Glow big: The rise – and risks – of cheap laser treatments in Singapore
Actor Thomas Ong went for three intensive laser sessions to prepare for his role in Mediacorp drama I Believe I Can Fly. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE
SINGAPORE – When Singaporean actor Thomas Ong made his small-screen comeback in the Mediacorp drama I Believe I Can Fly in February, he looked every inch the 'diamond bachelor' his role demanded.
Currently streaming on mewatch, the series revolves around five middle-aged men (played by Ong, Chen Hanwei, Brandon Wong, Yao Wenlong and Cavin Soh) and the ups and downs they experience in their live s.
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AsiaOne
an hour ago
- AsiaOne
From 'playgrounds' to 'playscapes': Punggol sees new play areas with giant pencils, kinetic bugs and a 'crocodile', Lifestyle News
SINGAPORE - "Playgrounds" are becoming dynamic urban "playscapes" with three new installations along the scenic Punggol Waterway. No longer just comprising utilitarian play equipment, these outdoor play areas also include larger-than-life totems of pencils, an Instagram-worthy crocodile structure and a kinetic flora and fauna installation. These were the winning designs of the inaugural Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Play@Punggol design competition held in 2023. Unveiled in March along the 4.2km Punggol Waterway, the three installations are Flora and Fauna Kinetics Playscape at the promenade near the upcoming Punggol Regional Sports Centre; Pencils by the Water at the promenade adjacent to Waterway Point; and Wow, A Crocodile! near Adventure Bridge. When Singaporean product designer Raul Vlajic first glimpsed the Flora and Fauna Kinetics Playscape by day, he was struck by how the installation's design of butterflies and dragonflies invited passers-by to join in the fun. The interactivity "keeps to the essence of what a playground should be, and gives movement through the kinetic butterfly and dragonfly features", says the 25-year-old Hougang resident. He often takes a 45-minute bicycle ride through the Punggol Park Connector to Punggol Waterway to view the installation. "There are also light elements, which made me go again at night to see how the lights interact with the surroundings. This was a whole new experience - it not only provided ambient lights to interact with the play space, but also added a fun after-dark element." Singapore's public play spaces have evolved from concrete structures in sand pits since the 1970s to narrative-driven neighbourhood landmarks in the 2010s, through collaborative efforts. According to OpenStreetMap, a free, open-source collaborative mapping platform, there are at least 1,400 playgrounds in Singapore, with about 70 per cent of play areas located in HDB precincts. HDB has also pioneered placemaking - creating public spaces that are vibrant, meaningful and enjoyable for the community - through playgrounds that weave local lore. This can be seen in iconic designs such as Toa Payoh's dragon playground - a terrazzo-clad symbol of communal identity - and Tampines' fruit-themed structures, which pay homage to the precinct's agricultural past. Together, URA and HDB have shifted towards immersive experiences in playscapes that also serve as social anchors for different communities in Singapore. Vibrant public spaces are key ingredients of a happy, healthy city as they anchor a community's sense of place, support social bonding, and promote wellness and active lifestyles, says Yap Lay Bee, URA's group director of architecture and urban design. Its Play@Punggol initiative allows Singapore-based designers to contribute to enhancing public spaces in the waterfront town through creative installations that showcase its identity, history and environment, while also introducing elements of fun and interaction for residents and visitors. The three winning designs were chosen by a jury, comprising representatives from government agencies, academia and the design community. They looked at 81 submissions and selected the winners based on their potential to activate spaces and engage the community, as well as the buildability of their designs. The winning teams walked away with $12,000 each as prize money, while seven runners-up got $2,000 each. The design competition - organised by URA and supported by the National Parks Board, JTC Corporation and the Singapore Institute of Architects - is among a series of initiatives that involve the built environment industry in co-creating more enjoyable spaces for the public around the island. URA will continue to partner architects and designers to enhance public spaces for a more vibrant Singapore, and will reveal more details when ready, Yap adds. "We are heartened by the responses to these vibrant gathering nodes, with users sharing that the installations are inclusive, educational and photo-worthy landmarks." The Straits Times showcases the three winning designs, as well as five other playscapes around Singapore that draw not only children but adults as well. Winning playscapes 