tel: 6789 8822
Website: www.amorefi tness.com
Fitness First Platinum, Capital Tower
168 Robinson Road, #09-01
Tel: 6536 5595
Website: www.fi tnessfi rst.com.sg
From the time we were children, most of
us are familiar with the fact that staying
hydrated — by drinking 1.6 litres to 2 litres
of water a day — is vital for good health.
While consuming suffi cient water is good for
your body, did you know that exercising in water
has tremendous physical benefi ts as well? One
activity quickly gaining popularity is aqua aerobics
— a series of low-impact choreographed exercises
done at the shallow end of a pool. Routines
include running and jumping in water with a
fl oatation belt strapped around your waist as a
counterweight to the buoyancy of the water. You
can also ‘pedal’ as if on an imaginary bicycle while
holding on to a fl oatation device called a ‘noodle’
for balance. To work the upper body, perform
stretches and resistance exercises using the natural
counter pressure of the water.
Water is denser than air, so while you perform
moves similar to aerobic exercises on land, it takes
more energy to move through water. But despite
expending more energy to execute movements,
exercising in water does not feel as intense as the
same workout done on ground. This is thanks to
water’s natural buoyancy which acts as a support
to about 80 per cent of the body’s weight. And yet
the results will not disappoint. Just 30 minutes of
aqua aerobics will help you burn 300 calories.
Need more reasons to dive in? Studies have
shown that regular ‘aqua fi tness’ workouts can
decrease chronic back pain, and at the same time
improve core strength. In fact,
it is particularly benefi cial
for pregnant women, those
on post-natal recovery, the
elderly and overweight. In
addition, studies have found
that those suffering from
soft tissues, weak joints and
muscles feel less pain after
doing water exercises.
However, you don’t need
to suffer from joint pains to
reap the benefi ts of aqua
aerobics. Just imagine keeping
cool while getting a good
workout — in our hot and
humid weather, this should be
reason enough to jump into
the pool!

FREE MEMBERSHIP*
Register your FIRST scrapbooking workshop online
with us from 15 April – 10 Jul 2012.
10% DISCOUNT
ON ALL REGULAR SUPPLIES.
*CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS BEGIN AT S$50 AND ABOVE.
$50 DISCOUNT
OFF SERVICES
(No minimum spending)
FREE LED LIGHTS AND
HELMET WITH THE PURCHASE
OF ANY BICYCLE
10% OFF
STOREWIDE
COMPLIMENTARY
TRIAL
SPA FACIAL
FOR PURE READERS DURING
BIRTHDAY MONTH!
promos
CORNERSTONE
10% OFF
YOUR TOTAL BILL WHEN YOU DINE
IN AT THE CAFE WHEN YOU PRESENT
THIS COUPON
$38
FOR A SIGNATURE FACIAL TREATMENT
(FULLY CUSTOMISED)
10% OFF
YOUR TOTAL BILL WHEN YOU DINE
IN AT THE CAFE WHEN YOU PRESENT
THIS COUPON
pure 31

32 pure
promos
CORNERSTONE
1380 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1
Bishan Park 2
Singapore 569930
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
• Present this coupon upon ordering.
• Valid from 1 April 2012 to 30 June 2012.
• The company reserves the right to amend the promotion with prior notice.
PORCELAIN, THE FACE SPA
15 Cantonment Road, Singapore 089739
Tel: 6227 9692
www.porcelainfacespa.com
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
• Prior appointment required, subject to availability.
• Price is nett.
• Valid from 1 April 2012 to 30 June 2012.
• Valid for First Time Clients only.
• Kindly produce ID for verification upon registration.
• T&C may vary at discretion of Porcelain Management.
WWW.BEAUTTISLIM.COM.SG
Ngee Ann City (Welcome both Ladies & Gentlemen)
391B Orchard Road Ngee Ann City Tower B #14-05/06
Tel: 67331638/ 67331738
Tiong Bahru Plaza(Ladies exclusive)
302 Tiong Bahru Road Tiong Bahru Plaza #05-04B
Tel: 62701638/ 62701738
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
• Appointment only and is valid for new customers (singaporeans) above the age of 23.
• Please quote “Pure” when booking of appointment. NRIC & coupon cut out must be
shown before first treatment can proceed.
• Readers must redeem their free facial on the same month. Please make appointment.
• Beautti Slim Pte Ltd reserves the right to vary or cancel any promotion(s) and/or make
changes and amendments to these Terms and Conditions on an ongoing, ad-hoc basis
as needed and as legally/ethically required, and as at any other time it deems fit or
necessary without prior notice. In the event of any dispute, the decision of Beautti Slim
Pte Ltd shall be final and conclusive.
GALLERY CAFÉ @ MARINA BARRAGE
8 Marina Garden Drive
#02-04 Marina Barrage
Singapore 018951
TERMS & CONDITIONS
• Present this coupon upon ordering.
• Valid from 1 April 2012 to 30 June 2012.
• The company reserves the right to amend the promotion with prior notice.
MADE WITH LOVE
68 Orchard Road
Plaza Singapura
#03-21 and #03-33
Singapore 238839
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
• Quote #PURE# to enjoy the immediate membership benefits for workshop/classes.
• Call us at tel: 6238 8770 or log onto www.madewithlove.com.sg for the workshop
schedules.
• Present this coupon cut-out at the store for a 10% off scrapbooking supplies. Glue,
adhesives and discounted items excluded.
PORCELAIN, THE FACE SPA
15 Cantonment Road, Singapore 089739
Tel: 6227 9692
www.porcelainfacespa.com
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
• No minimum spending required.
• Prior appointment required, subject to availability.
• Not valid with other promotions.
• Valid off all ala-carte services only.
• Valid from 1 April 2012 to 30 June 2012.
• Vouchers are not to be combined.
• Not exchangeable for cash.
• T&C may vary at discretion of Porcelain Management.
LIFECYCLE
18 Gemmill Lane Singapore 069255
986 Upper Serangoon Road Singapore 534732
Tel: 62218469
www.life-cycle.co
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
• Not valid with other promotions.
• Valid from 1 April 2012 to 30 June 2012.
• Coupon to be presented upon payment.
• Not exchangeable for cash.
• T&C may vary at discretion of Lifecycle.
BARRAGE COVE
8 Marina Garden Drive
#01-03 Marina Barrage
Singapore 018951
TERMS & CONDITIONS
• Present this coupon upon ordering.
• Valid from 1 April 2012 to 30 June 2012.
• The company reserves the right to amend the promotion with prior notice.