In Hong Kong, teashops (or cha chan tengs) have been around for ages. They are where people gather for cheap and quick bites, and have spawned an interesting (if quirky) type of cuisine. Cha chan teng food is characterized by processed and convenient ingredients, such as luncheon meat and instant noodles, put together in unusual combinations. If you can get your mind around this, you might find this type of food quite tasty—in the same way chips with sour cream are tasty.

Now a hit in Singapore, with several teashops springing up recently, cha chan tengs look like they are here to stay.

Central

B/2, Takashimaya Food Hall, Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Rd., 6732-8196. Open daily 10am-9pm.
Central is much classier than the teashops in Hong Kong. It offers better quality and service, yet sticks to the same down to earth grub. Central’s peanut butter on toast ($3.50) costs a little more than at other cafés and restaurants, and its peanut butter is not as thick as one might desire. The crispy seafood noodles ($8) are like our local yee mian, with liberal portions of seafood and brown gravy. Cheese baked rice with pork chop ($9) is exactly that, and is the kind of thing that appeals to kids. A typical cha chan teng dish, fried Nissin noodles with luncheon meat ($7) also comes with fish and vegetables, and is home cooked comfort food. Durian lovers can look out for Central’s signature dish: Supergrade Durian Fried Rice ($8)! Durian puree is folded into fried rice, and gives the dish a noticeable but not overpowering aroma. Try this if you dare.

Crystal Jade Kitchen

#B2-36 Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Rd., 6238-1411. Available daily 2:30-5:30pm; restaurant open daily 11am-10pm.
Crystal Jade Kitchen serves Hong Kong style set meals as well as à la carte. Check out its trademark Bo-Lo Bun with Butter ($1.30) to start. The bun is rich and soft, with a caramelized crust and a thick wedge of butter. One of the mains, macaroni soup with ham ($5.50), comprises a generous portion of pasta topped with three large slices of ham, and is simple but gratifying. Hong Kong faves such as fried eggs with ham or sausage (available with a $6 set meal), and chicken wings with shrimp paste ($5), are also whipped up here, as is the ever popular condensed milk on toast ($1.50).

Crystal Jade Macau Café Restaurant

#B1-29A Bugis Junction, 230 Victoria St., 6338-0198. Open Mon-Fri 11am-10pm; Sat-Sun 10:30am-10pm.
Cha chan teng food has a Macau counterpart. And although Hong Kong and Macau have much affinity, their cha chan teng food is actually quite distinct. Pork is commonly used in Macau’s cha chan teng items, such as the pork chop buns ($5.80) and crispy pork knuckle ($26, whole) that are served at Crystal Jade’s outlet. For a snack, try the Macau version of spring rolls—deep fried mashed potato with salted cod ($6). Hong Kong’s favorite home flu remedy, warm coke with lemon ($2), is also available here. It is an acquired—and addictive—taste. Crystal Jade’s cheese baked rice with seafood and pork chop ($12.80) uses fried instead of steamed rice, and is layered with a creamy sauce. The double boiled egg white with milk ($3.50) is an oddity that must be tried. Consumed either warm or chilled, it tastes, respectively, strong or bland. We wonder who thought up this dish.

Hong Kong Café

378 East Coast Rd., 6440-3808. Open Mon-Sat 6pm-5am; Sun and public holidays noon-5am.
Owner Benny insists that Hong Kong Café is the first genuine, and still the best, cha chan teng in Singapore. We do not doubt this. Extremely vigilant over the authenticity of his food, he goes out of his way to ensure that his cha chan teng dishes are done exactly as they are in Hong Kong. Try his salt and pepper bean curd ($5.50), which is flavored with a seasoning akin to that used on potato chips. Another finger food item, deep fried squid ($7.50) is dusted with flaky floss-like bits. HK Borsch soup ($3.90) has a strong soup base and is simmered with chunky pieces of vegetables. The Golden Fantasy ($5.80) is a fruity challenge: Sour pomelo seeds are buried in nectarous mango puree, with creamy sago on the soft ice cream.

Tong Shui Café

54 Zion Rd., 6737-6946. Open daily noon-5am.
Hong Kong Café’s first mover advantage may be eroded somewhat by the arrival of Tong Shui Café. An explosion of color assaults the eyes when one enters the café—vibrant pinks clash with bright greens—and stylized Chinese decorations fill the interior. The spontaneity in the atmosphere works up one’s appetite and puts one at ease. Owner Raymond Khoo whips out fun and interesting fare. Some of his drinks are must-tries for the uninitiated, such as the potent boiled coke with ginger ($2.88) and iced cappuccino with coke ($3.88). Served in big old fashioned mugs, these drinks may take some getting used to, but actually go rather well with the food. The luncheon meat and egg sandwich ($3.88), presented with a plateful of fries, is a nostalgic throwback to school tuck shop lunches. The toast with peanut butter and condensed milk ($1.88) is incredible: Thick peanut butter is spread on bread four slices thick, then topped with a swirl of condensed milk. A light item is yu char kueh ($2.88), which are dough fritters with a choice of dip—we liked the black pepper. For dessert, the Yin Yang ($3.88) almond and sesame combo is really smooth and luscious. With its late night opening hours, Tong Shui Café looks set to make its presence felt. Let the competition begin.

