Merry Medley at Gardens By The Bay

Tis the season to be jolly at the Gardens By The Bay with a whole host of festivities both indoors and out with “Merry Medley” in the Flower Dome and “Christmas Wonderland” in the Meadow. In the crisp climate of the Flower Dome, Christmas cheer takes centrestage in the Flower Field with poinsettias, amaryllis and Christmas roses gracing charming yuletide seasons.

Stroll amidst the woody evergreen fragrance of majestic conifer trees…

Cocooned in giant snow globes, a lovely ballerina delicately turns as her accompanying soldiers watch on...

At the centre of the Flower Field, a troupe of smartly-dressed toy soldiers and an angelic orchestra join in the merry medley…

Nutcracker dolls here are depicted in the form of a solider, knight or king, each with a huge mouth and big teeth. Originally, nuts can be shelled by putting in the mouth of these dolls…

At night, the Flower Dome takes on a magical glow
as the enchanting winter wonderland filled with the fresh aroma of flowers…

With a beautiful blue-green cone-shaped crown and exuding a sense of magnificence, the Noble Fir is ideal for a Christmas tree as it looms up over nine metres to create an ideal centrepiece for the Flower Field…

The snow globes are transformed into laminated crystal spheres
with the spell of the twirling ballerina enchantingly beckoning you forward…

  

The Noble Fir (Abies procera) is a western North American fir that is tall and beautifully-symmetrical, with blue-green needles turned upward, exposing the lower branches. Its ability to last for a long time and its stiff branches make it an excellent Christmas tree. Further afield, the huge tower lay amidst snow at the centre of the Flower Field depicting yuletide scenes with Nutcracker Dolls, ballerinas, angelic choirs...

Looking like their true lily cousins, the Amaryllis are bulbs with trumpet-shaped flowers. They come in a dazzling array of colours, sometimes combining shades of pink or red, with white. Some of these flowers have a single row of petals (single flower form), while others have a few layers (double flower form)…

According to German folklore, the Nutcracker at night comes alive to defeat the evil Mouse King in battle, brings good luck to each household…

Modelled after the Kobe Luminarie, a light festival held in Kobe Japan to commemorate the Great Hanshin Earthquake, these  elegant Italian-designed light structures illuminate their way forward, symbolizing an everlasting message of peace and hope...

Merry Medley Garden Trail

Join daily “Ask Me” tours as they share fascinating botanical facts and anecdotes about the floral display from 11 November 2016 to 05 January 2017 at 11am and 3pm daily (1-6pm on 03-04 December).

Tours last approximately 15 minutes and available free on a first-come, first-served basis. To participate, gather at the “Ask Me” poster near the Flower Field. Tours will begin when a group of at least five is assembled.

Floral Display Promotion

Local residents with Christmas Wonderland ticket will enjoy $4 off local admission rates for the Double Conservatories. Present your Christmas Wonderland ticket at the Gardens By The Bay ticketing counters to enjoy the offer from 11 November 2016 to 05 January 2017.

For more details, visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg for the latest information.

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Japanese Business Expo - Takasaki Day

Located in the northwestern part of the Kanto region about 100 kilometres or a one-hour Shinkansen ride from Tokyo, Takasaki is the largest city in the Gunma Prefecture with a population of around 370,000. Takasaki is situated within a dense network of expressways and high-speed train lines. Its strategic location helps the city shine as an industrial hub with over 30,000 companies based in Takasaki City itself.

As a manufacturing hub, the Gunma province has over 140,000 employees in more than 6,000 manufacturing firms - many of which are based in Takasaki. The city is also the seat of world-class research institutes, bio industry and advanced pharmaceutical industry, contributing significantly to Japan’s economic and industrial growth.

Prosperity Daruma Dolls at the entrance of the Expo...

(What are Daruma Dolls, find out more in Merlion Wayfarer Goes World here)

At the recent Japanese Business Expo held in Singapore recently, several global brands and leading companies showcased their cutting edge technologies, solutions and products in fields such as machinery, metals, chemicals and waste disposal.

The perfect chance for Singapore and regional companies to discover the opportunities in the industrial hub of Takasaki, the Japan Business Expo - Takasaki Day showcases many sectors across different industries, be it travel, tourism, shared services, research and development, infocomm technology, food processing, energy, waste management, or consumer goods.

“This exhibition is a powerful step towards nurturing excellent business relationships between Takasaki and Singapore, to the benefit of both Singapore and Japan.”

-- Hidehiro Yoshii, Department of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, Japan --

Kinsei Sangyo Co., Ltd. (キンセイ産業)

Established in 1967, Kinsei Sangyo provides waste incineration plants with their special gasification technology, providing environmentally-friendly solutions to the waste management industry, engineering firms, hospitals and furnace manufacturers. With a track record of more than 200 plants and 70 international patents, Kinsei Sangyo’s solution is highly-automated, perfect for companies seeking more technologically-savvy solutions.