1. Flora and Fauna Kinetics Playscape The playscape at the promenade near the upcoming Punggol Regional Sports Centre (RSC) comes alive through kinetic elements that engage the senses, featuring outsized and stylised bees, dragonflies and butterflies. Wind chimes respond to the breeze, creating soothing natural sounds. By day, sunlight passing through colourful plexiglass wings and leaf motifs casts vibrant patterns on the ground, adding a playful visual element. Swing-like seats offer gentle movement and a space to rest, blending sensory play with moments of calm. By night, children can turn hand cranks that activate LED light strips, lighting up and spinning the wings of the sculptures of a butterfly and dragonfly for a dazzling effect. The kinetic play design by landscape architecture firm Land Design One embraces the flora and fauna of Punggol's landscape, inviting residents to immerse themselves in an alternate natural world. The design had three main sources of inspiration, says Isabel Bautista, 27, a Singapore-based multidisciplinary designer with a flair for creating immersive, unforgettable experiences. First, the sparse biodiversity at the location was a challenge for the team to create a vibrant ecological focal point. Second, the upcoming Punggol Regional Sports Centre link bridge that connects to Punggol's Heritage Trail provided an opportunity for the team to envision the installation as a transitional landmark - a whimsical threshold between the modern amenities of the RSC and the rich cultural layers of the heritage trail. Third, "crafted linear, vertical forms that mirror the site's existing canvas framework, ensuring the design feels right at home in its surroundings", says Bautista, who has a diploma in architecture from Singapore Polytechnic and a bachelor of arts in product design from Lasalle College of the Arts. She worked with a team of designers from Land Design One that included Kathleen Lacsina, Brian Baker and Neal Samac. An integral part of the project was in developing a good working relationship with fabricators, which allowed the team to refine every detail through close collaboration. To enhance the sensory experience, the team conducted a series of colour and material workshops focused on the insect and leaf modules. After multiple sessions, they selected translucent acrylics and dichroic films, prototyping light interactions to achieve vibrant ground-level colour reflections. Dichroic films are specialised films that exhibit colour-shifting or iridescent effects. "This project resonates deeply. Growing up in a family of architects and landscape architects, parks were where my siblings, cousins and myself bonded and made lifelong 'park friends'," recalls Bautista. "Post-pandemic, creating spaces for such connections feels especially vital and I hope to give today's children those irreplaceable memories." 2. Pencils by the Water Twelve giant colour pencils are lined up in a grid near the promenade adjacent to Waterway Point, an idyllic spot for residents of Punggol as well as visitors to gather, snap photos or take in the waterfront sights. Inspired by the simple writing tool, the installation reflects the carefree joy of drawing and doodling. There are also chalkboards built into the structures that allow residents of all ages to draw on them and unleash their creative impulses. Pencils by the Water is the brainchild of DP Green's landscape architect Poornima Bargotra. DP Green is a specialist arm of the DP Architects group, focusing on landscape architecture and arboriculture consulting. Together with colleague and fellow landscape architect Thun Kongsub and director Yvonne Tan, Bargotra worked with URA's design brief, which called for repurposing 12 salvaged logs. The team worked closely with URA and playground equipment contractor Swan-Li (Singapore) to transform design sketches into something safe, sturdy and full of character. Although the team wanted to retain each log as a whole piece, they had to think of workarounds that included designing it in modular parts for on-site assembly, as transporting the full log as a single piece posed a logistical challenge. This modularity allowed the integration of features such as information panels and chalkboards. "We wanted to use the logs in their purest form possible," says Bargotra, 33. The installation reimagines the nostalgic 12-colour-pencil set as oversized elements for children and adults to interact with. "I grew up in Chennai, where daily life naturally flows into and on the streets. From shaded corners to open spaces, the bustle of life can be found within these places, creating a strong sense of community and connection to place," she says. That early connection to people and places shaped how she thinks about public spaces. Since moving to Singapore more than a decade ago, she has been inspired by how the city incorporates nature into daily life in ways that are harmonious and natural. Her teammate Thun, 36, a Thai national who has lived in Singapore since 2011, adds that the pencil is also a strong metaphor for the