Month: November 2022

5 reasons to make Bedok Reservoir your new hang out spot

Post author By Dennis
Post date November 10, 2022
No Comments on 5 reasons to make Bedok Reservoir your new hang out spot

Bedok Reservoir has lots to offer, whether you live in the east, west or somewhere in between.

TEXT: MELODY TAN

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, SUM DIM SUM

Playing tourist in Singapore doesn’t have to mean going out to Sentosa or wandering around the Orchard Road mall strip. The suburbs can be a great way to spend the weekend, if you’re willing to explore off the beaten path.

One up-and-coming destination in the East is Bedok Reservoir and its surrounding estates, which are home to hidden gems like an inline skating venue and indie cafes serving up quirky fare like charcoal waffles with ice cream and salted egg sauce.

And if you’re enjoying yourself too much to go home, visit HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir’s soon-to-be-launched East Villa for a weekend staycation surrounded by greenery, water and nature. As you admire the view, you’ll find yourself agreeing that the East side might just indeed be the best side.

REASON #1: CAFES TO SUIT EVERY TASTE

Why cafe-hop in town when the area around Bedok Reservoir is home to a wide variety of chill-out spots? It has something for everyone, from those who crave something wildly different (youtiao and soymilk ice cream from FATCAT Ice Cream Bar, anyone?) to Refuel Café. Located a short trot away from Bedok Reservoir itself, diners can swing by for brunch after jogging, cycling along the reservoir park, or take a leisurely stroll after dinner to watch the sunset.

The HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir Clubhouse will also be home to some notable eateries, that will have you calling your buddies to hang out, or even have a hearty feast with your family.

If you’re looking to unwind after a long day of work, Georges Bar would be the place you want to be. Soak in the Balinese concept bistro, as it offers a decent variety of homemade snacks and Western grill as well as a wide range of international alcoholic beverages.

For a stuffing meal, families and friends can dine at Sri Bistari, a halal eatery that’s made a name for itself with its famed Nasi Ayam Penyet. Other offerings include Western and barbecued dishes.

Sum Dim Sum will also be opening a new outlet at the waterfront-facing clubhouse that will continue to serve handmade dim sum delights.

REASON #2: TAKE GAMING TO NEW, AUGMENTED HEIGHTS

Craving a new spot to play with your friends and family? Anticipate the arrival of Action Motion, a digital active experience arena that will soon be open at the HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir Clubhouse.

The facility will feature Digital Active Experiences such as an Augmented-Reality (AR) Bouldering Wall, an AR Trampoline Game as well as a Multi-Level Obstacle Course, Climbing Walls and Net Maze fitted with a gamifier system.

The gamifier system records participants’ timing and activity scores and displays them on a leaderboard in the Arena offering an enhanced, interactive experience.

REASON #3: HIT THE BOOKS

After all that eating and adventuring, it’s time to slow things down a little. What about paying a visit to Bedok Public Library?

While you might have fond memories (or not) of studying for exams at your local National Library Board (NLB) branch, the two-storey Bedok Public Library will change your mind about libraries in general with its fun, design-oriented approach to reading.

Created with a soothing natural vibe in mind, the library has Instagram-worthy reading corners filled with plush benches and organic curves, a Story Circle in the children’s area for performances and activities, and senior-friendly features such as electronic magnifiers and keyboards with large alphabets – making it perfect for a multigenerational family outing.

Fun fact: Bedok Public Library is home to an especially large curated collection of Malay titles, as well as books on topics like Malay culture and architecture in languages other than Malay – so that everyone can learn more about Bedok’s rich history and heritage.

REASON #4: TAKE A DIP AND A RIDE

The highly anticipated HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir clubhouse is scheduled to open from December 2022 – and one of the most exciting features to look forward to is the clubhouse’s Indoor Water Adventure Centre, Aqua Adventure.