Dell 5100MP

This is a high performance projector, suitable for home and office use. It features a laser pointer remote control for presentation. Its sturdy magnesium case also makes the projector shock resistant. Dell deals directly with its customers. To place your orders, do call their customer hotline.
Brightness: 3,300 ANSI lumens
Aspect ratio: 4:3
Contrast ratio: 2500:1
Resolution: 1,400x1,050
Weight: 3.7kg
Lamp life: 2,200 hours (economic mode)
Recommended retail price: $5,399
Tollfree hotline: 1800-394-7486

In Focus Play Big IN72

Eyes up for this exclusive sneak preview. The new In Focus range includes the IN72, and will hit the stands mid-February. The IN72 features patented zoom and is high definition television-ready (HDTV), and comes in smooth casing. Its projection lens has a medium throw ratio. Plus it looks so cool!
Brightness: 900 ANSI lumens
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Contrast ratio: 2,000:1
Resolution: 854x480
Weight: 4.2kg
Lamp life: 3,000 hours (economic mode)
Recommended retail price: TBD
Contact: www.infocus.com

Sony VPL-HS60

For a sensational picture performance, this is the one with its impressive contrast ratio of 10,000:1. It also has very low operation noise level (23dB) and it’s HDTV-ready.
Brightness: 1,200 ANSI lumens
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Contrast ratio: 10,000:1
Resolution: 1,280x720
Weight: 5.6kg
Lamp life: 2,000–3,000 hours (economic mode)
Recommended retail price: $4,999
Customer Contact Center: 6544-8600
Outlets:
Juzz1 (Singapore) Pte Ltd, #03-02/05 Funan DigitaLifeMall, 109 North Bridge Rd., 6339-1110.
V3 Audio Video Pte Ltd, #03-71/72 Sim Lim Square, 1 Rochor Canal Rd., 6339-1198.

Sharp XV-Z2000

With a 1.5x short focal-length lens, this projector can produce an 100-inch image even in a room as small as 3.5 square meters.
Brightness: 1,200 ANSI lumens
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Contrast ratio: 2500:1
Resolution: 1,280x720
Weight: 4.3kg
Lamp life: 3,000 hours (economic mode)
Recommended retail price: $4,999
Hotline: 6419–5222
Outlets:
3G Telecom Pte Ltd, #05-05 Funan DigitaLifeMall, 109 North Bridge Rd., 6339-9392.
AAAS Com Technology Pte Ltd. #04-61 Sim Lim Square, 1 Rochor Canal Rd., 6338-6613.

Sanyo PLV-80

Originally developed for commercial use in the US, the Sanyo range now features their most recent upgrade, the PLV-80. Suitable for consumers, it boasts high brightness, 800 HDTV lines, a larger LCD screen for sharper images, reasonable contrast in bright rooms, and a motorized zoom lens.
Brightness: 3,000 ANSI lumens
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Contrast ratio: 1,000:1
Resolution: 1,366x768
Weight: 7.9kg
Lamp life: 3,000 hours (economic mode)
Recommended retail price: $10,999
Outlets: The Factory Communications. #06-03 S.Y.H. Logistics Building, 68 Kallang Pudding Road, 6844-6566.

Glossary

Brightness: Measured in ANSI lumens. General home projectors are rated from 600 to 2,000 ANSI lumens. A projector can add only light to the screen, not darkness. Your home cinema should be set up in a room with low ambient light.

Aspect ratio: This describes the dimension, or shape, of the projected image. The dimension of a traditional CRT TV is 4:3. But LCD and plasma TVs are typically 16:9, which is the aspect ratio of a widescreen movie as seen in a cinema.

Contrast ratio: This describes how well the projector displays the gradation between bright and dark pixels, and color variations. The higher the ratio, the better the projector can display the subtlety between bright and dark, and hence the higher perception of depth in the image. The typical ratio is 400:1.

Resolution: This is similar to that on a digital camera or computer monitor. It describes the number of pixels in a designated space. The typical resolution for a projector is 1,024x768, similar to a medium-priced computer LCD monitor.

Lamp life: How long the projecting lamp will last. A 3,000-hour lamp will last about 2.5 years if you watch a three-hour DVD every day. Owing to the cost of the lamp, its warranty is usually shorter than the projector itself.

