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Get Your Customised Health Report from Eu Yan Sang

/ Fiona Seah / Leave a comment
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Hey everyone!

What comes to your mind when you think of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)? Having relied mostly on Western medicine to treat my illnesses all my life, I admit my perception of TCM had always been pretty warped and shallow even as a Chinese myself. Apart from the unusually bitter herbal tea my Mom occasionally makes to nourish the family (and I’d always have to pinch my nose while forcing the tea down my throat so as to avoid tasting the bitterness), I had also personally seen how cupping works at a makeshift sinseh’s stall. Although the man being cupped never showed any signs of distress (he probably was already accustomed to the pain. Who knows?), it still looked scarily painful enough for me to generalise that all TCM modalities of healing are a form of torture.

The various types of treatment available in TCM, chosen based on what's most suitable for your body

The various types of treatment available in TCM, chosen based on what’s most suitable for your body. Do note that foot reflexology is a part of acupuncture but it’s not a treatment used in TCM.

But after an excruciating session of facial extraction last month, that kinda got me thinking again. If people are actually willing to undergo the process of extraction despite the pain, surely there must be some benefits to it. Likewise, the same for TCM treatments, except that they are a lot less painful, perhaps causing only brief discomfort or tingling sensation which will go away before you know it.

(ADV) Do you know that turmeric is great for helping both your body and your brain? Check out which 10 turmeric supplement made the cut on MonicasHealthMag.com!

There are many TCM practitioners in Singapore whom you can seek medical help from but Eu Yan Sang is unarguably one of the most trusted and reputable clinics (more on this later!) around given their long history in the business of TCM and large customer base.

Luckily for me, I was given the golden opportunity to consult one of their physicians with regards to my health concerns at their Novena Specialist Centre outlet and I’m very excited to share my experience with you guys!

Getting to know Eu Yan Sang (余仁生)

Contrary to popular belief, the household brand isn’t homegrown nor was it from Hong Kong. It was actually founded in Perak, Malaysia by Eu Kong in 1879 to nurse tin miners battered by illnesses and poor living conditions back to health. Currently managing the enterprise is Eu Kong’s great grandson, Singaporean Richard Eu, who wanted to keep the last family business alive.

The Eu Tong Sen street along Chinatown was named after Eu Kong’s eldest son in recognition of his generous contributions in World War I to further the British efforts, as well as in social causes. After his death, Eu Yan Sang continues to be actively involved in community works under the helm of his successor.

Health screening at Eu Yan Sang Wellness Clinic

That’s right, besides the many stores which stock up raw and packed herbs islandwide, Eu Yan Sang also has its own chain of clinics! I honestly didn’t know about that until I was invited to a one-on-one health consultation with Physician Neo Min Jun. I’ve been seriously living under a rock -_-

Eu Yan Sang TCM Wellness Clinic at Novena Specialist Centre

Eu Yan Sang TCM Wellness Clinic at Novena Specialist Centre

As I was running a little late for the appointment at 6pm (due to work), I hastened my pace from Novena MRT to Novena Specialist Centre, which is fortunately just a stone’s throw away from each other. As a result, my temperature and blood pressure skyrocketed and kinda puzzled the clinic assistant who took the readings for me a little. Hahaha!

Physician Neo is effectively bilingual. Upon entering her room, she asked if I was comfortable with conversing in Mandarin or English, to which I chose the latter because I jiak kantang (or rather, I wouldn’t be able to understand all the TCM terms that she’d most likely bring up). Following that, she went on to seek more information about my sleeping habits, eating habits, lifestyle and so on. I could see the subtle shock in her eyes (the only facial features visible on her partially masked face) when I told her that I had been sleeping at 6am for the past 2 months. On top of that, she also checked my pulse and tongue.

As she was busy punching the keys on her computer keyboard, I was silently enjoying the soothing sound of the trickling fountain water in the background. Soon after, my first TCM health report was printed!

Physician Neo Min Jun

Physician Neo Min Jun

My TCM health report from Eu Yan Sang

My TCM health report

My TCM health report

My folder consists of a 4-page introductory section that explains the purpose and features of TCM, and a 9-page customised health report (with my full name and NRIC number indicated on every single page) detailing the healthy living do’s and don’ts in both English and Chinese languages.