As befits a waterfront-themed clubhouse, Aqua Adventure consists of two levels of wet and wild fun. The first and largest indoor water adventure facility in Singapore will showcase the longest indoor water slide, a laze pool and Urban Climbing Walls for those who can’t decide whether to climb, or chill.

Have your kids’ birthday party there or throw a pool party that your entire graduating class will remember. The best part? It’s all indoors – so rain or shine, your day out in the water won’t be affected.

REASON #5: ENJOY WATERFRONT LIVING

You can sip your coffee while basking in the greenery and serenity of Bedok Reservoir, all from the comfort of the upcoming HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir’s East Villa.

A relaxing getaway from the stress of daily life, the villas are perched on a hill slope with the Premier and Deluxe Waterfront Villas overlooking the gently lapping waters of the reservoir. Unwind solo with a book on the breezy roof balcony or get the family together for an evening of barbecue grilling and chilling in the villa’s ample outdoor space.

With so many things to explore in and around Bedok Reservoir, one night at the Waterfront Villas will soon stretch into two – and you’ll want to come back for more.

For the latest updates on HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir, visit our website or follow us on the official HomeTeamNS and Bedok Reservoir clubhouse Facebook pages.

On The Edge

Fuel for thought: Do electrified vehicles make financial sense?

Post author By Dennis
Post date November 7, 2022
No Comments on Fuel for thought: Do electrified vehicles make financial sense?

Plans are afoot to install 60,000 EV charging points across Singapore by 2030, with 40,000 of them in public car parks.

With the volatility of fuel prices and improving charging infrastructure, is this a good time to switch to an electrified car?

TEXT: LEOW JU-LEN

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK

Have you started to wince each time you fill up your car? Fuel prices have started to drop after hitting near record highs recently, but motorists can’t be blamed for feeling concerned about volatile prices.

Assuming 1 litre of 95 octane fuel costs about S$2.70, and the typical driver in Singapore covers 14,600km a year, using a reasonably economical car that covers 12km per litre, the annual fuel bill would be about S$3,285.

Following some simple fuel-saving tips would help reduce fuel costs to some extent, but an electrified vehicle could really help car owners reduce their fuel bills significantly, especially if owners opt for an electric vehicle (EV).

According to the Land Transport Authority’s online fuel cost calculator, the BYD Atto 3 EV, travelling 14,600km per year, would cost about S$1,218 a year to charge — even if the driver only uses the more expensive Direct Current (DC) public fast chargers (at an assumed rate of $0.55/kWh).

AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME?

While it may be too early to say that we’ve reached a tipping point, electrified vehicles are becoming more popular on Singapore roads. Land Transport Authority (LTA) figures show that EVs and cars with some sort of hybrid technology are slowly gaining market share.

By the end of June 2022, these electrified cars numbered 61,705, up 11.1 per cent compared to the start of the year. Over the same six-month period the overall car population grew just 0.45 per cent.

While cars that run purely on petrol or diesel still dominate, their numbers are starting to decline, with 581,801 here as of 30 June 2022, down from 586,512 at the start of the year.

Electrified cars essentially run on a combination of internal-combustion engines and battery power, or pure electricity. The same basic principle applies – the more electricity you use to power a car, the less fossil fuel you have to burn.

DIFFERENT SHADES OF ELECTRIFICATION

After decades of development, hybrids have finally hit the mainstream. These consist of three types: Mild hybrids, full hybrids (also known as self-charging hybrids) and plug-in hybrids.

Mild hybrids similarly to conventional car with an internal-combustion engine, offering only a slight improvement in fuel consumption. They typically have a small starter-generator that stores electricity whenever the car slows down and uses it to give the engine a mild assist at low speeds.

Full hybrids have a larger motor that can drive the car by itself, along with a larger battery to power it, but an internal-combustion engine still does the heavy lifting. The setup can be effective, however. The Toyota Yaris Cross (a compact Sport Utility Vehicle) can squeeze 26.3km from 1 litre of petrol.