		This ultra black and ultra cool men’s jacket, made purely from nylon, is certainly edgy. $245 from G-Star.
		Keep your laptop dry and looking good with the Uni-Sex-Uni-SNATCH™ satchel bag. Catering to both guys and girls, it’s available in three vibrant colour combinations: classic black, funky red and khaki,  and electric blue and teal. Made of textured quality rubber and PVC, they are completely waterproof and loaded with pockets and compartments. $90 from Snatch Bags.
		Brighten your day with this trendy checkered Parasol umbrella from Esprit. $19.90 from Esprit.
		Bring out the biker chick in you with this 96Hrs track jacket. $899 from Venue.
		Whoever says wet weather gear must be dowdy? Not when you accessorize with this eye-catching Catherine Mannuell sling bag. $149 from Felt.
		The metrosexual man will certainly dig this water resistant gym bag. $89.90 from NewUrbanMale.com.
		Cover up with this kitschy Twinkle pilot’s hat. $180 from Front Row.
		Fear no rain as this gorgeous rouched jacket from Umbro by Kim Jones comes with a hoodie. $510 from Front Row.
		Keep your stuff dry and looking good with this trendy 96Hrs bag. $399 from Venue.
		These white Puma Dassler boots are made for walking and talking. And THEY keep your feet dry too. $599 from Venue.

Address Book:

Esprit, #01-12, #02-09/20/23, Mandarin Shopping Gallery, 333 Orchard Rd., 6732-0335.
Felt, #01-18 Capitol Building, 11 Stamford Rd., 6837-3393.
Front Row, 5 Ann Siang Rd., 6224-5511.
G-Star, #02-32 The Paragon, 290 Orchard Road, 6735-8419
NewUrbanMale.com, #04-08 The Heeren, 260 Orchard Rd., 6738-8329.
Snatch Bags, 9487-4254, www.snatchbags.com.
Venue, 44 Club St., 6323-0640.

It’s an all too familiar scenario in Singapore. It rains suddenly, you can’t get a cab and the thought of braving public transport is just too much. So what can you do besides wander around malls in a daze or sip endless lattes? Lots actually, from ducking into a museum to getting an instant makeover to shooting a round of pool. Here are some cool ways to stay dry.

Orchard Road/City Hall | Chinatown | Bugis/Arab Street
Holland Village | East Coast | Stuck at Home

ORCHARD ROAD/CITY HALL

Museums

Asian Civilisations Museum. 1 Empress Place, 6332-7798, admission $5 (adult), $2.50 (concession); and 39 Armenian St., 6332-3015, admission $3 (adult), $1.50 (concession). Free on Fri after 7pm. Open Tue-Thu, Sat-Sun 9am-7pm; Fri 9am-9pm; Mon 1-7pm. Between the two wings of the ACM, the cultures of the various ethnic groups in Singapore are covered. Empress Place houses galleries on China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and West Asia, while Armenian Street is dedicated to Peranakan culture. Through Apr 9, check out the stunning Power Dressing exhibition at Empress Place on courtly, priestly and military textiles.

Civil Defence Heritage Gallery. Central Fire Station, 62 Hill St., 6332-2996. Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Free. In spite of this gallery’s fuddyduddy name, it is actually quite interesting—and it gives you a chance to take a look inside the architecturally lovely Central Fire Station. On the first floor is a museum that depicts the early days of fire fighting in Singapore, from the late 1800s, and on the second floor are displays that showcase the modern day. On Saturday mornings slide down the 4-storey fireman’s pole.

Singapore Art Museum. 71 Bras Basah Rd., 6332-3222. Open Sat-Thu daily 10am-7pm; Fri 10am-9pm. Admission $3 (adult), $1.50 (concession). Free on Fri after 6pm. You know what’s on offer here—cutting-edge modern and contemporary Southeast Asian art. Stroll through the galleries and enjoy both permanent and seasonal exhibitions. Look out for talks, demonstrations, workshops, performances and holiday specials. Through Feb 7, the art of Literature Nobel Prize winner Gao XingJian is on display, and includes never-before-seen works.

The Singapore Mint. #01-07 Starhub Centre, 51 Cuppage Rd., 6339-0886. Open Mon-Sat 11:30am-2pm, 3-7pm; Sun and public holiday 12:30-2pm, 3-5pm. Free. Coins and notes minted over the years are on display and make good gifts or collectibles. Limited edition coins are also available for collectors.

Singapore Philatelic Museum. 23B Coleman St., 6337-3888. Open Mon 1-7pm; Tue-Sun 9am-7pm. Admission $3 (adult), $2 (children below 12). You don’t have to be a stamp collector to appreciate this boutique museum. Permanent exhibitions show Singapore’s philatelic and postal heritage from when it was a Straits Settlement, while seasonal exhibitions feature unique local and international collections.

Good Causes

Network of Asian Women. #02-12 Stamford House, 39 Stamford Rd., 6734-1037. Mon-Fri noon-5pm. Pop into this place and support a good cause. This Japanese-run charity sells crafts from our neighbors in Bangladesh and Thailand, and includes works by survivors of the Asian Tsunami. Proceeds go to the Duang Prateep Foundation in Bangkok, whose mission is to help slum dwellers all over Thailand.

The Substation. 45 Armenian St., 6337-7535. Open daily 11am–9pm. This space dedicated to the arts is so underrated it deserves a medal just for surviving. January to June will see this venue host an assortment of classes, including kids’ yoga, digital photography and contemporary dance. In February, the Singapore Fringe Festival will offer theater, dance, music, art, photography and video. Give this space a chance.