TCM health report

TCM health report

Name and NRIC on cover page

Name and NRIC on cover page

For those not well-versed in TCM terms like me, basically everything in the universe – including our body – has both Yin (feminine) and Yang (masculine) attributes which are opposites and interdependent of each other. The example my physician gave me was the presence of “water” (yin, our bloody and bodily fluids) and “fire” (yang, our Qi or energy) elements in our body. We have to keep both in balance because failure to do so will either extinguish the fire or evaporate the water (水能灭火，火能烧干水). When one of these energies diminishes (阴阳失调), the body suffers and becomes more susceptible to falling ill.

5 elements of TCM

The 5 elements of TCM are Mu, Huo, Tu, Jin and Shui. The cyclical of the 5 phases tells you what the preceding elements are (e.g. Mu gives rise to Huo, Huo gives rise to Tu and so on. More info here). Each element represents a part of our body. For example, Mu represents our liver and Huo represents our heart. The direction of each line of the star in the middle links two opposing elements

And because of all the late nights, my “fire” has been constantly drying out my “water” to keep my body going (and it’s not easy to replenish these Yin and Yang energies). Therefore, Physician Neo had diagnosed a Yin-deficiency in me, based on my physical characteristics and what she had derived from my pulse rate, tongue texture and possibly other factors. Many general characteristics of a Yin-deficient individual resonated with me. Having too little bodily fluid, for instance, is one because I hardly drink up. I also have yellow urine, hard and dry stools and feel constipated. Most importantly, I am very easily agitated! My poor boyfriend and loved ones are often on the receiving end of my bad temper 😐

Physician Neo also went through the report with me and gave valuable advice on how to turn my health around at the same time. I learnt that TCM studies the body as an organic whole. In other words, an external problem (e.g. red eyes) may be of internal origin (e.g. liver issues). TCM doesn’t just treat the symptoms – it actually gets to the root of the problem. However, some people (especially youths like myself) may not notice these symptoms because prior to that, conditions have not yet developed into diseases. Even if they do experience certain discomfort such as chronic fatigue, headaches and poor quality of sleep, these sub-health issues are often neglected or overlooked.

Watch the video to learn more about sub-health issues!

In my case, I don’t present any symptoms on the surface due to my young age. But through the hassle-free health screening, my physician was able to identify my problem, which was a Yin-deficiency caused by my late nights. To resolve this issue, I’ve got to sleep early, preferably by 11pm, or 1pm latest because that’s when the liver (the organ with the most stressful job because it monitors all our 7 emotions) detoxes. Once I’ve missed the organ’s repair timing, I will have to wait til the next day!

The healing power of sleep
Organ’s daily repair/maintenance schedule

♦ 11pm – 1am: Gall bladder – time to sleep
♦ 1am – 3am: Liver
♦ 3am – 5am: Lungs
♦ 5am – 7am: Large intestines (or colon) – wake up and poop!
♦ 7am – 9am: Stomach – have breakfast
♦ 9am – 11am: Spleen
♦ 11am – 1pm: Heart
♦ 1pm – 3pm: Small intestines
♦ 3pm – 7pm: Kidneys and Bladder
♦ 7pm – 9pm: Pancreas
♦ 9pm – 11pm: Blood vessels and Arteries

Source: Physician Neo and additional info from healthreviser.com

Note: The human body functions according to the meridian clock,
not the body clock! So don’t have the silly thinking like me that the body would grow accustomed to your unhealthy sleeping habits XD

It’s gonna be tough resetting my body clock but for the sake of my health, I’ll try. *fingers crossed* I definitely don’t want to look older than my peers 10 years down the road and be menopausal earlier than anyone else!

Do you know?

Women age faster than men.

In the olden days, females underwent puberty at 14. However, with GMO foods embedded in our food system these days, the age has been lowered significantly over the years. The child-bearing years for women is between 21 and 35 years old. Thereafter, female fertility deteriorates and women start to age and subsequently go through menopause after 49 years old (7×7). Men only experience andropause after the age of 64 (8×8).

Another thing I was told to avoid was overly warming and drying food such as glutinous rice (an exception for me), chili, garlic, leek, cinnamon, dried ginger and mutton because they deplete my bodily fluids. Adding on to the list are fried food (which I’d be permissible to eat – in moderation – so long as I sleep early *sigh*) and *drums roll*…. my favourite BREWED GREEN TEA because it’s too cooling for my body system 😥 I should instead consume food such as lotus roots, black fungus, sugar cane, pear, wolfberry and red dates because they are more moisturising in nature.