Nissan’s e-Power system uses an electric motor to propel the car exclusively. But it has a small petrol engine that is used only to recharge the batteries. Nissan says that gives drivers a car that feels and drives like an EV, but one that can be quickly refuelled at any petrol station. The Nissan Kicks e-Power, a family SUV, gets a fuel-consumption rating of 20.4km per litre.

UNPLUG AND PLAY

Plug-in hybrids are essentially short-range EVs with an internal-combustion engine for long-distance drives and maximum acceleration. Some cover 30km to 40km purely on electric power, but newer models can go much further.

The Lexus NX 450h+ for instance, has covered 60km on a full charge in local testing, while Mercedes-Benz claims some of its plug-ins are good for nearly 100km. The idea is to drive to work and back, plug your car in and repeat. Longer road trips are still possible but in such cases the brunt of the work will be done by the internal-combustion engine.

Full EVs that don’t need daily charging. Most cover 300km (enough for about one week’s driving here) with ease, and many are good for at least 400km on a single charge. Mercedes says its flagship electric car, the EQS, can travel 770km without stopping.

IS THE PRICE RIGHT?

Whether an EV would make it worth your while to bid farewell to petrol power, many offer upfront savings. The Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES) provides tax incentives of S$15,000 or S$25,000 for cars that emit the least pollution (the cleaner the car, the greater the rebate), and though emissions from power generation are factored into the calculations, most EVs qualify for a rebate.

On top of that, an EV Early Adoption Incentive (EEAI) worth up to S$20,000 is in place to narrow the gap between battery-powered cars and their combustion rivals.

Many hybrids are eligible for a S$15,000 VES rebate, but only EVs qualify for the maximum S$25,000 incentive. Together with the EEAI, owners of some EVs can enjoy combined rebates of S$45,000.

DOLLARS AND SENSE

With Certificate of Entitlement prices also at or near all-time highs, whether or not it makes financial sense to switch cars now just to save on energy costs is an open question. However, if you were planning to buy a new car anyway it might be worth giving an electrified one serious consideration.

A full hybrid will save the most at the pumps for any driver who feels less than confident about finding a charging station.

On the other hand, EV charging has started to become ubiquitous, with 250 locations around the island offering a place to plug in. DC charging can add a week’s worth of distance to an EV battery in less than an hour, meaning a weekly stop at a mall for a meal could be all it takes to recharge an EV. Tesla says its proprietary Superchargers can push 120km into its cars in as little as 5 minutes.

Is it time to make the switch to electric? Even if not today, then perhaps soon. The government plans to have 60,000 EV charging points across Singapore by 2030, with 40,000 of them in public car parks.

The two latest next-gen HomeTeamNS clubhouses, Khatib and Bedok Reservoir, will soon be EV-friendly for Home Team NSmen and their loved ones too.

For the latest updates on HomeTeamNS promotions and events, visit our website and Facebook page.

Close Up

How National Service laid a strong foundation for Zheng Ge Ping’s later success

Post author By Dennis
Post date November 3, 2022
No Comments on How National Service laid a strong foundation for Zheng Ge Ping’s later success

Mr Zheng credits his interpersonal skills to his National Service stint in the Singapore Police Force, where he learnt to view situations from different perspectives.

Zheng Ge Ping’s National Service stint with the Home Team shaped his positive outlook in life and equipped him with lifelong skills that served those around him well.

TEXT: AUDRINA GAN

PHOTOS: ZHENG GE PING, MEDIACORP

With his cheerful and approachable disposition, Mr Zheng Ge Ping, 58, has built many lasting friendships since he joined Mediacorp in the 1980s.

“Even though I’m 58, I still feel young at heart. I’m able to communicate well with the younger generation, who see me as an approachable person instead of an old uncle. Just like how I treat my son and daughter as my friends, I’m also able to work well with younger colleagues,” said Mr Zheng.