In addition to its high-performance and economical energy solution, Merlion Wayfarer was impressed that this solution requires almost no auxiliary fossil fuels and creates minimal pollution. Waste is disposed of without any pre-treatment required, reducing operating costs even further. The burners here made are also highly-adaptable to incinerate any waste materials, from animal/plant waste, medical waste, to industrial waste and even rare metals.

Incinerators in Kanto, Japan - Gunma (plastic, paper) and Saitama (food waste)...

Incinerators in Chugoku, Japan - Hiroshima (wood, textiles) and Okayama (medical waste)...

Incinerators in other Asian countries - Korea (hospital waste) and Thailand (plastic, wood, fibre)... 

For more information on Kinsei Sangyo, visit www.kinsei-s.co.jp/english/ or email global@kinsei-s.co.jp.

Makino Brewery Inc. (牧野酒造株式会社)

Sake has played a central role in Japanese life and culture for the past 2,000 years. Made primarily from rice, sake is a fermented beverage using koji, a micro-organism and yeast. It has an alcoholic content of between 13-16%. Brewers tend to take advantage of the pure and fresh natural water available in many parts of japan to make excellent sake, which can then be served either warm or chilled, depending on the season.

Makino Brewery takes pride in their history of more than 320 years, consistently winning gold medals in national sake and National Tax Authority contests in Japan. Its trademark Osakazuki (大盃) is one of the most delicious sake brands in Japan. This tasteful and elegant sake is made from carefully-selected sake rice grain and cold spring water from Mount Haruna in Kurabuchi in Central Japan.

Ginjoshu (吟醸酒) is sake made using white rice which has been milled so that only 60% (or less) of the grain remains. It is characterized by a fruity, and somewhat floral bouquet with a clear, crisp flavour. If the rice is polished down to 50% or less, the sake is called Daiginjoshu (大吟醸酒).

Merlion Wayfarer had the chance to try Makino Brewery’s Daiginjo (大吟醸). Premium Limited, where distilled alcohol was used in the process. The taste is rich, with a smooth finish…

  

This is Junmai Ginjo (純米吟醸) counting with 60% milled rice as its main constituent. It provides a full-bodied yet lighter taste…

The Nama Chozo (生貯蔵酒) is sake that is not heated for pasteurization after the final mash is pressed. It is characterized by a light and fresh flavour...

The Ume Liquor (梅酒) is made from Japanese apricot with the Osakazuki sake base. A perfect balance between ume extract and alcohol is achieved by aging the whole fruit, with the stone still inside. The delicious tang of Umeshu comes from citric acid in the fruit, and the refreshing flavour stimulates the appetite. The addition of alcohol to the fruit during production means that the ume flavour can be extracted not only from the flesh and skin but also from the stone.

For more information on Makino Brewery, visit www.makino-sake.co.jp/about-makino-brewery or email info@makino-sake.co.jp. 

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ENTERTAINER Singapore - Launching 2017 With Over 1700 1-For-1 Offers

The ENTERTAINER, the region’s leading Buy One Get One Free incentives brand, recently launched their line of products for the upcoming 2017. Founded in 2001 by Donna Benton, the ENTERTAINER provides Buy One Get One Free incentive offers from well-known dining, leisure, entertainment, beauty and hotel brands across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe. Packaged together and published as market-specific books and now as an award-winning App, the ENTERTAINER has enjoyed phenomenal growth by virtue of a strong partner network, a burgeoning corporate loyalty business and a broad base of delighted customers. Today, the ENTERTAINER offers 35 products across 40 destinations in 14 countries.

By the end of 2016, ENTERTAINER members in Singapore will have used over 310,000 digital offers, with the average member saving over S$650. To reward members, "Smiles", a virtual currency system which allows members to earn and spend rewards throughout the year, was recently introduced. Rewards include offer top-ups, for when you’ve used all three at your favourite spots, extra Pings and more.

At the Entertainer launch party held at Gravity Bar...

ENTERTAINER Singapore 2017 is packed with over 1,700 Buy One Get One Free offers for hotels, restaurants, cafés, attractions, leisure activities, spas, fitness, retail and more, delivering up to S$250,000 in savings throughout the year. Providing customers with exclusive savings at Singapore’s most celebrated venues, the range of offers span outlets such as Meat Smith, Jamie’s Italian, Open Door Policy, Bedrock Bar & Grill, Wave House, Spa Luna Sentosa, Forest Adventure and many more.

Where the "in" crowd gathers...