Hobbies

Alaric’s Comics and Collectibles. #05-31/31A Funan The DigitaLife Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd., 6333-1262. Open daily from noon. Standing out from the electronic stores in Funan like a rebel with a cause, this store has an extensive range of figurines and miniatures of comic book characters.

The Forum at Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Rd., has a newly created section of the mall dedicated to art supplies. Check out Creative Hands (#04-20B/C, 6738-1690; open daily 11am-9pm) for a comprehensive range of fine art materials; and Art Friend (#04-20, 6733-8482; open daily 10:30am-9pm) for crafts and hobbies.

Portrait Studio. #02-24 Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Rd., 6734-1127. Open Mon-Fri noon-8pm; Sat noon-5pm. Get a cute caricature portrait of yourself done on the spot for $15-30. Or one of your sweetheart—girl, boy or pet—whose photo you carry in your wallet.

San3 Bookshop. #02-15 Funan The DigitaLife Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd., 6339-3619. Open daily 10:30am–8:30pm. Literary types just love this used books store. Lose yourself among the likes of Chuck Palahniuk, Milan Kundera and Kazuo Ishiguro.

SpawnAsia. #01-13 Stamford House, Stamford Rd., 6334-3615. Open Tue-Sun from 2pm. Fans of twisted comic series Spawn will know what this store is about. Besides the expected array of Spawn merchandise, this shop also carries Corpse Bride and Wallace and Gromit collectibles. Wicked.

Spellbound. #02-11 Peninsula Plaza, 111 North Bridge Rd., 6337-8860. Open daily 2:30-7pm. Behold the wiccan’s haven. Quite possibly the only one of its kind in town, Spellbound caters to all your spell crafting needs. It looks the part too—its door is always shut and you need to announce your arrival before being let in to its realm of pentacles, wands and crystal balls.

Fun and Games

The Balcony. #01-K5/#02-03 The Heeren, 206 Orchard Rd., 6235-2325. Open daily 24-hours. As its name suggests, this establishment is perched on a balcony. It is a bar and café rolled into one, and is a lovely venue for enjoying a snack or cocktail at any time of the day or night.

Mambo Billiards. #06-48B Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Rd., 6732-5189. Open Mon-Thu noon-2am; Fri-Sun and public holiday noon-3am. Shoot some pool at one of the 16 tournament size (nine-foot) tables or play a less demanding game at an eight-foot table, of which they have six. Alternatively, challenge a friend to a game of miniature soccer at the football table. Prices start at $8.80 for two hours for pool tables.

Party World. #B1-00 Crown Prince Hotel, 270 Orchard Rd., 6333-6050. Open daily 11am-6am. Party World is a chain of KTV lounges, and this is their biggest. Mandarin and Cantonese hits are favorites at this karaoke joint. Groups of three to four warblers are usually found holed up in one of the cozy rooms, belting their hearts out.

Quick Fixes

City and Guilds Tamaris School of Hairdressing & Beauty. #01-11 Capitol Building, 11 Stamford Rd., 6339-2918. Open daily 10:30am-8pm. Trainees provide haircuts and styling at a slightly lower price than in full fledged salons. Let them work on you while you wait for the rain to abate and emerge with a brand new look!

Make Up for Ever. #02-06 Stamford House, 39 Stamford Rd., 6333-0678. Open Mon-Sat noon-8pm. Although this place looks like a boutique, it is really a make up academy. Step in and ask about their makeovers—be adventurous, on top of the usual beauty stuff they do special effects and stage make up too.

Soul Searching

Differ World. #02-05 Stamford House, 39 Stamford Rd., 6338-5669. Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm. If you’re in need of an emotional overhaul, step into this center that offers motivational talks and courses. If there’s one on, there’s no reason why you can’t sign up on the spot. Differ World promises to help you “realize your potential, transform your life and design your destiny.”

Success Shop. #01-40/02-60 Peninsular Plaza, 111 North Bridge Rd., 6338-8829. Open Mon-Sat 10:30am-8:30pm; Sun 11:30am-6:30pm. All manner of motivational books are sold here, from Robert Allen to M Scott Peck of The Road Less Travelled fame. And success comes cheap here—books start at just $9.90.

Sex

U4Ria. #04-53 Peninsula Plaza, 111 North Bridge Rd., 6337-7463. Open Mon-Sat noon-9pm; Sun and public holidays noon-6pm. Spice up your love life indoors while it pours outdoors. This place has rubbery, slippery, feathery, and leathery stuff for him and her—get the drift? Whatever rocks your boat can be found here.

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CHINATOWN

Hobbies

Tea Chapter. 9A Neil Rd., 6226-1175. Open daily 11am-11pm. You won’t find bubble tea at this joint. The art of tea is celebrated here, with Chinese, Korean and Japanese corners for different teas and tea drinking cultures. Have a cuppa and Zen out while you wait for the sun to emerge.

U Toys. #2-11/12 China Square Central, 18 Cross St., 6438-4326. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am-8pm; Sat 10am-8pm; Sun 10:30am-6:30pm. Transformers, Star Wars, and other character collectibles are stocked here, including the latest and most limited editions. There’s Blythe for the girls and Bandai for the blokes.