Mr Zheng credits his excellent interpersonal skills to his National Service (NS) stint in the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in 1982. “SPF made us grow and see things from a different perspective as we faced the public and attended to new cases,” said Mr Zheng.

LISTEN FIRST, THINK TWICE

For instance, when handling family disputes as a police officer, he learnt to be impartial and listen to everyone’s stories instead of jumping to conclusions or making a quick judgement about a person or the situation. “When we are young, we tend to be very blunt and vocal. It’s better to listen first and think twice before saying anything,” Mr Zheng explained.

The interpersonal skills he picked up at SPF also served him well when he entered the entertainment industry, which is known for being people-oriented. “During a shoot, there are many people from different departments who are involved so I used what I learned at SPF to understand people and their different perspectives,” said Mr Zheng.

His NS background also came in handy when he was filming police dramas – he was able to help the production team ensure the police procedures in the script were accurate. He further adds on “And I always feel proud to be in uniform. It’s as though my relationship with SPF has remained till this day!”

LIFESAVING SKILLS

During the last two months of his NS stint, Mr Zheng was transferred to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), where he picked up medical and first aid skills. He realised the importance of these skills when he was mobilised for the Hotel New World collapse rescue efforts.

In various occasions, he was also able to put them to good use during his acting career. “Once when we were filming in Pahang, one of my stuntman broke his elbow. I helped to put on a wooden splint for his elbow and straighten his elbow before the ambulance arrive,” shared Mr Zheng.

He further shared that having acquired those skills in the SCDF also impressed on him its importance during emergencies.

SHINING A LIGHT ON A GLOBAL ISSUE

In his upcoming movie entitled “Deleted”, Mr Zheng plays a Malaysian police officer whose daughter has been kidnapped by a human trafficking ring. His pursuit of the traffickers causes one of them to be grievously hurt and he was jailed for his actions.

Mr Zheng said the original plot that he co-wrote with one of his directors was meant to narrate the story of an undercover police officer.

But after speaking to nine NGOs, Malaysian police officers and an ex-Interpol police officer, Mr Zheng and the production team decided to revise the plot. “Human trafficking is actually a very serious crime outside of Singapore. So, we want to raise more awareness on this issue,” said Mr Zheng.

As a fitness enthusiast, Mr Zheng works out regularly, which helped prepare him for his role in the movie. “I trained rigorously for my role, and I also watched my diet. I performed my own stunts and I sustained several injuries, which was inevitable. We wanted to make the movie look real,” said Mr Zheng.

All in all, he felt that the efforts were worthwhile as very few police action movies are being produced in Singapore, and it also raised the spotlight on human trafficking.

HomeTeamNS Exclusive Movie Screening will be screening Deleted on Nov 4 at Cathay Cineplex Cineleisure.

An avid movie buff? Download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App to enjoy the 1-for-1 movie tickets perk at Cathay Cineplexes all day, every day!

5 tips on healthy living and keeping fit

Mr Zheng embarked on his body transformation regime in his 40s. He wanted to stay healthy and keep fit, which was also crucial for his acting career. His perseverance and healthy body image inspired many people to follow in his footsteps. He shared some of his healthy living and fitness tips with Frontline:

Workout on alternate days. You can target different muscle groups, such as the abs, chest and shoulders, on different days.
Don’t forget to warm up and cool down. Before you start working out, warm up your body and muscles with a light jog or some dynamic stretching. Cool your body down with a good post-workout stretch.
Rest days between workouts reduces the risk of injuries, helps in body system and muscle recovery as well as muscle building.
Eat clean on your rest days. Eat more eggs, chicken and other meat, and vegetables and drink plenty of water. Cut down on sugar, carbohydrates and sodium.
Do not go to extremes, and moderation is key. Mr Zheng shared that intensive and prolonged clean dieting can sometimes affect one emotionally. Intensive workouts without proper guidance and system can also result in injuries. Do consider engaging a certified personal trainer if one wishes to kick-start a serious workout regime.

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