Omg…… so much sacrifice to make. I’m not going to lie. I need time to get used to this lifestyle. I will certainly cheat a little, for now. Haha!

Get your own TCM health report!

After my session with Physician Neo, the ignoramus in me was tremendously enlightened. The purpose of TCM is to protect us from illnesses and it’s advisable to take care of our health now while we’re still young. Internal problems that arise now can still be reversed but it will be too late by the time symptoms start to emerge.

The best way to prevent these sub-health issues from developing and becoming emergencies is early discovery and of course, to treat them at the root before they worsen. You can begin by getting your health screened at Eu Yan Sang and obtaining your very own TCM health report… at a special rate!

That’s right, it’s not gonna burn a hole in your pocket! 🙂

SPECIAL OFFER
FOR READERS OF FIONASEAH.COM

Get your own TCM Health Report at Eu Yan Sang.
Simply call the clinic to make an appointment and quote “My TCM Health Report” to enjoy Health Report service at $38 (Usual price: $48),
until 31 Dec 2015.

For more information on the availability of the service and clinic numbers,
click here.

How do you find TCM in general? Have you consulted any TCM physician? Do share your experience with me in the comments below!

Thanks for reading! 🙂

Eu Yan Sang TCM Wellness Clinic

Novena Specialist Centre @ 8 Sinaran Drive
#07-09, Singapore 307470
Nearest MRT: Novena
Tel: 6268 9611
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TK TrichoKare, Your Trusted Hair & Scalp Experts

/ Fiona Seah / 1 Comment
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Hey everyone!

tk-trichokare-shop

TK TrichoKare @ orchardgateway (credit: TK TrichoKare)

The hair is every woman’s crowning glory.  Having enviable hair plays an important role in a woman’s self-confidence and self-esteem because it is what defines our appearance. Not only does it speak volumes of our age and style, but also our personality. Therefore, it is not unexpected that millions of dollars would be spent on hair care products and treatments each year by women alone, just to keep their hair in tiptop shape. However, these efforts could actually cause adverse effects to our hair, especially when done too frequently. Hair dyeing, for instance, is one of the top culprits of thinning of hair. This problem is so common, it doesn’t just happen to post-menopausal women anymore as many youth today like myself are similarly affected.

Growing up, I’ve always had fine and sparse hair on my scalp that break off every time I wash my hair or try to detangle them with my fingers. No matter how careful and gentle I am with them, my hairbrush would still end up laden with a chock-full of hair after every brush. It got worse since I had rebonded and coloured my hair (because vain) but I have tried reducing my hair dye use from twice to once a year. Still, the problem persists. It’s so annoying. Sometimes I’d get envious of people who sport intricate hairstyles (e.g. fringe braiding) because I obviously don’t have enough hair to do it! Pfft. I’d probably lose more hair in the process.

Also, if you’ve read my other hair-related posts, you could probably recall my issue with bald spots as well. Although most of them have grown in, there are still visible patches if viewed from the top.

Enjoying my TrichoTea!

Enjoying my TrichoTea (I made that up)! Didn’t take a picture of my scalp pre-treatment that day because my parting was going to be different later on, so no point la. But here you can clearly see my scalp and my receding hairline. It just gets worse with age!

Perhaps this is a hereditary condition because the females in my household lose quite a bit of hair everyday too (though definitely not as substantial and alarming as I). But according to my trichologist, En En, from TK Trichokare, a healthy scalp is essential to having healthy hair. And in my case, my hair woes are largely due to my poor scalp health – not because of bad hygiene, but poor diet (too much spicy and fried food, as always) coupled with the use of unsuitable hair products, leading to clogged hair follicles and low hair density.

What is TK TrichoKare?

TK TrichoKare (pronounced as Try-ko-care) is the first ISO 9001 certified Trichological Centre that provides customized European Herbal Hair Remedies validated by certified Trichologists with products formulated by a professional herbalist.

TrichoKare is founded by a Trichologist. The holistic hair and scalp centre looks into all hair & scalp problems. It has been in 12 years of service since passing the conformity assessment of providing consistent standard of commitment to its product and service quality.