Quick Fixes

Living Space. 17 Hong Kong St., 6534-0340. Open daily 11am-11pm. Take your pick of quick fixes at this five-floor health and fitness center that does not require its customers to be members. There are face and body treatments, aromatherapy and a health bar and bistro too. Men have an entire floor to themselves. Prices start at $45 for a bees’ wax back treatment, and go up to $125 for a 90-minute body massage.

Soul Searching

Whatever. 20 Keong Saik Rd., 6224-0300. Open daily 8am-11pm. Comprising a bookstore, café, lounge and yoga studio, Whatever is a center for New Age spirituality. Check out its books, CDs, classes or just chill in the lounge.

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BUGIS/ARAB STREET

Hobbies

Absolute Comics. #03-13 Parco Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria St., 6333-3193. Open daily 11am-9pm. Stocking imports from the US, Japan and Europe, this store has all kinds of graphic novels, manga, and board games. A good place to park boyfriends while the girls go get an instant makeover downstairs.

National Library. 100 Victoria St., 6332-3255. Open daily 10am-9pm. Apart from coming here for a good browse, you can also join in the literature, art and lifestyle activities the library holds regularly. On Jan 22 and Feb 4 are two discussions on the Chinese literary classic, The Dream of the Red Chamber. The talk on Jan 22 is in Mandarin. And on Jan 14 Adrian Tan, author of The Teenage Textbook, shares his thoughts on humor and the next big thing.

Straits Records. 43 Haji Lane, 9385-3211. Open daily from 2pm till late. Singapore’s own record label manages bands like MySquaredCircle and Plain Sunset, as well as regional act Love Me Butch. They also have a hip store specialising in rock music with recordings by the above artists.

Fun and Games

Pretty in Tokyo Neoprints. #03-08 Parco Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria St. Open daily 11:30am–9:30pm. One of the few remaining Neoprints outlets around, this one guarantees a few moments of fun as you stamp your image on cutesy stickers. Judging by the popularity of this shop, Neoprints might just end up sticking around.

Retro Muzique Café. 31A Bali Lane, 6296-5351. Open daily 6:30pm till late. Sink into a comfy chair or sprawl on the carpet and kill time with one of the many board games offered in this super chilled out joint.

Quick Fixes

Ros & Roy Pro Make Up. #02-41 Parco Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria St., 6337-8820. Open daily 11am-9:30pm. On the spot makeover and brow shaping are offered at these counters by the escalators. Instant beauty classes are also available at $80 for a 90-minute crash course.

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HOLLAND VILLAGE

Art Galleries

DLR Gallery. 17C Lorong Liput, 6466-3765. Open Fri-Mon, Wed 3-8pm. Functioning almost like a museum, this gallery showcases works by the art community and invites the public to view them. If you’re stuck in this neighborhood on a rainy Friday night, pop in for its weekly wine and cheese meet-the-artists parties.

Framehub. 46A Lorong Mambong, 6466-1147. Open daily 10am-8pm. Thai religious art and local contemporary art is presented at this gallery that is known for its silk frames.

Fun and Games

Settlers’ Cafe. #02-98 15 Holland Dr., 6464-0178. Open Mon-Thu 2-10pm; Fri 2-11:30pm; Sat noon-11:30pm; Sun and public holiday noon-10pm. Fifty card and board games are on offer here for both big and small groups of players. Take shelter and roll the die.

Quick Fixes

Ambrosia Nectar. 6A Lorong Mambong, 6467-0336. Open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm; Sun 10am-7pm. Metrosexsuals will like this place that offers aromatherapy at $80 an hour as well as reflexology ($30 for 40 minutes), and deep tissue massage ($65 for an hour).

Shen Nong Traditional Physiotherapy Centre. 36A Lorong Mambong, 6462-3372. Open daily 10am-9pm. Step in here for a quick and deep (as in often painful) Chinese massage. Half an hour will cost you $25, 40 minutes $35 and a full hour $45. Or go for acupuncture at $22 per session. No pain, no gain.

Wax Affair. 25 Lorong Liput, 6468-7965. Open Mon-Fri 11am-8pm; Sat 11am-7pm. Women have been coming here for their Brazilians for years. Men are welcome too. Walk in and try your luck. They may have an appointment free.

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EAST COAST

Hobbies

SilverKris Bookshop. #01-187/188 Blk 84 Marine Parade Central. Open Mon, Wed-Fri noon-8pm; Sat and Sun 10:30am-8pm. No, this store has nothing to do with our national airline. It’s much better. One of the neighborhood’s little gems, this used books store has been around for donkey’s years and stocks an excellent range of thrillers, sci-fi, fiction and erotic romance novels. You cannot give this one a miss—whatever the weather.