This year, ENTERTAINER introduces a brand new digital product, Cheers Singapore 2017 featuring hundreds of Buy One Get One Free offers exclusively redeemable on drinks at your favourite restaurants, bars and nightspots. Offers range from single beverages to bottles of wine / spirits / beers, double cocktails, and pitchers at world-class venues include LongPlay, Gravity Bar (Carlton hotel), Mad Men Attic Bar and Sentosa’s Finest - Bob’s Bar, Museo.

Right now ENTERTAINER Singapore 2017 is available for a special discount of S$30 off the regular price. On top of this great price, every purchase of Singapore 2017 includes Cheers Singapore 2017, absolutely free. This exceptional deal is available for a limited time only, directly from the ENTERTAINER.

With the purchase of any 2017 digital product, ENTERTAINER members will also enjoy exclusive access to "Hotels Worldwide", which includes Buy One Night, Get One Free offers at over 500 hotels across the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Choose from hotels, resorts, hotel apartments, bed & breakfasts and lodges in over 30 popular destinations including Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam, Dubai and more. Hotels Worldwide includes international hotel brands such as InterContinental, Marriott, Fairmont, Sheraton, Banyan Tree, Radisson, Shangri-La and Hyatt. 

“Our 2017 products deliver incredible value at the most extensive range of outlets available, giving our customers the opportunity to save money, go out more and spend quality time with friends and loved ones,” 

-- Donna Benton, Founder and Chairman of the Entertainer --

The ENTERTAINER App is available to download free on iOS or Android app stores.  For further information, please visit our website www.theentertainerme.com.

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Responsible Business Forum Singapore 2016

The 5th Responsible Business Forum (RBF) on Sustainable Development was held in Singapore on 22-24 November 2016 at Marina Bay. During this Forum, delegates examined each of the 17 SDGs in-depth with case studies and perspectives from businesses, governments, UN agencies, investors and international experts.

With 34 SDG workshops to choose from, delegates designed their own RBF 2016 agenda around the goals most relevant to their organisations and participated in discussions around action, innovation and collaboration. The Forum also aided companies to better understand the SDGs and the opportunities in supporting governments to achieve them.

In the workshop on the "Life On Land" SDG for "Sustainable Development Goals", Justin Adams, Global Managing Director, Lands of The Nature Conservancy facilitated a conversation between Jemmy Chayadi, Vice President, Sustainability, APRIL; U Tin Htut, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Myanmar; and Moray McLeish, ‎Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, Asia, Olam International. Through their short session, they discussed ways to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. On the topic of forest torching, the panellists proposed that close cooperation with the government is required to provide alternative means for the farmers to earn a livelihood.

At the Forum, there was also the opportunity to hear from the teams in the ASEAN Impact Challenge. The Challenge is designed to encourage, empower and support innovators across ASEAN to work for social progress through business. It was encouraging to see the youths of today showcasing their incredible ideas to improve social progress across the region.

For more on the Forum, visit www.responsiblebusiness.com for the details.

 

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Sony's NC4 - Stylish Comfort With Solid Bass

Sony's NC4 Wireless Headphones (h.ear on Wireless NC) fit comfortably over the ear, immersing you in crystal clear High-Resolution Audio compatible sound with powerfully precise bass and beautifully transparent highs, powered by a 40 mm HD driver unit. Audio quality is further enhanced by coating the diaphragm domes with titanium to suppress unwanted vibrations and reproduce crystal clear sound with high linearity. Specially designed ear pads boost wear comfort while minimizing sound leakage to ensure your music won’t disturb anyone else.

Cool design and trendy colours...

   

Offering the freedom of wireless listening, the smooth, compact design has a seamless finish and the fit of the headphones is designed to be incredibly sure with no gap around the head. Made for style conscious music lovers, it stands out from the crowd with impressively detailed listening and head-turning looks. Its relatively lighter weight and snug design with the pressure-relieving urethane cushion and compact folding ensures its suitability for long flights and mobility needs.

Comfortable fit with lighter weight. However, due to the design, it tends to slide down at times...

Its digital noise-cancelling instantly makes ambient sounds fade away, allowing focus on the music and nothing else. AI Noise Cancelling constantly further analyses ambient sounds, automatically selecting the most effective noise cancelling mode to suit the current environment. Even with Bluetooth® and noise cancelling switched on, a huge 20-hour battery life offers plenty of stamina for that transcontinental trip – or just some valuable "me time" during a busy day.

Snug earpads effectively tune out most loud noises except for certain mid-level frequencies which seem amplified due to the effective cut-out of other levels...

Bluetooth and One-touch NFC ensures wireless music free from the restraints of a headphone cable, and LDAC transmits approximately three times more data (at the maximum transfer rate: 990 kbps) than conventional Bluetooth Audio, which allows the enjoyment of high-resolution audio content in exceptional sound quality.

Really solid bass and crystal clear sound quality regardless of music genre,
comes compact with a colour-matched travel case...

For more information on Sony’s products and services in Singapore, visit www.sony.com.sg.

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