Other outlets are nex, Novena Square and The Clementi Mall.

Getting ready for a hair and scalp analysis (credit: TK TrichoKare)

Getting ready for a hair and scalp analysis. Look at my balding spot in the middle :\ (credit: TK TrichoKare)

Hair and scalp analysis

Hair and scalp analysis

Using a hair scope, she further analysed my scalp while images of it flashed on the computer screen beside me. Don’t know why but it was so fascinating looking at my own scalp and that few strands of hair protruding from beneath it 😆

Images of my scalp

Images of my scalp (credit: TK TrichoKare)

Even without En En telling me about my scalp condition, I was able see how terrible it was just by looking at the screen! My scalp was red (a sign of sensitivity) and flaky (oil flakes apparently, not dandruff) and my abnormally thin hair scantily dispersed all over. Just look at the amount of space between two closest clusters of hair – it’s so bare, ‘think HDB can build a flat there la.

But I was in utter dismay. I knew my scalp was bad, but not that bad 😐

CLOSE UP: oil flakes (those white stuff) settled near the hair follicles. Oil flakes are formed when oil and dead skin cells accumulate under the scalp, causing a little blockage at the pore. The oil, being unable to pass through with ease, then clumps into flakes.

CLOSE UP: oil flakes (those white stuff) settled near the hair follicles. Oil flakes are formed when oil and dead skin cells accumulate under the scalp, causing a little blockage at the pore. The oil, being unable to pass through with ease, then clumps into flakes.

As you can see from above, the thickness of every strand of hair varied greatly. Known as miniaturisation of hair follicles, these hair are crazily thinner than usual and are at risk of falling off (and have most likely fallen by now). I was also told that each pore is capable of supporting more than 1 strand of healthily-thick hair but look at how pathetic mine is. Couldn’t even support 1 well, let alone 2. *sigh*

Hence, I was recommended the Scalp Rebalancing Treatment. There are other treatments available at TrichoKare too (such as the Hair Fall Preventive System which fellow reviewer Xiaxue had) but obviously, I was given the one that best suited my scalp condition. There are actually 3 segments to it – regulating, strengthening and densifying. As this was only a trial, I was only entitled to the first one. But boy oh boy, I still can’t wait to see what TrichoKare has in store for me!

Comfy seats at the treatment corner. Xiaxue was everywhere!

Comfy seats at the treatment corner. Xiaxue was everywhere!

I was then promptly ushered to one of the seats at the treatment area. My trichologist subsequently came over to massage some sort of serum all over scalp. It had a very  memorable scent – citrusy and tropical. She said it would leave a bit of a tingling sensation on my scalp. Fortunately I felt none of that!

Contains citrus essence and ginger oil

Contains citrus essence and ginger oil

1. Scalp treatment

1. Scalp treatment (application/massage + 15 min for it to settle completely)

My eyelids became really heavy. It was so difficult to stay awake…

Following that, I was brought to the wash room to shampoo away the oil. The room was dimly-lit to create a relaxing atmosphere, making it even more challenging for my eyes to stay open (I had to for awhile to take some pictures). Apart from shampooing, my hair was also given some protein treatment!

Wash basins

Wash basins

One more shot before I doze off hahaha

One more shot before I doze off hahaha

If you can still stay awake at this point, I salute you (credit: TK TrichoKare)

If you can still stay awake at this point, I salute you (credit: TK TrichoKare)

The professionalism of every staff who attended to me was impressive! They’d make it a point to keep me in the loop about whatever they were going to do so that I’d know what to expect. Throughout out hair washing session, not a single speck of water or foam landed on my face too! I was glad because my makeup normally wouldn’t survive past the hair wash haha.

Once this step was completed, I was led back to my seat again to get my hair blow-dried!

But wait, another head masssage? Oh yeah!! (credit: TK TrichoKare)

But wait, another head masssage? Oh yeah!! (credit: TK TrichoKare)

Just wish I could stop time D:

Just wish I could stop time D:

Before she went on to dry my hair, she disappeared somewhere briefly to get me what looked like a neck rest! Placing it around the back of neck and then covered it with the blue towel, it felt so warm and comforting in the cold room, and had a very familiar herbal smell. It was the smell of the TrichoTea I had in the consultation room earlier! I was told it contained some essential oil.