Fun and Games

Classic Pool. #10-05/07 Parkway Centre, 1 Marine Parade Central, 6345-3877. Open daily 10am-3am. You won’t see this pool hall from the street; it’s discreetly hidden on the tenth floor of a somewhat inconspicuous building. Your landmark is the Golden Arches on the ground floor. When you see Ronald MacDonald, take the elevator up. Classic Pool has about 30 pool tables at your disposal, and you might
end up staying here long after the rain has stopped. Take our cue, um, word, for it.

Internet Pioneer Club. #01-02 Parkway Centre, 1 Marine Parade Central, 6348-6578. Mon-Fri 10:30am-11pm; Sat and Sun 10:30am midnight. Boys don’t need wet weather as a reason to have fun gaming, but it is certainly a good excuse. Come here for a spot of CounterStrike, WarCraft, and other popular online games.

KBOX Karaoke. #01-5000 Blk 87 Marine Parade Central, 6243-3113. Open daily 11am-3am. These guys hardly need an introduction. Each of its 14 outlets span several shop spaces with numerous rooms for your private singing exploits. KBOX in Marine Parade is no exception, and has a good selection of both English and Mandarin tunes.

Quick Fixes

Speed Cuts. #01-503 Blk 87 Marine Parade Central, 6323-2312. Open daily 10am-9pm. Hair remedies here start at a bargain $10 for 10 minutes. Perfect for wet rat tails that need an instant pick me up.

Zhizule Reflexology. #01-03 Parkway Centre, 1 Marine Parade Central, 6344-1336, 6344-7665. Open daily 10am-10pm. Walk right in and get a half hour rub down on your feet or shoulders. Prices start at $25. Om ... that feels good.

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Stuck at Home

ORDER IN. Food delivery goes way beyond pizza these days. At www.cuisinexpress.com.sg, you can order food from a variety of restaurants including Original Sin, Paulaner Brauhaus, California Pizza Kitchen and other reputable establishments. Delivery hours are Mon-Sat 11am-2:30pm, 6:30-10pm; Sun 6:30-10pm. Minimum order of $25. Sakae Sushi delivers an array of sashimi and tempura (6388-8383; daily delivery noon-8pm. $10 delivery charge for orders below $50. Log onto www.sakaesushi.com.sg/delivery.htm); while Cantana dishes up Italian and Mediterranean cuisine (60 Greenleaf Rd., 6467-5413; delivery Mon-Fri 6-10pm, Sat-Sun 11am-10pm; minimum order of $25).

SOLVE A PUZZLE. Sprawl on the floor with a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle—it’s hours of fun. Get a puzzle from Jigsaw Puzzle World (#02-052 Suntec City Mall, 1 Raffles Blvd., 6336-9635).

DIAL A DVD. CineNow (www.cinenow.com.sg) is a kioskbased movie rental facility that has kiosks in several HDB estates. From a kiosk you can rent and/or return the latest Hollywood, Bollywood, Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Hindi flicks in VCD or DVD. Or check out www.hollywoodclicks.com, an online DVD movie rental service that will deliver your movie of choice to you in one to two working days.

PLAY A GAME. If you are all by your lonesome self, try online Cluedo (www.cluedofan.com/onlinegame.htm), a one-player version that keeps you guessing. For groups, there’s new DVD game Scene It. This movie trivia game tests your movie knowledge with clever and unexpected questions, and requires a minimum of two players. Or try Buzz: The Music Quiz game show and Spy Toy the ultimate undercover secret agent game, both on DVD by PlayStation2. Alternatively, if you’re really stuck, make up your own version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, or go for it with a game of Twister.

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Since champagne brunches were introduced to Singapore, they have gained a firm following. This seems to be unique: Nowhere else in the region has champagne brunch caught on in the same way. Diners here just love starting their Sundays with a massive spread of food and a luxurious drink. Restaurants (mainly in the big hotels) offering champagne brunches face stiffer competition as more players join—and step up—the game. The champagnes are getting fancier, the prices higher, and diners savvier. We tasted some of the bubbly on offer at brunches, and present you with our take.

Glamour Puss

Moët and Chandon Brut Imperial is slinky, sexy and hot. This non-vintage has a distinct taste that is tart but not heavy, and lingers on the palate. Definitely drinkable on a Sunday afternoon, though Moët’s brand image might conjure up scenes of late night clubbing more than scrambled eggs on toast. We liked the filigree fizz of tiny bubbles that uplifts the champagne and counterbalances its round flavor. Strictly for the initiated.

Moët and Chandon Brut Imperial label is served at these brunches:

• Greenhouse, The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore, 7 Raffles Ave., 6434-5288/5285. Sundays 11:30am-3:30pm. $108 per person.
• Town Restaurant, The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Sq., 6877-8128. Sundays noon-3pm. $108 per person.

Fun and Friendly

This is how we describe popular champagne Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label. Our first impression of this non-vintage champagne was that it is light, fresh and fruity—and very easy to drink (in fact, all too easy). Tiny bubbles whiz up the champagne flute, and give off a fine fizz that makes this drink very sociable indeed. There is also a lovely fragrance that comes through very nicely. Because Yellow Label is not too heavy, it goes well with almost any type of cuisine and can be drunk any time of day. We could envisage getting through lots of this on a late Sunday morning, with good friends and good food.