notion of potential, resonating with a young, evolving Punggol town. "Just like a blank page waiting to be filled, this space invites the community to 'pencil in' its own future," he says. He has a strong personal connection to Punggol, having spent nearly a decade working on projects in the area, including One Punggol and Punggol Green, both located near the installation site. "Good design can be transformative, not just visually, but also in shaping the everyday lives and well-being of the community. That's a big part of why we chose to participate in this campaign organised by URA." Since being installed in 2025, Pencils by the Water has become a visual landmark, say Bargotra and Thun, who have returned to the site several times while working on other landscape design projects in the vicinity. Punggol resident Tiffany Chin, who works in hospitality, says the installation is a refreshing and inspiring space for the community. "I love how it blends creativity, sustainability and play so seamlessly," says the 40-year-old mother of two children. "My kids are always excited to visit. It's more than just art - it's part of our everyday lives now. I really hope to see more installations like this across Punggol, as they make our neighbourhood feel alive, thoughtful and full of possibility." 3. Wow, A Crocodile! Drawing inspiration from crocodiles that once inhabited the Punggol region, the installation captures the moment a crocodile emerges from the water. Conceived as both a sculptural landmark and an interactive experience, the installation invites visitors of all ages to explore its cavernous interior, snap Insta-worthy wefies and engage in playful discovery along the sandy banks. Designer Jovan Tong, also from Land Design One, says that, together with his team, their research pointed to mangrove swamps near Alligator Shoal, an area off Punggol's coast. In the 1960s, when Punggol was still largely a kampung settlement, there was a sighting of a 7m-long crocodile that terrorised villagers, a story that fired the public imagination at the time. "We wanted to bring this forgotten tale back to life in a way that's playful and approachable, especially for children," says Tong, 27, who worked on the design with Kathleen Lacsina, Choong Yu Huan, Brian Baker and Neal Samac, all designers at the same firm. Land Design One, which is based in Singapore and Manila, works on design projects across the Asia-Pacific region. "The crocodile's open mouth was conceived as a bold, symbolic form capturing the moment just before it pounces - and frozen in time. Its body has textured blue acrylic panels to mimic crocodile scales, designed to offer a tactile and sensory experience that invites touch, curiosity and interaction," Tong adds. His colleague Choong, who lives close to Punggol Waterway, says he was surprised to learn that there used to be crocodiles in the area. "My family cycles through Punggol every week and that was the motivation to be involved in this competition with Jovan," says the 25-year-old. "Besides being a play space, the installation also tells a story that is unique to Punggol. It adds a visual and emotional identity to the space, especially for younger generations who will grow up with it as part of their everyday environment. Over time, I hope it becomes an iconic feature, something people instantly recognise and associate with Punggol Waterway." Punggol resident Paul Lim says the crocodile installation brings a smile to his face every time he walks past. It reminds him of Punggol's unique history in the earlier part of the last century, when saltwater crocodiles were spotted in the fishing villages there. "It was just made available to the public about two months ago after its construction, but already I see children and their parents there, enjoying a break from their busy day, immersed in the play space," adds Lim, a former educator who is in his 50s. "In time, I hope it becomes a neighbourhood landmark like the dragon playground in Toa Payoh or the watermelon playground in Tampines." Climbing, jumping and sliding in heartland playscapes From a Forest Ramble at Jurong Lake Gardens to a treehouse escape in Bidadari Park, these five playgrounds across Singapore put a new spin on playtime. Bird's-eye view of playtime in Sengkang The Rivervale Shores playgrounds in Sengkang, completed in August 2023, turn playtime into a bird's-eye adventure with three unique "bird's nest"-themed zones. Kids can lounge in rubber hammocks, dig into the sand pit or scramble up to lofty platforms for views of the surroundings. The ground-level trampolines invite little ones to bounce sky-high. Children will also be intrigued by the balancing sticks - just like the twigs birds collect - that challenge them to test their skills. Nature fun in Bidadari At the heart of Bidadari Park's nature playgarden stands a striking 5m-tall "treehouse" beside a sprawling tembusu tree. Completed in September 2024, Adventure Playwoods is a nature-themed playground that invites children to climb, balance and explore with its slides, adventurous