Blowdry

Blow-dry

What followed next was something I had never experienced before! The centre assistant proceeded to move a futuristic-looking equipment over my head. What I saw in the mirror reminded me of Doctor Octopus in the Spider-Man 2 movie (hahaha). Called the infrared lamps, they help to improve circulation in the scalp. It was left on above my head for a few minutes and it felt warm but still quite bearable.

Infrared lamp

Infrared lamp

After the electrotherapy, En En took over and applied some tonic and moisturizer onto my hair. Unlike the salons I had been to, the “finishing touches” didn’t reek of a repulsive chemical smell. *thumbs up*

Finally, I was sent back to the consultation room to have a final scalp scan. What I saw totally left me in awe. The results were truly unbelievable!

Don’t believe me? See for yourself!

Post scalp treatment images (credit: TK TrichoKare)

Post scalp treatment images (credit: TK TrichoKare)

CLOSE UP: Post scalp treatment image

CLOSE UP: Post scalp treatment image

My pores were VISIBLY dilated and free of clogged oil! Those disgusting oil flakes had also lessened!

A quick before-and-after comparison

A quick before-and-after comparison

GOSH. I honestly didn’t expect to see much results with just a single session. My trichologist had even advised me beforehand to go for more treatments because it wouldn’t be completely effective if I only did it once. But hey look, it did work! Or at least that was how I felt. Hahaha.

Of course, the treatment that I went underwent only dealt with my scalp. The subsequent treatments will supposedly help tackle my hair loss problem. Nevertheless, I think this scalp treatment did help with my issue in one way or another because my hair REALLY doesn’t fall as much now. On that night of treatment, I counted – only 3 strands fell! What sorcery is this I cannot.

Clean and greasy no more!

Clean and greasy no more!

Full frontal shot! Hair looks so much better and healthier

Full frontal shot! Hair looks so much better and healthier

At last, supple and healthy-looking hair, albeit only temporarily. I am really tempted to get their full scalp treatment package though! (sponsors, anyone? *grins*)

Thanks TrichoKare! (and yes, I'm really tanned!)

Thanks TrichoKare! (and yes, I’m really tanned!)

In need of some professional help for your hair or scalp woes too? Great news! TK TrichoKare has kindly extended a special promotion to all my readers!

** SPECIAL PROMOTION **
for readers of fionaseah.com

Get Hair Fall Preventive Treatment at only $59!

Readers can register/get more info at Trichokare’s microsite by clicking here.

What are your thoughts on TK TrichoKare? Share them with me in the comments below!

Thanks for reading! 🙂

TK TrichoKare @ orchardgateway

277 & 218 Orchard Road, #02-12, Singapore 238858/238851
Nearest MRT: Somerset
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6 Reasons Why Fajar Shopping Centre is Awesome

/ Fiona Seah / Leave a comment
SPONSORED

Hello everyone!

Come this February will be three years since I moved from my long-time residence in Bukit Batok to Bukit Panjang. Although both are technically in the Western part of Singapore, each of them has their own distinct personality. As a newer town, Bukit Panjang (henceforth BP) may not have a public transport as well-integrated as Bukit Batok yet (looking forward to the new BP MRT station!) but it has certainly come a long way in the last 20 odd years. From a secluded or ulu estate in the early ’00s along with a lack of amenities, it is now a vibrant self-contained town with many bus services connecting to the city, complete with at least two community centres, a swimming complex, dozen of eateries (not forgetting the newly-built BP Hawker Centre and Market), two pretty decent malls and a few HDB heartland shopping centres scattered all around the neighbourhood to cater to the diverse needs of BP residents!

“Eh, what are HDB heartland shopping centres?”

Unlike urban malls, these smaller-scale shopping centres house a cluster of everyday shops and are normally located within a community to serve primarily the residents living around the area! They are not air-conditioned, however, but maybe that’s how rents are affordable and prices there are kept to the minimum, right? 🙂

In fact, these HDB heartland shopping centres have been a commonplace around Singapore. You may not know it, but there should be at least one in the vicinity of your house. Not sure where? Check this list out!