According to the folks at Veuve Clicquot, an average of one bottle of its champagne is drunk per person at a Sunday brunch—which means some people are drinking more than a bottle (hee, hee), while others are drinking less (who?). The guys at VC are obviously doing something right.

Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label is served at these brunches:

• One Ninety, Four Seasons, 190 Orchard Rd., 6831-7250. Sundays 11am-3pm. $112 per person.
• Top of the M, Meritus Mandarin Singapore, 333 Orchard Rd., 6831-6258. Sundays and public holidays noon-3pm. $108 per person.

Mediterranean

Our first sip of Duval-Leroy NV Brut made us think of the hot sultry south European climate. Deep gold in color, this champagne was less fizzy than the others we sampled, and sweeter despite being a Brut. Initially, we felt it was too sweet for a Brut, but as we drank more and had it with food, its taste really grew on us. In the end, we decided that of all the champagnes we tried, this was the most suited for drinking during the day, although we might think twice about serving this at dinner. It is best paired with food rather than drunk on its own, and in that sense is like a good wine.

Duval-Leroy NV Brut is served at these brunches:

• Café Brio, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, 392 Havelock Rd., 6233-1100. Sundays noon-3pm, $78 per person.
• Club Chinois, #02-18 Orchard Parade Hotel, 1 Tanglin Rd., 6834-0660. Sundays noon-2:30pm, $78-88
• per person.
• The Terrace, The Sentosa Resort and Spa, 2 Bukit Manis Rd., 6371-1414. Sundays noon-3pm, $98 per person.

Heavy Hitter

Little needs to be said about Grand Cuvee Krug. This powerful non-vintage lives up to Krug’s reputation of being the king of champagnes. Dry and rich with several layers of flavors—fruity, nutty and yeasty—this bubbly deserves to be savored and appreciated. So luxurious is it that we almost felt its place was more at an elegant dinner than a Sunday brunch. Nevertheless, we’d be happy to drink it any time of day. Premium champagne comes at a premium price of course (about $240 per bottle at a wine merchant) and there is only one Sunday brunch that carries it. Go on, treat yourself.

Grand Cuvee Krug is served at:

• One Ninety, Four Seasons, 190 Orchard Rd., 6831-7250. Sundays 11am-3pm. $282 per person.

The Rest

We can’t say much about these because—we didn’t get to try them. But we’ll tell you where they are poured.

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve is served at:

• The Dining Room, Sheraton Towers, 39 Scotts Rd., 6839-5621. Sundays noon-3pm. $48 per person; champagne is ordered separately at $48 per bottle.

Piper-Heidsieck Brut NV is served at:

• Aquamarine, 4/F, Marina Mandarin, 6 Raffles Blvd., 6845-1111. Sundays noon-3:30pm. $98 per person.
• Checkers Brasserie, Hilton Singapore, 581 Orchard Rd., 6730-3390. Sundays noon-3pm. $68 per person.

Tattinger Brut NV Reserve is served at:

• Capers, 2/F, The Regent Singapore, 1 Cuscaden Rd., 6725-3205. Sunday breakfast-brunch 7am-3pm. $68 per person. You get a choice of free-flow champagne, wine or martini.
• Long Bar Steakhouse, Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Rd., 6331-1612. Sundays 11am-3pm. $98 per person.

Champagne Glossary

Can’t tell your bubbles from your Brut? Here’s a quick lowdown on basic champagne terms.

Brut: Dry. The most popular type of champagne.
Demi sec: Semi-sweet.
Sec: Sweet.
Non-vintage: A champagne that is made from multiple years of grape harvests. The prevailing opinion is that vintages are superior to non-vintages, but increasingly this is being challenged and non-vintages are gaining more respect.
Vintage: A champagne that is made from a single year’s harvest of grapes. Generally considered premium champagne.

Cut the Carbs

Myth: Taking carbohydrates out of your diet is a healthy way to lose weight.
Verdict: False.

Carbohydrates provide about 50-60 percent of the body’s energy calories, so a drastic reduction in carbohydrate intake means the thyroid slows down, decreasing metabolism and the body’s ability to break down fats and carbohydrates. Henson notes this can be detrimental to attempts to lose weight.

In fact, some carbohydrates are good for you. Complex carbohydrates (such as whole grains, nuts, seeds, oats, brown pastas and brown rice) break down gradually, providing short bursts of energy throughout the day, meaning they take longer to add themselves to your beer gut. Henson says: “Complex carbohydrates are the body’s preferred source of energy and consuming enough of them is necessary to ensure the proper digestion of protein to later provide muscle-nourishing nitrogen.”

In comparison, simple carbohydrates (such as anything made from refined white flour, including white pastas and white rice) just add to your weight because they don’t need to be broken down.

But it all depends on just how you eat carbohydrates and how many you eat. Tan explains: “All basic foods are generally good. For example, rice, white or brown, is good. But when we fry it with a lot of oil or butter and add it to fatty meat, we make it bad. Similarly, potatoes are good. But when we turn them into potato chips, we make them bad.”