climbing nets and a tunnel suspended high above the ground. The park is managed by NParks. Reaching the top of its "treehouse" rewards young adventurers with sweeping views of the park. For more excitement, children can opt for a thrilling zip line or get creative building sandcastles in spacious sandpits - making this garden a haven for hours of fun. Fruitful romp in Tengah Feeling hungry? Plantation Grange in Tengah, completed in December 2023, is bursting with fruit-themed playgrounds that take a leaf from its past as a 1950s fruit plantation. At Ong Lye Garden (Block 132A), a giant yellow pineapple beckons. Children can explore its interior and go down a green slide. Over at Durian Paradise (Block 132C), older children can tackle durian-shaped climbing towers, swings and spiral slides. Little ones can traverse a "fruit farm" near Block 131A, with play zones shaped like pineapples, watermelons and bananas, plus a bright red "lorry" to hop on. Sky-high play at SkyParc@Dawson Step into a wild adventure at Dawson Road's Eco-Jungle Playground, which was completed in 2020. Nestled between Blocks 96A and 96B, it invites children to explore timber sculptures of Singapore's indigenous spotted wood owl and Sunda slow loris, turning playtime into a mini-safari. Set within the lush, park-like grounds of SkyParc@Dawson, the playground is just one of many green spaces woven through the estate. There are also three Insects Hotels, the first of their kind for a public housing project. These are designed to recreate natural habitats to help local biodiversity thrive. Forest Ramble at Jurong Lake Gardens At Forest Ramble, the biggest nature playgarden in the heartland, playtime transforms into a wild adventure across 2.3ha of Jurong Lake Gardens, packed with surprises at every turn. Children set off on a journey across over 10 imaginative adventure stations in Lakeside Garden, each inspired by fascinating local creatures of Singapore's freshwater swamps. Fancy soaring like a grey heron? Try the zip lines. Want to channel your inner squirrel? Bounce and climb through treetop trails. Or splash and scamper like an otter at the otter-inspired station. The playscape, which opened in 2019, is managed by NParks. It is designed for everyone, with inclusive features that welcome children of all abilities to join in the fun. Whether children are gliding, leaping or inventing their own escapades, the playground invites every child to connect with nature and let their imagination run riot. [[nid:519528]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
AsiaOne
3 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Hazelle Teo announces engagement to pianist James Wong, Entertainment News
Wedding bells will soon be ringing for Hazelle Teo. The Yes933 DJ, 31, announced her engagement to pianist-content creator James Wong, 24, in an Instagram post yesterday (June 6). "It was on the last day of my Qingdao work trip that this completely took me by surprise," she wrote in her caption. "I arrived at the hotel at 1am, looking like a mess and all ready to rest before heading to the airport at 6am. "But when I opened the door, I was greeted by soft orange lighting, lots of flowers, someone holding a camera, plenty of confusion… and then I saw my then-boyfriend (now fiance, lol) standing there nervously." The photo carousel Hazelle posted shows the hotel room decorated with white roses and candles, and a heart-shaped cake with "Marry me" written on it. She is dressed casually in an oversized shirt and jeans. Hazelle found out that she would not be returning to Singapore yet, as James had asked her work for leave a month in advance and had brought her spare clothes in his luggage. "He planned it all — quietly, sweetly, thoughtfully — and it turned out to be even more beautiful than I ever imagined," Hazelle added. "This feels so right. We feel so right. The rest of our lives feels so right. "We're so excited to begin this new chapter together, and thank you for sharing in our joy." [embed] Hazelle told CNA Lifestyle that she had come across James on her Instagram explore page in 2024, and reached out to collaborate. "I thought 'Hey, this guy is pretty cute. He plays the piano. Let me reach out to him to do a Taylor Swift song [where] I would sing and he would play the piano'. To my surprise, he agreed," she said. [embed] Hazelle also used the opportunity to ask for James' Telegram handle so they could talk more, but the latter wasn't initially very receptive to her attempts at conversation until she asked him out for supper one evening. "That night we spoke for a solid three hours. We just went on and on and on," she shared. "After that night, it just felt like we could still keep talking about so many more things. And that's when he became more responsive on Telegram." "I could feel the dynamics between us shift a little bit. Things between us progressed quite smoothly and swiftly, because it just felt so, so right." Germaine Tan also engaged Fellow jock Germaine Tan also shared news of her engagement to Zouk Group CEO Andrew Li on June 1. The 987FM DJ shared: "Andrew has always known my appreciation for sunsets and ocean, so he'd been planning this secretly for some time. In the Maldives, on a private sandbank, while the evening sun approached the horizon over the open ocean. It couldn't have felt more right." After Andrew made his heartfelt speech, Germaine revealed she got nervous and didn't get to respond appropriately, instead going: "What should I say now? Yes?" However, she thanked him in her Instagram post for his "patience, gentleness, and kindness" and wrote that she could not imagine life without him as her "pillar of support". Germaine also thanked her loved ones and concluded: "With that, cheers to the rest of our lives." [embed] [[nid:718815]] drimac@