Fajar Shopping Centre

Fajar Shopping Centre

In my case, the nearest one is Fajar Shopping Centre which has served me well during my considerable length of stay here. So without further ado, here are 6 reasons why you should go to Fajar Shopping Centre.. and perhaps why moving to Fajar/Segar isn’t a bad idea after all (property agents marketing BP flats, you can quote me on that).

1.  It is more convenient than you think

Fajar LRT station

Fajar LRT station

Directly next to Fajar LRT station (like, literally beside it) and accessible by 2 city-bound and 1 feeder buses (bus-stop just smacked right in front), it is easily the most convenient heartland shopping centre in the Bukit Panjang housing estate. There’s also ample parking space if you’re driving, both within the compound of the shopping centre (multi-storey carpark) and the HDB flats around it. What’s more, parking is FREE at Fajar Shopping Centre during lunch time from Monday to Saturday, 12 noon to 2pm. And yes, there are good eats there as well! I will touch more on that in a bit.

Free Lunchtime Parking!

Free Lunchtime Parking!

2. There are THREE 24-hour shops for your late-night needs..

That’s right, folks. THREE.

They are McDonald’s, 7-eleven and mini GIANT supermarket, all conveniently located on the ground level.

McDonald's at Fajar Shopping Centre

McDonald’s at Fajar Shopping Centre

I think it is very essential to have convenience shops or eateries that operate all day and night in the neighbourhood because they help to save on delivery charges (and that unnecessary money you have to spend on more food just to hit the minimum order amount) when midnight hunger pangs strike! Furthermore, if you’re not too perturbed by the lingering food smells, McDonald’s is actually a great place to study (and snack when time comes) after midnight because it’s usually rather quiet by then.

3. ..and many specialty stores to accommodate every other shopper

Whether you’re an aspiring musician, a bargain hunter or a stationery hoarder, Fajar Shopping Centre has got you covered! Apart from the usual apparel shops (many pushcarts selling accessories around!), salons and whatnot, there are also a reputable music school, a value shop and a huge stationery shop that spans across two units!

ABC Bargain Centre

ABC Bargain Centre

More shops on the second level!

More shops on the second level!

Wide corridor on second level

Wide corridor on second level

Ossia Music School

Ossia Music School

Fajar Stationery & Copying Centre / My Book Palace

Fajar Stationery & Copying Centre / My Book Palace

If you’re a tertiary student, their printing services might be of importance to you (think all the reports and lecture notes you have to print).

Fajar Stationery & Copying Centre / My Book Palace

Fajar Stationery & Copying Centre / My Book Palace

If you’re feeling lucky, you can also purchase lottery tickets at Singapore Pools on the second level! Too stressed out at work? House of Tui Na is just a few shops down the row. In addition to that, parents can drop off their kids at Carpe Diem Young Joy and then leave to do their grocery shopping! And that brings me to the next point.

4. You can grocery shop at any time of the day

Not only is there a supermarket but also an indoor wet market for the early risers. I didn’t know there was a wet market the first time I went to Fajar Shopping Centre because it doesn’t look like it from the outside (and somehow I failed to notice the big “Fajar Market” lettering on the wall). With glass doors leading to the market on both entrances, it definitely looked more like an office building to me (I honestly thought it was the Town Council la).

Fajar Market

Fajar Market

As hygiene and cleanliness become the top priority these days, the wet market is relatively clean and spacious! The floor was perfectly dry when I was there on two occasions.

Giant Super

Giant Super

5. There are plenty of food choices under one roof

Of course, no shopping centre is complete without a food court! While most urban enclosed malls have just one, Fajar Shopping Centre has TWO – one with air-conditioner (Koufu) and another without (Astar). Impressive or not?

Koufu

Koufu

I  haven’t personally tried the food at Astar kopitiam but people living in Bukit Panjang have been raving to no end about the vegetarian food, which attracts a long queue of customers every time!

Freshly prepared fruit juice, just outside Astar!

Freshly prepared fruit juice, just outside Astar!

If you’re not in the mood for a heavy meal, there is a Mr Bean joint right next to Koufu that offers a dine-in area for patrons to enjoy their famous pancakes or soya beancurd!

Mr Bean

Mr Bean

6. Festive activities are planned for shoppers

To further enhance the shopping experience of residents and encourage family cohesion, the Housing Development Board (who operates these HDB heartland shopping centres) would also have programmes and activities lined up every now and then, especially during festive periods! The last time I was at Fajar Shopping Centre, there was an event specially organised to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival!