Intake is also important. Both Henson and Tan agree that the optimal carbohydrate intake is five to six serves per day, throughout the day. Each serve size should be no bigger than a clenched fist. This doesn’t mean you can use your meathead friend’s fist to justify a big bowl of mashed spud. “It’s different for different people because everyone has different sized fists,” says Henson.

And don’t forget: If you cut out carbs, you’ll have to put something else in, and fatty foods are often the unfortunate alternative.

Walking It Off

Myth: Walking burns more fat than running.
Verdict: True.

The most productive form of fat burning exercise is that which keeps your heart rate in the fat burning zone for the longest. According to Henson, this means that is it not necessarily the intensity of the exercise that’s important, but the amount of time we can keep our heart at the ideal fat-burning heart rate. So if you’re unfit, then running around the block twice for 10 minutes might knock the hell out of you, but a less intense 20-minute walk might maintain your heart rate for longer, bringing about better results. It all depends on the individual and how much work you need to do to give your heart a good cardio workout.

Stretching Out

Myth: Flexibility indicates fitness.
Verdict: True.

If you’ve had joint pain after a long flight, you’ll know that moving your joints is important. Chung argues that flexibility is an indication of health and fitness because it’s a demonstration of the health of the parts of your body that move your joints: Your muscles, tendons, ligaments and connective tissues. Exercising the joints gets the blood pumping, another important consideration. “Blood flow brings nutrients, oxygen, and carries off toxins,” Chung advises.

Hide From the Hawker

Myth: All hawker food is unhealthy and fattening.
Verdict: False.

Tan cautions that when eating hawker food, we must be discriminating about what we eat and how we eat it. “Go for less oily, less salty, less sweet and less flour-coated foods,” she warns.

So, while not all hawker food is bad, that doesn’t mean you should grab the next plate of carrot cake you see. Tan spoon-fed us some tips on how to handle that tempting hawker fare:

• Fried noodles and yong tau foo should be eaten less often. But if you really can’t help yourself, at least buy a smaller portion.
• Curry laksa is another one to avoid, but if you’ve ordered it, then leave the gravy behind rather than polishing off the whole bowl.
• Eat less of the rice in your chicken rice order or ask for plain rice. On top of that, don’t eat the chicken skin and add some vegetables to the dish.
• When ordering dry noodles, ask for no oil.

Overall, the best way to make hawker food healthier is to encourage hawkers to modify their recipes by choosing healthier options.

Do You Measure Up

Myth: BMI is an indicator of ideal weight and fitness.
Verdict: The jury’s out.

BMI (Body Mass Index) is simply a formula that tells you if you are over- or under-weight according to your height. It is calculated by dividing your body weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters. Don’t get it? Try: Body weight (kg) ÷ [Height (m) x Height (m)]. The healthy range for Asians is 18.5-23.

So if your BMI is higher than average, does that mean you’re unfit and fat? Our experts were unable to agree on this. Tan acknowledges that there is no ideal weight, but sees BMI as “a good measure of healthy weight range. It does not necessarily indicate fitness, but it indicates health and or disease risks.”

Henson disagrees. “I find it [BMI] highly inaccurate,” he says. For instance, Henson contends that it does not apply to really active individuals. “Take a 90 kg athlete with a fat percentage of eight percent and a height of 1.73 m—a BMI of 30.1. According to this formula, he would be considered obese.” Henson suggests a different formula: The waist-to-hip ratio test. “Simple. The waist should be smaller than the hips. If not, you are overweight.”

Work Those Muscles

Yoga giant Pure Yoga (#18-00 Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Rd., 6733-8863) has arrived from Hong Kong. This studio is part of its plan to expand all over Asia, offering classes in yin yoga, yoga dance, hot yoga, hatha yoga and ashtanga vinyasa. Its teachers are from all around the world, and you’ll appreciate the finer touches here: Padlocks are provided, classes can be booked up to two days ahead either over the phone or online, and there are plenty of relaxation lounges where you can chill out with a good book if you’re a little early for your class.

Machine Powered

If you prefer to stretch and strengthen with machine precision, then Sky Pilates (#05-03 Liat Towers, 541 Orchard Rd., 6100-7597) has also arrived. It has brand spanking new machines, and its classes allow you to use almost the full array of pilates equipment—from the reformer machines to the ladder barrel to the wunder chair to the Cadillac. Because these super high tech reformers have a tower built in, you’ll be exposed to about 80 percent of the equipment, rather than the usual restrictions you find in group classes. There’s even a gyrotonic pulley tower if you want something different.

Run Away

If you like the feel of the wind in your hair while your feet pound the pavement, then you’ll be pleased to know that Running Lab (#03-20 Funan DigitaLife Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd., 6336-6775) has opened a store dedicated to running. There are running accessories like NATHAN hydration systems and Ingenious double-layer sports socks. Running Lab suggests that you bring your old runners in with you when you want to buy a new pair so that its staff can best tell what will suit your running style and feet. There’s even a treadmill for you to try out your new shoes before you buy.