AsiaOne
4 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Ayden Sng sells his 'go-to' drink Milo Dinosaur in China cafe for reality show Smile at You, Entertainment News
Local actor Ayden Sng, who is growing his showbiz career in China now, is also spreading our culture overseas. The 31-year-old, who is currently a participant in new Chinese reality show Smile at You where he operates cafe uSweet in Harbin with four others, has introduced our kopitiam drink Milo Dinosaur to the menu. In a uSweet cafe's Xiaohongshu post on Wednesday (June 4), they posted a picture of a cup of iced Milo Dinosaur with the caption: "Milo Dinosaur is a specialty drink originating from Singapore. It is very popular in Southeast Asia and Singapore's first Olympic gold medalist Joseph Schooling's favourite. "At the same time, it's also our Singaporean actor and uSweet cafe store manager Ayden's go-to drink. This drink has always been at the top of the list of must-have Singapore delicacies." Milo Dinosaur, sold in eateries in Singapore and Malaysia, is a cold chocolate malt beverage topped with undissolved Milo powder. In a fancam posted on the platform yesterday, Ayden is also seen making the drink while a fan engaged him in small talk. Netizens who had visited the Harbin cafe and ordered the chocolate malt drink also commented in uSweet's post that it tasted good. Smile at You, which premiered last Thursday (May 29) on streaming platform iQiyi, is a reality show involving 35 young men who undergo a month of professional training including business management, product development and customer service, and are divided into groups to travel to different cities in China to run a cafe. Some of the judges and trainers include former Exo member and businessman Huang Zitao, director-actor Tang Guoqiang and singer-host Wu Yi. In the first episode, when the young men had to mingle and find their roommates, Russian-Korean twin influencers Denis and Kirill had trouble understanding and communicating in Mandarin because their translating device had not arrived on the set. Ayden approached the duo and helped them discuss with the participants to come up with a suitable rooming arrangement for the brothers. In additional content released on June 1, he also helped Denis while they practised customer service and greeting customers. He also practised making cakes and biscuits with a participant, Chinese swimmer Chen Mucheng, on a few evenings where they discussed procedures and ingredients. While there were some charred products, other participants who tried his products praised his effort. In the third episode released on Thursday, participants had to work in pairs to present desserts and coffee to the judges, including their baking instructors. Ayden chose to create his own recipe using what he had learned in his baking lessons for the past few weeks. He said: "If you're a consumer, would you want to eat a basque cheesecake, tiramisu or black forest cake? Or would you prefer to eat something that the pastry chef invented which you have never tried before? "So this time, I insisted on not using the recipes I already have. I really want to create something that belongs to me. The cake is combined from what the pastry chefs had taught us from the first lesson till now." He added that his product is an eight-layer cake, and each layer is made with different steps. When presenting his final product to the judges later, Ayden specially dedicated the cake to one of the pastry chefs who taught him. He said: "I've always wanted to learn how to bake, but I've been filming for the past few years. So, it has become something that I've always wanted to do but never got around to because I don't have the time. I'm really very happy to be guided by the mentors. I really like to be in the kitchen." Despite his efforts, he wasn't given a pass by the judges. In the latest episode yesterday, while two of the chefs commended his efforts, they were concerned about food safety, as Ayden had placed cling wrap around the cake before baking it in the oven. Smile at You releases new episodes every Thursday and Friday at 12pm on iQiyi. Ayden's new Chinese drama Feud , which stars Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng, is currently streaming on iQiyi and Viu. [[nid:718407]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