Event banner

Event banner

Due to the haze from the Indonesian forest fires shrouding Singapore for the past few weeks, many outdoor activities were cancelled so I was worried that this would be scrapped too! Fortunately, the haze miraculously cleared up on that day (and came back with a vengeance the following day) and the event went off without a hitch.

Beautiful lantern that lined the tent!

Beautiful floral lanterns that lined the tent!

Shoppers who spent at least $20 at the shopping centre were also entitled to redeem a doorgift consisting of a mooncake and a toy, or to participate in the activities such as the lantern decorating competition!

Doorgift

Doorgift

Mooncake

Mooncake

Lantern decorating competition

Lantern decorating competition

All of the participants were kids but were mostly aided on the artistic and creative direction by their enthusiastic and supportive parents. Seeing how much fun they were having, the child in me couldn’t resist not partaking in the activity! 😀

My masterpiece! Haha!

My masterpiece! Haha!

I submitted my lantern to the panel but decided not to participate in the competition eventually because it would be so unfair to the young kids if I won. There were 10 winners but the top 3 winners got to walk away with some household items. The grand winner, if I remember correctly, received a rice cooker. Whoa, not bad for such a small-scale competition leh! Kinda regret not joining in the end 😆

Having said that, my favourite part of the event still has got to be the caricature artist because.. who doesn’t like to be sketched?

Started stoning towards the end

Started stoning towards the end

Caricature artist drawing a portrait of me with so much skill

Caricature artist drawing a portrait of me with so much skill

Neat work! Though I don't quite see the resemblance hahaha

Neat work! Though I don’t quite see the resemblance hahaha

With better lighting!

With better lighting!

The event concluded with a meet-and-greet session and lantern walkabout with the HDB mascot, Wisely! He was so popular among the children who kept groping him. Parents were also hounding him for a picture with their kids 😆

A mascot with a lightning symbol as an outfit design named Wisely? I see what you did there, HDB *shifty brows*

A mascot with a lightning symbol as an outfit design named Wisely? I see what you did there, HDB *shifty brows*

Missed out on the event? Fret not!

The Mid-Autumn Festival may be over, but there are still ongoing activities for you to partake in while standing a chance to win some attractive prizes for yourself!

  1. Vote for your Top 50 shops

    Click for more information

    Click for more information

    Acknowledging that retailers at the HDB Shopping Centres addresses the needs of the residents while being an important part of the community, HDB will be rewarding these neighbourly retailers this year with a decal and commemorative plaque for display in their shops as testament of their popularity.

    Starting from 1 July 2015 till 31 October 2015, shoppers can nominate and vote for their favourite online via the app myfavHDBmall (currently available on Android and iOS) and stand a chance to win prizes in the Top 50 Favourite Shops contest.

  2. #myfavHDB Photography Competition
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    Click for more information

    The #myfavHDBmall Photography Competition is already launched. HDB Shopping Centres form an integral part of the residents’ daily lives by being a place for leisure, shopping and community bonding. This competition aims to collect these precious moments that are captured by residents at the 24 HDB Shopping Centres.

    Residents can submit their photos here and stand a chance to win attractive prizes. The winning entries will also be exhibited at 888 Plaza in 14 November 2015.

  3. Enter the Book of Records
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    Click for more information

    To mark the momentous year, an attempt is underway to create the largest SG50 logo made from stamps to set a new record in the Singapore Book of Records. Starting from May till end October, residents can play their part and donate their used and unused stamps for this record-breaking initiative.

    To participate, residents are to “post” their stamps at the specially designed post boxes at various HDB Shopping Centres and all submissions will qualify for the Lucky Draw. A total of $2,000 cash vouchers will be up for grabs. The finished masterpiece will be unveiled with great fanfare at 888 Plaza on 14 November 2015. Shoppers can expect an evening of games, activities and snacks.

And that’s about it! Do share with me your thoughts about your HDB heartland shopping centre in the comments below! And don’t forget to join the aforementioned contests! 🙂

Thanks for reading!

Fajar Shopping Centre

Blocks 443, Fajar Road, Singapore 670443
Bus Services: SMRT 922, 971E & 922
Nearest station: Fajar LRT station
Click here for more information and here for directory of shops